The Fallen Prince; A God's Fury

The Fairy Forest

I stepped into the grand chambers, my eyes were immediately drawn to the magnificent doors that stood before me. The doors were adorned with dazzling jewels that shone in shades of blue and black, giving them an aura of elegance and opulence. A simple sword and shield hung on the door, and it seemed out of place amidst the rest of the castle's regal décor.

I pushed open the door, I was greeted with the sight of her sweating and swinging her sword with remarkable ease. The blade moved through the air like a hot knife through butter, and the mana pouring out from her was fluctuating wildly, from spiky to calm. However, her aura was unique, like a calm and expansive ocean of mana.

Each person possesses a distinct aura, Azrael's was an overpowering light, while Raphael's was like a deep well filled with darkness. Mine, as described by the gods, was a vast and heavy void that weighed down everything it covered. It made sense now that I understood the power of my regalia. But hers was different, and it was fascinating to see the calmness and control in her mana.

She stopped swinging and without even looking at me, said, "Malachi, what is it that you need?"

Her tone was different from before. I hadn't noticed it when I awoke, but she was cold, far more cold than before. It was as if she was trying to keep her emotions in check.

"I'm here to talk to you. Are you okay?" I asked, looking at her with concern.

"Yeah, I'm alright. I just need to become stronger," she replied, sitting on her bed and sheathing her sword.

I could sense that she had awakened, and her mana was now more controlled and calm. Her stature, posture, stance, and voice were all controlled, emotionless, and devoid of any feeling. She was sad and depressed, and it was evident in her demeanor. In my past life, when Michael died, she never showed me any emotion. She was still hiding her true self and thoughts, scared to open her mask.

I vividly recollect when I settled down next to her, and we began conversing. Our exchange lasted for about thirty minutes, and we touched on various topics ranging from the war and our past experiences to the grueling training regimes we endured. She even recounted the events that occurred during my cursed sleep. As she spoke, I could sense that she had fought against the angelic army and had successfully eliminated them. She narrated her story with an air of nonchalance as if it were just another battle to be won.

Despite her vulnerability and the need for a connection, I couldn't empathize with her much, as I don't experience emotions as I used to before her demise. Yet, it was an indescribable feeling to witness her in such a state. I held no grudges towards her, though. I realized that she was completely broken from all the death and destruction she had witnessed and experienced. Despite this, she still managed to show compassion, something that I couldn't even begin to understand or feel.

As I bid farewell to her, my heart weighed heavy with the knowledge that she had just started training with her blade. Despite only a year passing, her movements were surprisingly swift and graceful, the sword slicing through the air with ease as if she had honed her skills for years. It was a sight to behold, but it also spoke volumes about the toll that the war had taken on her.

I couldn't bear to see her suffer any longer and knew that I had to put an end to the conflict as soon as possible. However, as I turned to leave, I noticed that the Marine had also chosen to stay behind. Michael had already set off to confront a strangling angel, and I had no idea what was happening with her. Despite my worries, I had to continue on my journey to Kivana, knowing that she was my top priority.

I ventured further, the memories of my cursed sleep weighed heavily on my mind. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something significant had happened to Kivana, and the heavens were calling her for a reason that I had yet to uncover.

The fairy forest was located far away from my current position. It was situated beyond the treacherous Styx River, which usually takes around three weeks for a regular person to cross on foot. However, I was blessed with a Swiffer pace than most, and I knew that if I pushed myself to my limits, I could reach my destination in just a week. My goal was to find Kivana in the fairy forest, but if she wasn't there, I was confident that I could at least locate Luna.

 I journeyed towards the forest, I crossed the Styx River without any hassle. The path to the forest was a straight one, and I did not encounter any monsters or creatures that could hinder my journey. However, the real challenge was not the journey itself, but rather the forest ahead of me.

A forest is a place of great beauty and wonder, but it is also a place of danger. Anyone who enters the forest without elven or fairy blood in their veins is affected by a powerful spell that puts them into a deep trance. This spell renders them unable to navigate through the forest, and it has been in place for centuries. Historically, people were given a blood sample by an elf or fairy before entering the forest to break the spell.

However, due to the war against the gods and the reluctance of the elves and fairies to come out of hiding, it has become nearly impossible to break the spell. The only option for those who wish to enter the forest is to search for an elf along the forest borders, although this may prove to be a difficult task. It is important to tread carefully while seeking out an elf, as not all of them are friendly towards humans and may pose a threat to those who enter the forest unprepared.

 I approached the forest, awestruck by the sight before me. The trees loomed high into the sky, twice the size of the royal castle, which was already grander than most. The bark of the trees was so hard that it could rival iron, and their leaves were so heavy that they could easily crush a house. My eyes were drawn to the thousands upon thousands of small spirits that flitted about the trees, their presence felt more than seen. The spell that enveloped the forest was invisible to the naked eye, but the force of the mana it emanated was palpable, raging with an intensity that left me quivering with anticipation.

In the realm of spirituality, there exist sentient beings called spirits. These entities wield an unimaginable power that is beyond the understanding of mortals. Unlike gods or angels, they are not bound to the physical world and do not possess physical bodies. It's not that they are stronger than mortals, rather they are simply unbeatable as they cannot be defeated. Fairies, on the other hand, are a kind of spirit that possess physical bodies. These bodies serve as vessels for their souls. However, if a fairy is born in the mortal world, they are typically referred to as simply a fairy. That is why it was so surprising to see Ulgria, a fairy, flaunting before me.

Before me stood a being of ethereal beauty, small in stature but exuding a sense of otherworldly grandeur. His lithe frame was draped in pristine white robes adorned with intricate gold detailing, the fabric flowing like water around him as he moved. Long strands of golden hair cascaded down his back, weaving around his delicate frame like strands of liquid gold. Deep yellow eyes brimming with vibrant mana stared down at me from beneath furrowed brows, seemingly filled with mixed emotions of worry and wrath.

 I continued to stare, my gaze drifted downward and I caught sight of black stars lacing the soles of his feet. It was then that I realized he had broken through his mortal shackles. The realization left me feeling both awed and uneasy, unsure of what to expect from this enigmatic figure.

Summoning my courage, I waved my hand and called out to him. "Ulgria, come lend me some of your blood."

In response, he fell to the ground before me, his youthful features twisted with anger. "I'm not small, you human. I'm older than you," he spat, his mana flaring up in a show of defiance. I couldn't help but wonder if he knew who I was, or if he was simply reacting out of instinct.

"It's me, Malachi. I need to enter your forest," I explained urgently, hoping to diffuse the situation.

As he surveyed my appearance, his eyes lit up with recognition. "Malachi, it's you. I thought you were a human looking to hunt some elves."

I couldn't help but chuckle at his naivety. "Why would I ask you for blood then?

 I tried to move past him, but he broke out with a sad expression, his gaze now cast downward. "Sorry, I can't. My mother said no."

Ulgria was a curious case - a childlike king, old beyond measure yet still so innocent. Though he had lived for over a thousand years, his maturity was that of a kid. What made matters worse was that Ulgria was also painfully kind-hearted, which only served to confuse me further. His words were inexplicable - his mother had long since passed away as of right now he should have only Luna and himself so who was the mother he was referring to?