《Land of the Destined》


 Prologue

    The time of change has arrived.


    Magic will change.


    The spirits restraints will break.


    The shrines will return.


    The end of an era is near.


    Darkness will rise again,


    Magic will die,


    And so will we.


    <hr>


    The anger of a prince,


    Now unleashed,


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    Causing destruction all around.


    He destroyed everything,


    Everything he hated,


    Everything he loved.


    All reduced to ash,


    Including himself.


    <hr>


    The revenge of a girl,


    A girl broken,


    Broken by the world,


    Brings her love to life,


    But loses her own life in the end.


    <hr>


    An abandoned son,


    A child forgotten by one mother,


    And far away from the other,


    Has a forgotten daughter,


    Just like him, but remembers too late.


    <hr>


    The three will fall together,


    Bring back the world that once was,


    And leave the rest to the children,


    The children of the spirits,


    The new hosts of a coming era

 Chapter 1 - First Impressions

    Elizah Cohen sat alone at the small desk in the classroom full of children. She had a book in front of her, but she couldn¡¯t understand anything. The text in the book was peculiar and not even close to the common tongue. She sighed as she lost interest in the complex text and decided to look outside instead and let her mind wander.


    It had been ten long years since Elizah first started coming to the schoolhouse, but still, she was never comfortable with the place. She had nothing against the students or the teachers; rather, everyone else had a lot against her. She was out of place in the small schoolhouse; her family background and history were to blame.


    All through her childhood, Elizah had only known poverty. Her family had struggled to pay for basic items. With the absence of her father, things were extremely difficult for Elizah, her brother, and her mother. It was by a miracle that her mother¡¯s friend had offered to get Elizah into school, so Elizah assumed it was a privilege to attend the schoolhouse. But she wasn¡¯t prepared to face what was waiting in the schoolhouse.


    From the very first day, the other students avoided her. Elizah initially never understood and believed it had something to do with the economic status of her family but later overheard the children¡¯s gossip. According to rumours, her father was a traitor of the kingdom, and so the nobles¡¯ children had been taught to avoid her at all costs. That day itself, Elizah went home with frustration and tears down her cheeks but chose not to ask her mother about the rumours. Over the years, she chose to not think about the rumours, but there were times when she was left wondering if they could actually be true.


    She had never seen her father, and her mother had claimed that it was for the best. He had left on the day she was born, according to what her older brother had said. All he had left behind was a book and something for her mother.


    The book was the only thing that Elizah could use to remind her of her father. But nothing inside the book ever seemed to make sense.


    She tried to ask her brother, Micah, if he remembered him, but he always got angry when the topic was brought up. And even if she wanted to ask now, she didn¡¯t know where her brother was.


    She was lost in thought but suddenly startled out of it when she saw someone moving near the entrance of the door.


    A man with dark hair, brown eyes, and a round figure was standing at the door. A smaller figure of a younger man was hiding behind the larger man. It seemed like the young man didn¡¯t even want to be there at all. The boy was lanky, and his gaze was fixed to the floor. The taller figure was instantly recognisable to all as the King, Cyprian Larkspear himself, but the one hiding behind him was someone unknown.


    Whispers echoed in the classroom as students shuffled into their seats and no longer had the look of excitement on their faces. King Cyprian¡¯s presence had managed to frighten the others, but Elizah was unfazed; she just looked curiously at the younger man.


    ¡®Could he be the king¡¯s successor?¡¯ She thought to herself. She knew that she shared a birthday with the prince, but that was all. In fact, it was the very first time she¡¯d ever seen him outside the palace. The prince had been quite sheltered away from the public eye. Hence she figured her guess could be off. Besides, the boy was much smaller than what she¡¯d expected for the prince, nor did he look like the type to fight. It really didn¡¯t make much sense to her why he would be here in the first place. She quickly dismissed the idea that the boy was the prince. She decided it would be best if she didn¡¯t bother with what the king was here for and turned back to her book, trying to translate the nonsensical words.


    <hr>


    Jayden Larkspear was trying his best to hide away behind his father. He didn¡¯t want to be there, not in the slightest.


    He hated and feared the very thought of being in a large classroom full of students. He had enjoyed his private tutoring lessons with the tutor. But the nation¡¯s people began wondering why the prince hadn¡¯t been seen in sixteen years and began to speculate strange things, so he had to go to the large schoolhouse building with all the other students.


    He had spent his entire life alone and with the people in the palace as the only ones to talk to. But he enjoyed being alone. His parents rarely called him to do much, so it wasn¡¯t that he had any royal duties either. Even if he was with his parents, he always got in trouble by triggering his mother¡¯s temper.


    He only had one major fear. He knew that one day, people would start asking many different questions. About his destiny, what really happened on the day he was born, and why had he never seen anyone outside the palace. But the truth was simple and hard to believe. He just didn¡¯t know. He never bothered to ask anyone as well. He did as he was told and just followed instructions.


    He never asked to be the prince. Why couldn¡¯t he have been born as a farmer¡¯s son or a smaller noble¡¯s son? What really happened that day? He had always thought to himself.


    ¡°Come, Prince Jayden,¡± he heard a woman¡¯s soft voice.


    Jayden gave a slight nod and walked with her into the classroom. He tried to make himself seem smaller and unnoticeable, but with how tall he was, it was an impossible task. It seemed like everyone¡¯s eyes were watching him. It was slightly overwhelming to see this many people when he had grown up secluded from the world.


    The teacher directed him to a seat in the back of the room, and he walked over slowly.


    The pairs of eyes on him slowly began reducing until there was only one pair left on him. He slowly sat down at the desk at the back of the classroom.


    He looked at the girl staring at him.


    She had piercing blue eyes, unlike any other colour he had ever seen, and long blonde hair in a braid on her shoulder.


    But unlike the other children in the classroom, the girl¡¯s gaze seemed to reflect a feeling that Jayden knew all too well.


    She had curiosity in her eyes, and the thought of the many questions she would ask him made him feel slightly sick already.


    ¡°Elizah, pay attention,¡± The woman at the front said, and the girl turned around rapidly.


    So the girl¡¯s name is Elizah, Jayden thought to himself.


    Jayden opened his books with a sigh and wondered, I guess one thing¡¯s for sure, getting used to seeing people is going to be harder than I thought.


    <hr>


    Elizah walked out of the classroom late that evening. Every day she waited till everyone left, but today she saw the prince outside the class walking home, and her curiosity was getting the better of her. She wanted to know more about him, so she listened in on the conversation. A noble¡¯s son was standing next to the prince and was trying to make idle conversation, but the prince seemed disinterested.


    ¡°So what was your destiny? Why have you been locked away from everyone? Why can¡¯t people use magic in public?¡± The noble¡¯s son asked Jayden.


    Elizah cautiously listened. As someone who didn¡¯t know her own, destinies fascinated her.


    Destinies were the stories that the seers told when a child was born. Every time any child was born, the seers were called to hold the child and read into their futures. The child¡¯s destinies were told to the children when they came of age, and were a major part of people¡¯s lives.


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    Until the ban on magic. Since seers were magic users, many were killed and destinies soon became a thing of the past.


    Elizah had been told she was born before the ban on magic, but her mother still never told her her destiny. But this didn¡¯t really hurt her as she was always amazed by those of other people.


    At that, Jayden¡¯s hands balled into fists by his sides and slowly opened, as if the very topic got him angry.


    Elizah just stood rooted behind the door where neither of the boys would see her. She was interested to hear the outcome of this conversation to answer some of the many questions she had but couldn¡¯t ask.


    The prince closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if this sort of situation had come multiple times before. His vivid green eyes opened slowly, and he calmly said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. My parents never told me.¡±


    Behind the door, Elizah¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, and she tried her best not to move an inch.


    The noble¡¯s son seemed somewhat bemused by this answer. ¡°How can you not know? You¡¯re obviously lying,¡± the boy said, and his voice was rising, ¡°Do you know how many people in my family have died because of the ban on magic? Do you think you can shrug that off as just something you don¡¯t know?¡±


    Elizah remained silent, but she felt a shiver down her spine from the boy¡¯s words. She had seen for herself when people died all of a sudden with strange occurrences like trees growing out of their homes or their houses just suddenly burning up. There were people¡¯s theories on the topic, saying it was magic, and it seemed this boy had the same thought.


    Jayden took a deep breath, and Elizah could hear the shaking in his voice as he said, ¡°Look I¡¯m telling you the truth. If you want to believe me then do so, otherwise, just leave me alone.¡±


    The noble¡¯s son didn¡¯t say another word before he stormed away alone and left the prince behind.


    Elizah then slowly walked out of her hiding place behind the door and passed the prince, but surprisingly he didn¡¯t avoid her but rather looked at her in fear.


    ¡°Um-,¡± Elizah was about to say, and the prince just ran, leaving her very surprised. Elizah began to walk home as she pondered over what she saw.


    A glint of hope to make a good impression on the prince had suddenly ignited within her, as this conversation between the prince and the noble made her wonder if he was truly different from the nobles she¡¯d seen. Maybe he would give her story a chance? Rather than pompous and uptight as she had expected from the prince, he seemed more worried and nervous.


    But reality tugged at her.


    Everyone believed the rumours; why wouldn¡¯t he?


    He¡¯s not even going to know who I am. Who will notice a nobody like me? Why does it even matter? She finally decided.


    While she was thinking she had been walking, she hadn¡¯t realised that she had made it all the way to the small cottage at the edge of the forest. The area in the forest was closed off, but her mother¡¯s friend had managed to secure a small plot of land near the edge of the forest.


    She reached the door and opened it to see her mother in the kitchen with her apron on and her hair tied up. When Roxanne heard the door open, she turned and smiled at her daughter. ¡°How was your day, Liz?¡± she asked as she wiped the flour from her hands and walked over to Elizah. Elizah smiled and embraced the older woman.


    ¡°Nothing unusual. The same old class and people,¡± Elizah said.


    Roxanne placed a hand on her daughter¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Oh, I almost forgot. This came for you in the mail.¡±


    She took an envelope from the cupboard in the kitchen and handed it to Elizah. ¡°It¡¯s from Micah,¡± Elizah said as her eyes widened.


    Elizah smiled one of her big smiles, which only came when someone mentioned her brother. She tore open the envelope and read the letter which was written in his usual sloppy handwriting.


    ¡°What does he say?¡± Roxanne asked. Roxanne never had access to schooling and education during her childhood but made up for it with her enthusiasm to send her children to school to learn and not make the mistake that she had made.


    ¡°The usual details of the camps and how humourless they are around there. He asked about the terrible two,¡± Elizah rolled her eyes as she read the sentence. Elizah never had liked her step-siblings but knew that without them, she¡¯d end up on the streets. It was only because of her step-father that the family was still managing the large taxes, or so she was told.


    ¡°Liz, they¡¯re still your siblings even if you don¡¯t like them,¡± Roxanne said gently. Elizah couldn¡¯t argue with those words, so she continued reading.


    Roxanne saw the tears that welled up in Elizah¡¯s eyes as she read the letter for the second time and couldn¡¯t help the sadness in her own heart. ¡°Is there anything about his return?¡± Roxanne asked her softly.


    Elizah shook her head, and the tears spilt down her cheeks. Roxanne took her daughter¡¯s hand and led her over to the small bench near the large piano on the other end of the room. Roxanne sat down and let Elizah sit by her side.


    ¡°Where are they?¡± Elizah asked between her choked sobs. Roxanne knew who Elizah was referring to.


    ¡°They won¡¯t be home soon. They are busy at the market,¡± Roxanne said softly, ¡°I can spend time with my brave little girl alone.¡±


    ¡°Mother, why do the spirits hate us so much? Can Micah ever come home?¡± Elizah asked Roxanne, ¡°They already took father away. Now Micah too.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame the spirits for something like that. Micah will come home one day,¡± Roxanne said.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been saying that for years, mother, but he¡¯s not home,¡± Elizah whispered softly.


    ¡°He will come and he¡¯ll never have to leave us again,¡± Roxanne said, ¡°Do you want me to play for you?¡±


    Elizah nodded. She loved listening to the beautiful music from the instrument when Roxanne played. She always watched Roxanne¡¯s hands as they seemed to fly across the keys but maintain a beautiful tune, while when Elizah tried, it never seemed right.


    Roxanne began to play a melody that she had learned when she was a child, which was Elizah¡¯s favourite song, even with the imperfections that Roxanne occasionally made. The tune was a calming mix of low notes, which made a sweet melody.


    Roxanne continued to play as Elizah was lost in the mesmerising music. When Roxanne was done, Elizah had looked at Roxanne and smiled.


    ¡°Mother,¡± Elizah began, ¡°Can you teach me how to play just like you?¡±


    Roxanne smiled at the girl, ¡°Of course. But on another day, I have some work to finish.¡±


    Elizah gently nodded and walked to the back door, and said, ¡°I have to do my chores anyway.¡±


    Roxanne heard the door close as the girl walked outside to the field. She let the hidden tears stream down her cheeks. Memories of the times she¡¯d spent with Liran by the piano surfaced in her mind, and she remembered the promise of a happy family that they had made for each other.


    As more tears slipped, she wondered if she¡¯d ever have that dream of a happy life for her family.


    <hr>


    Prince Jayden Larkspear flopped onto the bed in his chambers and lay staring at the ceiling above him. He was still slightly tense from his conversation with the noble boy, but it was starting to pass.


    He heard a knock at the door and said, ¡°Come in.¡±


    An older man stood at the door in a painter¡¯s smock and his greying hair rumpled.


    ¡°I hope I¡¯m not interrupting anything, Prince Jayden,¡± The man said.


    Jayden looked down and smiled to see the court painter and also his only company standing in the doorway, ¡°Oh, no you¡¯re not. I just returned.¡±


    ¡°How was your first day ?¡± The man asked as he shut the door behind him.


    ¡°It went better than I expected,¡± Jayden lied.


    ¡°Did you make any friends?¡± the painter asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Jayden replied curtly. He walked to the door and bolted it shut before he walked to his cupboard to get his hidden box of paints.


    ¡°You seem worried,¡± the painter observed.


    ¡°No I¡¯m not,¡± Jayden replied sharply, ¡°do you have the parchment?¡±


    He was suddenly startled by a sharp knock at the door, and he told the painter,¡± Take the back door out of my room, I¡¯ll paint the design on the sheet by sunrise.¡±


    Jayden had wanted to learn to paint as a diversion, but his mother denied him the material. The court painter had helped Jayden without the king and queen¡¯s knowledge, and now the painter gave him patterns which the boy could copy with ease onto a canvas.


    Jayden unbolted the door and opened it to see Queen Noxaura standing in the doorway.


    ¡°Who were you talking to?¡± she asked him, ¡°I¡¯ve told you not to talk to the servants who roam about. They only give you gossip.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, mother,¡± Jayden said softly.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you training in the arena? You are smaller than all the others in build and you are terrible with a sword. You don¡¯t deserve the title of the prince unless you get better,¡± Noxaura said.


    What if I don¡¯t want to be the prince? Jayden thought to himself, I can use a bow and arrow quite well anyway.


    He couldn¡¯t argue with Noxaura unless he wanted trouble. As he thought about the possibilities of his destiny, he walked out to the training ground without saying a word.


    <hr>

 Chapter 2 - A Fight and a Conversation

    Another boring class, Elizah thought as she sat at her desk. It was a few days until her sixteenth birthday, and oddly enough, for the first time, the prince was going to be having a parade for his birthday.


    Elizah found it paradoxical that even though she and the prince had been born on the same day, yet their ways of life were very different.


    It was a few days after the prince had joined the schoolhouse. He, like most of the others, chose to ignore her existence, despite her multiple attempts to try and get on his good side. She was still as lonely as ever. The rumours had never changed, and neither had her lonely state.


    She looked out the window and sighed. The teacher, as usual, was going on in length about a simple topic, and Elizah¡¯s mind was more focused on what was outside the room than what was in it.


    She observed the bare trees and the white splotches of snow spread on the ground. It was odd that they still got sheets of snow in the winter in a region so close to the shore. She remembered what her aunt had told her about how magical abilities became stronger in different seasons.


    That¡¯s just folklore; there¡¯s nothing true to it she chided herself for remembering those stories.


    She continued to think, and then the grim realization settled upon her that these couple days were probably her last at the schoolhouse.


    The norms of society on the island were that girls stayed at home and learned how to maintain a household at sixteen. At the same time, the boys were sent for training on fighting with any weapon they found suitable.


    Elizah hated this system with everything in her heart. She always wanted to fight like her brother and didn¡¯t enjoy being at home and looking after the household.


    Elizah turned to look at the teacher and gave an ear to what the teacher was saying.


    ¡°Destinies existed for a long while as a way to find out about someone¡¯s future to set their path of life as they grew up. It was a tradition of the Larkspear territories until the ban on magic. All of you were lucky enough to get one since you were all born before the decree which banned magic. Can I hear some information about your destinies?¡± the teacher asked.


    Elizah suddenly sat up upon hearing the question, knowing this was going to be a difficult question to not just the prince but herself as well.


    Elizah remembered that she and the prince were the youngest in the class, so all the others had destinies. For once, Elizah didn¡¯t want to be picked on for answering the question. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t know what destiny was. It was that she was never told about her destiny.


    She¡¯d tried asking many times, but she never got a response from either her mother or Micah, and she eventually got tired of asking about it.


    ¡°Elizah, how about you?¡± the teacher asked her.


    Elizah shook her head at first to try and avoid the question but saw a stern gaze from the teacher in return, so she let out a sigh and bowed her head and whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I was never told.¡±


    A few audible snickers and laughs were heard, and Elizah put her head against the desk. She couldn¡¯t look anyone in the eye then, but frustration and embarrassment were welling up in her chest.


    The teacher did no more than give her a questioning look before turning to the rest of the class. ¡°Prince Jayden,¡± the woman called out.


    Elizah slowly lifted her head and looked up to see the prince¡¯s lanky frame in the last seat. His green eyes were fearful, and he seemed scared once again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. I was never told,¡± Jayden responded softly in a barely audible tone.


    There were no snickers or whispers this time, and instead, there was a silence that set over the room.


    ¡°It was the cause of fear in the heart of the kingdom from that small destiny. Surely there has to be something important about it?¡± A student, who Elizah recognized as a higher official¡¯s son.


    ¡°The Prince has made it clear that he doesn¡¯t want us to know even if he does know,¡± The teacher said, and they glared at Jayden before they went back to the discussion.


    Elizah buried her head in her hands to avoid the stares of the others and their questioning gazes. The whispering only grew louder around her. She knew that the words she had just said were going to land her in more trouble than usual.


    <hr>


    Jayden waited until he was the only one left in the class. He enjoyed the peace in the empty class. He spent time walking around the room and walked to the big open window and saw a group of students huddled around someone.


    He stepped outside to see what had caused a commotion. He put the hood of his cloak up and watched from the sidelines.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t your father ever teach you to leave the fighting for the men only? Oh right, your father ran away didn¡¯t he? What a coward, just like his daughter,¡± A boy¡¯s voice was evident over the commotion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t dare insult my father, and fighting is for anyone with the heart for it,¡± a girl¡¯s voice, with fury in her tone, ¡°Are you challenging me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll go down easily, wimp, no challenge,¡± the boy¡¯s voice said, ¡°You better run when you have the chance.¡±


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    ¡°I¡¯m not running away unless you¡¯re scared of me,¡± the girl¡¯s voice said.


    The boy laughed, ¡°Give up when you have the chance to.¡±


    ¡°You asked for it,¡± the girl¡¯s voice responded.


    Jayden had made his way to the edge of the circle and had a complete view of the two in the centre. The boy was tall and quite muscled for his age, and the girl was none other than Elizah, who stood no chance against the other boy with her skinny and petite build.


    Elizah¡¯s fist moved and connected quickly with the boy¡¯s stomach causing the boy to stumble momentarily as if stunned by the attack. But after that moment, the boy recoiled back with a swift blow, which Elizah managed to deflect with ease.


    The boy, however, took advantage of Elizah¡¯s position and struck at her face, which she couldn¡¯t dodge away from in time and landed hard on her cheek. She didn¡¯t fall back yet and continued to lash out, but her tries were in vain as the boy took advantage of his larger build to land a punch on Elizah¡¯s stomach which made her fall into the snow. She tried to get up but slipped due to the snow.


    The boy landed another kick to her stomach, and Elizah coughed. While the boy was focused on her coughing, he didn¡¯t notice Elizah¡¯s hand at his foot. Elizah pulled his foot, and the boy fell flat on the ground. Suddenly, the crowd fell silent. They couldn¡¯t believe what they were watching. Slowly, the boy¡¯s friends helped him up and tried to move him away. The crowd suddenly dispersed, and Elizah was still left on the ground and was unable to get up.


    Jayden just looked over at her and thought for a moment about what people would say if he helped her. But he immediately pushed those thoughts away before walking up to her.


    ¡°Here take my hand,¡± Jayden offered to Elizah, and she accepted the gesture.


    She winced slightly but managed to stand up. ¡°Thank you,¡± She said and managed a small smile.


    She tried to walk and clutched her side, but still, it was evident that she was in some amount of pain.


    ¡°Here, it¡¯s best if you rest a bit before you head home. I know a silent place where no one usually is,¡± Jayden said as he put an arm around her. Elizah was surprised by all of this, but she reluctantly nodded as Jayden led her into the forest.


    <hr>


    ¡°We aren¡¯t supposed to be here,¡± Elizah said as she broke the silence.


    She hadn¡¯t said a word since the two of them left the school grounds. Mostly she was wondering what exactly the prince was doing this far in the woods. The woods were a place of forbidden entry by order of the king due to some magic around the region.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. The guards don¡¯t usually do checks in this region,¡± Jayden responded.


    They soon reached a small clearing with lush green grass and warmth and tall trees surrounding it.


    ¡°How is that even possible¡­¡± Elizah said as she gasped and looked around, limping her way forward.


    The area was like a small springtime oasis amid the cold winter outside. The grass was still fresh with dew, and small white flowers were blooming around. There was a large pond, which surprisingly hadn¡¯t frozen over in the cold, and its water seemed like a mirror. On closer inspection, the water even appeared to be glowing. The sky wasn¡¯t seen under the canopy of the large, green trees, but it wasn¡¯t too dark or too bright.


    ¡°I was always drawn to this place. It¡¯s where I can be alone and peaceful,¡± Jayden said as he rested on the trunk of a tree.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Elizah said in awe as she settled in the grass. She put her hand close to the glowing water, and Jayden stopped her instantly.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you, the water has some strange abilities,¡± Jayden said, and Elizah retracted her hand.


    An utter silence settled over the two of them, which was only filled by the chirping of birds and the occasional ripple of water.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Elizah said with a small laugh, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t shown up, I would have probably been there in the grass for hours, your Highness.¡±


    ¡°You have no reason to thank me,¡± Jayden said, ¡°I¡¯m impressed by your skill if I am being honest. If the boy had challenged me, I would have been in big trouble, and please call me Jayden.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Elizah asked, mildly confused.


    ¡°I can¡¯t even aim a dagger right, let alone fight with it,¡± Jayden responded with a bitter laugh.


    Elizah¡¯s eyes widened as she turned to look at him.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± she asked incredulously.


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying. I¡¯m terrible with a dagger or a sword in general,¡± Jayden said.


    ¡°But you¡¯re the prince-¡± Elizah began.


    ¡°So what if I¡¯m the prince? Does that automatically mean that I have to be perfect? Because I know I¡¯m not,¡± Jayden said, with a mild note of frustration in his voice.


    Jayden¡¯s sudden change in tone had surprised Elizah, so another awkward silence set over them.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that. It wasn¡¯t directed at you. I just hate how everyone expects me to be flawless at everything,¡± Jayden said softly.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m a bit of a hothead myself,¡± Elizah said with a small smile, ¡°Besides, it¡¯s okay if you¡¯re not the best at everything, no one is.¡±


    ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± Jayden asked her.


    Elizah nodded and looked up at him from the blade of grass she was toying with.


    ¡°Why are you always looking at me with so much curiosity?¡± Jayden asked.


    Elizah turned slightly red at that and said and said, ¡°I was surprised to hear there was someone else like me, and I wanted to get to know you if you give me a chance.¡±


    ¡°Hm. What do you mean give you a chance? I doubt you have done something despicable,¡± Jayden said as he looked at her curiously.


    ¡°You know, the rumours about me. I assume you have heard them,¡± Elizah said as she buried her head in her knees.


    Jayden raised his eyebrows, he had heard people telling him to avoid Elizah, but none of it made sense.


    ¡°I heard them, but none of them make any sense,¡± Jayden said, and Elizah looked up.


    ¡°What¡¯s so hard to understand? My father was a traitor, so potentially I could be one too,¡± Elizah was nearly shouting now, and tears were brimming in her eyes. Because of the number of times she had heard this, she had slowly begun to accept it as the truth.


    ¡°That has nothing to do with you, you are your own person after all,¡± Jayden¡¯s voice was gentle, and Elizah was surprised by his reaction.


    ¡°Then explain to me why my brother was taken. If he isn¡¯t bound by my father¡¯s mistakes, why haven¡¯t I seen him in eight years now?¡± Elizah asked accusingly, and Jayden gave her a confused look.


    ¡°Your brother was taken as payment for your father¡¯s mistakes?¡± Jayden asked, and Elizah nodded.


    ¡°He was taken when I was young, so I don¡¯t know the details. All I remember was my mother¡¯s friend blaming my father¡¯s mistakes. He joined the ground troops is what he tells me in his letters, but I wish I could see him again,¡± Elizah said with a sigh, and Jayden was surprised by this accusation.


    Elizah was suddenly startled as she looked at her pocket watch and said, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I have to leave. I have to help my mother with chores back home. We¡¯ll talk another time.¡±


    Elizah slowly stood up and winced slightly but could walk soon enough with a limp. She waved at Jayden, and he waved back. After Elizah disappeared into the woods, Jayden laid down on the grass, wondering what truly happened to Elizah¡¯s family.


    <hr>

 Chapter 3 - Questions and Answers

    Jayden Larkspear waited patiently outside his father''s chambers for the doors to open. He usually never wanted anything to do with the king and his work, but this time wasn''t one of them.


    Elizah''s story left him with too many questions and not enough answers. So he decided to approach the only one he could think of that knew all the answers.


    "Come in," he heard his father''s gruff voice say.


    Jayden took a sharp breath and walked into the large room. He rarely came around to this part of the castle, but whenever he did, he always was astonished by the design and how it was maintained neatly.


    The large lamps were dangling from different parts of the room, making the room seem brighter than it was. Cyprian Larkspear was seated at the head of a large table with many papers stacked in front of him, and Noxaura''s eyebrows raised at the sight of her son.


    "What do you want Jayden?" Noxaura asked him as she looked him straight in the eye.


    Jayden immediately tore away from her gaze. He never could manage to look anyone directly in the eye while talking to them. His mother''s gaze somewhat always seemed like she was digging through the depths of his soul.


    "Father, I need to talk to you about something important," Jayden said. He added a tone that suggested that it wasn''t any of Noxaura''s business. Still, Noxaura didn''t seem to care, and she remained in the room.


    Cyprian''s gaze flicked up to see his son''s nervous figure looking around the room.


    "Whatever the matter is, I have every right to know as well, being the queen and all. So tell us, whatever is the matter?" Noxaura asked as if she was mocking a foolish deed by a child.


    "It''s about someone in the schoolhouse. Is there a story of someone by the name of Liran Cohen?" Jayden asked. He had heard Elizah''s father''s name from the noble''s children, but he wasn''t sure if it was the right person.


    All of a sudden, a strange silence fell in the room. Even Noxaura, who had a mocking gaze until then, turned to Cyprian and shared a surprised glance.


    "Yes, but his name is something we don''t mention here Jayden, I am sorry I can not tell you more than that," Cyprian replied.


    "But I-" Jayden began, but Cyprian gave him a gaze that suggested not to question further, and Noxaura had surprisingly gone entirely silent. Jayden just sighed and turned around to leave but remembered something else he needed to convey.


    "I will be leaving tomorrow to train with the troops down south. I will be back in a few days," Jayden said and turned back around.


    Cyprian nodded, "Good. Also, review the trainees who I planned to dismiss while you are there."


    Jayden gave a swift nod before he walked out, left with even more questions than he had wanted to ask before.


    "Well there''s only one last person to ask, I doubt he knows enough," Jayden sighed as he headed to his room to pack his belongings for the next day.


    <hr>


    After a long day of riding, Jayden had arrived at the troops'' training location down at the southern part of the island. Even though Jayden had no abilities whatsoever when it came to combat, he was in charge of checking the quality of the troops. His father sent him to go check on the troops'' morale in hopes that Jayden would have people to talk to, and he didn''t get too lonely.


    It was a tedious journey, but Jayden rather enjoyed it in the hopes that watching all of them train would somehow help him learn more. Jayden left his belongings in his tent and decided to go around the camp to find the person he was looking for.


    He was sure he had seen a soldier by the name of Cohen in these camps, so he thought it was worth a shot to come to find the particular soldier.


    "Um, excuse me, do you know where a soldier by the name Cohen is?" Jayden asked two older men who were talking, and they both thought for a moment before saying.


    "Ah, you mean Micah? His tent is around that side. He is typically with the General at this time though," The man said as he pointed somewhere to the left.


    "Thank you, I will check around there," Jayden said, and he walked through the rows of tents that were set up in the area. These troops were deployed mainly to scout the coast in case of attack from the various islands to the south that weren''t on good terms with the Larkspear family. As of now, there was no war, but there was no telling when one could break out.


    After asking around a few more times, Jayden ended up outside a neatly set up tent, where he heard two voices from the inside getting louder and louder. Jayden didn''t realize it until it was too late.


    "I''m telling you W-" A voice said, and the owner bumped straight into Jayden, who had been standing at the entrance. The man who had bumped into Jayden was much taller than him; he had red hair and grey eyes. There was another man by his side. The two unknown figures seemed momentarily confused while Jayden held his head to steady himself.


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    "I''m sorry," Jayden said, and he looked to the side and noticed something strange. The two men were holding hands.


    Upon realizing that Jayden had seen them, the two men''s hands slipped out of each other''s grasp.


    "Wait a moment, if I''m not mistaken, you are the prince, aren''t you?" The other man suddenly spoke, and Jayden nodded. A spark of worry flashed between the two mens'' gazes.


    "I''m not here for anything important. I just came looking for someone named Micah Cohen," Jayden said as he looked at the floor, trying to hide his fear.


    "That''s me," the man Jayden had bumped into said with a cautious gaze, "What do you need me for?"


    "Can I speak to you in private? I want to ask you something," Jayden asked, and Micah looked confused.


    "Alright, I''ll lend Micah to you, on one condition," the other man said, and Jayden looked over at him.


    "You don''t mention what you just saw to anyone," Micah said, and Jayden was confused but nodded rapidly nonetheless.


    "Go ahead Micah, he seems to be genuine," the other man said with a small smile. Micah sighed before lightly punching the other man on the shoulder. He sighed again and gestured for Jayden to enter the tent.


    "This is probably the most private place here," Micah said as he sat down while Jayden just looked at the tent in amazement. A small table was set up with two chairs, and a lamp and some beds rolled up at one side of the room. On the other, there was a large shelf of weapons. The tent looked so small from the outside, but it was filled with different things inside.


    "So, what did you want to talk about, your highness," Micah said, and Jayden could hear the mocking in those words.


    "No need to be so formal. This isn''t official business," Jayden said, and Micah tilted his head.


    "Are you Elizah''s brother?" Jayden asked, and Micah looked surprised.


    "Yes. I am," Micah answered, his tone carrying caution.


    "I met your sister a few days ago, and I''ve heard some things about your family from her," Jayden said, and Micah''s brows rose suddenly.


    "You met Elizah? How is she?" Micah asked Jayden excitedly.


    "She''s fine, but she misses you," Jayden replied with a small smile, and Micah just looked up with a nostalgic gaze.


    "It''s been a while since I left home," Micah sighed and said, "So what does that have to do with you coming here?"


    "I heard a lot of rumors about your family, but I couldn''t find the full story behind it. So I was hoping you could explain something about it," Jayden said, and Micah''s gaze darkened.


    "Ah. I assume even the king and queen didn''t want to answer your question," Micah said, and Jayden nodded.


    "Well, some of the rumors are true, while others are false," Micah said, and Jayden listened intently.


    "My father was a part of the knights," Micah continued, "And he was a part of the main troops during the battle with Draconis."


    Jayden''s eyes widened. Draconis was a kingdom that shared borders with the Larkspear territories, but Draconis was crushed by the Larkspear kingdom many years ago.


    "But at the last minute, my father left the front lines and returned home. So a lot of the rumors began to treat him as a traitor," Micah revealed slowly, and Jayden was shocked.


    "Why would he do that at such a crucial moment?" Jayden asked, and Micah''s gaze turned darker.


    "His best friend almost died, and my sister was born," Micah said, and Jayden fell silent.


    "Then the people should have understood right? And in the end, the Larkspear kingdom still won," Jayden questioned Micah in confusion, and Micah shook his head.


    "Maybe they would have if he had returned to the front lines after all of this. But he was never seen again after he left here," Micah said, "Sometimes I hope that I could be the knight my father was unable to be."


    Jayden looked at Micah with a new sense of admiration, "So you joined the troops of your own will?"


    Micah nodded. Jayden gave him a confused look, "But Elizah said you were forced?"


    Micah shook his head and said, "She was far too young to remember. I left right when I turned 16, and now it has been 8 years already."


    "But you never returned home after that?" Jayden asked, and Micah just sighed.


    "Sadly, no. I''m worried too much about what could happen here because there is someone here I need to protect," Micah said. He looked towards the door, and Jayden gave him a confused glance but just sat silently.


    "You don''t know when a war could break out here and people could die. And that thought terrifies me," Micah admitted, and Jayden understood his fears.


    "But, a few weeks won''t be too bad, please just think it over. Elizah''s birthday is in a few days and I know she would love to see you," Jayden asked, and he was conflicted by his own actions. Sure he only had met the girl once, but he wanted to make her happy. It was a strange feeling.


    "Got to say I agree with the prince on this one Micah," the other man from earlier said as he walked in.


    "You were eavesdropping?" Micah asked incredulously, and the other man just laughed.


    He had long brown hair tied up in a ponytail and bright blue eyes. His laugh was the type that made everyone else want to laugh.


    "Micah, I promise I didn''t. I just heard the last few sentences," the man said, "but he has a point you know."


    The man walked over to Micah and gently played with his hair, and bent down to whisper something in Micah''s ear before Micah turned red in the face and lightly punched the other man.


