CRIMSON lightning filled the dark sky, and the entire armada of the aerial army led by King Airoh launched a full-scale attack against the Shadow Army of the Muhler Empire. The thunder stroke was unleashed by the powerful Queen Rieska. The desert battlefield turned into an ocean of blood, and thousands of fae warriors assisted the king and queen of Alegerio.
As the two heads of the Kingdom of Alegerio were busy holding the line, another sinister plan was set to harm their twin offspring—Ayil and Azahil.
The three-year-old twins were oblivious to the war outside the Palace of Raledia. They were in their peaceful slumber while their room was heavily warded.
Ten Alegerian high guards were overseeing the twins, and their hands gracefully waved to produce a bright yellow magic circle to strengthen the protection shield.
An unwanted visitor just came in. He wore a dark green cloak, and a golden crest appeared on his chest.
"There you are, Ayi… Aza." It was Elohim. A familiar acquaintance of the king and queen. He was an Alegerian aristocrat and the newly appointed Lord of Noyuh.
"What are you doing here?" Steela asked dangerously. She was the twin's maidservant, and just by looking at Elohim now, she knew he could not be trusted. Why would a high-status aristocrat pass by in the twins' secluded room while every royal was fighting in the war?
Steela felt Elohim's aura was full of malice. Was it possible that the Soul Eaters also possessed him? But the royals had just finished building a new world to protect the faeries against the emperor.
Steela had to remain focused. They were in the middle of a bloodbath with the Empire, and she could not let her guard down.
"You can't enter here." Steela swiftly halted him.
Elohim clasped the dagger in his hand, and without warning, he motioned it in front of Steela. She was too stunned by how fast Elohim had moved.
The next thing Steela knew was her throat was nearly cut. Her blood spilled. She lost her balance, and strange dark magic was unleashed inside the room.
The maidservant was struggling to breathe. Her body slowly became numb, and she knew it would be a short time before she'd meet her demise. But she held on to the remaining mana in her body. She had failed to protect the heirs to the throne! And how could Elohim betray the king?
Tears cascaded down her cheeks as there was nothing she could do but observe how Elohim had singlehandedly defeated the ten guards. Steela's eyes broadened when an unfamiliar fae with long silky white hair appeared beside Elohim.
"My dagger is quite useful," said the male fae. He stood there as if enjoying the gore inside the twins' room.
"I'll be forever grateful, Lord Obizuth," Elohim curved his lips and formed a wicked smile as the twins were left unguarded when he finished destroying the barrier.
"There is your wish, Elohim. But the time will come you will pay the price of this favor. Nothing comes for free." Lord Obizuth instantly vanished.
Meanwhile, Steela was horrified when she realized who gave Elohim the power to be this strong. She had to do something before Elohim could kill Ayil and Azahil.
She lay low and gathered the remaining kernel of her power. It would cost her life, but she would do everything to save the lives of the twins.
Steela's lips moved and whispered the ancient incantation of shifting the souls. Tears continued to fall from her eyes when her magic started to suck her life.
Her mind wandered to see the closest living being where she could transfer the soul of the twins.
Dead faeries.
So many piles of dead bodies were scattered outside, and others were busy fighting. She couldn't risk transferring them to a busy warrior who might die on a battlefield.
She had to act fast before it was too late. And on the nearby garden of the palace, where the white Alegerian Chrysanthemum changed its colors to blue. A young male fae, probably only twelve years old, was fighting for his life. He had several wounds on his body. And beside him was a white cat who only meowed and licked his pale face.
Steela was running out of time. She had to perform the last spell to seal the souls in their new bodies.
Elohim had plunged the dagger several times into the defenseless body of the twins.
"Once you hold your mother's hand, she will see this last memory of mine. And she will recognize you are her offspring… from now on, you will bear the name of Yiyi and Zaza." She finally drew her last breath with a smile on her face. Steela's body slowly disintegrates into the air.
She succeeded.
The dying boy in the garden blinked several times. His eyes turned crimson-colored, just like the queen's. The wounds were slowly healed and repaired as if every cell in his body was pulsating a vast amount of mana.
"Meow…"
The young fae looked at the white cat, whose golden eyes glowed like the king. He immediately recognized his sister, even in a cat form.
But before he could grasp what was happening. They were covered in bright white light.
"Get out here! It's dangerous!" It was Kharyn. The king's sister. She held the line from the enemies to protect the Palace of Raledia.
The young fae and his cat realized that transportation magic was used. They found themselves outside the border of Alegerio. The icy blast of wind had greeted them.
It was the mortal world!
They walked, still trying to figure out what was going on. They strolled aimlessly on the frozen ground. At the same time, so many dead bodies were on their path.
While at the palace, the king and queen wailed as they found their twin offspring brutally murdered…