Shattered Kingdom

A bitter chill hung over the Spirit Kingdom, the harsh breeze from the south offering no respite. Under the oppressive grey sky, two cloaked figures made their way through the slum areas of the central town. The taller, broad-shouldered, older Spirit shielded the younger one from the glowing eyes that peered from dark alleyways. 

Their path was a gauntlet of the obnoxious behaviour that plagued the town's depths.

The younger Spirit, Prince Makai, kept his gaze on the ground, his dark emerald eyes avoiding any contact with the onlookers. He ignored their drunken taunts, his pace quickening at a whispered command from his companion, Leo.

"Brisk walk, Prince," Leo's deep voice murmured. Makai nodded, his focus unwavering.

Within ten minutes, they reached the edge of town, where an abandoned forest concealed a secret portal known only to the Spirit Royalty. This hidden escape route offered a swift passage to the Human World, a necessity when time was of the essence.

"Remind me again," Makai began, "Why this elaborate charade? Wouldn't a simple portal be faster?"

Leo chuckled. "Her Majesty, the Queen, has her watchful eyes on you, Prince. Those 'bodyguards' she's assigned make it difficult to slip away unnoticed. We must maintain the illusion of a routine inspection."

"And this doesn't raise her suspicions?" Makai arched an eyebrow.

"Not in the slightest," Leo assured him. "To the Queen, this is just your Princely duty. However, it gives us the opportunity to investigate her motives in the Human World. Are you prepared for what we might find, Your Highness?"

"Don't underestimate me, Leo," Makai retorted with a faint grin. "I'm ready for anything. Though I must admit, you're quite the sly one."

Leo returned the grin. "After you, Your Highness."

Makai pressed a hidden button, and a red light turned blue as the portal activated. They stepped through, leaving the Spirit Kingdom behind. When they emerged, they found themselves in the familiar City of Eden. Makai's astonishment at the changes over the decades brought a smile to Leo's face. While the city had evolved, its essence remained the same.

Makai, however, soon returned to his usual stoicism. He led the way through the empty streets, his feet carrying him for two hours until he reached a solitary bench in a deserted park. He fell, his lifeless eyes fixed on the ground.

His mission to retrieve his estranged sister and restore his wounded pride was at the forefront of his mind, but buried memories of Eden tugged at his thoughts.

"The sunrise approaches, Your Highness," Leo gently reminded him. He understood the turmoil in the young Prince's heart. This city held bittersweet memories, the last remnants of a happy family before betrayal and loss had shattered their lives.

Makai watched the sun ascend, the memories flooding back: joyful laughter echoing through the castle halls, his sister's infectious optimism, the warmth of their father's love... and the dark cloud of the prophecy that had forever altered their destinies.

THE news of King Ferid's impending marriage to Lady Reza, a half-breed Spirit from the East, had electrified the Spirit Kingdom. It had been years since the tragic death of the late Queen during childbirth, leaving the young king a widower and the Kingdom without a mother for their treasured Princess Mika and her twin brother, the ill-fated Prince Makai.

The Kingdom had rejoiced at the prospect of their beloved king finding happiness once more. Preparations for a grand wedding had commenced, filling the castle with a flurry of activity.

One morning, tiny feet echoed through the castle's halls. Mika, a whirlwind of energy at six, raced to the kitchen's back door, eager to reach the Royal Manor behind the castle. She knew she'd find her favourite person there, her twin brother, Makai. She couldn't wait to share the fantastic news she'd heard from their nanny.

In the manor's dimly lit library, Makai sat immersed in a thick book, oblivious to the world around him. The light tapping on the door grew more insistent.

"Makai, open up! I know you're in there!"

Makai sighed, reluctantly setting aside his book and opening the door. Mika immediately launched into his arms, her infectious laughter filling the hallway. 

"Alright, alright, that's enough, Mika!" Makai chuckled, gently prying his sister off him.

She skipped into the library, her usual chatter replaced by a sly grin.

Makai raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Are you excited?"

"About?"

"About the upcoming wedding, silly!"

Makai's shoulders tensed. Mika noticed the shift in his demeanour. "Makai, be honest. Are you against Father's engagement?"

"No," Makai sighed, his eyes drifting to a portrait of their late mother whom they'd never met; a female Spirit with a sweet smile, a beautiful yellow gown and a small crown on her head. She had long scarlet hair and light emerald eyes. "Father had been working hard all these years to protect us. He deserves some happiness as well. Someone who can comfort and love and always be there for him. But…"

"But?"