    "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I''m William, the General of this unit," the man said, and Jayden''s eyes widened.


    "And Micah here is my direct subordinate," William said, and Micah gave him an indignant glance as if the title annoyed him.


    "So, can you give him the permission to leave for a few weeks? OR rather force him to take a break?" Jayden asked, and William was surprised but laughed immediately.


    "Aren''t you a smart one? I have been trying to get him to leave for a while. I could just do that instead. Micah, think it over," William said and grinned at Jayden.


    "Anyway, if you''ve got nothing else to say, I assume you have much more to do. It was nice to speak to you," Micah said as he glared at William before turning to Jayden. Jayden also noticed Micah''s ears grow red ever since William had walked in.


    Jayden nodded, "Same to you."


    He walked out the entrance to the tent, hoping that his conversation with Micah could help bring a smile to Elizah''s face.


    <hr>

 Chapter 4-Reunion

    A few days later, a knock sounded in the Cohen household early in the morning. It was Elizah¡¯s birthday, and Roxanne was already up at the crack of dawn trying to make her daughter¡¯s day a little bit special.


    She frowned when she heard the knock at the door. As far as she knew, no one came around their household this early.


    She slowly walked out to the door and saw a young man¡¯s frame in the doorway. He had gentle grey eyes, and his hair was light red.


    ¡°I¡¯m home mama,¡± the man at the door said. He smiled shyly.


    Roxanne recognized him instantly. Despite it being eight years since she had last seen her son, to her, he hadn¡¯t changed in the slightest.


    ¡°Micah,¡± she was overwhelmed by joy as tears began to stream down her cheeks. Micah stepped forward, and Roxanne threw her arms around him. She held him tightly in an embrace until Micah smiled and wiped the tears off his mother¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I missed you so much,¡± Micahicah said.


    ¡°But, how¡­¡± Roxanne managed. She was in disbelief that any of this was happening.


    ¡°I decided only at the last minute. Where¡¯s Elizah?¡± Micah asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s still asleep. I was going to wake her a bit late because I didn¡¯t want her doing chores on her birthday,¡± Roxanne said with a small smile.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wake her,¡± Micah said as he walked over to the bedroom, which he had shared with Elizah when they were younger.


    There he saw a young woman with blonde hair sleeping peacefully. She was far from the Elizah that Micah had last remembered.


    Micah smiled as he sat down by the side of her bed and bent down to her ear.


    ¡°Happy birthday Liz,¡± he whispered in Elizah¡¯s ear.


    Elizah awoke with a start and flinched when she sat up. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the smiling face in front of her.


    She didn¡¯t understand who was in front of her for a moment, but as she looked at him, it soon started to make sense.


    ¡°Micah,¡± she said with a gasp, and Micah nodded, and Elizah¡¯s eyes widened.


    Micah opened his arms wide for an embrace with his sister. ¡°You¡¯ve grown up,¡± he said as he looked at her.


    She still had the tan and freckles that resulted from the long and hard toiling in the fields. Her golden blonde hair was braided behind her as usual, but she was much taller and skinnier than when he¡¯d last seen her.


    ¡°What do you think will happen in eight years? I¡¯d stay the same when you¡¯ve grown up so much?¡± Elizah asked, and Micah laughed. Elizah turned her face indignantly, and Micah was surprised by what he saw on her face.


    He looked at a fading bluish-purple bruise on Elizah¡¯s cheekbone.


    ¡°Liz, who did this to you?¡± he asked and reached out to gently caress the wound. He¡¯d personally make sure the person regretted even trying to hurt his sister.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a long story I¡¯ll save for later,¡± Elizah said with a smile, ¡°Besides, I have to get ready to go watch the parade.¡±


    ¡°Wait, I have something for you,¡± Micah said, and he pulled out a large sword from his belt.


    ¡°I want you to have this, I know how you¡¯ve always dreamed of using a sword like this,¡± Micah said and handed the sword over to Elizah. ¡°My gift to you on this special day.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Elizah said as she admired the blade. It was still gleaming and shiny like it had been polished only the day before. Micah smiled and gently rubbed his sister¡¯s head.


    ¡°Elizah, we¡¯re going to be late,¡± Roxanne called out from the other room.


    Elizah put the blade under the straw mattress she used as a bed.


    ¡°How did you manage to come home?¡± Elizah asked as Micah began to walk out of the room.


    ¡°I managed to convince the leader to let me off for a few weeks,¡± Micah said with a grin, hiding his lies. The real reason would be too confusing to explain, so he decided not to go into the details. If he had told her that he had been forced to take days off by the Prince himself, Elizah would be concerned.


    ¡°Wait, so you¡¯re going to be here for a while?¡± Elizah asked, and her eyes lit up, and Micah nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s great! I have so much to tell you while you¡¯re here. But first, let¡¯s go to the parade or mama is going to be angry, ¡°Elizah said with a wide smile. Micah couldn¡¯t help but smile as well, realizing that the decision he had made was correct.


    <hr>


    Jayden Larkspear slowly walked down the palace courtyard. He was wearing a cloak so that he wouldn¡¯t get caught heading to the pond. He needed some peace and quiet, and that was the only place he could go to.


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    The parade and the whole crowd had been far too exhausting, and he needed to relax a bit before he could return to the palace for the banquet that evening. He knew if he decided to stay in the castle, there would be someone or the other who would come looking for him and ask him about something stupid like the colour of the tablecloth for the banquet.


    This wasn¡¯t one of Jayden¡¯s favourite things, nor was the banquet his idea. But, Cyprian and Noxaura felt that it would help to improve the public image that Jayden had. As of late, both Cyprian and Noxaura had planned multiple things to improve Jayden¡¯s appearance with the people. But to Jayden, what meant the most to him was how people were treated in the empire. He never cared about the various banquets and parades held in his honour.


    He walked through the forest as he was lost in thought about the things he¡¯d like to change when he became the king after his father¡¯s time. If he was to become king was the big question since his parents always felt that he wasn¡¯t worth the position. Sometimes Jayden was hurt by those words, but at other times he thought that it would be fine no matter where he ended up. He stepped through the forest carefully and almost gasped at how the area was practically glowing.


    The enthralling scenic beauty of the pond still managed to surprise him, despite the number of times he¡¯d come to the pond. It felt relaxing by the water, like a second home but not exactly. Sometimes it felt more like home than the palace ever had been, so that¡¯s mainly why he had come here instead of going back home to rest.


    He pushed the vines that led to the clearing and saw someone already settled in the grass.


    ¡°Elizah?¡± Jayden asked, and she turned around to look at him.


    The bluish-purple bruise was concealed by powder, and for once, her hair wasn¡¯t as messy as usual. Most surprisingly, she had a warm and joyous smile alighting her face.


    ¡°I came here because I like the peaceful silence. It seems somewhat welcoming,¡± Elizah said as she almost jumped up from the grass, ¡°Am I not supposed to? If so I¡¯m sorry, I have been coming here to find some peace and quiet even in the last few days when you weren¡¯t around.¡±


    Jayden shook his head and smiled slightly, ¡°That¡¯s completely fine. Sorry, I had some work my father wanted me to do so I headed over to the camps where the troops are.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you went down to the area where the troops were training? By any chance were you part of the reason Micah came home?¡± Elizah asked with a surprised glance.


    Jayden was surprised by her question, ¡°He came home? He had been so stubborn when I went to see him, maybe Ivan had managed to convince him.¡±


    The very thought of that made Jayden laugh, but he looked over to see Elizah confused.


    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t understand a majority of what you said but I see you did help, so thank you. I thought it was a miracle of the spirits,¡± said softly.


    ¡°I promise I didn¡¯t do much,¡± Jayden said, but he was more intrigued by something else Elizah just said rather than her thanks.


    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®spirits¡¯?¡± Jayden asked, confused by the girl¡¯s words. Elizah gave him an incredulous look as if he had just questioned something that should have been obvious.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you don¡¯t know about them. The four guarding spirits of the magic types. I suppose you¡¯ve heard of them?¡± Elizah replied, and Jayden just shook his head. Elizah blinked a few times in absolute shock.


    ¡°They maintained balance and made sure the power fell only into the right hands. It was an important part of the history of the island. My mother has told me multiple stories about them, it seems they were something my father enjoyed.,¡± Elizah continued.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Jayden said, listening keenly, but he knew if he asked her more about this, she might think he was strange. Instead, he decided to look this up in the archives under the palace about the magic types and the stories after he headed home.


    A silent solitude existed between them for a couple of moments until Jayden suddenly remembered something he was carrying.


    ¡°I brought something for you,¡± he said as he took out a sheathed dagger.


    The sheath was painted to match the pond¡¯s beauty in hues of blue and green, while the blade inside had a hilt shaped like a wolf-like the Larkspear crest.


    Elizah gently took it and observed the gleaming blade.


    ¡°Keep it with you at all times, it might come in handy when you pick a fight. It¡¯s of no use to me anyway. It might as well come in handy to someone who has the spirit of a fighter,¡± Jayden said with a smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Elizah said, and her eyes were gleaming, ¡°Did you paint the pattern?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s something I enjoy doing,¡± Jayden said.


    ¡°I have something for you as well. It might not be as great as what the palace cooks make but it¡¯s something small,¡± Elizah said as she took the blade in her hands.


    She took a small pouch from the larger bag she was carrying and handed it to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s my way of saying thanks,¡± she said, and she stood up, ¡°I have a couple of errands to run and Micah will be worried if I¡¯m out for too long. I¡¯ll be here later if you have anything you want to say. You¡¯ve been really helpful, now it¡¯s my turn to return the favor. I¡¯ll see you around here tomorrow?¡±


    Jayden gave her a nod and watched as she disappeared behind the thick vegetation before he opened the small pouch she had handed to him.


    Inside, there were small biscuits that were powdered with sugar and some with jam on them. Jayden smiled as he closed the pouch once more and kept it by his side.


    While he had initially come here with the thought of getting some rest, he had something else in mind. He made sure that no one was around and then began to focus. There was something that had been bothering him lately.


    He seemed somewhat easily agitated and on edge than usual. He wasn¡¯t able to sleep well either. It was like there was some strange energy flowing inside him.


    He closed his eyes and waited for a couple of moments until he felt a sudden warmth in his palm. He opened his eyes with a jolt to see a spark of a flame floating above the centre of his palm.


    He brought his other hand closer to the flame and began to touch it. The spark grew to form a small ball of flame in his palm, and Jayden just observed in awe.


    Is this magic? Jayden wondered.


    The ball of flame suddenly vanished when a breeze caught him by surprise. All of the energy that had been flowing inside him suddenly sunk away, and he felt exhausted like he¡¯d feel after a long day of training on the grounds.


    He managed to remove one of the cookies and nibbled on it as the sugary taste filled his mouth.


    He found strength once more. He slowly stood up and surveyed the area to check if anyone had noticed what he¡¯d done and if any imprints were left behind that showed that he¡¯d stayed there.


    He started walking back home with a new thought in his mind.


    I need to learn more about this as soon as possible, He thought to himself and hurried back to the castle to see the archives immediately.


    <hr>

 Chapter 5 - Secrets

    Jayden rushed down to the archival chambers in the castle. They were usually well guarded by the soldiers who watched the chambers all day and night long, but today being the banquet, the guard was spread thin, and it wasn¡¯t difficult for Jayden to make his way through. However, convincing his mother that he wasn¡¯t feeling well and wanted to miss the banquet was harder. Despite his excitement to figure out the truth about his abilities, he waited patiently until a few hours after the feast had begun before he took his leave, saying that he wasn¡¯t feeling good. At that point, even his mother didn¡¯t protest and let him go quite easily.


    He¡¯d chosen a black cloak, which helped him hide in the shadows and keep the king and the others from finding out about what was going on.


    He turned to the locked doorway where two guards were busy discussing something. He took the key he¡¯d stolen from his father¡¯s room and looked the two guards in the eye before they acknowledged his presence.


    He turned the lock, and the giant iron gate swung open. The room was dark with only the light of the candle that Jayden had already been carrying. He waved the candle around to get a good look around. Most of these books were about magic, to his surprise. Since the decree had come into effect almost sixteen years ago, making the public practice of magic a punishable offence, these books were hard to find. A large number of books about magic had been purged, so Jayden was surprised to find many books on the topic here.


    There were full shelves with books on various subjects related to magic and potion recipes. There were also a variety of pouches and amulets as well for which Jayden didn¡¯t understand the purpose of.


    He picked out a large bound book with fraying edges, titled ¡®A Basic Study of Magic¡¯. He dusted the volume and settled on the ground to read through it.


    He tried to flip through the pages, but the text inside had either been smudged or covered by layers of ashes. Some other pages were torn out and burned away, and his earlier surprise vanished instantly.


    Jayden gave a sigh and put the book back on the shelf, and tried to find a useful scroll in the piles spread around him, but the language was far too different and difficult to understand.


    The mild feeling of exhaustion that had existed as he came out of the forest had begun to make him feel dizzy and faint. He decided it was best he headed before things got worse since someone could find him here.


    He gave up on searching for any good information about magic and snuffed the candle before he locked the gates and went back up to the corridor.


    He was lost in thought about what his powers really were that he didn¡¯t realize Noxaura coming towards him and bumped into her.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Jayden said, and he felt the world spinning even more than before as he looked up, so he bowed his head.


    ¡°Where were you?¡± she asked as she observed his dusty cloak and clothes as well as the soot on his hands, face, and hair.


    ¡°I¡¯d gone to check the archives,¡± he answered with all the strength he could muster.


    Noxaura raised an eyebrow at him and asked, ¡°And whatever for?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to search for a relic down there,¡± Jayden lied.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, Jayden. If I find the real reason you were down there, you¡¯ll be in big trouble,¡± Noxaura taunted.


    ¡°Why? Don¡¯t I have every right to roam freely in the castle?¡± Jayden asked angrily. He was tired of always listening to all of her restrictions and just wanted some rest.


    ¡°Careful with your tongue, young prince,¡± She said as she looked Jayden in the eye, ¡°I have every right to tell you what you can and can¡¯t do. More answers like that and your title will be at stake.¡±


    Jayden was stunned by her response and kept quiet for his own safety. He gave her a nod and walked back up to his chambers in the large tower of the castle.


    There was no way she could do anything like that to me, was there? Jayden wondered. But all of these thoughts vanished as soon as he managed to make it to his chambers. He went over to the bed and fell fast asleep.


    <hr>


    Elizah was seated at the piano and playing one of the songs she¡¯d learned from her mother while Micah stood and watched how her fingers went across the keys quickly and with a gentle grace.


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    ¡°You missed a note,¡± Micah said as he pointed to the sheet of music.


    ¡°As if you know how to play,¡± Elizah said with a short laugh.


    ¡°Is that a challenge?¡± Micah asked with laughter dancing in his eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s all yours,¡± Elizah stood up and offered the chair to her brother.


    Micah settled and was about to set his hands on the keys when there was a knock at the door.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± Elizah said as she rushed over to the door and opened it. Her step-siblings and stepfather were waiting outside.


    ¡°Mama, they¡¯re home,¡± Elizah said as she went over to the kitchen to set the table for dinner. She ushered them inside and closed the door behind them.


    Micah managed to grasp Elizah¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°Where are you headed?¡±


    The humour of their earlier conversation had disappeared from Elizah¡¯s eyes, replaced by what seemed to be fear.


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain later,¡± Elizah managed to whisper as she hurried back to the kitchen.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this young lad here?¡± the man who entered asked as he walked up to Micah.


    Micah stood up from the chair near the piano and looked at the man who now stood in front of him.


    ¡°I¡¯m Roxanne¡¯s first-born son. She hasn¡¯t mentioned me?¡± Micah asked in an even tone.


    ¡°Roxy, you brought the other ungrateful bastard home again? I thought we already had enough mouths to feed in this house, and now you brought this one back as well,¡± The man was shouting.


    Elizah visibly winced as she walked over and placed the boiling stew on the table.


    ¡°He came home after many years, this is still his home after all,¡± Elizah softly said.


    ¡°Watch your tongue, young lady,¡± The man said with a glare in Elizah¡¯s direction,¡± Oh, so he wasn¡¯t strong enough for the troops so they sent him back. Serves him right.¡±


    The man continued as he sat down at the table.


    Micah¡¯s face, which was initially surprised, now started to grow slightly annoyed, and he began to say,¡± I¡¯ll have you know-¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t start a fight,¡± Roxanne whispered to her son, ¡°Elizah will explain later.¡±


    Micah slowly sat down with a grim expression, and the rest of the meal continued in silence.


    Roxanne signalled for Elizah and Micah to leave the room as soon as the plates were cleared.


    Micah gave a questioning expression but followed his sister out of the hall and into Elizah¡¯s room.


    ¡°Who is that man?¡± Micah asked as soon as Elizah shut the door behind her.


    ¡°Shh. Keep it down. We don¡¯t need stepfather yelling like a madman after us,¡± Elizah said as she settled on her bed.


    ¡°That¡¯s stepfather?¡± Micah asked in disbelief.


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s had one of his bad days at the market, so he¡¯s a little hot-tempered, he¡¯s not usually like this,¡± Elizah lied.


    Every day is like this, Micah, she wanted to say, but she knew that would only cause trouble.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Micah said with a yawn, and his gaze was wary, ¡°I¡¯m really tired today so I¡¯m going to sleep early.¡±


    He settled on the other straw mattress that was set for him.


    ¡°Good night Liz,¡± Micah managed before he began to snore as he fell into a deep sleep. Elizah smiled momentarily before reaching over and opening the book she kept under her bed and began to translate. It was what diverted her anger when days were like this. The script was challenging, but it was interesting to understand the passages in the story.


    She had been translating for a while when she finally decided to close the book for the night. Her thoughts weren¡¯t on the story but far beyond. It had grown late, and it was almost the dead of the night. But she could still hear voices outside.


    Elizah was surprised by the loud noises since it was so late and everyone was usually asleep by then.


    It was a heated conversation, by what bits and pieces Elizah managed to hear. One voice was undoubtedly Roxanne¡¯s soft and gentle voice, but the other was the more loud one. It sounded like her stepfather¡¯s voice, but the voice wasn¡¯t clear enough to recognize perfectly. It was a man¡¯s voice but was very heavy and slurred for it to be anyone Elizah knew.


    She didn¡¯t want to go outside to see what was going on in fear of what she might see. She lay atop her bed, just lost in thoughts as the sounds grew louder, wondering what might happen as a result of this conversation.


    <hr>


    A cloaked figure went down to the archives through the main entrance without being detected. The books were still left in their places from when the last person had used them. Some of the pages were left open.


    The person sat down, went through the books on the table, and observed the writing and torn pages.


    ¡°How did you get past the guards?¡± a voice suddenly came out from the archway.


    ¡°You know my tricks,¡± the seated person replied calmly.


    ¡°It happened today if you want to know. His type is a battle type but he doesn¡¯t know it,¡± the seated person said.


    ¡°So everything¡¯s going according to plan?¡± a person near the gateway said and stepped forward.


    ¡°One half is. The other half, we don¡¯t know what to expect yet,¡± the seated person answered and closed the books.


    ¡°But¡­¡± the other began.


    ¡°It¡¯s no longer safe here. We¡¯ll meet again when the plan¡¯s finally into the next stage. Until then nothing is for certain,¡± the seated person stood up and walked up to the other person.


    ¡°So we shall,¡± the other said, and they headed their separate ways.

 Chapter 6 - Trials and Training

    Prince Jayden Larkspear was lying on the sofa engrossed deeply in one of the books he had found at his doorstep the night after the strange occurrence. They were all facts about magic, but the letters were slightly faded, and the font was difficult to read. So far, only a few small things had clicked about how ''it'' could possibly be used and of what it even was.


    He let out a sigh and walked over to place the book in a drawer in his desk. He managed to get away from the desk and eased himself to a chair near his table. His training had been rigorous, and he had been pushed beyond his limits. All his joints were crying out in pain and rebelling against every movement he was making. He wanted to fall asleep at that moment, but he knew he''d be in trouble if he was caught sleeping. He wouldn''t get any food later if he fell asleep then.


    He gathered himself up and headed out of his chambers, trying not to flinch. There was his training test tomorrow, which would prove him worthy of passing into the following training stages with the knights, but it seemed like he was going to fail by the looks of his luck.


    He made it to the large council chambers where he usually dined with his parents but waited outside at the mention of his name in hushed tones.


    "He won''t make it tomorrow," He heard his mother''s voice saying.


    "Have some faith, he will pull through," Cyprian answered.


    "He has a heart of a weakling. His standards of skill are much lower than those of his age," Noxaura replied sharply, "He can''t even wield a sword in the balanced position and you think he''ll stand a chance in the duel."


    Jayden knew that his mother was right. He had no faith in himself either. If he lost, it would be a blow to the king''s honour.


    "I believe in him, maybe he isn''t like the others but his heart cares. That Noxaura is the heart of a king who''ll always look for the best interest of his people over his honor. Maybe he just hasn''t found his path yet, but trust me, one day he''ll be a fine ruler," Cyprian said with confidence in his voice.


    Jayden chose that moment to stroll into the room. He couldn''t stand listening to their conversation any longer.


    Noxaura opened her mouth to say something but fell silent upon Jayden''s appearance.


    "Sorry, if I interrupted anything," Jayden said calmly and settled at the empty chair left for him.


    He noticed Noxaura''s fingers slide slowly onto Cyprian''s forearm.


    "No, we were just waiting for you to arrive," Noxaura said and looked Jayden in the eye.


    "It looks like training was tough on you today," Noxaura continued as she looked over at him.


    He went rigid and did nothing to hide the weariness inside him. He couldn''t. The rest of the meal passed in silence, with no one daring to break it. The tension between them was evident about the next day and what could happen.


    <hr>


    Elizah looked over the field that belonged to her family and wondered how long it would take to sow the seeds in for the next season. The weather was starting to warm up now that the winter had ended. The field had gone back to a stage when plants could be grown on it.


    This is my permanent job now. Elizah thought with a sigh. She''d completed the necessary level and age restriction for finishing her studies at the schoolhouse, so now it was time that she lived and helped with the household.


    She caught a glimpse of her reflection on one of the vessels. For once, she had to admit that her face looked as if she hadn''t slept in days. Which was entirely accurate. The noises she heard outside her room had only gotten worse after her birthday. As a result, her sleep had been disturbed.


    Her stream of thoughts were interrupted by the kettle whistling that the morning tea was ready. She quickly hurried and poured the tea into the cups and went to the table to serve them to her awaiting stepfather and brother.


    "If you were any later, we would be late to head to the city," her stepfather mumbled, and Elizah raised a brow.


    "Why are you heading out so early?" she asked Micah.


    "It''s the big day at the arena today. The testing duels are happening and the Prince is in them. It''s the talk of the town," Micah said.


    At the mention of the Prince, she remembered how he said that he wasn''t that good at any fighting skills. She uttered a small prayer to the spirits in his name for good measure, even if they were or weren''t real.


    "So Elizah is doing the sowing today. Have at least a few rows neatly done by the time I get back," her stepfather said, interrupting her thoughts.


    Elizah stifled a groan. He needed the rows to be perfect, but to Elizah, she preferred just getting the job done. Perfection was a more challenging aspect for her to master.


    Roxanne appeared in the kitchen and smiled weakly at Elizah. Maybe she hadn''t noticed it before, but she could see the scattered greying streaks of age in her mother''s hair and slight wrinkles on her face, along with the dark circles under her eyes with a fear shining in them. It was unusual for her to look so worried when nothing was going on, but Elizah couldn''t understand it.


    Roxanne helped Elizah clear the trays and went into the kitchen. "Do you need a hand in the kitchen?" Elizah asked.


    Roxanne let out a sigh and said, "I wouldn''t want to bother you if you have any other work."


    "The field can wait. Looking after you should be my first priority," Elizah answered stubbornly.


    "Don''t try to pull yourself into my problems Liz," Roxanne said after a soft pause.


    "What''s happening? Tell me," Elizah asked, with a hint of worry in her voice.


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    "You wouldn''t believe me or even understand at your age. Forget about me and worry about your own house and brother," Roxanne said and went back to looking for the utensils for whatever she was planning on cooking.


    Elizah''s heart wanted to stay with her mother, but she knew if she didn''t finish the sowing, she''d be in a huge amount of trouble. With a sigh, she picked up the bag of seeds and walked out the door to head into the small field.


    <hr>


    Jayden was seated alone in the lush green grass that surrounded the pond. He wondered what his punishment would be if he went back to the castle.


    He heard footsteps drawing close towards the area where he was seated, and on impulse, stood ready in a position to fight.


    "It''s just me, no one to threaten you," he heard a gentle girl''s voice, and he settled back down as Elizah walked over.


    Her gown was covered in mud, and her face was glinting with sweat. She looked almost the same, but Jayden knew something was off about her.


    "I heard about your victory today. Congratulations," Elizah said and extended her hand to him.


    Jayden looked at her with a bewildered expression on his face. "I didn''t win¡­," he said, and Elizah put her hand down.


    "You''re the talk of the town because of your victory," she said and had a similar expression on her own face.


    "What did you hear?" Jayden asked intently.


    "I heard that you managed a good fight and it was shocking that you won," Elizah said.


    Jayden pushed down the laughter that was building up in his throat. "Well, you heard wrong. I was beaten terribly. The shocking fact is that they''re putting me into the next level even though they know I''m not that strong. It was to avoid the humiliation that my parents will have to face. That''s why I''m the talk of the town. I both passed and utterly failed at the same time."


    A silence existed between the two of them. Neither of them dared to break it and just looked into the reflecting water of the pond.


    "I''m really sorry to hear that," Elizah whispered after a while.


    Jayden just looked at her and, for the first time in his life, he was maintaining eye contact with someone. He observed her face and noticed the small details he usually didn''t pay much attention to in anyone.


    The freckles scattered on her face, the sharp cheekbones and the tanned skin tone, which was no doubt because of the hard farmyard labour. But Jayden also noticed the darkness under her eyes and the usually bright eyes seeming dull and worried. It was pretty evident that something was troubling her.


    "Is everything alright?" he asked, intending to find an answer.


    "I''m not exactly sure. There''s something going on, but can''t understand what exactly it is," Elizah said grimly.


    Jayden was left confused by her answer but decided he''d question her at another time.


    "I''ve been wanting to ask you something," Elizah began after a few moments, "Would you teach me how to defend myself? I''ve always wanted to. Just the basics would be fine too."


    She never wanted to be defenceless when threatened. Even the basics would help in any scenario.


    "You want me to teach you? I''m terrible at that myself. But if you''re eager to learn I could try and explain the techniques like the masters do. I won''t be able to demonstrate well enough, though . Who knows, you might even be better than I am, especially from what I''ve seen of your abilities from that day when you fought the other boy ," he said with a smile.


    "Are you serious?" Elizah asked, surprised. She didn''t think it would be this easy to convince him.


    Jayden only nodded. Elizah''s grim face suddenly disappeared and was replaced by joy.


    "Bring your brother''s sword and meet me here when you''re done with your daily chores. We''ll start tomorrow," Jayden said.


    Elizah just rushed up to him and caught him in an embrace, which had taken Jayden by surprise.


    "Thank you," she said one last time and, with the same smile, left for her home while Jayden laid back in the grass to relax a bit before he returned home.


    <hr>


    Jayden slammed the door behind him, and the noise would have echoed throughout the castle. He made it to his chambers without yelling at any of the servants in anger from his argument with Noxaura. He''d been struck hard on the face for the results of the match from earlier in the presence of the entire council. Unfortunately, the place on his cheek was also where a bruise was already developing from the duel earlier that day.


    Humiliation and shame engulfed Jayden, and without his own realization, a fireball grew in his palm. He looked at the ball in surprise. He hurriedly put his palm in a bucket of water that had been placed in the room.


    In the past few days, he had learnt a bit of magic thanks to the book he had gotten. He had learnt to make fire rise and fall gently and that his magic type was war or battle magic. He walked up to the candles on the walls and lit them one by one, and the emotions slowly subsided until the fire extinguished itself.


    The wave of exhaustion hit him again, but not as intense as the first time. He wasn''t too exhausted, so he decided to take some time to relax by painting instead.


    He slowly managed to get the easel into the small closet in his chambers. He sat on the floor and locked the door behind him when he was sure he had everything he needed to paint.


    The earlier image of Elizah came into clear picturization in his mind, and he got ready to paint.


    He wanted to make the painting perfect in every way he could. She was something that he couldn''t think of losing. And when he saw her, he always seemed a little more relaxed and calm, no matter how many things were going wrong around him.


    He continued on with his work until he managed the utter perfection he had wanted. He took the canvas and placed it with the other paintings in the closet. It was a masterpiece, and he felt a satisfaction unlike ever before after looking upon his handiwork.


    The room was starting to grow dark, and he knew someone would come around and place his meal inside while looking for him, considering everything that had happened that day. Also, it was quite apparent that Noxaura wouldn''t enjoy seeing him again, so it was best this way.


    He locked the door behind him and lay on the bed, lost in thought before he unknowingly fell asleep.


    <hr>


    Elizah waited by the pond and observed the crystalline surface of the water. It was quite surprising that no fish swam in the water. She was about to place her fingers in the water when she heard footsteps behind her.


    "I warned you about this before. Don''t touch it," Jayden said as he appeared with a sword by his side.


    "''I''m sorry," she said and picked up her sword. She stumbled in surprise at how difficult it was to hold. She couldn''t balance it in her hand, and the hilt seemed too heavy.


    "Try my sword, I''d expected that one to be too heavy. It was made for a fully grown man," Jayden said and handed her the hilt.


    She moved it in a fluid motion. Jayden noticed something peculiar about the way she was using the sword. Then it hit him.


    "You''re left-handed," he said more to himself than to her, and she nodded.


    "That actually makes things easier for me to show you. But I warn you I''m quite clumsy," Jayden said and began his instruction.


    It was surprising how Elizah had mastered most of the simple techniques easily. She was agile and swift, not missing a beat when she tried to imitate his own motions. A few hours passed quickly as he taught her.


    "That was amazing," he said when they were taking a break.


    "Thanks. I''ve watched Micah practice outside early at dawn when he thinks no one is watching him," Elizah said with a short laugh.


    "When I first tried these moves , my father still says I moved more like an oaf than a soldier," Jayden said, remembering fond memories.


    Elizah laughed at that. "Stepfather would be coming home by now. I better hurry back. You don''t know how angry when things don''t go right as he wants them to go," Elizah said after she realized that it was getting late.


    "Same time tomorrow," Jayden said as they parted ways, both of them imagining how their subsequent practice sessions would go.


    <hr>

 Chapter 7 - A Test of Strength

    Jayden and Elizah spent the next few days having their secret practice sessions at the pond. Elizah was improving gradually. Things were going smoothly.


    Until King Cyprian barged into Jayden¡¯s room early in the morning, one fine day. Jayden had slept late the previous night due to Elizah¡¯s training extending longer than usual. ¡°Are you willing to come for a training session?¡± Cyprian¡¯s booming voice echoed in the room.


    Jayden groaned and got up from the bed slowly. He didn¡¯t realize that his father had called him and slowly opened his eyes. After seeing Cyprian, he instantly jumped out of bed and said, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll meet you in the grounds, father.¡±


    Cyprian just nodded and walked out of Jayden¡¯s chambers. Jayden made sure that he was out the door before he walked to his weapons shelf. His first impulse was to pick up a sturdy bow and a quiver of arrows, but he knew he wouldn¡¯t have target practice with his father.


    He looked around and saw a large sword on top of his box of paints. He didn¡¯t prefer the sword since it was heavy, but to show his father his skills, he chose the sword as the best choice to impress him. He pushed the sword into the scabbard and attached it to his belt before he walked out of the room.


    <hr>


    ¡°Finally, here comes the sleeping prince,¡± Jayden heard a voice mocking him as he walked out into the courtyard.


    He turned to see his mother standing with her arm on his father¡¯s shoulder. Jayden had always wondered how she was at the King¡¯s side at all times without Cyprian snapping at her, but he never dared to ask her since her eyes held a smouldering rage in them.


    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± his mother asked, with the mocking edge still lacing her voice.


    Jayden had every urge to smack the grin off her face but had to keep himself under control to avoid her wrath. He gave her a quiet nod.


    Cyprian gave him a smile. ¡°Good. You¡¯ll need your energy,¡± Cyprian said.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we try something different? I would love to witness a good duel between father and son,¡± Noxaura said.


    They continued to walk from the courtyard to the arena. Jayden glanced at Cyprian. Surely his mother wasn¡¯t serious. Jayden wasn¡¯t strong enough to duel his father.


    But Cyprian¡¯s gaze was serious, and his eyes were somewhat glazed over as if his focus was not even on the conversation.


    ¡°Of course Noxaura,¡± Cyprian said simply as he unfastened his cloak and handed it to a nearby servant.


    Jayden noticed the giant sword in his father¡¯s scabbard and knew that he was in danger. A sword like that was a dangerous weapon. Even if Jayden tried his best, Cyprian had the advantage of weight and a more robust blade.


    Besides that, a sword wasn¡¯t Jayden¡¯s weapon of choice. He would never manage to win this duel.


    Jayden was contemplating his chances as they walked into the arena. Noxaura took a seat, and Jayden watched her and saw a smirk on her face as if she had planned the entire thing out to play itself against Jayden.


    ¡°If my son wins,¡± Noxaura said, ¡°Then Jayden will be treated with a feast. But if Cyprian wins Jayden will receive 5 lashings from the King himself.¡±


    Jayden wasn¡¯t scared of the lashings, nor did he want a feast in his honour. But it still bothered him how Noxaura was somewhat laying all the guidelines for their duel.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit harsh for a practice duel?¡± Jayden asked, and Noxaura glared at him.


    ¡°Oh, this is no ordinary practice. This is a test for a lot of things,¡± Noxaura said, gazing only at Cyprian strangely.


    Cyprian unsheathed his sword, and Jayden did the same. They both squared each other and waited in position for the call for the first blow to be made.


    ¡°May the best fighter win,¡± Noxaura said and signalled for them to start.


    Jayden slowly walked up to the centre of the duelling ring, and his father stepped in as well.


    Jayden was careful to observe all the options for a weak point before he struck, but his father¡¯s flashing blade caused his focus to waver.


    Luckily, he defended the first strike quite well, and he gave a small sigh of relief. His forehead was beading with sweat, and he saw Cyprian grit his teeth. Jayden even noticed a feral glint in his eyes which was rather unusual.


