The journey to the land of the old gods was a risky one. It was situated at the heart of the forest of no return. The forest of no return was a dreaded place and rumor had it that those who went in never came back. It was said to be filled with unimaginable blood thirsty creatures and only a fool would dare venture in. Only the strongest of the strong ever went in there and came out alive.
King Cyrus was no fool. He was the greatest and most powerful King that ever ruled. His fathers before him had also been great rulers, feared by all who lived in the Kingdom. But they never lacked an heir. He was born in the first year of his parents marriage and though his mother couldn't conceive again, it was overlooked. His father, the King already had him as an heir already.
As the carriage was pulled by two white horses and a hundred armed guards stationed around and following it, he began to wonder why his case was this way. Why did he have to be impotent? He didn't wrong anyone to curse him such shame. Or was it because he took three women to be his wives and his Queens? That couldn't be it. He knew of many Kings who had a dozen Queens and a harem full on concubines. And yet they had heirs to succeed them. Why did the great gods have to punish him this way? To be made a topic of vicious rumor was bad enough. He shook his head sadly. He could only hope the old gods would help him out.
"Halt!",a loud voice calls out and it is echoed down to the army of guards behind the carriage.
One of the guard stopped beside the carriage and opened it. "Your Majesty",he says and bows. "We're here, at the borders of the forest".
King Cyrus climbs down from the carriage slowly. He is dressed in rich kingly clothes, glittering like the sun. A thick robe, made from the finest materials is draped on his shoulder and his crown sits proudly on his head. His pale blue eyes take in the environment, the deserted land and the thick cluster of tree trunks covering the entrance of the forest. It was time and there was no going back.
"Bring six of your finest men to come with me",he says to the main guard beside him. "And we must hurry. We wouldn't want to be in this forest by night fall".
The guard bowed and picked six of the strongest armed guard. They were to follow the King and protect him while the rest would stay back and guard the carriage.
"We're all set Your Majesty",the guard says. He hands over the royal sword to King Cyrus and their journey begins. The thick cluster of three trunks could not be cut down in a matter of minutes. It would take months before a way was cut open. And King Cyrus knew this.
"Go through that crack in the middle", he says to the guards with him. "And be careful. You wouldn't want to get crushed in between".
The guards bowed and turned towards the crack. They didn't question the King on how he would cross over the barrier. They all knew.
King Cyrus took a step back and hunched his back. His bones began to crack and soon the robe on his back tore open to reveal two large bat-like wings. He spread the wings out and flapped them in the air, preparing to lift himself up. It didn't come as a surprise to the other guards. The only people who didn't know the King had demon blood in him were the Queens and the peasants in his Kingdom. Everyone else knew the King came from a line of strong demons and they all kept their mouths shut because no one wanted to cross him.
King Cyrus flapped his wings and lifted himself up into the air. Oh, how he missed flying. When he was young, during the reign of his father King Odin, he would often sneak out of the castle and fly to the mountainous regions where he could be free. He only stopped flying when he met Evaleen. Knowing she was an Angel, he knew Demons and Angels couldn't be together. He had to hide his identity to be with her, never discovering that Evaleen didn't know her true identity.
Shaking his head out of his daydream, King Cyrus soared over the top of the forest, past the tree tops and landed lightly on the other side where his guards were awaiting him. His wings folded and disappeared like it has never been there and the tear in his robe cover up.
"We must hurry",he says again to the guards. He started to walk forward, swinging his sword and cutting down the branches that blocked the way. The forest was eerily quiet. There was no sign of movement and even the late afternoon sunlight couldn't penetrate into the thick groove of trees. Large trees stood side by side, with dangling creepers around their thick trunks.
A creeper slithered on the ground and wrapped itself around King Cyrus's left leg.
"Your Majesty! Look out! On the ground!",one of the guards yells but King Cyrus has already slashed the creeper with his sword.
"I hate this place",he mutters. His pale blue eyes glare all around him into the darkness of the hidden parts of the forest. Suddenly he stopped and his hand tightened on his sword.
"Your Majesty...?",a guard calls and King Cyrus holds up his hand to silence him. His eyes scan the cluster of trees and stops at a particular spot. Suddenly he throws his sword and it flies through the air towards a certain spot. It hit its target and a loud roar sounded.
"Surround the King",the guard yells. They all surround King Cyrus and pull out their swords, waiting for whatever creature it was.
A mountain lion staggered out with the King"s sword sticking to its side, blood flowing out of the wound. It roared one more time at the group of people before it and then collapsed on the ground. King Cyrus stepped out of the circle of guards and walks towards the dead lion. He drew out his sword from its body and wipes the blood on its thick fur. He looked up and in the distance, he could see the entrance of the cave of the old gods. It was time for him to continue alone.
"Wait here until I return",King Cyrus says to the guards. "I must go into the presence of the old gods alone".
The guards were not comfortable leaving their King to go into the cave alone. But they had no choice. They couldn't disobey his orders. So they watched as King Cyrus made his way through the forest until he disappeared into the cave.
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Years ago, before the reign of King Cyrus...
"Mother Angelic",Evaleen whispers in awe. "Where are we? Where is this place?".
Mother Angelic had taken her to a secluded part of the Garden of Paraden and she had never seen this part before. It glowed as if a thousand precious stones were lit. White clouds floated past her and brushed against her. Mother Angelic smiled at the young Angel beside her. She didn't want to do this but she had to. Evaleen needed to know why she was different from the rest Angels.
"This is where the scrolls of time are written",Mother Angelic says to Evaleen. "Everything that is to occur has already been written here".
"Wow",Evaleen whispers. "You mean everything has already been written before time?".
"Yes Evaleen",Mother Angelic says. "And now I am going to tell you a story. A story of a young Angel that was once like you".