KAEL
The war had been relentless, but it was over now. For three weeks, I led my men through blood and battle. Each fight was easier than the last—my curse had made me an unstoppable force, impervious to pain and emotion. There was no fear, no hesitation. I fought like a machine, my sword cutting through the enemy ranks with ruthless efficiency. The blood of countless rebels stained the ground beneath me, but none of it mattered. It was all just a means to an end.
When I finally cornered the last rebel leader, the one behind the rebellion, I had the answers I sought. His final words would haunt me for the rest of my life.
"You think you're a king, Kael," the rebel leader spat, blood dripping from his mouth. "But you're just a pawn. Your brother is the one pulling the strings. He wanted you dead."
I didn't flinch. I didn't feel anger. But I did feel the sting of betrayal. Alric, my own brother, had conspired to kill me. He'd used the rebellion as a cover for his true intentions. He wanted me gone—no matter the cost.
I didn't waste a second. I severed his head from his body in one clean strike. The task was done. The rebellion was over. But Alric's betrayal would linger.
---
I set off for the kingdom, my men beside me, dragging the rebel leader's head in a sack. The victory felt hollow. We had fought for the kingdom's future, but my mind was on Alric. My brother. The one who had secretly plotted my death. I couldn't shake the thought of it.
On the third day of travel, as we made our way through the dense forest, it happened.
An ambush.
Arrows rained down on us from above. My men scrambled to defend themselves, but they were outnumbered. It was Alric's men—his loyal guards, sent to finish what the rebellion had started. They circled around us, cutting down my men one by one.
I fought with everything I had, my sword flashing in the dim light of the forest, but one of Alric's guards managed to land a blow. The sword cut deep into my side, but I didn't feel it. The curse that made me immune to pain also meant I couldn't understand the danger of the wound. I didn't stop. I kept fighting.
But I was outnumbered, and my men were dying. I couldn't afford to stay and die with them. The only choice was to flee.
I turned and ran, my feet carrying me deeper into the forest. The sounds of battle faded behind me as I pushed forward. The blood from my wound flowed freely, but I felt no pain. It didn't matter.
I knew I needed help, so I ran for hours, seeking shelter. Eventually, I stumbled upon a small cottage hidden in the woods. The door creaked open, and an old woman stood in the doorway, her eyes sharp and knowing.
"You're not just any man," she said, studying me carefully. "I can feel the darkness surrounding you. You're something... else."
Her words hit me with a force I couldn't explain. She was right. The darkness inside me was not just the curse. It was something more. She could sense it. She welcomed me into her home, tending to my wound with a strange kind of care. But it wasn't just healing she offered. She spoke of powers I didn't understand.
"You are the King of the Night," she said, her voice filled with certainty. "You were once a great ruler, betrayed and cursed. Now you've returned."
The words were nonsensical, but they stirred something deep within me. Memories flooded my mind—visions of a dark kingdom, battles fought in the shadows, betrayals, and vengeance. I had been this king before, long ago, but the curse had erased everything.
The old woman explained further, unlocking the truth. I was no longer just Kael, the cursed prince. I was the King of the Night, reborn to reclaim what was once mine. The curse that had bound me was not just punishment; it was my power.
I didn't understand all of it, but I knew that I was not the same man I had been. I was something more—something dark, something powerful.
Over the next few days, the old woman taught me how to harness the power of darkness. She unlocked the channels of magic within me, teaching me spells and powers I never knew I had. My strength grew, and with it, my understanding of what I had become.
I was no longer the prince who had been sent to die. I was the King of the Night, and I would not let my brother—nor anyone else—stand in my way.
---
By the time I left the old woman's cottage, I had learned to control the darkness that resided within me. I was no longer a slave to the curse. I had mastered it.
I set my sights on the kingdom. Alric had betrayed me, and now he would pay. The throne, once my birthright, had been stolen from me. But now I was a king in my own right—reborn, stronger, and with the power to take back what was mine.
The journey back to the kingdom was long, but my resolve was unshakable. Alric's betrayal would not go unpunished. I would take the throne by force if necessary. The kingdom would fall to its rightful ruler: the King of the Night.
The shadows whispered to me, urging me onward. It was time to rise. And when I did, Alric would bow before me—or die.