7- Flowering Marks of Bruises and Scars
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Aeternitheos greeted with a deadpan expression, refusing to lower his head or offer a bow as the figure of authority approached. "Blessing and Glory upon the Sun of the Obelian Empire."
The air around them crackled with tension, transforming the initial bleak morning into an immediate battleground. Claude locked eyes with Aeternitheos, who met the penetrating gaze with an unwavering resolve. The charged atmosphere seemed to amplify the sparks that flickered between the two, a silent clash of wills.
Felix, standing nervously in the middle, shifted his gaze back and forth between the emperor and the young prince.
"You defied imperial orders when summoned and Felix says you requested to leave at first light without my permission," Claude's snarl cut through the tense air, his frustration palpable. "Even towards the very end, you don't fail to irritate me."
"I'm simply occupying myself with more important matters, Your Majesty," Aeternitheos replied with an indifferent tone, his words echoing with a subtle defiance.
Claude, seemingly amused, prodded, "Finding your way out of this war?"
"I'll see this war through," Aeternitheos declared with unwavering determination, a challenge laced in his words.
There was a pause before Claude's tone turned darker, a veiled threat lingering in the air. "...Even if it means you will die?"
Aeternitheos met the emperor's gaze, his jewel-red eyes holding a glimmer of defiance and offence at those words.
"Who says I'm dying?" Aeternitheos chuckled, his tone nonchalant, almost mocking. "Or does my death scare you, Your Majesty?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Claude glowered, caught off guard by the young prince's bold response. His eyes flickered, a mixture of irritation and something else.
Aeternitheos noted this look with a glare, his voice laced with an edge of bitterness, "Let's not pretend you cared about my life before. Why start now?"
Protests at the tip of his tongue, Claude's jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the young prince. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, the weight of past grievances and unspoken truths hanging heavily.
"I have no intention of dying in this war," Aeternitheos continued, his tone unwavering. "But even if I did, let me remind you: it wouldn't be for you, Your Majesty."
Claude's expression hardened, the façade of imperial stoicism barely concealing the turmoil beneath. The emperor, usually composed and in control, found himself at odds with the unexpected resistance from a two-year-old prince.
Aeternitheos merely regarded Claude with a blank stare.
The air grew colder that morning, causing Felix to flinch as he silently watched them, torn between loyalty to the emperor and a growing sense of protectiveness towards the young prince.
"I shall take my leave, Your Majesty," Aeternitheos, as usual, didn't even wait for Claude to finish and took this as his cue to leave. He turned away from the emperor, taking his first step towards the carriage. The gravel crunched beneath the prince's small boots as he approached the carriage, an undeniable air of defiance in his every step.
"Don't miss me too much," Aeternitheos quipped, his words carrying a subtle mockery, an attempt to assert control over a situation where control seemed elusive.
"I won't miss you at all," Claude retorted with an air of dismissal, but the unresolved tension lingered between them, like the static before a storm.
Aeternitheos made his way towards the carriage without looking back, his small frame carrying an air of defiance.
The horses whinnied softly, sensing the charged atmosphere.
As Aeternitheos approached the carriage, petting the horses with calming strokes and nodding in acknowledgement at the anxious coachman, he could feel the weight of Claude's gaze burning into his back. The exchange left an unsettled atmosphere behind, a silent clash of wills lingering in the air but the prince's calm composure did not falter. The air around them seemed to hum with tension, the unspoken power struggle continuing even as the carriage door opened, revealing a seat reserved for the young prince.
Aeternitheos climbed in without hesitation, his eyes meeting Claude's once more. With a final smirk, Aeternitheos settled into the carriage, leaving behind a tense and conflicted scene in the courtyard of the Imperial Grounds.
The carriage had barely moved a few yards when Felix sprinted after it, catching up with surprising agility. His armour gleamed in the faint sunlight, a stark contrast to the sombre atmosphere that enveloped the Obsidian Palace grounds.
"Your Highness! Wait!" Felix called out, his voice carrying a mixture of urgency and determination.
Aeternitheos, still seated inside the carriage, signalled the bewildered coachman to stop and leaned out slightly to acknowledge Felix's presence.
Felix reached the side of the carriage, panting slightly from the impromptu sprint. With a determined look in his eyes, he spoke, "Your Highness, this knight apologises for not doing better but I couldn't let you depart without my sincere wishes for your return."
