ã€ŠAwakening of the Arcane Overlordã€‹


 1. A bolt from the blue

    The sound of the swords clanging filled the air while the people trained in the arena. Even though the cool breeze blew, gently caressing their faces, their perspiration refused to disappear and sweat trickled down their forehead and neck.

    The arena was divided into two sections. While the warriors trained on one side, the mages took over the other section as they engaged in battles with their own kind.

    Every now and then, explosions reverberated in the arena. But the people remained unfazed as they continued training. To them, it was a daily occurrence, a practice they had been following for years.

    Meanwhile, in one of the rooms behind the arena, a group of youngsters stared at the two men before them with admiration and concentration.

    The older man, who was respectfully called Master Elion had a puissant aura around him, compelling everyone to look at him in reverence. With his hands behind his back, he stared at his audience with poise and mannerisms that commanded respect. His silence was unnerving and the youngsters fidgeted in their seats as they waited for him to speak.

    Meanwhile, the younger man whom they fondly addressed at Elder Brother Zevan was an eidolon they admired and worshipped.

    While Master Elion held a solemn expression, Zevan flashed a mischievous smile and winked at them. His playful self eased their nervousness a little and they smiled back faintly.

    "As you were intimated, we are here today to start with your training." Master Elion started the very speech the youngsters had been waiting for since the time they had been selected by the royal army. "You have all the necessary knowledge. Master Thalos has bored you enough with all the talk. We have no intention to put you to sleep."

    The youngsters laughed at his words and their nervousness eased all the more. They relaxed visibly and the man observed everyone, waiting for them to completely let go of their inhibitions.

    "From now onwards, you will seek guidance, cultivate your powers, and embark on the journey as you join the royal army, not as warriors but as sorcerers," he continued and darted a glance around him, making sure to meet each youngster in the eye.

    "You are under my tutelage and will follow my instructions until you are here. You will have just two chances. After that, any kind of disobedience will not be tolerated. You will be thrown out and barred from joining the royal army. Am I clear?" he shouted, sending the youngsters who had eased a little to stiffen immediately.

    Master Elion''s words were filled with caution and a threat and the youngsters were wise enough not to question him when his orders were clear. He would be merciless when the time called for it and no one could make him change his decisions.

    "Yes, Master Elion," the youngsters shouted as they focused on the man who commanded all attention to him.

    Being one of the strongest sorcerers in the kingdom of Meadel, not just the people, even the King himself respected the old man. He was intimidating and the aura around him screamed of power and ability. The youngsters feared him and respected him at the same time and none dared to disobey him for after the King and the Prince, Master Elion held absolute power.

    "Zevan will assist us during the training and I am sure you would love to hear his experience as you cultivate your powers." Elion glanced at the young man who was smiling mysteriously as he stood a step behind him. "Zevan, do you have anything to say to the youngsters?"The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Zevan was thinking about the food he wanted to have for lunch when Master Elion called him out, breaking him out of his delicious trance.

    "Master?" Zevan questioned in confusion. He knew that his Master had called him. But he had failed to listen to what he wanted. He had slipped into his food fantasy the moment his master had started his speech.

    Master Elion narrowed his eyes at his vexatious yet beloved disciple, almost glaring at him in annoyance.

    "I asked you if you have something to say to the youngsters here. Perhaps a word of motivation?" he prompted, suppressing his irritation for the time being.

    Zevan scratched his head as he thought about it. "Umm.." He cleared his throat, awkwardly standing beside his Master who had not shifted his gaze away even for a moment. The disciple broke into a cold sweat when he realized he had angered his Master. But he did not know how to overcome the predicament he was in either.

    Grinning sheepishly at his audience, he came up with only one thing he could say at the moment. "Good luck, everyone."

    Elion felt his blood boil at the chap''s lack of enthusiasm. But he controlled himself, silently making a promise to deal with him in private later.

    "Now, I will pair you up based on your skills and you will duel with each other. I need to know the extent of your powers and what you are capable of before I proceed with the training."

    Master Elion picked up the register and went through the names slowly. However, just when he was about to call the first pair, a sudden thud beside him shocked everyone.

    "Zevan!" Master Elion yelled in fright as he stared at his beloved disciple collapse to the ground before he lost consciousness.

    Dropping the register back on the table, he knelt beside Zevan while the others stood up. They too were terrified to see Zevan fainting suddenly.

    "Zevan, what is wrong with you? Wake up." Elion shook him lightly but there was no response from the chap.

    "Zevan¡­" Elion stopped moving when Zevan frowned before he opened his eyes slowly.

    For a moment, he did not know what had happened. But the next instant, he jumped to his feet, shocking the poor old man beside him.

    "Zevan, what is happening? Are you fine?" Elion looked at him in concern. Zevan was a prankster. But never had he pulled off such a prank before him previously. So, he losing consciousness was a serious issue and Elion was worried to death.

    "Master, we need to go to the east gate right now." Zevan''s eyes darted around in panic, his tone laced with worry and haste.

    "Zevan, what¡­"

    "Master, something precarious is about to happen. We need to leave now."

    Without waiting for his Master''s permission, Zevan ran out of the room.

    Elion looked at the young man''s silhouette in disbelief. His frenzied actions were incomprehensible and his heart shook when he recalled Zevan''s words. Without further adieu, he faced his audience who had been stunned into fearful silence.

    "Please stay here until I return. Nobody is to leave the room without my permission," he ordered, his tone strict and compelling before he vanished from the place.

    Unlike Zevan who had rushed to the east gate, his master had used his ability to teleport and he reached the place before his disciple. But he could not detect anything amiss. The watch guards were patrolling the place as usual while a group of sorcerers engaged in a friendly battle far away.

    Zevan was not surprised to find his master waiting for him. With his ability to teleport, Master Elion could go to any place he wanted within moments. Panting heavily as he made his way towards his master, Zevan looked around him in apprehension. But he could find nothing different.

    "Zevan, will you tell me what happened to you? Why did you run away without clarifying the matter?" Elion probed, his patience running thin slowly. He was still baffled by how his disciple had reacted all of a sudden.

    "Master, I saw a dead body."

    "Dead body?" Elion frowned and turned his body so that he was completely facing Zevan. His disciple now had his complete attention.

    "Master, I saw a dead body. No." Zevan paused and shook his head. "It was two. I saw two dead bodies, right over there." He pointed at a spot, his hand trembling in trepidation.

    Elion followed his hand and looked in the direction he was pointing. "Zevan, you must have been mistaken. Why will there be dead bodies here?"

    Barely had he finished speaking when without warning, a lifeless form plummeted from above, crashing to the ground with a sickening thud followed by another thud.

    In the spot Zevan had pointed, now lay sprawled two dead bodies, twisted and broken.

 2. Prediction of death

    Zevan''s eyes widened in horror as he stared at the two corpses. Even though he was some distance away, he could still see the blood oozing from various parts. It was a gruesome sight and he broke out into a cold sweat immediately.

    Master Elion''s situation was no less different than his disciple''s. He too was spooked to see the dead people. Mortified, he ran towards the two dead people only to halt suddenly when he saw the familiar faces.

    The two warriors now lay before him as they stared at him with their lifeless eyes. From afar, the two dead men seemed brutally tortured. But it was even more horrible from near. They were not just tortured, their bodies were mutilated and Elion felt his heart drop to see the various wounds on their bodies.

    "Master," Zevan gasped in fright. He had never seen anything so heinous and his hands quivered.

    By then, the other people nearby had arrived and they too were aghast to see the two dead men.

    Master Elion looked at the two men, his eyes shrouding in grief. He recognized them, he had trained them to become who they were or had been. But now, they were¡­. He knelt beside them and checked their pulse. But as he had expected, they had stopped breathing for quite some time and their bodies were slowly turning cold.

    "Inform His Majesty and His Highness," he ordered softly and someone in the crowd rushed to inform the two men right away.

    Nobody moved from their spots as they mourned the death of two warriors. It was not until the King and the Prince appeared one after the other that they broke out of their trance and knelt before them.

    "Long live, His Majesty. Long live, His Highness," they greeted, which the father and the son ignored.

    "Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Highness," Master Elion too greeted them.

    "How did this happen, Elion?" King Harold spoke, his tone laced with sadness and worry.

    Elion stayed silent as he remained in his spot beside the two dead men.

    "What are we going to do now, Elion?" the King continued, his expression downcast in agony.

    Elion was overcome with grief and he had a hard time standing up. His eyes immediately searched for Zevan. However, to his shock, the young man was nowhere in sight. Furrowing his brows thoughtfully, he moved away from the crowd discreetly.

    ''Zevan,'' he called for him in his mind. But there was no response from his disciple.

    ''Zevan, are you there?'' Again, no response.

    ''Zevan, you are scaring me. Please respond to me.'' He was perturbed and he moved further away from the crowd while looking for his disciple at the same time.

    ''Master Elion, are you there? Master Elion?''

    The panicked voice was all too familiar and Elion almost collapsed when he heard it. His soul which had almost escaped his body returned to him after hearing Zevan''s voice.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ''Zevan?'' He was relieved and in disbelief. ''Where did you go? You frightened me to death. What happened, child?''

    ''Master Elion, I have something important to inform you.''

    ''Zevan, where are you?''

    ''I am near the observation tower, Master.''

    ''Wait for me. I will be there in a moment.'' Elion did as he said, and the next instant, he was standing in front of Zevan.

    "What happened, Zevan? Why are you here?"

    "Master Elion.." Zevan''s face was morphed with worry as he looked at his master with an absent-minded look. "This is bad."

    "What?" Elion was confused by his words. He could not grasp what Zevan was saying and looked at him questioningly.

    "Master Elion, this is just the beginning," Zevan spoke with great difficulty. Although he was a powerful person, at that moment, he had no power in him to reveal the secret only he knew. It pained him to even think about what he knew let alone disclose it to his master.

    "Zevan, you are scaring me now. What happened, child?"

    "Master Elion, I...I...I want to tell you that there are a lot more people dead. A lot more of our men have been murdered." Zevan''s shirt was drenched with sweat as he revealed the truth.

    "What?" Master Elion''s mind went blank immediately.

    Elion did not even have time to digest the information Zevan had just given him when shouts and screams erupted from the crowd behind him. His heart skipped a beat and he looked at his disciple who looked equally petrified as him.

    Picking up their pace, the two men made their way back with Zevan praying desperately for his words to be wrong. He did not wish to see any more of his mates dead.

    Alas, fate had something else in mind.

    Just as he had said, the number of corpses had increased from two to twenty-seven and every one of them had been mangled beyond belief. It was a gruesome sight and some of the ladies in the group averted their eyes immediately, unable to bear it.

    Previously, not many people had seen the two men plummeting to the ground out of nowhere. However, now, everyone in the crowd had seen the twenty-five men''s bodies appearing before them suddenly.

    Even the King of Meadel, Harold who had faced a lot of startling situations was flummoxed to see his brave men now lying dead before him. It was a bolt from the blue for him. Not knowing what to do, he looked at Elion whose expression mirrored his.

    Elion was devastated to see the corpses of the young warriors. They were some of the finest men he ever knew. But now, they were lying lifeless. Two bodies had increased to twenty-seven and no one knew who was responsible for their deaths. The attack had been unexpected and sudden.

    A thought suddenly appeared in Elion''s mind and his head snapped towards Zevan who stood frozen in his spot while his eyes were fixed on him.

    ''How did you find out about this, Zevan?'' Elion questioned him immediately in his mind. He was depressed, livid, and curious at the same time. But he suppressed his emotions as he waited for his disciple to speak.

    ''Master, I had a vision, my first vision to be honest,'' Zevan revealed without wasting any time, appalling his Master with his revelation. ''I saw the warriors'' dead bodies.''

    ''Is that what happened in the training room?'' Elion felt an explosion going off in his mind when Zevan nodded in affirmation.

    ''Zevan¡­.'' Elion was stupefied and did not know what to say for a long time. His disciple had long surpassed him or anyone else he could think of in sorcery. But to think that Zevan continued to unveil more powers, Elion felt a chill run down his spine.

    ''How much more powerful is Zevan going to become?'' he wondered as he stared at his potential disciple.

    Elion sighed softly and closed his eyes. ''What else did you see, child? Did you see who killed our men?''

    ''Master, I could not see much other than what I said. I do not know who was responsible for their deaths. However, I feel something terrible is going to fall on Meadel.'' Zevan was worried.

    ''Why do you say so, child?''

    Being one of the protectors of the kingdom, it was his duty to ensure the kingdom''s safety. Now that danger was lurking in the shadows, Elion had to increase the security measures while making sure to keep the warriors safe from the hidden enemy. He became alert as soon as Zevan informed him of the invisible threat.

    ''Master,'' Zevan hesitated but did not hide the truth. ''I see dark clouds looming over Meadel and they are dripping with blood.''

 3. Soul Avenge Spell

    Zevan lowered his head as he tried to appear non-existent in the courtroom. King Harold occupied his throne while he faced his trusted men with a somber mood. The death of his mighty men was a big blow to him and he was now filled with vengeance.

    Although he mourned the death of the brave men, his ego had dealt a bigger blow. Someone out there had challenged him blatantly and being a conceited king who prided on his powers more than anything, King Harold was livid.

    He had called for the court session the moment they finished holding a funeral ceremony for the deceased. The deaths were not simple and they now had to come up with plans to protect themselves as well as avenge the brave martyrs.

    Zevan peeked at Prince Jareth who was seated right below the King''s throne towards the right. Just like his father, he too was a bumptious man. He was ruthless to his siblings who were eying the throne like hungry wolves even though he had already been declared the Crown Prince long ago.

    However, neither the father nor the son were malicious people. They were good rulers and never harmed any innocent.

    Zevan''s eyes met the Prince''s who was already looking at him and he flashed him a sympathetic smile. They were in a precarious situation. The sudden deaths of twenty-seven people had put them in a fix, especially when they did not know who the culprit was. It would be arduous to track down the mastermind and handle them, which no doubt was perilous.

    "I am deeply saddened by the loss of twenty-seven brave warriors," King Harold started and clouds of melancholy hovered over the courtroom. "They were tortured beyond belief before they were killed. We do not know who killed them and what their motive was. However, they have provoked us by touching our people and we will not sit still and do nothing."

    King Harold''s expression grew increasingly fierce as he spat in anger. He was one of the most powerful sorcerers in Meadel and had good control over his emotions. Even in the most dangerous situations, he had remained calm and steadfast. However, his state of mind was anything but calm at that moment. Due to the fluctuations in his emotions, his powers were threatening to unleash and wreak havoc.

