Albert was sitting on the chair at the balcony of his house, gazing at the serene view. The scenery extending from his balcony was filled with the soothing beauty of nature. The leaves of the trees hidden among the greenery danced in a gentle breeze, while the melodic chirping of birds formed a calming symphony. The soft light of the sun painted everything in a golden hue.
However, Albert's thoughts were in another world, far from this peaceful scene. The nightmares he had been frequently experiencing lately occupied his mind. These nightmares were often about a great war and continuously puzzled him. The presence of the leaders of the organization and Stephen in these dreams had a significant meaning to him.
The lead roles were always Stephen and Albert. In these dreams, after Stephen was expelled from the Chosen Ones, he grew even stronger and became the greatest enemy of the organization.
Due to the frequent repetition of these dreams, Albert had begun to think that they might contain a message. In the Magical World, powerful beings could sometimes convey their messages through dreams. This notion worried him because knowing that these dreams could have a meaning indicated a possible danger in the future.
Sipping his tea while watching the dance of the clouds in the sky, Albert's mind was filled with swirling thoughts.
After a long process of deliberation, Albert finally made his decision. He now had to secretly meet with Stephen and train him. This decision was a significant step for him and needed to be carefully planned.
However, while making this decision, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. The possibility of Stephen becoming the main enemy of the organization after growing stronger following his expulsion made Albert uneasy.
Albert felt a sense of peace inside, knowing he had made his decision. But now he had to meticulously execute this plan and carefully consider every detail. The peace within him helped him face this challenging process with more courage.
After making his decision, Albert quickly got up and decided to leave. Timing-wise, it would be best to meet Stephen during his least busy hours. These were the best time slots to meet with him.
He still thought that he should take the opportunity to get closer to Stephen and give him training. If he could establish a more intimate relationship with him, the fact that he was a member of the organization might turn into an advantage in Stephen's eyes. This way, they could also reduce the risk of anything happening to the organization.
Quickly getting ready, Albert left his house and headed towards the castle. Upon arriving at the castle, he asked for permission to meet with the prince and then began to wait for Stephen. The castle corridors were quiet, and Albert felt the excitement of his wait within him.
When Stephen arrived, Albert greeted him respectfully. Both smiled kindly at each other. Albert was excited to carry out his decision and also a little nervous. However, Stephen's calm and friendly demeanor gave him confidence.
Albert knew the importance of this meeting with Stephen. This could be a turning point for their future relationship. Therefore, he was aware of how crucial every word and gesture was.
Standing before Stephen, Albert bowed respectfully and began to speak. "Your Majesty, I would like to get to the point if that's acceptable to you."
Stephen, sitting comfortably in his chair, listened to Albert attentively. "Of course, please go ahead," he replied.
Albert took a deep breath and continued. "I wanted to talk about the organization's decision to expel you from the Chosen Ones," he said. There was a determined look in his eyes, and he chose his words carefully.
The atmosphere of the castle room reflected its seriousness. The wooden texture of the furniture bore the traces of the past and added a kind of mystical air to the room. The noble paintings on the walls reflected the history of the castle and emphasized the significance of the moment they were in.
Albert's words filled the silence in the room. Each word emphasized its importance and seriousness. This meeting could be a turning point in the relationship between Stephen and Albert.
Interrupting Albert, Stephen said, "I'm sorry to cut you off, but I can already guess why they expelled me. It was pretty obvious that you were lying that day." There was a determination in his voice, and despite interrupting Albert, he spoke confidently.
Albert was momentarily surprised by Stephen's words but quickly recovered. "I should have guessed. With your intelligence, you could understand that," he replied. This time, however, there was a sincerity in Albert's voice. He didn't want to hide his admiration for Stephen's intelligence.
Stephen responded, "Honestly, there's nothing requiring intelligence here. I was expelled because the Dark Force took hold of me. I think that's quite obvious." There was a note of disappointment in his voice, and it was clear that this situation deeply upset him.
Albert, though he wanted to explain other reasons, decided against it. He thought that knowing the organization was afraid of Stephen's power could create animosity between them. For this reason, he chose not to give further explanations and decided to change the subject.
"Yes, you guessed correctly, sir," said Albert with a tone of respect in his voice. "But I don't think the Sword of Justice chose you for nothing. Its other owner was your grandfather. He achieved great things and became a hero to the people. But initially, even the people didn't trust him."
Stephen listened carefully to Albert's words. "Get to the point," he responded, indicating that he wanted to clarify the subject.
Albert approached Stephen with a serious expression. "I want to personally train you in secret," he said. His voice was filled with determination, and he didn't hesitate to express his desire. "You can think of it as preparing for the Great War. I'm sure that when we win the war thanks to you, you too will become a hero to the people, just like your grandfather."
Stephen listened attentively to Albert's offer. "Honestly, I would like that too," he said. However, he had concerns. "But can you do this without getting caught by the organization?"
Albert understood Stephen's concerns. "Don't worry. I'll find a way," he replied. With a determined expression, he showed that he was committed to training Stephen no matter what.
After Stephen's words, Albert suddenly felt a different kind of energy. He realized he was facing a surge of dark energy. This was different from their previous meetings, and Albert became deeply concerned. Suddenly, he felt his power wane since his last meeting with Stephen. This situation worried him, and he immediately cast a protective spell.
Stephen was stunned by Albert's sudden intervention. He was affected by the spell and was trying to understand what was happening. Albert, on the other hand, used the spell to deeply examine Stephen's energy. He felt dark energy and realized that Stephen was cursed with dark magic.
"You are cursed with dark magic," said Albert with concern. Stephen, however, questioned himself at these words. He thought it was impossible because he didn't feel any symptoms.