Felix unsheathed the sword from his side, its hilt adorned with ornate designs that reflected the craftsmanship of the Imperial Armory. The blade, sharp and gleaming, seemed to catch the ambient light, turning it into a beacon of both strength and protection.
"I present you with my sword," Felix continued, offering the weapon with a ceremonious bow. "May it serve you well on your journey and be a symbol of the strength you carry within, even when the odds seem insurmountable."
Aeternitheos regarded the sword with a thoughtful gaze, recognizing the gravity of the gesture. The gift, though a physical object, carried layers of meaning – a token of trust, a weapon for protection, and a silent acknowledgement of the challenges that lay ahead.
"Thank you, Felix," Aeternitheos said, accepting the sword with a nod. The weight of the weapon in his small hands felt significant, a tangible connection to the responsibilities and trials that awaited him beyond the Obelian Empire.
Felix gazed at the prince with pained warmth in those light grey eyes. "May you return safely, Your Highness. You may carry the hopes of this empire, but please prioritise your safety above all. I shall see you soon, Your Highness."
With that, Felix stepped back, allowing the carriage to resume its journey.
The parting exchange lingered in the air, filled with a mix of defiance and underlying sadness.
Aeternitheos continued his departure with a steady pace, his small frame determined despite the weight of the impending war on his shoulders.
Claude's gaze followed the departing figure, his expression unreadable. Deep down, beneath the layers of pride and resentment, there was a flicker of something more complex—a tangled weave of emotions that even the emperor himself struggled to unravel.
Felix watched over the carriage with a heavy heart. The loyalty he owed to the emperor clashed with the growing concern and empathy he felt for the young prince destined for war.
As Aeternitheos disappeared from Claude's sight, the emperor's stoic expression wavered for a moment, a fleeting glimpse of something that resembled regret crossing his features.
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Despite how formidable the Obelian Empire was with their fleet of men, Aeternitheos was still a child, sent to the front lines.
While the men acknowledged him as the Obelian Empire's prince upon his arrival, they were rightfully weary and unwilling of the leadership of a mere two-year-old and so regardless of his words, they heeded not his but followed the commands of their captain.
For in the battlefield, even a prince was nothing but a soldier in the face of life and death.
Within a few days, it was clear to Aeternitheos that the captain was incompetent, taking up the role due to the passing of the previous captains who died in this war. This deduction wasn't because of how terrible his treatment was at the camps, or of how power-hunger the captain was, it was because the man's tactics and plans were violent and reckless, relying on sheer strength which the Siodonna Dominion possessed as well. Having a prince under his command seemed to just boost his ego.
Two years passed.
It was clear that Claude was hiding a threat that even he underestimated.
Aeternitheos learned the Obelian Empire and Siodonna Dominion have been at war for years despite multiple attempts to end it. It was as if the war itself were a myth, where the grudge between the two sovereigns was known and was even passed down generation after generation, but the bloody battles raged on hidden from sight.
Despite his determination and remarkable skills to survive, Aeternitheos had many close calls in the past years, using every crook and cranny of his limited strength to persevere through.
War was chaotic as they finally breached the battle inside the Siodonna Castle, which was in the heart of the once vibrant capital of Siodanna. But at what cost?
Aeternitheos stood alone in the dimly lit hallway, surrounded by the echoes of clashing steel and the agonized cries of fallen soldiers. The skirmish had left its mark on him, evident in the stains on his hands and the fragmented remnants of a once-proud sword broken from shielding another blow to his soldier, who limped away in an attempt to save himself. The weapon, now shattered, told a tale of desperate defence and unwavering determination.
Before him, a group of enemy soldiers advanced, their menacing figures casting long shadows against the cold stone walls. Aeternitheos exuded an aura of resilience that faltered the steps of his enemies. Gripping the broken hilt with determination, he faced the impending threat, his jewel-red eyes reflecting a mix of defiance and weariness.
The lead soldier, armed with a menacing blade, lunged at Aeternitheos with calculated precision. The young prince, despite his exhaustion, deftly manoeuvred to evade the attack. With a swift movement, he used the broken sword's jagged edge to parry the strike, his lithe frame displaying unexpected agility.
Aeternitheos retaliated with a quick counterattack, utilizing the remaining fragment of the sword to strike the soldier's exposed side. The enemy staggered backwards, momentarily disoriented. However, the skirmish was far from over, as more adversaries closed in on the young prince.
Everything in his being ached and screamed for him to stop moving, yet all jewel-red eyes could see around him were dead bodies. He couldn't tell between fallen comrades or enemies at this point.
