When Stephen opened his eyes, he found himself in the cold, dark corridors of an ancient castle. The castle's atmosphere was bleak, and it was clear from every corner that the place had long been abandoned. Once a grand and magnificent structure, it was now in ruins, with cracked walls and moss-covered stones. Spider webs hanging from the high ceilings caught the thin beams of light filtering in, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air. Every step he took caused the wooden floors to creak, breaking the profound silence of this aged place.
Inside the castle were only remnants of what must have once been splendid furnishings and decor. Large halls that had once been lit by grand chandeliers now exuded an eerie feeling with their dark and dim corners. The castle conjured up ghosts of the past in Stephen's mind, revealing the splendor and opulence that had once filled every corner.
As soon as he woke, Stephen carefully began to examine his surroundings. His gaze roamed over the broken furniture and scattered debris. Every corner seemed to hold a story, but the merciless passage of time had swept those stories away. The wooden floors, rugs, and curtains were all worn, faded, and decayed. Even breathing in this dusty, desolate place was becoming difficult.
At that moment, a flash of light blinded him. The Justice Sword suddenly appeared beside Stephen. But the sword had brought something else with it: a letter bearing his own name. Seeing the letter, his heart began to beat with excitement. He hurriedly opened it and started reading.
The letter was written by Albert. The words within it pulled Stephen into an unknown world. It spoke of the Grand Mage, someone he didn't know but could tell from the text was an important and revered prophet. In the letter, Albert wrote that Stephen had to kill the Queen of Evils.
Stephen paused for a moment with the
information in the letter. A multitude of
questions swirled in his mind. Who was
this prophet, and what kind of person
was the Queen of Evils? But the castle
was not the place to ask these
questions. With a single thought, he
steadied himself. lfl can escape from
here, I will find her and kill her too. This
resolution echoed through the dark
castle and etched itself into Stephen's
mind.
While reading the letter, one sentence in
particular caught his attention: I trust
you, Stephen. You will avenge my wife,
my daughter, and millions of innocent
people. Even ifl am no longer here, you
will take revenge for them.. and for me.
These words carried a more profound,
emotional weight than the rest of the
letter. This line resonated in Stephen's
mind and left a heaviness in his heart.
Under the influence of this sentence,
many thoughts arose in Stephen's mind
"Could this letter actually be advice given
before death?" he asked himself. The
possibility that something had
happened to Albert began to worry
Stephen. This thought created an ache
in his heart. The fact that Albert trusted
him to avenge his wife, his daughter
and millions of innocent people
burdened Stephen with a tremendous
responsibility.
The weight of this responsibility pressed
down on Stephen's shoulders. Who were
Albert's wife and daughter? What kind of
tragedy had they endured? How had the
lives of millions of innocent people
been tormented? As these questions
tured over in his mind, Albert's words,
"Even if1 am no longer here." plunged
Stephen into deep concern. The idea
that something might have happened to
Albert began to burn within Stephen like
a smoldering ember.
This part of the letter stirred a storm in
Stephen's mind. Albert's trust and
expectation placed a great duty upon
him. While he felt the determination to
seek revenge, the thought of what might
have happened to Albert gnawed at him,
These words sounded like a final will.
Perhaps Albert had left this letter for
Stephen with one last hope. Maybe he
had foreseen his own end and left
Stephen as a beacon of hope.
As Stephen read the letter, he felt his
emotions intensify. The trust and task
Albert had placed upon him had become
a personal matter.It was not merely a
mission but a matter of honor and
loyalty. He knew he must dedicate
himself to avenging Albert, avenging his
wife and daughter, and alleviating the
pain of millions of innocent souls.
As these thoughts left deep marks in Stephen's mind and heart, the final sentence of the letter served as a guiding light for him. Albert's absence fueled Stephen's desire for vengeance even more. The emotional and powerful words in Albert's letter reinforced Stephen's resolve and gave him the courage he needed to advance down this difficult path.
Quickly rising to his feet, Stephen began to search for the castle's door, only to find it locked. For a moment, he felt disheartened, but he then decided that exploring the castle was his best option. As he wandered through the abandoned corridors, he finally noticed an open door and stepped inside. However, what awaited him in the room was far from what he expected.
As he entered, he was greeted by a terrifying sight: a large wave of dark energy. The source of this dark energy wave was a young woman who had been taken over by the Dark Force. Her hands and arms were bound, indicating her helplessness and defenselessness. Stephen looked at the scene in astonishment, as those possessed by the Dark Force usually gained extra strength and could escape with this power. Yet, the woman, bound as she was, could not use her powers.