"This is impossible. I feel perfectly fine. If I were cursed, I would already feel bad," replied Stephen. There was doubt in his voice, and he questioned the truth of Albert's words.
"The curse is already harming you slowly. Please follow me. I will purify the curse in you," insisted Albert. His concern and determination echoed in the room.
"I'm perfectly fine. I won't follow you!" Stephen responded angrily with furrowed brows. After these words, Albert immediately understood what kind of curse it was. The curse had taken control of Stephen, and even the promises he made about not following Albert could have been beyond his own will.
Faced with this situation, Albert shouted "Vines!" and vines began to emerge from his hands. The vines quickly wrapped around Stephen and captured him. Even though Stephen tried to shout, Albert used magic to silence him as well.
Then, Albert teleported both of them to a dimly lit place. In the center of this stone-walled area were interlocking circles etched into the ground. Around these circles, the symbols of the elements glowed neon, emphasizing the mysterious atmosphere of the room.
This moment was filled with a tense scene. The clash between Albert's power and determination and Stephen's cursed state and helplessness was palpable. The room witnessed this magnificent event, and the atmosphere reflected the intensity of this conflict.
Albert brought Stephen to the very center of the interlocking circles. He began to make strange movements with his hands, and suddenly the circle's surroundings started to glow. Fairy dust surrounded Stephen, and the room was immediately filled with a magical atmosphere. However, at that very moment, the place began to shake. Out of fear, Albert stopped the ritual and quickly teleported Stephen outside the area.
Although the place didn't collapse, the shaking continued. After taking a deep breath, Albert moved swiftly. He cast a spell to erase Stephen's memory and knocked him out. Then, he set him free and teleported him back to the palace.
⚔️⚔️⚔️
When Stephen opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by greenery. For a moment, he thought he might have fallen asleep. But as he tried to get up, he felt a wave of pain around his head and held his head in pain. Slowly, he used the ground for support to stand up and moved away from the garden.
As he left the garden, he found his uncle, Prince Sam, in front of him. There was a worried expression on Sam's face, and curiosity could be seen in his eyes directed at Stephen. The silence of the garden underscored the mystery of this sudden encounter. The shadows of the trees accompanied the dancing light patterns on the ground. The wind was gently swaying the leaves, adding to the tension of the atmosphere. The pain in Stephen's head could be felt even in the midst of this natural beauty, reflecting his inner turmoil.
"We've found out who tried to kill you," said Sam seriously, his face showing deep concern.
"Who?" asked Stephen, eagerly awaiting the answer. The silence of the garden increased the tension of this crucial moment.
"Flamea... Flamea has infiltrated a spy here and is trying to interfere with the governance of our country, but there's something even worse," replied Sam.
Stephen frowned in surprise. "What could be worse than that?" he asked anxiously. The clouds in the sky reflected the tension of waiting for this question's answer. Sam's words only scratched the surface of a danger, indicating that Flamea's true intentions were not yet fully understood.
"The same thing has happened to them. The Flamea princess was assassinated, and they are claiming that it was done by someone from Rivelia," explained Sam with a deep concern.
"But that's impossible. My father is a humanist. He's never been in favor of war," Stephen protested, astonished.
"They can't understand that. They might declare war on us," responded Sam, emphasizing the seriousness of the danger.
At that moment, Albert arrived with a worried expression and said seriously, "Your Excellency, our King summons you." Stephen felt that this call would bring bad news. The garden's atmosphere reflected the tension and uncertainty. The shadows of the trees accompanied the dancing light patterns on the ground, while the wind gently swayed the leaves. Stephen's inner turmoil became even more evident amidst these unexpected events.
They quickly left together with Albert, and when they arrived at King Edward's room, there was a tense atmosphere. Edward turned to Stephen with a sad expression and said, "War may break out, my son, and you are our only salvation." Without hesitation, Stephen replied, "I'm ready for whatever I need to do."
Edward averted his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Then, he said firmly, "I know you love another woman, but you must marry the Flamea princess. Otherwise, war cannot be avoided."
Upon hearing these words, Stephen responded in a loud voice, "Why don't we fight? We are much stronger than them!" he asked, with a confused and angry expression. The atmosphere inside the royal room reflected the difficulty of this decision and the conflict. Lights danced on the walls of the room, while Edward's saddened expression reflected the weight of the decision regarding the fate of the kingdom.
"They are strong too. If this war happens, the death of many people is inevitable. We had a war just a few years ago, and the tension between us still lingers. The only solution is for the two of you to marry," said King Edward with a determined tone.
"Father, the winner of the war is already obvious. You are sacrificing your son's happiness for the others!" Stephen responded angrily.
"No, my son, it isn't like that," objected King Edward with an expression seeking a solution on his face. The atmosphere inside the royal room reflected the tension of this argument. As lights danced within the room, the paintings on the walls silently bore witness.
"How isn't it, father? A place without war is unimaginable. Just because you don't want to fight now, do you think there will be no war later? Flamea will find another excuse and fight us, be sure of that," replied Stephen, his anger and frustration clearly evident in his voice.
"You will marry, I said, and that's final! That maid you love won't bring us any benefit anyway," King Edward reiterated his decision firmly.
Stephen was shocked by these words. He thought the man who married a dancer would be the first to understand him, but he was wrong. This man chose the country's interests over his own son, the son he found after years of searching. Stephen continued to object, but this time his father silenced him using magic.
The room reflected Stephen's inner conflict and the tension between father and son. The determination on King Edward's face and the rebellious look in Stephen's eyes filled the atmosphere of the room. As lights danced on the walls, the silence within the room emphasized the depth and significance of this argument.