    "I wish to catch the person behind this massacre and show them who they have provoked. In this regard, does anyone have any suggestions?"

    King Harold ran his eyes, making sure to look at everyone in the courtroom. All the strongest warriors and powerful sorcerers were present in the room and their opinions mattered significantly before they formulated a plan.

    Nobody spoke a word for a moment. Sensing everyone''s troubled and chaotic thoughts, Master Elion stood up, garnering everyone''s attention to him.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    "Your Majesty, it surely is saddening to see our men viciously murdered. We must avenge those valiant souls. However, in this regard, we should also not forget how formidable our enemy is," Elion reminded.

    "Since they were able to send our men back accurately without appearing themselves, they are more formidable than we can comprehend. We will have to be meticulous and astute."

    A stunned silence fell inside the courtroom, the gravity of the situation falling heavily on their shoulders. Nobody spoke as they tried to comprehend the truth.

    It was not unusual to have sorcerers who could manipulate space. There were quite a few in the courtroom who could teleport and even bring a few people with them. However, no one in the kingdom of Meadel could teleport other people without accompanying them. Just this power alone was enough to discern how formidable the enemies were.

    "Master Elion, do you have any suitable approach for our problem?" Prince Jarett queried, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

    "Although I do have a plan, I am uncertain if it is suitable or not." Elion gave him a helpless look and glanced at Zevan, scaring the hell out of him with the brief stare.

    ''Why is Master looking at me? What is he planning?'' Zevan wondered, his thoughts running wild immediately. ''I hope his plan does not involve me. I do not want to be in charge of such a huge matter,'' Zevan begged, giving his Master an aggrieved expression.

    However, his master was oblivious to it. He instead, focused his attention on King Harold.

    "Your Majesty, it is impossible for us to know who murdered our men without any clues. I am thinking of contacting the warriors and sorcerers stationed on the outskirts of the kingdom to check if they know anything.

    "What if they do not know anything, Master Elion?" The Prince butted, quirking his brow challengingly.

    "If I were to receive an unfavorable response from them, then¡­"

    Zevan observed his master swallow in nervousness. The tension in the courtroom was thick and palpable as everyone waited for the old master to continue.

    "Then?" King Harold prompted.

    "Then, I was thinking of using Soul Avenge Spell."

    King Harold stood up in shock. Even Prince Jarett was flummoxed and he followed his father''s actions. The people in the courtroom were in disbelief and it took them some time to digest what the old master had just said.

    "Elion, do you even realize what you just spoke?" King Harold reprimanded the man harshly, his tone increasing to an all-time high in fury.

    The people shivered as they tried to make themselves less prominent before the king. Although this was not the first time he had lost his temper, it was still bone-chilling and nobody wanted to be at the receiving end of his wrath.

    Climbing down the stairs in a hurry, King Harold stood before Elion and glowered over him, his eyes filled with insurmountable rage.

    "Do you not know how fierce and strong the spell is? Do you want to sacrifice other people in the kingdom as well?" he seethed and Elion lowered his head immediately.

    "How is it us avenging our brave warriors? We are only killing more people." King Harold had never been infuriated with Elion. To him, the old man was impeccable and wise and never did anything wrong or out of the line. However, today, he had crossed his bottom line, forcing Harold to lose his calm.

    "I understand your concerns, Your Majesty. However, what other options do we have? How else are we going to track the people responsible for our warriors'' deaths? Does anyone here have a better idea? Please do propose it if you have any."

 4. Zevans suggestion

    Nobody in the courtroom, no man or woman was able to provide an answer to Elion''s question. Everyone lowered their heads as they silently revealed their stance. Even the King and his children who were inside the room were rendered speechless by his request.

    Although Master Elion''s suggestion was drastic and risky, it was nevertheless still a suggestion which they had never thought of. They were, instead, useless and had been incapable of drafting anything worthy that could help them seek justice to the deceased.

    Even Zevan was stunned by his master''s suggestion. But unlike the others, he was not averse to it and was willing to give it a try if they could find the people behind the numerous deaths.

    "Your Majesty, Your Highness?" Elion pressed, looking at the two men for their response. "Anyone in the courtroom? Do you have an alternate solution? If you do, please let us know. If your plan is better than mine, I will be more than happy to cooperate."

    Elion darted his eyes around and even made sure to linger his gaze on the King and the Prince a few moments longer, waiting to see what they would say next.

    But all Elion got in return was silence. Nobody dared to even meet his eyes, let alone voice out their thoughts. No one, except Zevan. He was the only one who had his head raised as he confidently met his master''s gaze.

    Elion had expected this outcome and he was even more impressed with Zevan. He was the only one who knew what was right. ''You are not my favorite disciple for no reason,'' he thought and nodded at him who flashed him a supportive smile in return.

    Prince Jarett narrowed his eyes when he noticed this subtle interaction between the two. But he remained silent, although a sense of suspicion arose in his heart.

    King Harold sighed in helplessness and dragged his body back to the throne. All of a sudden, he looked exhausted and disconcerted.

    "Do we have no other choice, Elion? Not many people in our kingdom are powerful enough to cast the Soul Avenge Spell." Harold plopped on the throne, his legs finally giving away.

    "I know, Your Majesty. That is why my priority lies in finding any warrior or sorcerer who might have an inkling about this incident. If we can find anyone, then there is no need for us to use the Soul Avenge Spell."

    Zevan pursed his lips as he thought about it. It was true that Soul Avenge Spell exhausted a lot of energy of the person who cast it, sometimes to the extent that they had even lost their lives. So, most of the time, people cast the spell in groups, sharing their power with each other as they raised the soul of the deceased from its slumber. Then, the soul would guide them to the person who was responsible for their death even if the deceased had never seen the person when they were alive.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Zevan scrutinized all the people in the room and started to note down all the people who could help his master in casting the spell. Even though they were yet to conclude if they would be using the spell or not, Zevan was sure that they would eventually settle for this plan. He could sense it.

    Zevan did not miss any person in the court as he analyzed their powers and abilities slowly. Even though with more people, they could easily summon the soul, there was barely a handful of them who had the power to do so.

    ''So if I include His Majesty and Master Elion, there are twenty-one people who can cast the spell. Will they be enough? And most importantly, how many among twenty-one are willing to help Master?'' he wondered, giving a deaf ear to the conversation happening between the King and his master. Whatever they discussed was of no use to him. He might as well start planning for other things.

    ''Master, I have narrowed down all the people who are powerful enough to help you,'' Zevan relayed the information to his master when he noticed that the courtroom had returned to silence. He was not at all guilty for not listening to the session attentively.

    Master Elion''s lips twitched in dismay. His disciple was amazing. But he could be equally annoying and this was one of the many times when he found the chap to be highly irritating.

    ''Zevan, this is not the time for you to be mischievous,'' he scolded, even though his tone was anything but harsh.

    ''Master, I am not being mischievous. I have an inkling that we will end up using the Soul Avenge Spell. So, I am just preparing for it."

    Elion''s heart skipped a beat in apprehension and his head snapped towards Zevan immediately.

    ''Did you have another vision, Zevan?'' he queried hurriedly. The young man was unleashing this power of his faster than he could comprehend and accept. If this continued, Zevan would soon be in danger and that was the last thing Elion wanted.

    Zevan was like his child and he wished to protect him for life. Having no family in the world, he had only Zevan and just like him, Zevan too had only him. Even though they did not share any blood, they were closer than any bloodline could prove.

    ''No, Master. I did not. But my intuition says that your first plan will not be fruitful and eventually, we will be using the second one.''

    Elion''s heart dropped in fear. Somewhere he was hopeful of the first plan being a success and they would not have to use the Soul Avenge Spell. But after listening to Zevan, his hopes crashed immediately. Even if Zevan did not have any vision, he started to trust the young man''s intuition.

    ''Zevan, is there any way we could not use the Soul Avenge Spell?''

    Despite having an answer himself, Elion looked for an answer from his disciple, hoping for him to at least provide him with an alternative solution. Even though the chances were bleak, he wanted to give it a try.

    ''Master, there is another way,'' Zevan replied after remaining silent for some time and his master''s eyes lit up with hope. ''But it is almost impossible.''

    ''What is it, Zevan? I am willing to try anything if it is worth it.''

    ''Master¡­'' Zevan hesitated. ''The only way to find the person behind the massacre or maybe even stop it is by using Chronomancy.''

 5. Crown Princes Warning

    Elion''s heart skipped a beat when he heard Zevan''s suggestion.

    ''Have you lost your mind, Zevan? Chronomancy? Is it even a feasible solution?'' he bellowed in shock. His body trembled every time he thought about it, especially since the process was utterly dangerous, and anyone who tried it had not stayed alive even for a moment more to speak about the experience.

    Chronomancy or the alteration of time was one of the hardest types of magic possible and not just in the kingdom of Meadel, but even in the entire world of Azuvar, only a handful of people could do it.

    In his entire lifetime, Elion had come across only two people who possessed the power of Chronomancy. While one of them had died the moment she had used the power, the other had gone missing long ago and he did not know what had happened to them.

    Elion''s expression changed when he thought about the first person. A pang of pain hit heart. But he overcame it quickly when he heard Zevan prattle.

    ''I know, Master. I know. That''s why I was preparing for the second plan you came up with. We have no other choice but to cast the Soul Avenge Spell.''

    "Elion, where are you lost?" King Harold berated the man who had not responded to any of his questions for quite some time. Elion seemed to have gone into a trance for quite some time and nothing he did or said had gone to him.

    "Your Majesty, I was wondering if there was any other method we could use in this situation," Elion replied and glanced at Zevan which Prince Jarett noticed. His forehead creased into a frown and a strange notion entered his mind.

    "Did you find anything?" King Harold looked at him hopefully, only for it to extinguish when Elion shook his head.

    Harold sighed as he sat defeated on his throne. "Elion, contact the other warriors and sorcerers patrolling the kingdom borders and try to find anything related to our warriors'' deaths. Let us see what response we will get first," he ordered, his eyes downcast and lost. "I will try to find other means to handle the situation in case we were to fail. The court is dismissed."

    King Harold departed from the courtroom and one by one all the people in the room too exited.

    Zevan did not miss their words of discussion. It was too loud to ignore. But he disregarded them and approached his Master who had not moved a step from his place.

    "Master"? His voice brought the man out of his stupor. "Is everything fine?"

    "I am just worried, Zevan." Elion sighed and rubbed his forehead in agony. "I just hope we do not lose any more people."

    Zevan just nodded slowly in understanding. He did not know what to say in the predicament they were in.

    Prince Jarett was the last to leave the courtroom. But before leaving, he made sure to examine Zevan for a few moments which neither Zevan nor his master missed. There was something odd in the way the prince was looking at them.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    With a frown, Zevan looked at his master thoughtfully. But all he got in return was a shrug from him.

    "I do not know what is running in his mind. He seems to be conniving a plan and I am unsure what he wants," Elion explained while he collected himself. "I am unable to read his thoughts. He must have activated the power to control his thoughts. Shall we leave now?"

    "Master, please go ahead. I will be right behind you in a moment."

    Despite being suspicious, Elion did not probe further into his matter and departed from the courtroom. But the moment he stepped out of the room, he halted immediately when he saw the Crown Prince waiting by the door.

    "Master Elion," Prince Jarett greeted him with a wide smile.

    "Your Highness," Elion smiled back at him while he became cautious at once. The Prince waiting for him was highly abnormal and he did not know what to make out of it.

    "May I have a word with you in private? Please follow me."

    Without waiting for his response, Prince Jarett started walking, forcing the old man behind him to follow him. It was not a request but an order and Elion had no choice but to obey it.

    Elion followed the Prince to a smaller room some distance from the throne room. Even though he was highly dubious of the Prince''s intentions, he did not show it on his face and remained composed.

    "Please close the door after you, Master Elion," the prince instructed and Elion did as he was told.

    "Is something the matter, Your Highness? How may I be of service to you?"

    "Master Elion, I have something to ask you. I hope you will answer me honestly."

    Elion became vigilant at once. There was something peculiar about the Prince and his behavior. But he could not point out what. Prince Jarett seemed vicious all of a sudden. His eyes revealed a strange kind of brutality he had never seen before and this discovery stunned him.

    "Please, Your Highness. Ask away." Elion still entertained him, waiting to see what he wanted.

    "I sense that Zevan has unleashed some powers. Would you mind revealing what they are?"

    Elion noticed the Prince looking at him carefully while his fingertips rubbed across his left wrist. He was well-versed with the Prince''s habits and he understood what this action of his meant.

    The Prince was expecting an honest reply from him. If his answer was not satisfactory, someone would get it for sure. As to who that someone was, Elion did not have to think twice. It would be his favorite disciple and as to how his disciple would get it, he knew it too.

    Although Zevan could easily crush Prince Jarett with his powers, his disciple was currently remaining low. So, if he and the Prince were to spar, Zevan had no choice but to embrace defeat. The Prince would not be that merciful with him; hurting Zevan was the last thing Elion had in mind.

    "Yes, Your Highness. Zevan now has the power of telepathy," Elion revealed one of the many powers the young man possessed which only he knew about while the others did not.

    "When did this happen?" Jarett questioned, his eyes filled with interest.

    "Just a few days ago."

    "But?" the prince prompted when he realized there was more to it.

    "But his powers are still weak. He can only use telepathy if the other person allows him inside their minds. Otherwise, his power is useless." It was the truth though and Elion had no qualms in revealing it to the Prince. They would learn about it sooner or later anyway.

    The Prince started chuckling all of a sudden, his voice sounding utterly sinister in Elion''s ears. The old master felt cold sweat trickling down his spine while his heart thudded madly in fear. He could not decipher why he was so mortified in Jarett''s presence.

    Something was wrong. Something was utterly wrong.

    "I see." Jarett nodded to himself. "Is there anything else? Does Zevan have any other powers that I do not know about?"

    "No, Your Highness," Elion lied with a straight face and watched the Prince narrow his gaze immediately. Though scared of his wits, the old man maintained his stance, not cowering in the presence of the powerful man.

    "I hope you are not lying, Master Elion. Otherwise..." The threat was clear and Jarett smiled at him suddenly, hiding his deviousness while he donned a mask of innocence. "I can sense when someone unleashes a new power. If I find out you are lying to me, do not blame me for being rude."

    Jarett tilted his head, his eyes gleaming in wickedness before he walked out of the room.

