It was time!

Andromeda waited in the waiting room, waiting for the man who would accompany her to the chapel. She asked her uncle Ian to present her. He was after all the closest blood-relative she has because of her father’s death. As per tradition it was the father’s responsibility to give away the bride, but because of her father’s death. Her uncle Ian who was her father’s younger brother is the closest thing she has to a father now.

She was alone in the waiting room, she dismissed all of her maids to have a little time to think about how her future will look now. But the thoughts of the future never came to her, only Rhax’s pained expression formed in her mind. The look he gave her when he walked out of her room two days ago still made her eyes water. He looked so pained to let her go, but he did so she could have a better life.

If he thought that his act would make her hate him then he was definitely wrong, that only made her love him more. A man who would sacrifice his own happiness so the woman he loves will have a good life is a man everyone loves. A new batch of tears threatened to burst again, she had been crying nonstop for a whole day after the incident. She wasn’t crying for herself, but for Rhax. Seeing her Rhax this sad and pained made her want to cry and kill everyone responsible for his pain. But she couldn’t kill Sybal, even if she wanted to. He was a magus apprentice, and she was a mortal.

‘Why are the Gods this cruel? Making me and Rhax fall in love with each other knowing that we can’t be together. This is the work of demons; no God will do that to its subjects. I curse you all, I curse your existence, I curse your death. And I curse you for creating the magus.’ She cursed every god out there, like she did for the past two days. She cursed them all from the Elvish gods to beastkin’s.

The humans didn’t have a god deity, but people worship the rank 9 magus. Because the rank 9 magus are the strongest in their respective galaxy or as people like to call it, World.

So, you could see the mortals worshiping the Light Monarch. The last rank 9 magus who ended the great war and died in its end in what people call as The Great Sacrifice.

He was a great man, he died while ending a war that was fought for over 1000 years. And it resulted in the deaths of billions of magi and other creatures throughout the universe. So, Andromeda understood why people would worship him. Especially since he was almost a god, being a rank 9 and all. So, one can count him as a god, but she dared not to curse him, after all, the Light Monarch was a very respected and loved figure in the magus world. And both magus light and dark love and respect him for his sacrifice.

Thus, if she was heard cursing such a figure then her future would look worse than a stable that hasn’t been cleaned for months.

After minutes of waiting the knock on her door finally came, indicating that her uncle Ian is here to give her away. She opened the door and she was met with her uncle Ian. He was in his late forties, his once coal black hair was starting to go white, and his golden eyes that were the same as her own had such experience and confidence that she felt safe by just looking into them. He was wearing a suit, which was something special. It was known that Ian Valq never took off his armor unless he was sleeping. And at some point, in his life he even slept in his armor.

She was nine when he went through that phase, and when she asked him why he slept with his armor on. He laughed and said, “You never know when the enemy will attack, Meda. Also, this way I can get used to my armor weight, so in battle I can be more deadly.” His grin never left his face when he explained. He was the only one that was allowed to call her Meda, because this was his way of showing his love for her.

His children, Marlene and Stagrious were 13 and 12. They didn’t have a significant relationship with her because of their age. But they were close, or as close as you can get while being 20 and them being 13 and 12.

“You look fabulous, Meda. I hope your father was here to see you, he always wanted to be at your wedding. But it seems that the Light Monarch didn’t write for him to live that long.” He said with a sad smile on his face, he was a handsome man. Maybe not devilishly as Rhax, or as cute as Sybal. But he was rough and handsome. There was a scar going from the left side of his forehead to the bottom of his left jaw. It was a terrifying thing to see up close, he got it while exterminating a group of rebels called Lion’s Heart. They were led by a distant cousin to the Valq family. They had over 15,000 soldiers and wanted to take Valaq for themselves and dethrone the Valq family. This was before she was even born. It was in that war her step-mother and half-siblings died. Ian was still 15 at that time, while her father was almost 40. He waited 10 years until he married her mother and had her. The reason for the age difference between the siblings is that they aren’t full siblings, they are actually half-siblings. Ian is the bastard son of her grandfather Trestan Valaq. But that didn’t make her father hate him, on the contrary, he loved him very much. Her father was a lonely child, so when he discovered he had a brother he was extremely happy, even though he was not his full brother.

So, when the Lion’s Heart army attacked Valaq, Ian was the leader of the defense of the north wall. And then the leader of the army actually appeared on the battlefield. He appeared on the North Wall, where Ian was. So, Ian in his youth arrogance challenged him into a duel. He was arrogant because he was the most talented person with a sword in their generation according to the master at arms at that time.