    Jayden took his opportunity to make swift strikes and lighter blows, but Cyprian defended excellently. Cyprian landed his blows on Jayden¡¯s blade, and Jayden lost strength with each impact as if his energy was being drained out by someone else. His defence and attacks became sloppy, and he started to feel lightheaded. His grip on the blade seemed to loosen itself, but Jayden held on to it for dear life. Out of the corner of his eye, he managed to see Noxaura watching grimly.


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    That moment of distraction was all that Cyprian had needed to finish off the duel. He aimed a blow at Jayden¡¯s defensive stance¡¯s weak point and successfully knocked the blade out of Jayden¡¯s hands.


    Jayden was left gasping in shock. He wasn¡¯t surprised by the loss but was surprised at how agile the King was despite his age. Noxaura stood up from her seat and walked up to Jayden and Cyprian.


    ¡°I expected much more from you,¡± her voice wasn¡¯t disappointed, but rather it was grim and oddly different from usual.


    ¡°Your mother¡¯s got a point here. I really expected a good fight from you,¡± Cyprian¡¯s voice was like stone, and his face was expressionless.


    ¡°Bring out the whip,¡± Noxaura commanded to a nearby servant.


    The servant wordlessly walked out of the arena and returned with the whip in his hands. Noxaura practically snatched the whip out of the guard¡¯s hands.


    Jayden knelt without waiting for his mother to force him down. He was still somewhat dizzy and felt as if his life force had been sucked out of him. Noxaura lifted the whip up and unfurled it. She handed it to Cyprian, and her face carried a slight smirk. Cyprian lifted the whip up and brought it down on Jayden¡¯s back.


    A flash of pain erupted through Jayden¡¯s back, and his muscles felt like they were being cut up. He wanted to scream out but kept himself in control. Cyprian lifted the whip again and again. Jayden had lost track of the number of lashes when everything had started to darken around him. He heard Noxaura¡¯s vivid voice like a voice in a dream.


    ¡°Let this be a lesson Jayden Larkspear,¡± her voice echoed. And with that, everything went dark.


    <hr>


    When Jayden awoke later, he didn¡¯t even remember what had happened that morning. But every single part of his spine hurt like his muscles had been butchered up.


    He was back in his bed, and the covers were pulled up. He tried to set himself into a sitting position but couldn¡¯t manage to even try.


    ¡°Careful, Your Highness. It¡¯ll get worse if you try to sit up,¡± Jayden heard a servant¡¯s voice from the doorway and tried to crane his neck to see who it was.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Jayden asked the servant, but his face was blank.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You were out cold when I found you on the training ground, your highness,¡± the servant said. He set down the tray of food in front of Jayden.


    The memories flooded through Jayden¡¯s mind, and he had this overall settling feeling of frustration and sadness over him.


    ¡°How long was I even out?¡± Jayden asked when the servant began looking at him in evident confusion.


    ¡°Only a short period. It is barely noon now. Can I check the wounds?¡± The servant asked gently, and Jayden gave him a nod. He hadn¡¯t thought Noxaura was serious when she meant lashings. They weren¡¯t the direst punishment, but they were higher than his usual punishments.


    ¡°There seems to be no infection, do you need anything sire?¡± the servant asked him.


    ¡°There is one thing. Do you know the cottage at the edge of the forest?¡± Jayden asked.


    ¡°The Cohen household, sire?¡± the servant asked immediately.


    Jayden gave him a nod. He took a small piece of parchment in his hand and scrawled a note in his messy handwriting.


    ¡°Hand this to their daughter. And don¡¯t you dare tell anyone where you¡¯re going or what you¡¯re doing,¡± Jayden said and handed the folded parchment to the servant.


    The servant just nodded, and he walked out of the room. Jayden tried to lift himself out of bed but failed miserably and just sank back under the covers. But there was something in the back of his mind annoying him.


    You¡¯re worthless, and you know it, don¡¯t you. It was a thought that crept into Jayden¡¯s mind more lately when he was alone.


    You¡¯re never going to make it as the King. You have no reason to be here. No one really cares for you. See, your own father lashed you. It won¡¯t be long until you¡¯re disowned. You know that for yourself. They were screaming in his head. It made things harder for him every day.


    The voices were usually weaker and were easy to swat away, but today they seemed even more powerful. Jayden knew it had been a while since he¡¯d tried to use his magic. Surprisingly, this was happening only after he¡¯d stopped doing it, fearing being caught.


    He let the voices wage war in the back of his mind and tried to drift into the bliss of sleep. But thoughts were swarming. He was thinking of Elizah again and how it hurt him to stay away from her. Even if he saw her only the night before, he was thinking about her once more.


    There was something Jayden began to notice, the tiny fluttering feelings had increased, and his heart practically lept when he saw her. She would manage to make him smile, talk and laugh as if nothing was wrong. He could tell her anything. He never cared about what she¡¯d think, unlike anyone else he usually spoke to. Sometimes when things were at their worst, a small talk with Elizah or just seeing her made him feel happy. He still had the painting he¡¯d made stowed in his closet. It made him happy when he was alone, so it stayed in that closet. It was something Jayden couldn¡¯t comprehend in the slightest.


    While he was lost in blissful thoughts, he had one idea that came up and seemed strong enough to push away the other voices. I¡¯ll make sure Elizah¡¯s safe no matter what happens. He thought to himself and drifted into oblivion.


    <hr>


    ¡°Well you put on quite a show,¡± a shadowed figure said as they waited down in the archive chambers again, as another figure walked into the room.


    ¡°I wanted to test the limits of my control,¡± the second said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you went a bit far? If the prince had died we would all be in trouble,¡± the first said, ¡°Remember you are only alive because of me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I will be careful. But your abilities are stunning. I could control his movements easily,¡± the second said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too full of yourself with this first test alone,¡± the first said and vanished out of the castle within moments.

 Chapter 8 - A Solution

    Elizah was out in the field when one of the castle servants suddenly came to the gate of the field.


    ¡°Miss Cohen,¡± she heard the man calling.


    ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± Elizah said and rushed over to the man.


    ¡°I have a note for you from the Prince,¡± He said and handed the note to Elizah after she brushed the dirt off her palms.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said and sent the man on his way. Elizah knew that Jayden would never take a risk to send a message unless something was very important.


    She slowly opened the parchment and read the scrawled note. It said that Jayden wouldn¡¯t be able to train her for the next few days, but he¡¯d make it when he could.


    Worry began to take its place in Elizah¡¯s mind, she feared what happened to him, but she had other problems to think about.


    Micah jogged up to her side and grabbed the note out of her hand.¡±What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± she asked her brother and tried to yank the letter out of Micah¡¯s hands.


    Having the advantage of height, Micah lifted the note out of her grasp. ¡°Who¡¯s this from?¡± he asked with a small smirk growing on his face.


    ¡°None of your business,¡± she said and yanked it out of his grasp.


    ¡°A secret admirer?¡± he asked, his smirk widening into a grin.


    Elizah¡¯s cheeks grew red, and she gave him a glare. ¡°Why do you care?¡± she said as she latched the field gate.


    ¡°I want to make sure everything¡¯s alright and no one dares to touch my sister,¡± Micah said and plucked the note out of her hands.


    ¡°Who¡¯s training you?¡± Micah asked after close scrutiny of the note. He handed it back to his fuming sister.


    ¡°Thank you. And no, I won¡¯t tell you,¡± Elizah said and grabbed the piece of parchment before she walked into her room, and Micah was out of her sight.


    <hr>


    Later that evening, Elizah carefully stepped into the open doorway of the house and looked surprised to see Micah waiting tensely on one of the old chairs. She had returned from a long day at the field, and it was surprising to see Micah here even though he should have been at the marketplace.


    ¡°I was waiting for you Liz,¡± his tense look didn¡¯t change. He walked up to her and looked her in the eye. ¡°Have you seen stepfather today?¡± he asked.


    Elizah shook her head and noticed Micah was more tense than usual.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Elizah asked as she put a gentle hand on Micah¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°It¡¯s stepfather, I¡¯m making sure he leaves today,¡± Micah said, with utter determination in his voice.


    His sword was at his side. His grey eyes were sharp with a similar fury that Elizah usually carried on her face.


    ¡°Why Micah?¡± Elizah asked. As much as she wanted that man out of her house, she was, more importantly, wondering how they¡¯d have enough for their monthly taxes.


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    ¡°He¡¯s broken this family. If we actually used the money only for the taxes, we¡¯d actually have enough to have a mildly comfortable life. My pay from my services to the kingdom is good enough to fill our taxes according to the parchment that I found in mother¡¯s room. There¡¯s a part of the money that¡¯s missing. That¡¯s going to change when I get to the bottom of this,¡± Micah said, ¡°He actually wasn¡¯t at the marketplace all evening. He left after lunch and didn¡¯t bother to return.¡±


    ¡°Wait, that is odd. Where¡¯s mother, did you talk to her about this?¡± Elizah knew Roxanne wouldn¡¯t have accepted Micah¡¯s demands when he¡¯d asked about it.


    ¡°She¡¯s asleep inside, she was quite upset but I can¡¯t keep letting that man hurt us,¡± Micah said, with a fury in his voice.


    As if on queue, the door creaked open, and their stepfather entered. He was somewhat disoriented by what Elizah could see, and he looked as if he¡¯d drank too much.


    Micah saw it too, and he exchanged a glance with his sister.


    ¡°Where were you?¡± Micah asked and slowly removed his sword from its sheath.


    The man had anger etched on his face. ¡°Why are you blocking me from entering my house?¡± he asked in return. His words were heavily slurred.


    Micah placed the tip of the blade at the man¡¯s throat and continued to question, ¡°Where did you get the money to even spend the whole evening out at a tavern?¡±


    ¡°This was only once. I¡¯ve never done it before,¡± the man¡¯s anger was now changed into fear.


    He was lying, and Micah knew it for sure, ¡°Oh really, do you want me to give you proof or will you admit to it.¡±


    The man¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°You don¡¯t have any proof.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? Mother and your children aren¡¯t blind. They know about what you¡¯ve been doing,¡± Micah said and stretched the blade out even closer to his neck.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t make it a day without me, you ungrateful bastard. Even if you do manage to make me leave, how will you get money?¡± Their stepfather said with utter disgust in his tone.


    ¡°I make enough money for this house,¡± Micah growled at him, ¡° I give you two options, either you leave and we¡¯ll pardon you, or I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take my chance to get out of here. You¡¯ll regret what you did today,¡± The man said, and he stumbled into his own room while muttering a string of curses.


    Micah lowered his sword, and Elizah stared at him open-mouthed. ¡°He¡¯ll leave by sundown,¡± Micah said, ¡° I¡¯ll look after the three of us now.¡±


    Elizah smiled at her brother and went up to him to embrace him.


    ¡°At least something good came out of my return home,¡± Micah said, and Elizah only nodded, hoping that the days ahead would be better than before.


    <hr>


    ¡°Where were you this morning?¡± a voice startled a servant outside the palace entry gates, late at night.


    The servant nervously turned and stuttered, ¡° I-- was out delivering ---something.¡±


    ¡°What were you delivering?¡± the person asked. The person was heavily cloaked in a black cloak, so the servant could not identify the person.


    ¡° A-- note. F-from the Prince,¡± The servant was now shaking.


    The person looked as if they were contemplating what they could do next. ¡°I¡¯ll offer you a job. I¡¯ll pay handsomely if you manage to get information to my satisfaction.¡±


    ¡°Wh--what do you want me to do?¡± the servant asked.


    ¡°Watch every movement of the Prince and report it to me. You¡¯ll find me here every evening,¡± The person said and strolled away while the servant was stuck in confusion and shock.


    <hr>


    The next day the servant stood waiting at the gates for the figure to appear. He hadn¡¯t done it. He couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t do it,¡± the person said as they came up behind him.


    ¡°I-- I can explain,¡± the servant stuttered.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± the person said sharply.


    The person led him into the corridors into a deep corner illuminated only with candles.


    ¡°Now listen very closely,¡± the person said as they let the cloak¡¯s hood fall to their shoulders.


    The servant let out a gasp. But before he could react. He felt hot tendrils touching his skin.


    ¡°You will run, as far away from this empire as you can. If I dare to see you here again, that day will be your last,¡± They said and let the flames cut a scar on the man¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Y--yes I --will,¡± the servant said with evident fear, and the cloaked figure left him in the darkness of the corridor after cloaking themselves once more.


    <hr>

 Chapter 9 - Loss

    A few days later, Micah was awake early and was roaming around the cottage. He usually slept in, but today he ended up waking up before everyone else. It had been a peaceful few days, especially after he had gotten their stepfather to leave.


    He made himself some breakfast and sat down at the table. He had managed to make a decently good breakfast. If only I could share this with William, he thought to himself with a sigh, and he toyed with the emerald ring on his finger.


    Micah began to eat his meal when he heard a sudden and rapid knock at the door.


    "I was just about to eat, what is this about?" Micah grumbled and went up to the door and was surprised to see two palace officials at the door.


    "Are you Micah Cohen?" the men asked, and Micah nodded.


    "Please take a seat, we need to speak to you," the two men said, and Micah only gave them a confused glance.


    "Isn''t it too early for you to be here?" Micah asked, and the two men exchanged a glance.


    "It is an urgent matter," one of the men said, and Micah sighed, and he let the two men in before taking a seat at the table.


    "So what is it?" Micah asked, and the other two men exchanged nervous glances before speaking.


    "It is about someone in the troops."


    <hr>


    Elizah awoke to the sound of someone sobbing loudly. She immediately leapt out of bed and headed out to the kitchen to find Micah sobbing and Roxanne holding him with tears in her own eyes. She looked over to see two palace officials standing there with sombre expressions.


    "Please tell me it isn''t true," Micah was begging between sobs.


    "We''re sorry for your loss. We will return in a few days after you have gotten time to think," the palace officials said as they left the cottage and closed the door behind them.


    Elizah slowly managed to garner enough strength to find out what was happening, so she walked up to Micah and Roxanne.


    "Mama, what happened?" Elizah asked softly, and Roxanne looked up at her.


    "The captain of the squad that Micah was in is no more. He was found dead yesterday," Roxanne said, and Elizah''s eyes widened. But this still didn''t explain why Micah was so emotional.


    "He wasn''t just the captain," Micah said softly between sobs, and Elizah looked down at him, "We made a promise, he broke it. I promised we would live together after all of this. He promised me he would be fine."


    "What promise?" Elizah asked gently. She knew that Micah had all the reason to be upset, but he seemed far more upset than she would have expected.


    "I--," Micah began to choke on the words, and tears rolled down his cheeks faster, "I loved him. We promised to get married, and now he''s gone. He left me alone."


    Micah began to cry even more, and Elizah could feel the tears in her eyes. It hurt her to see her brother so heartbroken. She threw her hands around Micah and embraced him to help him calm down slightly. Micah hiccuped and still sobbed, but Elizah held him tightly because she didn''t know what else to do.


    "You may want to pay a visit to their house," Roxanne said after a while. Micah had cried till no more tears could come, but his heart hurt more than anything.


    "Mama, maybe tomorrow? Let him rest a while today," Elizah interrupted, but Micah shook his head.


    "I will go today itself. If I go tomorrow, I will probably never get a chance to see him again. I''m going to get dressed now," Micah''s voice was rough from all the crying and still in so much pain.


    After he had left the room, Elizah walked over to Roxanne.


    "Mama, will he be okay?" Elizah asked, and Roxanne sighed.


    "Losing someone you truly loved isn''t easy, dear. Micah is going to take a while to recover from this. Till then, try your best to slowly make him happy, okay?" Roxanne said, and Elizah nodded rapidly.


    "Why don''t you go with him to meet the family?" Roxanne asked, and Elizah nodded reluctantly.


    Elizah hurried over to her room to get ready, and Roxanne sighed before sitting down and praying that her son didn''t have to be in pain for long.


    <hr>


    Micah and Elizah walked silently towards the city where the general¡¯''s family lived. They had asked for directions from some of the people in the town. By the looks of it, the family seemed very well known.


    There was a grim silence between the siblings. Neither knew what to say. They made their way up to the house door and walked into the doorway to see a young woman crying next to a casket.


    "Why? Why did this have to happen?" she screamed out and sobbed. An old man stood behind the girl and looked up when he noticed Micah and Elizah.


    "Hello, are you Micah by any chance?" the man asked and hobbled slowly over to Micah.


    "Yes, I am," Micah said solemnly, and tears began to stream down his cheeks.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Will always talked about you. He sent letters back to little Laura every week talking about you," the old man said softly and put an arm on Micah''s shoulder. The girl crying by the casket suddenly stood up as if a bolt of lightning had hit her. She charged towards Micah.


    "You. You are Micah Cohen?" she asked as she was trembling.


    Micah was about to nod, but the girl raised her hand rapidly. Elizah noticed and pulled Micah to the side, and her hand went past his face without touching him.


    "You killed him!" the girl from before was screaming now, "It''s all your fault. You promised you wouldn''t leave him and you did. Look, he''s now gone from all of us."


    The girl crumbled to the floor, sobbing hard and shaking.


    Micah was stunned in place for a few moments before he suddenly began to shake slightly, and the tears rolled down his cheeks. Elizah, on the other hand, was surprised by the girl''s outburst but wasn''t angry because she knew the other girl was in pain.


    "Laura, dear, please. He is our guest, and it isn''t his fault," the old man said and put an arm on the girl''s shoulder, but she didn''t back down.


    "You helped him drain his magic, didn''t you? Then why did you leave at the peak of Darkness when you knew his powers would lose control," Laura said between ragged breaths.


    Suddenly Micah stumbled back as if he had been actually slapped in the face, and his face went white. Memories he had dismissed as romantic gestures suddenly overwhelmed him in waves. He was an idiot for not noticing the signs.


    "Micah," Elizah called gently, but he couldn''t hear her words clearly. He was spiraling through his memories that he never bothered to overthink.


    "You keep me alive," William had once said to Micah, and only now it made sense. Micah had let William use magic on Micah. William used to say that it was his way to ''stay sane'', and Micah dismissed it as William just wanting to show off his powers. But only now he truly understood it all.


    Micah felt his vision blur, and his knees suddenly gave out. Micah heard William''s voice echo in his head before he fell on the ground, and the world went black.


    <hr>


    Micah didn''t fully remember the rest of what happened that day. All he remembered was waking up later and quickly leaving William''s house. Elizah had said something about him collapsing, but the whole thing was a blur to him. There was only one thing on his mind: William''s death was all his fault.


    The next few days also continued in a blur. Micah didn''t want to leave his bed, so he stayed there. Elizah would walk in for every meal to try and get him to eat, but he just ignored her. He didn''t eat for days because he felt like he didn''t deserve it. His body was screaming out in pain, and his mind wouldn''t stop thinking about William.


    To silence these thoughts, Micah tried to sleep, but every dream was about William, and that just made him cry more. The crying didn''t help with his feelings either. It felt like a large hole left in his heart, and there was no way he could patch it.


    About a week later, Micah awoke to a hand on his face.


    "William," Micah said. He opened his eyes and nearly leapt out of bed. He expected to see William''s blue eyes and long hair but instead was met by a different person. They had mismatched eyes, one blue and one green, and shoulder-length black hair.


    "Are you alright?" the person asked, and Micah it took Micah a moment to recognize them.


    "Aunt Levi?" Micah asked, and the person smiled slightly. Aunt Levi was Roxanne''s good friend who had helped her out with many things in the past.


    "Sorry if you were expecting someone else. Your mother sent me a letter saying she was worried about you. So I came here to help. You were crying in your sleep, so I was wiping the tears away," they said, and Micah sat up slowly and touched his face. He had been dreaming about William again, and subconsciously, he had begun to cry.


    "I''m sorry you had to see that, I''m just-," Micah began to say, but Levi just put an arm on his shoulder.


    "That''s fine. I heard what happened," Levi said gently, and Micah hid his face, fearing that he might break into a sob.


    "It''s not that big of a deal. I will get over it soon," Micah said as his voice cracked slightly and Levi''s gaze grew concerned.


    "It doesn''t seem like a small thing. He meant a lot to you, didn''t he?" Levi asked, and Micah was silent but nodded.


    "I just want to talk to you for a bit. Maybe that will help you get your feelings out, instead of just thinking about them alone. What was William like?" Levi asked, and Micah looked surprised by the question.


    "He was funny and handsome and¡­." Micah began, and all of a sudden, he remembered so many things that had happened between them. Words tumbled out without even him thinking fully. How William was always carefree and smiling, or how just one kiss from William made Micah''s day. And slowly, he also listed out everything about William''s magic. Micah listed everything, and he began to cry again but kept going until there was nothing left to say.


    "He sounds like a wonderful person," Levi said softly. They had listened to every last word Micah wanted to say with their full attention and didn''t interrupt.


    "He was," Micah managed a croak, and Levi wrapped an arm around him.


    "And it sounds like you truly loved each other," Levi said with a smile.


    "Aunt Levi, do you think it''s my fault? That because of me, he lost control of his magic and died," Micah asked, and Levi shook their head rapidly.


    "Of course not. That is more of a fault of the system. It has taken far too many good souls in the process. You absolutely mustn''t blame yourself for that," Levi said with a sigh.


    "''Have you lost someone like this before?" Micah asked, and Levi nodded.


    "That''s a long story, back from before when my name was still Levanna and I still loved someone. I made a grave mistake back then, it''s a story for another time," Levi said and stood up.


    "Well, did talking about him make you feel a bit better? It isn''t much, but I hope it lightened the weight you carry," Levi said, and Micah nodded slightly.


    "But, do you think it''s odd?" Micah asked slowly, and Levi raised a brow.


    "What is odd?"


    "That I liked a man?" Micah said with a bitter taste in his mouth at the word liked.


    "Absolutely not. It is just as ordinary as if you had liked a woman or if you had liked someone like me. There''s nothing wrong with that. There''s just a lot wrong with the system that didn''t let you get married," Levi said, and Micah suddenly felt a weight lift off his back that he had never realized before. He had been scared about what others would think about him this whole time, but now, his fears dissipated upon hearing Levi''s words.


    He rapidly threw his hands around Levi, and they were caught off guard momentarily.


    "I want you to remember one thing for me, Micah. Cherish the memories you have with William, but also be ready to make new memories with someone new. This isn''t the end for you. Live the life he didn''t have to the fullest and never ever think that this was in any way your fault," Levi said as they broke the embrace, and Micah nodded.


    "But that''s a lot more things than one, and it''s hard to not blame myself," Micah said, and Levi patted him on the shoulder.


    "Take your time, take all the time you need, and when you are ready, move on and live your life to the fullest," Levi said with a small smile and walked out of the room. Micah followed slowly behind, his heart feeling a little less broken and heavy than before.


    <hr>

 Chapter 10 - Magic

    A week later, Jayden had healed enough to train Elizah once more. When he was walking through the palace to leave for the pond he overheard his parents talking in the council chambers.


    ¡°He¡¯s a disgrace,¡± Noxaura was talking to someone else.


    ¡°We can¡¯t disown him Noxaura, he¡¯s the sole heir to the throne,¡±Cyprian said with fatigue lacing his tone.


    It sounded like this conversation had happened more than once before and there hadn¡¯t been any good result.


    ¡°Your heart for the weak shows in your son too. I should have killed him when I knew his destiny itself. Once people find out the truth, our name will be on the line. It¡¯s not that he¡¯s already been a disgrace,¡± She was practically yelling.


    Cyprian¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t heard by Jayden. He couldn¡¯t hear any more of the conversation. A fear had stuck inside him. He had to prove himself to make things perfect. Given what Noxaura said it seemed more like she was out to kill him.


    He knew there was only one way he could stay in the castle, even though he was breaking the laws. He had to reach the expectations of his parents to even try to make sure he could hide his powers, and remain the Prince.


    While lost in thought, he walked out of the castle contemplating what he¡¯ll do.


    When Jayden arrived in the forest, oddly enough Elizah was missing. She was usually the first to arrive out of the two of them for training every week.


    Jayden sat down in the grass and he heard the footsteps of someone running through the forest. Within moments he saw Elizah show up in front of him out of breath.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m late,¡± Elizah said with a sigh, and Jayden shook his head.


    ¡°No problem,¡± Jayden said but he noticed a sadness in Elizah¡¯s eyes, but he didn''t question it and stood up.


    Meanwhile Elizah noticed that something was wrong with Jayden. He seemed different than before


    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± Elizah asked, after one round of them dueling and she noticed Jayden almost fall over.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve just been training a lot more lately,¡±Jayden answered curtly.


    ¡°Maybe you should relax for a while. It¡¯s taking a toll on you,¡± Elizah said.


    Jayden didn¡¯t answer and Elizah thought that he would rest a bit. But things didn¡¯t change. In fact, he only looked more tired.


    Elizah sighed and decided not to argue. The two of them had taken up their stances for a duel and suddenly, it began to rain.


    ¡°Maybe we should wait for the rain to stop,¡± Elizah said and Jayden nodded.


    They relaxed a bit and Elizah let her waist length hair fall out of it¡¯s neat bun. The rain coming through the canopy was not heavy but enough to cool her off after the hot day and the sweaty practice. She was smiling wide and her eyes were closed, she was enjoying herself.


    Jayden couldn¡¯t help but stare at how amazing she looked. It was his artistic sense that again captured the scene and made her beauty stand out. Compared to the other girls in the town Elizah wasn¡¯t that beautiful, but right now, she looked like a spirit.


    She laughed as the drops fell on her face and strands of hair fell into her eyes.


    Jayden couldn¡¯t help but smile. She was thoroughly enjoying herself. As Jayden was watching her he felt a sudden wave of dizziness and lightheadedness, they¡¯d become common after he had started pushing beyond his limits at training sessions. He had felt dizzy all morning and had a constant feeling that he was going to fall over. His head was banging, as if there was a hammer inside. He tried to walk to a tree to grip something, to keep from falling over but it seemed too far.


    He had a feeling that he was actually falling over. And he knew he was, when his knees sank to the ground.


    After hearing the thud of his boots Elizah turned to see that Jayden was falling.


    ¡°Jayden,¡±she called out and ran to his side.


    She caught him by the shoulders before he could fall any further and slowly propped him up against a tree.


    ¡°You¡¯re really exhausted. Did you even sleep?¡±she sat by his side and looked at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he said and tried to push her away. But she remained firm.


    ¡°No you¡¯re not,¡± Elizah said. She placed a hand on his shoulder. Something strange was going on. She felt something on his shoulder. It was like a type of energy or something she couldn¡¯t see but could only sense.


    She couldn¡¯t explain what was going on but she felt something radiating. She closed her eyes and she could see an image of a clear scar on Jayden¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Where did you get the scars on your back?¡± Elizah asked.


    Jayden looked at her bewildered. Her eyes were closed and her hand was on his shoulder, and from what he knew the scars weren¡¯t visible from under his tunic.


    ¡°How do you know about the scars? And why do you care?¡±Jayden asked her. Her hand was now running down his back tracing the length of the scars. Her eyebrows were furrowed in concentration and eyes were still shut.


    ¡°For the spirit''s sake! Stop being stupid and stubborn and tell me where those scars came from,¡±Elizah said frustration clear in her tone.


    Jayden gave her a confused glance. What was even going on? he wondered.


    All of a sudden he felt a sudden energy going through the length of his spine. It seemed both hot and cold, gentle and harsh while wildly unpredictable. The pain that had been troubling him had vanished all of a sudden. And just like it had begun, it ended instantly.


    Jayden had closed his eyes when the sensation had begun and he slowly opened them when the pain was gone. He felt a sudden energy ,one he hadn¡¯t felt in weeks. He felt strong enough to stand. He looked at Elizah whose eyes fluttered open. She was staring around the area with her eyes wide and she was gasping for air. She was soaked in both rainwater and sweat.


    ¡°Wh-What just happened?¡± Jayden asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure,¡± She said between ragged breaths. She felt exhausted, as much as she¡¯d be if she¡¯d had a harsh day of harvesting the grains.


    Elizah placed her hand on his back after asking for Jayden¡¯s consent and felt only smooth skin.


    ¡°The scars are gone,¡± Jayden said in awe. It was a strange feeling, but at that moment his heart was beating harder than ever for some weird reason, he didn¡¯t want to leave Elizah¡¯s side at all.


    ¡°They¡¯re gone alright. There¡¯s no trace of a cut of any sort,¡± Elizah said and moved so that she could see his face.


    Jayden knew he could trust her, he didn¡¯t think twice before he said, ¡°That has to be some sort of magic.¡±


    Elizah wasn¡¯t surprised. There was no logical explanation so the next best thing was magic. They couldn¡¯t heal themselves.


    ¡°How can you be sure?¡± Elizah asked.


    He took a deep breath and held his palm out in front of him and concentrated until he saw a steady ball of flame in his palm.


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    ¡°You have magic,¡± Elizah said and watched not in fear, but in sheer awe.


    ¡°Yes, but from what I¡¯ve done, I¡¯ve never seen accelerated healing happen before,¡± Jayden said, ¡°I can only work with any type of flame, make it move by my will.¡±


    Jayden began to show her how the flames grew larger and smaller until exhaustion settled down on him slowly.


    ¡°I see you¡¯ve discovered your powers, young prince,¡± a voice was heard. Elizah immediately lifted her dagger from the sheath. Jayden smiled upon seeing his gift to her being put to good use and was also surprised that she carried that blade.


    ¡°Who¡¯s out there?¡± Elizah asked. She tried to stand but had to take the support of the tree next to her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fear me. I¡¯m not allied with the queen,¡± A woman said as she appeared from the dense part of the forest on the other side of the pond.


    She had red hair and amber eyes. She was wearing all white from a white cloak to a white gown. By the look of her face she looked around the age of 40.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been watching the two of you for quite some time now. I¡¯ve known about you since the day you were born,¡± The woman said.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Jayden asked, as he straightened a bit and Elizah sat on the grass.


    ¡°Call me Jade, I was the seer who saw your destinies. I knew your father as well Elizah,¡± the woman said. There was no humour or smile on her face, just seriousness.


    At the mention of her father, Elizah¡¯s strong demeanour faltered.


    ¡°How are you still in the empire?¡± Jayden asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve lived in this forest all my life. No one came looking in here fearing the lore and legends,¡±Jade said.


    ¡°You both may have stronger powers than any I¡¯ve ever seen before. But for the safe use of these powers you will need to be well-trained,¡±Jade continued.


    ¡°How does magic work exactly? My powers are entirely different from Jayden¡¯s,¡± Elizah asked. This was the first time she was talking after Jade mentioned her father.


    ¡°There are three main types of magic, child. The ones that control fire and occasionally water for their defense form the category of battle magic users or the warriors. Jayden has the powers of a warrior. While there are others who use life and energy as the source of power. They can heal wounds, grow plants and even extract energy from their enemies and use it for their benefit. They fall under the category of healers or healing magic users. Elizah, you are a healer. And the last category consists of seers like myself who can sift through minds and memories and see things that are oncoming,¡± Jade said.


    ¡°There are only three types? I¡¯ve heard stories about a fourth from my mother,¡±Elizah asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t that why there are four spirits of magic?¡±


    ¡°Yes there is a fourth, but it¡¯s the most dangerous form of magic that exists. This can be possessed by all the different magic users or even non-magic users. From the magic types, a person can be either a seer, healer or warrior. They can¡¯t have more than one of the types, but each of the three types has a dark half and a light half. The dark half is considered the magic of destruction and death, sadness, loss, despair and fear, though it truly isn¡¯t. Typically those who have flame abilities, energy transfer capabilities and the ones who can shapeshift are considered the darker half. Those with darker magic actually tend to be safer from overuse of magic, but still can die due to it. That is where you were lucky prince Jayden,¡± Jade said.


    ¡°Hasn¡¯t dark magic been wiped out fully? That¡¯s why the spirits disappeared,¡± Elizah said with confusion in her tone. Both Jayden and Elizah were still processing what Jade had been saying.


    ¡°Not necessarily. No one can wipe out dark magic. Without dark magic there can be no balance. It¡¯s always there but not as much as before. But that¡¯s all supposed to change now,¡± Jade said.


    ¡°What do you mean change now? Magic isn¡¯t even legal here,¡± Jayden¡¯s voice was laced with frustration.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen the future. It shows a change. Practically oncoming within a few years,¡±Jade said, ¡°Majorly it will happen because of the two of you.¡±


    Jayden and Elizah shared a glance. They were both very confused by what she just said. Mirrored images of bewilderment showed on their faces.


    ¡°Does this have anything to do with our destinies?¡± Elizah asked cautiously.


    ¡°It is a part of your destiny. The two of you share the same destiny which is the first of its kind,¡±Jade said, ¡°You will be the ones to change the magic system for once and for all.¡±


    <hr>


    Jayden and Elizah couldn¡¯t believe what they just heard. They were the ones who were going to bring back the sources, or limits of magic, from wherever it was. But it seemed impossible.


    ¡°Are you serious, and what does that even mean?¡± Jayden asked and gave an incredulous look in Jade¡¯s direction.


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying. If that¡¯s what you¡¯re wondering, young prince. It means you will bring back the limit system that magic once had, and that in turn will bring back the spirits and restore balance,¡±Jade said and gave him an irritated look.


    ¡°Well, it does make sense. I for one have always believed that the spirits actually exist, even if they were just stories,¡± Elizah said, as a thoughtful look came upon her face.


    ¡°What stories do you mean?¡± Jayden looked at her with even more confusion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you haven¡¯t heard the stories of your ancestors. You must have, being the prince and all,¡± Elizah said with a bit of shock in her voice.


    Jayden shook his head as he bowed his head. He felt stupid that he didn¡¯t know his family¡¯s history, but he never was allowed to try to talk about them. His parents always avoided the topic, and there was barely any information about them in the large library of the palace.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a lot of truth and lies. I¡¯m not sure if what I know is the truth or not,¡± Elizah said.


    ¡°You start the story Elizah, from what I know Liran was one of the best ones who remembered the accurate versions of the stories,¡±Jade said.


    ¡°My father never told me these stories, I never even knew him. But it was from my mother who I heard them from. But the simplest details were that when the first Larkspear Prince broke off from the northern rulers, and shifted south, the north was ravaged with wars and plague. When he returned to the north somehow, people don¡¯t know how he did it but they say that he did the impossible and people suddenly gained magic,¡± Elizah said.


    ¡°That¡¯s the simple gist of it. But I¡¯ll explain more about this as you gain better control over your powers,¡± Jade said, ¡° Of course you¡¯ll both need a while to think over whatever I¡¯ve said today, your training will start tomorrow. Meet me here around the same time as now.¡±


    With that the woman disappeared through the dense forest.


    <hr>


    ¡°Is it just me or does all of this seem like a dream?¡±Jayden asked.


