The wagon was cold and heavy with the smell of rust and fear of death. Elira lay curled up in the corner, her wrists burning from pain inflicted by the tight ropes. She could hear Cassidy breathing heavily beside her, the old woman’s wheezing sound filled the small space. Every bump in the road sent a reminder of pain through Elira’s bruised body, but the pain in her heart was far worse. The image of the general crushing the Oak Flower played over and over in her mind like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. It just didn't leave, it continually hunted her, more like Kael saw it and was angry with her. She was even more shaken from it than the wounds she had gotten.It was indeed amusing how Elira, a tough dark mage and warrior, was so weak. She knew something was definitely wrong; the anchor to the shadow magic was down, and that was basically why she only had access to her light magic. If not, a combo of light and shadow magic would have killed all these soldiers in a bit and tha

The darkness was cold and heavy and it smelled like dried blood and rotten animals. Kael did not know where he was, but he knew he was no longer in the basement. He was sleeping peacefully but his mind was riled up and somewhat ready to strike. The odd yet familiar smell hit him first, followed by the cold. It felt like the shadows here were old and hiding but they responded to him immediately. He looked around the empty space and there was nothing but darkness and mist and the heavy feeling of death, pain and regret. He knew he was dying, he could feel the poison eating him up from the inside and it was a cold scent that filled the air.He stood at the centre of the dark circle and he studied it carefully. The circle felt alive and it reacted strangely to him as if it knew him. This was puzzling.All of a sudden, the air changed. The temperature dropped drastically and the ice started to form on the nothingness around him. He felt a presence. It was a heavy and ancient presence tha

The battle inside Kael was merciless and shook the walls of his mind. The poison was heavy and boldly written across his soul and it wanted him dead. It burned like fire and it tore at his magic trying to destabilise the room of his heart, his very core. Of course, that was why the magic was very strong and effective. It excelled at destroying its victim from the inside out and leading it his or her death.But Kael was no longer afraid of the fire. He was the devil they made and he had the courage and evil to do whatever it takes.He pushed the shadows forward and they clashed with the poison. It was a terrifying process. He could feel every ounce of pain inflicted by the toxic poison that was unwilling to let go. It felt like needles piercing his soul but he did not pull away. He remembered the words of the Whore Spirit. He remembered the vision of the king sitting on the throne and laughing at his death."You are a threat to the throne," the king had said."I am the end of the thron

Elira lay curled up in the corner of the wet cell and she was shivering uncontrollably. Her wrists were bleeding from the tight ropes and her face was covered in dirt and bruises. Cassidy was lying beside her and the old healer was breathing very heavily. They looked broken and defeated. They were actually dying in this terrible place because they tried to save his life.Kael did not waste any time. He grabbed the iron bars of the cell door and he pulled. The metal bent and snapped under the sheer force of his shadow magic. He threw the broken door aside and he stepped into the small space.The sudden noise woke Elira up. She raised her head weakly and she covered her eyes at the bright violet light that filled the dark room. Her green eyes widened in absolute shock as she saw him. She thought she was hallucinating or maybe she was finally dead."Kael," she whispered and her voice was heavy and no longer sassy as it used to be, and it hurt him badly. "Is it really you?” She asked.

Marcus charged forward, his fire sword cutting through the cold air, but the guards slept peacefully far away, forgetting that the shadow and devil they had made now walked among them. While men slept, the enemy attacked and Kael was pumped up and ready to strike. The odd smell hit Marcus first, the smell of pure overwhelming power.Old paper, dry and heavy with dust that dated back centuries, surrounded Marcus, choking his fire magic. He could feel it with his magic and beneath it was something else, it felt like dried blood, that metallic scent filled the air. He knew of course that shadow magic always carried a strange aura even when it was old and unknown, but this was the power of a Prince reborn, a power he could not match. And somehow, it felt like its presence was here, apart from the ones he knew, crushing his confidence completely.But of course, darkness couldn't be owned by men who just wanted it for pleasure, it needed men who had the grit to do whatever it takes to pr