Samuel_Nwachukwu_

The Pale Monarch

In a vast multiverse, five Monarchs balance the forces of existence, ruled by the divine Benevolent Eyes. But when Raziel, the Monarch of Shades, betrays and kills Alistair, the Monarch of Light, darkness spreads across the universes.

Unknown to Raziel, the Monarch of Souls secretly preserved a fragment of Alistair’s soul and placed it in the lifeless body of Cedric, the son of a town chief on Low Earth.

Now reborn as Cedric, Alistair exists in a human body, stripped of his full power. He must grow, learn, and struggle as he rediscovers himself—not just as a Monarch, but as a human.

But when Raziel discovers his survival, he unleashes Pandemoniums, monstrous demons that devour mana and destroy worlds. The invasion forces Low Humans to flee to the floating Sky City, where they must live under the rule of High Humans, the privileged children of the Monarchs.

As Cedric fights to protect the weak, he begins to unlock his lost power, but the High Humans see him as a threat. Betrayed and cast down to the ruined lands below, he must now survive alone against terrifying creatures—while discovering the truth behind Raziel’s betrayal and his own purpose as the last hope against the darkness.

A journey of power, destiny, and humanity begins.

THE PALE MONARCH

The forest was dark and quiet. Too quiet.

Cedric and Ciara moved carefully between the towering trees, their footsteps muffled by damp leaves. The scent of smoke still clung to the air, a painful reminder of what they had lost.

Cedric's heart was still racing. His hands tingled where the golden light had appeared before. He clenched his fists. What was that power?

Ciara limped beside him, her arm still bleeding from the attack. Cedric glanced at her with concern. "We need to stop and wrap your wound."

"I'll be fine," Ciara muttered, though her face was pale.

Cedric frowned. He knew she was just trying to be strong, but she was hurt. And in a place like this, injured people didn't last long.

He looked around. They needed shelter. Somewhere safe.

They walked for what felt like hours. The deeper they went, the colder it became. Shadows stretched between the trees, twisting into shapes that made Cedric uneasy.

Ciara finally collapsed onto a fallen log, breathing heavily. "I can't… I need a break."

Cedric sat beside her. He let out a slow breath, rubbing his hands together to warm them. The night felt endless.

Ciara stared at the ground. "Do you think anyone else made it?"

Cedric didn't answer right away. He wanted to say yes. That their families, their neighbors—someone—had escaped. But deep down, he wasn't sure.

"The demons came too fast," he said quietly. "I… I don't know."

Ciara clenched her jaw. "It's not fair."

Cedric exhaled, leaning back against the log. He closed his eyes for just a moment—

Ciara tensed. "Did you hear that?"

A figure stepped out from the shadows.

The same one who had saved them before.

The hooded stranger moved with a quiet confidence, their cloak barely making a sound. Cedric instinctively reached for a weapon—only to remember he didn't have one.

The figure raised a hand. "If I meant to harm you, I would have let the Belphegor finish you back in the town."

The stranger didn't answer immediately. Instead, they turned slightly, revealing a glimpse of their face beneath the hood—sharp features, piercing blue eyes.

"You may call me Orin," they finally said.

Ciara's eyes widened. "You used magic back there. You fought that demon like it was nothing. Are you… a High Human?"

Orin's expression remained unreadable. "Not quite."

Cedric narrowed his eyes. "Then what are you?"

Orin studied him for a moment, then said, "Someone who knows what you truly are."

Cedric stiffened. His heart pounded in his chest.

Orin took a step closer. "That light you used against the demon? That wasn't normal. It wasn't human." Their voice was calm but firm. "It was the power of a Monarch."

Ciara looked between Cedric and Orin, confused. "What are you talking about? Cedric is just… Cedric."

Orin shook their head. "No. He is something more."

Cedric's breath caught in his throat. The flashes of memory—the golden battlefield, the name Alistair—they all came rushing back.

Orin sighed, glancing at the sky. "We can't stay here. The Pandemoniums are still hunting."

Cedric's hands clenched. "Where do we go?"

Orin nodded toward the trees. "There's a cave nearby. It'll keep you hidden for the night."

Ciara hesitated. "How do we know we can trust you?"

Orin smirked slightly. "You don't. But staying here will get you killed."

Cedric glanced at Ciara. He didn't fully trust Orin either, but what choice did they have?

Orin nodded and turned, moving swiftly through the forest. Cedric and Ciara followed.

As they walked, Cedric's mind raced.

Something inside him was awakening.

And soon, he would have to face the truth.

Chapter 3: The Path Forward