But he is 15 fighting a man who has been in countless battles. You can see how disastrous it was for Ian, Ian had the skill, but his opponent had the experience. And Ian made a mistake by not noticing where he was footing and accidentally tripped on a fallen soldier’s body. And the enemy leader used this opportunity to slash at him. But fortunately, it only gave him the scar.

Before the enemy leader could finish Ian, he was filled with arrows from the defenders. It was dishonorable to interfere in a life-or-death duel, but they didn’t care. They liked Ian and couldn’t see him die, so they said to hell with their honor and killed the enemy leader.

After the battle the news arrived to the soldiers of their lady’s and the children’s death. They were killed by the traitors in the palace that wanted the leader of the Lion’s Heart to win.

When it was all safe and people were celebrating for winning the war, and keeping their city safe. Some nobles that didn’t like that the ‘bastard’ having this much influence in the army wanted the people that saved Ian’s life to be killed for breaking the sacred rule of a life-or-death duel.

When they brought the subject to her father, he laughed in their faces and said, “Do you really think that I will kill the people that saved my brother? If I hear any of you say such things again, I will cut off their tongue myself…” The nobles never spoke of the subject again, because it was known that if Dresden Valq threatened to do something then he would do it while giving the middle finger to the consequences.

“Aye,” Andromeda smiled weakly, “I also hope he was here; he always went on about how he will make my wedding the grandest in Valaq history. Well, I guess he got his wish. I’m to marry a magus apprentice and a possible magus in the future.” She tried to hide her sadness she really did, but Ian always knew her better.

“What is bothering you, Meda?” He asked with a concerned expression, and she knew that he was really concerned. He wasn’t a fake, or a bad man. A lesser man would have killed her and taken the city for himself; he could have done it in a heartbeat. He was the army general and he was a great knight, so it would have been a piece of cake for him to kill her and take the Lord’s seat.

But he didn’t, on the contrary, he helped her get rid of people that were plotting for him to be the new Lord. He was always loyal and kind to her and her father. So, she knew she could trust him with her life, but she just couldn’t trust him with her secret. Because what would he think of her, a woman falling in love with a man while is betrothed to another?

She doesn't think she can handle a judging look or even a disappointed one from him. It will ruin her, so she did what she did best these days. Lie.

“Oh, I’m just nervous, I feel like I’m not good enough for Sybal.” She sagged her shoulders and was almost on the edge of crying but she stopped herself. She was to be wed and shouldn’t go out with her eyes puffy from crying.

“What kind of nonsense is that?” Her uncle almost shouted. “You are the kindest, gentlest, and prettiest girl in all of Valaq. It is his honor that he is marrying you, Magus apprentice my ass. Believe me, if he hurts you then I will kill him even if it means my death.” He hugged her to his chest and she couldn’t hold herself and let a few tears slip. But she stopped herself before she went all out and ruined her looks.

“I love you uncle, thank you for always being beside me. You are the best uncle in the world.” She smiled and hugged him again.

He laughed and the vibrations shook her body. “I love you too, my little lioness. Now go and tame that arrogant Stag, show him that when lions roar stags should go into hiding or die.”

She chuckled at his words; he always made her laugh. Even in dire situations.

She hooked her arm in his and nodded toward forward. “I guess it is time.” She murmured to no one in particular.

She hoped her uncle didn’t hear her, but it seems he did hear her. “Aye,” he smiled, “it is time, time for my little Meda to marry and give me grand-nieces and nephews. Believe me, if it was in my hand then I will never marry you to anyone and you can just rule Valaq alone. But you need heirs to continue the family.”

She looked at him, he looked happy at the thought of little babies calling him grand-uncle. “I actually prefer to not have heirs; thus, you will be the heir of the lordship.” She smirked at his face which had grown pale.

“No, definitely not, I told your father and now you, I’m not a politician or a lord. I’m a general, my place is on the battlefield killing enemies not court trying to mind fuck the person I’m talking to by saying something and doing another thing entirely. I will leave this shit to you, my dear niece.” He spoke with such enthusiasm about battles and war that she really thought he would not make a good anything except a general.

They finally arrived at the chapel and the door opened and they walked in. People were sitting and looking at her and her uncle, they were all nobles, some even from other cities. Her father was popular.

