Episode 2: The Prince Everyone Wanted Dead
683 Words
Three days after the prince's birth...
The Grand Royal Hall, once filled with music and celebration, echoed with angry voices.
"The child must die!"
A gray-haired duke slammed his fist against the marble table, his voice shaking with fury.
"Your Majesty, every prophecy points to disaster. If we allow that cursed child to live, we condemn the kingdom!"
Several nobles nodded in agreement.
"The people are terrified."
"Our crops have already begun to wither."
"Strange creatures have been seen near the northern forests."
"These are signs!"
King Aldren remained seated upon his throne, his expression unreadable.
"The prince is innocent."
"He has done nothing."
"He is a newborn."
"But he carries the Dark Stone!" another lord shouted.
"The same stone that nearly destroyed the Ancient Empire!"
The room fell silent.
No one dared mention that legend aloud.
Not until today.
The High Priest slowly stepped forward, leaning heavily on his silver staff.
"I have spent forty years studying forbidden scriptures," he said quietly.
"There is only one record of the Dark Stone."
Everyone listened.
"It was never created by man."
"It fell from the heavens thousands of years ago."
"It chose a host..."
"And wherever that host walked..."
"Civilizations disappeared."
A chill swept through the council.
King Aldren's jaw tightened.
"Legends are not proof."
The High Priest sighed.
"No..."
"But fear is."
Outside the palace walls, chaos had already begun.
The marketplace buzzed with frightened whispers.
"I heard the prince has red eyes."
"My cousin says horns grew from his head."
"They say shadows move around his cradle."
"They say anyone who touches him dies."
Each story became more terrifying than the last.
Soon, mothers stopped bringing their children near the palace.
Merchants packed their stalls before sunset.
Even soldiers made the sign of blessing whenever they passed the royal gates.
The prince had become a monster...
Without anyone ever seeing him.
Inside the nursery, however...
The tiny prince slept peacefully.
Queen Elara sat beside him, gently stroking his soft black hair.
"My poor child..."
"You haven't even learned to smile..."
"And already the whole kingdom hates you."
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
The black crystal beneath the baby's chest gave off a faint crimson glow.
Then...
It faded.
Almost as though it had responded to her voice.
The queen smiled sadly.
"I don't believe you're evil."
"I never will."
Late that night...
A hooded figure climbed over the palace walls.
He moved like a shadow, avoiding every guard.
His destination...
The prince's nursery.
Inside his cloak rested a silver dagger engraved with ancient holy runes.
"The kingdom must be saved," he whispered.
"I cannot hesitate."
He quietly pushed open the nursery door.
The baby was asleep.
So small.
So defenseless.
The assassin's hand trembled.
"Forgive me..."
He raised the dagger.
Suddenly...
The room became freezing cold.
The candles went out.
A low heartbeat echoed through the darkness.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Black mist slowly spread across the floor.
The assassin froze.
His breathing quickened.
"What... is this?"
Two crimson eyes appeared within the darkness behind the cradle.
Not the baby's eyes.
Something else.
Something ancient.
Something watching.
A deep voice echoed inside the assassin's mind.
"Touch... my vessel..."
"...and perish."
The assassin screamed.
The dagger slipped from his hand.
Without warning, an invisible force hurled him across the room.
He crashed through the stone wall and landed unconscious in the palace courtyard below.
Guards rushed toward him in shock.
"What happened?"
"Who attacked him?"
No one had an answer.
When they entered the nursery...
The prince was still asleep.
Peaceful.
Silent.
As though nothing had happened.
Only Queen Elara noticed one strange detail.
The tiny baby had curled his fingers around the edge of his blanket...
And for the briefest moment...
A faint smile crossed his lips.
Far away, hidden deep within a forgotten cave, the same ancient statue from the night of the prince's birth opened its eyes once more.
This time...
A second statue beside it began to crack.
"The seal grows weaker," a voice whispered through the darkness.
"Our prince... has begun to awaken."
End of Episode 2
- Writer