 6. Deception

    "Master, did you not leave before I did? Why are you arriving late?" Zevan questioned when he sensed his Master entering the room. He did not raise his head as he studied the map of Azuvar and its neighboring kingdoms.

    "Master, I was examining the map of Azuvar and all the warriors who died were patrolling the southwestern border." Zevan glanced at his Master who had not spoken a word since the time he had entered the room.

    "So, we should contact the battalion stationed on the southwestern border. We might be able to find something."

    Zevan continued studying the map. When he did not receive any response from his master, he raised his head and noticed the old man''s absent-minded look.

    Master Elion seemed to be visibly shaken. His face was frighteningly pale and he was sweating profusely.

    "Master!!" Zevan exclaimed, his eyes rounding in shock and he rushed to the old man immediately. "Master, what happened to you?" He supported the old man and led him to one of the chairs. Pouring a glass of water, he held it for him to drink.

    "Master, what happened? Are you sick?" Zevan was worried sick for his Master and could not help but look at him in concern.

    "It is not him," Elion mumbled in fright.

    "Huh?" Zevan was perplexed and could not make out what his Master was saying. "Master, what are you saying? What happened?"

    "It is not him. It is not the Prince." Elion held Zevan''s shoulders the next instant, startling him with his unexpected actions. "It is someone else. It is not the Prince." He shook Zevan as he kept muttering to himself. He had become hysterical.

    Zevan was disconcerted and did not know what to do for a moment. He stared at his Master who was in a daze before he held the man''s shoulders like he had done to him and shook him violently.

    "Master, please wake up. Master," he shouted in anguish. "Master."

    Zevan''s voice gradually brought the old man out of his trance and Elion looked at his disciple quietly. Facing the concerned Zevan, Elion did not know what to do. The truth he had just found out was devastating.

    However, he did not have much evidence to support his claims and it would be a miracle if anyone believed him. Elion was in a dilemma and he remained silent while he thought about it.

    ''Should I tell Zevan about the Prince? Will he believe me?'' he wondered with his lips pursed. ''What if he does not believe me and reveals all I tell him to the Prince or even worse the King? What am I going to do?''Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Zevan sensed his Master''s distress. Something was troubling him and the man was perturbed about whether to reveal it to him or not.

    Zevan squatted before the old man and held his arms. "Master," he uttered, his voice filled with assurance and confidence. "What is troubling you, Master? You can tell me about it. I promise it will remain with me. Whatever we speak today will not leave this room."

    Elion''s troubled heart calmed down and his confidence returned when he heard his disciple''s words. They were filled with conviction and promise.

    "Zevan, what if the matter is related to the Prince?" he questioned carefully, observing his expressions closely. "Will you still abide by your words?"

    Zevan was taken aback by his words. Being the Crown prince''s right man, it was his duty to serve him first and be loyal to him for life. However, if he had to choose between his Master and the Prince...

    "Master," Zevan sucked in a deep breath as he said, "I am here because of you. It is because of you that I even reached this state. Otherwise, I would have been an abandoned child somewhere. You are more important to me than anyone else. If my conscience says you are right, then I have no qualms in going against the Prince."

    Elion was touched by his disciple''s words. The boy regarded him more than anything and he could not ask for anything else from him. Zevan truly treated him as his master, his only family member, and that filled his heart with warmth.

    "Zevan, I have something important to tell you."

    "Yes, Master. Tell me. What has got you disturbed?"

    "Zevan, I do not know how to tell you this but..." Elion hesitated, his confidence wavering again. Even though he was sure about his discovery, there were still some doubts in his mind. If he was wrong in his assumptions, then it would be no less than accusing the royal family and he would be charged with treason.

    ''But if I am right...'' The faces of the dead army flashed before his eyes and Elion jolted in shock. He had got his answer. ''How I hope I am wrong, and it was all my misunderstanding.''

    Sucking in a deep breath, Elion met his disciple''s gaze. "Zevan, I am afraid to say that the man in the palace is not Prince Jareth."

    Zevan felt his mind exploding and he collapsed to the ground immediately.

    "Master?" He gasped in shock, words failing him at such a critical moment. "Please tell me I am hearing things. Whatever I heard just now was my dream," he begged.

    Zevan understood the implication of the possibility. If the man in the palace was not the Prince and was instead an imposter, that meant not just Prince Jarett but the entire kingdom of Meadel was in danger.

    "No, Zevan. No." Elion shook his head, his shoulder sagging in defeat. "I found out just some time ago. It is not Prince Jarett. It is someone else. I am certain about it."

    Elion sighed and leaned back on the chair. He looked weary and lost. Zevan himself felt disoriented. His thoughts were a mess and he was having a hard time accepting the truth. But since his Master had said so, it has to be true.

    "What are we going to do now, Master? Are we going to approach His Majesty?"

    Elion shook his head immediately, rejecting his suggestion right away. "No, Zevan. We cannot approach His Majesty. I have no evidence to support my claims."

    "Then, how are we going to deal with this matter, Master?"

    Zevan''s words showed that he trusted him and this was enough for Elion. He could deal with everything else.

    "Zevan," Elion looked at his favorite disciple as he formulated a plan for the time being. "Our priority now lies in contacting the battalion stationed at the borders to find out more about the people who killed our men. Do not get involved in the matter related to Prince Jarett. I will handle it."

    "But Master..."

    Zevan looked at him sternly, compelling Zevan to stop speaking. "I will handle it. There are other matters that need your focus, child. Let me handle this."

 7. Catastrophe

    Zevan paced back and forth in his room while he thought about all that his master had disclosed to him some time ago. Although he trusted his master''s words, he was still in disbelief to think the man in the palace was an imposter and not Prince Jarett.

    The recent events flashed past his eyes and his brows drew together when he recalled the Crown Prince''s strange behavior. The man who was usually amicable and excited all the time had become reticent and withdrawn. His usual blooming smile had vanished and he maintained a sober expression as if the entire world owed him.

    Moreover, Prince Jarett had the habit of sparring with him regularly. He would test his personal improvement in skills and power while at the same time measuring the extent of Zevan''s improvement.

    Zevan tried to recall the day they had been last involved in a friendly match. But he came up with a blank mind. He could not remember the date at all, pushing him closer to believe his master''s claims. The man''s behavior was highly unlike the Prince''s and Zevan felt the world spin for a moment.

    ''Should I investigate the man myself?'' he wondered but shook his head immediately when he recollected what his master had ordered.

    ''But Master will not find out what I have done. He is currently in the southwestern part of the kingdom and by the time he returns after questioning the other warriors and sorcerers there, I would have finished with my work.''

    Zevan had fixed his mind and with that thought, he went in search of the imposter.

    ''Master, please forgive me for disobeying you. I hope you will understand when you perceive the intentions behind my actions.'' Zevan gritted his teeth and apologized to his master a few times while his eyes scanned for the familiar silhouette.

    Zevan stopped suddenly when he saw the imposter sitting on the palace veranda while he swirled a chalice of wine. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts and there was no one around him.

    Perturbed and irked, Zevan made his way towards the man while he continued scrutinizing him. The man had the face of the Crown Prince but his temperament was completely different from him. While Prince Jarett had the disposition of a valiant warrior, the man before him looked sordid and devious. His gaze was calculative and impossibly condescending.

    Zevan''s blood boiled as he thought of the Crown Prince. ''I wonder where he is now and if he is safe and well. If he is even alive...Zevan, what are you saying? He must be alive, he had to be alive.'' He shook his head immediately, chastizing himself for imagining the worst possible situation.

    ''Please be safe. Please,'' he wished and glared at the man before him viciously.

    ''There is no doubt the deaths of our men are somehow related to this imposter. But how?'' he wondered. ''What could he gain by killing them?'' A notion entered his mind and Zevan felt devasted when he thought of its possibility.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    Taking a deep breath, he approached the imposter who had already sensed his presence.

    "I was wondering when you would greet me. What got you thinking for a long time, Zevan?" The man who looked exactly like Prince Jarett questioned.

    Staring at the familiar face, Zevan was having a hard time believing that he was not the Prince he had grown up with and was instead an imposter.

    "Greetings, Your Highness." He bowed at him unwillingly and even felt bitter when he addressed the man by a title undeserving of him.

    "What brought you here, Zevan?" the man questioned, not once facing Zevan directly.

    "Your Highness, I was wondering if we could have a friendly battle anytime soon. I have improved significantly since the last time we fought and wish to test my skills and abilities." Zevan put forth his suggestion without beating around the bush and descried the man''s expression for any abnormality.

    The imposter''s countenance changed for a brief moment. Albeit quick, Zevan caught onto it and his jaw ticked in fury. But he controlled himself, hiding his true emotions behind his smile.

    The Crown Prince was missing and the only person who knew about his whereabouts was the man before him. Until they found Prince Jarett, he could do nothing to the impersonator.

    "Zevan, the time is not right. Our warriors were killed by a mysterious force. Until we catch the person behind this massacre, we are in grave danger. We should be thinking of ways to catch hold of the murderer rather than such trivial things," the man rebuked and clicked his tongue while he continued to swirl the wine in the chalice.

    ''What a hypocrite!'' Zevan thought. Since you are impersonating His Highness, should you at least not put on a convincing act? You are preaching to me while you are sitting here drinking wine. How convenient!'' he grumbled silently, killing the imposter a thousand times in his mind.

    "You are right, Your Highness. But I was too disturbed to think about anything before Master Elion and the others returned. So, I wanted to distract myself," Zevan reasoned and the imposter stood up suddenly.

    "Zevan, there are other ways to keep yourself occupied. I have some matters to attend to. Play with yourself."

    With that, the imposter walked away, leaving a fuming Zevan behind. ''If we were on a battlefield, you would be a crushed ant right now.''

    Since his goal was not achieved, he did not continue lingering around the place anymore. With a dark face, he left the palace and entered the grounds behind where the royal army trained.

    The people were training among themselves intensely. The deaths of the valorous men had shrouded the entire kingdom in grief and aggression and everyone was filled with a mad thirst for vengeance. The enemy was unknown and the danger was lurking around in silence. The war was inevitable and they had to prepare for it.

    ''I wonder how the people will react if I were to reveal that Prince Jarett is missing,'' Zevan mused, having the impulse to divulge the truth to everyone.

    But he withheld himself, suppressing his fury and frustration for the time being. Any reckless action would only put the prince in danger. They were at a disadvantage and had to choose every step carefully.

    "Your Majesty, Your Majesty," Zevan heard his master''s panicked cry in his mind and he stiffened immediately. His heart pounded madly in fear as an ominous feeling crept up on him.

    "This is bad, Your Majesty."

    "What happened, Elion? Why are you this agitated?" Zevan heard the King''s alarmed voice, who was yet to realize that his master had included him too in the conversation.

    "Your Majesty, the entire southwestern battalion has been wiped out. Nobody has survived the ordeal."

 8. Messenger in the dark

    The entire kingdom of Meadel was mourning the deaths of their brave soldiers. In just two days, they had lost more than two hundred people and it was the second most devastating incident they had ever faced since the kingdom was founded.

    Zevan stared at his fellow mates with whom he had engaged in friendly battles in the past. The beautiful memories came gushing back to him and his lips arched involuntarily. However, they were lying on the ground, cold and lifeless.

    Zevan felt an intense rage bursting through him and he saw red. A desire to end all the people who had harmed his fellowmen emerged in him and the chaotic thoughts in his mind became more profound.

    Even though he was filled with rage, he still held onto his sanity. The intense change in his emotions stunned him and he clenched his jaw to suppress them but in futile. They were fighting for dominance against his will, making all his attempts to control himself inefficacious.

    Eventually, Zevan succumbed to his emotions, and the next instant, he felt the air around him swirl. Suffocation attacked him, making it impossible for him to breathe. A stifling pain made him grit his teeth and he closed his eyes as he tried to reduce his anguish.

    But it was all momentary. The pain vanished as quickly as it had arrived and Zevan opened his eyes slowly, only to be startled when he saw nothing but darkness around him.

    "Master?" he shouted. But there was no response.

    "Your Highness? Your Majesty? Is anyone here?" Again, there was no response and Zevan felt his heart drop.

    ''Master Elion?'' He tried to mind-link his master. All he got in return was silence.

    ''What is this place?'' he wondered with a frown. ''And why is it freezing in here?''

    Zevan held his palm. But he could not produce any fire. With a frown, he tried again, only to meet with the same result.

    ''Strange!'' he thought and focused on another of his abilities. But they too were unusable. None of his powers worked anymore. He had become powerless in a blink and Zevan was now utterly scared. He felt a drop of sweat roll down his back even though it was biting cold.

    Zevan attempted to move. But he felt restrained. Although he did not sense any shackles on himself, he still could not move from his spot. His entire body from down below had been rendered immobile.

    ''What the hell is happening! Where am I and why can I not use my power?'' he screamed in his mind, his body trembling in fright.

    Zevan was petrified and as time passed, his fear only amplified. He was helpless, restricted, and powerless. What an amazing and perfect combination of vulnerabilities the sorcerers dreaded to have the most!The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "Interesting!" He heard an unfamiliar voice resound in his ears and Zevan stiffened instantly. The voice was calm, clear, and gentle, just like the still water in a tranquil lake.

    Zevan''s nerves calmed down instantly much to his surprise and he gaped around him stupidly even though he could see nothing.

    "I never thought someone so young and inexperienced would be sucked in here when all I was looking for was someone otherwise." The voice continued.

    "Who are you?" Zevan questioned, his tone turning gentle and cautious too even though his state of mind was anything but calm. His thoughts were on mayhem and he could not control them anymore. It was as if they had a mind of their own.

    "Aren''t you a curious kid?" the man stated with amusement and Zevan pursed his lips in dismay.

    "Where am I? Why am I here? Why is it dark and cold here? What do you want of me?" Zevan fired a series of questions at the man he could not see.

    "You are one impatient kid." The man sighed and just as he had pointed out, Zevan''s patience was running thin slowly. "Let me answer your questions before you snap. We do not want a kid going rampant here, do we?"

    Every time the voice called him a kid, Zevan felt his mind explode in fury. If it was any other place or time, he would have hunted down the voice and showed him his might. But in his helpless and powerless state, he could only stay still and endure it.

    "This is the abyss I have created for you, although it was not exactly for you. I was looking for the most powerful person in your kingdom and somehow you ended up here. It sure is fascinating," the man started explaining but eventually ended up speaking to himself. He did not realize how his answer had rendered Zevan disconcerted.

