Chapter 1: The Awakening of Dark Crown!
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Wandering Forest
A beautiful forest located onto the border between two great Empires.
Step!
Step!
Horses softly neighed, walking slowly inside the forest's narrow path.
Whoooosh!
Strong breezes of wind moving through the dark clouds, birds chirping resounding the forest.
"Your Highness, the night is coming. We have to find a place to rest." Richard the guard captain of the fifth prince of Levin Empire said, walking near his master.
"It indeed is turning dark. I believe we have a village near this area belonging to our Empire?" Said the young warrior, brimming with royalty's presence. He wore an iron-plated armour, sword and scabbard by his waist.
He was seemingly a man in his early twenties with golden hair, chiselled jawline, warm face and a warrior worthy body.
"Yes indeed your Highness. I believe the village is said to be called the Selena Village." The middle-aged guards captain Richard spoke his thoughts, his red beard and red hair giving him a unique appearance.
Especially with a scar near his left cheek, a cut down his right eyebrows.
Hmm…
"How long will it take us to reach the village?" Prince asked after abit of pondering.
"I believe it is near us. We could probably arrive there before the sun falls." Stated his guess, Richard looked at the sky which could probably take around two hours to turn dark.
"Good, then let's move ahead. I don't want to ride in this forest during the night." Prince said, staring at the huge trees, bushes and large grasses with caution.
"As you wish, Your Highness." Richard agreed, bowing his head as he carried on with his strict scary face.
Three hours later…
Selena Village.
Frrr~
Frrr~
The torches sparkled with the chilly winds, a small village with around fifty families living in harmony dazzled through the forest.
"Where is the Village Chief! His Highness, the fifth Prince Edward De Levin has blessed your village with his presence!! Present yourself!!!" Richard exclaimed, his shout soon echoing around the peaceful village.
He rode inside the village, a total of fifty soldiers behind him.
Four soldiers carrying the flag of Levin Empire on their horseback, which was the insignia of a two-headed lion carrying on lighting, fluttered with the breeze.
Murmur!
Murmur!
"What! Prince of Empire?! What is he doing in our village?"
"What's going on? We had paid our taxes, why are they here?"
Gulp!
"Why are all of them armed?" Villagers murmured in tension, and soon everyone gathering infront of the entrance gate.
"O! My utmost welcome to His Highness. Welcome! Welcome to my poor little village." Soon an old voice sounded through the gate, every villagers making a path for an old man to walk.
"You are the chief of this village?" Prince Edward asked, riding infront of the Old man as his horse neighed.
"Ah, yes indeed I am the chief of this village, Menor Your Highness. May we poor villagers know why a royalty such as yourself comes to this lowly place?" Village Chief Menor asked in respect, bowing his head for the Prince.
"His Highness was on his journey to the Forest Conference to represent our Empire. Though, due to the night catching us before we could arrive at the Conference. We are here to seek shelter." Richard asked, immediately catching an nervous expression into the old face of Village Chief and all the other villagers.
"I. I don't think we have a place befitting of a royal, Sir." Village Chief Menor nervously said, bowing his head lower than before.
"What! Do you mean?! You are telling His Highness to leave after he asked for a shelter from you lowly peasants?!" Richard immediately bursted in rage, hearing the answer from the Village Chief.
"I- no! I don't mea—"
"No need to rage, Sir Richard. I can see why the old Village Chief is nervous. I am not like my siblings who are greeted by their status…"
"... I'm fine, even if you give me a bed made out of hay." Prince Edward politely said, his eyes wandering off to a dark dumb near the outskirts of village.
'This village. I am having some ominous feelings from them.' Edward inwardly thought, getting off his beautiful white steed.
"Your Highness, we can't. How can we let a royal sleep in hay!!" The Village Chief Menor said in panic, trying to stop Edward on his step.
"..." Richard stayed silent, as he too thought sleeping in hay is abit too much for a royal birth.
"I shall not listen anymore, old chief. Prepare me a bed or hay to sleep on. I'm tired." Edward said, deciding to ignore the chief.
Village Chief's body suddenly shivered, his gaze wandering off to Richard who gave him a death glare suggesting "you better give His Highness a bed or else!!".
"Village Chief hurry up. I said I am tired." Edward then once again said, his time a little threatening.