    Elizah laughed and said, ¡°If it were a dream I wouldn¡¯t be dreaming with you and be in yours.¡±


    Jayden wanted to say that it wasn¡¯t true because he was constantly thinking about her and he had dreamt about her many times. His thoughts were swirling with what Jade had said and with his personal feelings about Elizah starting to get out of hand.


    ¡°So you never knew about your ancestors?¡± Elizah said as she looked up at the canopy.


    ¡°No, I never got the chance to. My parents never gave me the chance, it was always covered whenever I¡¯d even asked,¡± Jayden said with a bit of shame in his voice. He obviously felt terrible about it.


    Sensing his discomfort, Elizah couldn¡¯t help but reach out and grasp his hand and gently press on it. He couldn¡¯t help but smile at the gesture.


    ¡°I kind of feel that way when I hear people talk about my father. I never got a chance to know him,¡± Elizah said softly.


    Jayden reached out and gently held her hand. She smiled at him.


    ¡°So what happened, about the scars and the bags under your eyes?¡± Elizah asked and continued to hold Jayden¡¯s hands. She never had felt like how she was feeling just then, she didn¡¯t want to let go or leave him.


    ¡°I¡¯ve just kind of been neglecting to rest and trying my hardest to get better at my sword-fighting. I really didn¡¯t want to but the humiliating defeat against my father a few weeks ago, pushed things from bad to worse,¡± Jayden said. He then launched into a detailed description about what happened at that duel.


    At the end Elizah couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy for the prince sitting in front of her. ¡°You¡¯re a perfect teacher and friend. I¡¯d never ask you to change something about yourself. Maybe you¡¯re not good at sword-fighting, but you still have other skills you are good at. Don¡¯t push yourself too hard,¡±Elizah said with a gentle smile.


    Jayden felt a strange impulse and put a hand on Elizah¡¯s cheek which she swatted away quickly, and gave him a surprised glance.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, that¡¯s not the kind of relationship I want with you, at least for now,¡± Elizah said, knowing that he was about to kiss her. She didn¡¯t understand why he would, but she wasn¡¯t ready for that relationship with anyone.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I acted without thinking,¡± Jayden said and swore to himself.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m not angry. I like you, but I¡¯m not so sure if I want that kind of relationship. Maybe I will want that in the future, but I will tell you when I am ready. I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Elizah said and Jayden nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for that day,¡± Jayden said with a smile and Elizah laughed.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be heading home?¡± Jayden asked and Elizah sighed.


    ¡°Oh, Micah might but mother¡¯s probably busy, but Micah has his own things he is worried about so I doubt he cares¡± Elizah said, her expression dimming, ¡°How about your family, won¡¯t they think about where their son has disappeared off to?¡±


    Jayden¡¯s expression suddenly changed. He was no longer cheerful as he was before as he said, ¡° I wasn¡¯t planning on returning home tonight. This place seems more warm and welcoming than the castle ever is. I can spend the night alone here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll do no such thing. I don¡¯t trust you alone here. I¡¯ll try to figure out a way I can stay here with you overnight. You need some good rest, besides, I really don¡¯t want to head back home as of yet,¡± Elizah said.


    ¡°Why not, is something going on?¡± Jayden asked as her voice had lowered into a softer tone.


    Elizah gave a tired sigh. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep well at home. Micah is slightly upset, he lost someone important to him, and the house atmosphere is a bit gloomy. I don¡¯t want to disturb his mourning,¡± Elizah said. She was idly looking at the grass all around her.


    ¡°Ohl,¡±Jayden said after a long pause of silence, ¡°At least head back home for a slight bit. You¡¯re soaking wet. You probably would want something more comfortable to wear. Head home, I¡¯ll remain here.¡±


    Elizah gave some thought to what he just said and decided to agree. ¡°I¡¯ll come back to watch over you no matter what. Promise me that you¡¯ll try to get some sleep,¡± Elizah said as she stood up and tried to pull her hair into a messy bun.


    Jayden gave her a nod and a smile as Elizah disappeared into the thicket and he closed his eyes and fell asleep almost instantly.


    <hr>

 Chapter 11 - Rules and Rumours

    Jayden was in a deep sleep when Elizah made her way back to the pond. She looked at his peaceful face to decide on whether she should wake him up or let him sleep.


    He was relaxed, and his hair was the usual mess, but he looked calm after a long while.


    She smiled as she sat down in the grass, set the basket beside her on the grass. She put her hand on a small bud that seemed to be ringing out to her. She stretched her hand over the bud and just watched it. There was something strange going on.


    After a few minutes, she gave a grunt of frustration, which seemed to startle Jayden awake. He took her hand into his own as an action to find his blade.


    ¡°Calm down,¡± Elizah said as she removed a slice of bread from within the basket.


    ¡°You came back. I didn¡¯t really expect that to happen. I just thought I was dreaming everything that was happening at that point, but I guess it was true,¡± Jayden said as she slowly took the slice from her hands.


    ¡°Well, it did,¡± she said, and her smile only broadened, ¡°So what will we do about this little secret with the destinies and magic?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to hide it. That¡¯s what makes the best solution for us to live for now, at least,¡± Jayden said, and he slowly nibbled at the slice.


    Elizah said, ¡°I guess it¡¯s for the best that way.¡±


    ¡°What happened at home,¡± Jayden asked, and surprisingly, Elizah¡¯s face grew gloomy.


    ¡°Micah is slowly getting better, but until then, the house feels empty,¡± Elizah said and placed a hand on Jayden¡¯s free hand.


    ¡°Would you mind telling me what happened?¡± Jayden asked, and Elizah sighed.


    ¡°Micah lost his lover. The captain of the squadron he was a part of,¡± Elizah said.


    ¡°They loved each other?¡± Jayden asked, and Elizah nodded while Jayden looked bewildered.


    ¡°They were going to get married, but there seem to be rules that make sure they can¡¯t,¡± Elizah said with a sigh.


    ¡°Oh, that is odd. Maybe one day when I¡¯m king I can get rid of these strange rules,¡± Jayden said, and Elizah smiled.


    ¡°One day, hopefully by then magic also can be used more freely so that people don¡¯t die like William,¡± Elizah said.


    ¡°He died because of magic?¡± Jayden asked, and Elizah nodded rapidly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not uncommon. When you don¡¯t use your magic for a long time it can kill you. Speaking of which, when did you last use your magic?¡± Elizah asked


    ¡°I don¡¯t really remember. It¡¯s been a really long time,¡± Jayden said, and he looked thoughtful.


    ¡°Please be careful about it. It¡¯s just an assumption that magic can kill, but I¡¯ve seen people die who had magic and just didn¡¯t use it,¡± Elizah said.


    ¡°When--,¡± Jayden began to say but decided this was one of the many other kingdom secrets he just never saw anything about.


    ¡°I¡¯ll train every day, Liz,¡± Jayden said and looked into the grass.


    ¡°How do you know my nickname?¡±Elizah asked, startled by the pet name that Micah and Roxanne used.


    ¡°I just figured, it makes sense,¡± Jayden said as he fiddled with the grass.


    Elizah smiled, ¡° You can use that name just as much as my mother or brother can, its my apology for earlier. Rest, I¡¯ll keep watch for a while.¡±


    Jayden couldn¡¯t help trying to persuade her to take a rest. First, she wouldn¡¯t change her idea, and soon Jayden gave up and fell fast asleep on the grass.


    Elizah aimlessly played with the growing grass. She looked over the pond with its reflecting blue surface.


    ¡°He¡¯s asleep already. I hadn¡¯t really expected that to happen,¡± A voice whispered behind Elizah, and she could help but to jump and take out her dagger.


    She held the dagger at Micah¡¯s chest. He looked stunned by the blade at his throat and observed it momentarily.


    ¡°That¡¯s an imperial blade, where did you even get your hands on such an expensive item?¡± Micah asked while he still observed the blade.


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    ¡°It was a gift from the young man sleeping down there,¡± Elizah said calmly, ¡°You surprised me. I hadn¡¯t really expected anyone to just show up around here all of a sudden, not to mention you.¡±


    Micah took a closer look at the boy sleeping on the ground, and then he realized who it was as if a bolt of lightning had hit him.


    ¡°That¡¯s the Prince, don¡¯t tell me that you kidnapped him today, I¡¯ve had enough to do today. I just wanted a peaceful walk and I didn¡¯t expect to see you here,¡± Micah said with surprise in his voice.


    Elizah laughed at what Micah had expected her to do.


    ¡°No that¡¯s not what I did,¡± Elizah said as she still laughed and sat back down in the grass.


    ¡°Then explain why he¡¯s knocked out on the grass over here and you have an imperial dagger,¡± Micah said and settled in the grass next to her.


    ¡°He isn¡¯t knocked out, he¡¯s only asleep. More importantly, how are you feeling?¡±Elizah asked softly.


    ¡°I¡¯m better. Felt like I could use some air, so I came for a stroll,¡± Micah added, and his eyes didn¡¯t seem so upset any longer. Elizah noticed something tied on Micah¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Is that your ring from William?¡± Elizah asked and pointed to his neck, and Micah nodded.


    ¡°Figured it¡¯s the best way for me to remember him,¡± Micah said with a nostalgic gaze, ¡°But enough about my life. Why are you here in the middle of the night?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s my friend. We¡¯ve been spending time here for a while now,¡± Elizah said calmly, ¡°He didn¡¯t want to go home, so I offered to look after him here.¡±


    Micah¡¯s eyebrows raised, and he smiled, ¡°I¡¯m glad he has someone who will look after him. He always seemed scared and lonely when he checked up on our squadron. He has a kind heart, though.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve spoken to him before?¡± Elizah asked, and Micah nodded.


    ¡°He helped convince me to return. He cares about you a lot,¡± Micah said and looked in his sister¡¯s direction, ¡°What do you think about him?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Elizah admitted, and Micah patted Elizah on the head.


    ¡°There¡¯s no hurry to figure it out either,¡± Micah said, and Elizah grumbled.


    ¡°Why are you asking about my relationships when you never told me about your own,¡± Elizah said with a slightly annoyed tone.


    ¡°I need to look after my family. Isn¡¯t that what my job is?¡± Micah asked with his chest swelling up with pride.


    Elizah playfully hit him in the chest with her fist. Micah looked hurt momentarily but smiled at Elizah soon after.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be such a mother duck. I can care for myself,¡± Elizah said with a bit of laughter in her voice.


    ¡°Well, anyway, his nature is quite similar to yours, quiet yet determined. He maybe isn¡¯t the strongest Prince but, probably the first with a heart and is also smart enough for all of us,¡± Micah said as he looked at Jayden.


    ¡°So you don¡¯t mind that I¡¯m spending time with him?¡±Elizah wondered aloud.


    ¡°He needs someone to look after him, and I wouldn¡¯t suggest anyone better than you to help him,¡± Micah said as he stood up and brushed the grass off him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you two some peace. I need my own sleep as well. I¡¯ll see you in the morning, Liz, out on the fields,¡± Micah said and walked through the shrubbery surrounding the pond.


    ¡°So you¡¯ve decided not to return to your post,¡± Elizah said to herself with a sigh. She was happy that Micah was slowly returning to his old self but also felt bad that he didn¡¯t want to return to the troops because of how painful it would be for him there.


    Elizah watched him vanish and remained on high alert until her eyelids felt heavy. She thought it would be best to wake Jayden to ask him to keep watch. Still, at the moment, it seemed like it was more important that he rested. It was the dead of the night, and the highest possibility was that no one would ambush them this late.


    Elizah went and sat next to Jayden and watched until she decided that she¡¯d rest and fell into a deep sleep.


    <hr>


    A man stood casually in the depths of the forest. He watched every move of the Prince and the girl near him. He was well trained in espionage and couldn¡¯t turn down an offer that would pay him well since he had been a part of the king¡¯s secret services. His informant trusted him to get the correct information.


    He couldn¡¯t help but feel disgusted when the Prince almost kissed the girl, knowing how high his standards should be and how he was reducing himself to something so low.


    As soon as the girl fell asleep, the man took his leave from the place, knowing that it was time to meet his informant.


    He rode off with mixed feelings as he was confused about whether what he was doing was right or wrong. His conscience told him that his loyalty should be with the Prince and not with the informant.


    But before he could think anymore, there was someone in his path in front of him. They were dressed in black from head to toe. Their face was covered with the cloak that they were wearing.


    The man dismounted and stood in front of the person. The informant had a torch in their hands and stood like they had been waiting for the man.


    ¡°So what took so long?¡± the informant asked with agitation in their voice.


    ¡°They¡¯re resting in the forest, the girl only fell asleep now,¡± the man said casually.


    ¡°Who¡¯s the girl?¡± the informant asked, even though they knew who it was.


    The man had anticipated the question and answered quickly, ¡°Elizah Cohen, Liran¡¯s daughter.¡±


    The informant gritted their teeth in evident frustration.


    ¡°What else happened?¡± the informant asked.


    ¡°They both have the same destinies, to bring the sources of magic back for equilibrium once more. They seem to like each other as well,¡± the man said nonchalantly.


    This only made the informant angrier that fire flew out of their palm.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± they asked. They were so angry that they could go and shoot a ball of flame at the Prince for being so foolish.


    The man gave a scared nod, ¡°My payment, please?¡±


    He knew it was a mistake to even dare to ask the informant that question.


    ¡°What do you want now?¡± The informant asked and put the flame at the man¡¯s neck, ¡°If you fulfill my wishes you¡¯ll get everything I promised. If you value your life you¡¯ll obey what I say.¡±


    The man gave a solemn nod and rode off as soon as the informant extinguished the torch they were holding and disappeared.


    <hr>

 Chapter 12 - Light

    Jayden awoke with a hand holding his. The dawn was barely breaking, and he looked up, trying to loosen the fingers around his forearm.


    But when he looked at who it was, he found Elizah clutching his arm. It might have happened when she¡¯d fallen asleep. He tried to be careful not to wake her, but she suddenly loosened her grip and looked flustered.


    ¡°Relax, I didn¡¯t mean to wake you up,¡± Jayden said and stood up slowly, with barely any discomfort.


    Elizah calmed down. ¡°I¡¯m a light sleeper, so it¡¯s just a habit that I wake up so startled,¡± Elizah said with a sheepish smile.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me for my shift last night?¡± Jayden asked as he wiped the dew from his palms and face.


    ¡°You needed the rest more than I did,¡± Elizah said, but it seemed otherwise. Her eyes had dark bags under them, and she had fatigue in both her face and her voice.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like you got enough rest,¡± Jayden said, concerned.


    ¡°The healing took a lot out of me yesterday,¡± Elizah said with a yawn.


    ¡°The first time you were using your powers and I think you used them a bit too much,¡± Jayden observed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll rest as soon as the work on the field is done today,¡± Elizah said as she tried to stand up.


    Jayden gave her a hand, but she declined politely and stood up on her own. ¡°I¡¯ll see you after my work is done for today. Jade will probably be waiting for us by then,¡± Elizah said with a smile.


    Jayden gave a nod, and the two of them parted ways in the forest.


    <hr>


    Jade was waiting when Elizah had made her way out to the pond. Jayden wasn¡¯t around Jade, so Elizah assumed he was probably running late after training.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Jayden?¡± Jade asked Elizah, clearly frustrated.


    ¡°He tends to be busy at Court sometimes so he might get late,¡± Elizah answered.


    Jade seemed to be satisfied with her answer and gave a curt nod. ¡°At least you came as I expected, your training will be harder than Jayden¡¯s,¡± Jade said.


    She held a book in her hands, which she flipped to a particular page and showed it to Elizah.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be doing one of the most basic implementations of healing magic,¡± Jade said. She showed Elizah the drawn image of a lady in the grass, moving her hands over a flower bud.


    ¡°Ease yourself and lay down in the grass. Feel the life force that moves through each one of us and everything around us. That will be the key to unlocking your hidden talents,¡± Jade said as Elizah lay still in the grass, with the only movement being her small chest moving up and down with each breath. Her eyes were closed, and her face relaxed.


    Elizah felt the warmth inside her. It was both soothing and radiating a lot of heat. The light and heat pulsated around her. She reached out and tried to touch it. The energy flowed over her like the cool water of a river but slow and steady in its flow. However, the power everywhere was uneven, and certain parts were pulsing and seemed to attract her attention more than others. She willed herself towards the closest one and gently felt the power again. She then willed her energy slowly and substantially into the being, worried that she might harm the organism with too much power.


    When the pulsing seemed to dim, she backed away and opened her eyes to look for her caused change.


    Sure enough, the bud that had been near her palm when she¡¯d closed her eyes was now a beautiful flower with layers of petals. Jayden was gaping at her, and Jade watched the blossom with approval.


    ¡°Very good, Elizah,¡± Jade said and moved her fingers steadily over the petals, ¡°Although it took much longer than I¡¯d expected for that to occur.¡±


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    ¡°What do you mean longer than you¡¯d expected?¡± Elizah asked, bewildered.


    ¡°You were in that trance-like state for quite a while Elizah, I arrived and actually learnt quite a lot of new tricks,¡± Jayden said and flicked flames from the tips of his fingers.


    ¡°I can understand why it took so long, Elizah. You tried your first spurt of power only yesterday. I can¡¯t expect that much from you so soon. I need to be on my way. I¡¯ll meet the two of you tomorrow at the very same hour so please arrive as soon as you can,¡± Jade said and walked away from their little reserve.


    ¡°How was it, whatever you saw in that trance state of yours?¡± Jayden asked and raised an eyebrow curiously.


    There was still a hum in her veins like lightning running through her blood. She didn¡¯t exactly know what to say to begin describing the scene. It was beyond words.


    ¡°I can¡¯t find the words to even start describing it,¡± Elizah tried to say, ¡°I wish you could see it. There¡¯s nothing better than that on this island.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to hear what you can use to describe this place,¡± Jayden continued to press her.


    ¡°I can just say everything is so different now. I saw life flowing through every being, from a bug to a leaf. It¡¯s beautiful what life can do. It creates and powers everything in this realm. But at the very same time, it can destroy itself if people get too drunk on the power. Thus creating the darkness that breaks the world with havoc but balances the power of the rift created by magic use,¡± Elizah said and smiled warily.


    ¡°That does sound beautiful. I¡¯m sorry I kept poking for more information, but I just want to know if we¡¯re on the right side of this war, to bring back the ¡®old system¡¯ or is it going to be a mistake,¡± Jayden said and observed his surroundings.


    ¡°Only time can tell us. We still don¡¯t know what the old system was. Till then we must be ready for anything,¡± Elizah said and picked the sword lying next to her, ¡°Are you up for some training?¡±


    Jayden gave her a grin and picked up his own sword, ¡°I was wondering when you¡¯d ask. I have something new planned for today.¡±


    He lifted his blade up for defence, and Elizah was about to copy when he lowered his sword and stood facing her. ¡°You¡¯re going to duel me,¡± he said, and Elizah gave him a sceptical look.


    ¡°I¡¯m honestly not worth the competition. You¡¯re going to beat me fair and square,¡± Elizah said and stood ready in front of him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t demote yourself. I¡¯ve seen your significant progress lately,¡± Jayden said, and he lifted his sword in general duelling etiquette. Elizah copied his motion, and they circled one another, waiting for the first move.


    ¡°Ladies first,¡± Jayden said with a mocking tone. ¡°Don¡¯t try to butter me up,¡± Elizah said and laughed to allow Jayden to take the first strike.


    He landed a swift blow on Elizah¡¯s sword with an intense amount of impact enough to send a defenceless person sprawling. But Elizah held her ground and lifted her blade, and aimed to strike the point he had left vulnerable but ended up close to another hit.


    Elizabeth gritted her teeth in frustration, and a small laugh broke from Jayden¡¯s lips. ¡°Come on, Liz, I know you can do better. After all, we¡¯ve just begun,¡± he said.


    Elizah lifted her blade from the interlocked position and aimed at his wrist and handgrip. But her aim was mildly off, allowing Jayden to get the advantage in the situation.


    They were stuck with their blades interlocked, knowing that if either gave in, they would be defeated, but none were willing to give up the winning pride.


    Jayden then took the risk to see if his opponent would take the bait, but she was far too smart for that. In fact, she only ducked and avoided any possibility of impact.


    ¡°Very good move Liz, but I know you¡¯re better than this, use your advantages,¡± Jayden prompted.


    ¡°I-- I¡¯m trying,¡± she said, clearly frustrated.


    Elizah withdrew her blade for this turn and continued to land swift blows. Jayden deflected with speedy ease, which showed his long years of training.


    Then she spotted it. The simple weakness. Jayden¡¯s grip on the blade was loose whenever he attempted to deflect an attack. It would only take a well-timed and deceiving blow to render him defenceless.


    His footing was also beginning to slip as time went on, and Elizah only used this to her advantage.


    She aimed her sword at his throat but suddenly deflected it right at the weak point, and as she expected, the sword went flying.


    Jayden didn¡¯t look startled at that moment, but a proud smile grew on his face. He put his hands together and began to clap slowly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done it, Liz. I knew that you had it in you,¡± he said and took measured steps out towards her.


    Elizah was still in shock that she¡¯d actually managed it. She hadn¡¯t expected victory. She thought that she¡¯d lose quite badly to the prince.


    Jayden¡¯s arms were outstretched for her to come and embrace him. Elizah dropped her sword and walked into his arms.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing great,¡± he said with a smile, and Elizah stepped back with a wide grin on her face.


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your help,¡± she said, and Jayden felt a tiny bit of pride in his abilities for the first time in his life.


    <hr>

 Chapter 13 - Growth

    Jayden Larkspear took aim and made a well-placed shot on the carved out portion on the tree a couple steps ahead of him. He was practising with Elizah in the depths of the forest once more. A few months had gone by since they had met Jade, but they had trained their magic every day since then. They¡¯d learnt a good amount of tricks with their magic. Jayden now knew enough to defend himself in any situation thrown at him. On offence, he was getting better slowly. He was also able to control his use of power well, reducing the fatigue that he¡¯d usually suffer.


    Elizah, on the other hand, had turned into a very skilled healer. She could heal anything and infuse small elixirs with a bit of her magic, making her a famous apothecary in the town. She was careful to avoid adding too much, to prevent suspicion, as if even one person caught her trick, she¡¯d be in trouble. This also helped her to contribute to her family¡¯s earnings.


    Now Elizah¡¯s main focus of her combat training had shifted from offence to defence. One of the main ways they did that was a dual combination of Jayden using his archery skills and Elizah avoiding the arrows. Initially, it wasn¡¯t Elizah¡¯s favourite type of training, but soon she knew that defence was also important.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be more careful. I almost hit you with that last one,¡± Jayden said and set down his bow and quiver. He was standing and watching Elizah¡¯s alert stance as she stepped slowly over to Jayden. Jayden, in turn, picked up his bow once more and aimed perfectly to hit the shield. The arrow knocked out of the bowstring soared and embedded itself into the shield. Jayden was triumphant about his arrow and began to set his weaponry down for a break.


    He didn¡¯t observe the ground as he walked up to Elizah to give her some tips. Still, when she turned to the other side, Jayden accidentally tripped over a protruding root, causing him to fall flat onto the ground.


    ¡°You should be more careful about where you¡¯re going,¡± Elizah laughed at his clumsiness.


    ¡°Very funny, Liz,¡± he said and was about to stand up when he noticed the tingling sensation of healing occurring in his fingers. He looked up to see the tips of his fingers touching the surface of the pond. He quickly withdrew his hand in surprise and observed his palm.


    ¡°Liz, could you come here for a second?¡±Jayden ushered her over as he sat down in the grass and continued to observe the smooth skin on his fingers.


    ¡°What is it?¡±Elizah asked when she saw how curiously Jayden was observing his fingers.


    ¡°I could swear on the spirits that my fingers had cuts on them moments ago. That¡¯s why I set down my bow to rest, but now--¡± Jayden began.


    ¡°--They¡¯ve vanished,¡± Elizah finished and touched the calloused hands. She¡¯d tried pleading with him to heal the wounds earlier that day, but Jayden had declined.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do long distance healing, nor can anyone, but if it wasn¡¯t me who was it?¡±Elizah wondered aloud.


    ¡°I just dipped my fingers in the water for a moment, but when I removed them, the cuts and scrapes were gone,¡± Jayden said.


    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Elizah said and placed her hand over the surface of the water. She was lightly brushing the water, but only with her fingernails.


    ¡°That adds up now,¡± Elizah said when she opened her eyes later.


    Jayden gave her a questioning look, and she gave a smile. ¡°This is surprising, but hard to explain, so I¡¯ll have to try my best. See, according to the old myth about dark magic and the Larkspear family, it was said that dark magic was completely eradicated or trapped in some way. But that is impossible to do altogether. There has to always be a balance,¡± she began.


    ¡°All of our powers are interconnected by dark magic in its own modified way. This is the reason why the types of magic exist. Without this dark magic, no magic can exist. What the public call dark magic actually is just magic that has been pent up inside a person. This dark magic was originally bound down by the sources of magic. The sources of magic were shrines, but they were destroyed, and the gemstone that bound them down was trapped in six amulets. When the first Larkspear King had set off to unbind the magic sources, he unknowingly created a void. When the dark magic had been ¡®eradicated¡¯, slowly, a few people began to lose their magic. But magic can¡¯t vanish into thin air. While the essence of the structures that made the sources were trapped in the amulets, spirits who were part of the sources now reside here in the pond. The smallest bit of the water can hold extreme power, which shouldn¡¯t be misused. If the bindings were restored, so will the entrapped power of the pond,¡± Elizah said.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°So what you¡¯re basically saying is that to even out the types of magic, the pond created itself. But  what does that have to do with us?¡± Jayden asked.


    ¡°The structures which have vanished must possibly return. I assume that is the only way to change the current state of magic use. But that may have consequences we don¡¯t know,¡± Elizah said.


    ¡°Now, to bring back balance, the entire path is in our hands. As we free the powers of the spirits, the light will find its way out,¡± Jayden said.


    Elizah nodded in response. ¡°Sometimes, it¡¯s worth the risk to try and bring a new change, even if danger can arise as a result instead. Especially when that change has chances for a better world,¡± Elizah said.


    ¡°Maybe our intentions might not be understood by everyone at first, But if all goes well, the world will be a much better one,¡± Jayden said, and Elizah agreed to that.


    ¡°So for now, what exactly should we focus on about the magic at present?¡±Elizah asked him.


    ¡°For now, I have something else that has my attention, I really don¡¯t want to do it, but I have to,


    ¡± Jayden said.


    Elizah rose an eyebrow at that. ¡°Is it your duel tomorrow?¡± she asked with a hint of concern on her face.


    Jayden only gave her a nod. ¡°I¡¯m just not that confident yet,¡± he said to her.


    ¡°You¡¯ll do fine. Relax,¡± Elizah said and touched her hand to his wrist. She closed her eyes, and before Jayden could figure out what exactly she was trying to do, he felt heat energy flowing and humming in his veins. It refreshed him and made him feel more robust than usual. The blood was singing in his veins. When Elizah retracted her hand, he felt the energy flowing through every part of him.


    ¡°Why did you do that?¡± he asked her. She had transferred her energy from herself into him, improving his senses and powers while depleting her own.


    ¡°Your welcome,¡± she mumbled, ¡°It will help you to at least fight a bit better tomorrow. I only want the best for you tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your help. I better head back to finish some last-minute practice. I¡¯ll try to come out here once the duel is over,¡± Jayden said, and the two of them parted ways from the forest.


    <hr>


    The following day, Jayden waited anxiously to enter the arena. Elizah¡¯s infusion helped him become more agile and quick but not noticeably different. He walked in when the guards told him to and waited in the centre of the arena.


    He hoped that his opponent would be someone around his own stature, considering that he was shorter and smaller in build than most boys. But when his opponent had arrived, he knew luck had not favoured him this time.


    It was one of the best students in his year, who could easily knock anyone down within moments. But he was also a big bully and not the kind of person one would like to be friends with.


    Jayden took his sword up into a squaring position, and his opponent followed suit. The two boys circled one another for a couple moments before either was ready to have the first strike. His opponent took the first strike, aiming to disarm the sword out of Jayden¡¯s hands, but a simple deflection stopped the weapon from causing much damage.


    Jayden had practised deflections like that since most people who tended to attack him took that as his weak spot. Jayden took the next hit on the boy¡¯s sword and tried to find a point of leverage. The two of them continued to fight similarly, with a couple dreadlocks coming between them occasionally. Still, otherwise, neither of them were willingly giving in.


    When a while passed, Jayden was still going strong, but his opponent was starting to lose his grip. He was growing tired, and it was clearly visible. Taking good advantage of the situation, he used the same attack strike that his opponent had used on him to lodge the blade out of the opponent¡¯s hands.


    It was a successful manoeuvre, and the crowd erupted into cheers upon finally seeing the Prince as the victor.


    Jayden looked around and spotted Cyprian clapping and smiling broadly for once over his son¡¯s victory. He even came down to the ground to congratulate his son¡¯s achievement. Jayden Larkspear had finally made his father proud and showed everyone how he could also fight like the others. Jayden finally was proud of being the Prince.


    <hr>

 Chapter 14 - Change

    Elizah sat and waited tensely for Micah to come back home. He¡¯d headed out to watch the duel, and Elizah was now waiting for him to come back with the results of the fight. She prayed that her little infusion wouldn¡¯t be caught and that Jayden would manage this win.


    Roxanne looked at her, noticing a tense look in her daughter¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Liz, is everything okay?¡± she asked, sensing something wrong.


    ¡°Huh,¡± Elizah was startled out of her thoughts, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing, mother.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t being truthful, and Roxanne knew by her tone.


    ¡°How were the patients today?¡± she tried to ask.


    It hadn¡¯t been a great day for Elizah¡¯s business since there was an infusion that wasn¡¯t working as it was supposed to. She¡¯d been trying to figure it out, but just she was confused and stumped at the moment.


    ¡°The infusion hasn¡¯t helped the patient yet. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m missing,¡± Elizah said


    ¡°Have you tried the inclusion of lemongrass in it? Or were you missing the bit of mint or anything simple?¡±Roxanne asked her. She¡¯d been a master of tonics and infusions for a while, so she knew what it would be missing.


    ¡°I tried both. I only haven¡¯t tried to make the elixir for the dozenth time,¡± Elizah said and brought out the leather-bound infusion book. She flipped to the recipe page she was trying and measured out the ingredients to pour into the bottle.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t added the most important ingredient, which pulls the entire thing together. A small bit of this will do the trick,¡± Roxanne said and picked out a jar with tiny seeds.


    ¡°Sometimes, you need to change the proportion of things and mix it up. It tends to do the trick,¡± Roxanne said and shook the small jar vigorously.


    ¡°This could work. But if it¡¯ll truly work, it should be able to change colour when I heat it,¡± Elizah said and put a few drops into a small container and took it towards the fire.


    Sure enough, it switched colour from dull green to orange.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. It¡¯s perfect!¡±Elizah exclaimed, held the small jar in her palm, and gently heated it with her magic. She slipped the infusion into her bag and embraced her mother.


    ¡°Thank you so much,¡± Elizah said, and Roxanne smiled at her daughter.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me, dear. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here,¡± Roxanne said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you head off and deliver the elixir? That¡¯ll be the real test.¡±


    Elizah slipped her bag on and nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what happens when I get back, mother.¡±


    She slipped out of the door. She was about to make her way to the man¡¯s house when Micah met her at the door.


    ¡°He won the opening duel Liz, but lost his second test duel. The king still felt quite proud of his son,¡± Micah said, and Elizah¡¯s eyes lit up brighter.


    ¡°Really?¡± she asked with childish enthusiasm.


    Micah only smiled and nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing. I have to deliver this elixir right now. When I come back, I want to hear about everything that happened,¡± Elizah said and dashed off towards the man¡¯s house  hoping that she could get a chance to see Jayden after that.


    <hr>


    When Elizah made it to the depths of the forest, she saw Jayden already waiting there, with his sword still in his hands and in the Larkspear colours. The colours of blue and lavender with a silver crest of a wolf emblazoned on the sides.


    ¡°I take that you already heard about what happened,¡± Jayden said, and his happiness was apparent in his face.


    ¡°I did. I¡¯m glad to hear that you did well. Even if you only won the first round,¡± Elizah said.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°I hadn¡¯t expected a second challenge. I was ready for swordsmanship and for an archer¡¯s duel. But otherwise, the entire thing took me by surprise,¡± Jayden said, ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t have made it past the first round if it wasn¡¯t for you.¡±


    ¡°I thought someone didn¡¯t want the magical enhancement?¡±Elizah said and gave him a grin.


    ¡°Thank you, Liz,¡± he said, and he gave her a smile.


    ¡°Your father was finally proud wasn¡¯t he?¡±Elizah asked.


    At that, Jayden¡¯s eyes lit up, and he was looking like a child again. ¡°He surprised me as well. He actually came down to the arena and congratulated me,¡± Jayden said and was smiling widely.


    ¡°So you¡¯ve passed, finally. Now you don¡¯t need to worry about those expectations again do you?¡±Elizah asked and embraced him.


    The two of them were nearly the same height, their eyes met, and the dancing happiness was reflected clearly.


    ¡°Congrats Prince Jayden,¡± Elizah knew that she was doing the one thing Jayden hated.


    ¡°You know how much I hate that,¡± he said and broke the embrace, and the two of them laughed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got to leave. It¡¯s growing dark, and mother tends to get worried whenever I¡¯m out too long after dark,¡± Elizah said, and Jayden nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be here at the usual time,¡± he said as Elizah made her way through the thick shrubbery.


    <hr>


    The leader of the spies stood hiding in the darkness of the room of weaponry. His employer had to pay him, after which he was giving up on the job they¡¯d given him. His loyalties had now changed, and it was a good thing.


    ¡°Where are you, coward?¡± he heard a voice slam the doors of the weapon room open.


    They were yelling, and by the sounds, they were highly annoyed by what had happened at the duel.


    ¡°Come out of the shadows and face me,¡± they called out, and the espionage captain stepped out of the shadow he was hiding in.


    There were no candles in the room, yet the room seemed to be dimly lit. The man looked around for a while and then found the light source to be none other than the other person¡¯s hands themselves.


    While he¡¯d been busy observing the room, the other person was taking small steps and making their way to him.


    ¡°Why did you lie to me?¡± they asked him in evident outrage.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t lie,¡± the man answered with honesty, but his voice was shaking.


    ¡°You and I both know that it wasn¡¯t the case,¡± the other person answered sharply.


    The spy began to look for a shield to protect himself from any chances of attack from his employer.