Stephen approached her and examined her bindings. Each rope radiated magical energy, explaining why she couldn't break free. The dark energy wave had concentrated around her, trapping her in a sort of cage. The woman remained silent about how she had fallen into the clutches of the Dark Force and why she was in such a state.
Stephen stood beside her, deep in thought. He mentally struggled to understand the reasons behind this situation. Seeing the terrifying position she was in sparked something within him. He knew he had to do something to save her. This young woman, held captive by the Dark Force, might play a significant role.
Stephen moved with determination. He was ready to rescue the woman and fight against the Dark Force. He would use his strength to overcome the mysterious events in the depths of the castle and would struggle to bring justice.
The woman's desperate cries and tears stirred a deep emotional response within Stephen. Her anguished pleas further solidified his resolve. "Please save me!" she screamed, her voice echoing off the walls, piercing his heart. The tears streaming from her eyes showed just how profoundly desperate she was. Seeing this, Stephen summoned all his strength to move faster.
When he heard her words of distress, Stephen immediately drew the Sword of Justice. He tried to cut through the ropes one by one, but he realized that it would take not only his physical strength but also his magical abilities. Sensing the ropes' enchanted nature, he began using magic to break the bindings. With each rope he cut, the dark energy wave intensified, filling the surrounding atmosphere.
After an intense struggle lasting around 10-15 minutes, he finally managed to free the woman. Once she regained her freedom, she collapsed next to Stephen, exhausted and weary. Her first request, however, was surprising: "Water… Do you have any water?" Her words revealed not only pain and fatigue but also a thirst and hunger.
Stephen immediately looked around to fulfill her request. However, in this abandoned castle, finding water was nearly impossible. He shook his head regretfully and looked at her with compassion. "Unfortunately," he said, trying to hide his concern. Then he added, "How many days have you been here?"
The woman responded with an expression filled with uncertainty. "I don't know; I think I lost track of time. Maybe a day, maybe even more."
Hearing her words, Stephen felt a pang of sadness. Thinking about how long she'd been trapped in this dark castle was sorrowful for him. But immediately after, he began thinking practically. "If we can find a way out of this castle, we might be able to get you the water you need," he suggested.
The woman, however, expressed that she wasn't worried about her need for water. "It's fine; I don't need it right now," she said, standing up with difficulty. As Stephen observed her strained movements, he kept the Sword of Justice at the ready. "Please, let me heal you first. The Dark Force drains a lot of energy," he said with concern in his voice.
The woman insisted she didn't need healing. "Healing? I'm perfectly fine!" she replied defensively.
Stephen sensed her tension rising. He called to her, asking her to stay calm. "I can feel that you're getting tense. First, take it easy. I'm not going to harm you. I'm just looking out for your well-being."
The woman had difficulty believing Stephen's words. "I don't need your kindness!" she replied, still in a defensive tone.
Despite her stubbornness, Stephen didn't stop caring about her well-being. "You just got saved thanks to me. And you can still be saved," he said with a hopeful tone. He was determined to help her and free her from the grip of the Dark Force.
The young woman quietly left the room, ignoring Stephen's words. Stephen immediately set out to follow her, carefully watching her every movement and evaluating each step. Occasionally, the woman seemed to sense she was being watched, turning to check her surroundings. In those moments, Stephen quickly hid, blending silently into the shadows.
The woman eventually reached the end of the corridor, where a large door stood. She resolutely opened it and entered a grand room. Stephen quietly followed, slipping into the room unseen. At the center of the room was a large, ornate mirror. However, the glass of this mirror was unlike any other; it was very dark, almost as if it harbored a dark energy within it.
The woman stood before the mirror and began to speak, her tone filled with sadness and a sense of despair. From the shadows, Stephen carefully observed her, straining to understand her words and emotions. He sensed from her tone and body language that her despair reflected a deep struggle with darkness. Yet, the mirror's dark and mysterious aura only made her words more cryptic.
As her voice echoed, Stephen listened intently. "My lord, we possess that power as well. Allow us to revive you. Why do you refuse?" she said softly. The response from the Lord of Darkness came with a weary sigh, "The world, with its people, is worse than hell itself. Let me find peace in the afterlife."
Stephen listened in astonishment, trying to comprehend the depth of the Lord of Darkness's suffering and inner conflict from the conversation.
"We cannot do this, my lord. Your soul is trapped in this world, and if you wish to move on, you must first be revived and then die once more."
