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 night came, and the road was very dark. Jorin kept his hands steady on the reins, guiding the carriage through the dark. The horses were tired, and so was everyone inside.

"We should rest soon," Jorin said. His voice was firm, but not demanding. "We've been pushing forward for hours. The horses need a break, and so do we."

Lila nodded. "He's right, Cedric. We also need supplies. There should be a town nearby. We can stop there, get some food, and rest for a few hours."

Cedric shook his head. "No. We should keep going."

Cedric's eyes were sharp. "Demons. They could be anywhere. If we stop, we risk running into them."

Lila sighed. "Cedric, we can't keep moving forever. The kids are exhausted. The horses can't pull us all night without rest. We'll just check the town, grab what we need, and leave quickly."

Jorin backed her up. "We're not saying we stay long. Just enough to rest and resupply."

Cedric didn't like it, but he saw their point. The children were curled up in the corner of the carriage, barely awake. Even he felt the strain of the journey. He let out a slow breath.

"Fine," he said. "We stop, but only for a short time."

Jorin nodded and flicked the reins. "Next town it is."

After another hour, they saw lights in the distance. The town came into view, and immediately, something felt off.

Cedric narrowed his eyes. "This isn't right."

Cedric gestured toward the town. "Everything else we've passed has been in ruins. Cities burned, villages torn apart. But this place…"

It was clean. Too clean. The buildings stood tall without a single mark of damage. The streets were clear, no signs of struggle, no abandoned carts or broken doors. Every other town they passed had been in chaos, yet this one looked untouched.

Lila noticed it too. "It's like the war never reached here."

Cedric's grip tightened on his sword hilt. "That's the problem. It should have."

Jorin slowed the carriage as they approached the entrance. A wooden sign stood at the side of the road, the name of the town carved into it.

Lila swallowed. "Maybe they had a strong defense? Maybe they fought off the demons?"

Cedric wasn't convinced. "Or something else is going on here."

The carriage rolled forward, the wheels creaking as they entered the main road. They saw people walking around, acting normal. Shops were open, lamps lit up the streets. The people looked well-fed, well-dressed, not like survivors struggling to get by.

Jorin clicked his tongue. "What do you wanna do, Cedric?"

Cedric scanned the streets. "We'll be careful. Get the supplies fast. Stay close."

Lila nodded. "And if something's wrong?"

Cedric's eyes stayed locked on the town ahead. "Then we leave. Immediately."

None of them knew it yet, but this town was hiding something.

Chapter 24 – The Suspicious Town