"I can't shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen."

Mika's hand rested on his shoulder. "I've felt it too. But I trust Father. And I think Mother would be happy for him. We should be too."

Makai envied his sister's optimism. As the future Queen, she had a clear path ahead of her. But the prophecy surrounding him, a dark cloud over his future, cast a shadow on his heart. He quickly pushed aside these thoughts, reminding himself of his father and sister's love. Before doubt could creep back in, he flicked Mika on the forehead and bolted towards the door.

"Hey!" she cried, chasing after him. "That hurt, Makai!"

"It's your fault for not dodging it, slowpoke!" he called back, his laughter echoing through the halls. "Or else we'll be late for dinner!"

King Ferid cherished his family above all. Though duty had forced him to live apart from his children, he insisted on sharing meals with them at the manor, accompanied by his trusted bodyguard and friend, Leo. One evening, Ferid was unusually quiet during dinner. Leo noticed the king's unease with his silver hair and easy smile.

"Your Majesty," Leo inquired, a hint of concern in his voice, "you seem preoccupied. Is everything alright?"

The twins' eyes darted between their father and Leo, worry etched on their faces. Ferid met Leo's gaze with a faint smile. "Children, I want to assure you again that my upcoming marriage won't change anything between us. We'll continue to share meals, won't we, Uncle Leo?"

Leo winked at the twins. "Only if the prince and princess desire my company."

"Yes, please!" they chorused, their worries momentarily forgotten.

"Well, you heard them loud and clear!" Ferid chuckled.

Leo smiled warmly at the twins. "Then, I shall continue dining with the little ones, just as they've requested."

The conversation shifted to the wedding, and the twins' excitement contrasted with the underlying tension that lingered in the air.

THEIR first meeting with Lady Reza had been pleasant enough. She had been kind and attentive and had treated Makai with the same warmth as Mika, a stark contrast to the cold reception he often received from others due to the prophecy. Makai dared to hope Reza could be the mother figure they both longed for.

The wedding day arrived, a grand affair filled with celebration. The twins were happy for their father, and Makai was relieved that the prophecy hadn't overshadowed the joyous occasion. However, as the days turned into weeks, subtle changes began to appear in Reza's behaviour. Her kindness seemed to fade, replaced by a coldness that sent shivers down Makai's spine.

A week before the twins' seventh birthday, Makai's unease grew as grand preparations were underway for their celebration. The disparity in gifts between him and Mika, the lavish attention showered upon the princess while he had received only a few tokens from those closest to him, fueled a growing sense of resentment.

One morning, as the twins sat at the breakfast table with Reza, Mika, the optimist, eagerly asked, "Reza, may we please go to the town after breakfast?"

Reza looked down her nose at the princess, her eyes cold and distant. "Why would you want to mingle with the riffraff in town? You're a princess, Mika. You should be associating with those of your own stature."

Mika's excitement deflated. "But I want to visit the kind lady at the bakery. She always gives us free treats..."

Reza slammed her spoon on the table, her voice dripping with disdain. "A princess does not fraternise with the lower classes. Your father has told me the numerous times you had sneaked out of the social events that were meant for you just so that you could mingle with those street children who are beneath you. It's utterly undignified!"

Mika's eyes welled with tears, and she clung to Makai's sleeve under the table. Makai, his protective instincts flaring, glared at Reza. He'd never seen this side of her before.

With a huff of annoyance, Reza rose from her seat.

"You're a spoiled brat, Mika," she muttered as she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Makai comforted his sister as best he could, hoping Reza's harshness was just a temporary lapse in judgement. But deep down, a seed of doubt had been planted.

THE day of their seventh birthday had arrived. While Mika was swept up in the excitement of the castle's festivities, Makai remained in the shadows, his unease growing with each passing moment. The parade through town had been a stark reminder of his isolation. He had marched at the back of the procession, surrounded by guards, away from his father and sister.

Makai knew his father opposed this arrangement, but the council insisted on it for everyone's safety. The prophecy had painted Makai as a potential threat, and they couldn't risk anything happening to the king or princess.

As the evening had worn on, Makai had been alone in a corner of the grand ballroom, surrounded by his ever-present guards. The sound of laughter and music had reached him, but he had felt isolated, a stranger in his home.

