Amber, after Stephen put on the ring, came like a storm and bombarded Stephen with questions. "What happened? What did you talk about?" The curiosity and excitement in her eyes were clearly visible. Stephen showed the ring gifted to him and said, "He apologized to me and gave this ring as a gift."
Amber took the ring off Stephen's finger to examine it closely. There were signs of astonishment on her face. "Wow, this is a ring made of Nethariat stone, which is very rare in the Magical World! It is indeed very valuable. I wouldn't have expected such a gift from him," she remarked in amazement.
Stephen explained Amber's unexpected actions towards the person who gave the ring. "Honestly, I was also surprised. At first, I thought the ring might be poisoned. So, I asked him to check it before I wore it. Then he gave it to me," he added.
"A wise move. Anyway, I have to go. I have work to do."
With Amber indicating that she had to leave, Stephen said, "See you," seemingly relaxed, but Amber sensed something was off about him. Amber, noticing the change in Stephen's demeanor, thought he seemed to be in low spirits.
"You don't seem to be yourself today," she said carefully.
Stephen shook his head, "Never mind, I'm just tired," he said, but Amber wanted to see his true feelings.
"It's because of that maid, isn't it?" she asked more insistently.
With a serious expression, Stephen said, "Amber, drop it," looking away with a sad expression.
Amber spoke in a gentle tone to calm him, "Alright, don't worry. Our father knows about it too," she said, trying to support him.
"And what was his reaction?"
"He didn't care much."
Edward's reaction was predictably calm and indifferent. Seeing this, Stephen's expression darkened even more. With sorrow, he said, "I would have expected that from him already..." Seeing his sad state, Amber felt a sense of regret.
"I'm sorry," she said sincerely.
Nodding with a slight smile, Stephen replied, "Never mind. I'll probably get better," but he was still sad inside.
Hoping he would recover quickly, Amber said, "I hope you get better soon. Because I think Master Albert is hesitant to ask you. He's been pressing me hard to tell him what's going on with you," she said, trying to support him.
Amber explained to Stephen her interactions with Master Albert, usually brushing off his questions. However, she noted that Master Albert had noticed this behavior and said he would investigate the matter.
"He's a good person, but I really don't like this behavior of his," she said, expressing her discomfort.
Trying to lighten the mood jokingly, Amber said, "Maybe he's in love with you," making a joke and laughing at her own wit. However, Stephen's reaction was unexpected. He looked at her with empty eyes, not finding the joke funny at all.
"I was just trying to cheer you up with a joke, but that didn't work either," she sighed, feeling hopeless.
"Amber, weren't you leaving last I checked?" Stephen said with a slight frown.
Amber was discomforted by her brother's last question. It felt like he wanted her to get away from there. At first, Amber thought Stephen was making a joke, but when she saw his expression, she realized the truth. It was as if Stephen was saying "Go," but he hadn't said it outright. Amber thought to herself, No good deed goes unpunished.
With these thoughts, she walked away with a heavy heart, her steps weighed down as if she were carrying a heavy burden. Her mind was fraught with complicated emotions. While walking, her thoughts were turbulent. She couldn't make sense of Stephen's sudden love and was filled with doubts about this love. But she decided to put these thoughts aside for the moment.
As soon as Amber walked away, Stephen suddenly heard a strange, deep voice. He recognized that voice; it was the same one he had heard at that mysterious mansion a few weeks ago. Tiredly, Stephen asked, "Is it you again?"
Yes, it's me again. But this time, I haven't come with ill intentions.
The voice responded in a mysterious and echoing manner, carrying a focused air. Amber paused for a moment, trying to understand what this voice was, feeling a tension inside. Because this voice carried traces of past events and created a disturbing effect on her. This unexpected encounter resonated deeply within Stephen's inner world.
"I don't believe you," Stephen said resolutely.
It's normal for you not to believe me, Stephen. But the truth is, if you want to find the woman you love, you need to escape from this ridiculous castle and the Dark Lord, the voice echoed with a mysterious and eerie tone.
Sincerely, Stephen asked, "Yes, but how?" with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
You only need to relinquish the Sword of Justice, the voice replied, almost as if offering a deal.
"I am ready to do anything to be with her. Living without her is too painful," Stephen said determinedly. But immediately, with an expression full of doubt, he added, "But I'm sure you are not trustworthy," expressing his internal conflict.
As long as you hold that thought, you won't even know if Alicia is alive or dead, the voice echoed like a threat.
"You can't manipulate me using her!" Stephen countered firmly.
Stephen, you believe she will come to you, don't you? But she can also disappear, she can die. Anything can happen to her. Don't you want to search for her? the voice continued, insidiously infiltrating his mind.
"Of course, I do. But she said she would be back in a few days. Obviously, she went somewhere far away. It might not be well received if I leave for so long," Stephen replied, with a worried expression.
I will provide this for you, making you search for her by abandoning everything. No one will be able to oppose you because you have used all your power. The tone of the voice sounded almost like a promise but also carried a dangerous allure.
Stephen was deep in thought. Normally, he would reject such an offer immediately, but he hadn't seen Alicia for so long that he was nearly losing his mind. As days passed, he seemed to develop an obsession with that girl. He couldn't understand why, but it was nagging at him. Although he wanted to question his feelings, it was as if some force were preventing him.
Wrestling with thoughts that wandered through his mind like a complex maze, Stephen was overwhelmed. Alicia's face, voice, smile, and every moment with her replayed in his mind. His longing for her was like a fire devouring him from the inside. This passionate feeling surprised even himself. However, he didn't know what to do. He felt blocked, as if he couldn't make his own decisions.
This internal struggle made him restless. He was constantly overwhelmed with questions but couldn't find any answers. Alicia's absence felt like a void to him, and he didn't know how to fill it. This offer seemed like a perfect fit for him.