She was wearing a white dress, but she also had a cloak on her back which had the sigil of her house. The red crimson lion on the gold background. It was not necessary for her to wear a cloak to show her house, but she did it to feel more confident.

They will not do a cloaking ceremony; this was the south region and not the north region where it was popular for a noble to cloak their bride with their house sigil indicating she was under his protection and his house’s.

She looked and saw Sybal looking at her, he was wearing a white suit. He looked very handsome, his black hair was a stark contrast to the whiteness of the suit and his sharp piercing blue eyes took all of her in like he was seeing her for the first time.

They arrived at the stage, and her uncle kissed her head, and then took her cloak from her. He then went and sat with his children and wife.

“You look beautiful, my love.” Sybal’s voice was soft and was full of love. She felt more guilty for her love for Rhax. She shrugged the thought of Rhax, it was not the time for her to think about him.

But she didn’t banish shit, because the next second the door opened and Rhax came in. He was wearing the armor she gave him, the golden armor that has red lions on it.

He walked with confidence and sat at the front line, his sword on his side. Their eyes met; he gave her his signature smile. But she saw the pain his smile hid, she felt herself choke but then she breathed and continued to look at Sybal and not think about the man who sat only a few meters to her left.

It went smoothly, the ceremony took around 15 minutes, they exchanged rings and said their vows. It was smooth and when they went out, they were officially Andromeda and Sybal Valq.

Sybal took her last name, because he was a small folk, thus he doesn’t have a second name, only one name. And he didn’t want to start a new house because it is a lot of work and he doesn’t care about his name that much.

They arrived at the garden holding hands. From the garden you could see all of Valaq, it was actually Rhax’s idea to make the banquet here, it was nice weather and the stars shone in space like diamonds on a queen's crown.

They sat at the high table and every guest sat in their own respective seat, Sybal took her hand and nodded at her. She knew what she had to do. She stood up and everyone who was talking went quiet. “My lords and Ladies, I thank you for attending our wedding. Some of you had to travel for weeks to arrive here and I thank you very much for coming. Let’s feast!” The moment she was finished the servants came with the food; it was all kinds of food. Wild boar, venison, beef, lamb, chicken and a lot more things. Wine and ale were drowned like water by the guests.

She watched with a smile, but inside she felt empty watching everything. Then she felt someone sit beside her, she looked and saw none other than the man she tried to not think about for some time. Rhax looked gorgeous. “My lady, Your Highness, congratulations. I hope to see some little babies at some point, so I can tell them about everything embarrassing I know about their mother.” He laughed and Sybal joined too. She just pouted and hit his chest playfully. He took off his armor and was now wearing some type of robe. It was all black, it reminded her of something but she didn’t remember what exactly.

Sybal spoke with a curious tone. “Rhax, what are you holding?” At that she looked at his hands and saw he was holding two glasses.

“Ah this,” he lifted the glasses, “this is a drink the new married drink at their wedding banquet. I learned about it when I was in the Eastern side of the South region. Here you go.” He gave them the glasses. “It is a tradition to drink it all at once, so no sipping Andromeda.” He smirked at her pout.

“Eastern side you say?” Asked Sybal, at Rhax’s nod, he continued. “I always wanted to visit the place; it is said that there are a lot of weird things there.” Sybal was about to drift and start talking about these creatures in the East but Rhax told him that he should drink the drink first.

So, they clicked their glasses and with one gulp drank the whole drink. It tasted like apples and lemons; it was pleasant to the mouth. It seemed Sybal liked it too as he hummed in pleasure.

“This is a good drink.” She told Rhax, he just smiled and winked at her.

Rhax was sitting forward and only his head was at their angle, so it was hard to read his body language.

Sybal seemed to notice what Rhax was wearing. “Rhax,” he gained Rhax’s attention, “what are you wearing?”

“Ah this,” Rhax pointed at his robe while turning toward them, and to her horror she remembered where she saw such robes. They were magus robes, and this one had a golden raven on the heart area. “This is the robe the Raven academy gives to their students.” Rhax smiled showing his white teeth.

Sybal had a panicked expression on and immediately extended his hands to cast a spell. But nothing came out. “Ah, you can’t use magic, can’t you?” Rhax laughed.

“W..what did you do to me?” Asked Sybal with a terrified tone.

“I gave you a potion that seals your magic power of course, and before you say something like how did I not detect it. My mentor made it so even if you were a peak rank 3 magus apprentice you couldn’t have detected it.” Rhax had the same smile on his face.

Andromeda was in a mess. ‘Rhax? Where is my Rhax? Did this man kill him?’

