"Calm down son." king Liam said slowly.
"How can someone do this? Just few minutes outside the kingdom, her life was taken." Queen Zoey said as tears trickled down her cheeks.
"This kingdom is no longer safe. You must do something about this, your majesty." She added.
"I must find the solution immediately." king Liam said as he stares at Mila's lifeless body.
Amir was still dumbfounded, he don't know what to do. Right now the seer must arrive before he rushed into any conclusion.
"I wonder who would have done this. I'm sure no one in this kingdom will do this. But still, I doubt if it's a stranger." king Liam said and rubbed his chin.
"I have instill fear in their minds. Who could dare to come here? Who has that audacity? And the person even killed someone. I won't spare whosoever it is." He added.
"I thought other kingdoms believed that only monsters are here. Who could dare come here?" Queen Zoey asked as she wail in pain.
"I won't spare them." Amir said angrily.
King Liam was very shocked and afraid as he watched his parents dying in the hands of those criminals. Then he was just a child of about twelve years. Whale kingdom is known for its treasures and riches. Other kings usually visit this kingdom to admire the treasures.
Some of them wished they were in their possessions. They even asked the king to sell part of it for them. But he always refused.
To him, the creatures would need this treasure at time of difficulty. How can he sell them off. Isn't that a symbol of greediness?
He don't want the creatures to suffer hardship or lack anything in the nearest future so he hide all the treasures in a cave. King Ezra was known for his wisdom, he can predict the truth of any issue just by listening to it.
He never advised anyone to be biased on judgement. The truth should be told and hearing should be fair and just, no partiality. He always solve problems in his kingdom and even others. When he noticed every king wanted a bit from the treasures, he was afraid.
He don't want to give it to them yet they won't stop persuading him. He knew this might cause war sooner or later, and he was right. But being a man of wisdom, he ordered his subjects to move every treasure including the tiniest to the cave. This cave is at the middle of the kingdom.
No one knew about it. It's very difficult to notice except if you are very observant. Everything was done according to plan. The creatures moved everything there slowly to avoid questions from the other kings who usually visit them daily. They did this at night.
Some of the other kings planned on invading the kingdom so they could steal all the treasures. They wage war on king Ezra. The king who knew what they wanted told his subjects to protect their children and fight for what they have.
They can't take away what rightfully belong to them freely. Everyone was cautioned to keep quiet no matter what.
The war eventually came. Most of the creatures were killed. The king being wise had ordered every child to be hidden in the cave as well but the prince was exempted. He had to be brave for his people.
He has to protect himself so he can protect his people. He mustn't be lazy nor weak. Prince Liam fought to protect himself and his mother. He sworn not to allow anyone hurt her.
"You have tried son but you have to hide. Don't say anything. Don't even come out of here no matter what." King Ezra said, trying to catch his breath.
"Come with me father, you will be killed as well." Prince Liam whispered.
"I am the king. I can't hide. My people are dying. I can't leave them but you have to survive for the future of this kingdom." king Ezra said as tears runs out of his eyes.
"Father, I.....
"Hey, kill everyone in this castle." A voice is heard from outside.
"You have to hide now. Make sure you don't come out." king Ezra instructed and pushed him down.
"What of mother?" Prince Liam asked, holding on to his father.
"She will be fine." king Ezra lied. He can't tell this lad the truth now.
He pushed him down the tunnel and covered it. He arranged some flowers there so no one can suspect something.
Holding his sword tight, he went out. King Axel was there looking around. It seems he was looking for the treasures as he had received the note that no treasure was found in the kingdom.
"Why are you doing this?" king Ezra asked. He was disappointed in him.
"Where is the treasure?" king Axel asked coldly.
"You want the treasure?" king Ezra asked, faking a smile.
"What else do you think I want?" king Axel asked as he moved closer to him.
"You are amusing me. You wage war on us just to take what isn't yours. You are killing innocent creatures to take what belongs to them." king Ezra said. He was truly disappointed.
"I never knew you would be so shameless just for mere treasures. You invaded our privacy and now you want to steal from us forcefully." He added.
"I will kill everyone just to get that treasure." king Axel threatened.
"Did you tell the other kings you will kill them too. I know you won't spare them once you get this treasure. You want everything for yourself but to get it, you deceived them." king Ezra reminded.
"You can truly read someone. How did you know that's what's on my mind?" king Axel said slowly.
"Please stop this. The treasures have disappeared from this kingdom. Did you see anyone?" king Ezra said in a low voice, his heart ached.
"Your subjects are just like you. They said the same thing. A mermaid even tricked us by saying she knows where the treasures disappeared to. She just lied and led us to a deep shallow tunnel. I lost almost forty men there. They kept jumping in to bring the treasure out but they died in. Don't worry too much, I just beheaded the mermaid without stress." king Axel explained bitterly. How wish he could do more than that.
"Please spare the creatures." king Ezra pleaded.
"Where is the treasure? I won't spare you if you don't tell me." king Axel said and brought out his sword, ready for a fight.
