Chapter 3 - Not among us

Few days before the unnerving senate meeting that sealed the 3rd prince's fate, the old man —Stulo, sat at the end of the large wooden table, surrounded by his most trusted men, he eyed the ceramic jug in front of him, his hand folded under his chin as he held his weight against elbows lodged against the edge of the table.

"The 3rd Prince — he may become a problem for us very soon." One of his men spoke up.

"We tried getting rid of him at the South Village but we forgot to take out his keeper." He slammed his hand on the table. Bang! "That bitch somehow saved him!" His voice bellowed as he eyed his comrades. They nodded, their lips pressed in a thin line.

"Father, He is different.", Mul spoke up from his end of the table. He voiced his concern in a monotone.

"Different? How?" Stulo looked at his son confused. Mul never had the habit of speaking up until he was absolutely sure about something.

"Since the incident, I have noticed something. He behaves differently. He talks differently and he very much thinks differently. It's almost as if that is not him. As if they are not the same person." Mul looked at his hands as he tried making sense to his father. He rubbed his wet fingers slowly, heck! That did not even make sense to him. He would understand if it was some trauma response, but the prince was behaving too out of order.

Everyone at the table remained silent. Stulo was the first to break it, "The incident must have left a huge impact on that boy, as far I have heard from the doctor, he does not remember anything."

"Let's hope you are right."

"I have a plan., that might work. But we need to make sure the council agrees."

Everyone leaned forward, as slowly the words faded in the background and Mul recalled a scene he had witnessed earlier.

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"He who transcends time. Prince of unrivalled bladder." The snarky boy announced as his laggies snickered at the remarks he made to Elio's Face. 

"The man of wet nights.", he added as he fell to his knees laughing loudly. 

The expression on Elio's face stiffened into something dark, unsheathing the silver sword of the knight that stood guard beside him as he swung the sword towards the neck of his bully. The Senator's son barely managed to save himself as he looked at his chopped hair in horror. 

Mul stood by the entrance of the open corridor as he took in the scene. Every nerve in his body was shocked. Elio does not know how to wield a weapon! His Father made sure of that. The young prince looked different, vastly different from the meek one, his friends had bullied before. He took in the silhouette of the man that stood before him. His head high as the light breeze, rhythmically guided his hair around his face, the silver blade he carried rested titled upside down against his foot as he eyed the man who bullied him in rage. Eyes hungry with bloodlust. This is a monster, he thought as he stumbled.

He is unlike himself.

Elio eyed the sword again, picking it up before running his hand across it, eying it —like a young maiden would eye her pet. So lovingly. Elio looked at the young man again as he suddenly pulled his lips into a tight smile, his eyes forcefully formed crescents creating frowns around his eyes. 

"By insulting me, you are insulting my royal blood! You are insulting the King!"

The young man stumbled on his words, he knew he had made a grave mistake. Even though everyone knew Elio's father was nothing but a puppet ruler in the hands of the Grand advisor. No one can dare challenge his legitimacy, it would cause a civil war.. 

"My Prince, Forgive me." He gutted the words out in an insincere apology. 

"Hmm. I am not quite impressed." Elio sighed boringly as he ran his fingers across his silver blade. 

This cannot be him, Mul thought as he turned his back away from the scene, leaving the 3rd prince and the Senator's son behind. 

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Now, standing at the head of the Council, Stulo recalled his favourite son's words. As if they are not the same person.

The prince had just announced, "I would be honoured."

Everyone looked at him as shock dripped from their eyes. Stulo wanted to be happy, he never expected it to go so easily, but the unsettling feeling in his stomach told him otherwise.

What is this boy scheming!

The King, as shocked as Stulo, now spoke up. "Prince Elio, Are you sure?"

Even the King did not believe his cowardly son could be this courageous.

"Like I said Father, There is no honour grander than ascending to Godhood. After my ascension, I will make sure to look after the State from the other side."

The King, unable to understand further, raised his hand. "The Prince has decided! Start the preparations!"

The 3 Heavens Ritual was a 3 day ritual. The First day was dedicated to the Acsendor. The Second to the Kingdom and the last to the Elmarian Gods.

And According to Bastalia's traditions, it could only be performed on a Full Moon. So, Stulo needed to suggest the earliest possible date, to accelerate the prince's disposal.

"We had the Old Oracle suggest the best date for the ritual, your majesty…", Stulo spoke into the King's ear, who looked at him expectantly.

"They suggested that 2 weeks from now, would be the most auspicious 3 days of the decade…."

The King sighed, he needed Stulo to remain in power and if the sacrifice of a spare prince was the prince than he was more than willing to pay.

Getting up from his golden throne, He announced in front of the whole senate. "Two Weeks from Now, Our Beloved Prince Elio An Bastalia, will have the honour to ascend to Godhood!" He raised his hands up in the air as he said Godhood and the Senate cheered.

"Ascend my ass! Elio what are you thinking!", Annik whispered into Elio's ears but Elio did not respond. His eyes were on Stulo — cold, black and ashy with hunger for revenge. Annik pressed his hand on his back trying to catch his attention, only to back away startled as he took in the madness in his eyes.

He only said two words, looking him in the eye as he got up and left from the Senate Hall with his Keeper and him in tow.