She then noticed how quiet it was, she looked around and to her ultimate horror everyone was unmoving on the ground or in their seats. They all are dead. Her eyes landed on her uncle Ian who slumped over what seemed to be Stagrious. Her eyes started to tear up, she wanted to move but she found herself fastened in her place by something invisible, Sybal shouted. “Unfasten me immediately you filthy dark magus.” But he was ignored by Rhax.

“Who are you?” She asked with a terrified tone and it was almost a whisper.

Rhax only smiled, he was suddenly in the middle of the garden, in the dancing place. His face and body slowly started to change. “I have a lot of names, my birth name is Adrius, my mentor calls me brat, but I like what people call me, they call me The Dark Eyed Demon.” Andromeda shivered, Rhax was gone and in his place was a man he was not too short nor too tall, he had black hair, coppery skin, he had a mask on his face. A mask of a white skull with fangs as teeth, but saw it clearly even from a distance. The darkness of his eyes, the cruelty that is embedded in them.

“No,” she whispered, “Where is Rhax? What did you do to him? What did you do to my love?” She shouted; her throat was killing her but she still shouted.

Sybal looked heartbroken but she didn’t care, she only wanted to know what happened to Rhax.

The Demon only laughed. “What? Can’t you identify me Andromeda? Didn’t you love me?” He said in Rhax’s voice.

She felt her mind was about to stop, ‘no, no, this isn’t happening, please tell me this isn’t happening. If this a dream, I swear the moment I wake up I will break my betrothal with Sybal and marry Rhax.’

Sybal shouted. “You damn bastard, you were here the whole time, you ate and played with us. You were like family.”

The Demon only chuckled. “Me? Family with you? A traitor. Never, you were dead meat the moment your wife accepted me into her service. I didn’t think she would fall in love with me, but it was entertaining to see her this saddened and angsty about her life.”

Her heart felt like it was being torn apart by a dull knife, she didn’t realize she was crying until her vision was blurred by her tears. She cried for the dead, she cried for herself and her torn apart heart, but she cried for Rhax. Even if he was a character, she loved him more than she could imagine. She cried because he didn’t get a chance to be real, but his name and identity was used by a Demon in human skin.

“The souls, it was your doing, it was a distraction for me, wasn’t it?” Sybal shouted, his hair was disheveled and he looked crazed.

“Souls?” The Demon asked, he then made a noise indicating he remembered what Sybal was talking about. “Ah, these souls, no, actually they were purely coincidences. You see, I needed information, so I soul-searched some mortals and went on my way, I didn’t think their souls became vengeful souls.”

Sybal was speechless, Andromeda looked like a ghost. Her mind was at the edge of insanity. The Demon looked at the city and spoke. “Ah, I think it's time.”

“T….time for what?” Sybal’s tone was filled with fear.

The Demon spoke without even looking at them. “You shall see.” The Demon laughed.

The Demon then used something to make his voice so loud that she was sure he was heard throughout the city. “Ah, I have to thank you and your city because of this simple job I’m getting an opportunity to become an official magus. So, thank you, now.... die.” His voice was so loud she swears her ears were bleeding. The moment he finished she watched in horror as green flames exploded under the city and the cries of 300,000 people screaming in fear and pain. The dark skies were tainted with green and smoke. The smell of the cooked meat entered her nostrils. It made her vomit more than once.

The once perfect night was now a nightmare to everyone in the city. Men, women and children went about their daily lives today and probably were home by now with their families. But they didn’t know that this was their last day in this world. All because of one man, a man who was in front of her watching every part of the city burn while laughing like a crazy person.

Watching her city explode was the last straw for her mind, she felt something in it break. ‘Where is Rhax? He should be here; this is our wedding, isn't it? They even cooked meat for us?’

She looked at the man she didn’t recognize beside her, and she saw a man with a scary mask waving his hand and the man that was beside her was beheaded. His face had such pain and agony that it made her sad to see him pass away even if she didn’t know him.

She looked at the man with a mask and told him. “My husband Rhax will kill you if you touch me, he is the strongest. So, you better escape, weird man.”

She tried to show her confidence, because she was sure Rhax is on his way to save her and kill that man then they will marry and have children, just like the stories.

The weird man with the mask on shook his head. “What a crazy bitch?” He then waved his hand and Rhax’s face was in front of her, he was talking to her. “Come my love, it is time for us to go now.” She put her hand in his.

Then it became dark!