Royanadia's Tale

Tales 1

Goldstone POV

habang naglalakad ako sa corridor ng kailaliman—

nakahawak sa pader na malamig at basa—

isang katotohanan ang kumakagat sa loob ko:

Hindi kami ang problema.

Ang Upperworld.

Sila ang tunay na may kasalanan.

Sila ang tunay na bulok.

At isang araw…

mabubura ko sila.

Ang Simula ng Galit

Lumaki akong pinagtatawanan.

Hinampas, tinapakan, tinrato na parang hayop.

Upperworlders.

Mga mukha nila—

malinis, makintab, puno ng yabang.

Tingin nila sa amin?

“Monsters.”

“Mutants.”

“Undertrash.”

At kahit ilang beses kong sabihin sa sarili ko na kaya kong maging mas mabuti—

kahit ilang beses kong subukang maniwala na may lugar pa para sa amin sa liwanag—

—hindi nila kami tinatanggap.

Parang alam niya ang buong Underworld.

At parang…

nakikita niya kung saan ako kabilang.

Napakagat ako sa loob ng mask.

Tangina. ’Wag mo akong tingnan nang ganyan.

Pero he kept staring.

At sa unang beses…

Nakaramdam ako ng bigat sa dibdib na hindi galing sa kaba.

But from something else.

Something darker.

Upperworld people judging me.

Racist sila sa underworld beings.

Kasalanan ko ba na dito ako lumaki?

Kasalanan ko ba kung ito ang mundong bumuo sa akin?

Bigla kong narinig ang sarili ko sa loob.

Bakit ba ang tingin nila sa amin ay demonyo?

Bakit gusto ko silang durugin dahil dun?

Ang underworld ang kinatatakutan ng lahat.

“Ang mundo ay hindi para sa kagaya namin.”

Madilim ang ilalim ng lupa.

Pero mas madilim ang tingin ng mundo sa amin.

Sa Underworld, sinasabi nilang kami raw ang “dumi,” “salot,”

ang dapat itago, itapon, at kalimutan.

Kaya ano pang point?

Mas madali nang maging halimaw…

kung halimaw na rin ang tingin nila.

ang darkprince ay pumasok sa isip

Hindi ko siya kilala.

Hindi niya ako kilala.

Hindi niya alam na ako si Goldstone, ang nilalang na kinatatakutan ng upper nobles.

Pero nung gabing iyon…

nakatingin siya diretso sa akin.

Tahimik.

Malamig.

Pero hindi mapanghusga.

Nakakairita.

“Bakit mo ako tinitingnan nang ganyan?” tanong ko, puno ng sarcasm, iritasyon, at galit na matagal ko nang nilulunok.

Ngumiti siya nang bahagya—pero hindi palakaibigan.

Hindi rin mayabang.

Parang… interesado.

“you know,” sabi niya, mababa ang boses, “mahalaga sa’kin ang Underworld.”

Napatigil ako.

Bullshit.

Hindi ako naniniwala.

Pero nagpatuloy siya.

“Bakit?” tanong ko pabalik, pilit na hindi nagpapahalata ng pagkagulat.

“Bakit Underworld? Ano meron dito?"

ngumiti pero hindi abot sa mata.

Parang alam niya ang mga lihim kong gusto kong itago.

“Because…”

tumingin siya sa paligid, parang ini-inhale ang dilim—

“this place feels alive.”

“It feels like… me.”

“And here, I know exactly where I should be.”

Hindi ko alam kung maiinis ako o matawa.

Pero isang bagay ang tumama:

hes dangerous.

Pero hindi ako makaisip ng tugon kung bakit magaan siya.

meron bang mahika nakapalibot sa aura nya?

At hindi ko alam kung bakit…

pero gusto kong malaman kung bakit ganon ang tingin niya sa Underworld.

At mas gusto kong malaman—

nakikita ba niya akong halimaw?

O may iba siyang nakikita?

Hindi ko alam.

Pero ayaw kong malaman.