    "Did you just say you created this abyss?" Zevan asked for clarification, shaking his head to dispel the possibility of it being all his imagination. "I am not hallucinating, am I?"

    The man let out a chortle and Zevan''s lips twitched in dismay. ''Was what I said something worthy of evoking such a reaction from him? What is funny in that?''

    "You are a hilarious kid," the man said once he stopped speaking. "And to answer your question, yes, I created this abyss so that I could summon someone from your kingdom, someone to whom I could convey a message."

    "What message?" Zevan''s curiosity got the best of him and his mouth ran before he could stop it.

    "I prefer to answer your other questions before we come to this."

    Zevan rolled his eyes. Nevertheless, he still waited for him to answer his questions.

    "The abyss is cold and dark because that is how I am to the world."

    "I do not understand." Zevan made an expression that said he was waiting for him to elaborate.

    "And you do not need to understand."

    ''Then, why did you even answer me? Your vague reply did not answer my question at all,'' Zevan complained silently but did not dare voice out his thoughts. Although he did not know who the man was, he was under his mercy. The man''s abilities were evident and provoking him at this stage was not a wise choice. Anything he said could trigger him and send him to a point of no return, and that was not something he wanted to experience ever.

    "You already know why you are here. I want you to convey a message to the people of Meadel. This is just the beginning. More people will be dying and it will not end until the entire kingdom of Meadel is painted with the beautiful color of blood."

    Zevan''s face morphed in horror and his eyes widened, reflecting his emotions at that moment. All his irritation vanished and he was left with nothing but uneasiness and a sense of foreboding.

    "Who are you?" His voice shook and he was barely audible. But the person heard him.

    "Let us just say I was the one who orchestrated the tragedy that fell in Meadel and will continue to do so in the future as well."

 9. Offer for life

    Zevan''s heart turned cold in an instant and his body trembled in fright. Although he had been cautioned, he was having a hard time comprehending it. The person had blatantly threatened him and his kingdom''s people while all he could do was remain helpless.

    "Why?" he finally found his voice and asked the only question he had in mind. Although he did not expect any reply from him, he still tried.

    "What did you say, kid?"

    This time, Zevan was not annoyed with him. Being called a kid was a lot better than being threatened. At least no one was getting killed then.

    "Why do you want to destroy Meadel? Do you have any grudges with us?"

    The man burst out laughing at his question and Zevan tried to recall if he had said anything humorous. But he could not think of anything.

    "You are not just an amusing kid, but an innocent one at that," the man commented and Zevan''s brows drew together in displeasure. But he did not argue with him.

    "To answer your question, I do not have grudges with just Meadel, I loathe the entirety of Azuvar. They destroyed me and I will not stop until I obliterate Azuvar."

    Zevan detected the change in his tone and he gulped in nervousness. He sounded utterly sinister and authoritative. His words were filled with promise and Zevan did not doubt him whatsoever.

    "Meadel being the first kingdom to be targeted is nothing but pure coincidence. Do not take it personally, kid."

    Zevan''s lips twitched and he did not know how to reply to him. His entire kingdom was in peril and that included him too. He had to take it personally if he wished to save himself as well as his kingdom.

    "And just because I am not saying anything, does not mean I am oblivious to your thoughts, kid. I can hear them loud and clear." The man''s words made Zevan lose his mind completely.

    "But since it is you, I will spare you. If it was anyone else, I would have ended their life right away."

    Zevan swallowed his fear as he parted his lips to ask another question. He became meek instantly. All his courage had vanished the instant the man had spoken about his thoughts.

    "May I ask you a question?" He tried hard to sound courageous. Yet, he had an inkling he had failed miserably at it.

    "Now, you ask for permission. Isn''t it a little too late now?"

    The man''s tone held amusement and Zevan sighed in relief. At least, he was not annoyed by him.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    "Ask away," the man commanded.

    "May I ask why I was dragged here when it was an experienced and powerful sorcerer you were looking for?"

    "Hmm. Interestingly, my powers chose you and I do not know the reason for it as well. But if my intuitions are right, it is because you are one of the most powerful sorcerers in Meadel or will be in the future. It is just that you are yet to unleash your powers." The man suddenly went silent and Zevan did not know how to react to the information he had just received.

    If it was any other time, he would have been jubilant. However, now, with a guillotine over his head, Zevan was not in the mood to rejoice.

    "Kid, would you mind joining me? I would not mind a powerful person like you beside me. We can conquer the world together and rule over it," the man suggested all of a sudden and Zevan made an expression that clearly said even such a thought disgusted him, let alone act on it.

    "Do not give me such a reaction. What will you do among such heartless and cruel people? They will not hesitate to give up on you if their interests are in jeopardy."

    Zevan sensed the insinuation in his tone and discerned him to be speaking about his life. Though curious, he did not enquire more about it.

    "I have no interest in joining you nor do I have any penchant for killing my own people." Zevan rejected his offer without thinking twice. He was happy with his life and had no intentions of making it better by killing his loved ones.

    The man sighed in distress. "Since you have made the choice, I will not force you to change your mind. But do think about it and if you wish to join me, just say so in your mind."

    ''That is not going to happen. Never.'' Zevan vowed, forgetting that the man had access to his thoughts. He had nothing but hatred for him and nothing he said could change the feeling.

    "Your time is about to end." His stern voice brought Zevan out of his stupor and he blinked a few times to clear his mind. "Remember the message I asked you to convey to your people. This is just the beginning. I will not stop until not just Meadel but the entire world of Azuvar has been destroyed."

    "Who will you rule over if you destroy Azuvar?" Zevan could not help asking the question suddenly and the man went silent all of a sudden.

    "Let us just say I have a bunch of followers who have the same intentions as I do and with them, I can rebuild the world. Since I have taken a liking to you, I will not kill you once I destroy Azuvar. You have time until then to make your choice."

    ''Do I really have a choice then? Is it not as good as asking me to choose your side in the end? How sly!'' Zevan berated the man silently without caring whether he was listening to his thoughts or not.

    "That I am." The man returned to his relaxed self and Zevan felt his mood lighten too. "Your time is up. Remember my words, Zevan."

    ''Wait, how do you know my name? Wait, what is your name?'' Zevan felt a wave of dizziness hit him and he closed his eyes to ease his malaise.

    The familiar feeling of suffocation hit him and he felt lightheaded. But just like before, it was all momentary. When he opened his eyes next, he found himself standing in the spot he had previously been before he was pulled into the abyss.

    The first thing he did was to look at his Master who was standing beside him. ''Master, how long was I gone?''

    Elion looked at him as if he had grown four heads. ''What are talking about, Zevan? Were you not here all along?''

    Elion sensed the switch in Zevan''s emotions. He was troubled over something and he could not comprehend what.

    ''What happened, Zevan? Why are you so perturbed?''

    ''Master, I have something important to tell you,'' Zevan started but stopped short when he noticed the bodies lying on the ground. And he felt a chill run down his spine when the realization hit him.

    The man had not just controlled space, he had controlled the time as well. He had been inside the abyss for quite some time. But in Meadel, it seemed that just a few seconds had passed. Just how invincible was he?

 10. Promise

    ''Master, can we talk once the ceremony is over? I have something crucial to inform you.'' Zevan''s voice trembled as he kept staring at the dead soldiers.

    ''What...''

    ''I have a message from the person who killed all these courageous men.''

    A wave of shock washed over Elion, leaving him feeling numb and cold. He gaped at Zevan, his eyes clouded with fear. Slowly, the realization dawned upon him and he perceived the reason behind Zevan''s peculiar actions a moment ago.

    ''Did you...''

    ''I will explain everything once we are alone, Master.'' Zevan gave him a small smile. He looked exhausted and unkempt and Elion felt bad for him.

    With power came not just responsibilities but dangers as well. Considering Zevan''s extent of powers and the rate at which he was unleashing them, he was bound to garner attention not just from people around him, but from others as well, others who would cross any limit to exploit such powers. He more or less had an inkling as to why the person had chosen Zevan instead of anyone else from Meadel.

    Elion patted Zevan''s arms lightly. Even though no word had been exchanged between them, the men understood each other.

    Though touched by his Master''s sentiments, Zevan was shrouded with dread and worry. He could not bring himself to think about anything else at that moment.

    Even during the funeral, he was absent-minded. He could not remove the powerful person''s message from his mind. He was vexed and the truth that only he knew this man and his intentions perturbed him all the more. His hands shook and he clenched his fists to hide his weird behavior from the others.

    The entire kingdom of Meadel was drowning in grief as they mourned the loss of their people. King Harold, especially, paid respects to the soldiers while Prince Jarett stood behind him. The entire royal family was present to show their respect for the deceased.

    Wails and cries erupted in the place as the High Priest sprinkled holy water on the dead one by one. Once he was done sprinkling holy water on all the dead people, he stood aside and started to chant the prayers while his disciples joined him.

    Despite being petrified and filled with abhorrence, Zevan could not control his tears when he saw the souls of the deceased leave their bodies one by one.

    All the souls waited for the others and once the last soul left the body, they floated in the sky for a moment as they looked at all the living people with smiles on their faces before they vanished together. And the next instant, the lifeless and soulless bodies on the ground erupted on the fire.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    At that moment, Zevan had nothing but hatred towards the man responsible for the deaths of innocent people. He lowered his head and glared in resentment. All it took was a blink to destroy the peace in Meadel and until the monster behind the catastrophe was not dealt with, peace was a distant dream.

    ''I promise,'' Zevan raised his head and stared at the burning corpses before him. ''I will end everyone responsible for this. I, Zevan, will not give up until I have hunted down everyone for your misery,'' he stated with resolve as he watched the fire burn the corpses.

    In no time, all the dead bodies disappeared, leaving no ash in their places. However, the people continued to stay as they cried their hearts out due to their loss.

    King Harold sighed in distress and nodded at his family before he approached Elion who had an indecipherable expression on his face.

    "Elion," The King closed his eyes and dithered for a moment before looking at him. "Prepare for the Soul Avenge Spell. We will do the ritual tomorrow night."

    "Yes, Your Majesty." Elion''s hoarse voice was laced with sadness. He did not even glance at Prince Jarett who had stopped to take a good look at him before following his father back to the palace.

    One by one, the others started leaving and Elion glanced at Zevan who was already looking at him. Nodding at him curtly, the two men, one old and one young too departed from the place and did not stop until they were back at their room of discussion.

    "What do you have to tell me, Zevan?" Elion barely had any strength in him. The day''s events had sucked a lot of mental energy out of him and only he knew how he was holding on.

    "Master, if you want...."

    "I cannot delay this matter anymore, Zevan. You tell me what you found out."

    Zevan gave up persuading and hesitated for a moment before he started speaking. "Master, the person who killed our people wants me to convey a message to you and all the people of Meadel."

    Elion maintained a stoic expression, his features composed but intense. His body language was taut, every muscle poised for the weighty information being discussed.

    "This is just the beginning and he will not stop until not just Meadel but the entire Azuvar has been destroyed. Meadel is just the first step in his plan," Zevan conveyed the message and took in the changes in his Master.

    Elion did not speak a word for quite some time as he absorbed the weight of the matter. The situation was more perilous than he had thought.

    "Did you see his face?"

    "No, Master," Zevan explained his experience in the abyss he had been pulled into and as time passed, Elion''s face blanched in fear.

    "This is bad, Zevan. This is bad. What are we going to do?"

    Zevan did not dare disclose the offer the man had made to him. It would be a lot to take in and his Master was already overwhelmed. He could not bear to put him in more shock.

    "Master..." Zevan himself did not know what to do and looked at his Master in concern. Just when he was about to comfort him, Prince Jarett appeared in the room suddenly, startling both the Master and the disciple.

    "I hope I am not intruding or disturbing you two," he expressed his apology subtly.

    ''Do you have to pretend when you know the truth?'' Zevan thought hatefully. ''What an unconventional method of entering a room! How convenient!''

    "Well, I was here to see what you two were planning," he stated the purpose of his visit and his lips curled up when he settled his gaze on Zevan.

    "After all, you need to prepare for the future considering that Zevan has met my Lord."

 11. Subdued in a moment

    Zevan and Elion gawked at the imposter while they exchanged dumbfounded glances. To know the Prince''s truth was one thing. But to hear the imposter himself confirm it was a different matter altogether. Although they had prepared themselves for the truth, they were still petrified to face it and accept it.

    "You do not have to look at me that way," The man stated perfunctorily and pushed his robe behind him. He looked around the room, studying everything inside with curiosity.

    "I mean no harm to you two or even Prince Jarett. Did I forget to inform you that your Prince is alive? He is injured but alive." He paused and looked at the two men who were frozen in their spots.

    "You and your Lord have already killed more than two hundred people and our Prince is missing. Now, you expect us to believe you mean no harm." Zevan was exasperated and he glared at the imposter with hatred. "Your Lord has promised to end the entire world and you say you mean no harm to us. Are you not being hypocritical?"

    The man gave Zevan a look he could not fathom. There was pain, anger, frustration, and many other emotions hidden in his eyes. The air around them had changed completely, and both, Zevan and Elion, sensed the bloodlust radiating from him.

    Elion took a step forward, shielding his disciple behind him. He stood still, prepared to defend if the imposter were to attack them.

    "Hypocritical you say?" The man chortled all of a sudden but neither Zevan nor Elion let their guards down. "I wonder what you call the people who promise to support you all the time but leave in the moment of danger. Are they hypocrites as well?" He folded his hands and quirked a brow at the two men.

    While Elion did not understand the meaning behind his words, Zevan''s eyes flashed with recognition. The man he had spoken to in the abyss had mentioned something similar. His experiences aligned with what the imposter had mentioned and for a moment, Zevan wondered what they had experienced in life for them to turn out this way.

    "Well, let us just say the entire world condemned us and pushed us to the brink of death even when we were innocent," the man replied to Zevan''s unasked question and Elion glanced at his disciple immediately.

    "As for the details, it is not necessary to you."

    "Is it necessary for you to destroy the entire world?" Zevan softened his stance and tried to reason with him, silently hoping for him to listen to him. "Although I do not know who wronged you, it is not right to harm the innocent."

    "And do you think I was not innocent when I was harmed?" The man shot back immediately, not hiding his resentment and rage. His eyes had turned dark and the room had become colder than before, sending Zevan to refresh his memories of the abyss. The imposter''s temperament was similar to his Lord''s.