Leo had approached, his warm smile fading as he noticed a damp spot on Makai's tunic. "What happened, Your Highness?"

Makai had looked away, shame washing over him. "It was an accident," he had mumbled. "Someone spilled their drink on me."

"Let's get you cleaned up, yes?" Offering his hand, Leo had led him away from the public, with trails of the Prince's knights followed behind them.

Leo's brow furrowed. He had known Makai was often the target of scorn and ridicule from the nobles who believed the prophecy. He led the young Prince away to change, his mind racing with suspicion.

"What exactly had happened to you, Your Highness? Who has done this to you?" Leo had asked, waiting for Prince to change in the dressing room of his private chamber. The rest of the Knights had been ordered to stand outside the chamber.

"I told you, it was just an accident," Makai began undoing his shirt and stripping. Leo reached for the new, clean shirt and handed it to the Prince. "A Nobleman was laughing so hard when I happened to pass by. One of the guards accidentally knocked his elbow, and his drink spilt a bit on me."

Leo frowned deeply. Even if that was the case, it had seemed very hard for him to believe that the Nobleman had not been aware of the Prince's presence, what with the heavily secured guards surrounding him.

What's more, if that Nobleman had been Lord Frawaltz, who bore a deep hatred toward the innocent Prince for his ill-fated prophecy. Amongst all the noblemen, Lord Frawaltz seemed to be the most provocative when voicing his opinion regarding the Prince, which led Ferid to make a desperate decision to separate their living quarters.

Sighed deeply, Leo had turned to look at the Prince, who had changed into a new formal attire. The festivities had continued, but the incident had cast a pall over Makai's spirits.

The following days had brought more changes. Mika was now confined to the castle under Reza's strict tutelage, and their time together dwindled. Makai had watched his sister's Spirit slowly wither under Reza's harsh regime. He had felt powerless to help her, trapped by the prophecy and expectations of being the "ill-fated prince."

Tensions in the Kingdom peaked when Vulcan, the Great Oracle, the king of all birds, was summoned to the castle. 

"We welcome you, The King of all birds, Vulcan the Great Oracle, to our humble land!"

Vulcan had flown into the Audience Chamber and made a graceful entrance in front of the Royal members and the rest of the Royal Court Councils.

"Your Royal Highnesses," Vulcan had lowered its head at them. "I am very honoured to be here. Thank you for inviting me over."

"Arise your head, Vulcan the Great Oracle," Ferid had ordered with a wide smile. "Please tell us the future of this great Kingdom."

Lifting its head, Vulcan had opened his colourless pale grey eyes. It then spoke in a gentle voice, in a riddle:

"A prosperous land, destined to bring greatness,

One child is born to fulfil a great destiny, another is born to destroy the world,

Like infants, they carried heavy fate weights upon their shoulders,

To the unknown world, filled with challenges and despair,

Destiny and Fate clash with the sound of metals,

What lies beyond one's reach is a mystery slowly unfolding,

Only with courage, bravery and a heart of gold,

Could One strive to achieve the prophecy's goal,

Knowing right and wrong, only then,

will the One be able to go to that place called 'Paradise'."

"Hold on!" One of the Councilmen had risen from his seat. "What nonsense are you speaking of, bird? You were supposed to read us the future of this Kingdom!" Another Councilman stood up. "That's right! Tell us this Kingdom's real future or else-"

"Silence! Both of you," Ferid stood from his seat, glaring at the rude councilmen who shivered under his sharp gaze.

Vulcan shook its head sadly. Slowly flapping its golden wings, the gigantic bird fled around the Audience Chamber, leaving specks of gold dust trails.

"Mankind's most tremendous lust knows no boundaries,

Faith and loyalty shall be challenged,

However strong a force is, the stronger it is in the hearts of those bonds over love and peace,

Live, and One shall die,

Choices are given, not made alone,

Bound together by a foretold destiny,

What lies the future ahead? Even the Great Vulcan could no longer predict,

However trials that were given,

fun should One experience them,

Life's lessons are in the palm of One's hands and in the hearts of bonds,

Not in the head, nor the book of Knowledge,"

After the last riddles were read, Vulcan, the Great Oracle, had vanished in sparks of light and was never seen again. The prophecy earlier had caused a great uproar of confusion amongst the councilmen. Everyone knew Vulcan, the Great Oracle, never lied, nor had he ever made any mistakes about his predictions.

