After school, Eli and Lily made their way to the town for their shopping trip. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the bustling town. As they walked, Lily chatted excitedly about Thomas, her words filled with admiration and affection.
Eli listened to her, a small smile playing on his lips. He was happy for Lily, happy that she had found someone who made her heart flutter. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. He wished he could openly talk about Alexander, about his feelings for him. But the dark wizard's law loomed over him, a cruel reminder of the dangers that came with his feelings.
As they entered the town, their conversation was cut short by a commotion. A crowd had gathered near the marketplace, their faces filled with fear and anger. At the center of the crowd was one of the monster guards, his menacing figure towering over a terrified woman.
Eli and Lily exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding in their chests. They had heard stories about the monster guards, about their cruelty and their disregard for human life. Yet, they had never witnessed it firsthand.
As they stood at the edge of the crowd, their minds filled with fear and anger, they couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness. The monster guard was a symbol of the dark wizard's rule, a reminder of the cruelty and injustice that had befallen their kingdom.As Eli watched the monster guard harass the terrified woman, a surge of anger coursed through him. He couldn't stand by and watch the injustice unfold. He had to do something.
"Eli," Lily warned, her voice filled with fear. "It's dangerous. You can't go against the monster guard."
Eli turned to her, his eyes filled with determination. "I can't just stand here, Lily," he said, his voice firm. "I have to help her."
Ignoring Lily's protests, Eli stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. "Leave her alone!" he yelled, his voice echoing across the marketplace.
The monster guard turned towards him, a cruel smile playing on his lips. He left the woman, his attention now focused on Eli. He called him names, his words filled with malice and hatred. Then, without warning, he lunged at Eli, his fists landing on him with brutal force.
Eli fell to the ground, his body bruised and battered. The crowd watched in silence, their faces filled with fear and shock. The monster guard left him there, his laughter echoing across the marketplace.
As Eli lay on the ground, his body aching with pain, he felt a pair of gentle hands lift him up. He looked up to see the woman, the former queen, her eyes filled with concern. Lily was by her side, her face pale with fear.
"We need to get him out of here," the woman said, her voice filled with urgency. With Lily's help, she carried Eli to her small cottage outside the town.
As they left the town, their hearts filled with fear and anger, they couldn't help but feel a sense of despair. The monster guard was a symbol of the dark wizard's rule, a reminder of the cruelty and injustice that had befallen their kingdom.Chapter 25: The Awakening
Eli awoke with a start, his body aching with pain. He found himself in a strange bed, the room unfamiliar. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, his memories of the incident with the monster guard a blur.
Just as he was about to panic, the door creaked open and Lily walked in. Her face was pale, her eyes filled with concern. "Eli," she said, her voice filled with relief. "You're awake."
Eli looked at her, his mind filled with questions. "Lily," he began, his voice hoarse. "Where are we?"
Lily sighed, her eyes filled with worry. "We're in the former queen's cottage," she explained, her voice gentle. "She helped me bring you here after... after what happened."
Eli winced, the memory of the monster guard's brutal attack flooding back. "I had to do something, Lily," he said, his voice filled with determination. "I couldn't just stand there and watch."
Lily shook her head, her eyes filled with a mix of admiration and worry. "You were crazy, Eli," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "But also... incredibly brave."
Just then, the woman walked in, a warm smile on her face. "Thank you, Eli," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "You stood up to the monster guard, risked your life for a stranger. That was a brave thing to do."
As Eli lay in the strange bed, his body aching with pain, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had stood up to the monster guard, had tried to protect the woman. Chapter 26: The Haunting Dreams
"Lily," Eli began, his voice filled with concern. "I think you should go to my house. Let my parents know what happened."
Lily hesitated, her eyes filled with worry. "Are you sure, Eli?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "You need someone here with you."
Eli shook his head, his mind made up. "I'll be fine, Lily," he assured her, his voice steady. "You know how my parents are. They'll be worried sick."
Lily nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "Alright, Eli," she said, her voice filled with reluctance. "But promise me you'll rest."
Eli nodded, his heart filled with gratitude. As Lily left the cottage, he lay back on the bed, his body aching with pain. He closed his eyes, his mind filled with thoughts of the monster guard, the woman, and Alexander.
As he drifted off to sleep, his dreams were filled with images of grand castles, beautiful queens, and brave princes. The dreams were familiar, echoing the stories he had heard growing up. Yet, they were also terrifying, filled with images of monster guards and dark wizards.
