Reborn as a ruthless Crown Prince.

The morning sun rose slowly at the east along with some birds chirping in the air as they flew across the clouds. The light rays settled on the dust, illuminating everything in sight as a group of women left their tents with large pots heading to the river outside the guarded walls of the capital. They walked in a straight line facing a certain direction where they ventured into a jungle but they did not go deep but instead stay near the bank of the river and did their various activities with the sparkly blue water that flowed in front of them. 

A woman who was currently washing some clothes started a conversation with the other women around her and said. "Have you heard of the recent news happening in the palace?"

"You mean the Crown Prince?" Her friend looked around to make sure their conversation was not overheard by the older women who were bathing down the river. "I heard that he butchered another challenger down to the bone a few days ago. It was truly a gruesome sight."

"I thought he was a feeble and sick prince? His father, the King hid him for a long time to avoid the advisors' complaints but everyone knew that he was going to be dethroned sooner or later." Another woman interjected with a low voice.

The woman who had started the conversation cleared her throat to warn her friends of the women approaching them. She waited for them to pass them by, walking out of the jungle before she continued to say. "Everyone thought so too until he woke up from a fever and started accepting the Redahn* without any reservations. They say he has remained undefeated for his crown and no one wishes to challenge him again."

"You say it so lightly, my friend." The second woman smiled a little before she told them earnestly. "He is no longer the same anymore. Words has spread that he is now ruthless and merciless, thirsting for blood as he swings his blade. It is very scary."

"Why do you say things like that?" The three women jerked out of fear as they turned to see an old woman near them scrubbing her clothes quietly against a rock. She said to them. "He may be blessed with the goddess Hildr's hands to lead us to the future. His father is weak minded and values peace too much."

"Greetings, Priestess." The three women greeted her with an awkward bow. There was no one who would dare scold the King like this if it was not the old woman who communicated with the gods alone. They looked at each other silently. 

The old woman chuckled a bit before raising her basket as she got up and walked pass them. She could already read their minds and did not wish to burden them any longer. "Do not be frightened. I will not repeat the words you have just said. You may continue your work."

The three women deflated with relief visibly as they thanked the old woman and resumed their activities. The old woman who had passed the capital gates and was quietly returning to the temple was suddenly approached by a young temple maiden who took the basket from her hands. The old woman frowned when she heard the girl's thumping heartbeat. "What is wrong, Riva? Why are you panicking?"

"The King summons you, Nama*. The Crown Prince has struck another person again." The young girl wore an anxious yet pale expression at the scene she had seen herself. "You must hurry!"

At the palace, in the hallway near the kitchen laid a deathly silence with many servants gathering around as witnesses staring at the Crown Prince wielding a sword at a young man who laid on the ground groaning in pain and anguish. The walls and rugs around them were covered with blood as a human arm laid next to the victim, detached from his body. He wailed at the Crown Prince with hatred in his eyes. "My arm! You cut my arm!"

The Crown Prince stared down at him coldly, gripping the hilt of his blade tightly as he said in a low deep baritone voice that seemed to shake the palace walls. "You should be glad I did not remove your head instead. You should know better than to challenge my authority, Elif."

"But I did not challenge your authority!" The young man protested in pain as blood flooded out of his body. He was already losing conscienceness from the large amount of blood he had lost but he clenched his teeth as he did not want to seem weak in front of the servants in front of him. "All I wanted to do was to play with a lowly servant. How could you cut my arm because of that?!"

"A servant that belongs to me, Elif. You should have backed down when I told you so." The Crown Prince towered over his opponent and his stare shifted to his crouch, causing him to cover his loins with his remaining arm. The Crown Prince raised his sword again and aimed it at him. "You should die for your insolence."

"Gudmund, stop what you are doing this instant!" A faraway voice pulled his out of his murderous haze as he looked towards the owner of the voice. The crowd of servants parted and bowed for a huge man who walked through wearing a brown trousers with a big fur jacket that barely covered his muscles chest and abdomen with black tribal tattoos splayed on them, on his head laid a crown made of blue metal with different crystals encrusted in it. His eyes widened with shock when he reached the reached the centre of the scene. "What in the name of the gods....happened here?"

His eyes strayed from the victim who and suddenly fallen silent to the servants who gathered around him with their head bent low in fear. He looked at his other two sons who stayed in one corner before he finally looked at his first son. "Why is everyone suddenly quiet? Gudmund, speak!"

Redahn*- means a royal challenge whereby the strongest challenge the royal family members for their positions. 

Nama*- means grandmother.