The Lord of Darkness's reply was filled with defiance, "Why?! Why?" he shouted, and Stephen felt a wave of sadness wash over him at the sound of that anguished cry.
"Because your previous body was cursed."
The Lord of Darkness's final, desperate plea tugged at Stephen's heart, "I do not want to be revived…"
"Then do you wish for your soul to endure agony for another 500 years before fading away?"
The Lord of Darkness fell silent, lost in
thought. After a while, he said, '1 don't
want to be revived right now." But the
woman ignored his words and began to
cast the revival spell. First, she took an
object from her pocket-a necklace. She
placed it in the middle of the room and
began to arrange candles around it
Then she found a dagger and cut her
hand. During this, Stephen slowly moved
closer to her without her even noticing
She was so focused on her task that she
didn't realize he was approaching. She
drew a circle around the candles with
her blood. Then, she raised her arms.
Stephen watched silently from the dark
corners of the room. The woman's
movements became increasingly
intense, creating a mysterious
atmosphere within the room. The light
appearing around the necklace and the
candles spread throughout the room,
illuminating everything. Stephen was
mesmerized by the scene; the woman's
hand, covered in blood from the cut,
looked as though it was part of a ritual
under the glow of the candles. As she
raised her arms, the atmosphere in the
room grew even more intense. The dark
energy swirling around seemed to
respond to her actions. Stephen could
feel the power of the spell she was
casting, there was an almost electric
energy in the air.
"O spiritus Domini tenebrarum! Clamo ad te. Veni animam tuam a tormento, quod est passum per annos, cum carmine dejecto salvare. Contumaciam tuam omitte, et accipe hoc firmum corpus quod pro te attuli!"
"I said I don't want it, girl! I don't want it," he said, emphasizing each word in his last sentence.
"Tu es iustitia. Utriusque mundi trutina morte tua turbata est. Haec inaequalitas nisi tua magnifica potentia corrigi potest. Cur hoc non vis intellegere?"
"It won't get better. It's best to let everything take its course."
"Nulla id purus purus. Sed non vis accipere. Contumaciam tuam omitte. Scio te etiam vitae saporem degustare."
In the mysterious atmosphere of the room, Stephen channeled a significant amount of positive energy into the Justice Sword to stop the woman's spell. When he touched her with the sword, he felt all the energy in the room for a moment. The woman's resurrection spell was abruptly interrupted. Then, when the woman began to speak again, her magical tone had changed.
As she touched the sword, the woman struggled to pull away due to the influence of the dark energy within her. However, she felt a noticeable decrease in the amount of dark energy inside her. The atmosphere of the room began to stabilize with Stephen's intervention.
When Stephen sensed this sudden change, he felt a wave of relief. The power of the Justice Sword seemed to weaken the Dark Power's influence. However, the dark energy in the room had not completely vanished. A threat was still palpable.
The woman's condition remained uncertain. She wore an expression of surprise and concern on her face. The abruptly cut spell seemed to have startled her.
Stephen felt the tense atmosphere in the room. The emotions overflowing from the woman's words filled the space. The struggle between darkness and light had left deep marks on both sides' souls.
"You... You are the Queen of Evils, aren't you?" Stephen said boldly.
The woman turned to Stephen with a piercing gaze. "How did you know of my existence, master?" she asked, her voice still filled with mystery.
Stephen replied with determination, "That doesn't concern you. Why are you trying to resurrect him against his will? Can't you understand that he doesn't want this?"
The woman looked at Stephen with eyes blazing with anger. "Mind your own business!" she retorted.
Stephen made an effort to understand her words. "What do you mean by that? As you said, I am the master, and everything related to the Lord of Darkness concerns me as well."
The woman's reaction was filled with fury. "You're the last thing I needed in this miserable life of mine! Why must I fail at everything?" she said, nearly on the verge of tears, her voice trembling as she spoke. She took a deep breath and continued, "No... No... This time, I won't fail, even at the cost of my own life!"
With her words, the woman conjured a large mass of dark energy and hurled it toward Stephen. Reacting quickly, Stephen used a strike from the Justice Sword to shatter the energy mass into small fragments. However, as a result of this sudden attack, a black mass began to spread and envelop the room. Stephen immediately used a protective spell to shield himself from the harmful effects of the dark energy.
"Are you just going to cast defensive spells? Attack me!" the woman shouted, her voice filled with ambition and anger.
Stephen remained in a defensive position to protect himself. "There hasn't been a need to attack yet," he replied in a calm tone.
The woman's response was filled with rage. "Well, it's about to happen now!" she said with a dark smile.