    "Was my Lord not innocent when he was abandoned by the whole world in the time of need? Your words sound fanciful and nice since you have not experienced what we did. You will sing a different song altogether when you go through all that we went through."Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    "I will never choose the path you followed irrespective of the situation. Never," Zevan stated with conviction, his eyes unwavering while Elion frowned in confusion. He could not comprehend where this was going and what the two men were speaking about.

    "We will see, Zevan. We will see. My Lord''s offer remains still until you have chosen. You may take your time in deciding." The man smiled wickedly all of a sudden and Zevan''s heart dropped when he discerned what he had done.

    His abhorrence towards the imposter increased all the more and he took a step forward, only to be stopped by his Master.

    "How do we know Prince Jarett is safe?" Elion diverted the topic, ignoring Zevan who was staring at him inquisitively.

    "I have no reason to lie to you. But if you still wish to see it yourself, here it is." The imposter pulled out a talisman and threw it in the air. The next instant, the talisman caught fire in the center.

    As the fire tore the talisman into two, leaving a clear gap in the middle, Prince Jarett''s unconscious face was revealed before them. While Zevan held an inscrutable gaze, Elion''s face paled in horror.

    "Your Highness!" he cried and stepped forward. But the talisman turned into ash immediately and the Prince''s face vanished with it.

    Elion was overcome with fury and he charged forward like a madman. Before Zevan could stop him, he had directed his powers at the imposter. However, the man remained unfazed by it as he stood in his spot with a small smile on his face.

    "Lightening rope." Elion raised his hands and two ropes that resembled lightning shot from him and attacked the imposter.

    However, with a wave of his hand, the imposter directed the ropes toward the table that held the sand map of the kingdom of Meadel and its borders, reducing it to smithereens. The sand flew in the air and Zevan had to squint his eyes to see everything around him.

    Not giving up, Elion used the lightning ropes again while directing huge fireballs at him at the same time. But the imposter once again saved himself and a transparent barrier appeared before him.

    Zevan rushed forward to stop his master when he noticed the anomaly of the barrier. Unlike the barriers he had seen that would only repel the attacks, the one before him, instead, consumed them. And while doing so, the barrier was slowly draining out his master''s energy. His attacks too became unstable and eventually, he collapsed to the floor.

    "Master, careful," he shouted and rushed towards him. However, before he could get to him, the imposter stared at him and Zevan halted immediately. His eyes dilated when he met the man''s gaze and the next instant, he kneeled before him.

    "I do not wish to harm either of you," the imposter averred as he looked at the two men before him with an apathetic gaze. While one remained kneeling, the other was sweating profusely while all his energy was being drained out of him even though he had stopped attacking a few moments ago.

    "My Lord has taken a liking towards you, Zevan and you deeply respect your Master. Unless otherwise ordered I will not harm you two. But that does not mean I will tolerate you attacking me." The man showed his stance on this matter clearly. "I am sure my Lord will understand once I explain. So, do not test me on it. You are in no way capable of dealing with me, not yet at least."

    Elion groaned in anguish and coughed out blood. He felt his entire life force being sucked out of him and dark spots appeared before him. The imposter just glanced at him before returning his focus to Zevan who was completely under his spell.

    "And do not reveal my identity to anyone. If you do, I am sure nobody will believe you and even if they do, it does not matter much to me. Remember! The real Prince Jarett is in my hands. If you want him alive and if you are smart enough, you will know what to do," The imposter threatened and Zevan lowered his head in acknowledgment.

    "Good. Now that the purpose of my visit here has been accomplished, I will take my leave. I will visit you again soon."

    With that, the imposter disappeared from the place. Zevan snapped out of his daze immediately and Elion lost his consciousness completely.

 12. Seeking advice

    Zevan crawled toward his master immediately and placed his head on his lap. "Master," he called him in panic. Never had he seen his Master in such a plight before and he felt his heart twisting in pain to see the blood he had coughed out.

    Zevan checked his pulse and sighed in relief. His master was still going strong. Since his energy had been sucked out of him, he had lost his consciousness. A good rest was what he needed and he would recover soon.

    As gently as possible, Zevan helped Elion to the only couch in the room and made him lie down. Using a cloth dipped in warm water, he wiped the dried blood from his face before cleaning the blood on the floor.

    By the time he was done, he was sweating lightly. He squatted before his master and looked at him with a profound gaze.

    "Master," He sighed and loosened the old man''s robe to help him breathe better. "Why did you fight with him? See where the fight landed you. Did you not iterate many times in the past to never give in to your emotions and lose control? What happened to you today, Master?" he whispered and shook his head.

    "Did you not realize the imposter''s tricks? He wanted us to lose control so that he could harm us." Zevan was worried about his master. But he was more apprehensive about the danger they were in.

    The imposter and his Lord knew everything about them and were watching their every move. However, they knew nothing about them, not even their names. How could they defeat them and kill their plan?

    All of a sudden, Zevan felt defeated and he sat on the floor with a distressed face. He did not know what to do or who to seek help from. Revealing Jarett''s truth to others would be detrimental to them and not revealing it would only make it more complicated. In any circumstance, they were in peril.

    Zevan was utterly confused and he needed advice. His eyes lit up when a face appeared in his mind. "Only you can help me now. I hope you will show me the right path."

    Glancing at his master who was deep asleep, Zevan sucked in a deep breath and left the room. Mounting on his horse, he rode it as fast as he could. Having no powers to manipulate space, he could only use the conventional method of travel. As if knowing where he wanted to go, his horse took him to his destination in no time.

    At some distance on the way to the southern border, there was a lake hidden in the jungle. Not many people knew about it and the lake was isolated from the world. Even Zevan himself had chanced upon it by luck.

    Tying his horse to one of the trees, he tread carefully in the direction he remembered the lake to be. Although all he saw was a dense jungle ahead of him, Zevan knew otherwise. The lake was hidden using magic from everyone and only permitted people could see it.

    Stopping at a distance he assumed to be apt, he looked around him before settling his gaze ahead of him. "Thalia," he called softly, hoping for her to hear his call. "Thalia, are you there?" This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Silence.

    "Thalia, please respond to me if you are here. I need your help. Please," Zevan begged, his voice turning low and hoarse in desperation. His emotions were evident in his tone and he hoped for the lady to notice it.

    There was no response for some time and Zevan was about to call Thalia again when the leaves started to rustle. A cool breeze that carried with it the scent of water lilies blew. The energy around him changed and Zevan smiled in gratitude immediately. The lake that had been hidden behind the false veil of a dense jungle appeared before him immediately.

    "What is it, Zevan? Why are you here again?" the lady asked in distress and Zevan felt guilty for intruding into her space without informing. However, he had no way of contacting her other than to approach her in her place directly.

    "Is it convenient for me to speak to you? I need your advice," Zevan explained the purpose of his visit subtly.

    Thalia sighed and Zevan felt bad for her. If he was not in a pickle, he would never have disturbed her peace.

    "What is it, Zevan?"

    Zevan heard the familiar voice from behind him and he turned around to face the red-haired lady. Her hazel eyes looked at him questioningly while he stared at the once young girl who was slowly turning into a graceful lady.

    "Thalia, I apologize for intruding into your space. I need your advice on some important matters." Zevan gave her a desperate look of plea and Thalia examined him for a moment before giving in.

    "If I was not indebted to you for life, I would not have had to endure your torments," Thalia grumbled and Zevan gave her a sheepish look. "If my intuitions are right, you are here to seek advice on the recent happenings in Meadel."

    Zevan was not surprised that she was aware of his intentions. Even though she stayed far away from the kingdom capital, she was au courant with everything that was happening in not just Meadel but the entire world of Azuvar as well.

    "It is disheartening to see the people dead. Do you wish to seek advice on how to proceed next? Or on how to find the person who murdered them?" Thalia tilted her head and contemplated.

    "No, Thalia. I am here to seek advice on something else," Zevan clarified and Thalia nodded curtly.

    "Shall we walk while we talk?" She did not wait for him and started walking and Zevan had no choice but to follow her.

    "What do you want to ask me, Zevan?"

    "Thalia, as you already know what kind of a precarious situation Meadel is in." Zevan started and Thalia listened to him silently. "Now, even Prince Jarett is missing," he continued and revealed all that he knew and had experienced the last few days.

    Thalia did not react much. But she too was inwardly astounded to learn that an imposter had taken residence in the palace.

    "I have no one to share my thoughts with other than my Master, and now, he is injured. You are the only one I trust. I now do not know what to do. Please help me, Thalia." Zevan stopped walking and pleaded. He had never felt this helpless before.

    Thalia stayed quiet for some time and comprehended everything Zevan had revealed to her slowly as she analyzed the situation. "Zevan, did it ever occur to you why Prince Jarett has not been killed yet?"

    "What?" Zevan could not understand what she was saying.

    "Since the imposter and his Lord want to end Azuvar, why would they need to keep Prince Jarett alive?" Thalia perused and realization dawned upon Zevan.

    "Do you mean to say..." Zevan gave her a look and Thalia pursed her lips thoughtfully.

    "I have an inkling that Prince Jarett is not in the clutches of the imposter. He must either be hiding somewhere and waiting for the perfect time to return or..." She went silent all of a sudden and Zevan felt his heart drop when he discerned what she was about to say next.

    "Or he is already dead."

 13. Plan for the future

    "It cannot be. Prince Jarett cannot be dead," Zevan denied the possibility vehemently.

    Jarett''s death would only push them closer to their destruction and he needed the Prince alive to protect Meadel and even Azuvar. An extra powerful hand was always a boon.

    "It is just a possibility, Zevan. But I believe the truth is otherwise. Prince Jarett must have escaped from their clutches and has gone into hiding. And the imposter must be here to capture him."

    "But why would he need to capture the Prince? Since they have already conveyed the message they wanted through me, why would the imposter need to remain in Meadel and behave as Jarett?" Zevan questioned, his brows drawing together in confusion.

    "That is a matter worthy of inspection. I will have to analyze the issue more to conclude about it." Thalia tapped her fingers against her elbows as she continued strolling around the lake with Zevan right behind her.

    "What do I do now, Thalia? I am at the wit''s end and my mind is unable to come up with anything. Please help me," Zevan begged, not caring how pathetic he sounded. At that moment, he was willing to do anything to save his people.

    "We do not know the imposter''s intentions behind his stay in Meadel and revealing the truth to the King might turn out to be more dangerous than working in your favor," Thalia mumbled as she pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Have you thought about looking for the Prince yourself?"

    Thalia stopped walking all of a sudden and turned around, startling Zevan with her unexpected actions. He was almost about to bump into her.

    "Looking for Prince Jarett myself?"

    "Yes. There is a high chance that Prince Jarett knows something that would be beneficial to us and detrimental to the enemies and I am assuming it to be the reason behind the imposter taking over the Prince''s place. You will have to find him before the enemy does to save him as well as the others."

    Zevan''s eyes widened in cognizance and he stared at Thalia in awe.

    "Do not look at me that way, Zevan. I will pluck your eyes out and feed them to the wolves," Thalia threatened and Zevan averted his gaze immediately, not doubting her in the matter. She would do it for sure, savior or not.

    "But how am I going to start? I do not know where Prince Jarett is." Zevan pulled his hair in dismay as he thought about his next course of action. "Moreover, I cannot leave Meadel in danger and look for Prince Jarett all by myself."This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    "Zevan..." Thalia narrowed her eyes as she held his gaze. There was something strong and profound in the way she was looking at him that Zevan was compelled to go silent and wait for her to speak.

    "You are already in no less danger and if you do not intend to do what I suggest, I will not force you to. But do think about what I said and what other options you have to handle this matter." With that Thalia left him and sat on a rock beside the lake before she started feeding the fish.

    "You are right, Thalia. I do not have any other way out. But is it good to leave Meadel in danger?"

    "You can only trust the people to protect others while you are gone. But I doubt it will be of any help."

    "With how puissant the enemy is, I doubt my presence or absence will make it any different. If they want to attack Meadel, they can do it even when I am here." Zevan''s shoulder dropped and he took a seat beside Thalia on the ground.

    "You are smart," Thalia applauded, sarcasm evident in her tone which Zevan ignored.

    Silence engulfed for a few moments and other than the gurgles from the fish as Thalia fed them, there was no other sound in the vicinity.

    "Do you think they would have found this place as well since they are keeping an eye on Meadel?" Zevan enquired suddenly and he stared at Thalia with guilt.

    "I will not deny the possibility, Zevan and you do not have to look at me with guilt. Since they are watching Meadel, it is not impossible that they have discovered me and my hiding place as well." Thalia did not deny the fact. But she remained unperturbed by it, much to Zevan''s astonishment.

    "What are you going to do now, Thalia?"

    "What do you mean?" Thalia gave him a look, asking him to explain more before returning her attention to the fish.

    "Are you going to continue staying here?"

    "Probably not."

    "Then?"

    "That depends on what you are going to decide."

    "I do not understand." Zevan could not comprehend what Thalia was trying to say. Her words bounced over his head before he could grasp the meaning behind them.

    "Since the enemy''s target is not just Meadel but the entire world of Azuvar, I am in equal danger as well and I will not be spared in any place I hide." Thalia disclosed her thoughts as she stared at the lake in a daze. "It would be better if I prepare for the inevitable battle or find a way to end the enemy as quickly as possible. And what could be a better way than to search for Prince Jarett?"

    Zevan nodded in understanding and his heart settled on the matter instantly. He stood up immediately and looked at her seriously.

    "Thalia, in that case, would you mind accompanying me in looking for Prince Jarett?" Zevan was filled with courage and optimism. With Thalia, his fears were reduced and he was willing to face the danger if it could help save the world somehow.

    "Have you decided?"

    Zevan nodded without a pause and Thalia stood up at once.

    "Good. We will start in three days..."

    "But..."

    "And do not forget to keep a watch during the Soul Avenge Spell. You may find something that will aid us in the future."

    "Thalia..."

    "You may leave now." Thalia dismissed him mercilessly. "I will meet you here after three days. I have some work to finish before we leave."

    Zevan did not even have an opportunity to speak to her when he was pushed out of the place forcibly. By the time he realized what had happened, he was out of Thalia''s space and the lake had been covered by the thick jungle once again.

 14. The Lord of the Dark

    "What is it that you wanted to tell me, Zevan? What is so important that you called for a court meeting suddenly?" King Harold leaned forward on his throne and scrutinized Zevan who seemed visibly stressed. Although Zevan was his son''s right hand, he was also a powerful sorcerer. Otherwise, he would not have been Elion''s favorite disciple.