Hindi ako dapat ma-curious sa kagaya niya.

Lumapit siya sa akin, hindi halos maririnig ang mga hakbang.

“By the way,” sabi niya, eyes locked on mine, “may kilala akong kagaya mo.”

Hindi niya puwedeng malaman—

hindi siya dapat makaalam kung sino ako sa totoong mundo.

Pero ngumiti siya ulit, mas malalim, mas mapanganib:

“He’s someone… interesting.”

Pero ako rin mismo—

hindi ko alam kung bakit, sa unang beses sa mahabang panahon—

may isang tao na hindi tumingin sa aking parang basura.

Dahil kung totoo man na hindi ibig sabihin ng titig niya ang iniisip ko…

At kung mali ang tingin niya sa akin—

sisiguraduhin kong tama siya sa susunod.

Third Person's POV

“Sawakas,” Goldstone said, his voice low, controlled. “You think hiding behind shadows will make you untouchable?”

The Dark Prince turned, eyes narrowing under the half-mask. “Touch me? That’s ambitious, isn’t it? You’ve been following, watching… and still, you come alone.”

Goldstone smirked slightly. “I don’t need an army to handle someone like you. Just focus. And precision.”

The Dark Prince chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down the spine despite its calmness. “Precision, huh? You’re confident… or reckless.”

“Call it instinct,” Goldstone replied, moving closer, each step deliberate. “Instinct built on years of watching, waiting, and knowing exactly when to strike.”

The tension crackled, unseen but palpable. Goldstone could feel it in his bones—the raw power of the Dark Prince, dangerous but not invincible.

“You underestimate me,” the Dark Prince said, tilting his head, lips curving into a small, dangerous smile.

Goldstone stopped. Close enough to sense the cold aura radiating from him. “No. I respect it. That’s why I’m not charging in blindly. But make no mistake… I can and I will exploit any weakness.”

A brief pause. Silence. Then the Dark Prince’s voice, softer but deadly. “So… what do you want, Goldstone? To destroy me? To follow me? Or… something else?”

Goldstone’s gaze sharpened. “I want the truth. Not whispers, not shadows. I want answers. Who are you really… and why are you here?”

The Dark Prince studied him for a long moment. Then, with a small, almost imperceptible smirk:

“Answers come… in time. But let’s see if you’re ready for them.”

And just like that, the shadows swallowed him. The Dark Prince vanished, leaving only a lingering pulse of dark energy. Goldstone’s eyes narrowed.

“Not bad,” he muttered under his breath. “But I’ll find you. And when I do… no more games.”

He turned, stepping back into the silence of the empty building, his mind already calculating the next move. Every shadow, every whisper, every possibility. This was far from over.

And somewhere, just beneath the surface of his controlled breathing, excitement stirred. He was chasing not just a shadow… but a storm.

The alley was silent, save for the low rumble of shifting stone. Goldstone’s boots sank slightly into the cracked asphalt, fingers flexing as the earth beneath him hummed like a living beast. Across the narrow space, the Dark Prince hovered, shadows curling around him like smoke alive, eyes glinting through the silver mask.

“You’re bold,” the Dark Prince said, voice smooth but cutting. “Facing me here… no backup?”

Goldstone didn’t answer. His eyes scanned, feeling the vibrations of the ground beneath—every pebble, every c***k. “I don’t need backup. I need results.”

A flick of the Dark Prince’s wrist sent tendrils of Darkinght energy slithering across the alley. Black, smoky beams twisted toward Goldstone like serpents with sharp teeth. He slammed both palms onto the concrete.

The earth answered. From the cracks shot up jagged pillars of stone, twisting and smashing the Darkight tendrils apart midair. Dust and fragments rained down.

The Dark Prince landed lightly, smirking. “Earth… so predictable.” He stomped, and the shadows under his feet expanded like ink spilled over stone. The darkness lunged forward in wave after wave, faster than Goldstone’s eyes could track.