As Ferid lay on his bed that night, many thoughts ran through his mind. One of which he recalled, had been a short riddle regarding the Kingdom that was read by Vulcan many years ago before the twins were born:

"This Kingdom shall be ruled by a prosperous and courageous King,

Combined two very different cultures into one,

Filled with fortunes and never-ending glories,

One who bore the responsibilities shall be born as a Female,

To achieve such accomplishment,

Prices shall be made,

To the never-ending glories."

Ferid, however, had clung to hope. He remembered a previous prophecy from Vulcan that had foretold his destiny as a king who would unite two worlds. Though ominous, he had believed this new prophecy could also hold a glimmer of hope for his children.

But Fate had other plans.

HOURS later, the king awoke to hushed whispers that had seeped through the door of the royal chamber. A chill ran down his spine as he rose from the bed, careful not to wake his sleeping wife. Sword in hand, he cautiously opened the door and found the hallway eerily deserted.

"Guards?" he had called out, his voice echoing. There had been no answer.

A sense of foreboding had washed over him. Ferid had rushed to the guards' quarters, his pulse quickening with each step. His heart had sunk when he had discovered the knights sprawled unconscious on the floor. He had knelt beside the nearest figure, checking for a pulse.

"He's alive, but barely," he had murmured. Frantic attempts to rouse the knights had proved futile. Their eyes had rolled back in their heads, a clear sign of poisoning.

"Someone had drugged them," Ferid had seethed, his mind racing. But who? And why? Before he could ponder further, five figures clad in hooded robes had emerged, barring his exit.

"The party's just getting started, Your Majesty," a distorted voice sneered. "Don't miss the fun."

"Who are you?" Ferid had demanded, raising his sword in defence. "What have you done?"

Without warning, two of the figures lunged forward. They were children, no older than his own twins, their faces concealed by bird-beak masks. One had wielded a crackling whip, and the other had moved with the deadly grace of a martial artist. Ferid's heart had ached at the thought of battling children, but he had no choice.

He had parried the girl's electrifying whip, narrowly dodging its venomous sting. The boy had attacked with bursts of flame, singing Ferid's arm. The battle had been fierce, a whirlwind of sword and fire. Ferid, though skilled, had suffered minor wounds while the children had borne the marks of his blade. But the king had known he couldn't linger; his family was in danger.

Just as the fight had reached a fever pitch, a deafening boom had echoed through the castle. The walls behind them had crumbled under a powerful force, revealing a squadron of armoured knights. Strong hands had grabbed Ferid, pulling him through a hidden door. It was Leo, his face pale and drawn.

"Leo!" Ferid exclaimed. "Are the children safe?"

"I don't know," Leo admitted, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "My apologies, Your Majesty. Someone had contaminated the main well with a very powerful sleeping drug."

"You didn't drink from the well, did you?"

"I did. It took me a while to resist the drug, however. I had to go to the infirmary to get a counter drug before I could come to your rescue. Sorry for the long wait." Leo smiled weakly.

"Reza's missing. I must find her," Ferid said, his voice urgent. "And get the children to safety."

An explosion cut him off, the ground trembling beneath their feet. They stumbled through the collapsing corridors, their path lit by the eerie glow of flames. The two dashed to the only route available when another explosion occurred nearby.

They had reached a long bridge leading to the Observation Tower. Below, a chilling sight awaited them. An army of human soldiers, thousands strong, marched towards the castle, their ranks bristling with weapons.

A heavy silence descended upon them.

Ferid had finally spoken, his voice thick with emotion. "Leo, take the children and flee. Use the portal behind the manor. Seek refuge in the City of Eden. I'll find Reza and meet you there." He had looked at the charging forces without blinking. "While you make your escape, I shall distract them long enough to—"

Leo suddenly grabbed the king by the shoulders and forced him to look at him directly. "Ferid. Your children... they need you," his voice cracked with emotion. This Kingdom can be rebuilt, but only if you live."

Ferid's gaze had softened under the weight of his decision, which had been heavy on his shoulders. He had reached out, gripping Leo's shoulder with a trembling hand.

"My dear friend," he had said, his voice barely a whisper, "My duty as a King is to my people, to this land that Reliana had loved so dearly." His eyes had met Leo's, filled with a profound sadness and unwavering resolve. "Protect my children, Leo. Promise me you will raise them with the love and guidance they deserve. Promise me you'll keep them safe."