Stephen was momentarily taken aback by the woman's sudden aggression. The dark energy within her seemed to have taken control. This situation indicated that he needed to be cautious. He knew there was a deep conflict within her soul, and he was ready to act with even more determination to save her.
God... this woman has lost her mind, Stephen thought as he struggled against the darkness in the room. He tightly shut his eyes and tried to feel the positive energy within himself. He needed to find his inner strength to win this battle.
The woman charged her hands with a massive amount of dark energy and shouted, "Black Hole!" A black sphere suddenly emerged, beginning to consume everything around it. However, this didn't worry Stephen. A true black hole would even absorb light, but this "black hole" didn't seem like a real one. This indicated that it wasn't as powerful as it appeared.
Stephen quickly reacted. "Light of Positivity!" he called out, hurling a large white sphere he created toward the black hole. When they collided, a massive gray explosion erupted. Stephen immediately shouted, "Shield!" and pulled back, protecting himself from the blast.
In that moment, a powerful wave of energy echoed throughout the room. The explosion caused a significant vibration in the chamber. As dust particles danced in the air, Stephen's shield provided him safety from the effects of the blast.
Stephen's guess had been correct. The "black hole" was not as powerful as he had expected. The positive energy he used to counter her spell had given him an advantage. However, despite this victory, the tense atmosphere in the room still lingered. Stephen could feel the dark energy surrounding both him and the woman, and the struggle was far from over.
"The Blonde of Shadows," the woman said, and suddenly everything was engulfed in darkness. Stephen quickly created a sphere of light in his hand, beginning to fight against the encroaching darkness. Trusting his reflexes, he formed the sphere and then turned around. The woman was advancing toward him with a dagger in hand, her eyes shining with determination.
Stephen moved swiftly to deflect the woman's dagger. Gripping her arm tightly, he seized the dagger from her. However, the moment he took hold of it, he felt a sharp pain in his head. The dagger was filled with dark energy, and it was harming his body. Struggling against the pain, Stephen quickly used the Sword of Justice to disrupt the woman's focus.
Then, he moved rapidly to destabilize her, injuring her foot and causing her to fall to the ground. As she hit the floor, Stephen quickly bound her again. Using magic, he tightened the ropes even more. Now it was nearly impossible for her to escape from these bindings.
Now, Stephen approached her with the Sword of Justice. "Amaranthinos," he said, touching her with the sword. But nothing changed. Stephen was in shock. He was certain that the woman had been taken over by the Dark Power.
The room had fallen into silence after this tense and intense struggle. Stephen, breathless, contemplated the consequences of the trial he faced.
The woman was just staring blankly at Stephen. He felt that the amount of dark energy within her had diminished slightly, but her emotions and thoughts remained uncertain. Then, he thought sadly, just as the Grand Sorcerer said, I have to kill her...
Forcibly, he took the Sword of Justice and, with trembling hands, plunged it into the woman's heart. As she screamed in pain, Stephen tried to close his eyes and ears to avoid seeing or hearing the scene. However, before she died, the woman suddenly transformed.
The room filled with this unexpected transformation. Stephen watched in shock as the woman changed form. Suddenly, her body took on the shape of another being. This transformation altered the entire atmosphere in the room, intensifying the anxiety and confusion within Stephen.
His pupils dilated as he focused on the woman. "N-n-no..." he stammered, forcing the words out. His voice trembled, and suddenly his whole body began to shake. Fear and shock left deep marks on his face. "H-h-how is this possible? Impossible!" he exclaimed, tears streaming from his eyes.
The room overflowed with Stephen's screams and tremors. The air was charged with tension, and neither side could predict what would happen next. Stephen's inner world was now a turmoil of confusion and chaos. The woman's unexpected transformation had shaken all the foundations of his mind.
The woman said quietly, "I'm sorry, Stephen..." Her voice carried a sigh and regret.
"No!" Stephen shouted at the top of his lungs. He had inflicted fatal damage on the woman he had just "loved" without even knowing who she was. As tears streamed down his face, he struggled to comprehend the event. He applied every type of supportive magic to Alicia with his hands, but it was in vain. These spells could only keep Alicia alive for a few more seconds.
Alicia forced her mouth open and said, "Please don't blame yourself, my love. I am a traitor, and I am paying the price for it..." But before she could finish her sentence, her eyes suddenly closed.
Stephen screamed again and began to
cry, His eyes suddenly fixated on the
sword. "! hate you! You ruined my life.