    ¡°Where are you trying to scramble to?¡± his employer asked mockingly and ran their hands of flame through the shield, clearly melting a part of it.


    ¡°What do you want from me?¡± the spy screamed out when the hands began to come closer to his face.


    ¡°You swore something to me, do you remember?¡± the voice asked and was still mocking.


    ¡°I never swore anything to a magic-user. I swore to someone else,¡± the man tried to distract his opponent as the flames edged closer to his face.


    ¡°Fool, I am that person,¡± the voice cackled maliciously.


    ¡°Show me proof that you are,¡± the man asked the person while he tried to look down at them with a terse expression.


    He saw a smirk dancing on their face momentarily before their black cloak fell back, and the man gasped.


    ¡°Now are you sure? Or do you need my comrade to set you right?¡± The person said and raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°No. NO,¡± the man screamed as a flicker of flames touched his neck.


    ¡°Then tell me why it didn¡¯t happen,¡± the person demanded and, with a swift move, withdrew their hand from the spy¡¯s face.


    ¡°He did lose, didn¡¯t he?¡± the man asked, surprised by the question.


    ¡°He won, you idiot. He won the duel, but it wasn¡¯t like him in the arena,¡± the person said and let the flames extinguish themselves.


    ¡°He improved, probably,¡± the spy tried to come up with an excuse.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re still lying,¡± the person clearly detected.


    ¡°He won fair and square,¡± the spy continued to object.


    ¡°There was someone¡¯s interference, tell me who they were or else I¡¯ll go and try to search for them myself,¡± the person threatened.


    ¡°The healer, she helped him,¡± the man screamed out when a tendril of flame touched his face.


    ¡°Which healer?¡± the person asked, clearly enjoying the torture of the man.


    ¡°Liran¡¯s daughter,¡± he yelled out.


    The other person withdrew the flames and swore a filthy string of curses.


    ¡°I--I¡¯m not going to gather information for you anymore,¡± the man managed.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± the employer screamed and wrapped their tendrils of flame around his neck, almost suffocating him.


    ¡°My-- lo-y-a-l-ties--have changed,¡± the man managed to say between coughs.


    ¡°Then my priorities have changed as well,¡± the other person said, and the spy fell back gasping in pain and clutching his chest. They¡¯d been hiding a blade in their palm, and it was now embedded in the man¡¯s chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to enjoy this after a long while,¡± the person said and sharply retracted the blade.


    The man gasped in more pain, and then the person decided to end his suffering. ¡°Goodbye,¡± they said, and their flames left marks like blades on his face.


    With that, the man was dead. The person rubbed the blood off their palms, strolled out of the weapon room, and shut the door behind them.

 Chapter 15 - Truths and Lies

    Elizah walked into her room, still smiling about how Jayden was so happy. She was about to get into the bed when she saw a solemn Micah seated on her bed. In his hands was the one thing she hoped that Micah wouldn''t notice.


    "Liz, what''s the meaning of this?" he asked. He stood up to show her the book he was holding.


    It was a book of magic that she''d borrowed from Jade to look at. She wanted to hide it away from her mother and Micah to make sure the wrong conclusions weren''t made quickly, but of course, things never went the way she expected them to go.


    "I can explain it¡­." Elizah tried to defend her actions.


    "What can you even say? Liz, I don''t know what to even think after this," Micah was almost shouting at her.


    "If you quieten down a little, I can try to explain," Elizah said with anger tipping off in her voice. Still, she was careful not to raise her voice, fearing that Roxanne might overhear about what happened.


    "Mother''s been asleep for a while. Don''t worry about waking her," Micah said and glared at his sister.


    "I have magic," Elizah said with a defeated tone in her voice.


    "Genius, you thought I didn''t know that? Isn''t there a way you can suppress it? Tell me why you need this treacherous thing in our household. Why are you using it? Magic took one person from me. I can''t lose another person," Micah asked and pointed at the book again. His voice was solemn, his earlier anger fading slightly.


    "You don''t understand. If I don''t use my powers, that will be a worse situation. Didn''t William ever explain this to you?" Elizah asked through gritted teeth.


    "He always said some strange things, but I never understood what he meant. I warned him not to use magic, and he didn''t listen," Micah said with frustration.


    "Magic isn''t something we choose, Micah. It chooses us," Elizah growled.


    "How do I know that this isn''t some set of lies that the Prince fed into you, or he inducted you into the cult of magic users, just to betray you in the end?" Micah asked.


    "Can you stop being an idiot, and try to listen to me for at least a moment?" Elizah asked, growing tired of their argument.


    Micah was silent, and he met her gaze. His grey eyes tried and failed to hide his pained expression.


    "I have magic, but it isn''t a bad thing Micah. I use it only for my infusions and to heal people," Elizah said and closed her eyes, "Speaking of which, you have a bruise on your finger, did you hit something by mistake?"


    Micah looked taken aback by Elizah''s sudden observation and stared at his sister in awe.


    "How did you know?" Micah asked as he felt Elizah''s gentle hand on his and a warmth flowing through his finger.


    "The power of healing, sometimes tends to awe me itself," Elizah said and retracted her palm when she knew the bruise was gone.


    "So that''s how your magic works? It''s different from how I remember Will''s being," Micah asked in wonder as he observed his finger, with a sad smile on his face.


    "The types are different in how they work. Darkness is something different to all this," Elizah said and took the book from a startled Micah''s hands.


    "I just am worried. I don''t understand all of this, but I don''t want anyone to get hurt," Micah said softly and put a hand on Elizah''s shoulder.


    "Hey, it''s alright," Elizah said and smiled, "All is forgiven. One day, I''ll explain everything to you, maybe then you''ll understand."


    "That would be nice of you, but I don''t think I will ever get it, as someone who doesn''t have those abilities," Micah said with a small sigh, " Be careful, That''s all I want."


    "I will don''t worry. I''m sorry I got too heated," Elizah said and bowed her head slightly, "Just, don''t bring the Prince into our arguments. People really judge him too much. And that thought frustrates me."


    Micah grinned slightly at his sister and said, "Well, maybe your feelings for him are clearer than you think."


    "Shut up, Micah. I''m not ready to take that leap just yet," Elizah said with a flustered gaze and cheeks slightly scarlet. Micah laughed gently and embraced her before turning to the door.


    "Good night Liz. We have some hard labour out in the fields tomorrow," Micah said as he walked out of Elizah''s room, and she tucked herself into bed.


    <hr>


    Jayden awoke when there was a knock at the door. He got up from the bed with a groan and made sure he looked presentable enough to meet whoever was at the door.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.For a moment, he made sure that it wasn''t late in the day or anything but realised that dawn was still barely breaking. That bought out the curiosity inside him to check whether something was wrong.


    He rushed to the door and found a young servant maiden waiting there. "My lord, your father was summoning you to the weapon room," the maid answered as soon as the door opened.


    "Did he specify what the reason was exactly?" Jayden asked and raised an eyebrow.


    "He only said that it was urgent and important that you were there at the earliest time possible," the maiden shook her head and answered softly.


    "I''ll be right there in  a moment," Jayden said and dug into his pocket to find a small piece of gold from his pocket.


    "Go buy yourself a cinnamon bun, and take a rest for the day," Jayden said as he dismissed the girl.


    Jayden hated how his mother treated the young servants in the palace and felt the need for so many servants was entirely unnecessary.


    "Thank you my lord," the girl said and bounced off with a smile on her face.


    On the other hand, Jayden ran down the stairs to the armoury. He knew that whatever had happened was of utmost importance and could be something terrible as well.


    When he made it there, he saw his mother, father and a family kneeling down in front of something on the ground. When the king spotted Jayden, he called him towards himself.


    Jayden saw what they were looking at and stifled a gasp. There was a body on the ground, covered in bloody scars and cuts. The face was so deformed that it would be impossible to identify the person without the badge on his chest. He was the leader of the spy force that Jayden''s father had maintained, and Jayden had actually spent some good time with the man, learning tricks of stealth.


    "I''m sorry you have to see this my boy," Cyprian said and gave Jayden a sad glance.


    Jayden looked around him at all the people in mourning. He wasn''t sure how to react to what was going on then.


    "When did this happen?" Jayden asked.


    Now, as if a sudden force was working on Cyprian, his eyes were more severe than caring.


    "Last night, someone killed the man," Cyprian answered bluntly.


    "Have you called for someone to examine him?" Jayden asked.


    "Your father has taken care of that. In fact they should be arriving any moment from now," Noxaura answered.


    They waited for a few moments, honouring the man before the doors opened, and a white-cloaked woman walked in with another young lady.


    Jayden looked up to see their face and nearly jumped in surprise. Elizah and Jade were standing in front of him.


    "What is the problem here sire?" Jade asked and observed the corpse.


    "He was killed last night, we were wondering if you''d be able to find the cause of death," Noxaura answered, and Jade continued to observe the man along with Elizah''s face full of shock.


    "Why are you here?" Noxaura asked and raised an eyebrow at Elizah.


    "I asked for her to also come. She is well known for her cures in the town," the lady kneeling on the ground, who seemed to be the man''s wife, spoke up.


    "I actually gave him a healing tonic only last night, since he said he was feeling weak and his muscles seemed to be overworked. I met him at his house last night before I ran an errand for my mother," Elizah answered.


    Jade, who until then had been silent, then answered, "I need to do a thorough examination to figure out the cause of death. Would you mind allowing a few sentries to bring him to my cottage?"


    Noxaura looked surprised by Jade''s question and only nodded in response, "I''ll send them by the evening. I thank the two of you for spending your precious time to help us out, and I''d like to hear about the actual cause of the problem here."


    "Thank you, milady," Elizah answered, and the two of them bowed before they left the room.


    "Father, why are you investigating this?" Jayden asked, confused about what was going on.


    "The massacre of the man was quite brutal, I''d wish to punish the culprit dearly for their actions, and I lost a great friend," the king said solemnly.


    Jayden wasn''t willing to argue with his father''s judgement and nodded as the man was covered up, and they all mourned in silence.

 Chapter 16 - Returning Problems

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

 Chapter 17 - Fears

    Jayden waited for Elizah to arrive at the pond, as usual, that evening, but for once, Elizah was late. He was about to leave, thinking she wouldn''t show up, but then she arrived with flushed cheeks and eyes mildly tired.


    "We need to head over to Jade''s cottage," she said, and Jayden only gave her a curious look before asking, "Why do we need to go there?"


    "She wanted us to examine the body from this morning," Elizah said and walked in the direction of Jade''s cottage in the depths of the forest.


    Jayden could only follow her, and soon the tiny cottage came into view. It was well hidden in the dense forest, making it hard for anyone to spot it in the checks of the woods.


    Elizah opened the door and let herself in, and Jayden continued to follow her. Jade was seated at a table, and the man was spread out in front of her. The man''s face was still scarred, but the bloodstains had been cleaned off, making it a bit less gruesome.


    "I''m glad you''ve made it. For a moment I thought that you had forgotten and had no plans to come," Jade said and stood up.


    "I need you to examine this, Elizah," Jade said and stood next to Jayden. She had a solemn look on her face, and her face was grim.


    Elizah reluctantly moved her hand over the man''s face and closed her eyes. She was serene and calm, and the rigidness, which was usual for Elizah, had melted off her facade for once.


    Jayden watched intently as the man''s wounds knotted together extremely slowly. The man''s face was no longer disfigured within moments, but bruises remained on his face. There were also clear burn marks on his face which seemed extremely stubborn to leave his face.


    After all the scars had come together, and the skin had held together, Elizah''s eyes opened and she gasped and fell backwards. She clutched the first thing she could grasp and was breathing heavily.


    "Are you okay Liz?" Jayden asked almost immediately after she''d fallen backwards, with his tone full of concern. He rushed up to her side and was about to help her up when she kindly declined and closed her eyes for a moment before she stood up by herself.


    "She''ll be alright," Jade said and handed Elizah a steaming mug of some sort of tea.


    "What happened?" Jayden asked and curiously watched Elizah''s still trembling figure sip from the mug.


    "That took a lot out of me," Elizah said and took another gulp from the glass.


    "I''d suspected the very same. It wasn''t a living person after all. You had to use only your energy," Jade said with a satisfied glance in Elizah''s direction and led the two of them to chairs after covering the man.


    "What did you suspect?" Jayden asked, more bewildered than ever.


    "It wasn''t a normal injury. There was foul play at work here, but this is a good learning experience for the two of you," Jade said as soon as she sat down.


    "This feels like someone''s pent up magic," Elizah managed slowly, and her eyes widened as she made the connection.


    Jayden''s glance met Elizah''s, and the two of them were full of both surprise and fear.


    "Am I right?" Elizah asked Jade.


    "It''s a bit complicated, but you''ve got the spirit. It''s time I did explain how this works now," Jade said with a sigh, "So as you guessed this was a pent up power that was used against him. If you remember correctly I mentioned to the two of you that every type of magic can be light or dark in its own sense. That is the original definition of dark magic, but now to make it simple enough for an ordinary person to understand, the definition has been diluted. In both of your cases, you have the darker half of your magic types. However, in order to fulfill your destinies, you both will be able to use the lighter half as well. The lighter half of healing magic corresponds to using magic to heal or grow, whereas the darker half corresponds to taking energy from one being. The same for warrior types or battle magic, is related to the element as the darker type users will use fire while the light magic users use water. Users of dark magic are rare, but not uncommon, however you both may be  first instance of those who can use both."


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings."So the injury on the man was caused by a warrior with dark magic?" Jayden asked in confusion.


    "Precisely," Jade said and gave a small smile of approval.


    "That combination repelled me out of the man''s leftover bits of life before I could dare to try to heal it," Elizah said and rubbed her palms together. They had started to go numb after placing her mug on the table.


    "I know you didn''t do it, young prince, but that only makes matters worse for all of us," Jade said with apparent worry in her voice upon seeing Jayden''s mildly afraid face.


    "There''s someone out there who is a potentially dangerous murderer if not tackled," Elizah said with her tone sombre.


    "If the problem is actually looked at, there''s something that we can notice clearly. This person wouldn''t be driven to such extremes unless they had to conceal their powers from the outside world," Jade said with a mild bit of anger building up in her tone.


    "You''re saying the cause is probably the ban on magic," Jayden said as the thoughts finally clicked in his head.


    Jade only nodded gravely. "I need the two of you to be safe. Please be watchful of your surroundings. Losing more chances of magic existing in the next generation is one thing we can''t afford," Jade said with concern, creasing lines on her face.


    Jayden and Elizah nodded in unison. "I''m heading off to report my findings to the king, both of you head back home and Elizah please rest well," Jade said and led them out the door and closed the door behind her.


    Jade disappeared in the castle''s direction, and Jayden observed Elizah closely. There was something clearly wrong with her, but she wouldn''t tell him.


    "Is everything okay back at home?" Jayden asked cautiously. He wanted to help her out no matter what. Because that was the role of the king and their family, even if the intentions had changed over time.


    "It''s nothing. If anything, I''m going to spend more time in your sight," Elizah said with a small, sad smile.


    "What do you mean?" Jayden asked, surprised by her statement.


    "I''m going to become your mother''s servant," Elizah said with dismay in her voice.


    Jayden looked taken aback by what Elizah had just said.


    "You''re kidding right?" Jayden asked with dread in his tone.


    "No," Elizah said placidly. She then narrated whatever had happened that morning at her home.


    Jayden and Elizah reached near Elizah''s tiny cottage when she was done. Jayden was stubborn that Elizah shouldn''t take the job, and neither was Micah leaving.


    "I''m going to make this work," Jayden said when Elizah tried to protest.


    "It''s impossible," Elizah said with a tired sigh.


    "Just trust me, this once. Go home and sleep, and meet me at the pond by sunset," Jayden said and waved a sign of departure, and Elizah was just left in both fear and worry for what the prince had in mind.


    <hr>


    There was a knock at the door, and after a moment, someone walked in without waiting for a response.


    "You never fail to disappoint," the calm, seated person inside said.


    "I''m getting tired of this," the person at the door said without stepping inside.


    "You can''t keep killing or scaring all our accomplices," the seated person answered.


    "You know, where''s the third piece of our deal, they''re never helping," the person outside complained.


    "They''re doing their fair share, just because you have a terrible relationship with them doesn''t mean that you''re doing too much work," the seated person answered.


    "Easy for you to say," the other answered with a roll of their eyes.


    "What did you say?" the seated person asked with a raise of their eyebrows.


    "Nothing," the other person quickly mumbled.


    "I know you long for power, but be patient," the seated person answered gently.


    "I''ve waited long enough," the person said, and flames sparked out of their palms.


    "It''s not much longer till the first fragment will be free," the seated one answered.


    The two people only could wonder wistfully of the oncoming possibilities of their powers as their fragmented plan slowly came together, piece by piece.

 Chapter 18 - A Gamble on Hope

    Elizah stood and waited nervously for Jayden to meet her. He said he¡¯d bring her out of the situation, but she didn¡¯t know how he¡¯d do it.


    She just wanted to make sure that he wouldn¡¯t do something reckless, being the Prince did have its own restrictions.


    She wandered her way out of the forest and walked into the centre of the town. The town was brightly illuminated, despite the time. It was getting late into the night, and Elizah knew that Micah would be worried. The man from the castle had been kind enough to postpone their deadline to the following day, after learning about the castle murder and suspension of the court working hours for the rest of that day. Still, there wasn¡¯t much Elizah could accumulate overnight to pay.


    She wandered over to an empty alley, usually home to a good number of the extremely poor. It was a dangerous pastime of hers, but her heart wouldn¡¯t let her stop.


    She walked through a few turns in the alley to reach a small slum community. She found impoverished and clearly malnourished families.


    She took out a small pouch from the pocket of her apron and unfolded the cloth wrapped around the small bunch of tarts that she had smuggled from her pantry. It wasn¡¯t much, but she knew it would bring a few happy smiles from the people.


    She let her cloak hood fall off, walked into the area, and saw a smiling girl meet her there. The girl was relatively young and skinny, but she was always smiling and laughing despite her family¡¯s pain, and Elizah found that quality admirable.


    She¡¯d spent a couple days among the dwellers there, years ago, right after Micah had been taken and Roxanne had made close accomplices with those living there.


    After Elizah had moved out of the area and with her step-father, it only seemed fair that she would also give back to the children living there.


    Roxanne finding her second husband was a well-known fact among the dwellers. In fact, it was the most significant memory Elizah had of the place.


    Elizah handed a tiny tart to each of the children, and each of the children embraced Elizah tightly, and they all smiled.


    ¡°Auntie Liz,¡± one of the kids asked, and Elizah gave a fond smile, ¡°Would you help my mama, she isn¡¯t well, and I¡¯m scared.¡±


    Elizah took the little girl¡¯s frail hand gently and walked with the girl to the small closed room. It was small, but it seemed warm and comfortable for the girl¡¯s family.


    The girl seemed frightened when she walked into the room to see her mother lying on the cot and feverishly tossing and turning.


    ¡°Little one, I¡¯ll make your mama better, but I need you to go wait outside. I¡¯ll call you when she¡¯s better,¡± Elizah said gently, and the girl nodded and walked outside.


    It was Elizah¡¯s trick to make sure no one told her off. She always told the children to leave when she healed someone.


    She raised her hand gently over the woman¡¯s face and closed her eyes as she¡¯d usually do to detect the problem. She then felt the darkness ebbing away from her touch and could feel the tingling pain inside the woman. There was the sensation of heat and cold around her, and the most important thing to do was to go towards the cold and bring warmth.


    She touched something in her surroundings and her palm radiated as much heat as she could to the cold surrounding her palm. It drained her energy from herself, but it was going to be completely worth it in the end.


    She gave one last glimpse around her surroundings when she noticed another pulsing beam coming from inside the woman.


    Elizah let out a gasp and smiled, ¡°It can¡¯t be.¡±


    She made her way to the second pulsing. There was only supposed to be one pulse inside a particular person, and that was their heart.


    She found the warmth radiating from it and could only smile. It was a beauty in itself. The slight pulsing was emitting so much energy as heat it was remarkable even for Elizah.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.Elizah observed the pulsing light for moments in clear awe, and she knew clearly what the light was.


    She slowly retracted her hand and opened her eyes. The woman was now awake and seated on the bed, looking bewildered at what was just going on.


    ¡°You¡¯re a healer,¡± the woman said, with her tone both in awe and confusion.


    Elizah didn¡¯t know whether the lady would turn her over to the king and queen, so she remained silent.


    Before Elizah could do anything, the woman embraced her tightly and whispered, ¡°Thank you. You saved both of our lives.¡±


    The woman patted gently at the small bump, and Elizah could only smile. It was surprising that Elizah hadn¡¯t noticed the bump before.


    The girl was peeking through the doorway upon hearing the voices, and Elizah let out a small laugh and ushered the little one in. ¡°Your mama will be okay,¡± Elizah said, and the little girl was overjoyed.


    Seeing the happiness in the room made Elizah¡¯s heart leap with joy. She gave the mother and daughter some privacy as she walked out of the small housing region and towards the forest.


    On the way, however, something caught her eye. It was one of the large taverns in the town, and for some reason, it was crowded with people watching something intently from outside.


    Micah was supposed to be here, trying his luck at some money. But he wasn¡¯t the one in the centre.


    ¡°I¡¯ve placed my last bet. It stands at 200 gold,¡± the voice from the middle of the room said, and Elizah knew precisely who the voice was within seconds.


    There was a collective intake of breath by the crowd. 200 gold was no joke, and not everyone could afford that type of price.


    She made her way through the crowd to be drawn towards the centre. She found Jayden seated there with a couple of cards in his hands and Micah across the room. He was too focused on his surroundings that he didn¡¯t notice his sister.


    A big, burly man seated at the other end of the table began to draw cards. Jayden had no chance of winning this unless he brought out some strategy into the game, by the looks of it.


    But knowing Jayden Larkspear, Elizah knew that he was smart enough to pull it off. The cards were dealt out evenly for both of them, and they were observing their cards with keen interest.


    Elizah stood along the sidelines of the crowd and watched tensely as the game unfolded. It was a tough match by the looks, and this game was based entirely on strategy and deep thought.


    But all soon came to an end when the winner was made quite clear. Jayden made his victory simple by drawing the tension of his opponent.


    As the crowd cleared, Elizah made her way to the group¡¯s centre and faced Jayden once the crowd around him had dispersed.


    ¡°Liz, what are you doing here?¡± he asked, startled by her appearance by his side.


    ¡°I needed to make sure you weren¡¯t an idiot,¡± Elizah said and glared at him.


    ¡°Look, I need to keep you safe. So here, keep these and don¡¯t worry about returning it to me, you¡¯ve done enough for me already,¡± Jayden said and handed the bag of 200 gold pieces to Elizah.


    Elizah looked surprised as she took the bag in her palm and felt its weight. ¡°But--¡± She began to protest.


    ¡°Your caring nature has been my payment, so now I have to fill the debt. I love you, Liz, and I can¡¯t see you hurt,¡± Jayden said and gently whispered in Elizah¡¯s ear, and she laughed.


    ¡°I told you, I¡¯m not going to respond to that until I feel like it,¡± Elizah said softly, but in her heart, she realised her feelings were changing.


    Elizah embraced Jayden tightly before they tried to remain discreet in their exit from the spot. But the smiles on their faces would have revealed everything.

 Chapter 19 - Sparks of Fear

    Elizah walked into her home cottage and found Micah waiting at the door. ¡°Where were you?¡± he asked and didn¡¯t let her get past him.


    ¡°Look, I was out with the children of the slum,¡± Elizah said, and Micah still was looming over her.


    ¡°How many times should I tell you that the place is dangerous?¡± Micah was shouting at her, and Roxanne looked at the two siblings arguing outside.


    ¡°LIz, it was a good thing that you did,¡± Roxanne said and moved toward her daughter.


    ¡°Micah stop being so frustrated with your sister over something else,¡± Roxanne said, and she walked back into the kitchen.


    ¡°What happened to Micah?¡± Elizah asked with a small amount of curiosity in her voice.


    ¡°He¡¯s just tense like the rest of us,¡± Roxanne said with a sigh, ¡°the timing of this debt couldn¡¯t be worse since Levi left only yesterday.¡±


    Elizah was quiet but only nodded. Aunt Levi typically helped them out with anything they needed. Still, they all realised they were relying on Levi¡¯s help too much these days.


    ¡°Where did you get that bag?¡± Micah asked and noticed the pouch in Elizah¡¯s hand.


    ¡°A gambling bet, and our miracle,¡± Elizah said with a grin.


    ¡° I know you¡¯re lying, Liz,¡± tell me before I have to wrench whatever I want from your mouth,¡± Micah said and glared at her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying about the bet,¡± Elizah said with a smirk, ¡°but I didn¡¯t place it.¡±


    Micah just stared at his sister for moments until it struck him.


    ¡°You¡¯re kidding aren¡¯t you,¡± Micah said with his eyes wide.


    ¡°He gave his winnings to me,¡± Elizah said, and Micah still remained agape.


    ¡°Your prince, seriously, is a gentleman,¡± Micah said with a small smile creeping up his face.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask him to do it,¡± Elizah said and set the bag down.


    ¡°I understand why you two are so close,¡± Micah said, and Elizah set her side bag down.


    Elizah only laughed, knowing that there were things far beyond Micah¡¯s understanding at work here.


    <hr>


    ¡°Why were you out?¡± a voice startled Jayden Larkspear as he walked into his room.


    He looked in and found his mother seated on one of the big couches in his chambers and observing her nails.


    ¡°Don¡¯t I have free rights to roam, without someone breathing down on my neck,¡± Jayden said, annoyed by her presence.


    ¡°I need to look after my son, don¡¯t I?¡± she asked, ¡° You¡¯re my only heir after all.¡±


    She stood up and faced him.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Jayden asked with a glare in her direction.


    ¡°Your father was looking for you. He wants to make sure you didn¡¯t cheat a few days ago. We got information that you would have tried,¡± Noxaura said.


    For a moment, Jayden got startled, wondering that Elizah had been caught.


    ¡°We also found one of the healer¡¯s tonics in your room,¡± Noxaura said and produced a bottle from her pouch.


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.Jayden recognised the bottle immediately. It was a bottle of paint he¡¯d mixed and tried to infuse his powers into, and Elizah infused it instead. It had a beautiful shade and was speckled like stars were in the paint, and Jayden had used the colour to paint Elizah¡¯s eyes in one of his masterpieces.


    ¡°That¡¯s just a jar of paint, I bought it at the market square a couple days ago,¡± Jayden said with a small laugh.


    ¡°Why would you need a bottle of paint?¡± Noxaura asked in clear annoyance.


    ¡°I found it interesting. I bought it because I thought the colour was beautiful,¡± Jayden said and admired the bottle.


    ¡°Sometimes I wonder how you¡¯re my son and sometimes you remind me of my father,¡± Noxaura said in a mildly annoyed tone.


    The bottle wasn¡¯t only paint, but it was more like a source of magic, which could heal.


    ¡°Why do you think that? Oh right, you tried to throw me down a well,¡± Jayden said with a bitter laugh.


    ¡°I find your intelligence to be just as much as your father¡¯s, jumping to conclusions without knowing the true story,¡± Noxaura said and plucked the bottle out of Jayden¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Is this something you haven¡¯t told me about?¡± Jayden asked with confusion.


    ¡°Forget what I said. This potion has magic infused in it,¡± Noxaura said, rapidly changing the topic, ¡°those colours only come with magic.¡±


    Jayden stood rigid for a moment before turning to face her again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. The man I bought it from was mixing it in front of my eyes,¡± Jayden said with a thoughtful glance.


    ¡°Looks may deceive, my dear prince,¡± Noxaura said with warning and made her way out of the room. At the same time, Jayden was left tense, wondering what could happen if he was ever found out.


    <hr>


    ¡°My lord, can I speak with you,¡± A person stood in front of the king, and the king lifted his head to see a cloaked figure seated in a chair in front of him.


    The hood was down, making it impossible for the king to identify the person.


    Another person walked in with their pace measured and bolted the door behind them, such that the king had no exit from the room.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt you my lord,¡± the person seated in front of him said and placed their hand gently on the king¡¯s arm.


    Before the king could react, there was a jolt of energy in his veins, and something suddenly pushed through his mind itself.


    The seated person pushed harder, and his will gave way.


    ¡°He¡¯s all yours, nothing that he does is his own control, but rather yours,¡± the person who had been seated said and stood up with a grin, ¡°It¡¯s finally complete.¡±


    ¡°Finally,¡± the other person said and placed their hand on the king¡¯s arm and dropped their cloak on the chair behind them, as the other person in the room walked out with only a small smile.

 Chapter 20 - Nightmares Begin

    Time skip 3 years


    Jayden Larkspear stood alone in the courtyard and slowly took aim at each one of the targets placed neatly in an organised row. He plucked the bowstring at the perfect angle. Each arrow landed perfectly in the bullseye except the last one. Which headed a bit off the centre and landed on the second ring from the centre.


    ¡°Great job,¡± Noxaura said and clapped from behind Jayden, and he turned to look back at her.


    ¡°This would be a useful skill to encourage young suitors for you, my son,¡± Noxaura said and walked up to put an arm on Jayden¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Young what?¡± Jayden asked in utter bewilderment.


    It was common for the princes to be married at any age after 20. It was believed that two together would be easier to plan for the territory than only one person. The suitors usually used to be the prince¡¯s choice. But in Jayden¡¯s case, he had feelings for someone Noxaura couldn¡¯t know about in the slightest.


    ¡°My son, it¡¯s been long enough that you haven¡¯t found your match yet,¡± Noxaura said and looked at her son. They had the same eye colour, and their vivid nature was identical.


    ¡°Mother, I,¡± Jayden began to protest, but he knew that it was no point when Noxaura had made up her mind about what might happen.


    ¡°I need you to start finding your partner at the earliest, otherwise the rumors about our kingdom just keep growing,¡± Noxaura said and smiled at her son.


    ¡°What do you have in mind to help out?¡± Jayden asked with a hint of confusion. This was all too sudden for him to comprehend.


    For once, Noxaura looked slightly delighted to hear the question and led her son into the castle.


    ¡°I have a ready list of suitors for you, my son, but the most important thing for you right now is to get to know them first,¡± Noxaura said. She sounded childishly excited, but Jayden took it as a good thing as long as she wasn¡¯t yelling at him.


    ¡°Should I probably get into a more presentable set of clothes before you bring someone in?¡± Jayden asked, trying to buy himself some time.


    ¡°Yes of course,¡± Noxaura said and led her son to the staircase inside the castle.


    ¡°Go ready yourself upstairs, and I¡¯ll send the first girl up there within a few moments,¡± Noxaura sent him up the stairs. Jayden only wondered what exactly he¡¯d gotten himself roped into.


    <hr>


    Elizah stared wistfully out the window in the kitchen and was lost in a variety of daydreams. She had been busy baking for a bit since that morning, and she was now just taking a small rest. The past three years had been relatively mundane. She practised magic and got better at fighting during the day and then returned home to finish some of the fieldwork.


    On another end, she had finally started to realise her feelings for Jayden. Still, she was absolutely unsure of how to go about telling him. Daily she ended up just thinking of how to tell him, and like today she would just be staring outside a window for hours. Even Micah had tried to convince her to just talk it out, but she felt it was too awkward to say it out loud.


    However, Elizah was startled out of her thoughts when she felt a hand at her shoulder.


    ¡°Liz, can I talk to you?¡± Roxanne asked and walked up to her daughter with a worried glance.


    ¡°Yes of course mother, tell me,¡± Elizah said and turned to Roxanne.


    ¡°I¡¯ve just gotten word and well you probably won¡¯t like this but,¡± Roxanne said with a slight wobble in her lip.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Elizah asked, and Roxanne sat at the table with her head in her palms.


    ¡°There was the announcement that they¡¯ve seen magical infusions in the town, and some signs are pointing to you,¡± Roxanne said nervously. ¡°They¡¯ve summoned you to the castle to give a check on whether you have magic or not.¡±


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.¡°What!?¡± Elizah asked in outrage about the suggestion, ¡°How could I have magic?¡± She tried to make her lies satisfactory enough to convince Roxanne that she wasn¡¯t at fault, but inside she was worried that her secret was now out.


    ¡°I know Liz, please calm down,¡± Roxanne said and placed a gentle hand on her daughter¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°I just need you to make sure the king and queen know that it isn¡¯t the truth,¡± Roxanne said and led Elizah to the door, ¡°I want you to get this over with as early as possible, so please Liz I can¡¯t lose you.¡±


    Elizah was about to open her mouth to protest but bumped into Micah at the door.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Micah asked and raised a questioning eyebrow.


    ¡°I feel someone¡¯s trying to get me killed,¡± Elizah said in a low whisper, and Micah looked even more surprised.


    ¡°How could that happen?¡± Micah asked and walked with her in the direction of the castle.


    ¡°Someone tipped the king and queen off, that I have magic,¡± Elizah said with a small sigh.


    Micah looked so worried by those words as he stared at Elizah.


    ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± Micah asked her in utter bewilderment.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to make sure the spirits have some faith in me and try to clear my name,¡± Elizah said grimly in her brother¡¯s direction. She walked towards the castle with her head high and face full of worry and fear.


    <hr>


    Jayden hurried down into the council room after his last meeting with a girl was over. The girls were ready to become a part of Jayden¡¯s life, but he knew he wouldn¡¯t do anything of the sort. A servant had summoned him to the council room as soon as possible, and Jayden was quite confused upon being called.


    ¡°Ah, good you¡¯re here,¡± Cyprian¡¯s voice was heard as Jayden walked into the council room.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Jayden asked in momentary confusion.


    ¡°Sit down and find out,¡± Noxaura said and gave him a slight grin.


    Jayden sat down on his smaller throne and tried to plaster his usual smile on his face despite all the fear that was welling up in his entire chest.


    ¡°Bring her in,¡± Cyprian commanded, and the doors opened again, and the soldiers brought someone into the room.


    It was a lady with her head bowed and her hands tied behind her back. She jerked her head up in a swift motion, and there was no inch of fear in her position. Elizah looked stubborn and prepared for any form of questioning.


    ¡°Do you know why you¡¯re here?¡± Cyprian asked with his voice steady.


    Jayden was trembling in fear and anticipation of what his parents wanted from her.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Elizah answered slowly.


    ¡°Good. I want to ask you simply first, before we test you,¡± Noxaura said and slowly walked up to her.


    ¡°How long have you been making your antidotes?¡± Cyprian asked slowly.


    ¡°A few years,¡± Elizah said and held her head up high.


    ¡°What do you use to make them?¡± Noxaura asked and looked her in the eye.