Eli woke up screaming, his body drenched in sweat. The dreams had been more vivid than ever, more terrifying. He felt a hand on his shoulder, a soothing voice singing a lullaby.
The woman, the former queen, was by his side, her voice filled with concern. "It's okay, Eli," she said, her voice gentle. "You're safe here."
As Eli lay in the strange bed, his body shaking with fear, he couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort. The woman's lullaby was soothing, her presence reassuring. "Would you like some tea, Eli?" the woman asked, her voice filled with concern.
Eli nodded, his throat dry from the screaming. "Yes, please," he replied, his voice barely a whisper.
The woman left the room, returning a few minutes later with a steaming cup of tea. She handed it to Eli, her hands trembling slightly.
As Eli sipped the warm tea, the woman watched him, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and longing. "You look so much like your father," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "Every time I see you, it's like seeing him all over again."
Eli looked at her, his heart filled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. He had never known his father, had never seen his face. Yet, the woman's words painted a picture of a brave and loving man, a man he wished he had known.
The woman sighed, her eyes filled with regret. "I abandoned you as a newborn, Eli," she confessed, her voice filled with sorrow. "I was young, scared. Your father had been slain by the dark wizard, and I feared for your life."
Eli listened to her, his mind filled with a mix of anger and understanding. He had been abandoned, left to grow up as a farmer's son. Yet, he also understood the woman's fear, her desperation to protect him.
"I regret everything, Eli," the woman continued, her voice filled with remorse. "I should have been there for you, should have protected you."
As Eli sat in silence, his mind filled with thoughts of the woman's confession, he couldn't help but feel a sense of understanding. The woman had made mistakes, had let her fear guide her actions. Yet, she had also loved him, had tried to protect him in her own way.As Lily rushed towards Eli's house, her heart pounded in her chest. She had to let his parents know what had happened, had to assure them that Eli was safe. As she approached the house, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead.
"Eli's been hurt," she blurted out as soon as Eli's parents opened the door, her voice filled with worry. "He stood up to a monster guard, tried to save a woman. He's been badly injured."
Eli's mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "My boy," she whispered, her voice filled with fear. "Is he... is he okay?"
Lily nodded, her heart aching for the worried mother. "He's safe," she assured her, her voice steady. "The woman he saved, she's taking care of him."
Eli's father, a stern man with a heart of gold, frowned. "That was a foolish thing to do," he said, his voice filled with concern. "But that's Eli, always putting others before himself."
As Lily talked to Eli's parents, assuring them that Eli was safe and being taken care of, she couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for their son. Despite the danger, Eli had stood up to the monster guard, had tried to protect a stranger. It was a testament to his bravery, his kindness.
Realizing she was running late, Lily waved Eli's parents goodbye, promising to keep them updated. As she rushed home, her mind filled with thoughts of Eli and his bravery, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Eli was not just a friend, he was a hero, a beacon of hope in their troubled kingdom.
As Eli rested in the comfort of her home, the woman found herself alone in the living room. The room was filled with memories, echoes of laughter and love from a time long past. She found herself reminiscing about the peaceful years, the good times she had shared with her husband.
She remembered their shared dreams, their shared hopes for their kingdom. They had ruled with kindness and justice, their reign marked by peace and prosperity. Yet, those days seemed like a distant memory, a dream from another lifetime.
After the dark wizard took over the kingdom, everything had changed. Fear and despair had replaced hope and joy, their kingdom plunged into darkness. The woman found herself alone, her husband slain, her son abandoned.
As she lay on the couch, her heart filled with worry, she found herself praying. She prayed for her kingdom, for the people who lived in fear and despair. She prayed for her son, for his safety and his future.
She prayed for Eli, the young prince who was yet to accept his destiny. She prayed for his journey, for the challenges he was yet to face. She prayed for his bravery, for his kindness, for his heart that was always ready to help others.
As she lay on the couch, her heart filled with worry and hope, she couldn't help but feel a sense of determination. She had made mistakes, had let her fear guide her actions. Yet, she was ready to make amends, ready to guide her son towards his destiny.
Unbeknownst to her, her prayers were not just words of hope. They were a part of her journey, a step towards her destiny. The former queen, now aware of her son's bravery and the dangers of their kingdom, was on the brink of a journey that would change her life, and the fate of the kingdom, forever.