As Stephen looked at the offer in astonishment, he was also battling an internal struggle. In the end, he was caught between the desire to find Alicia and the promises of this mysterious voice.
"So, how are you going to do this? How do I know you won't kill me?" he asked, voicing his doubt.
If I kill you, I will cease to exist as well. That won't get me anything. Besides, I already told you how I will do it. I will enable you to use all your power and potential, the voice replied in a convincing tone.
"Okay, but what will you gain from helping me?" Stephen asked curiously.
I will be free from your thoughts and your mind. I will become a free spirit.
Stephen decided to accept this offer without hesitation. "Alright. We can make a deal then," he said, with determination in his voice.
In Stephen's mind, a wave of complex emotions brought on by this sudden decision ruled. He had to accept a truth: he was at a crossroads, and he had made his decision about what lay ahead.
The voice let out a loud, triumphant laugh. Finally, you have allowed me to taste your soul! After shouting, black smoke began to rise from the ring and suddenly surrounded Stephen. He felt as if he were under a hypnotic spell. He couldn't control his body, feeling a power long hidden within him being unleashed. The power within him was far too much for a normal human to bear, yet it gave him a kind of pleasure.
While everything was going exactly as he wanted, he suddenly felt his consciousness being seized. As he fought this condition with his thoughts, malevolent ideas began to dominate his mind. Blood, savagery, and an unending desire to kill tried to take over his mind. When he started to feel a sudden pain in his head, he began to clutch his head with his hands. He was still in a conflict with the dark entity that was trying to take control of his consciousness.
The chaos in his mind was tearing through his body. Writhing in agony, the outcome of the internal battle was unknown.
While Stephen's internal conflict was still unresolved, he suddenly felt all the black smoke around him withdraw. He carefully examined his reflection in the pond and was shocked to notice that he was dressed like a king. However, his clothes were adorned with shades of red and black. His hair had turned to the darkest shade of black, his eyes had reddened, and his skin was as pale as a vampire's.
He trembled with astonishment at the transformation he saw. The dark power inside him seemed to have taken complete control. But Stephen still felt conscious. He felt alien even in his own body. His new appearance reminded him that he was both powerful and a dark entity.
He examined his reflection in the mirror more closely. There was determination and ambition on his face. He knew he had to cope with this new self. He had now become a part of his internal war, and no matter how frightening it was, he had to control this power.
Stephen was filled with a desire to kill. It was as if there were two different voices in his head: one saying "kill," the other saying "don't kill." This dilemma deeply troubled him. He was trapped between the dark forces of nature and his human feelings.
Suddenly, Stephen felt intense pain. The voice in his head was saying, "If you don't kill, you will die!" as if pressuring him. However, Stephen did not want to harm anyone. He had to find a way to control the dark power within him. Therefore, he decided to play a game with that voice. He was in a mental battle and needed to develop a strategy to win.
When he was suddenly transported from the pond to the king's chamber, his sudden arrival shocked his father Edward and his aides. They took a defensive stance against this suddenly appearing person, with their weapons at the ready.
Edward fixed his eyes on his son. He noticed that, except for the color of his eyes and hair, this person was the exact replica of his son. However, this only increased his confusion. He immediately ordered those around him to stand down. Then, as he rose from his seat, he approached his son.
A tense silence prevailed in the room. Everyone was waiting in curiosity to know why Stephen was here. Edward, filled with mixed emotions, approached his son, looking at him with both concern and curiosity.
Stephen remained silent in the face of his father's approaching question, his determination becoming more apparent as he turned to his father and took a deep breath. "I am no longer your son. The innocent Stephen is dead now!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the room. His eyes no longer held the innocence and purity they once did; they carried a dark air. This new Stephen was very different from the old one.
He pointed his finger towards his father, and with a momentary touch, his father Edward turned into a statue. The petrified figure stood in the middle of the room, and Stephen's face showed no sign of emotion at the sight. However, inside, a blend of guilt and shock churned within him. Despite this, the feeling of pleasure he experienced overshadowed these emotions, drowning him in his own ruthlessness.
But his mind was also filled with worries. No, no, I must prevent these thoughts from taking over. he thought, struggling to control the dark power within him. However, the dark entity inside him grew stronger with every passing minute. The internal battle was trying to seize Stephen's soul and mind.
Can you feel the pleasure you experienced? Come on, continue.
All the guards suddenly started rushing into the room. Other people also began to attack Stephen, but they couldn't stop him. Stephen swung his sword, deflecting all the attacks back at his enemies. With his next move, he swung his sword, turning everyone around him into stone. While performing this act, he felt his power increase, the dark force within him providing a feeling of superiority.
When he reached the middle of the castle, he swung his sword and struck it into the ground. Suddenly, the foundations of the palace began to shake, and one by one, others turned to stone. Stephen then proceeded to the throne room and sat on the throne with a feeling of loneliness. As he observed his surroundings, he realized that he was now the only one in the palace. Among the petrified figures, he sat alone on his throne, projecting an image of strength and determination. But inside, he felt a wave of loneliness as he contemplated the consequences of his actions. Now under the dominion of a dark power, he continued his internal struggle.
As he watched the innocent people he had turned to stone, there was no longer any sense of pain on Stephen's face. However, the feeling of pleasure was also absent. He stared blankly at his surroundings. Amidst the petrified bodies, stone eyes that had witnessed his actions looked around silently and blankly.
However, he was suddenly startled by a voice. That voice pierced through the deep silence within him, bringing him abruptly back to reality. This voice rekindled memories of the past, creating a moment of distraction within him. Despite being under the dominance of the dark power, Stephen remembered his internal battle with this sudden jolt. He was still struggling to control his own soul and mind, but this voice reminded him that it was not over yet.