most_eloquent

Prince Xyrus of Feron and Princess Valencia of Pherr are forced into a marriage to unite their warring kingdoms. Xyrus, a stoic and duty-bound heir, sees the union as a necessary sacrifice, while Valencia, a fiery and rebellious princess, views it as a prison. From a loveless wedding to clashing in the palace, their animosity is undeniable.

But as they navigate court politics and an assassination attempt, their hatred begins to crack. Valencia discovers Xyrus’s hidden passion for music, and Xyrus admires her fierce loyalty to her people. Just as they start to fall for each other, a betrayal threatens to tear them apart.

A Lover's Final Dance

The mines pulsed like a festering wound, their jagged crystals glowing with a sickly light. Valencia and Xyrus stood at the entrance, their shadows stretching long and thin against the cavern walls. The air reeked of metal and decay, and the vines—once vibrant and alive—now writhed like dying serpents.

"This is it," Valencia said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "We go in, destroy the heart of the corruption, and end this."

Xyrus glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "And if it kills us?"

She met his gaze, her eyes hard. "Then we die together."

The deeper they went, the more the crystals seemed to *watch* them, their facets reflecting distorted versions of their faces. The vines coiled around their ankles, whispering in a language neither could understand but both felt in their bones.

At the heart of the mine, they found it: a massive crystal, its core throbbing with a dark, malevolent light. It was as tall as a tree, its surface etched with symbols that matched the ones in Liora's tomb.

"This is where it started," Valencia whispered, her breath fogging in the cold air. "This is where she tried to stop it."

Xyrus stepped forward, his sword raised. "Then we finish what she couldn't."

But before he could strike, the crystal *shrieked*, a sound that tore through their skulls and sent them to their knees. The vines surged, wrapping around their limbs and dragging them toward the crystal.

Valencia fought, her dagger slashing at the roots, but it was no use. The vines were too strong, their grip unrelenting.

"Xyrus!" she screamed, her voice raw with panic.

He reached for her, their fingers brushing for a moment before the vines yanked them apart.

The vision came suddenly, vivid and suffocating.

Valencia stood in a field of ash, the sky above her a swirling mass of black and crimson. Liora stood before her, her face gaunt and her eyes hollow.

"You cannot win," Liora said, her voice echoing with the weight of centuries. "The corruption is part of you now. It feeds on your blood, your rage, your love."

Valencia shook her head, her throat tight. "There has to be another way."

Liora's gaze softened, and for a moment, she looked almost human. "There is. But it will cost you everything."

Valencia woke with a gasp, the vines still coiled around her. Xyrus was nearby, his face pale but determined.

"We have to sever the bond," she said, her voice trembling. "It's the only way to stop this."

"The one between us. The one that's feeding the corruption." She reached for him, her fingers brushing his cheek. "Our blood is what's keeping it alive. If we break the connection, the vines will die."

He caught her hand, his grip tight. "And what happens to us?"

She swallowed hard. "I don't know."

The ritual was simple but brutal. They stood before the crystal, their hands clasped and their blood mingling in a shallow bowl. Valencia chanted the words Liora had given her in the vision, her voice steady despite the tears streaming down her face.

The crystal *screamed*, its light flickering and dimming as the bond between them unraveled. The vines withered, their thorns crumbling to dust.

But as the last word left her lips, Valencia felt something *tear* inside her, a pain so sharp it stole her breath. Xyrus gasped, his grip on her hand tightening before he collapsed to his knees.

The crystal shattered, its fragments scattering like shards of glass. The mine groaned, the walls trembling as the corruption was purged.

Valencia fell beside Xyrus, her vision blurring. She reached for him, her fingers brushing his before darkness claimed her.

The mine was silent, the air clean and cold. The vines were gone, their remnants scattered like ash.

But Xyrus was nowhere to be found.

The Severing