The hallways reverberated with the sounds of combat— a symphony of clashes, grunts, and the occasional clash of magic. Aeternitheos, surrounded by adversaries, continued to hold his ground, displaying a remarkable blend of skill and courage that defied his years.
Struggling to push forward, Aeternitheos used his sword skillfully while wiping the blood running down his forehead, pushing towards the throne room through gritted teeth.
The cacophony of battle enveloped Aeternitheos as he skillfully navigated through the chaotic melee. His movements were fluid and precise, each swing of his broken sword executed with a dancer's grace. Despite the fractured blade, he parried and countered enemy strikes with remarkable finesse, his innate combat instincts guiding him through the labyrinth of clashing steel.
As he neared the entrance to the throne room, Aeternitheos could feel the weight of the broken sword in his hands. The relentless onslaught had taken its toll on the weapon, rendering it almost useless. Yet, determination burned in the young prince's jewel-red eyes, and he pressed forward.
The imposing doors to the throne room loomed ahead, guarded by a contingent of the Siodonna Emperor's elite warriors. Aeternitheos paused when he could see more than a dozen men blocking his way, catching his breath for a moment, before resuming his advance.
With a burst of energy, he engaged the guards, using the broken sword wrapped around in his mana against their weapons in a whirlwind of steel.
Despite the odds in numbers, Aeternitheos manoeuvred through the defenders with an uncanny agility. He incapacitated one opponent after another, using his surroundings to his advantage. The grandeur of the throne room beckoned, and he could almost taste the bitter anticipation of the impending confrontation with the Siodonna Emperor.
As the last guard fell, Aeternitheos stood at the threshold of the throne room, discarding the broken sword which resonated with a loud clang.
Inside, the Siodonna Emperor sat on his ornate throne, surrounded by a legion of loyal soldiers. The air was thick with tension as the young prince squared off against overwhelming odds.
With a determined glare, Aeternitheos unsheathed the sword Felix had gifted him, the gleaming blade catching the dim light of the throne room. The weapon, a stark contrast to the broken sword, felt weighty and powerful in his grip.
The Siodonna Emperor, a formidable figure on his throne, regarded Aeternitheos with a mixture of disdain and amusement. "So, the prince comes to meet his end," he sneered. "It's hard to call you a prince of either Siodonna or Obelia, considering both abandoned you to die."
Undeterred, Aeternitheos tightened his grip on the sword and stepped forward without giving a response. The clash of steel echoed in the grand chamber as the young prince engaged the overwhelming force before him. His movements were a mesmerizing display of swordsmanship, each strike calculated and precise.
Aeternitheos weaved through the ranks of the enemy, his agility unmatched, as he gradually approached the throne. His sword danced in the air, deflecting blows and striking down adversaries with a calculated ferocity. The Siodonna soldiers, caught off guard by the unexpected skill of the young prince, struggled to keep pace.
As he reached the foot of the throne, Aeternitheos faced the Siodonna Emperor directly.
"Surrender now, and I will spare your life," Aeternitheos sternly declared, hand wrapped around Felix's sword, spitting the blood towards the man that dripped down his chin.
The Siodonna Emperor chuckled, a cold and calculating sound that echoed through the grand chamber. "Spare my life? You, a mere child, dare to make demands in my throne room?" He snapped his fingers, causing his remaining legion of soldiers to surround the young prince, a confident smirk playing on his lips.
"I like the look on your face, little prince," the emperor continued, his eyes narrowing with a predatory gleam. "Such a splitting image of your parents, but such a pity that you have those eyes instead of the infamous imperial blue true Obelian royalty possess. The one pathetic thing you inherited from that ungrateful brat..." The emperor licked his lips, "Once I'm done with you thoroughly, I shall still gouge those eyes of yours to keep them for myself."
Aeternitheos's jaw clenched at the vile threat, and his grip tightened on Felix's sword. The prince, fueled by a combination of fury and determination, didn't give the man a chance to even think and lunged forward, engaging the Siodonna Emperor in a fierce duel.
The clash of their blades sent sparks flying, each strike resonating with the weight of familial history and the impending fate of two warring nations. Regardless of the soldiers coming in waves as he exchanged blows with the emperor, Aeternitheos moved with calculated precision, his movements were unpredictable and swift, as he aimed to dismantle the emperor's defences.
The Siodonna soldiers, initially confident in their emperor's prowess, found themselves struggling against the relentless assault of the young Obelian prince. Aeternitheos's sword danced through the air, striking down adversaries with an unyielding resolve. The tide of the battle began to shift, and whispers of disbelief swept through the ranks of the enemy.