Goldstone gritted his teeth. “Predictable, maybe… but unbreakable.” He slammed a fist into the ground, sending a massive stone wave rolling forward. The wave smashed into the Darkight energy, colliding in a violent eruption. Smoke, dust, and black sparks filled the alley.

The Dark Prince hissed, dissipating into a swarm of shadow shards. They darted through gaps in the stone, striking from all angles. Goldstone barely had time to react, spinning his body, sending the earth beneath him as a rotating barrier of rock spikes. The shards clattered and shattered on impact.

“You’re fast,” the Dark Prince growled, reforming behind him, blade-shaped darkness crackling in his hand. “But can you handle this?”

A strike of pure Darkight energy lashed forward—black lightning that sizzled and ate the concrete. Goldstone raised both fists, palms glowing faintly. With a roar, he slammed them into the ground. The earth itself rose, twisting into a towering rock wall, intercepting the energy. The wall splintered, but the attack was absorbed, leaving Goldstone barely breathing under the vibration.

The Dark Prince circled him like a predator, shadows pooling at his feet. “You’re strong… I’ll give you that. But strength alone won’t save you.”

Goldstone kicked a jagged stone at him, then slashed the ground with both hands. Cracks ran like lightning, spikes erupting from every crevice. The Dark Prince leapt, twisting midair, and the shadows lashed back. They collided in the center with a deafening explosion, sending shards of rock and black energy flying.

Goldstone felt the impact shake his bones, but he smiled grimly. “Your Darkight… it bends, it flows… but it cannot break the will of the earth!”

With a thunderous stomp, he sent a shockwave through the street, splitting the asphalt and throwing dust into the Dark Prince’s path. The shadows surged to avoid it, but the force slammed him into a wall. A chunk of masonry cracked under the impact.

Panting, the Dark Prince rose, energy crackling violently around him. “Hmph… impressive.” His voice had a dangerous edge. “You may have the earth, but darkness… darkness finds the cracks in the strongest stone.”

Goldstone clenched his fists. His aura shimmered, rock and dust swirling like a miniature storm. “Then I’ll close every c***k. I am the wall, the mountain, the earth itself!”

The alley trembled as Goldstone’s ultimate strike began—a spiraling column of jagged stone erupted from the ground, rock shards spinning like a tornado toward the Dark Prince, glowing faintly with raw earth energy. The Darkight collided with it midair, black and gray sparks flying in blinding arcs.

The force of the collision sent both combatants skidding back. Dust hung thick, illuminated by streaks of energy. They stood, facing each other, breathing hard, eyes locked. Both knew this was not the end—just the beginning.

The Dark Prince smirked beneath his mask, shadows coiling hungrily. “Interesting...huh?”

Goldstone wiped the blood from his knuckles, stance solid, grounded. “Interesting enough to break you.”

And with a roar, the next wave of battle began.

The dust still swirled through the alley, the jagged stones and broken concrete still trembling from the collision of powers. Goldstone’s boots dug into the cracked ground, chest heaving, fists glowing faintly with residual earth energy. Across from him, the Dark Prince staggered, shadows fraying at the edges of his cloak.

“You… can’t be…” the Dark Prince hissed, voice strained, yet laced with an odd respect.

Goldstone’s eyes were steady, unwavering. “It’s over. I’ve got you now.” He slammed both fists into the earth, sending spires of stone spinning toward the Dark Prince, pinning him against the wall. Dust and fragments rained down, and the alley trembled as if the earth itself roared in approval.

The Dark Prince’s body shimmered, momentarily blurring. But before he could vanish, Goldstone’s instincts caught the subtle shift. “Not this time,” he muttered, grounding himself, letting the earth lock him in place.

The shadows that had been his cloak seemed to convulse, twisting—but Goldstone’s grip held. Slowly, the Dark Prince’s form solidified, the dust settling to reveal him pressed against the jagged stone.

“You… actually held me,” the Dark Prince murmured, voice low, almost incredulous. “Impressive.”

Goldstone’s eyes narrowed. “No more games. Enough hiding.”