    ¡°General apothecary herbs,¡± she answered immediately.


    ¡°Would it be alright if we came and checked your house?¡± Noxaura asked.


    Jayden was controlling himself from yelling out to Noxaura to stop.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Elizah said simply, and Noxaura slowly backed away from Elizah and dismissed the soldiers. ¡°Then we¡¯ll be there at your household early tomorrow,¡± Noxaura said. Elizah only nodded before she walked out of the room slowly with a small glance in Jayden¡¯s direction.


    As she closed the door behind her and the royal family were alone.


    ¡°Can I be dismissed?¡± Jayden asked, wanting to go check on Elizah immediately and made up his mind that he should go with his instincts for Elizah.


    Cyprian nodded, and Jayden strolled slowly out of the room. After he knew he was out of the palace boundaries, he broke into a run and rushed off to find Elizah.

 Chapter 21 - Feelings

    Elizah let her pouch fall into the grass and sat down slowly. She didn¡¯t want to go home, not yet. She looked into the reflecting surface of the lake, and she was lost. There was no way that she could hide all the items she had about magic from her household within the time she had. She wasn¡¯t scared of death, but she was somewhat afraid about how her loved ones would manage without her.


    Micah, Roxanne and most importantly, Jayden. How would he cope with seeing her being faced with death?


    She didn¡¯t cry but instead laid flat on the grass and relaxed slowly. She took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. She connected to the life force of her surroundings. She watched it in amazement as the organisms radiated life around her. There was always something new for her to see despite the many times she¡¯d ventured in and out of the place.


    She moved slowly towards a small orb of dark swirling mass and placed her hands around it. She tried to let the warmth of her palms into the dark ball but failed miserably and looked at the orb as the cold iced her veins.


    It seemed to be something that was utterly rejecting everything she usually did to any dark force but was far more powerful. She tried to bring her hands towards the object repeatedly, but each time it pushed her harder back.


    After some time, she was pulled out of her mixed up haze of constantly reaching out of the object when she heard a voice calling her out.


    ¡°Liz, is everything okay?¡± Jayden asked and touched her arm gently.


    She looked around her and tried to map the location of where she¡¯d felt the object and found a small dead patch of grass. It was strange to see that different patch, but it grew into a patch of lush green grass once again within moments.


    She felt something strangely rejuvenating and like a flame through her veins, wiping away what was the anxiety and fear inside.


    Jayden just continued to watch in confusion as Elizah touched the grass again and again as if she was petting an animal. He, too, had seen magic miracles, but this was a level beyond.


    ¡°What just happened?¡± he asked her and sat beside her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not really sure. It was something I¡¯ve been trying out for a long while now. I just hadn¡¯t expected this to happen just yet,¡± Elizah said and still watched everything.


    ¡°Is it a trick that Jade was showing you a few days ago, for the dark half of your magic?¡± Jayden asked her with a small smile.


    Elizah nodded, and she continued to touch the small patch of grass that was growing so fast but stopped altogether.


    ¡°But what does that do?¡± Jayden asked curiously.


    ¡°It was a trick where you can take energy from any other being and use it within yourself to improve the bearer¡¯s power. It was something quite interesting,¡± Elizah said, and a broad smile grew on her face.


    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ¡°I can sense that you¡¯re still worried,¡± Jayden said softly and took her idle hand away from the grass.


    ¡°Look, I know it¡¯s time,¡± Elizah said softly. They both knew that they¡¯d have to run or die one day.


    ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Jayden asked her and her glance moved up to meet his.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to give myself up,¡± Elizah said calmly, despite her words.


    Jayden knew that it was a possibility that she might say that. Knowing Elizah, he thought she¡¯d give up, but not so easy.


    ¡°You are doing no such thing,¡± Jayden said and helped her up. Her calm facade barely faltered. He was still clutching her hands, and her eyes were brimming with tears, which she tried her hardest to hide from him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure there¡¯s another way,¡± Elizah said, and she still didn¡¯t falter.


    ¡°There must be another way,¡± Jayden said and gulped down the fear he had buried inside him. ¡°Look, I¡¯ll even be willing to help you if I have to,¡± he said, and Elizah still looked worried.


    ¡°There¡¯s honestly no way that I can clear everything that¡¯s related to magic from my room by tomorrow morning,¡± Elizah said and let the tears finally fall.


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of the consequences. I¡¯m not afraid of death,¡± Elizah said, and Jayden put his hand on her shoulder, ¡°But I have something I want to tell you first.¡±


    Jayden gave her a confused glance and moved back a bit before Elizah moved closer with a smile.


    ¡°Remember I told you to wait for my response?¡± Elizah said and gently kissed Jayden on the cheek, and Jayden went red in the face and was stunned while Elizah laughed.


    ¡°Did I surprise you?¡± Elizah asked, and Jayden only smiled and put a hand on Elizah¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°Not really, I have just been waiting too long for this,¡± Jayden said and leaned in for a kiss. Elizah returned the kiss with equal intensity. She had a fluttering feeling inside her chest when they moved apart slowly.


    ¡°Now, I can die with no regrets,¡± Elizah said with a smile, and her cheeks were flushed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say that, please,¡± Jayden was pleading now, ¡°don¡¯t you have another option?¡±


    ¡°I could run, but I¡¯ll be worried about you, my mother, and Micah. I¡¯d rather die alone,¡± Elizah said softly, and although she wanted to be strong, she felt her fingers tremble again.


    ¡°No. Just don¡¯t think about that possibility altogether,¡± Jayden said. He placed his arm on her shaking shoulder as the tears streamed down her cheeks. He lifted his fingers and gently brushed them aside. After a while, she met his gaze again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what other way I possibly have left,¡± Elizah said, and her voice was rough.


    ¡°Look, I have ways that I can postpone the day they come to search. Besides that, they always come days later than they should,¡± Jayden said with his glance changed from a grim one to a mildly optimistic one.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve given up on this,¡± Elizah said and leaned over on a tree.


    ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t. Maybe you can run?¡± Jayden said, and he still glanced up at her.


    ¡°I can¡¯t.. I can¡¯t run-- alone. It would destroy Micah and my mother. Losing them is one thing I can¡¯t afford,¡± Elizah said and let more tears fall.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean you will run alone you idiot, I¡¯m coming with you,¡± Jayden said, ¡°There is one option I have for that.¡±


    Elizah gave him a confused glance,¡± How do you possibly plan to do that?¡±


    Jayden smiled and said softly, ¡°Elizah, I wish you¡¯d give me the honour of being your light for the rest of your life. I¡¯ll never make you feel like you have to run alone. Elizah Cohen, will you become the next Larkspear princess?¡±

 Chapter 22 - Promises

    Elizah stood taken aback and lost as she heard Jayden¡¯s words. She covered her mouth to keep him from seeing her gasp.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too sudden?¡± Elizah asked, and Jayden shook his head.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have to have a marriage ceremony if that¡¯s what my words seemed like. We could just form a blood bond for now, and in the future when you are ready, we can formally get married,¡± Jayden said with a small smile, and Elizah looked thoughtful.


    ¡°The blood bond, huh?¡± Elizah thought to herself. The blood bond was a bond typically done between married couples and done as a binding vow in some cases. The blood bond was always between two magic users. It bound their souls together and granted some additional benefits like knowing when the other was in danger.


    ¡°I want to stay by your side and help you. If you leave, my life will plunge into darkness, and I don¡¯t want that. I don¡¯t plan to leave your side until you push me away, so that¡¯s why I really wanted to form a blood bond. If we ever decide that we can¡¯t be together, I will go through the severance myself,¡± Jayden said, and Elizah gave him a shocked look. The severance was painful when a blood bond was broken, and the person¡¯s magical abilities would weaken.


    ¡°I-- I don¡¯t know-- I don¡¯t deserve someone in high power like you. You deserve someone much better,¡± Elizah managed slowly, and her voice was mildly quivering.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t say anything like that,¡± Jayden said and still stood with a hand on her palm.


    ¡°You deserve all of this. You¡¯re the only one who I need and want. I¡¯ll never have to leave you again. I¡¯ll always be there at your side,¡± Jayden said and watched her face turn into a smile.


    ¡°Spirits,¡± Elizah said momentarily, ¡°I don¡¯t know what in their name I¡¯d ever do without you. I love you.¡±


    Elizah brought her face to his and kissed him hard again, and the two of them shared smiles.


    ¡°Does this mean you agree?¡± he asked with a slight grin.


    ¡°Of course. I just am really overwhelmed by everything going on,¡± Elizah said, and a small laugh escaped her lips.


    ¡°For a moment I was worried that you wouldn¡¯t,¡± Jayden said, ¡°I do have a gift for you.¡±


    Jayden reached out into the pocket of his cloak and brought out a small ring. It was glinting in silver and had a small sapphire set into it.


    ¡°What? What is this for?¡± Elizah asked, and Jayden smiled.


    ¡°My gift and my promise to you. One day, I will give you a gold ring of the same time,¡± Jayden said and took Elizah¡¯s calloused hand in his and gently slipped it onto her finger.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful. How did you even nick something like that in the smallest moments of time?¡± Elizah asked as she watched his bright green eyes sparkle with a glint of happiness.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ¡°Mother had given it to me, to give to the girl I felt would suit me. She wanted me to find my betrothed. I¡¯m giving it to the girl I love,¡± Jayden said and pushed a loose strand from her face behind her ear.


    Elizah rose an eyebrow at that and smiled warmly.


    ¡°So, do you want to have the ceremony very soon?¡± Jayden asked, and Elizah nodded.


    ¡°I have no worries about that, but would it be alright if Micah and mama came?¡± Elizah asked, and Jayden nodded rapidly.


    ¡°I was going to ask you to bring them. I only want them to come because I can¡¯t have anyone of my own family here who will care, and we need three witnesses,¡± Jayden said softly. He ensured that he didn¡¯t meet Elizah¡¯s gaze, wondering what she might notice in his eyes.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to leave you after the ceremony though,¡± Elizah said sadly, ¡°Are you sure you want to come with me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve always been ready to leave the palace because I know that I¡¯m not cut out to be the Prince or the king ever. I need an escape from this life, be free and actually not have to worry about how my public image is or what people will think of me for what I am. I want to have a normal life, not one full of the grandeur of a person I can never be,¡± Jayden said, and he observed the still surface of the pond.


    ¡°Are you absolutely sure that you want to do this?¡± Elizah asked with her eyes full of concern.


    Jayden¡¯s glance showed no uncertainty before he nodded.


    ¡°Now, the hardest part will be explaining all this to my mother,¡± Elizah said and watched the canopy leaves like a giant green blanket.


    ¡°Would you mind if you had an extra guest at the dinner table tonight?¡± Jayden asked, and a slight grin crept upon his face.


    Elizah¡¯s eyes widened at the idea, and she smiled. ¡°You want to come over to my small cottage?¡± Elizah asked, ¡°For one thing, it¡¯ll never be like the palace in any way.¡±


    ¡°That humble home is like my dream. I never wanted all that the castle offered. Just the basic necessities would be of more use than anything else in the place,¡± Jayden said as he was tying the strings of his cloak.


    ¡°Mama would be delighted to see you. And we can break the news together,¡± Elizah said. Her eyes lit up with a small glimmer of excitement, knowing that her mother and Micah would no longer be in the dark about her magic.


    Jayden only smiled warmly before Elizah led the way to her home in the deepest depths of the forest.


    <hr>


    The figure in black watched the Prince walk with his so-called betrothed toward the Cohen household.


    Anger burned its way through the person, and they wondered how long they¡¯d have to hide in the shadows and away from the truth. But they also knew that their accomplice would kill them if they made even one small move in the opposite direction.


    They¡¯d seen all of this coming and were prepared to let it happen, but now that things were almost here, there was remorse that they couldn¡¯t directly kill Jayden and Elizah.


    Without Jayden and Elizah, there would be no way for them and their comrades to actually redeem what indeed belonged to them. The third piece of the puzzle that their comrade was hiding from them, making this more infuriating.


    Unbeknownst to themself, a full blue flame slowly snaked down their palm and grew ever so slowly.


    Maybe it had been because of the heat of the moment, or rather they were heading over to the one house that broke all of whoever they once had been. They knew that their most significant pain would be seeing that household devoid of the one who had failed them. So did their comrade, who wanted to break all of the resolutions they had for revenge.


    ¡°I will have every chance to torture everything from the two of you for what the past has done to me,¡± they said in a menacing tone and extinguished the fire before following Jayden and Elizah down the trail to the one house that brought out the most bitter memories inside them.

 Chapter 23 - Family

    Elizah made her way into her home and escorted Jayden to the table where no one was seated. There were three plates set at the table, and Jayden sat down at one of the chairs with his cloak still covering his face.


    ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll come back,¡± Elizah whispered. Jayden only nodded and waited while Elizah smiled and ran into the kitchen.


    Roxanne stood over a large pot of soup and stirred it before ladling some soup out and taking a smell of the soup. Elizah walked up behind her, and Roxanne only smiled.


    ¡°Mama, I have come here I want you to meet,¡± Elizah said with a small smile with laughter and excitement evident in her eyes.


    Roxanne raised an eyebrow and smiled. ¡°I expected this to happen but I didn¡¯t know it would be so soon,¡± Roxanne said and embraced her daughter.


    Roxanne bought out the soup and placed it on the table, and curiously eyed her cloaked visitor. Elizah put the last plate in front of Jayden and made sure he still didn¡¯t move his cloak from his face.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Micah?¡± Elizah asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s in his room. I¡¯ll go get him to meet your friend,¡± Roxanne said, and Elizah sat next to Jayden, and they squeezed palms momentarily.


    Micah came in with a curious look on his face. He was trying to identify Jayden from behind the cloak without clearly seeing the person¡¯s face.


    They all took their places at the table. Elizah brought her right hand out onto the table as Jayden slowly let his cloak fall back. Roxanne¡¯s eyes only showed her shock while Micah smiled slightly on noticing the Prince.


    ¡°I made a proposal to your daughter today, because that¡¯s the way I can save her. We plan to make a blood bond between us,¡± Jayden said as Roxanne and Micah watched the two of them in surprise.


    ¡°I accepted it,¡± Elizah said, and her eyes sparkled.


    Roxanne still looked shocked, and when she managed words, she said, ¡°Liz¡­ that¡¯s amazing. How long have you two known each other?¡±


    Roxanne took her daughter¡¯s hand and examined the beautiful ring on her finger.


    ¡°Does the queen know about this?¡± Micah asked and shot a glance in Jayden¡¯s direction.


    ¡°No. And she won¡¯t,¡± Jayden said simply.


    ¡°Can we eat? The soup is going to go cold,¡± Elizah said and broke off the awkward conversation between her brother and Jayden.


    Roxanne couldn¡¯t agree more as she ladled the soup into each person¡¯s bowl and said, ¡°This is nothing like the food you¡¯ve eaten before. It won¡¯t ever be at that standard.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s fine. I really don¡¯t mind,¡± Jayden said with a grateful smile.


    Elizah absentmindedly spilt some of the soup on Jayden¡¯s arm, and she almost jumped back.


    ¡°Liz it¡¯s okay,¡± Jayden said gently as he noticed Elizah¡¯s gesture.


    ¡°So you stole her nickname as well?¡± Micah asked and rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Micah,¡± Elizah said through gritted teeth, and Roxanne shot a disapproving stare in her son¡¯s direction.


    The meal continued with only casual conversation about how they had met in the first place and how the palace affairs were going.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.¡°Do you have any plans for the ceremony?¡± Roxanne asked while Micah began to clear the table.


    ¡°It was only going to be a short ceremony with you and Micah and a seer we know to perform the rituals,¡± Jayden said as if he¡¯d already made complete plans about the ceremony.


    ¡°Your parents will not be attending?¡± Roxanne asked with a tiny bit of surprise at the Prince¡¯s words.


    ¡°No. I plan to leave this city as soon as the wedding is over,¡± Jayden said. He held Elizah¡¯s hand tightly, knowing how worried she would be to discuss the verdict.


    ¡°And I will have to as well. Otherwise, I¡¯ll be killed,¡± Elizah said, and Roxanne¡¯s glance turned sympathetic.


    ¡°The verdict wasn¡¯t in your favour?¡± Roxanne asked, and Elizah shook her head.


    ¡°No. But they¡¯ll be searching this place soon and they will definitely use anything against me. Especially when I actually have magic,¡± Elizah whispered.


    ¡°Oh, honey come here,¡± Roxanne said and walked up to her daughter and hugged her daughter.


    ¡°Liran had magic himself, I didn¡¯t see traces in Micah so I had expected it in you. I understand why you¡¯ll have to leave,¡± Roxanne said and smiled gently at her daughter.


    ¡°Will you be alright if I leave?¡± Elizah asked her gently.


    Roxanne gave a nod before she turned to Jayden.


    ¡°When do you think we should have the ceremony?¡± Roxanne asked.


    ¡°As early as possible will be most preferred,¡± Jayden said and looked up at Roxanne¡¯s blonde hair and grey eyes.


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t take a while to arrange a dress, seeing that I saw one a couple days ago for a bargain. It would be quite easy on our money and it would be perfect for her size,¡± Roxanne said, ¡°Does 5 days sound like enough time?¡±


    Jayden nodded and said, ¡°It would actually be perfect. I can arrange the rings in that much time.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s set. 5 days from today around the pond where you both met, with your seer friend to perform the vows,¡± Roxanne said as Jayden and Elizah stood up from the table.


    ¡°I¡¯ll escort him out,¡± Elizah said and led Jayden to the doorstep.


    ¡°5 days. I¡¯ll have to stall my parents until then,¡± Jayden said once they were outside and gently caught Elizah in a kiss.


    ¡°5 days, and you¡¯ll be free,¡± Elizah said as they shared a grin, and they parted ways as Jayden headed to the palace.


    <hr>


    The dark hooded figure headed into the weapon room of the palace. The head of the army was playing a gambling game. And all the soldiers were there.


    ¡°Well, what are you doing here?¡± the army commander asked as the figure made its way into the room.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a time for jokes,¡± the figure said and handed the man a piece of parchment.


    ¡°5 days from today,¡± the hooded figure said, ¡°If you come, You¡¯ll have enough gold to fill your armoury with fresh weaponry.¡±


    ¡°If I don¡¯t?¡± the commander asked with a mocking grin.


    ¡°Trust me, you wouldn¡¯t want to know what I¡¯ll do to you and your troops. So come with a small army or lives are at risk,¡± the dark hooded figure said and strolled out of the armoury without a second glance back.

 Chapter 24 - Preparations

    Elizah watched as her mother tied the small ribbon to keep her hair up behind her in a neat bun. If the ribbon was removed, it would let the braid tumble and fall down her shoulders.


    Once Roxanne was done, Elizah did a complete observation of herself in the mirror. It was pretty unbelievable how the dress and the accents suited her. The shifting material of the gown hugged her lean figure. It almost seemed as if the seamstress had designed it for her. The colour was a gentle blue which gave off a greenish-hue in some lighting conditions, matching the brightness of her eyes.


    ¡°You look beautiful,¡± Roxanne said as she stepped away from her daughter.


    ¡°Mama, is everything alright?¡± Elizah asked gently as she walked up to her mother and placed an arm on her shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯m just overwhelmed. I just can¡¯t imagine that you¡¯ve grown up this fast,¡± Roxanne said and slowly walked over to Elizah as the tears fell out of her eyes.


    It wasn¡¯t the day of the ceremony just yet, but Roxanne wanted to make sure everything was perfect for her daughter. There were still 2 days before Elizah would leave, and so many arrangements were still to be made.


    ¡°What¡¯s on the stove?¡± Micah asked from the other room, interrupting the conversation between the mother and daughter.


    ¡°Spirits! I forgot the tarts I was baking to take to Jade,¡± Elizah said and almost ran into the kitchen. Still, Roxanne stopped her and asked Micah to extinguish the stovetop.


    ¡°If you go into the kitchen in this gown, you¡¯ll get flour all over your beautiful gown,¡± Roxanne said. She then helped Elizah undo the ribbons that held up the bodice and let her change into a more comfortable attire.


    Elizah gave a sheepish glance before undid the overly elegant bun and letting her braid tumble down her shoulder.


    Roxanne embraced her daughter after the dress was off, and Elizah noticed something hidden in her eyes.


    ¡°What happened mama?¡± Elizah asked again, hoping that she¡¯d get an answer from her.


    ¡°Nothing, I just.. hadn¡¯t expected you to follow so easily into Liran¡¯s footsteps,¡± Roxanne said, ¡°the magic, the relationship you have with the prince. It¡¯s so similar to how your father was. I just really wish he actually saw you once.¡±


    At that, Elizah¡¯s existing enthusiasm dimmed ever so slightly. She knew the pain it would cause Roxanne to see that her daughter was like the husband who had ditched her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Elizah began to say, but Roxanne cut her off mid-sentence.


    ¡°It¡¯s your father who should be apologizing,¡± Roxanne said and gave Elizah a sad smile.


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    ¡°Elizah, your lover is here,¡± Micah called out from the kitchen, and Roxanne laughed while Elizah turned red.


    She ran to the door, and Jayden stood in the doorway with Micah keeping him company.


    ¡°Are you coming?¡± Jayden asked her as she appeared in the doorway.


    ¡°Enjoy yourselves,¡± Micah said as they walked off, and Jayden and Elizah just laughed.


    ¡°Enjoying with Jade? That¡¯s never going to happen,¡± Jayden said as they walked through the dense forest.


    ¡°Your brother is something of his own,¡± Jayden said after a couple moments, and Elizah just laughed more.


    ¡°I just wish he had someone else around for him, like how I have you,¡± Elizah said after her laughter ceased altogether.


    ¡°Why? He hasn¡¯t taken a liking to anyone after William?¡± Jayden asked simply.


    ¡°No. It¡¯s complicated,¡± Elizah said and quieted after knowing that Micah¡¯s life was his own.


    They had made it to Jade¡¯s by that time, so Jayden ceased his asking of questions and knocked at Jade¡¯s door.


    ¡°What do the two of you need?¡± Jade asked as she came to the door.


    ¡°It¡¯s a little something we need only you to do for us,¡± Elizah said, and they stepped in through the doorway.


    ¡°What is that something?¡± Jade asked and led them to two chairs.


    ¡°We wondered if you¡¯d officiate our blood bond,¡± Jayden asked, and Elizah smiled slightly at that.


    ¡°I knew the two of you would be coming in here for something like this sooner or later,¡± Jade said with the ghost of a smile lingering on her lips.


    There were only two ways a blood bond could be considered legal and binding on the island. One was if the king and the queen performed the ceremony. And the other if the vows were cast by a seer. Knowing that the former would be impossible, the two had directly approached Jade.


    ¡°When have you decided on it?¡± Jade asked after a moment.


    ¡°Two days from today,¡± Elizah answered.


    ¡°I will be waiting then at the pond,¡± Jade said, and she opened a large book with a thick cover, ¡°You made a good call. I would also say that performing the bloodbond would be safer for both of your lives.¡±


    Jayden and Elizah exchanged glances at that, and they knew their answer. A blood bond was a ritual performed by two people who felt that they always wanted to be together in their lives. It permanently bonded them by the heart and soul and was meant in particular for those who loved each other. It would keep them alert about the danger of the other, and they knew that one day it would save their lives.


    ¡°We plan on doing it during the ceremony,¡± Jayden answered Jade.


    ¡°Good. In a way, that would legalize your wedding automatically. It would also save your lives when you need each other most,¡± Jade said and took a blade from her shelf of books that she always hid.


    ¡°This is something I need you to keep Jayden,¡± Jade said and handed the blade to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s a blood-binding knife,¡± Elizah said and observed the beautiful carvings on the golden blade.


    ¡°Yes, when the time comes, he will wield it to perform the ceremony,¡± Jade said and stood up.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see you in two days,¡± Elizah said with a warm smile as they headed out of the cottage. After they were far off from Jade¡¯s house, Elizah took a tiny tart from her side bag and handed it to Jayden.


    ¡°A pre-wedding tradition,¡± Elizah said and put it in his free hand.


    ¡°Two more days,¡± Jayden said and kissed her before he thanked her and walked out of the forest while Elizah headed back home.

 Chapter 25 - A Special Day

    Jayden set his sword down in the grass near the pond. He was in his most formal tunic, and his hair was set to as much perfection as he could manage before it became messy again. He was always waiting for this day of his life, but he was also worried about what might happen if something went wrong.


    He then took the ceremonial blade from his pouch and examined the engraved markings. It was a beautiful blade made of gold and engraved with colourful gemstones and inscriptions. The variety of inscriptions were foreign to Jayden¡¯s understanding, and he knew no one who actually could decipher it.


    ¡°I see you¡¯ve taken a fascination in the blade,¡± Jade said as she walked up behind Jayden and placed a hand on his shoulder.


    Jayden turned in surprise and noticed the woman had dressed up differently than she usually would. Her red hair was tied neatly up, and her dress was a pale cream shade with gentle swirls in black. She held a small red goblet and a thick black book.


    ¡°You seem agitated,¡± Jade said with a concerned glance washing over her face.


    ¡°No, more worried, not agitated,¡± Jayden said, and he handed the blade to Jade as he asked, ¡°What do the inscriptions say?¡±


    ¡°The blade of togetherness, the uniter of lost souls, and the binder of lovers,¡± Jade said and read the swirling letters.


    ¡°So, this blood-binding knife is quite ancient?¡± Jayden asked and turned it in his palm.


    ¡°It has seen pairs of souls who have faced the world with exceptional bravery, and have brought a change. Here your past will merge with that of your past family and you will surpass their legacies,¡± Jade said with a small smile.


    ¡°It was a gift of the spirits, treasured through generations,¡± Jade said as she heard the rustling of bushes behind her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I took much longer than you had expected,¡± Elizah said as she stepped out from behind the bushes with a bright smile and her tall brother behind her. Micah was by Roxanne¡¯s side, and the both of them were dressed in perfection. But Elizah was the eye-catcher. Her eyes matched the blue of her gown, and in the light, it was the shade of green emeralds like Jayden¡¯s. If anything, the dress was like a fusion of the features of the two of them. Her golden blonde hair was tied up neatly behind her with a delicate pearl bracelet on her right wrist.


    ¡°Is it too much?¡± Elizah asked, slightly worried when she saw Jayden watching her every move.


    ¡°No, you look beautiful,¡± Jayden said and kissed her forehead.


    ¡°You two lovebirds can continue after the ceremony,¡± Micah said and walked up to his sister¡¯s side as Jayden and Elizah laughed.


    Micah also looked much better than usual, with his red hair neatly combed down and his suit devoid of wrinkles.


    Jayden and Elizah then stood across from each other, just as at any blood bonding ceremony on the island, and Jade stood near them.


    Jade took a gold ribbon with embellishments and wrapped one around Jayden¡¯s wrist and the other around Elizah¡¯s. She then opened a large book and began to read.


    ¡°On this sacred day, we celebrate the union of two souls who share destinies and now life paths as well. In the shift of the seasons we see the mid season between healing of battle has become the moment of selection for these two young souls. Prince Jayden Larkspear has decided on the next princess of the Larkspear family, and shall now seal his bloodbond,¡± Jade said as she held the blade in her hand.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.¡°Do you, Elizah Cohen, take this young Prince to be the light of your life, the soul to be at your side for the rest of your life, and will be the one who you¡¯ll always protect?¡± Jade asked as she took Elizah¡¯s hand in hers.


    ¡°I do,¡± Elizah said, and Jade made a small cut with the blade on Elizah¡¯s palm.


    ¡°Do you, Jayden Larkspear, take this woman to be the light of your life, be at her side whenever she needs you, and will protect her at all costs, and will maintain respect for her?¡± Jade asked Jayden as she gestured for Elizah to take Jayden¡¯s hand in hers.


    ¡°I do,¡± Jayden answered, and Jade made a cut into Jayden¡¯s palm.


    She then took their two hands which had the cuts and poured some blood into the red goblet. She offered the goblet to Jayden first, and he heated the goblet with a touch of flame. The goblet changed from red to gold, and Elizah touched the goblet gently to transfer some of her own energy into it. Now the contents inside had also turned transparent like water.


    Jade then reached over to the pond, added a few drops of water into the goblet, and offered it to Jayden.


    ¡°Just take one drop,¡± Jade said, and Jayden dipped his finger into the liquid and rubbed it over the open cut. Elizah repeated the same. There was a stinging, humming sensation on the wound, but moments later, the cuts sealed up, leaving a white scar in its place.


    ¡°With this, I seal your blood bond. May it last for eternity,¡± Jade said with a smile, and Elizah leaned in to kiss Jayden gently.


    When Elizah broke off the kiss, she ran up to Roxanne and held her tight through the tears that threatened to fall.


    Roxanne cried and said, ¡°You¡¯ve grown up, my little girl.¡±


    Micah patted Jayden on the back and put an arm on his shoulder, ¡°Look after her for me. I trust you.¡±


    Jayden let out a small chuckle and said, ¡°Yes I will, if she lets me.¡±


    Before embracing his sister, Micah let out a small laugh, ¡°Be careful, Liz.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll miss you too,¡± she said softly before they came apart, and Jade smiled at the two of them before leaving.


    ¡°Will you both come home for a meal?¡± Roxanne asked, and the two nodded after sharing a glance.


    ¡°Can I just have a moment alone with him? We¡¯ll come home right after,¡± Elizah said, and Roxanne and Micah only nodded before they took off into the forest.


    Once the couple knew they were alone, Jayden pulled the ribbon out of Elizah¡¯s bun, and she laughed since she knew that he¡¯d do it eventually.


    ¡°It¡¯s over finally,¡± Jayden said and kissed her hard and muffled her laugh.


    ¡°All that¡¯s left is to leave,¡± Elizah said with a sigh.


    There was a sudden rustling of leaves in the bushes. Both Jayden and Elizah immediately stood alert upon hearing the noise and waited for someone to appear.


    ¡°Am I interrupting something? And why wasn¡¯t I invited?¡± a voice asked, and the owner walked out from behind the bushes. There was more rustling as more people walked out. Jayden and Elizah were surrounded, with their mouths agape in shock and fear. Mainly because of who was standing in front of them.


    Jayden let only one word escape from his startled lips, ¡°Mother!?¡±

 Chapter 26 - Surprises

    Jayden unsheathed his blade, despite his trembling hands. Elizah also pulled her own dagger from under her right sleeve.


    The woman''s cloak fell back gently, revealing vivid green eyes and wavy black hair down to her waist. She had a smirk on her face.


    "My dear son," the sweet voice of Noxaura with her malicious smirk.


    "What. What--- are--you ---doing here?" Jayden asked as he gulped, and his voice had become just a whisper.


    Elizah stood back to back with Jayden and gently held his free hand upon noticing him tremble.


    "What the two of you have done should be the bigger question here," Noxaura said, and she unsheathed her own blade from a small dagger sheath and brought it towards Elizah''s chin.


    "Liran''s daughter, aren''t you? The traitorous blood runs in your veins as well. Always trying to get yourself into some trouble," Noxaura said as she put the blade closer to Elizah''s neck but didn''t draw blood.


    "Don''t¡­ hurt her," Jayden said as he pointed his blade to deflect Noxaura''s, such that hers fell into the grass with a thump.


    "You''re so taunting," Noxaura said and gave a mirthless laugh, "Sometimes I wonder if you have any of my traits. Or are you just another weakling like Cyprian?"


    "What do you want from us?" Elizah asked with anger pent up in her tone to mask her fear.


    "You''ve done so many crimes and wonder what I want? I''m asking gently before you see my true half, dear. Either, the two of you will surrender, hands down. Or let your lives be at risk, and make us do it the difficult way," Noxaura said, and her hands went onto her son''s cheek, and her fingers crawled up his cheekbone.


    "What do you choose my son?" she asked him.


    Jayden was still quite startled by what had happened, but he knew exactly what he wanted to do. He lowered his sword, and he slowly brought it towards his waist.


    "Predictable as always," Noxaura said and rolled her eyes before signalling to the sentries to advance and tie them down and saying, "Always a coward."


    Instantly, Jayden handed the blade to Elizah''s left hand, which was next to his right hand. He immediately ignited his palms with a blue flame. There was a long blade of flame in his hands.


    "I''ll never give in to you and your demands unless I''m dead," Jayden said in a dead whisper before he nudged Elizah to launch an attack. The two of them took off, with Jayden charging directly at Noxaura and Elizah taking each of the guards.


    Jayden brought his flames out as blades and was about to lay a strike when he was deflected by an equal heating force, and Noxaura only had a grin on her face.


    "Two can play at that game," Noxaura said, "Fight fire with fire."


    Jayden was in disbelief as he had used his whole body force to try and push Noxaura, but she defended with equal intensity.


    "How?" Jayden asked between gritted teeth, "How do you have magic?"


    "I''m your mother, my dear boy. Some things pass only through generations of family," she said and singed a part of Jayden''s formal tunic.


    "Why did you ban it in the territory then?" Jayden asked with annoyance and threw a fireball to deflect her focus off Jayden as he made a strike towards her cheek. It singed a small cut across Noxaura''s cheek.


    "Oh, you''re making a threat," Noxaura said and let her flames dim suddenly.


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    "I''m giving in," Noxaura said, and her arms were up, "You can take your strike at me."


    Jayden was ready to take a strike, but he faltered when he brought his palm up to Noxaura''s jaw.


    "Weak hearts don''t do you any good," Noxaura said and pulled a small dagger from under her sleeves. Before Jayden noticed anything, there was a sharp pain in his chest, and he yelled out as he clutched the wound.


    "I wanted to see this for so long," Noxaura said, her eyes full of malicious anger.


    "I''m glad I went down fighting," Jayden said before everything went black and he fell down on his back.


    <hr>


    Elizah continued to knock the guards out one at a time. She wasn''t ready to kill them. It was against what she believed in. She withdrew power from the soldiers, keeping her energy levels high and agile.


    She glanced at Noxaura and Jayden to make sure he was fine and returned to her conquest over the guards.


    She was down to the last two when she heard the scream. It immediately turned her glance towards the centre, and she broke at that moment.


    Jayden had fallen down. Elizah almost got hit for an instant, but she jumped and ran towards Noxaura.


    She dodged her attacker and stabbed the other before she charged at Noxaura with all the anger and grief taking over her actions.


    "How could you?" Elizah asked as Noxaura''s blades of flames illuminated to life again.


    "I''d warn you. If I were you I''d take my bargain. Either you fight me and you''ll lose your lover, or I''ll let you heal him then you''ll surrender," Noxaura said and cocked her head at Elizah.