"It disappeared." king Ezra said and brought out his own sword.
It's better to fight and die than allow this greedy merman takes what doesn't belong to him. They fought for a long time. With the look of things, king Axel is tired. He was gently losing his stands.
But before he could adjust his feet and balance well, king Ezra beheaded him.
"This is for the mermaid you killed." king Ezra said angrily.
But he wasn't lucky. Before he turned, a merman beheaded him too. It was king Axel's servant.
Most creatures were killed, only six of them survived. The children were all saved. As the intruders knows nothing about the cave, they didn't go there. Prince Liam was made king three months after the crisis. Other kings still visit the kingdom to search for the treasures.
Whenever they came, the little creatures hid for safety. King Liam became irritated with their behaviour so he used his powers to create monsters around the kingdom. Anyone who go close to them would be killed.
These chased every other king and even creatures of other kingdoms away. They believed the monsters were the late king and the creatures. And they are seeking revenge. But no one knows that some creatures survived that crisis. To them, only monsters and devils inhabited the kingdom.
This made king Liam more confused than usual. He knew the creatures would not harm themselves as he made sure peace and harmony was well practiced among them. He looked at his wailing son and shift his attention to the dead body that was half covered.
"Your majesty." The seer greeted immediately he arrived.
"What is going on? Who dares to kill in this kingdom?" king Liam yelled.
"Your majesty, it was a mistake. She didn't know about it." The seer replied.
"Who is she?" prince Amir shouted and everywhere vibrated. Everyone trembled in fear.
"My prince, it's your mate. The one destined to be with you." The seer replied, still trembling.
"My mate?" Prince Amir scuffed.
"Who is she?" He inquired.
"She is a princess from Mer kingdom." The seer replied.
Everyone was puzzled. How is that possible? How did she enter the kingdom? Why did the monsters spare her? After all she was an intruder.
"Why did the monsters spare her? How is that possible?" Amir queried.
"My prince, she's your mate. Your father protected her against the monsters." The seer replied.
"What do you mean by that? No one is allowed in this kingdom." king Liam shouted.
"My king, nothing can be done about this. His Majesty, king Ezra appeared to me." The seer said.
King Liam couldn't believe what he heard as he swim around restlessly.
"What did my father say? Do you think he will agree with such thing? He died protecting his people." king Liam shouted, causing another vibration.
"Your majesty, he said he wanted peace." The seer replied trembling.
"Peace?" king Liam shouted again, this time the queen fell down in shock.
"Mom." prince Amir called and swim to her side.
"Will you kill me before you stop shouting?" She asked as she raise herself up.
Liam looked at her slowly, he felt sorry for it.
"Seer, tell us everything he said. If it's for peace to reign, we will do it." Queen Zoey said.
"We are not doing anything. I will never accept any outsider here." king Liam protested.
"Don't accept, I will." Queen Zoey said in a low voice.
"You won't go against my orders." king Liam said firmly.
"Stop trampling on your subjects' dreams. They want to go out, they want to associate. They want to put the past behind them." Queen Zoey said angrily.
"Really? So they have forgotten how they came out of the cave and started weeping over their loved ones. How some of them died due to lack of care? Have they forgotten what happened in the past? Children worked hard to feed. It was survival of the fittest and the only adults among us were just six. They suffered more for our survival. You want me to open the gate of this kingdom so we can experience more doom. Do you think those intruders have forgotten about out treasures?" king Liam yelled.
He was right. Everyone knew he was right. The monsters and demons were for their own protection. They know the king is trying to avoid more dangers.
"We understand what you mean but you have to reduce the bondage." Queen Zoey said.
"My king, your father said you should leave the fight for him. He will protect the kingdom from now henceforth." The seer said and bow his head.
"I will do as he said. If that will make him happy." king Liam said.
"But if this backfires, I won't protect anyone. Everyone will fight for their safety including the children. I will just make myself invisible and watch the fight in silence." king Liam said confidently.
"My king, you can't do that. At least you are not that heartless." Queen Zoey said.
"Till then, you will know." king Liam said.
"So my mate killed her?" Prince Amir asked rhetorically.
"It was a mistake, your highness." The seer murmured.
"Don't worry father, no such thing will happen again. Instead the opposite will happen this time. I will torture that mate of mine very well that her people will not set foot in this kingdom." Prince Amir said boldly.
"Please don't torture anyone, it was a mistake." Queen Zoey said.
"How mother? How is it a mistake? She killed someone and you said it's a mistake, don't she have eyes to see?" prince Amir queried.
"She didn't know it was a creature, she...
"How is that possible?" prince Amir shouted angrily.
"My prince, the princess had turned to a pine with her heart as a multi coloured shell. Your mate wanted to take the shell but she couldn't." The seer explained and everyone was shocked.
"Stop calling her my mate. It irritates me." Prince Amir yelled.
"A pine?" Queen Zoey asked.
"Yes your majesty. She said she don't want anyone to see her." Aria said.
Everyone was more puzzled, they wondered if she was so hurt to go to that extent.