    "Is it about the Soul Avenge Spell? Are you worried about what would be happening tonight?" Harold could think of nothing else for Zevan to request a court meeting all of a sudden.

    "Yes and no, Your Majesty," Zevan replied honestly and glanced at his Master who had his head lowered as he pursed his lips.

    "What do you mean? What else has got your mind occupied, Zevan?"

    While Zevan stood facing his King, not once did he look at the imposter who held an unfathomable expression on his face while his eyes were filled with smiles.

    "Your Majesty, I had a dream yesterday night," Zevan started, carefully twisting the truth in such a way that no harm came in his path. He and his Master had already determined how to reveal the truth to everyone and he followed the steps conscientiously.

    "I dreamt about the person responsible for the massacre. It was as if he was trying to convey a message to me."

    Harold narrowed his eyes as he withheld his breath while he waited for Zevan to continue.

    "Your Majesty, the man told me that Meadel was just the beginning. He intends to destroy the entire world of Azuvar."

    Not just Harold, but all the other people in the court were horrified as well and murmurs erupted instantly. Nobody brushed off Zevan''s dream as a mere nightmare. They did not dare to. It was more or less a premonition, the unavoidable future.

    "Did you see the man''s face?"

    Zevan glanced at Zevan who pursed his lips in worry.

    "No, Your Majesty."

    "Is there anything else we must know about him?" Although King Harold asked calmly, Elion who was familiar with him discerned what his true state was. The King was crumbling from within and it would not be long before he lost it completely.

    "Yes, Your Majesty. The man is not alone. He has a lot of followers and with them, he will rebuild the world after destroying it."

    Elion glanced at the imposter who raised his brows at him before staring at Zevan who too was looking at him with hateful eyes.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    "Moreover, he has a vendetta against the world. Apparently, he and his followers suffered a lot and ended up being betrayed by us, I mean the people of Azuvar. We..."

    Harold stood up immediately and shook his head fervently in denial, startling not just Zevan but the imposter as well.

    "It cannot be!" Harold exclaimed as he tried to deny the possibility. He rushed down the stairs and held Zevan''s shoulders as he kept shaking his head.

    "Please tell me whatever I heard was my illusion. He cannot return. He cannot return." Harold kept shaking his head frantically and let go of Zevan before pacing back and forth.

    "Your Majesty, who are you speaking about?" Elion frowned and tried to recall who the King was referring to. But came short.

    "He should not return. We are all going to die if he returns. He must not return."

    Harold went hysterical as he continued to mumble to himself, appalling the crowd before him. They had never seen him lose his mind this way and every word of his put them in trepidation.

    "Your Majesty?"

    "Zevan, do you remember how your dream was? Did you see anything? Anything at all?"

    Elion frowned and tried to remember all that Zevan had told him. But he could not recall anything important. ''Why did His Majesty go berserk all of a sudden? Who is he speaking about?'' he wondered, his brows furrowing deeper in anxiousness.

    "No, Your Majesty. It was utterly dark. I could see nothing. But he did tell me that he loved the dark and..."

    Harold collapsed to the ground immediately and his body trembled.

    "Your Majesty." Zevan was the first to rush to him and he kneeled before him while Elion and the imposter joined him.

    "It is not possible. It cannot be. How did he come back to life?"

    "Your Majesty, who are you talking about?" Elion could still not grasp what was happening and kneeled on one knee beside the man whose face had lost all its color.

    "Elion..." King Harold held him as he stared at him with eyes filled with dread. "He is back. The Lord of the Dark is back. What do we do?"

    As soon as he spoke about the Lord of the Dark, Elion felt his mind shatter and he too lost all the energy in him. Staring blankly ahead, his gaze went to Zevan first who still was oblivious to who they were speaking about before moving back to the others behind him. While there were quite a few who did not know who the Lord of the Dark was, there were many who knew his story and everyone among them had the same expression as the King and Elion.

    "This is bad. This is really bad," Harold kept mumbling while Zevan glanced at the imposter who was smirking in triumph.

    All Zevan had in mind at that moment was to tear his limbs apart and feed his carcass to the wolves. But he did not dare make a move against him.

    The imposter was a lot more capable than most people in the courtroom and Zevan had an inkling that even the powers of all the people combined would not be able to subdue him.

    Just as Thalia had said, he too was curious as to why the imposter had even taken Prince Jarett''s place. Was it solely to capture the Prince or was there some other reason?

    Zevan felt miserable. Neither could he reveal the Crown Prince''s truth to anyone nor could he do anything to the imposter himself. Until he found the real Prince Jarett, he was helpless and could only curse the imposter to death.

    The imposter smiled evilly at Zevan while he continued to hold the King as though he was concerned about him.

    "I need to inform all the other kingdoms." King Harold stood up suddenly while sweat trickled down his cheeks. "We are in grave danger, Elion. We are all going to perish."

 15. Not one but many

    Zevan had a lot of questions, especially about the Lord of the Dark. What had happened in the past that all the people around him looked terrified? And who was this Lord of the Dark? Why did he want to destroy the world?

    But he withheld himself from asking anything. Other than his Master and King Harold, Zevan trusted no one and right now, the two men were occupied with other matters.

    "You have become powerful," he heard the imposter mutter beside him and Zevan turned around to face him.

    With his eyes narrowed, he glared at him hard, not hiding his abhorrence towards him. How he wished to kill him right away! The man was a menace and his Lord was even worse. They had made everyone''s life a living hell.

    "You do not have to look at me that way, Zevan," the imposter whispered. "We will soon belong to the same clan."

    Zevan furrowed his brows when he did not understand his implication.

    "You will soon become a follower of our Lord as well once we destroy the world," the imposter kindly explained and Zevan rolled his eyes in distaste.

    "In your dreams."

    The imposter chuckled all of a sudden and Zevan felt strange as he looked at the people around him.

    ''How is it that no one heard our conversation?'' he wondered.

    The imposter was speaking to him right in the presence of a crowd. Even though they were whispering, the sorcerers at least should have heard their conversation given their powers.

    "Are you wondering why the crowd did not react to listening to us?" The imposter stated all of a sudden as if reading his mind and Zevan felt his heart skip a beat.

    "I am using a masking skill, Zevan," The imposter revealed as if he was imparting knowledge. "Nobody can hear what we are speaking. Nobody." He smiled in mischief and Zevan felt like killing him right away.

    "I see that you have unleashed new powers recently." The imposter continued. "I can sense it from you. Our Lord will be pleased, Zevan. You will be a worthy addition."

    "I will never follow your Lord. Remember that." Zevan seethed and took a step towards him.

    "We will see, Zevan. We will see."

    "Your Lord will never get what he wants and I will make sure of that."The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    The imposter''s smile dropped and his face darkened. But it was all momentary. His smile returned on his lips the next instant and his eyes twinkled cunningly.

    "Well, it looks like things will soon turn interesting. I will see you around, Zevan." The imposter nodded and Zevan clenched his fists while his eyes threw daggers at the man who was now heading out of the courtroom.

    "Zevan." He heard a voice from behind and Zevan snapped out of his venomous thoughts. Composing himself, he maintained his expression before he turned to see who it was.

    "Minister Tyrin," Zevan greeted him and observed him making his way towards him.

    "May I have a word with you in private?" Tyrin questioned agitatedly and for a moment, Zevan wondered what had happened for him to behave this way.

    "Well, sure. Is something the matter, Minister? Why do you look so perturbed?"

    "I will tell you everything soon. First, shall we leave from here?"

    "Definitely."

    Zevan observed him for a moment with his eyes narrowed before he led him out of the throne room. Even though Tyrin held a higher position than him in the court, he was the Prince''s right-hand man and Elion''s trusted disciple. So, that made him hold higher regard in everyone''s eyes.

    So, Zevan led the way while Tyrin followed him. They did not stop until they were far away from the courtroom and from keen eyes and ears.

    "Yes, Minister Tyrin? What happened?"

    "Zevan, have you noticed anything amiss recently?"

    "Amiss?" Zevan''s brows knotted together and he tilted his head while he waited for him to clarify.

    "Yes." Tyrin looked around nervously and when he did not find anyone nearby, he leaned closer. "Have you noticed that some of the people you know are behaving unlike themselves anymore recently?"

    Zevan was taken aback by his words and he looked at him strangely. He looked at him suspiciously and tried to read him carefully.

    "What do you mean, Minister Tyrin?" he questioned immediately while a thought popped up in his mind. ''Did Minister Tyrin sense something to be wrong with the Prince?''

    Zevan''s eyes lit up the moment the thought entered his mind. If it was true, then there were high chances of others noticing it as well and they could handle the imposter together before he wrecked more havoc on their kingdom.

    "Zevan, I have recently noticed that some of the people, especially the sorcerers are behaving unlike themselves. Their attitudes changed all of a sudden and shockingly, it is not just one or two but quite a handful," Tyrin explained and Zevan''s eyes widened for a moment.

    "Change? As in what way, Minister Tyrin?" His hopes crashed. The man was not referring to Prince Jarett. Instead, it was about others and Zevan felt defeated at once. Nevertheless, he continued to entertain him.

    "Like they have become wicked all of a sudden. Their eyes hold nothing but evilness," Tyrin explained and Zevan gave him a look that he could not fathom.

    "It is as if they are not them anymore but imposters."

    Zevan felt the entire world spin at his words and finally understood what he was trying to convey. The truth hit him hard and he felt suffocated.

    Prince Jarett was not the only one. There were others as well who had been subdued or killed and their places were now being taken over by imposters. The truth was hard to digest but it was not impossible.

    "How many people?" Zevan questioned once he gained his composure back.

    "At least three."

    "Are you sure, Minister Tyrin?"

    "Definitely." Tyrin nodded before he froze suddenly. His forehead creased and he looked at Zevan dubiously before realization dawned upon him. "Who did you..."

    "I know about someone as well." Zevan nodded. Just when Tyrin was about to ask him more, he shushed him immediately.

    "Let us go somewhere else, Minister Tyrin. This place is not safe for us to have this conversation anymore."

 16. Summoning the Kings

    Meanwhile, King Harold hurried out of the throne room towards a secluded corridor with Elion right behind him. There was no one around them. The entire place was deserted, and the two men entered the room they had in mind with ease.

    It wasn''t that no one dared to enter the place. It was that no one could enter the place as they wished. The power the place held was enough to make them kneel the moment they even stepped into the corridor, let alone enter the room the two men were in. If they nevertheless forced themselves in, then what awaited them was nothing but death.

    Only the truly powerful ones could enter the room, and there were only a handful in the kingdom of Meadel who could enter the place and remain unscathed.

    While Elion stood by the door, Harold rushed to the pedestal towards the center as he summoned all the power within him. At first, there was no reaction. But soon, a white light shone over Harold, and the next instant the faces of the other eight kings in Azuvar appeared around him.

    "Why have you summoned us without prior notice, King Harold?" One of the kings, King Caius, questioned him, and Harold looked at the oldest king among them.

    "Please forgive me, King Caius. If not for the urgency of the situation, I would never have summoned you all on such short notice." Harold trembled as he thought about what he would be saying next and wondered how everyone would react when they heard him.

    "What is it that you wish to inform us?" King Caius gave him a curious look, and Harold swallowed in fright.

    "The Lord of the Dark is back." Harold waited for the other kings to react. But all he got in return was a stunned silence before laughter burst out in the room.

    "King Harold, are you playing tricks on us?" One of the kings, King Carlos, who had a tense relationship with Harold, spoke, and the others nodded in agreement. "The Lord of the Dark is gone forever. How can he come back?"

    "Please trust me. The Lord of the Dark is back. I am not playing any tricks here, nor am I lying to you." Harold tried to explain, but when he saw the other kings'' expressions, he understood that he had failed to convince them.

    "What evidence do you have to support your claims, King Harold?" King Darcy, the wisest of all, inquired, and everyone went silent as they waited for his reply.

    "You must have heard about the dreadful incident in Meadel."

    "Are you referring to the demise of your sorcerers?" King Carlos was quick to interrupt, and if not for the dire plight they were in and Harold''s rush to find a solution to his problem, he''d have rebuked him for sure. Carlos was a mannerless man, and Harold felt nothing but disdain in his presence.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    "Yes, I am."

    "Do you intend to say that it was all orchestrated by the Lord of the Dark?" Carlos smiled in disbelief, and Harold felt nothing but hatred towards the man who was making things difficult for him instead of helping him.

    "Yes. It was he who killed my people." Harold held his gaze on Carlos as he enunciated each word slowly.

    "What a joke!" Carlos chuckled, and Harold narrowed his gaze as he glared at him with hatred. He had never abhorred anyone as much as he did Carlos now.

    "Do you think we will believe your claims?" Carlos questioned, and Harold licked his lips as he ignored him and glanced at the other kings.

    "Please trust me when I say that the Lord of the Dark is back," he begged. He was desperate, and he needed their help to deal with the predicament he was in. He could never handle the situation himself. The Lord of the Dark was a formidable sorcerer and would defeat him in an instant.

    "Fine. For a moment, let us consider that you are telling the truth, King Harold." King Luca, the youngest among them, said, gaining everyone''s attention to him.

    "How did you conclude that it was the Lord of the Dark? Did you see him?"

    "No, I did not."

    "See, I told you he was playing tricks on us." Carlos raised his hands in anger, and Harold felt defeated.

    "Elion, tell them I am not lying to them. Tell them." Harold turned to Elion, who had not spoken a word since the kings had appeared.

    "King Harold, you do not have to bring Elion to help you. He is after all your trusted man. He will do as you say," King Osric, who was close friends with King Carlos, remarked, and Harold felt miserable.

    "King Harold, why did you feel that the mishap that fell on your kingdom was related to the Lord of the Dark? What made you think of him?" King Everard, the strongest one among them, asked all of a sudden, and Harold felt a boost of courage and hope in him.

    "King Everard, it was one of Elion''s disciples who dreamt about the Lord of the Dark," Harold revealed.

    "Dreamt, you say?" King Caius questioned with his eyes narrowed, and everyone scrutinized Harold. From their expressions alone, it was evident that they did not believe him, and Harold did not know how else to convince them.

    "Yes, King Caius. He dreamt about the Lord of the Dark, and... and..." Harold hesitated.

    "And?" King Luca probed.

    "And, according to him, this is just the beginning. It is not just Meadel the Lord of the Dark is aiming at, but the entirety of Azuvar. He wants to destroy the entire world."