    Elizah then noticed Jayden with his wound only growing by the minute.


    "Alright," Eizah said and dropped her blades. The leftover soldiers surrounded her.


    I''ll save him and then fight. Elizah soon decided and knelt by him.


    She gently placed her palms on his chest, where the blade would have been, and felt for the wounds to heal them. When she put her hand over his chest itself, her hand started to grow sticky with blood. She prayed silently to the spirits. There were too many ways that he might die in this mess, but Elizah wasn''t giving up hope just yet.


    Please don''t go, Elizah pleaded in her prayer to the spirits. And when she was just about to give up, the light inside him flickered to life, and Elizah let out a relieved sigh with the tears on her face falling off. He was breathing again, but he was only unconscious.


    Elizah then picked up her blade again and swept it at Noxaura, but Noxaura had beaten her to it. Elizah felt a thump at the back of her head.


    "You tried to break our promise," Noxaura said as Elizah felt the world spin and her eyes blur. Elizah tried to lash out at Noxaura in her disoriented state but failed miserably.


    Noxaura looked momentarily surprised but only smiled when she turned back to Elizah.


    "Tie them up," she ordered some officials who were just regaining consciousness.


    "Bring this one to my inquisitorial chambers. She needs to learn when to control her temper and hold her tongue," Noxaura said as Elizah struggled before Noxaura pressed Elizah''s neck, and everything went black.


    <hr>


    Micah paced through the room for what felt like the dozenth time. He was worried, more than ever in his life. Elizah and Jayden had not shown up for hours.


    Roxanne was crying in her room alone. She didn''t want anything to be wrong with them, but since they were supposed to be in the house for lunch hours, both Micah and Roxanne were suspecting the worst.


    There was a sudden knock at the door, and Micah rushed to open it, hoping that Jayden and Elizah were going to say that they had gotten carried away. But his expectations were proved wrong.


    "Is Roxanne Cohen here?" the palace official asked when Micah opened the door.


    "No. Can I help you with something?" Micah asked, trying to hide the fear in his voice.


    "I need to speak to you," the official said and walked up to him.


    "What happened?" Micah asked, and he stood in a defensive position.


    "Your sister was found to be a magic user and was caught practicing magic. She was seen practicing magic by the pond and also has manipulated the Prince and his mind. We have arranged a hearing for her two days from now. But her fate is mostly sealed. For all her crimes, a life penalty will be a boon, death penalty is what she deserves for being such an idiot," the man said and walked out the door.


    "My sister did nothing," Micah said as he followed the men outside.


    "You don''t know half of what she has done," the man said and turned his back to Micah when he heard Roxanne calling.


    "Micah, who was it?" Roxanne asked, and Micah didn''t know what to say.


    "Mama," Micah called softly, "It was about Liz."


    "What is it?" Roxanne asked with worry.


    "She''s in danger," Micah said, and Roxanne crumbled and broke down again, "She''s been caught."


    Roxanne sat down and cried as Micah held her close, knowing that there was nothing that he could do to help her.


    <hr>

 Chapter 27 - Flame and Fury

    When Elizah awoke, there was the shutting of the door behind her. The echoes of someone¡¯s boots against the ground shook the room.


    ¡°Elizah,¡± A voice said, and Elizah tried to look up from her dazed state.


    ¡°Your name is Elizah isn¡¯t it?¡± The voice taunted.


    Elizah looked up and noticed Noxaura, with her dark hair and green eyes staring at Elizah with a surprised look.


    ¡°Why am I here?¡± Elizah asked with her teeth clenched.


    ¡°For everything you did, this was the least I could do,¡± Noxaura said and ran her hand down Elizah¡¯s chain tied hands.


    ¡°Where is he?¡± Elizah asked with annoyance.


    ¡°Who are you asking about?¡± Noxaura asked with no surprise in her voice.


    ¡°Where is he? Don¡¯t act like you know nothing,¡± Elizah asked again with gritted teeth.


    ¡°He¡¯s safe, at least for now,¡± Noxaura said with a small smile as she lit her fingers up with flames.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s in danger,¡± Noxaura said with a sharp edge in her tone.


    ¡°What do I have to be afraid of?¡± Elizah asked and tried to stand up as Noxaura held her down.


    ¡°Your tongue will get you into more trouble than you think,¡± Noxaura said, and her blades of flames dimmed and dulled into nothing.


    There was a sudden blade drawing, and Elizah was held down by Noxaura from behind her. There was the cold tip of the blade at her neck, and she tried her hardest not to flinch.


    ¡°Answer me, and I will not hurt you,¡± Noxaura said with contempt in every word she said.


    ¡°And what could you do?¡± Elizah asked and laughed shortly.


    There was a sweep of the blade and a thud on the ground. Elizah¡¯s neck stung, but she felt something else. It was like a weight fell off Elizah¡¯s shoulders. Noxaura held her golden braid that had fallen like a gesture of her victory.


    ¡°That¡¯s all you have?¡± Elizah asked with surprise and a toying grin on her lips. She


    ¡°Keep your tongue for my answers or else,¡± Noxaura said as the blade clattered to the ground, ¡°How long have you been around my son?¡±


    ¡°I think you know that,¡± Elizah said under her breath, and Noxaura¡¯s hands illuminated her face. For a second, it was almost as if Jayden had arrived. Their faces were very similar.


    ¡°Answer me,¡± Noxaura demanded.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been watching the two of us for years, don¡¯t you already know?¡± Elizah asked.


    Noxaura lost her temper at that. The blade of flame that she held steady until then dug suddenly into Elizah¡¯s right shoulder, and she bit back a scream. There was the stinging sensation of a cut, but it also felt like her skin was on fire. It seemed like a strange combination of a cut and a burn Noxaura withdrew the flames.


    Elizah gasped for breath as she put her hand on her shoulder. The wound was covered in sticky blood, and her putting her hand on it only made it burn more, especially with all the dirt and grime on her fingertips.


    ¡°What, what what, was--that?¡± Elizah asked, still shaking from what Noxaura had done. She was struggling to try and heal herself. It seemed like all her magic had also been tapped away from her.


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    ¡°Power. Beyond your dreams. It¡¯s a combination of my magic and a wonderful curse. It can sap away all the energy one possesses and is quite a charm against healers,¡± Noxaura said and grinned.


    ¡°Now, do you want some more of what I have to offer? Forget about my son, I have more important things to hear from you. Where is he?¡± Noxaura asked with a feral grin.


    Elizah didn¡¯t respond. She didn¡¯t even understand who Noxaura was asking about. She didn¡¯t want to answer her, nor did she want any more of the torturous pain that Noxaura was delivering.


    ¡°Where is your father?¡± Noxaura asked, and the blade of flame grew ever so steadily before it made its way into the scar marking she made last time.


    This time Elizah screamed out in pain as it dug deep into her.


    ¡°What do you mean? I have never seen him,¡± Elizah said with her voice strained, and she was having trouble maintaining her strong demeanour.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Noxaura asked as the flame blade made its way through Elizah¡¯s arm.


    Elizah was silent as she gave Noxaura a glare.


    ¡°I said I have never seen him. And what do you want with my father.,¡± Elizah whispered, with her voice growing hoarse by the minute.


    The blade slowly made its way further down Elizah¡¯s arm with every word she spoke. The energy that she usually had was slowly sapped out of her bit by bit, and the room was starting to spin.


    ¡°I only wanted the best for the kingdom, and he left. He left me alone and broke our promise,¡± Noxaura said as her hands began to shake, she was screaming and on the verge of tears.


    ¡°What do you even mean?¡± Elizah said with a small laugh. Dark spots were dancing in her eyes, and any moment now, Elizah was going to fall.


    ¡°He betrayed me, and now you have the guts to bewitch my son. You are just like him,¡± Noxaura said and dragged the flame blade beyond Elizah¡¯s right elbow.


    ¡°Neither of you are meant to be. I only need you to set me free. If he was here, things would be different,¡± Noxaura said and withdrew it. She was still shaking, sensing that all the energy inside Elizah was drawn out.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t even know you . My mother never mentioned you,¡± Elizah whispered.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know the truth,¡± Noxaura said and put one last strike of her flames into Elizah¡¯s left palm. Elizah didn¡¯t have the chance to argue before the pain in her palm took over her senses, and fell flat to the ground.


    <hr>


    Noxaura watched as her comrade walked into the inquisitorial chambers with their everyday garb of their cloak and their eyes wary.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gone a step further,¡± the comrade said and walked up to Noxaura.


    ¡°I¡¯m punishing her for what she did to my son,¡± Noxaura said as two guards dragged Elizah out.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure that this is related to that idea at all,¡± her comrade said and took a sweeping glance throughout the room.


    ¡°Really,¡± Noxaura asked with a roll of her eyes, ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    ¡°After your spectacular display of what you did today, definitely not,¡± her comrade answered.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t about him,¡± Noxaura said, but she couldn¡¯t meet her comrade¡¯s stare.


    ¡°Oh really. Then will it affect you that he is planning to return soon,¡± her comrade asked her drily.


    Noxaura turned suddenly and gaped, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve gotten in contact with him, our next phase of action will need his assistance,¡± her comrade said and played with a small object in their palms.


    ¡°What use is he going to be?¡± Noxaura asked and turned to her comrade with the shaking of fear in her tone, ¡°Stop playing with that dangerous item.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s more resourceful than you give him credit for. Just because he left you doesn¡¯t mean that you have to be so worried about him,¡± her comrade said and continued to toy with the object.


    ¡°You know what he did to me,¡± Noxaura said and snatched the object from their palms.


    ¡°He stole your amulet and ran. Don¡¯t get me wrong but, he did the thing I asked him to,¡± their comrade said and plucked the amulet out of Noxaura¡¯s palm.


    ¡°Cyprian would have killed you if you knew that you had it, so do forgive me, if you don¡¯t want immortality,¡± her comrade said, and Noxaura shut her mouth.


    ¡°Who has to unleash this one?¡± Noxaura asked as she noticed the object in the comrade¡¯s palms.


    ¡°I never deciphered the script on them,¡± their comrade said nonchalantly.


    ¡°I know you better than that. And you would have definitely done it,¡± Noxaura said and moved towards her comrade to observe the inscriptions.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to know,¡± her comrade said.


    ¡°Is it his child?¡± Noxaura asked with sheer contempt in her voice.


    ¡°No. It¡¯s your son,¡± the comrade said while making their way to the door, ¡°if I were you I¡¯d be careful with what I say, or else there¡¯s every chance that I¡¯ll let you burn down with this dratted place. It¡¯s all going to go up in flames, as will you.¡±

 Chapter 28 - True Colours

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    <hr>

 Chapter 29 - Balance

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 Chapter 30 - Trials

    Micah and Roxanne stood near a corner of the giant throne room of the palace. Micah only observed the others seated in the room, wondering what was oncoming in the next few minutes.


    On the other hand, Roxanne was worried, with her eyes haunted and her hands constantly fiddling with something or the other. There was something more than the fact that they were at Elizah¡¯s trial that she was worried about, and Micah couldn¡¯t figure out the signs in the slightest.


    He shrank back down in his seat as he noticed the others staring at him strangely. Being from the lower classes in the society, he wasn¡¯t usually supposed to be welcome here, which explained the hostile glances that he earned from everyone around the council room.


    He thought back to Elizah¡¯s notebook that he had been reading and tried to put the pieces of things she¡¯d written in the book about Roxanne and how things were up until Micah returned home.


    He knew that if Elizah ever found out that Micah had read her notebook, he would be in huge trouble. Getting out of that would be a dangerously long process. But right now, it was the only way that he could find Elizah and Jayden, a tiny spark of light to find their way out of this mess.


    He heard the trumpeting of horns as the doors opened, and Micah stood up along with everyone else in the courtroom as the king walked in with the queen by his side.


    Queen Noxaura gave Roxanne a small smile, and Micah noticed his mother¡¯s expression grow even more nervous but slightly furious. Whatever was between them was running far more intense than whatever was going on at that moment.


    ¡°Welcome to all of the esteemed guests present here today. We are delighted to have you all in attendance for this trial which is most serious of a threat to our empire,¡± Noxaura said as she gestured to everyone to settle back into their seats.


    ¡°This trial is a shock and brings distress to all of us in the empire, so I request that all the personal thoughts remain to themselves during this trial,¡± Cyprian¡¯s voice boomed throughout the room. Noxaura just stood with a smirk on her face as Micah sheltered all his anger.


    ¡°A few nights earlier, one of the most esteemed citizens of this island was found to be mingling with a girl of lower society as well as breaking the laws of the state,¡± Noxaura continued as Cyprian sat down and the doors opened in the front of the room.


    Four guards stood around two people who were escorted into the room. Micah immediately recognized his sister, despite the weariness in her figure and the prince standing by her side.


    All the members present in the council room had a collective intake of breath, and Noxaura glared to silence them all.


    Despite how exhausted Jayden and Elizah looked, they both had defiant looks in their shining eyes and no sign of emotion on their faces. That sort of bravery took Micah by surprise, considering the consequences that the two of them could possibly face.


    ¡°My dear son, do you have anything to say to justify your actions?¡± Noxaura asked menacingly as she placed her palm under Jayden¡¯s chin, and he flinched and turned away.


    ¡°No,¡± Jayden said with his voice clearly stubborn and full of fury, ¡°If I am not free to love and be who I wish to be, I want no place in this empire.¡±


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    A sudden silence embraced the room as Jayden¡¯s words seared through the room like sharp daggers through all the members seated in the crowd.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare speak like that about this territory that I have struggled to maintain just for your future empire,¡± Noxaura hissed.


    ¡°This is no longer my home if I can¡¯t use my magic or be free,¡± Jayden answered sharply. A sudden uproar of whispers began in the room, eventually forming an argument between those in the crowd.


    ¡°Silence!¡± Cyprian shouted as his voice echoed through the room.


    ¡°Do either of you plan on testifying or is this just going to be a spat between you and myself?¡± Noxaura asked with cold fury in her tone.


    ¡°I spent time with the prince upon his request and I do not regret it. When neither of you cared to look after him, I gave him solace. We learnt magic together and we know of the destiny that you never cared to tell him about. If anything, he would be a better ruler than you ever were, if he ascended the throne,¡± Elizah said with a grim fury lacing her tone.


    ¡°In fact, the way you treat him only makes it seem like you are scared to let him rise to the throne and let your reign come to its end,¡± Elizah added with jest in her tone.


    With that, Noxaura couldn¡¯t take it any longer.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Noxaura shouted, ¡° the accused have made their position clear and the verdict will be revealed in due time after we can decide the truth and lies.¡±


    Noxaura and Cyprian made their way out of the room as Elizah and Jayden exchanged mildly bewildered glances.


    Micah only watched the king and queen as he noticed something strange with how the king was acting. The king was moving like a rag doll, and his movements were far from his own. His eyes were glazed over, and his face looked mildly swollen. He looked as if he had been beaten or hadn¡¯t slept with his eyes sunken in. It was strange, considering that the king wasn¡¯t quite an old man just yet.


    It didn¡¯t make sense. Noxaura was acting like she was the uppermost authority on everything when really, Cyprian should have been the one to speak. Cyprian was supposed to officiate the entire trial, but Noxaura barely let the man talk.


    Micah suddenly snapped away from his thoughts when he felt a tap on his sleeve.


    ¡°I think Elizah wants to say something,¡± Roxanne said as she gestured to Elizah, arguing with a guard.


    Micah also turned and watched as his sister eventually managed to get the soldier to let her free. She began to walk up to Micah and Roxanne. Jayden stood and smiled at Micah with a grim look evident on his features. Micah gave him a slight forgiving nod in response.


    ¡°Liz, what have they done to you?¡± Micah asked, clearly shaking with fear upon seeing Elizah¡¯s raggedly cut hair and bloodstained sleeve of her gown.


    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t have much time,¡± Elizah said in a low whisper, ¡°I need you to leave the city. It isn¡¯t safe for you to stay. After they figure a way to get rid of me and Jayden, you both will be next.¡±


    ¡°Elizah, you need us now to find a way to show that you¡¯re innocent. We can¡¯t leave right now, especially when you could be in huge trouble,¡± Roxanne said as she held Elizah¡¯s shoulder. Elizah flinched in evident agony of pain.


    ¡°There isn¡¯t much anyone can do. I have to do this with Jayden, he needs help. But I can¡¯t end up losing you in the process,¡± Elizah said with her eyes clearly pleading for them to remain safe.


    Micah exchanged a glance with Roxanne, and the two of them only gave Elizah a worried glance. ¡°Please be careful,¡± Roxanne said and pushed a strand of Elizah¡¯s hair away from her face. Elizah only nodded before wiping the stray tears from her mother¡¯s face.


    ¡°One thing,¡± Micah said as Elizah was about to turn. He cupped his hands around her ear and said softly, ¡°Be careful around queen Noxaura, she seems to be acting quite strange lately.¡±


    Elizah gave him a surprised glance but only nodded in response.


    A soldier suddenly broke the exchange between the two siblings by patting Elizah on the shoulder, and Micah only turned and walked towards the doors where Roxanne was waiting.


    ¡°Are you sure that Elizah is making the right choice?¡± Roxanne asked in a soft tone.


    ¡°I can only hope that she is,¡± Micah said as he turned towards Elizah one last time before she was dragged away from the courtroom.

 Chapter 31 - Defiance

    Elizah made her way back to Jayden, standing with a soldier and flexing his fingers slightly.


    ¡°So, did they agree with your idea?¡± he asked her with a small yet hopeful glance.


    ¡°Yes. I managed to convince them enough, but I got some strange advice from Micah,¡± Elizah said thoughtfully.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Jayden asked curiously.


    ¡°He asked me to be wary of your mother, strangely like he noticed what she was doing,¡± Elizah said with a brow furrowed in thought. But she didn¡¯t have much time to think further. There was the snapping down of chains on her wrists again. Elizah looked up to see the soldiers trying to drag Jayden and herself away from the council room.


    They waited for a moment in the corridor where Noxaura stood waiting with a glare in her gaze.


    ¡°Well my son, it¡¯s your turn with me. Would you be able to stand like your lov-,¡± Noxaura began.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Noxaura rose an eyebrow at Elizah¡¯s defiant voice.


    ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Noxaura said with a raised brow, ¡°Are you trying to get yourself killed?¡±


    ¡°You will not lay a hand on him,¡± Elizah said as she raised her head to look Noxaura in the eye.


    ¡°Elizah---,¡± Jayden began, knowing that he could endure the pain that Noxaura could bring. He didn¡¯t want Elizah to suffer again.


    ¡°No. As long as I live, I swore to protect you with my bloodbond and that I will,¡± Elizah answered without turning back.


    ¡°You¡¯re scared inside aren¡¯t you?¡± Noxaura asked with a short laugh.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still his mother.¡±


    ¡°Either you take me. Or you have to kill me right here and then take him,¡± Elizah only glared. She was running on rage and fury. Her hand was curled up into a fist, and her blue eyes were ice-cold with defiance.


    ¡°You seriously are keen on death either way? I¡¯m surprised,¡± Noxaura asked with a shrug.


    Elizah didn¡¯t move a muscle, and Jayden knew that arguing with the two women would be futile. Noxaura waited to see if Elizah would retort further.


    ¡°Liz¡ª-,¡± Jayden tried again since Elizah had already faced enough pain.


    Elizah turned momentarily before saying, ¡°I made one promise to myself when we sealed the bloodbond. I swore that as long as I live, I will protect you from anyone I can. You are the face of the future of this island and the entirety of the Larkspear kingdom. You, and you alone have the strength to create a future of unity between magical folk and everyone else. I believe in you, Jayden Larkspear.¡±


    Jayden was on the verge of kissing Elizah, but he was careful since Noxaura was standing and glaring down at the two of them.


    ¡°Well, I see you¡¯ve made your point clear,¡± Noxaura said as she turned on her heel and whispered a command to the guards before strolling out into the corridors leading to the dungeons.


    A moment of silence hung between them all, with the question being which one of them Noxaura had summoned for. Jayden reached for Elizah¡¯s palm and squeezed it gently, and only smiled in concern at Elizah.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this,¡± Jayden said as they shared a glance.


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    ¡°Consider it my thanks for everything you¡¯ve done to help me all this time. I love you, Jayden. And I hope that never changes,¡± Elizah said as the soldiers took them down the corridor leading to the dungeons.


    Jayden fought the urge to lash out in his fear and anger but instead just kissed Elizah carefully on her cheek.


    ¡°I love you too, my princess,¡± Jayden said softly as he saw her go to the inquisitorial chambers.


    It was possibly going to be the end of the road for one of them.


    There was a sharp tug on Elizah¡¯s chains as she was dragged into the inquisitorial chambers, and no matter how much flame Jayden brought into his palms, there was nothing he could do to save his beloved.


    Elizah watched Noxaura from the ground, where the guards threw her into the inquisitorial room.


    ¡°I¡¯m quite surprised to see how determined you are,¡± Noxaura said as she turned to Elizah with her hands starting to fire up.


    ¡°I¡¯d do anything for people I love,¡± Elizah said with a defiant look on her face.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite different than I expected from you being Liran¡¯s daughter,¡± Noxaura said and made her way behind Elizah.


    ¡°Is this about my father again?¡± Elizah asked, mildly surprised.


    Noxaura passed as if she didn¡¯t hear the question and illuminated her hands with flame.


    ¡°If the two of you are so proficient with your magic, then tell me, who was your teacher? ¡°Noxaura knelt beside Elizah, and her blades of flame were so close to Elizah¡¯s face that the heat radiating off them was extremely severe.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯d reveal the one person who actually chose to help us?¡± Elizah said as she glared.


    ¡°Fine. You chose on being stubborn. Two of us can play this game,¡± Noxaura said with menace in her voice and stuck her growing blade of flame into Elizah¡¯s shoulder again.


    Elizah let out a bloodcurling scream. They couldn¡¯t bear the pain of flames burning her skin away.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know her real name,¡± Elizah said and shouted as Noxaura retracted the blade from Elizah¡¯s shoulder.


    Elizah immediately clutched the wound that was spilling blood out rapidly, and her pain was starting to numb out into completely feeling nothing in her arm. It was limp, and no matter what Elizah tried to do, the arm was unmoving, cold and lifeless.


    ¡°What did you do to me?¡± Elizah asked hoarsely. She was almost falling with dizziness and agony passing through every part of her. She was sobbing in pain.


    ¡°One more word than required. You¡¯ll lose a leg next until you die,¡± Noxaura said with a short laugh as she pushed her blade of flame into Elizah¡¯s neck. It wasn¡¯t deep, but there certainly was pain. She dragged her finger of flame around Elizah¡¯s neck, and Elizah gritted her teeth to resist the urge to yell out at Noxaura.


    ¡°Where are the amulets?¡± Noxaura asked with her voice menacing.


    Elizah was caught off guard for a moment, and she was undoubtedly confused. For a fact, Jade had never explained any amulets to the two of them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what in spirit¡¯s name you¡¯re talking about,¡± Elizah managed in a small voice.


    ¡°You liar. Tell me what you know. You can¡¯t feign ignorance about everything I ask. You ought to have a breaking point,¡± Noxaura pushed. The blade of flame had now made its way to Elizah¡¯s cheekbone and stopped at the point.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know anything, please,¡± Elizah begged. This was her last resort. She had no other option.


    ¡°Then you¡¯re of no use to me,¡± Noxaura said with a flick of her wrist. Her flames made a deep cut across Elizah¡¯s cheek before Elizah screamed, and she fell flat to the ground.


    Noxaura walked out to summon the guards before she walked off, utterly unfazed by everything she had just done. She was one step closer to victory and one step closer to reaching her dream of ultimate immortality.


    <hr>


    Micah packed up his meagre belongings and helped his mother do the same. Roxanne wasn¡¯t ready to leave the house that she had lived in for so long, and she had no idea where she would go.


    ¡°Need any assistance?¡± Micah heard a voice appear at the door and looked up to see his aunt Levi there.


    ¡°Aunt Levi, what are you doing here?¡± Micah asked with confusion and noticed that they looked different from the last time they had seen each other.


    ¡°I got word of what is happening, and I came here as soon as I could. I was at the trial this morning,¡± Levi said with a sigh.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Micah said, ¡°Is there any way you can help her?¡±


    Levi shook their head.


    ¡°I am only here to escort you out of the city. I know a place far from here. It¡¯s where I usually stay. That is the safest place for the two of you,¡± Levi said and gestured to the small carriage outside the cottage.


    ¡°Thank you, Levi,¡± Roxanne said, and Levi embraced Roxanne gently.


    ¡°About Elizah, there is no use in worrying. She will be fine,¡± Levi said, and Micah gave them a curious look before walking to the carriage and putting all of his faith in Levi¡¯s words.

 Chapter 32 - Surviving

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    <hr>

 Chapter 33 - Threats

    Jayden sat and rested Elizah¡¯s head on his lap since she was still unconscious. She hadn¡¯t woken up since the guard had brought her into the cell, but fortunately, she had a steady pulse. But since last night, she had suddenly started burning with a high fever, and Jayden was beginning to worry.


    Knowing Elizah¡¯s healing capacity, he knew that doubting her ability to heal herself was a mistake. Still, there was also the possibility that the wound was infected, which was something Elizah couldn¡¯t heal while unconscious.


    There was the sound of footsteps approaching the cell through the corridor. Jayden illuminated his palm slightly to let himself see his visitor. If it was Noxaura, Jayden was ready to strike her in the face, but he waited for if it was someone else.


    ¡°Well, you seem on the defensive,¡± a calm and relaxed voice was heard, and Jayden was mildly surprised to see Jade standing there with a slight smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jayden said, and he lowered his blade of flame and rested Elizah¡¯s head on a lump of cloth he¡¯d made with the shawl wrapped around her earlier.


    ¡°I assume that the two of you are in a dire situation right now, with the verdict looming over your heads,¡± Jade said as Jayden stood up and his muscles cried out in pain. He hadn¡¯t eaten much over the last few days since the trial, and thus weakness was evident.


    ¡°The verdict is probably the last of my concerns at the present. I¡¯m more worried about Elizah. She¡¯s running a fever and she¡¯s still unconscious since the trial,¡± Jayden said as he lay his hand on Elizah¡¯s forehead before sitting back down. He had no strength to stand and knew he¡¯d fall if he did try to stand up.


    ¡°I might have some salve or something to bring down the temperature. Like my little gift from yesterday,¡± Jade said with a small smile, and she dug into her satchel to remove a small bottle of liquid which seemed infused with magic.


    ¡°Elizah had made this back during her first few weeks training. I kept it since it¡¯s a reserve of magic which will keep it safe for consumption for a long time. It¡¯s a basic potion, but certainly has strong enough infusions to wake her up once again,¡± Jade said as she slipped the bottle into Jayden¡¯s hands.


    Jayden was curious about how no guards were roaming around them, and he gave a questioning look in Jade¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Where are all the guards?¡± He asked, and Jade smiled warily.


    ¡°A little bit of my magic can control people and their thoughts, but certainly not for too long,¡± Jade answered, and she took something else out of her satchel.


    ¡°I need you to have this,¡± she handed him a small triangular amulet. It was completely black with inscriptions in the white text of various scripts.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Jayden asked, and he played with it gently for a moment.


    ¡°It¡¯s something to keep you from danger, but there¡¯s more to it than the two of you know. If you need an escape or a way to escape in a dire situation, just release a small amount of your magic into the amulet. The result will be favourable,¡± Jade said, and she tied it around Jayden¡¯s neck.


    ¡°What do you mean? Now is not the time to be cryptic,¡± Jayden said in mild frustration, and a spark of flame ignited from his palm.


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    ¡°I will explain later. You need to rest, your highness, and you need to tame your emotions. Otherwise, you will be in grave danger, young prince,¡± Jade only said before she strolled out through the corridors, and Jayden slumped back down and muttered to the spirits.


    Only you can protect us now.


    <hr>


    Noxaura stood in her chambers as she watched the young fighters practising on the grounds. She waited until Cyprian left the grounds and again turned to her dressing mirror.


    She was tired of her charade as the weak queen. She wished that her comrade didn¡¯t underestimate her so much. There was so much she could do, but there were no openings given to her.


    It serves you right for messing with that jerk, Liran. She heard her thoughts echo her comrade¡¯s words and swore under her breath.


    Today, I¡¯ll show them my true capability, Noxaura thought to herself, and the doors opened slightly. She went into her charade of Cyprian¡¯s little doll.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite the actress, I must say,¡± she heard a voice that was undoubtedly not Cyprian¡¯s coming from the door and the door shut.


    ¡°What are you doing here again?¡± Noxaura asked in clear annoyance.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t finish our last conversation and besides, you overstepped your boundaries again,¡± her comrade said with an icy glare.


    ¡°She¡¯s being a nuisance to my plans,¡± Noxaura answered with a roll of her eyes.


    ¡°So you think it¡¯ll be easier for you to automatically grow powerful if you kill her?¡± Her comrade was still calm, but her voice began to rise.


    ¡°I taught them a lesson. Just like your own lessons,¡± Noxaura said, and she stared venomously at her comrade.


    ¡°So you assume that you¡¯re the authority now, since you have power over Cyprian?¡±


    ¡°I hold the king and the queen¡¯s powers of Zameronia. What else is more powerful?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re forgetting your true loyalties.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not my boss in any way.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Her comrade said in pure outrage, ¡°Look me in the eye and tell me that you owe me nothing.¡±


    Her comrade was certainly furious, and Noxaura was starting to worry.


    ¡°I¡ªI- -,¡± Noxaura tried to say, but no words came to her tongue.


    ¡°I brought you out of your home. I let you find a royal life and this is how you insult me?¡± Her comrade said with a menacing tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Noxaura said, but she didn¡¯t mean it in the slightest.


    ¡°This is how royalty treats others. Well, nothing surprising. But you do need to learn your lesson,¡± with that, her comrade opened the door to reveal Cyprian Larkspear.


    The comrade just touched Cyprian¡¯s wrist slightly and closed their eyes before they strolled out of the room with a slight smirk on their face.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take all your power from you Noxaura, and then you¡¯ll see how powerful you are.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°Leave the kingdom as soon as possible, unless you don¡¯t care about your life,¡± a cloaked person had walked up to the queen¡¯s chambermaid early the following day.


    ¡°Wh-why?¡± The maid stuttered as she shook in fear, ¡°the lady will hurt me if I miss even a day of work.¡±


    She has no respect for her servants as well. No surprise. The cloaked figure thought to themselves.


    ¡°You¡¯re in danger. I promise the lady will not hurt you if you leave,¡± they used the most soothing tones to calm the frantic woman.


    ¡°Bu- - but- - does the lady know?¡± The woman asked softly, and the cloaked figure smiled gently.


    ¡°Yes, she knows. I¡¯m giving you a direct order from her highness herself,¡± the cloaked figure slowly slipped a small liquid bottle into the water used to mop the floor.


    ¡°Thank you for the warning,¡± the plump handmaiden said, and she hurried back to her work.


    The cloaked figure only smiled as they were lost in bewilderment at the loyalty and fear instilled in the minds of the kingdom¡¯s people.

 Chapter 34- Goodbye

    A few days later, Noxaura looked longingly at the mirror, lost in thought about something far beyond.


    A new fear. A feeling Noxaura hadn''t felt in ages. She''d only felt empty in the years after her son''s birth. And she wished that the feeling would leave her if she killed her son. That''s what started it all, wasn''t it?


    She was finally trying to get some joy, but her comrade had struck her down.


    ''You did deserve it,'' she heard a voice in the back of her head.


    She knew that her actions were against the will of her leader. But she had her own annoyance about how Liran had treated her in the past. She was finally getting her vengeance. He left her after promising he would never leave her side. She would never forgive him for that.


    Her only source of power was taken away from her. Her only way to get rid of the pain was now gone from her hands.


    But where was the proof? What if her comrade was just testing her?


    It all made sense like a spark of light in the darkness of her soul.


    Noxaura had a new idea in her mind. A new outlet. A way to rid herself of all this pain and the darkness that was piling up inside of her.


    She stood up and walked to the door with a smirk on her face. The earlier fear was far gone. Cyprian was just a vessel of her power. Her comrade couldn''t change that even if they wanted to. That was the true nature of the magic that was trapped inside her.


    Her power was always different from anyone else''s. It was different from the ''light'' that radiated from the normal magic users. Her magic was an incarnation of its own creation. A piece of the grand puzzle of magic. But she''d always have it in her possession. With it, one day, she would gain immortality.


    And no one could take that away from her.


    She was suddenly startled out of her thoughts when there was the appearance of someone at the door. She looked up to see a confused Cyprian at the door.


    "Nox," Cyprian said as he walked into the room and scratched his head.


    Noxaura''s gaze suddenly turned tame. She calmed the flames that were scheming within her, and she smiled. Despite her fear, she maintained her gaze as calm and collected as she could.


    "What is it?" Noxaura asked gently as she moved up to Cyprian''s side.


    "Why are all the guards cowering in fear when I pace through the halls?" Cyprian asked in confusion, "I barely remember anything of the past years, like I''ve just woken up from a dream."


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    "You don''t remember anything?" Noxaura asked, mildly shocked on the outside but wholly shaken from within.


    Her comrade had actually done it. It was no joke. Cyprian had returned to his state from before he was under Noxaura''s control.


    Inside her mind, she was scrambling for an answer and how she could unleash her powers.


    She was a prisoner of herself. She couldn''t get out.


    She wanted to swear and curse her comrade for doing this to her, but she knew there was no time to waste.


    "I''m not sure," Cyprian said and scratched thoughtfully at his greying beard. He was undoubtedly growing old but not old enough to forget everything that happened. His brown eyes were confused, like something was missing.


    Noxaura took her chance, made her way up to Cyprian''s side, and gently placed her hand on his shoulder.


    "Not to worry, I''ll make sure that you''ll remember," Noxaura said gently. She looked up at her husband with a gentle smile hiding the vicious creature beneath.


    She took her chance and willed a tiny bit of her power into Cyprian. Just like she would have with her blood bond before they had severed it when the magic ban was introduced. It would be enough to ignite her connection to his mind but clearly noticeable if the link were broken.


    Cyprian jumped back within a moment as the jolt of power went through his veins like lightning.


    "Nox!" he shouted and tossed her aside. He was furious, and all the earlier confusion had left him.


    Noxaura was only grinning and glaring at Cyprian.


    Finally, something that is worthwhile, she thought to herself.


    "How long have you been doing this?" He was shaken as he withdrew his sword and stuck it towards Noxaura''s chin.


    "Oh, it took you long enough to notice," Noxaura said and laughed. She''d lost her mind a long time ago. There was no place for pity for the man in front of her.


