Silence ruled the safe house with a flickering light of a lone candle on the table. At his corner, Liam sat sharpening his blade with long strokes while his min - feverish in thought because of the mocking laughter of Malrik still resounding inside his mind. They had managed to escape narrowly from the battle; but nothing could equal the realization of how far the Princess's corruption had crawled and how unprepared they'd truly been for it.
Nyx was leaning against a wall, inspecting his twin daggers. "So what's the game plan, fearless leader? Because running back in like headless chickens clearly isn't going to work."
Kael folded his arms, standing near the window, and scanned the dark streets. "We're outnumbered, outmatched, and they know this city better than we do. If we're going to fight Malrik and the Princess, then we need an advantage."
Elira was still holding the Queen's book when she frowned and said, "The sigils anchored the dark magic, but with one destroyed, it seems the corruption is drawing directly from her now. It's not merely a case of using dark magic-she's becoming it."
The youngest prince, who sat opposite Liam, looked up. He had a pale look on his face but was determined. "Then what do we do? How do we fight someone who has become the magic itself?"
Liam placed his blade down and looked at the group. "We don't just fight her magic. We sever its source entirely."
Nyx raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do we do that? You planning to walk up to her and ask nicely?"
"No," Liam said, his voice firm. "But if the sigils were just a distraction, then the real source of her power lies deeper. Malrik didn't show up to stop us because of a single sigil-he was buying time for something bigger. Something worse."
Elira's eyes widened as realization dawned. "You think she's channeling the entire kingdom's life force into the summoning?"
Liam nodded in agreement but with a grim face. "That would be why it feels so corrupted in itself. She's draining the whole kingdom dry to accomplish the ritual. We should find the core of her magic and destroy it before it consumes everything."
A Little Risky Gamble
Kael turned from the window. "If we are to do this, then we need information. Malrik knows we are here, and he will keep an eye on our every move."
Liam stood up and snatched his cloak. "Then let's give him a reason to look the other way."
"What are you thinking?" Nyx asked, but it was in a wary tone.
"We split up," Liam said. "Nyx and I will create a diversion. Draw Malrik's attention and keep him occupied. Meanwhile, Kael, Elira, and the prince will investigate the castle for any signs of the summoning's core."
Frowning, the youngest prince replied, "But how will you know where to find it?"
Elira opened the Queen's book and flipped to a section she had marked earlier. "The book mentions a sanctum beneath the throne room-a place where the rulers of the kingdom once connected with the magical essence of the land. If the Princess is channeling the kingdom's power, that's where it will be."
Kael's expression turned ominous. "You're suggesting that we march right into the beating heart of her dominion."
"We have no choice," he was told by Liam. "Soon, there will be no kingdom left to save."
The Trap is Set
As they traversed the city under the cloak of night, Liam and Nyx stepped away from the group, heading to the square in the center of the town. The streets held an eerie silence and the air felt oppressive.
"Are you certain about it?" He asked with a lowered voice, Nyx said.
"Ah, not even a little," Liam admitted. "But no distraction for Malrik and the others will never get a chance."
Nyx smiled. "All right then. Let's put on a show they will never forget."
The two approached the central square, where guards were stationed. Liam nodded to Nyx, and the rogue vanished into the shadows. Moments later, an explosion shook the square, and flames shot from one of the nearby buildings.
At the sound of the explosion, the guards turned their heads, only to have Nyx appear from behind them and strike true. Liam pushed through with savage cutting down the remainder of the guards.
As the last guard fell, a biting wind began to blow through the square. Liam and Nyx turned around to find Malrik standing at the very fringe of the darkness, bright crimson orbs glimmering at them.
"The pests return," Malrik said, with a sound in his voice like someone spitting dregs. "Did you honestly think to escape me?"
"We're not fleeing," Liam said, taking a step forward. "We are here to finalize this."
Malrik's laugh was dark and deep. "Such incredibly bold lines for an idiot ignorant of what he faces. Very well, I shall grant you the privilege of dying by my hand."
The Castle's Secrets
Meanwhile, the underground passages of the castle were traversed by Kael, Elira, and the prince. The air grew significantly colder as they descended, and ancient carvings were emblematic as they lined the walls: a testament to the kingdom's history.
One moment, Elira halted. The fingertips encircled a carving. "This... it shows the sanctum," she whispered. "It's just ahead."
Kael tightened his grip around the sword. "Keep on alert. If Malrik has got himself busy with Liam, then that doesn't mean the Princess will not leave traps or guards down here."
The little magic prince hesitated, his face paling. "Do you feel that?" he asked. With the weighty magic as they drew nearer to the sanctum.
Elira nodded. Her expression was grim. "It's the life force of the Kingdom. She is draining it."
When they came to be at the sanctum, a gigantic glowing crystal was found at its heart. Tendrils of dark magic snaked around it, pulsating with a sickly green light. The room was eerily silent apart from the hum of the crystal's energy.
Kael stepped forward, sword raised. "How do we destroy it?"
Elira opened the Queen's book, her hands shaking. "We have to sever its connection to the Princess's magic. But it won't be easy-this ancient and powerful magic will fight back."
The prince stepped beside her, determination in his eyes. "Then tell us what to do. We're in this together."
The Battle Begins
Back in the square, Liam and Nyx faced off against Malrik. The corrupted knight moved with terrifying speed, his dark magic tearing through the air like a storm.
Nyx darted around him, striking at his blind spots, but Malrik countered every move with ease. "Pathetic," Malrik sneered, hurling a blast of dark energy that sent Nyx crashing into a wall.
Liam charged, his blade glowing faintly with the magic he had learned. He met Malrik head-on, their weapons clashing in a shower of sparks.
"You are persistent," Malrik said, his tone amused. "But persistence will not save you."
"We'll see about that," Liam growled, pouring his light magic into the sword. The blade flared brightly, forcing Malrik to step back.
Though the battle was raging, Liam knew they had indeed run out of time; he could only hope it would be enough to keep them alive.
To be continue...