A sudden shimmer rippled across the Dark Prince’s form, in a blink of an eye a yellow-black mist burst forth from his body in every way. A substitution technique—classic Darkight trick.

“Nice try,” Goldstone said, smirking, spinning in a controlled arc. He slammed the ground, sending earth spikes erupting between him and the clone, forcing the real Dark Prince to step forward. Dust choked the alley, the clone fading like mist.

“You think illusions can save you?” Goldstone said calmly, still holding the Dark Prince in check.

The Dark Prince looked at him, and for the first time, the mask of menace flickered. “Goldstone… I suppose you should know…” he said slowly, “I’m not your enemy.”

Goldstone froze, eyes narrowing. “What…?”

The Dark Prince raised a hand, letting the shadows recede. His eyes—visible now beneath the golden mask—were calm, almost soft. “I never came here to fight you. Not truly. Not to be your adversary.”

Goldstone’s grip on the Darkight energy faltered slightly. The air around them seemed to hush, the tension fading, leaving only the echo of their earlier battle.

“Then… why the fight?” Goldstone asked, voice wary, still grounded in battle stance.

The Dark Prince gave a small, wry smile. “Because you needed to see me, to understand… your own strength. And perhaps… to know who truly stands beside you.”

Goldstone stepped back, still tense, but his fists relaxed slightly. He blinked, processing the revelation. “You… you’re not a threat?”

“Not to you,” the Dark Prince said, tilting his head. “Perhaps… one day, I will be your ally. Or your mirror. But not your enemy.”

Goldstone exhaled sharply, dumbfounded, feeling the weight of the battle—and the unexpected truth. The alley was quiet now, stones settling, shadows retreating.

Without another word, the Dark Prince vanished into the lingering darkness, leaving Goldstone alone, the dust settling around him, heart still pounding from the fight.

He stood in silence for a moment, staring at the spot where the Dark Prince had been. Dumbfounded.

“Not my enemy…” he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.

And for the first time, Goldstone realized that some battles were never about winning—they were about understanding.

Someone's POV

Tahimik ang silid.

Nakaupo ako sa harap ng lumang holo-crystal, ang bughaw nitong liwanag ay kumakain sa dilim ng kwarto.

The royal crest of the Darkimux Kingdom glimmered—cold, authoritative, suffocating.

A voice echoed first, mababa, malamig, pamilyar.

“Diokin Seragax.”

Uncle.

Kasunod ay ang malumanay ngunit mapanganib na tono ng ina ko.

“We need to discuss the Darkprince.”

Ang puso ko—hindi kumabog.

Umigting lang.

Walang kaba, pero may isang uri ng pagtaas ng alon sa dibdib ko.

Isa ’tong tawag na alam kong hindi basta utos, kundi orasyon ng kapalaran.

I straightened in my seat.

“Sabihin n’yo.”

Ang liwanag mula sa crystal ay nag-shift, lumabas ang dalawang hologram ng mga magulang ko—

mga nilalang na kalahating diyos sa tingin ng mortal world,

pero sa akin?

Sila ang paalala ng bigat na hindi ko kailanman nakakalag.

“The Celester Realm stirs,” Uncle began.

“And the boy—will be a center point of the convergence.”

Convergence.

The word tasted like prophecy.

Like destiny trying to sink its claws into my throat again.

Mother followed:

“You’ve gotten close to him… far closer than we expected.”

A small, knowing smirk touched her lips.

“Use that. Influence him. Bend him, if necessary.”

Ang loob ko’y biglang humigpit.

Hindi dahil sa galit, pero dahil sa… alinlangan?

saglit na pag-angat ng tanong sa loob ko.

Manipulahin si siya.

Kung ibang tao iyon?

Madali.

Kaya ko, sanay ako, likas na tungkulin ko bilang prinsipe.

Pero siya…?

Anino siya na hindi madaling hawakan.

Fire na hindi mo basta pwedeng i-cage.

At sa hindi ko maintindihan, may parte sa akin na ayaw siyang gawing puppet.