    "Do you really want to fight a weak woman?" Noxaura asked as she played with his mind. She knew his thoughts. Everything of his had been in her hands for years. She knew his every breath. Cyprian was too weak to fight a woman.


    Cyprian was shaking, and his blade was easily knocked away by a flick of Noxaura''s wrist, and she pulled out a knife of her own. She ignited it and struck out towards his neck.


    "Why---Why-w-ould---you--do this?" Cyprian asked in pure horror and fury. He was shaken and almost fell to his knees.


    "That devilish creature we call our son made me lose everything. And you bastard have never had the heart to rule," Noxaura said, and she swore under her breath.


    "We did everything for Jayden, Nox. It was all to protect him," Cyprian said as Noxaura moved closer towards him and her blade toyed at her fingertips.


    "No. You both took everything I had. The Nox you loved is long gone," Noxaura said, and she held the blade tightly.


    She was barely shaking, but her palm was sweaty, and her knuckles were white.


    She was marking the end of her suffering.


    She stabbed the blade right through Cyprian''s chest. Straight through his heart.


    Her face was cold and calculating, with no fear and no emotion.


    "Goodbye, Cyprian," She said as she turned to see her husband gasp for his last breath, and his eyes remained wide open in shock.


    He went limp all of a sudden, and blood pooled around him.


    Noxaura didn''t have time to deal with any of this. She covered the stains with bedsheets before pushing the corpse under the bed.


    Thank you for finally ridding me of my burden, she thought.


    She donned her blood-red cloak and pocketed her knife crusted with Cyprian''s blood.


    Although she felt relief, there was a strange twinge at the bottom of her chest. She couldn''t explain it. It was almost like a forgotten soul was tugging at her in pain. She couldn''t identify it. So she decided it was best she ignored it.


    One opponent down. Two more to go. She thought as she strolled out of her chambers with a slight smirk.

 Chapter 35 - Verdict

    Jayden stood with his head high and tried to maintain a determined look on his face. He stood by Elizah''s side in the surprisingly empty council room from the days before. It was odd.


    He assumed it was time for the verdict, but it made no sense that no one was there. The ruling would have been a public announcement like the trial itself.


    The guards had brought him, and Elizah from the dungeons, but not a word was said during the entire journey. Jayden tried to hide his resentment at how the guards had literally dragged Elizah''s limp body down the hallways to the council room. Still, he was starting to lose control of his composure when he saw Noxaura sneer as she stood at the edge of the room.


    His hands went to his neck, where the amulet hung and was hidden under his tunic, but he knew the time wasn''t right just yet. He let his hands fall back to his sides.


    "What did you want us here for?" Jayden asked, his voice steady, but his gaze narrowed. He was trying not to lash out his frustrations and question her actions, but he knew now wasn''t the time.


    "Oh, my dear son. I''ve with a verdict for the both of you," Noxaura said with a playful smile.


    Jayden was solemn as he stood and watched Noxaura pace towards him.


    "I see your girl isn''t doing so well. But I expected much worse by now," Noxaura laughed, and Jayden''s fury grew.


    "You did this to her and act like nothing was your fault. What in the name of the spirits do you mean that she was supposed to be worse by now?" Jayden asked, and he was almost shouting with all his strength, "And if this truly was for the verdict, why is there no member of the council here other than you?"


    "I see her beliefs have also rubbed off on you. No surprise. When you hang out with a lowlife like her, that''s what will happen. I expected that she was already dead by now, saving me one job. Still, you wouldn''t let that happen," Noxaura said with a laugh and completely ignored Jayden''s question.


    "Where is father?" Jayden asked as his hands shook. He asked again. He was controlling himself, but any second he would end up running up and striking Noxaura with a blade of flame. Her smirk was not helping.


    "Oh, he is unwell," Noxaura said as she made her way up to Jayden''s side and placed her hand on his chin.


    "His work is done, and I no longer have someone more powerful than me," She whispered as she held Jayden by the chin, and his face turned into utter despair.


    "H--o-w," Jayden managed as tears pricked at the corner of his eyes, from what her words could imply. But he knew this could just be her toying with his emotions, so he kept quiet.


    "Well let''s get to the verdict before the prince floods the entire hall with his tears shall we," Noxaura said as she turned on her heel and paced to the single throne before she sat down.


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    "Prince Jayden, you are hereby stripped down from your power as the royal heir and are banished from Zameronia. We give you one week to leave," she recited from a scroll that she held in his hands.


    Jayden barely flinched. That verdict wasn''t something that hit him hard, but he was still shocked by what Noxaura had said before the ruling.


    "Lady Elizah Larkspear has been found guilty of crimes of magic use and bewitching the young prince. She will be executed in the town square at sunrise tomorrow," Noxaura read out. That was where Jayden''s restraint on his fury broke.


    "How dare you? And why isn''t this a public reveal?" Jayden screamed out, and he stood up. His face was streaked with a mix of tears and grime with flecks of blood. He looked far from royal then.


    "Whatever do you mean? Do you know how much the two of you have tainted the name of the Larkspear empire I have worked so hard to cultivate? Your actions are already rumours that have spread throughout the territories of our allies. I don''t need htis verdict to make things worse," Noxaura asked, and her emerald eyes glowed with rage.


    "Do you really want to take everything I love from me?" Jayden shouted, and Noxaura only smiled as she made her way to Jayden.


    "I am doing what you did to me," she purred and dismissed the court with a single wave of her palm.


    "You took my happiness from me. Now it''s time you see how I felt all this time," Noxaura said as she glared at Jayden from the other end of the room.


    Jayden was blinded by rage. He felt the flames growing at his fingertips. He swore under his breath before he uttered one silent prayer to the spirits before putting his palm on the cold surface of the amulet on his neck.


    The next thing he knew, he was engulfed in a ball of flames that was snowballing. He tried to control it, but there was no hope. It set the carpets, the draperies, the thrones, everything on fire rapidly and slowly. Smoke engulfed the whole room.


    Jayden could barely see anything in this enhancement of his magic, and his eyes were starting to close.


    Is this the end for me? He wondered as the world began to spin, and he couldn''t see a thing.


    Everything around him was on fire. His vision began to blur as he noticed only orange surrounding the entire area.


    Elizah, I''m sorry. He only thought to himself as his eyes closed and he collapsed on the ground amid the burning palace.


    <hr>


    An ordinary onlooker just watched as the castle was engulfed in flames. The rest of the crowd tried to douse the fire with buckets of water, but the fire only rose more.


    The ground shook with great intensity, and many began to run in various directions. Still, this person remained rooted to the ground, watching whatever was going on. There was every reason to run away, but this person kept staying there no matter what other people said and screamed at them.


    "I feel the power in my veins. Thrumming and screaming out at me," there was a voice by their side, and a woman in a black cloak appeared.


    "I see. Then it has worked," the onlooker said as they watched the cracks appear in the ground.


    "What is your plan?" the woman asked the onlooker.


    "To regain the power I once had, which these stupid humans stole away from me," the onlooker said before they looked up to see the crystalline tower slowly rising from the cracks in the ground.


    "Is that¡­" the woman gaped at the small shrine that emerged seamlessly from the ground.


    "Yes. We''re one step closer to gaining our powers," the onlooker said before they began to walk towards the burning palace with a smile on their face.

 Chapter 36 - Aftermath

    Jayden awoke with a throbbing pain in his head, dizziness, and nausea.


    He had no idea where he was and where he had been last.


    He only remembered when he was in the dungeon cell. He immediately got up and looked around the room for Elizah.


    That was a terrible decision as he fell flat on the bed again the next moment. Pain ran through almost all of his joints, and his head throbbed heavily. He landed with a thud on the cot and grimaced.


    ¡°Prince Jayden,¡± there was a gentle voice, and Jade walked into the room with a tray in her hands.


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect you to wake up so soon. There was so much smoke and you overused your magic dangerously. It¡¯s quite a miracle that you even managed to open your eyes now,¡± she said and laid a hand on Jayden¡¯s forehead and tried to slowly prop him up on a pillow.


    ¡°How long was I out?¡± Jayden asked as he rubbed his forehead. He didn¡¯t understand what Jade meant by smoke or even the aspect that he had overused his magic.


    ¡°Almost a day. That¡¯s mostly because you¡¯re a warrior. Poor Elizah will take a lot longer to wake up. Warriors are naturally immune to any flames. But she isn¡¯t,¡± Jade handed Jayden a tiny teacup with water and a few leaves inside it.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Jayden asked, and he observed the contents of the glass peculiarly.


    ¡°An infusion that Elizah usually uses to revitalize after overuse of magic,¡± Jade said and mixed it.


    Jayden took a sip and made a face due to the weird taste.


    ¡°Did you add something weird to it?¡± Jayden asked, and Jade glared at him.


    ¡°An infusion of lemongrass and lavender. It¡¯ll be good for you. Since you¡¯re running a fever and are extremely weak,¡± Jade said, and Jayden tipped his head back and slowly sipped the drink.


    ¡°So what really happened?¡± Jayden asked as he set the cup down.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I was going to ask you. All I saw was the south tower of the castle up in flames,¡± Jade said, and it finally came back to Jayden.


    Immediately his biggest worry was about Elizah. When he put his power into the amulet, he lost all control, and the fire was everywhere. If Elizah got hit by the flames, he would never forgive himself.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Elizah?¡± Jayden asked immediately and was about to get out of the bed, and Jade just held him down.


    ¡°Woah, you¡¯ve just come around. Relax a bit, she¡¯s in the next room,¡± Jade said and tried to calm Jayden down, but he was still worried.


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    ¡°Can I see her?¡± Jayden asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make a deal. Rest for two days, and I promise you can see her,¡± Jade said softly, and Jayden started to feel tired again.


    ¡°Did you mix a sleeping potion in that?¡± Jayden asked, and Jade smiled.


    ¡°Yes. You tend to forget how to look after yourself, so I decided to do it myself,¡± Jade said and helped Jayden lie back on the bed, and he closed his eyes tightly and fell into a deep sleep.


    <hr>


    Two days later, he had enough strength to walk up to see Elizah, so Jade helped him step into Elizah¡¯s room.


    When Jayden saw Elizah, he almost gasped.


    He was shocked, but there was also upset.


    It was difficult to imagine that the girl wrapped up in bandages was Elizah. Still, freckled exposed half of her face was enough for Jayden to recognize her.


    ¡°She has a lot of injuries that don¡¯t seem to heal,¡± Jade said, and there was apparent concern in her voice.


    ¡°What do you mean, don¡¯t seem to heal?¡± Jayden asked, and he sat down at Elizah¡¯s bedside.


    Jade was careful with what she was about to say, so she was quiet for a moment.


    ¡°There¡¯s a lot that the two of you don¡¯t know. There¡¯s a different force of magic at work in Elizah¡¯s injuries,¡± Jade said.


    ¡°I¡¯m still quite confused usually when I accidentally burn Elizah or you when I practice, it¡¯s just a small burn mark, but her wounds were bleeding. If Noxaura used magic, she burned her. But burns don¡¯t bleed,¡± Jayden said, and his brow furrowed.


    Jade¡¯s face mildly fell at that, and she knew she had to tell Jayden about Noxaura¡¯s true powers and capability.


    ¡°That¡¯s because they aren¡¯t burn wounds. Noxaura¡¯s magic is not exactly battle magic. It¡¯s a deadly combination of battle magic and a cursed ability. Her dark magic makes the flames form a figure similar to a hot knife. At that point of time, the knife cuts through anything easily. After the cut is made however, the flames get unleashed so they can burn and damage the internal structures,,¡± Jade said softly.


    Jayden just sat there swallowed in despair. The pain in his heart was hard to bear.


    He was the son of such a monster. Did that mean that he¡¯d end up using magic like his mother?


    ¡°So she can¡¯t heal these wounds even if she wanted to,¡± Jayden said the bitter truth out loud. He was choking back tears.


    Jade didn¡¯t say anything and just placed a gentle hand on Jayden¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my lord,¡± Jade said softly.


    He hid his head in his hands and let the tears fall. He was the reason Elizah would always remain scarred for her entire life. It was all his fault.


    ¡°Is Noxaura alive?¡± Jayden asked, and he looked up, and he felt a bitter taste in his mouth upon saying Noxaura¡¯s name. After everything she¡¯d done, she could no longer be called his mother.


    ¡°She¡¯s not to be found. There was something else that was found when the palace burned down and the remains were excavated,¡± Jade said softly.


    Jayden almost swore under his breath and said, ¡°My father is dead, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Jade only nodded solemnly.


    ¡°They were planning on conducting his funeral in a few days after you came around,¡± Jade said.


    ¡°Can I have a moment to myself?¡± Jayden asked softly, and Jade nodded before she walked out of the room.


    He put his hands on Elizah¡¯s bandaged palm, and he brought his head down to her hand and softly said, ¡°Please live, Elizah. I can¡¯t lose you as well.¡±


    The hand was limp and cold, but he heard a hoarse voice calling out.


    ¡°Jayden?¡±

 Chapter 37 - Scars

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 Chapter 38 - Destiny

    Almost three days later, Elizah and Jayden were seated on the armchairs in Jade''s dining room, and Jade was sitting across the two of them.


    "I assume there''s a lot you want to talk about, "Jade said and set down a tea each in front of Jayden and Elizah.


    "First, from what accounts I heard from the both of you, Noxaura was the one who orchestrated the trial," Jade said, and the two of them nodded.


    "So, is Noxaura still alive?" Elizah asked as she held a teacup in her hand.


    "We can''t be certain. Most of the town assumes that she is dead because she was in the castle tower when it burned down. But there is another speculation here," Jade said and was passive in her gaze.


    "Is it really the time to be discussing speculations?" Jayden asked, and Jade sighed.


    "I suppose I should''ve told you much earlier, but there is speculation that the real Noxaura has long been dead. To be precise people say she has been dead as long as you have been alive Jayden" Jade said, and Jayden and Elizah exchanged confused glances.


    "What do you even mean?" Jayden asked, "this is all just rumours. Why is this being discussed right now?"


    "Well, the assumption says that the Noxaura you both saw was a mere shell, occupied by a guardian spirit. That could be the reason for her violent outbursts," Jade said, and Jayden gave Jade an incredulous look.


    "You really want us to believe this?" Jayden asked and stood up, now frustrated that Jade was discussing rumours at such a critical time.


    "No one knows this for sure. In fact, even the king himself didn''t. I speculated this, and it seems to be true after your accounts of what happened in the palace," Jade said, and Jayden calmed down slightly.


    "Alright, let''s discuss this speculation another time. There are other matters at hand, especially whatever happened to that south tower of the palace," Elizah said, knowing going further on this topic could lead to an odd atmosphere.


    "Coming to that, what was with that crazy amulet you gave me?" Jayden asked, "It could have killed me and Elizah."


    "Wait. An amulet?" Elizah asked, and her eyes were wide, and she was agape.


    "Yes," Jayden said and looked at Elizah with a peculiar glance.


    "That''s strange," Elizah said. Her brows furrowed in thought, "In the bits and pieces I remember of Noxaura''s torture, I remember her mentioning an amulet."


    Jade sighed and leaned back in her chair.


    "I guess it is time I told you the truth about your destinies. I can''t hide that forever, can I?" Jade said, and she set her glass down on the table.


    "Almost 400 years ago, the first ruler of the now Larkspear empire arrived on this island from a northern territory. At the time, his home territory was ravaged by plague and war. Although people had magic, there was a limit on how much they could use. It was like a well, and once the well ran dry, a person could not use magic. So to look for a solution to his homeland''s problems, a young prince of the Equalis empire of that island sailed on a long journey to this island, which was at the time known as the source of magic. This is where he found the structures or shrines which limited magic use and regulated the amount people used. So in his haste he destroyed these structures, assuming it could help his home win the war because they would have unlimited magic. What he didn''t realise was that these structures were sanctuaries of six spirits who guarded the magical balance of the world. By destroying the limiting structures, he angered the spirits who cursed all the magic bearers. By this curse, all those who have magic, will die as a result of it, if not used regularly. At first the prince assumed that this curse wasn''t important as his home territory won the war and the plague vanished. But as time went on, even those who did use their magic died by strange occurances, and the simple reason being that the amount of magic that they could use was far greater than what they spent. As a result the Equalis kingdom moved to this island, hoping to gain the spirits favour once more, but to no avail. Now 400 years later, the Equalis kingdom has become the Larkspear kingdom. Still, there has been no solution to the limiter problem, until you two arrived," Jade said. She completed her narration while Jayden and Elizah just glanced at her with confusion.


    "How does this have anything to do with us?" Elizah asked, and Jade pulled out a roll of parchment.


    "This was your destiny," she began to read.


    <hr>


    The time of change has arrived.


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.Magic will change.


    The spirits restraints will break.


    The shrines will return.


    The end of an era is near.


    Darkness will rise again,


    Magic will die,


    And so will we.


    The anger of a prince,


    Now unleashed,


    Causing destruction all around.


    He destroyed everything,


    Everything he hated,


    Everything he loved.


    All reduced to ash,


    Including himself.


    The revenge of a girl,


    A girl broken,


    Broken by the world,


    Brings her love to life,


    But loses her own life in the end.


    An abandoned son,


    A child forgotten by one mother,


    And far away from the other,


    Has a forgotten daughter,


    Just like him, but remembers too late.


    The three will fall together,


    Bring back the world that once was,


    And leave the rest to the children,


    The children of the spirits,


    The new hosts of a coming era


    <hr>


    For a moment, a grim silence hung in the room. The implications of death made all of them uneasy, and Jade decided it was best that she let them process the information for a bit.


    After a while, Jayden finally decided to ignore the impending death from the prophecy. Instead, he continued the conversation from earlier.


    "So we will bring back the limits that magic had before?" Jayden asked, and Jade nodded.


    "Six amulets correspond to the six sanctuaries of the spirits that once existed. You have unleashed only one out of the six amulets that exist. Without the two of you, these amulets will remain trapped. These amulets are created so that only the destined ones can unleash them. And that refers to the two of you," Jade said, and Elizah was deeply thinking over everything that Jade had just said.


    "But doesn''t the prophecy mention a third person?" Jayden asked, and Jade sighed.


    "Sadly, we can not find them as of now. But wheels of fate will turn, and you will meet them, is what I hope," Jade said, "For now, you both must focus on bringing back the limits."


    "Isn''t the limit still not a good thing in case of a war once again?" Elizah asked after a moment.


    "Hm," Jade said with a bewildered glance in Elizah''s direction, "You''re quite smart aren''t you?"


    Elizah was surprised by that, but Jade continued, "Yes, you are completely right. In case of war, we would be in danger. And to be honest, there is a war coming very soon."


    "Then here''s my decision on this. I don''t want to bring back the limits," Jayden said, interrupting the two of them, and both Jade and Elizah turned to him with shock in their gazes.


    "Wait, that''s a bit rash. There are still people dying without the limit," Elizah started.


    "But that is still less than the number of people who will die in case of a war. We can''t save everyone," Jayden said, and his gaze was solemn.


    Jayden and Elizah exchanged glances of annoyance before Jade intervened, "There is no hurry to make a decision. We still have to locate the amulets after all. Besides, we have other things to finish first."


    There was another grim silence over the room.


    "Cyprian''s funeral is scheduled for tomorrow. Which reminds me, there''s something important that we need to discuss about him," Jade said, and Jayden gave her a bewildered look.


    "What is there to discuss? He never really cared for me anyway," Jayden said softly, and he turned to the floor.


    "That''s where you''re wrong," Jade said with her voice soft.


    Jayden looked even more bewildered at that, "He whipped me and always was with my mother to insult me."


    "He never was like that. At least, as long as I knew him he wasn''t," Jade said, "He changed because of influence."


    "It''s no surprise. The ''Noxaura'' I know believes that I''m the worst that ever happened to her," Jayden said with his anger only building up in his voice.


    "That isn''t true. Cyprian was brainwashed by the spirit living within Noxaura''s vessel. You never knew the real Cyprian," Jade said with a glare and Jayden was taken aback by her words.


    "This isn''t the time for a joke," Jayden said through gritted teeth.


    "I''m sorry to say this young prince but it is true. He never showed you his true emotions because of how your mother was. He always would have loved you," Jade said with her eyes gentle and full of sorrow.


    Jayden buried his head in his palms. He wanted to scream, and he felt the tears welling up, and his hands started to shake.


    "I need to clear my head," Jayden said as he stood up about to leave.


    "Wait, I''ll come with you," Elizah said and walked up to Jayden''s side.


    "Be careful out there, there''s been a crowd waiting to see you two since last week," Jade said as she saw them off, and the two of them only nodded before they disappeared into the forest.

 Chapter 39 - Decisions

    Jayden and Elizah walked silently into the forest¡¯s depths until they had made their way to the pond. They had a fear of being followed, and so they kept their mouths shut.


    ¡°So, I know everything you just heard has a lot to process. I know things are hard right now,¡± Elizah said as she lay in the lush grass and her face had a smile from the life and energy that she felt from her surroundings. It was always both a surprise and an absolute beauty.


    ¡°I¡¯m just frustrated by the lies I have heard and all of these new speculations that Jade is telling me. On top of all of this the fact that I¡¯m now the king is even harder to understand. I never expected that I would be king,¡± Jayden said and laid down right next to Elizah.


    ¡°It was bound to happen someday, but it just happened faster,¡± Elizah said, and she closed her eyes.


    There was a lull in the conversation for long moments while Jayden was lost in thought.


    ¡°What do you see when you come here? You get such a peaceful smile here,¡± Jayden whispered, trying not to disturb Elizah¡¯s resting position.


    ¡°Life itself. You¡¯ve asked me this before, but there¡¯s no solid definition for what I see. It¡¯s everything and nothing at once,¡± she said, and her left palm touched Jayden¡¯s fingers.


    ¡°Could you show it to me? They say the blood bond lets one see through the other¡¯s eyes,¡± Jayden said, and he closed his eyes.


    Elizah hesitated momentarily before she said, ¡°We could give it a try.¡±


    Her hand moved so that the scar of her blood bond marking overlapped with Jayden¡¯s, and she cautiously willed small amounts of her power into Jayden¡¯s hand.


    They closed their eyes tightly until a gentle wave of warmth passed over their faces. Elizah¡¯s face lit up with a smile as she saw the radiating light around them.


    To describe it, it was almost an exact replica of the scene where they were. Except now, the only difference was that each object was radiating different intensities of light and darkness. There was a concentration of power around the pond in particular, which was something that caught their attention.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Jayden only managed, and Elizah laughed slightly.


    But there was something that Jayden noticed in this version of sight. Every object, no matter how bright, eventually turned dull and dark. It was always on a varying intensity of light from an individual thing.


    ¡°I see you¡¯re fascinated by energy flow,¡± Elizah said. A thoughtful smile came onto her face, and Jayden only nodded.


    ¡°To put it simply, not all times will be bright. There¡¯ll be times of light and some dreary darkness. And the darkness can come at any time. It¡¯s just like our lives. The feelings of joy, happiness, elation, excitement and thrill are similar to the brightness of light. But you need to realize, that these are incomplete without the darkness, which are sadness, grief, pain, loss and anger. We can¡¯t live forever, and neither will our lives always be filled with light. Destiny and fate is always a mix of light and darkness. This balance is what makes us whole. We need to learn to accept it. Without one, we¡¯ll always be incomplete,¡± Elizah said, and she gently touched a patch of grass with her left palm. She looked at the patch of grass and moved her hands gently, in a wave-like fashion, before the bright gold power came out of the grass and the light in the grass grew dark.


    ¡°What are you trying to get at?¡± Jayden said as he observed the area.


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.¡°I¡¯m saying that no matter how grim our fate seems, we¡¯ll smile back at all this one day. Even if becoming king isn¡¯t what you wanted, it¡¯s what fate brings to you. You need to accept it. I know it¡¯s hard, but you¡¯ll grow into a great ruler as time goes by,¡± Elizah said, and she closed her eyes again before the two of them returned to the side of the pond.


    ¡°I needed that talk from you,¡± Jayden said, and Elizah smiled.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Your Majesty,¡± Elizah said with a laugh.


    Jayden mock punched her on her right arm, Elizah did nothing less than flinch, and Jayden realized his mistake.


    ¡°So you don¡¯t feel your arm at all?¡± Jayden asked as he regretted what he had just done, knowing that even Elizah found it hard not to think about her injuries.


    ¡°Not even one bit. It seems like what Noxaura did either cut through the nerves itself, or has weakened the nerves drastically, and sadly I can¡¯t do anything to heal them,¡± Elizah said with a sigh as she looked up at the canopy cover above them.


    ¡°Um, there is something else I want to speak to you about,¡± Elizah said, and she tried to divert the topic. Jayden raised his brow and just listened.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to join you on the throne just yet,¡± Elizah said, ¡°I want some time without everyone judging me. I need to be okay with my injuries before I can hear other people¡¯s opinions about me.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Jayden said softly, but he understood what she meant.


    ¡°I¡¯ll live in the palace though, I can stay there just as some help you,¡± Elizah said.


    ¡°That gives me a lot more reassurance. For a moment I was worried you were going to leave me,¡± Jayden said softly and kissed Elizah¡¯s cheek and held her hand in his as he relaxed a bit.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to show you,¡± Elizah said as she suddenly jumped up, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Elizah stood up and led Jayden along towards her home.


    <hr>


    ¡°Well, you almost killed me,¡± Noxaura said as she made her way into her comrade¡¯s home.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to come fumbling into my humble abode so soon. I see you realized what true bloodlust is again, haven¡¯t you?¡± her comrade said with a sigh, and her grin was sharp.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you let me kill Cyprian,¡± Noxaura said, and she flopped onto the nearest armchair.


    ¡°He was nothing but a hindrance to our plans. It¡¯s only right that we got rid of him,¡± her comrade said with a shrug.


    ¡°Besides, we have to summon the last collaborator back again within the next few seasons. With that nutcase around, bearing Cyprian as king will be impossible,¡± her comrade said, and Noxaura only laughed.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised that you referred to him as a nutcase. But he is quite a failure in terms of execution of tasks. But who knows, maybe Scintillia did him some good,¡± Noxaura said, and her comrade laughed.


    ¡°How has your power surge been?¡± her comrade asked, deftly changing the topic before things got heated.


    ¡°Good. I can feel it through my blood. It¡¯s like a fierce hum. And even my flames are much more powerful,¡± Noxaura said as she gently played with flames spouting at the tips of her fingers.


    ¡°Careful. You need to master control,¡± her comrade said and stuck Noxaura¡¯s hands in a bucket of water before saying, ¡°Otherwise you¡¯re going to end up setting ablaze to the forest as a whole.¡±


    With that, the comrade and Noxaura shared a hearty laugh before they opened up a map and began their search for true power.

 Chapter 40 - Parting Gift

    Elizah shuffled around her cottage, looking for the spare key she usually kept under the flowers. At the same time, Jayden just stood there patiently watching her.


    ¡°You know I could just melt the lock and we could get in right?¡± Jayden said after a few moments with a smile on his face.


    ¡°No, no, don¡¯t do that. That¡¯ll make it impossible to keep people out. Give me a minute. It¡¯s around here somewhere,¡± Elizah said as she dug under a plant root and removed an old rusted key from the mud.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯ll be a miracle if the door opens with such a battered old key,¡± Jayden said, and he watched as the door swung open.


    ¡°Well then, consider it your lucky day,¡± Elizah said, and she strolled in. She was hit by nostalgia as she observed the empty kitchen and dining room.


    ¡°It seems like they left a long time ago,¡± Elizah said softly, and she ran her fingers on the piano keys.


    Jayden put a gentle hand on his wife¡¯s shoulder and touched her right hand. It was scarred, but one could still see where the ring he had given her was, and it had been unharmed.


    ¡°Did you enchant the ring or something?¡± Jayden asked, and Elizah smiled with a fond gaze.


    ¡°Yes. I was far too worried that I would end up damaging it. I would never forgive myself if there was even a single scratch on it. I did it before the ceremony itself. It will keep the ring from crusting over with blood or ever being scratched,¡± Elizah said. She walked away from the piano and towards the room she had shared with Micah all these years.


    Jayden peeped in, unsure of what he should expect from Elizah¡¯s room, but instead just found a room with nothing more than two cots and a stuffy bookshelf.


    ¡°Welcome to my humble abode,¡± Elizah said, and she bowed, and Jayden laughed.


    ¡°Well, your new home is no longer humble,¡± Jayden said, and he clearly grinned.


    Elizah laughed slightly and sat on her bed before she removed the sheets from the bed and dug her hands underneath the straw mattress.


    Jayden just watched in awe as Elizah pulled out various things, from a sword to a pocket knife to a novel to random packs of seeds.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°Spirits Elizah, what do you not have down there?¡± Jayden asked, and Elizah only grinned.


    ¡°It¡¯s my stash of everything I wanted to hide. It¡¯s a great hiding place since no one usually cleans under the covers. Wait, I still haven¡¯t found it yet¡­ ah yes, there it is!¡± Elizah said as she removed a small box, almost the size of one, to store a trinket.


    ¡°This was the only thing that father had left me when I was born. He said it was important and invaluable that I maintained it in my care,¡± Elizah said as she opened the box.


    Jayden only let out a gasp as he saw the item inside the box. It was impossible, yet the object was right in front of his eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s the amulet Jade was talking about!¡± Jayden exclaimed as Elizah just continued to watch Jayden¡¯s confused face.


    ¡°I expected as much, but each amulet is unique. And there can¡¯t be two amulets that are the same,¡± Elizah said, and she took a book off from the bookcase.


    ¡°Can you read the text?¡± Jayden asked her, and he observed the writing on the bottom.


    ¡°Yes. I deciphered it a long while ago. It says ¡®to be unleashed by the bearer of fate¡¯,¡± Elizah said, and she flipped through the book again.


    ¡°But neither of us are seers in any way,¡± Jayden said with his face still confused.


    ¡°That¡¯s where I know the story that Jade knows isn¡¯t complete. There were six amulets, and there are supposed to be three destined to bring back the limits. There are some strange things that Jade isn¡¯t right about. I can be sure that this is right because this is the oldest record that anyone made of the event. It had been copied multiple times and I took a long time to decipher it, but it was worth it,¡± Elizah said as she took a small notebook out from under her bed.


    ¡°So, what do you plan on doing about your father¡¯s amulet? Do we tell Jade? I¡¯m still not in favour of using them,¡± Jayden asked, and he held the amulet up to the sun to see the markings of someone trying to pry it open. It made Jayden think twice about what Liran¡¯s true motives could have been, but he let the thought drift away for that moment.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we should. At least until we know that things are safe. I want to settle and have a normal life for a while. Without the meddling of fate,¡± Elizah said, and her gaze was wistful.


    ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Jayden asked, and a small smile came to his face.


    ¡°Maybe settle down and have a real family. Maybe bring peace. Find my father, and bring back my mother and Micah. There¡¯s a lot to think about,¡± Elizah said, and Jayden only smiled.


    ¡°There¡¯s, of course, the more important stuff first, but I agree,¡± Jayden said, and he wandered in his mind. The thought of being free and away from his mother and father¡¯s constant disapproval and finally being someone he wanted to be rather than everyone¡¯s mould was always something he dreamed of.


    ¡°It¡¯s all a fresh start, isn¡¯t it? A time to see the world with new eyes,¡± Jayden said. Elizah couldn¡¯t help but agree as she thought about the various possibilities she¡¯d imagined for the future.

 Chapter 41 - Endings

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 Chapter 42 - Epilogue

    Time skip- 2 years


    Elizah stared at her reflection in the mirror. It was almost impossible for her to recognize herself. Although the scar had been stitched up, the markings were still quite prominent even after layers of the powder that had been smacked onto her face.


    Her hair was done into a neat bun and was braided on the sides with blue and green ribbons, and her gown was made of a silky green fabric. She wore her ring on her left hand, and the sleeves of her dress were made specially to hide her scars.


    If Roxanne had seen her daughter now, it would make her so proud. Her daughter was going to be the queen of Zameronia, and finally settle into a peaceful life. Two unstable long years had passed and Jayden had tried very hard to bring peace to the territory. Elizah had finally come to terms with herself and she was ready to ascend the throne.


    Elizah¡¯s gaze shifted to the dressing table where there was a small pearl bracelet. She looked at it fondly for a moment before she made the split second decision to wear it.


    She paced in her large room, which was something she was still getting used to. After living in a small house for so long, the new tower that they called their home seemed so vast, and the cottage nothing more than insignificant.


    It was almost impossible for Elizah to find any of her things in here. With so much space, there were endless ways to lose things.


    Elizah walked up to the window of her room to see the crowds bundling at the palace entry. But she was interrupted by a knock at the door.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Milady, it¡¯s time,¡± there was a young maid who stood there with a smile.


    Elizah was a bundle of nerves, she was extremely worried about the prospect of her coronation, but also about how people would perceive her as the queen.


    She walked slowly down the corridor to the large councilroom where the doors were wide open, almost awaiting her arrival.


    She was careful as she held her head high and walked into the room. Her neck hurt from craning like this, but it was only going to be for a few moments.


    There were collective gaspes heard from the crowd as they saw the scarred face of their new queen, but Elizah stood undeterred by their opinions. There were whispers in some parts of the crowd, but soon silenced when they noticed Jayden¡¯s glare from ahead.


    Jayden stood waiting for her at the front of the room near two black crystal thrones. They had been created specially for Jayden and Elizah and had been modelled after the tower itself.


    Jayden took Elizah¡¯s left hand with his right and they shared a smile between themselves as they knelt down carefully.


    Jade stood in front of the two of them and began to speak, ¡°When a great tragedy befalls, there¡¯s always a spark of hope that can be found. The death of both the previous rulers was certainly a great tragedy, but nonetheless, we¡¯ve come forward to brace the change. The past two years we have spent rebuilding the country, and now, our king has finally picked his queen.¡±


    ¡°With my satisfaction in them, I believe that she will be the ruler we need. With the power vested in me, by the forefathers, the rulers, and fate itself,¡± Jade lifted her sword and handed it to Jayden and he put it on Elizah¡¯s shoulders slowly.


    ¡°I appoint thee, Elizah Larkspear, daughter of Liran Cohen, to guard, defend, rule and care for the people of this country as you take the role of Queen,¡± Jayden said and Jade took the sword from Jayden and handed him Noxaura¡¯s old crown.


    ¡°All hail the King and Queen! May they bring a reign of peace and prosperity to all,¡± Jade said and the crowd echoed as Jayden and Elizah stood with their faces full of joy as they watched the beginning of a new era. A new era of peace.