The night seemed darker as Magnus went through the desolate hall of the Abandoned Palace. His steps echoed like thunder, each one charged with anger and determination. The air was impregnated with the metallic smell of blood and gunpowder, and the walls, before witnesses of a neglected youth, now served as scenery for another tragedy.
He knew he was close. The rustling of the echoes of struggle and the roaring whispers of the winds seemed to drive him. The few knights that accompanied him opened the way dealing with the mercenaries who made patrols avoiding intruders. Magnus and his team kept a silent and stealthy entrance. When he finally entered an underground cell, the sight before him froze his blood.
Lucian was on the ground, panting and pale, while Cassander was lying next to him trying to get up, though clearly exhausted and wounded. Before them stood the emissary of Geledel, his tall and imposing figure illuminated by the light of torches. In his hand, a dagger adorned with runes shone ominously, as if whispering promise of death.
"Finally, the Grand Duke of Grimwood" said the emissary with sarcasm soon after Magnus announced his arrival. "Come to witness the outcome of your arrogance?"
Magnus did not answer. His gaze fixed on Lucian for a moment, and then his expression hardened. He walked to the center of the cell, his presence filling the space with overwhelming authority.
"You made two mistakes" said Magnus, his low and dangerous voice. He drew his sword, and the blade reflected the light of the torches "The first was to think that you could touch what is mine."
The emissary smiled, raising the dagger.
"And the second?"
Magnus advanced like a bolt of lightning, the force of his blow forcing the emissary to retreat.
"The second was to continue breathing."
The sound of steel colliding echoed through the room as Magnus and the emissary clashed. That space pulsed with the tension accumulated as Magnus advanced. His sword, an extension of his own will, cut the air with deadly precision. Geledel's emissary, more agile than he seemed, deflected the attacks of the initial attacks, each move calculated to keep a safe distance from the infuriated omega.
Magnus took a few steps back, adjusting his posture. His crimson eyes were fixed on the enemy, evaluating each breath and weight shift.
"Impressive" said the emissary with a mocking and apprehensive tone "but isn't your anger clouding your judgment?"
The omega did not respond. Magnus invested again, his blade shining under the light of torches. The sound of metal clattering echoed through the room, each impact vibrating through the walls and reverberating in Lucian's chest, who watched helplessly.
The emissary counter-attacked, his dagger trailing hot in the air. Magnus swerved, feeling the heat of the blade's face pass close enough to tear his frock sleeve and scratch his arm. He turned the sword, blocking another attack, and pushed the emissary with enough force to make him stumble.
"You're slower than I expected" said Magnus with sarcasm.
The emissary narrowed his eyes and advanced with renewed ferocity. He delivered a series of quick blows, each targeting the other's vulnerable points. But the Grand Duke was an experienced fighter, he blocked attacks with precise movements, his sword dancing like a living flame.
A particularly strong blow sent sparks flying when their blades met. Magnus took advantage of the opening, turning to disarm the emissary with a hit. The dagger flew from his hands, sliding across the ground until it stopped near Cassander's feet.
Lucian, still down, forced himself to keep his eyes open. Each movement of Magnus seemed loaded with anger and despair. Despite the pain that consumed him, Lucian could not look away.
"He came for me..." whispered Lucian, his voice almost inaudible.
Cassander knelt beside him, pressing his hand over a wound to stop the blood.
"Stay awake, Lucian" said Cassander worried "Magnus is here. Meanwhile we can go..."
"The future..." Lucian whispered with watery, empty eyes "It's still happening."
Cassander frowned, but had no time to question. The sound of a magical explosion brought his attention back to the fight.
"And now?" Magnus muttered menacingly.
The emissary smiled, a smile distorted by pain and anger. He pulled a small black cylinder from his robe, activating it quickly.
A wave of dark energy exploded from the device, hitting Magnus hard enough to throw him back. He fell to the ground, sliding a few meters before getting up with a fluid movement, his expression furious.
"A cheap trick" growled Magnus, wiping the blood from an artificial cut on his cheek.
The emissary did not respond. He activated the device again, throwing another beam of dark energy. Magnus jumped to the side, the beam hitting a column and exploding in a rain of rocks.
The ground trembled at the impact, but Magnus wasted no time. He advanced again, his sword drawing a deadly bow that forced the emissary to retreat.
"You don't understand" said the emissary gasping "This is not just about you or your precious prince. It's about Geledel's future!"
Magnus smiled, but there was no humor in his eyes.
"So your future ends here."
He delivered a final blow, his blade cutting the artifact into two halves as Magnus snatched it from the emissary's hand. The resulting explosion threw both of them back, but Magnus, even wounded, quickly rose.
The emissary was on the ground, bleeding and panting. Magnus walked up to him, firmly holding his sword.