    This time, everyone except King Darcy and King Everard burst out laughing, and Harold''s stomach dropped in worry.

    "You are an amusing man, King Harold." King Luca shook his head, and the others agreed.

    "Can you call your disciple here?" King Everard said all of a sudden, stunning everyone into silence. Even King Harold was astonished by his request, and he looked at him, puzzled.

    "Let me check if he is telling the truth or not."

    King Harold''s eyes widened in realization, and he recalled that King Everard had a gift for reading dreams. Moreover, he could even plant himself in the dream and watch it happen before him.

    His eyes lit up immediately, and he smiled widely as he darted a look of gratitude towards King Everard. But just when he was about to order Elion to summon Zevan, a thought entered his mind, and his smile vanished instantly.

    Seeing him hesitate, King Thalor, who had remained silent all along, spoke up. "What happened, King Harold? Is something the matter?"

    "I am afraid I cannot summon Zevan here." Harold felt defeated, and he did not know what to do.

    "Why, King Harold?" King Thalor quirked his brows, and Harold glanced at Elion, who held a similar expression as his.

    "Zevan is not powerful enough to enter the room. He will die the moment he takes a step in here."

 17. Impossible feat

    "King Harold, are you playing with us?" King Carlos did not hide his annoyance and burst out immediately, and Harold''s face blanched in fear as he looked at the other kings.

    Just like Carlos, they too were irked, and he realized that he had messed up big time. Harold didn''t know what to do, and he glanced at Elion for help, who looked at him thoughtfully.

    "Your Majesty, I think Zevan might be able to make it."

    "What?" His words stunned not just Harold but the other kings as well, and they looked at him as though they were staring at the devil himself.

    "Are you out of your mind, Elion?" Harold asked harshly. "How can Zevan enter this place? He is not powerful enough to enter the corridor, let alone take a step inside this room."

    "Your Majesty, we will never know until we try," Elion replied mysteriously, and King Harold tilted his head with his eyes narrowed.

    ''Elion, is there something you are hiding from me?'' he spoke to him alone, and Elion just smiled in return. That was all King Harold needed, and his eyes widened in shock.

    "Let me call him," Elion stated as he darted a glance around and looked at the other kings.

    "Elion, stop wasting our time." King Carlos stopped him before he could summon his beloved disciple. "We all know that nothing will come out of it. The Lord of the Dark is gone for good. There is no need for you to pin your kingdom''s mishap on him."

    "Yes, King Harold." King Osric followed immediately after, his words no different from King Carlos''s. "Look for the actual mastermind rather than wasting all our time."

    Elion ignored them as he looked for Zevan immediately. ''Zevan, where are you?''

    ''Master?'' His reply was instant, and Elion closed his eyes in relief.

    ''Come to the forbidden room right now,'' he ordered, allowing no room for objections.

    ''Master?''

    ''Right this moment.'' Elion stressed as he watched his King plead and request the other kings to trust him and help him.

    ''I will be there in a moment, Master.''

    ''Be careful on your way.'' Elion did not forget to warn him. He did not know how formidable his disciple was and if he was capable of bypassing the tremendous power the corridor had. All he hoped was for Zevan to be fine and safe.

    However, before he could even brace himself, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and Elion''s eyes rounded in shock.

    "Master, are you here?"

    Not just Elion, but all the kings heard him as well, and they went silent immediately.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    "He...he...is he really here?" King Harold was baffled and mortified when he saw Zevan standing right outside the door when Elion opened it.

    "Master, did you call me?" Zevan looked at his master obediently before he peeked inside curiously. This was the first time he was entering the forbidden room, and he could not help but be intrigued.

    Zevan was taken aback when he noticed the faces of people he did not recognize and even more so when he realized they were not physically present inside the room.

    ''What kind of magic is this? Can someone teach me?'' he wondered loud enough for his master to hear. But he did not receive any response from him.

    "Come inside, Zevan." Elion ignored his thoughts as he stepped aside to allow Zevan to enter the room, and he took slow, hesitating steps.

    Zevan came to a complete standstill when he sensed the tension in the air, and he glanced at his Master, seeking help from him silently.

    "Zevan, are you injured? Did something happen when you were on your way here?" Elion examined his beloved disciple and noticed that he seemed unharmed.

    "I am fine, Master. Nothing happened to me," Zevan answered. He was clueless as to what was happening and why his Master looked so concerned.

    "Zevan, come here," King Harold ordered, and Zevan had no choice but to follow him. He did not stop until he was standing beside Harold on the pedestal, and all the kings went bonkers instantly.

    "How is it possible?" they whispered to themselves as they stared at Zevan in shock.

    Zevan had no idea what had happened and why everyone was reacting as if he had looted their kingdoms.

    ''Can someone explain to me what is happening? Why am I being stared at as if I am a monkey?'' he screamed in his mind but did not dare voice out his thoughts. He did not even allow his Master to listen to his thoughts lest he irked him. The tension in the air was palpable, and he did not wish to agitate anyone at such a critical time.

    Zevan did not know that the pedestal he was standing on was not something any normal sorcerer could even step on. It was only meant for the ruler of the kingdom. Anybody else who stood on it would be burned to flames instantly, powerful or not.

    Harold was too stunned to speak as well, and he studied Zevan as though he were staring at a monster. ''How was it possible? How was it even possible? Was Zevan really that powerful?'' he wondered and glanced at Elion who held a pained expression on his face.

    "King Harold, what is happening here?" King Everard was the first to break the silence, and he scrutinized Zevan, who held a blank expression on his face.

    "I have no idea myself," Harold mumbled as he continued to stare at Zevan, making him self-conscious.

    "I do not sense anything powerful about him. How is he able to enter the room?" Carlos questioned, and the others looked at Zevan skeptically.

    "Is he masking his powers?" King Samael, who had not spoken a word since the meeting had started, spoke all of a sudden.

    "No, he is not." King Caius shook his head. "He is not using any powers at this moment."

    "Then, how is he able to stand here in this room?" Osric could not bring himself to accept that a mere lad was more capable than him. So, he glared hard at him, and Zevan looked back at him with eyes that said, ''I am powerful. What can you do about it? Bite me if you can.''

    "How are you doing this, child?" King Everard ignored the others and questioned Zevan directly.

    "I do not know what you are referring to, Your Majesty." Zevan gave him a helpless look, and Everard let out a smile that clearly said he had seen through his actions. But he did not expose him.

    "Fine. We will talk about this later. Follow my instructions next. I will need to access your mind."

    Zevan was stunned, and he peeked at his Master instantly. When he received his nod, he gave up protesting and begrudgingly did as he was told even though he was still in the dark. ''What is happening here? Can someone explain it to me?''

    "Zevan, do as you are told," Elion commanded when he sensed his restlessness, and instantly, Zevan''s mind calmed down.

    "Close your eyes and relax your mind," Everard ordered, darting an appreciative nod at Elion, and Zevan followed his instructions immediately.

    Time passed, and no one said a word. Everyone was waiting for the strongest man to give his verdict.

 18. Who believed and who didnt?

    Zevan did not know what was happening to him. One moment, he was perfectly fine and alone. But the next instant, he felt his mind being intruded by someone. The force was so tremendous that he could not stop it at all.

    His thoughts became easily accessible to the intruder. All his current and past thoughts, his dreams, and everything he had experienced in life, good or bad, were available for the intruder to read, and Zevan could do nothing about it. He felt helpless and irked.

    Without any warning, he had been attacked, and his thoughts were invaded, and that was not something he was happy about. He did not forget to express his displeasure to the intruder as well, showing him how much he despised the loathful act.

    King Everard was a just man, and he felt terrible for invading Zevan''s thoughts without any caution. So, he did not forget to express his apology as he continued to read his mind.

    Although his apology appeased Zevan a little, he was still peeved, and he did not hide his thoughts from the man at all, making Everard smile helplessly.

    ''You''re one vengeful man,'' he commented, and Zevan did not disagree. After all, his privacy had been breached without his knowledge, so he could not help but be vexed.

    After a prolonged time of silence, Zevan finally felt his mind clearing, and the strong presence vanished. He relaxed immediately and opened his eyes as he stared at the king who had invaded his mind. From his expression, Zevan could not make out anything. But he did not miss the solemnity in his eyes.

    "What is your name?" Everard questioned, and Zevan watched him for a moment or two before he replied to him.

    "Zevan, did you really dream about the Lord of the Dark?"

    "Did you not invade my thoughts just a moment ago, Your Majesty? Did you not find out yourself?" Zevan questioned back, his annoyance getting the best of him.

    "Zevan," Elion warned immediately, and Zevan swallowed his grievances. But his eyes continued to blame the man nevertheless.

    "In that case, why am I not able to access this dream of yours?"

    "I do not know, Your Majesty. Maybe you are not powerful enough," Zevan shrugged, as though it was no big deal, not noticing how the other kings'' expressions were turning dark.

    However, King Everard looked at him in amusement and shook his head faintly.

    "Maybe. But I am more powerful than you. So, I should have been able to access your dreams. Tell me, Zevan. Are you lying to us about the Lord of the Dark?"

    That was all it took for the other kings to not stay silent anymore.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    "King Harold, is this how you treat us? Just to seek our help, you are asking your men to lie to us? How disgusting!" Carlos was the first to attack, and Osric mimicked him immediately.

    "King Harold, are you not ashamed to do such a despicable deed? Who were you trying to deceive by putting up such an act?"

    Now, Zevan was utterly offended, and his brows contorted into a frown. Just because they were unable to find anything in his mind, they were accusing him of lying. How convenient!

    "And what would I get from lying to you, Your Majesty?" Zevan stared right at the man who had invaded his mind. His unwavering eyes were filled with anger and confidence, the two emotions that Everard had least expected to see in him at this moment.

    "You should tell us, kid," Osric interrupted him. "Tell us who told you to lie to us. We promise we will not harm you."

    "Your Majesty, I am not lying. Lord of the Dark is back, and it is not just Meadel he is aiming at but the entirety of Azuvar," Zevan stated with such conviction that the room went silent immediately.

    "King Harold, your men are equally shameless and deceiving as you," Luca could not hold it in anymore, and he flared up instantly. "Not only is he disrespectful, he is also lying blatantly. I have never met such disgusting people in my life."

    "Your Majesty, mind your word. You cannot insult my king," Zevan threatened, and Luca let out a laugh filled with anger.

    "I am done, King Harold. Congratulations, you have succeeded in offending me. Do not look for any help from me in the future. I will not help you in anything," Luca glared at Zevan before he vanished from the room, much to everyone''s disbelief.

    "Zevan, what did you do?" King Harold cried as he watched the events unfold before him anxiously. He had been unable to stop him. The lad''s mouth was quicker than he could comprehend, and in no time, he had affronted most kings in the room.

    "Your Majesty, nobody gets to insult you and get away with it," Zevan remarked, and this bold statement of his made a few kings in the room look at him in a new regard.

    "Good, good, King Harold. Very good. What a conniving man you are!" Carlos seethed. "You summoned us here, and now, you are insulting us. I cannot tolerate this humiliation anymore. I am done entertaining this nonsense."

    Carlos vanished from the room as well, and Osric followed suit after venting out his anger. One by one, the kings disappeared from the room until just three of them remained.

    King Harold stared at the three hopefully. Even though the departure of the other kings bothered him, he was glad that at least three of them remained.

    "King Harold, you are a good friend of mine. Even though I am skeptical about your claims, I will help you in the matter. After all, your kingdom is in danger irrespective of who the mastermind is," Samael said when his gaze met his friend''s hopeful eyes.

    Harold was too overwhelmed with joy to express his gratitude. He just conveyed his message through his eyes to his friend who nodded at him with a faint smile.

    "King Darcy?"

    "King Harold, something in me tells me that if I do not support you today and leave the room like everyone else, I am going to regret it in the future," Darcy asserted, and Harold had never been so relieved.

    "I am choosing to trust my instincts more than your words. I hope you are not lying to me."

    "I promise, Your Majesty. We are not lying," Zevan answered instead of his king, and Darcy studied him for a moment before he nodded at him.

    "King Thalor?"

    "King Harold, something tells me that Zevan is not lying to us. I do not know why King Everard could not see anything related to the Lord of the Dark in Zevan''s mind, but I feel Zevan is not lying to us. He would get nothing by lying to us."

    Darcy nodded in agreement, showing them that it was one of the other reasons for him to stay back, and Harold sighed in relief. Even if he did not receive support from all the kings of Azuvar, at least he had the support of three of them, and that put his mind at ease.

 19. King Samaels question

    "King Harold, have you planned anything or are you yet to come up with something?" Darcy asked once everyone had spoken their mind.

    "King Darcy, I am yet to think of something. It was only today that I discovered the Lord of the Dark was back."

    "How did you intend to handle your predicament before?"

    "King Darcy, we were to perform Soul Avenging Spell."

    "To find out who killed your people?"

    King Harold nodded.

    "Do you wish to go ahead with it now?"

    "I do." King Harold stated with conviction.

    "Why though? Do you not already know who killed your people?" King Samael interjected.

    "I do, King Samael. But I still want to confirm it." King Harold darted a glance that said he trusted him at Zevan and it was for some other reason that he needed the confirmation.

    "Moreover, using the Soul Avenge Spell, I can learn how my men died."

    Darcy pursed his lips as he thought of what the other kings had said before leaving the meeting.

    "Do you have the men needed to perform the spell?"

    Harold was not surprised that King Darcy was asking him about it. After all, casting the spell was not easy and there was a high chance of one losing their lives if they were not powerful enough.

    "There are a few men who know how to cast the spell. But I am uncertain how many are willing to proceed with it." Harold felt exhausted and he seemed withered all of a sudden.

    "I will join you," Darcy stated, and not just Harold, even Elion and Zevan were surprised by his unforeseen help.

    The Kings were powerful people. Even if one joined them, the chances of the spell being a success were higher.

    "What time will you be casting the spell, King Harold?" Samael asked, his eyes not averting from Zevan. He could not help but be intrigued by the lad who had shown exceptional confidence and abilities in front of some of the mightiest people in the world.

    "At night, just after the darkness falls, King Samael," Harold replied.

    "I will join you too," Samael added and Harold felt a boost in his morale.

    With two kings joining him, he had faith that they would succeed in casting the spell.

    "Consider me as well. I will join you before sunset," Thalor too agreed and Harold could not stop smiling in relief.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    "We will see you before sunset, King Harold. Until then," King Darcy nodded and was the first to leave and Thalor followed suit.

    However, Samael remained still as he continued to examine Zevan.