You took the woman I loved from me!1
wish my hands had broken the first time
they touched you!" he shouted at the
sword with hateful eyes and plunged it
into his own heart. After crying out in
pain, he collapsed to the ground, his
eyes closing forever to life.
In the room, silence reigned, echoing
Stephen's cries of anguish. The air was
thick with a deep scent of sorrow and
regret. Stephen's heart was filled not
only with love and hope but also with
anger and pain. Tears fell from his face,
landing on the ground, unable to erase
the traces of the tragedy that had
unfolded there. Nothing could quell the
feelings of darkness and helplessness
within him anymore.
A few days later...
Elizabeth smiled and said, "I admire your cunning more and more every day, Alexa." After savoring her tea, Alexa replied, "Yes, indeed. I'm not very clever, but luckily I'm cunning. That saves me."
Elizabeth asked with curiosity, "But why did you lead the man you were obsessed with to his death with your own hands? I'm curious about that."
Alexa laughed and answered, "Ahahaha. What obsession? For God's sake. I just wanted him because I found the boy handsome. It didn't really matter to me."
"Then why did you act that way?"
"My marriage was secretly to interfere with Rivelia's governance system. When I realized I wouldn't succeed at that, I wanted to strike Rivelia in a different way. So, I teleported to Stephen to make him see the true face of the woman he loved. And he ended up dead. Result: Rivelia has no male heir left. That means chaos will ensue in the country."
"You truly are perfect."
"Ahahah. I know, I know."
⚔️⚔️⚔️
King Edward sat on the balcony with a sorrowful expression. The balcony had been specially built for Layla, and the view from it evoked memories of happier times in the past. Edward turned his gaze to the garden and said, "I'm sorry, Layla. I couldn't protect our son," his voice filled with deep sadness, the words struggling to come out.
Just then, Sam rushed to Edward's side. With a worried expression, he said, "You called for me, brother."
Edward turned to Sam and continued speaking: "Sam, I know Philipp is alive."
Sam opened his eyes in shock and protested, "That can't be true!"
"You don't need to hide it any longer. I didn't call you here with bad intentions. I won't harm him either. Do you know where Philipp is?" Edward asked.
Sam fell into deep thought. As he anxiously considered what to say, Edward added, "I take your silence as a yes."
A sorrowful and mysterious atmosphere enveloped the royal palace's balcony. Edward's worried expression, Sam's internal conflict, and the tension created by the great secret that hung in the air were all palpable.
"Brother—"
Edward interrupted Sam, saying, "Sam." He continued, "My father was right."
Sam, confused, asked, "Right about what?"
"A king must be ruthless. For the sake of his country, he should show mercy to no one. A king must disregard his emotions, even his family if necessary. He told me that when I took the throne, I could never be a better king than you. He was right," Edward said.
"Don't think like that, brother. The people are pleased with you," Sam replied, trying to comfort him.
"We'll see their satisfaction again when there is war with Flamea. Both of us will likely struggle greatly in that war. Taxes will be increased. I couldn't even prevent a single war. I've lost my closest friend Albert and the son I found after years. It's a miracle that I haven't killed myself. I cannot govern a country when I'm this emotionally weak," Edward sighed deeply.
On the palace balcony, a cold wind blew, and the sky was covered with clouds, as if foretelling the country's future. King Edward had a sorrowful expression on his face, reflecting his predicament and helplessness. Sam, on the other hand, didn't know how to comfort his brother, as Edward's expressed concerns carried a heavy burden.
King Edward's words had stunned Sam. "Let's say you're not a good king, but what can you do?" Sam asked, his voice filled with worry.
"I'm leaving the throne. I'm taking my daughter and getting out of here. I'll live like a normal person," Edward replied with a determined tone.
"What? What will happen to the fate of the entire country?" Sam's voice trembled as he asked.
"Philipp could govern better than me, trust me," Edward answered.
"Brother, you just said it yourself. There will be war. What will the people do? What will this country do without you?" Sam questioned, his anxiety evident in his eyes.
"I'm not a powerful fairy. I'm very weak. Philipp isn't like that. He takes after my father. I'm sure he can manage the war process better. Sam, please listen to me and bring Philipp to this palace within a few days," Edward insisted, the determination in his eyes becoming more pronounced.
Sam left, bidding farewell to his brother, filled with confused and anxious thoughts.
The Great War had been averted thanks to Stephen's courage and sacrifice. He had accomplished this by killing the Queen of Evil. The organization that had expelled Stephen from the Chosen Ones declared him a national hero after his body was found, just like his grandfather, Peter Peterson. Why were people always like this? They only understood the value of things after losing them...