"Awesome, omega. But you should know that you are unable to protect everyone."
Magnus stood up, his face expressing pure hatred.
"Try" roared before advancing again.
The fight continued with increasing intensity. The emissary, seeing himself cornered, changed tactics. He took out a small artifact from his robe, a weapon adorned with familiar runes. Lucian, even weak, recognized the object immediately.
"Magnus, watch out!" Lucian shouted hoarse.
The emissary activated the weapon, and a dense and dark energy began to form around him. A beam of dark light shot at Magnus, who narrowly deflected. The wall behind him exploded into shards of stone.
"A Geledel weapon" said Magnus between the teeth "Ha, typical of cowards."
"Effective, don't you think?" mocked the emissary.
Magnus prepared to advance again, but something changed. The emissary turned the artifact, redirecting it. This time, Magnus realized he was the target when the emissary pulled the trigger.
Lucian could barely move, each breath was a painful effort that blurred his vision. Even so, his eyes were fixed on Magnus. Lucian watched him fight with the emissary, each blow a painful reminder of what was at stake. Magnus was the center of his life, the man who had given him not only a home but a purpose.
When the emissary activated the artifact again, Lucian knew immediately what was going to happen. The dark glow of the artifact increased every second, pointed directly at Magnus.
"Magnus..." Lucian whispered, so weak he got lost in the chaos.
Lucian tried to get up, but his body looked like lead. A sharp pain ran through his ribs, but Lucian ignored it, gathering every fragment of strength he still possessed.
Cassander noticed the movement, and turned to him.
"Lucian, stop! You can't..."
However, the prince did not listen. In his mind, images of visions of the future were repeated as a nightmare. He saw Magnus wounded, he saw chaos, he saw the Imperial Palace in ruins. And then he saw his own death.
"If it is to change the future... then so be it."
Gathering everything he had, Lucian pushed Cassander aside and placed himself between Magnus and the emissary at the last moment.
The projectile fired with a sound that seemed to tear the air itself. The dark light enveloped Lucian, piercing his body with overwhelming force. It was thrown back like a leaf being swept away by a storm, until it fell to the ground with an impact that seemed to shake the whole hall.
Magnus has froze.
The world around him seemed to be reduced to a single point: Lucian lying on the ground, blood staining his clothes and expression of pain in his face.
"Lucian..." Magnus whispered, though his voice fails in the middle.
The omega ran, falling to his knees beside Lucian. His hands trembled as he tried to press the wound, the heat of blood staining his fingers.
"Why did you do it?" asked Magnus in the midst of despair.
Lucian opened his eyes slowly, his gaze cloudy though full of devotion and love.
"Because you... need to live" he forced a smile, despite the pain that clearly consumed every fiber of his being.
Magnus held Lucian's face, his own eyes shining with tears he refused to shed.
"Don't say that. Don't you dare say that, Lucian. You'll live. You'll..."
"Magnus..." Lucian interrupted him with a whisper "Promise you'll take care of the baby... and... yourself."
Magnus shook his head frantically.
"Don't talk like it's the end. It's not the end, Lucian. I won't let it be."
Cassander, already standing again after ensuring that the knights arrested the emissary, ran to help his son.
"We need to get him out of here now!" he said, but Magnus seemed unable to move.
While Cassander dealt with the emissary to the knights, Magnus stood by Lucian's side, his mind a storm of emotions. He pressed the wound, mumbling words that he himself did not understand.
"I should have protected you" said shaken "I should never have left him alone."
Lucian raised a weak hand, touching Magnus' face.
"It's not... your fault..." He said before his hand fell, consciousness leaving him.
Magnus shouted, a primitive sound and full of pain.
It was then that Skyler appeared, accompanied by priests. They ran to Lucian, starting the first aid.
"He is still alive" said Skyler firmly after checking his condition "but we need to act fast."
Magnus nodded, his expression hardening again. He stood up, his sword in his hands, and looked at the emissary who was trapped under the weight of the knights.
"He is yours" said Cassander, raising his hand as a sign to the knights and leaving the emissary at the mercy of Magnus.
Without hesitation, the omega advanced.
Raising his sword, Magnus ended the emissary's life in a swift movement of unforgiving. There were no words, only cold and calculated execution of someone who had exceeded all limits.
He wiped the blade on the robe of the fallen enemy and returned to where Lucian was being treated.
"Will he live?" asked Magnus, his voice still loaded with emotion.
Skyler looked at him and for the first time there was uncertainty in his eyes.
"We will do our best, but he is weak. Very weak. The royal doctor must be found immediately."
Magnus knelt beside Lucian again, holding his hand.
"You'll be fine" he whispered "'cause I don't accept anything different from that."
Lifting Lucian in his arms, Magnus marched out of the Abandoned Palace.