Billy woke up with a sharp, excruciating pain in his head.
"Auww," he groaned, sitting upright and feeling the back of his head. No bump, no blood—just pain.
"You're awake, my prince," Catherine, the maidservant, said as she rushed to his side. She handed him a glass of orange liquid.
"Here, drink this. It will ease the pain."
Billy took the glass, hesitated for a moment, then gulped down a mouthful.
"Ahh! Why's it so sour?" he asked, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.
Catherine stepped back, holding the now-empty glass.
"How did I get here?" Billy asked, his voice groggy.
"Your father carried you... again," Catherine replied, her tone calm.
"Again? He must be very strong," Billy muttered, trying to lighten the mood.
"No, my prince," Catherine said with a slight smile. "He said you're very light."
"Light? Wait, what happened before he carried me?" Billy asked, his brow furrowing.
"You don't remember anything, Billy? The duel between you and Kai? Your eyes turning blue? And... he shutting you down?"
"Auww," Billy winced as the memories of the fight came flooding back, each one more painful than the last.
"He almost killed me... for nothing," he said bitterly.
"No," Catherine corrected, her voice soft but firm. "You both nearly killed each other."
"They did," came a heavy, familiar voice from behind them. Billy looked up and saw his father, King Morphine, sitting silently in the far corner near the door.
"Dad?" Billy called out, standing as Catherine stepped aside.
"Yes, son," King Morphine replied, standing as well.
"I need to see my mother. Now," Billy said, grabbing a shirt and quickly pulling it on.
"Definitely," his father said, turning to leave. Billy followed close behind.
---
THE HALLWAY
The corridor was unusually quiet, its emptiness almost eerie. Billy hurried to catch up with his father.
"Where is everyone?" he asked.
"I dismissed them after the fight ended," Morphine replied without breaking stride. "They left heartbroken from the shortened ceremony."
"How long have I been out?" Billy asked, quickening his pace.
"Three and a half hours. It's past midday," the king answered.
Billy's mind raced. "I hope Kai is okay."
"He's fine," his father said, but his tone grew stern. "But I have to warn you."
"Warn me about what?" Billy asked, slowing down. "I didn't kill anyone."
"Listen to me," Morphine said, stopping abruptly and turning to face his son. "Whatever you did with those blue eyes, you must never do it again. People say you used forbidden magic—magic your mother prohibited."
"Magic?" Billy repeated, startled. "I don't even know how I did it!"
"Is that true?" Morphine asked, his royal staff materializing in his hand.
"Yes! Mom never taught me magic," Billy insisted, his voice growing defensive.
Morphine struck the wall with his staff, and a hidden door creaked open. Beyond it, Billy saw his mother lying on a bed at the far end of the room, surrounded by the glow of magical equipment. A heart pace-setter pulsed faintly beside her.
The royal mage stood silently by her side, his face grave. He turned and gave a subtle nod to the king.
Billy took a step forward, but his father stopped him with a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Patience, son," Morphine said. "Wait here."
Billy frowned but obeyed, watching as his father approached the mage. Their hushed conversation was brief, and when Morphine returned, his expression was grim.
"Her condition is worse," Morphine said, his voice heavy with sorrow. "You can't come near her."
"Why not?" Billy demanded. "Why don't you heal her with magic?"
"I wish we could," the mage, Uncle Ben, said, stepping forward.
Billy recognized him immediately. "Uncle Ben, what's happening to her?"
"She's being consumed by a dark entity," Ben explained. "It's growing stronger every day, and the kingdom's magic weakens as it does. We don't know how long she can..."
Billy didn't wait for him to finish. He started marching toward his mother, his determination overpowering his caution.
"Billy, no!" Morphine shouted, grabbing his shoulder.
Billy spun around, his eyes glowing blue once more. "Stay away," he warned.
Morphine hesitated, clearly taken aback by the intensity of his son's power. "You are the one who should stay away," he said, backing off.
Billy turned back and rushed to his mother's side. "Mother, wake up," he whispered, his glowing eyes fading to normal. But the moment his hand touched her, a force field exploded from her body, knocking him backward with incredible force.
The mage reacted instantly, summoning a golden shield to protect himself and the king. Billy crashed into it, landing hard on the ground.
"Auww," he groaned, staggering to his feet. "That... was unexpected."
The mage turned to Morphine. "He's the one, my king. The power resides within him."
"Enough!" Morphine bellowed, striking his staff against the ground. In an instant, they were all teleported back to the hallway.
"Ain't there anything we can do?" Billy asked, his voice desperate.
"There's nothing you can do," Morphine said firmly, his frustration evident.
Before Billy could respond, Agent Smith came running toward them.
"Your Highness," he called, bowing briefly.
"What is it, Warlord?" Morphine asked.
"We have a shadow situation," Smith reported, his voice urgent. "Shadow creatures are appearing at the Far West, near the kingdom's border. Entire villages are vanishing. People are being taken."
A heavy silence fell before Morphine finally spoke.
"Prepare everything. We're going to investigate."
"Yes, my lord," Smith said, bowing once more before hurrying off.
Uncle Ben turned to Morphine. "Should I come with you? You might need my spells."
"No," Morphine replied, handing him his staff. "Stay here. Make sure he doesn't do anything reckless." He gestured toward Billy. "Restrain him if you must."
Billy watched in stunned silence as his father walked away. He turned to leave, but a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Prince Billy," came the gentle yet firm voice of Ella, approaching him from the other end of the hall.
To be continued...