Kiel and the boy looked at each other, fear and uncertainty in their eyes. They knew that their time together was short-lived, and they would soon be caught up in the chaos. But they also knew that they couldn't give up on each other, not now, not ever.
"We have to get out of here," Kiel said, his voice shaking. The boy nodded, and they both turned to run. But just as they were about to leave, a blast of magic hit them from behind, sending them flying into the wall.
Kiel felt the wind knocked out of him, and when he opened his eyes, he saw the boy lying on the floor, his body limp. Kiel scrambled to his feet and ran to the boy's side. He was barely breathing, and his body was covered in cuts and bruises. Kiel held him close, tears streaming down his face.
"Please don't leave me," Kiel whispered. "I can't lose you."
But the boy didn't respond, and his body was growing colder by the second. Kiel's heart was breaking, and he didn't know what to do. All he could do was hold the boy close and pray that he would be okay.
Just then, a bright light filled the room, blinding Kiel and forcing him to shield his eyes. When the light faded, he looked up to see a beautiful woman standing before him. She was glowing with an ethereal light, and her eyes were filled with compassion.
"Do not fear, young one," she said, her voice echoing throughout the room. "Your love is strong, and it will not be broken."
Kiel looked at the boy in his arms, and felt a surge of hope. Maybe there was a way to save him after all.
"Who are you?" Kiel asked, his voice trembling.
"I am the goddess of love," she said. "
I have watched over you and your beloved, and I have seen the strength of your love. I have come to offer you a choice. You can either give up your love, and save your people from this conflict, or you can choose to fight for your love, and risk everything."
Kiel looked down at the boy, who was still barely clinging to life. He knew that if he chose to give up his love, the boy would survive, but he would never be the same. He would never know the love they shared, and Kiel would have to live with the knowledge that he had given up on the one person who meant the most to him. But if he chose to fight for his love, the boy's life would be in danger, and the entire world could be at risk. Kiel knew he had to make a choice, but it was the hardest decision he had ever faced.
"What if I choose to fight, and we lose?" Kiel asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"That is a risk you must be willing to take," the goddess said. "But know that your love is stronger than you think. If you choose to fight, your love will be your greatest weapon."
Kiel looked down at the boy, and thought of all the times they had shared. He thought of the joy and happiness they had brought to each other, and the way their love had made the world a brighter place. He couldn't bear the thought of losing that, even if it meant saving the world. He had to fight for their love, no matter what the cost.
"I choose to fight," Kiel said, his voice steady and strong. "I will not give up on our love, or on him."
The goddess smiled, and a warm light enveloped Kiel and the boy. Kiel felt his strength returning, and the boy's breath grew steadier. As the light faded, Kiel looked down to see the boy's eyes fluttering open. He looked up at Kiel, and a smile spread across his face.
"I love you," the boy said, his voice hoarse but strong.
"I love you too," Kiel said, tears of joy streaming down his face. "And I will always fight for our love."
The goddess nodded, and then she was gone, leaving Kiel and the boy alone in the now-empty room. They held each other.
Kayla and Damian had been searching for Kiel for hours, and they were starting to lose hope. They had checked every room in the palace, and there was still no sign of him. Kayla's heart was racing, and she couldn't stop thinking about the worst-case scenario. She couldn't bear the thought of losing Kiel, her best friend and the person she loved most in the world.
"I can't believe we still haven't found him," Kayla said, her voice shaking. "What if something happened to him?"
Damian put his arm around her and pulled her close. "
We're not going to give up," he said, his voice determined. "I know we'll find him, Kayla. We just have to keep looking."
Kayla nodded, and they continued their search. They checked every nook and cranny of the palace, but there was still no sign of Kiel. Just as Kayla was beginning to despair, they heard a faint sound coming from the direction of the throne room. They rushed to the room, and there, huddled in a corner, was Kiel and the boy. Kayla let out a sob of relief, and ran to hug Kiel.
Kiel hugged Kayla back, and then introduced her to the boy, who was still looking a bit dazed. Kayla smiled at him, and introduced herself. The boy's face lit up, and he told them his name was Lucas. Kiel explained how they had found each other, and how Lucas had been hurt, but was now on the mend. Kayla was so relieved to see Kiel safe and sound, and she was happy to meet Lucas, who seemed like a kind and gentle soul.
After catching their breath, Kiel, Kayla, and Damian made their way back to the castle infirmary. Kayla and Damian helped Kiel and Lucas get settled in the infirmary, and then they went in search of the royal healer. When they found him, they explained what had happened to Lucas, and the healer examined him. He said that Lucas was going to be just fine, and that he would make a full recovery. Kayla and Damian were so relieved, and they thanked the healer profusely.
That night, Kayla and Damian stayed by Kiel's side as he slept. They were so grateful that he was safe, and they couldn't wait to see him wake up. The next morning, they were overjoyed to see Kiel's eyes flutter open. He smiled at them, and asked how Lucas was doing. Kayla and Damian told him that Lucas was doing well, and that the healer had said he would make a full recovery. Kiel sighed in relief, and then told them what had happened to him.
Kiel explained how he had been wandering the halls of the palace, when he had heard a crash coming from a room nearby. He had rushed to the room, and found Lucas lying on the ground, bleeding and unconscious. He had immediately called for help, and the royal healer had come running. They had worked together to stabilize Lucas, and then brought him to the infirmary. Kiel said that he was so glad that he had found Lucas when he did, and that he was so relieved that he was going to be okay.
Kayla and Damian were so impressed by Kiel's bravery and quick thinking. They knew that if it hadn't been for him, Lucas might not have made it. They were so proud of him, and they told him so. Kiel blushed, and said that he was just glad he had been able to Lucas sat up in his infirmary bed, and turned to face Kiel and Kayla. He took a deep breath, and said, "There's something I need to tell you both. My name isn't really Lucas. It's Lucien. And I'm not just a human. I'm a phoenix demigod."
Kiel and Kayla stared at Lucien in shock. They had never heard of a phoenix demigod before, and they had no idea what to say. Lucien continued, "I know this is a lot to take in, but please, let me
Lucien took a deep breath, and then looked Kiel directly in the eyes. "There's something else you should know, Kiel. You and I, we're actually soulmates. The Supreme Ones have chosen us for each other, and we're meant to be together."
Kiel's eyes widened, and he couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had always thought that soulmates were just a myth, but here was Lucien, telling him that they were soulmates, chosen by the Supreme Ones themselves. Kiel didn't know what to think or how to feel. This was so much to Kayla and Damian were not going to let this stand. They were not going to let Lucien manipulate their brother like this. They both stepped forward, and stood protectively in front of Kiel.
"You're not going to deceive our brother with this nonsense," Kayla said, her voice firm and determined. "He's not going to believe a word you say."
Damian nodded in agreement. "You're not going to take advantage of Kiel's kindness and trust. He deserves better than that."
Lucien held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm not.