Leo's voice choked with emotion. "On my life and my honour, I swear it."

Ferid's lips had curved into a bittersweet smile. "And Reza... Protect her too. Please."

Leo nodded, unable to speak. He had known the risks and the dangers that awaited Ferid. Still, he had also known the unyielding Spirit of his king, who had risen from poverty to become a beloved ruler.

Ferid had pulled Leo into a tight embrace, the warmth of their friendship a stark contrast to the chilling reality of their situation. 

"You have always been my guiding light, old friend. While I was born to a poor family and you were the previous king's loyal advisor's son, you had never failed to guide me on becoming a good King and better person." He had murmured, his voice heavy with emotion. Now, it is my turn to repay that debt."

Leo, his heart aching with the knowledge of their impending separation, could only manage a choked sob. They had released each other, their gazes locked in a silent farewell. Ferid had turned back towards the castle, his figure silhouetted against the raging inferno. He had raised his sword, a beacon of defiance against the encroaching darkness.

Leo had watched him go, the weight of his promise crushing him. He had known this was likely the last time he would see Ferid alive, but he would not falter. He would honour his king's sacrifice by protecting his children and nurturing them into the leaders the Kingdom desperately needed.

As Leo made his way towards the manor, Ferid turned back to face the castle, his heart heavy with the knowledge of the battle that awaited him. He would fight to his last breath for his Kingdom, his family, and the future of his people.

LEO wasted no time in reaching the twins' manor, his heart pounding with urgency and dread. The loyal knights, who had been spared from the poisoned well, had swarmed him, their faces etched with concern for their king and Kingdom.

"The children?" His voice had been strained, his focus solely on his mission.

"They're safe inside, Sir Leo," a knight had reassured him. "But the castle... was it under attack?"

Leo took a deep breath, rallying his composure. "Your king fights valiantly to defend our kingdom," he declared, his voice ringing with determination. The enemy had poisoned our well, our forces are weakened, but your loyalty is needed now more than ever. Go forth, men! Fight for your king! For our home! All hail King Ferid!"

A chorus of "All hail King Ferid!" erupted from the knights, their spirits lifted by Leo's words. As they had charged into the chaos, Leo had turned towards the manor, his heart heavy with the burden of protecting the royal children.

He had entered the manor, his senses on high alert. 

A sudden projectile had whizzed past his face, narrowly missing his eye. In the dim light, he had made out with the young Prince, Makai, brandishing a sword with a trembling hand. Behind him stood Mika, clutching a blanket, her face streaked with tears.

Leo's heart ached at the sight of their fear. He knelt, gently lowering Makai's weapon. "It's alright, Your Highness," he soothed, pulling the young Prince into a comforting embrace. Mika had rushed forward, clinging to him as well.

"Where's Father?" Makai had asked, his voice muffled against Leo's shoulder.

Leo had known there was no time for gentle deception. "Your father is fighting bravely," he had explained, "but we must leave now. The enemy had poisoned our well, and it's not safe here."

"What about Reza?" Makai's voice had been thick with worry.

"Your father will bring her to safety," Leo assured him, though his own heart doubted the truth of those words. We will meet them at a designated location."

With a reassuring squeeze, Leo ushered the children out the back door and into the forest. The sounds of battle raged around them, a terrifying symphony of violence and chaos. As they had fled into the forest, Leo's mind had raced. He had prayed they would reach the portal in time and that Ferid and Reza would await them on the other side. But a dark premonition had lingered, a chilling whisper of uncertainty in his mind.

Fueled by adrenaline and fear, the trio burst through the manor's back door and into the forest. The sounds of battle raged around them: a chaotic symphony of clashing steel, terrified screams, and the thunderous roar of cannons.

"People are dying," Makai had thought, his young heart pounding in his chest.

Leo, carrying Mika, had pulled Makai by the hand. They had moved swiftly through the trees, aided by the loyal knights who had held off the advancing human forces, buying them precious time. But the forest floor had been treacherous.

Makai had stumbled over a gnarled root, his knee slamming into the dirt. He had bitten back a cry of pain, scrambling to his feet.

"I'm fine," he gasped, trying to reassure Leo and Mika.