    "Is something the matter, King Samael?" Harold was especially courteous. Not only was Samael his good friend, but he had even trusted him and offered his aid when he was in despair. He could not help but hold him on a high pedestal. The man was a true friend.

    "What did you say your name was, lad?" Samael did not reply to Harold. Instead, he focused on Zevan who was facing him boldly. Not once did his eyes waver as he stared back at him and Samael was impressed by his courage and confidence.

    "Zevan, Your Majesty."

    Samael did not know why he was keen on learning more about the young man before him. Although he did not sense any formidable aura from him, it was already beyond his expectations for Zevan to stand on the same pedestal as Harold without combusting into flames.

    "Zevan, I have just one question to ask you. I hope you will answer me honestly."

    "Yes, Your Majesty. Please ask away."

    "Would you mind revealing what happened when you met the Lord of the Dark?"

    "Your Majesty?" Zevan''s heart skipped a beat and he looked at the man in alarm.

    "Did you feel anything in his presence?" Samael ignored his cautious gaze and asked him another question.

    Zevan did not know what King Samael was getting at and he hesitated. Should he come clean before everyone or should he continue with what he had told everyone? He was in dilemma, but he did not dare turn towards his master, seeking his help.

    Calming his agitated nerves, Zevan stuck to what he had told everyone. Anyway, there was not much difference between what he had told everyone and the truth.

    "Your Majesty, it was utterly dark and cold and I could not use any powers. I was rendered immobile and everything except my senses was paralyzed in his presence," Zevan said in all honesty.

    "I see." Samael''s expression turned grave and he narrowed his eyes as he gave Harold a look.

    "I trust you. The man you met is the Lord of the Dark. King Harold, I will be at Meadel before sunset."

    "Thank you, King Samael."

    With a nod, Samael too vanished from the room and the intense, powerful aura in the room vanished with him.

    Harold sighed and Zevan looked at his master blankly.

    ''What had happened just now? Why did King Samael ask such a strange question?'' Zevan wondered as he darted his gaze back and forth between two men.

    Harold did not clarify or justify his friend''s actions. Instead, he focused on other matters at hand, especially Zevan.

    "Zevan, how were you able to come here?" Harold questioned curiously and Zevan licked his nervously, not knowing how to answer.

    How was he supposed to say he was a lot more formidable than the world knew him to be? Should he say it? Or not?

    This time, Zevan did not shy away from looking at his master and the man jumped to his rescue right away.

    "Your Majesty, we do not know what happened and how Zevan was able to withstand the suppression, but he was able to," Elion said everything in one breath.

    "We? Did you know about it?" Harold narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Elion.

    "No, Your Majesty. I did not know. It was a mere inkling. Do you remember a few days back when Zevan had fainted? He was lying just at the entrance of the corridor?" Elion asked carefully, observing his king''s expressions keenly.

    Harold frowned. He did recall the incident where Zevan had actually fainted or something of the sort. But he was uncertain if he had fainted near the corridor or somewhere else.

    "I presume Zevan was able to enter the corridor from that day onward," Elion said. It was true that Zevan had fainted. But it was for a completely different reason that only Zevan and he knew.

    "I see. Why did you not tell me?"

    "Your Majesty, Zevan never entered the corridor after that incident. So, we were uncertain if he could do it or not."

    Zevan did not speak a word and watched his master handle King Harold for him. He only sighed in relief when the king was convinced at the end.

    "Elion, Zevan, prepare for the Soul Avenge Spell. Let us hope we do not lose any more people."

 20. Imposters promise

    King Harold could only assemble two other people, excluding Elion, Jarett, and himself. Out of the twenty-one people capable of casting the Soul Avenge Spell, only five people had gathered at the place where the dead were sent to reincarnate just some time ago.

    Zevan''s lips thinned into a line as he looked on in worry. He glanced at the imposter, who seemed to be lost in his thoughts.

    ''I do not think the imposter is here to help us. He must be here to sabotage the spell. We cannot allow him to participate. We definitely cannot.'' Zevan conveyed his thoughts to his Master, who was preparing for the spell.

    As soon as Elion heard Zevan''s caution, he stopped his work and looked up to stare at the imposter. His expression turned unsightly while his lips twisted in anger.

    ''Let me speak to His Majesty. Hopefully, we can prohibit the imposter from participating,'' he conveyed back and disappeared from the place.

    Zevan did not lower his guard. Keeping an eye on the imposter, he started to analyze their current situation. ''We are four, and if I include King Samael, King Darcy, and King Thalor, we are seven. We are not enough.''

    Zevan''s heart dropped when he realized they were short on powerful people. Although the Soul Avenge Spell could be cast with seven people, it would require a lot of mana. Seven people were just not enough.

    But they did not have any choice either. Could they force the remaining sixteen people? No, they could not. After all, who would be willing to put their lives at risk? Moreover, it was uncertain if the spell would be a success. There was a higher chance of lives being lost than the spell being a success.

    Zevan huffed in dismay and gnashed his teeth. His expression turned dark as he glared at the man occupying Prince Jarett''s place.

    As if sensing a gaze on him, the imposter snapped out of his thoughts and looked around. Instantly, he found Zevan looking at him as if he wanted to kill him.

    When Zevan''s eyes met the imposter''s, he narrowed his gaze as if he wanted to burn him alive.

    If only he could do it.

    Zevan wanted to burn him alive, watch him wither, and scream in pain while he avenged his people. Alas, it was not the time yet.

    The imposter''s expression turned evil, and a smirk tugged at his lips. It was as if he were challenging Zevan. He was silently provoking him, and Zevan had to use a lot of willpower not to succumb to his anger and explode. Otherwise, it would do him no good.

    To distract himself, Zevan looked at the sky. The sun was moving towards the horizon slowly. They had less than an hour for the sun to set and night to fall.

    As if foreshadowing evil, the birds had vanished from the sky. The vacant sky was as deserted as his heart, and Zevan only felt terrible as time passed.

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    If only he knew how to cast the Soul Avenge Spell...

    Zevan was upset with himself for being useless. When his kingdom and people needed him, he was of no help. What was the use of him being so powerful when he could do nothing in time of need?

    Zevan''s thoughts were complicated, and he felt miserable. But that did not stop him from having hope. Although the chances were slim, he sincerely wished for the spell to be a success.

    "Please, Your Majesty. Please think about it."

    Zevan heard his Master''s voice and noticed him and King Harold approaching them with King Dracy, King Samael, and King Thalor in the front.

    "Elion, we are already short of people. If Prince Jarett leaves us as well, we are bound to fail tonight." Harold was not convinced, and he rejected Elion''s suggestion right away.

    "What happened, Father? I hope everything is good," The imposter questioned, his expression sincere and filled with concern.

    "It is not significant, Jarett. Do not worry," Harold assured him.

    On seeing his Master''s desperate and defeated expression, Zevan understood that he had failed to persuade His Majesty. At his wit''s end, he approached King Harold and stopped him, forcing the other kings to halt as well.

    "Your Majesty, I hope you will reconsider Prince Jarett''s involvement this time," Zevan spoke brazenly, disregarding that he might offend his king or even the imposter. "Pardon me for my impudence, but we need someone to rule the kingdom if the spell fails."

    King Harold''s expression changed drastically, and he stared at Zevan as if he were a dead man. However, he was convinced by him to some extent and thought about it.

    But before he could speak, the imposter beat him to it.

    "Father, let me participate in the spell. I have an inkling that it will be a success. With more people, the success rate will increase as well." Jarett spoke with such confidence that it seemed they had already succeeded in casting the spell.

    "I will not be a hindrance. I promise," Jarett added, and it seemed his words were directed more at Zevan than King Harold.

    King Darcy, King Samael, and King Thalor scrutinized Zevan curiously. He had piqued their interest, and they could not help but want to discover more about him. There was something about him that intrigued them.

    The three men did not interrupt, allowing King Harold to handle the situation. Although Zevan''s suggestion was worthy of consideration, the prince''s confidence made them waver, rendering them incapable of deciding.

    Zevan''s brows knotted into a frown, and he peeked at the imposter, who did not show any expression. He remained impassive yet confident, and eventually, King Harold was lured by his bold words.

    "Zevan, I know you have good interests at heart. But this matter is important. Please do not intervene," he commanded and moved away.

    Zevan glanced at his Master, who shook his head dejectedly. Having no choice, he moved away and stood far away from the place as he joined the spectators while his hawk-like gaze was fixed on Jarett.

    The seven people got to work immediately and picked up the wooden sticks. Preparing themselves, they started drawing a heptagram on the ground as they injected their mana into it.

    The sky had already turned dark, and the stars adorned the night. The sun was nowhere in sight. The time was perfect.

    Zevan held his breath as he watched the seven people draw the heptagram. Once they were done, each took one of the points. Closing their eyes, they lifted their arms above their heads and started muttering the chant in their minds.

    Next, they pulled out a dagger and sliced their palm, allowing their blood to fall on the ground. The moment their blood touched the heptagram, it was set ablaze.

    Zevan watched in awe as the fire ran through the markings before becoming one. Even though it was a dire circumstance, he could not stop marveling at the scene before him. It was his first time watching the Soul Avenge Spell, and his palms kept trembling.

    However, the situation turned deadly when one of the sorcerers, Minister Chauncey, staggered in his spot before he spat out a mouthful of blood.

 21. Suffer a setback

    Zevan stepped forward when he noticed one of the sorcerers, Minister Chauncey coughing out a mouthful of blood. He clenched his palms until his nails dug into the flesh, wishing for him to hold on until the end.

    Alas, his wishes were unheard. It was just the beginning. More problems started to arise soon after.

    When Minister Chauncey spat a mouthful of blood, everyone performing the spell felt a break in the link. The collective and individual energies were weakening, and if this continued, nobody would escape from being harmed, death even.

    Elion gritted his teeth as he held on, pushing out everything he had. His energy was dwindling rapidly and he felt a strong metallic taste assaulting his tongue. Swallowing his blood forceful, he tried to concentrate with all his might.

    However, the situation only went haywire when the second sorcerer, Minister Barnaby collapsed suddenly. The man did not even cough out blood. Instead, his eyes rolled back in his sockets before he stopped breathing entirely.

    With him, the link was completely broken and one by one, everyone started to suffer a setback. Even the fake Jarett was not spared.

    Zevan felt a heavy weight pressing down upon his chest when he saw the dead man. He wanted to intervene badly and stop the spell. However, it was not a wise thought.

    Interrupting the spell now would lead to serious consequences and the ones to suffer the setback would be the remaining six people who were barely holding on.

    Zevan did not care about the imposter. He even wished it was he who had died instead of Minister Barnaby. They would then have one less problem to handle.

    Zevan wanted to ask his Master if there was anything he could do, anything at all. But he did not dare disturb and break his concentration.

    Distressed, Zevan was just short of losing his mind when he heard someone in the crowd say, "They are all losing their energy. If this continues, they will all die."

    Another person then replied, "Unless someone with a higher level of mana helps them, it will be difficult for them to succeed."

    An idea struck Zevan''s mind and he stared at his Master whose face was as white as snow. Even from where he was, he saw droplets of sweat trickling down his cheeks. It would not be long before he too collapsed.

    Zevan did not know if his idea would work or not. But there was no harm in trying. After all, they were already at the sharp end of the sword.

    Sucking a deep breath, he approached the heptagram, startling everyone in the crowd.

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    "Zevan, come back," one of the men shouted.

    But he gave a deaf ear to his words.

    "Zevan, what do you think you are doing? Do you want to die? Come back," another ordered.

    Once again, he did not listen to them.

    "Zevan, do not be foolish. Do not go," a familiar voice exhorted.

    But Zevan failed to recognize who it was. His attention was on his Master who had failed to swallow his blood the second time. A trail of crimson ran down his chin while he suppressed the discomfort as much as possible.

    Disregarding the crowd''s cautions, Zevan picked up his speed and stood beside Minister Barnaby''s now lifeless body. Pulling out his dagger, he sliced his palm and allowed his blood to fall onto the heptagram.

    Closing his eyes, he focused on his mana and directed his internal energy, contributing to the spell as much as possible.

    At first, nothing happened. There was no reaction. With every passing moment, Zevan felt his heart drop and his hopes crash.

    Was this the end? Did they have no other choice? Was everyone going to die?

    Zevan was just about to give up when he felt of strong sensation of his energy being sucked out of him. The feeling was so intense that he felt his chest constrict.

    The crowd, which was previously lamenting Zevan''s reckless actions and scolding him for being foolish, held their breaths as soon as they saw the dwindling fire in the heptagram burn with vigor once again.

    What was that? How was that possible?

    Their eyes rounded and jaws dropped as they stared at Zevan in wonder.

    Unbeknownst to what had happened, Elion frowned deeply when he felt a sudden influx of strong spiritual energy. The link that had broken was reconnected and the pressure on the others was reduced drastically.

    Not just Elion, even King Harold, King Thalor, King Darcy, and Minister Chauncey who was barely holding on sensed something to be not right. However, they did not budge and continued with the spell.

    The imposter was the only one who did not show any reaction. However, that did not mean he was oblivious to everything happening. Even with his eyes closed, he had seen everything that was happening. He was impressed and admired Zevan even more. Zevan was stronger than he had assumed.

    ''If only he joins us, Lord would be delighted,'' he thought excitedly.

    He did not remain excited for long. His focus drifted back to the spell. After all, just like the others, he too wanted the Soul Avenge Spell to be a success. It was only that his reasons were different.

    With Zevan contributing to the spell, it became easier somehow. Despite being horrified by Zevan''s abilities, the crowd''s confidence was reignited as he silently cheered for everyone involved in the spell.

    As moments passed, the fire continued to rage higher and higher until the flames engulfed the seven people. The crowd could not see them. The temperature soared and a strong suppression filled the place, making it increasingly difficult for people to breathe.

    The weaker ones fainted while the stronger ones barely held on. It was as if the spell wanted to claim the lives of not just the seven people but the crowd as well.

    But all of it was momentary. The feeling of oppression vanished and the crowd sighed in relief before they started tending to the unconscious ones.

    The fire started to diminish slowly until it completely died. The high temperature plunged suddenly and it became bone-chilling cold. Strong winds started blowing, making everyone''s teeth clatter.

    Even though it was biting cold, the crowd was awestruck as they stared at the seven people in the heptagram. Their gazes were filled with fear, reverence, surprise, and most of all, delight.

    The Soul Avenge Spell had been a success.