Yet, days of battle wore down the prince.
Despite skillfully taking down the legion of soldiers bit by bit, the toll of days of continuous battle became apparent to the young prince. His arms ached with fatigue, and the once nimble and precise movements of Felix's sword now seemed sluggish and heavy. The blade felt like an anchor, dragging him down with each swing.
Aeternitheos fought through the pain, his determination keeping him on his feet. The weight of the sword, combined with the numerous wounds he had sustained in the course of the battle, took a toll on his endurance. His knees threatened to buckle, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on, unwilling to succumb to exhaustion.
The Siodonna Emperor, sensing Aeternitheos's weakened state, seized the opportunity. With a sinister snicker, he unleashed a flurry of attacks with renewed vigour. Aeternitheos found it increasingly challenging to parry and dodge. Every movement felt like a herculean effort, and the relentless assault of the emperor pushed him to his limits.
Suddenly, as if a powerful force had gripped him, Aeternitheos's body was flung across the expansive throne room. He crashed against the cold, stone walls, the impact sending a jolt of pain through his battered body.
"Despite your looks, you put up a good fight... You would have been a great asset to me," The Siodonna Emperor sneered, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Give my regards to your mother."
Aeternitheos, defying the overwhelming fatigue and pain, slowly rose to his feet. Blood ran down his arms, staining the pristine white of his attire, but his gaze remained unwavering, filled with a potent mix of disgust and defiance.
"Fool," he declared with a smirk on his lips and a chuckle that cut through the air, his voice dripping with disdain.
Black marbles rolled down the Siodonna Emperor's feet.
Aeternitheos had scattered the marbles all over the castle as he planned.
"YOUR MA—"
Aeternitheos snapped his fingers, unleashing a cataclysmic wave of destructive magic that rippled through the entire castle. The walls trembled, and the air crackled with unrestrained energy as the Siodonna Castle began to crumble.
Screams of pain were muffled and echoed from every direction, a cacophony of agony as the castle's inhabitants struggled in the wake of Aeternitheos's unleashed power. Their hands, once reaching out in desperation, were now consumed by the malicious force, flesh blackened and torn to bits. The destructive surge left chaos and ruin in its wake, a testament to the prince's overwhelming magical prowess.
There was a loud ringing in Aeternitheos's ears as he felt a sharp stabbing feeling in his chest. Blood immediately filled his throat, almost choking him if the young prince didn't spit out the blood forcefully. Aeternitheos struggled to keep himself conscious, looking up at the sky unfocused, now that the explosion blew off the once grand ceiling.
In the aftermath of the cataclysmic destruction, the once-majestic Siodonna Castle lay in ruins, a haunting tableau of devastation. The air was thick with dust and debris, swirling in the dim light that filtered through the cracks in the fallen walls. The once-opulent throne room, now reduced to rubble, bore witness to the merciless power that Aeternitheos had unleashed.
Aeternitheos, standing amidst the wreckage, looked hauntingly serene. His frame was surrounded by a shimmering forcefield, conjured with hands that shook from the exhaustion of battle. Jewel-red eyes, though tired and marked by the weariness of conflict, held an otherworldly glow that seemed to dance with the remnants of his magical assault.
The echoes of pain and suffering slowly subsided, leaving an eerie silence broken only by the occasional creaks of the crumbling castle. Crimson liquid dripped down the side of his face, Aeternitheos, with blood-streaked hands and torn clothing, surveyed the devastation he had wrought, the consequences of his power etched into the very stone and air around him.
Amidst the ruins, a soldier, covered in soft glowing white mana, managed to navigate the chaos and approached cautiously. His expression wavered between concern and awe as he gazed upon the prince, who seemed close to passing out. "Your Highness," he uttered, his voice almost drowned in the desolation surrounding them.
Aeternitheos turned to the soldier, raising his hand to stop the soldier from approaching him further. "We're done here," he said calmly, his words carrying the weight of the actions they had undertaken.
The soldier dutifully nodded, following closely as the prince walked through the rubble.
As they made their way through the remnants of the castle, Aeternitheos's gaze lingered on the remaining gawking soldiers that awaited him at the entrance, all blanketed in white hues, a manifestation of his protective magic.
The men bowed in reverence, their voices blending in a chant that resonated through the shattered halls. "All hail the Star of the Obelian Empire!"