Leo had nodded curtly, his eyes scanning the surrounding woods for any sign of pursuit. They had reached the hidden clearing where the portal to the City of Eden lay dormant. They were to meet Reza there, but no sign of her had been there. As the minutes ticked by, Leo's unease had grown.

Fnally, they had reached the deepest part of the forest, where a hidden clearing held the portal to the City of Eden. But Reza was nowhere in sight.

"Why are we stopping, Uncle Leo?" Mika whispered, her voice trembling.

"We're waiting for the Queen," Leo had replied, his eyes searching the shadows. "This is where we agreed to meet." Unless… A gnawing fear had grown in Leo's gut. He had given Reza ten minutes, but the silence had become deafening as each second ticked.

"Something's wrong," Makai whispered, echoing Leo's fears. Suddenly, an arrow pierced Makai's arm, and the forest erupted with the sound of more arrows raining down. Leo shielded the children as best he could, but they were quickly surrounded by a ring of human archers.

"Stop!" An unfamiliar, authoritative voice had cut through the tension. The archers parted, revealing a cloaked figure.

A figure emerged from the trees, their face hidden beneath a dark hood. Leo's blood ran cold as he saw Mika held hostage, a dagger at her throat. Beside the figure stood Reza, her eyes cold and triumphant. Leo cursed his own idiocy for leaving the Princess alone and defenceless.

"Is she the one?" the man holding the princess hostage had asked the person standing beside him. The man was tall and muscular. His face was hidden behind a blank cover, but the rest of his black attire was shown.

Beside him, the Spirit Queen grinned. She turned to look at the wide-eyed and petrified little Princess and nodded, 

"Yes. That's the Princess."

Reza looked down at the small figure. A sly smirk appeared on her lips. "And just when I'd thought you could die peacefully. Tsk, tsk. Naughty little Princess, you were for running off like that and making us chase you all the way here."

"Get away from her!" Leo had barked angrily. His mind had been racing as everything had started to piece together. How could he have been so stupid not to have realised her intention earlier! 

"You!" Leo had roared, rage and despair warring. "You betrayed us! You're behind this whole attack!"

"Whatever are you talking about, Sir Leo?" Reza had feigned innocence, her eyes glittering with malice.

"Don't play coy," Leo had spat. "It had always occurred to me that of all the noble women, why would Ferid choose you to be his Queen—you, a half-breed. The fact that your family's company provides the latest and advanced technology for the Kingdom did not make any sense for you to be personally involved with him at all! I'd always known there's something very fishy about you."

Leo could only imagine how heartbroken Ferid must have felt when he had discovered his new Queen had betrayed him in the worst possible way. He had been so deeply in love and happy. There were times when Leo had tried to persuade the young king to reconsider his decision to marry a half-breed. 

The history between the full-fledged Spirits and half-breeds hadn't exactly been pleasant either, mainly because the half-breeds often prided themselves too much. However, seeing how happy his king had been years after losing his former and beloved wife, Leo did not have the heart to destroy his charge and dear friend's newfound happiness. Thus, he remained quiet and only closely watched the new Queen.

Reza simply smiled, a wicked glint in her eyes. "Poor Ferid," she mocked. "He was so blinded by love. He never suspected a thing." As she spoke, Leo's mind raced. 

The puzzle pieces had fallen into place, revealing the depth of Reza's treachery. The drugged central well, the human army, and the attack on the castle had all been part of her twisted plan. But Mika had not been the only target. Reza had made a deal with the humans, promising them the princess in exchange for their assistance.

"He actually thought he could stop me with his pathetic seal. Well, let's just see how powerful his seal is. He dared to stop me from crossing to the other side." Dragging the Spirit Princess by the arms, Reza approached the portal and pressed the small red button. Before long, the portal had activated.

"Don't worry, Prince Makai." Reza looked at the wounded Prince with a sinister grin. I'll be sure to do this quickly and spare you the grief of having to watch it."

Makai's eyes widened at the meaning of her words. Rage had suddenly consumed and blinded him. Before he knew what he was doing, Makai roared loudly. He then charged toward Reza—only to have an armoured foot smashed at the back of his head into the muddy ground, knocking him out.

"Makai!" Mika had cried, reaching out for him, only to be pulled back with her hair by Reza.

"What are you doing?" the cloaked man had growled. "The Spirit Princess is ours. Hand her over to us, and you'll get what you've always wanted! That was the deal."