Tinago ko.

“Anong eksaktong kailangan n’yo?” tanong ko, boses ko mabigat, kontrolado.

“Guide him,” Father said.

“Influence his decisions.”

“Keep him within reach,” Mother added.

“The Darkprince does not even realize what he will become, and the part that we knows him has a big advantage for us.”

May bahagyang pagnginig sa huli niyang salita—

hindi takot, kundi antipitasyon.

Uncle’s tone sharpened.

“He must not fall to the uncontrolled path of the Royanadia.”

“If he does, the underworld, the kingdoms, and the academy will be dragged into collapse.”

Mother leaned closer, eyes shimmering with Lightark wisdom.

“But if he is shaped… if he is tamed… he may become our greatest puppet or ally”

Tamed.

The word struck something deep inside me.

Kung marinig ’niya yon?

Magwawala siya.

At… hindi ko masisisi.

Pero ako, prince…

ako ang tulay ng liwanag na may sariling dilim.

Kung kaya kong igalaw kahit ang pinakamahirap igalaw…

aalisin ko ang takot ng kaharian.

Pero may bagay na hindi nila maintindihan:

He is not someone you simply tame.

He is something you match.

“Bakit ako?” tanong ko sa wakas.

Mother smiled faintly.

“Because you understand the balance far more than any alive.”

Father continued,

“And because he trusts you.”

Doon ako natigil.

Trust?

Ako?

Oo… siguro.

Sa mga titig niya, sa mga biro niya, sa init ng mga flirt niyang binabalik ko rin—

may sandaling lumalabas ang tunay na pagkatao niya.

At sa hindi ko alam…

ako lang yata ang nakakakita n’un.

Mother’s voice softened, but it was still coated in command.

“Diokin.

Do what you must.

The future depends on the bond you build.”

The holo-crystal flickered…

and the light died.

I was alone again.

Huminga ako nang malalim.

Pero ang utak ko, hindi tumitigil.

Nagpapatintero ang mga iniwan nilang salita.

Manipulate.

Guide.

Tame.

Trust.

Kung hindi ko alam ang sarili ko, baka nagalit ako.

Pero Lightark pulsed quietly under my skin—

reminding me of purpose.

Of duty.

Of destiny.

Yet…

naaalala ko rin ang ngiti niya kanina.

Ang init ng hininga niya nang lumapit siya.

Ang bahagyang pag-init ng presensya niya na hindi niya alam.

Ang paraan niyang ngumiti na parang hindu siya lang prinsipe ng dilim.

Manipulate him?

O…

Mahuhulog ako sa kanya habang sinusubukan kong hilahin siya?

I shook my head.

Hindi.

Focus.

I stood, kinuha ang Lightark blade sa tabi ng kama, at bumaba ng silid.

May kaluskos sa hallway nang buksan ko ang pinto.

At nandoon siya.

Nakapwesto sa dingding, naka-krus ang braso, nakatingin sa akin.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano siya katagal nandoon.

Hindi ko alam kung may narinig ba siya.

Pero may ngiti sa labi niya—

hindi flirt.

Hindi tease.

Yung ngiti na parang alam niya na may binabalak ang buong mundo sa pagitan naming dalawa.

“Hey ” bulong niya.

“You look… troubled.”

Lumapit siya.

Masyadong malapit.

At bago ako makasagot, naramdaman kong kumirot ang Lightark sa balat ko—

isang babala.

Hindi dahil kay sakaniya…

kundi dahil sa magiging papel ko sa kapalaran niya.

I forced a calm smile.

“Hindi ako troubled.

Nag-iisip lang.”

He tilted his head, eyes narrowing,

as if reading the shadows in my thoughts.

“Mabuti.

Dahil may kailangan tayong pag-usapan.”

At doon ko naramdaman:

kung anuman ang misyon ng mga magulang ko…

hindi lang sila ang nagtatangkang humawak ng kapalaran.

siya rin.

At ako ang nasa gitna.