~ [Music Recommendation: "Spirit Break Out" by Kim Walker Smith (Instrumental only) - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this scene ~

Once the gust of wind and dust died down, everyone marvelled even more at the sight before them.

​​

The spirit of a black dragon was behind the maiden. Not just a dragon, there were also the spirits of a Griffin, a Basilisk, an Elf, Sphinx, Pegasus, Mermaid, Chimera, Cerberus, and a Nine-tailed Fox. Those spirits… they were all very familiar to the Magi. For they were none other than their own Guardians!

If their trembling bodies weren't enough, sweat trickled down on their faces and their heart thumped louder than ever. To those who had forgotten and lost their hope to the Supreme, they were overcome with fear. But to those who patiently waited, like the Sortis family, and believed in the Most High with all their might, they were overwhelmed for their salvation had come. The one they had all been waiting for ever since their planet started to crumble. It was the fulfillment of their faith… the fulfillment of the Prophecy of Hope…

In acknowledgement of this, every Magi bowed their heads as they placed their palms unto their chest and bent their bodies low. To a human that they looked down upon so much… they bowed their heads in reverence. How the Supreme humbles the proud and exalts the meek… for the Prophecy of Hope was a double-edged sword, reminding the faithful of His promised salvation in times of peril, and warning the proud that "someone not of them" would save them so their arrogance would be crushed low, and they would be reminded of the importance of humility.

Servus, the Generals, and Judges, reacted the same way with the crowd. They, too, knew of the prophecy, so they bowed their heads in reverence - even Nefastus who at first, didn't want to believe it, was forced to comply with the others. If she didn't, she would suffer the wrath of the devotees and everyone else who had regained their trust in the Supreme. Her body kept on trembling in fear and anxiousness. In her mind, she thought of what would happen to her father's plan. She looked around the crowd but didn't see her father from the noble's seat. Her anxiousness just grew worse.

While everyone marvelled at the maiden who suddenly appeared before them, King Calum acted rather strangely. The dark aura that surrounded his body seemed to react to the maiden's light. He gasped for breath and writhed in agony. Even though he was experiencing excruciating pain, for some reason… he still stood up and walked towards the maiden.

"R-Rania…," King Calum called her name under his breath. Just one word and he had to pant several times after.

The maiden, which was indeed Rania, was confused with the king's unexpected reaction. Why was he suddenly walking towards her, reaching out for her? Or was he aiming to kill her for disrupting his punishment? Rania raised her guard as the king approached but when his body was outside the shade of the roof protecting the throne from the sun, her eyes widened in surprise.

~ [Music Recommendation: "Hate" by Lucas King] ~

"A dark aura… in here?" Rania asked herself in a whisper. "But how -"

"Ugh… Rania," the king continued to walk towards her, as if seeking her help. The nearer he got, the more the darkness seemed to leave his body.

Rania examined the king's body. Seeing that the darkness had not penetrated his skin, she thought she could still save him. So she quickly freed Azalea from her chains and ran towards him to offer help… help to the king whom she used to hate… help towards the enemy. But Rania had learned so much from her adventures with Elliot to keep hatred from her heart. With the Supreme's guidance and the Guardian's lessons, she understood everything.

"Stay still," Rania said as she aimed her hands towards him, gathering holy energy in her palms.

The Judges and Generals were alerted, deliberating if the maiden would kill their king or not. But being the savior as she was foretold in the prophecy, there was no way she would do that, was what they thought.

"You're alive… haaah… You even had magic now," King Calum smirked despite his wretched face. "But that's useless… haah… This darkness… is not something your holy energy can heal."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"It's a curse…"

"So it was because of your curse all along?" Azalea, who suddenly appeared behind Rania, asked with full hope in her tearstained eyes. "Sniff… y-you didn't really want to kill me?"

King Calum trembled at the sight of Azalea. Guilt, remorse, and anger to himself for being weak and useless, clouded his heart. He averted his gaze towards her.

"... I was weak," the king admitted despite his exasperated tone. "I let hatred seep into my heart and this curse was the curse of hatred. Just that one chance… and it took over my whole mind completely."

"Then you really didn't want to -" Azalea burst out to tears, "I really don't have a lover. And you're the one I love. You believe that, don't you?"

King Calum smiled bitterly at Azalea. "No. I don't believe you."

"Lies! You're lying!"

Rania was at a loss for words. She didn't understand the whole situation. Then, King Calum raised his right arm and created a barrier that drew Azalea away. Azalea thumped her hands hard on the barrier but it didn't break.

"It's back," he whispered.

"What's back?" Rania asked him.

"Take Azalea away from me," he told her with his eyes blazing in his seriousness. "I don't know how you got your magic… haah… but do everything in your power to protect her. Go away - far away from me. My time is near… haah… I don't have much strength to hold it back anymore."

Rania remembered what Elliot told her - that there was darkness in his heart.

"Is it because of the curse? How can I undo it?"

"It's not something that can be undone. So GO! Go now!" King Calum shouted and pushed her away, along with everyone in the Coliseum.

"W-what's happening?" the crowd murmured amongst themselves.

Rania was unsure what to do so she simply listened and turned her back towards the king to hide Azalea and the rest to somewhere safe.

"No! He's suffering! He needs me! Please, Rania, don't," Azalea begged her. "I didn't know he was suffering and all I thought of was myself… sniff… please… help him."

"Azalea…" Rania hesitated. Then, a loud cry echoed throughout the whole surroundings.

"WRAAAAAAAAAAAAAA."

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Hi Beloved Readers!

I won Nomination Awards on last year's Webnovel Spirity Awards Spring 2020!

It's all thanks to all of your love and support! T_T I couldn't have done it without you all. Thank you very, very much from the bottom of my heart! T_T

I'll be joining again this year and hopefully, I win again. I'm so shy but I'm gonna be shameless and ask all of your support once more. XD Please check out my new story by searching for it in the app.

Title: "A Beautiful Catastrophe"

Please VOTE me with POWERSTONES on that story and leave reviews and comments. More PS, more chapter updates! And once again, thank you all so much!

Lots of Love,

Macy_Bae

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