Reza had smiled gracefully. "You humans are just too easy." Her mismatched eyes had darkened. Lifting one available hand in the air, she gathered energy, aimed at the cloaked man and fired. She had repeated the process with a few of his men, sending them flying into the thick forest.

"Was there anyone else who dared to stop me from leaving?" Reza had taunted, her voice echoing through the clearing. Courage crumbling before her power, the human archers had lowered their heads in submission. Reza had smirked, her gaze sweeping over the cowering men. 

"Pathetic," Reza spat, her voice dripping with disdain. "Had Ferid truly believed a handful of guards could contain me?" Her eyes had settled on a trembling archer. With a predatory stride, she had closed the distance between them, her sharp nails digging into his neck, drawing a gasp of pain.

"I could kill you all," Reza had whispered, her voice a chilling caress against his skin. "Or you could pledge your loyalty to me, your new queen." His eyes had been wide with terror, and the archer had fallen to his knees, bowing before her. The rest had followed suit, their desperate pleas for mercy filling the clearing.

"Wise choice," Reza had purred, releasing the wounded archer. "Take those two back to the castle. Restrain them and lock them in the deepest dungeon."

"Y-Yes, Your Majesty," the archers had stammered, scrambling to obey.

Makai, still dazed from the blow to his head, had struggled against the archers' grip. Leo had tried to rise despite the pain pounding through his legs.

"Reza!" Leo had roared, his voice a mixture of fury and despair.

But it was too late. Reza had yanked Mika towards the portal, a cruel glint in her eyes. "Don't worry, Prince Makai," she had mocked. "I'll make this quick. You won't have to watch your precious sister suffer."

Another arrow had struck Leo's other leg, sending him crashing to the ground again. The pain had been excruciating, but the agony in his heart had outweighed the physical torment. He had clawed at the dirt, desperate to reach Mika, but his body had refused to obey.

"Princess!" Leo had cried out in anguish as Reza yanked Mika towards the portal.

Time had seemed to slow as Reza had callously tossed the terrified princess through the shimmering gateway. Makai, struggling against the archers' grip, had witnessed the horrific scene and had let out a blood-curdling scream as his sister had disappeared.

Reza had watched the Prince's breakdown with cold indifference. Taking a deep breath, she turned towards the still-activated portal. But as she had reached out to follow Mika, a surge of energy had jolted her back. The portal had flickered, then sputtered out, replaced by an impenetrable crystal barrier.

"What is this?" Reza hissed, her eyes wide with surprise. The human archers scattered, their fear palpable. Everyone looked up and saw substantial crystal barriers surrounding the castle and its entire perimeter.

A ghostly voice had echoed through the clearing, the words laced with vengeance and sorrow:

"Though this Kingdom may fall, Reza, you will never triumph. The true heirs will rise and defeat you. This barrier will hold you prisoner until justice is done." Ferid's voice, his final curse echoing from beyond the grave.

Reza's composure had shattered, her face contorted in rage. "That fool!" she had spat, her voice venomous. "He had help from those meddling witches! But their sacrifice was in vain. The princess won't survive long in the human world."

Blazing with hatred, her eyes had turned towards Leo, who lay helpless on the ground. "You," she had snarled, "you will pay for his defiance." She had tossed a parchment and two portraits at his feet. "Find me the man and child in these pictures. Bring me everything you can find about them. Their secrets, their weaknesses... everything. Until then, the Prince will survive. But fail me, and he will suffer a fate worse than death."

Leo's golden eyes, once warmly filled, now burned with cold fury as he glared at the cruel Queen. "After what you've done to the Royal Family, did you really think I would—"

"Be careful, servant," Reza had threatened in a low voice. "As I've said, I will not hesitate to kill the Prince should you refuse to cooperate. You saw what had happened just now, didn't you? Did you really want this Kingdom to fall without any heirs?"

Leo, his spirit's broken but his resolve unwavering, clutched the parchment and portraits. He had lost so much already, but he would not lose Makai. He would find the answers Reza had sought, not to serve her twisted desires but to avenge his fallen king, rescue Mika, and fulfil his promise to protect the rightful heirs of the Spirit Kingdom.

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Leo had said, his voice hollow.

Reza smirked, satisfied with her victory. "Good dog. Don't disappoint me, Leo. Or your precious Prince will pay the price." She turned and strode away, leaving Leo alone in the clearing. He clutched the parchment and portraits, his burden almost unbearable.