The Village Chief who now was pincered between two deadly glares, gave up falling to his knees.
…
Village Chief House.
Inside a warm cosy house, the Village chief bowed leaving the room.
"Your Highness, something is going on in this village." The Guard Captain immediately said, looking at Edward who was seated on a couch near the window.
"You feel the same, Sir Richard. It seems like my feelings weren't merely a fluke." Edward exclaimed in surprise, agreeing with him.
"I have stationed all of our soldiers near every corner of the Village. If they discover something, we will immediately know about it." Richard seriously said.
Meanwhile, in another house of the Village.
"Village Chief, what do we do now? Are they really the royalty from the Empire?" A middle-aged skinny man worriedly asked, all the villagers wearing ragged tunic.
"They really are the royalty from the Empire, that man named Richard had his sword enchanted with the Levin crown." The village chief nervously thought, resting both his hands with his staff.
"Then what should we do? If they find out about us, we won't be able to complete her will?! Should we sneakily attack them?" Another village then said in panic, suggesting a assasination.
"No no, we can't. That Richard man beside the Prince side was probably a four-star warrior… There's no way we can sneak near Prince without him noticing be it sleeping or awake. While, even the guards are proudly late-stage two-star warriors." Village Chief said with calmness, a quick silence descending on the hall.
Pull!
"Grandpa? Grandpa? When will Ace return home?" said a young girl, pulling her grandfather's sleeve.
"Oh! My sweetie. He will after two days." Village Chief then answered, looking at his cute fifteen year old granddaughter.
"Uff~ that darn lier. He said he will return today in the message." The young girl scoffed, gaining a chuckle from her grandfather.
"He has his works in the Capital, sweetie."
"But, isn't he the same age as me! Why is he busy with work while I have nothing to do?" Young girl said scornfully, bored with just sitting and wandering all the time around the village.
The villagers nervously sat down, looking at the Village Chief talking with his granddaughter.
…
Five hours later…
*Rain falling noise*
*Yawn~
"Fuck, I'm sleepy." said a guard with a loud yawn, standing below a roof at the outskirts of the Village watching the rain mudding the ground.
"Yeah, I'm really missing my Tina. When can I go home?" Hearing the guard, another guard said with a longing expression.
Hearing which, the first guard suddenly released an uncontrolled chuckle.
"Your Tina must be sucking a cock of another man. I can't believe you fell for a prostitute. Sad life, my friend."
"Hey! You want to fight! My Tina promised me she won't sleep for another man." said the guard, glaring at his friend.
"Yeah, yeah. Then why don't make her leave the brothel. Why does she still go there?"
"You damn fucker. Don't talk dirty about my Tina!" argued the two soldiers, finding no other way to pass the time.
When, suddenly the atmosphere turned chilly, both the soldiers noticing the change.
"Huh? What's going on… what's happening?"
"Hey, get ready. Something's coming this way." spoke the guard cautiously, getting on a battle stance.
*Bugs chewing noises*
"Bugs…?"
The soldiers took out their alarm, ready to inform the Guard Captain.
*Bugs noises intensifies*
Thud!
They heard a thud noise, both of them immediately looking down at the ground.
"A human?... A human!! Is he okay, fuck he is getting chewed off by mud bugs. Gosh." shouted the soldier, quickly pressing his alarm to infront the guard captain.
Swoosh!
Inside the Village Chief House.
"Ugh! My god, this child. His flesh around thigh and abdomen are chewed by mud bugs. It's a miracle that he is still alive." Richard said, blocking his nose waving off his hand to whoosh the stench away.
"What a cruel fate, is the child okay? Is he curable?" Edward asked in pity, looking at the young man leaking out blood from his chewed off parts.
His body soaked in filthy mud, as it blocked his face.
"We can cure him. Though it will be hard, your Highness." said the medics who travelled with the Prince in case of emergency.
"Good, then cure him. Sir Richard, we must visit the Village Chief regarding this case." Prince Edward then said, staring down at the child's arm which had a weird nail pinned down to his arm.
"This… Yes, your Highness. We must visit him." Richard grimly said, looking at the nail.
…
Six hours later…
"Ugh~! Wha- what is going on?" spoke the mudded child, flickering his eyes in surprise.
"Hey, you. You're finally awake?"
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Author: Dark_Crown98