While the capital was in turmoil, lightning brewed above the ruins in the distance where the Little Devil was having his magical crown forcibly removed. Killial stayed in his inner space, escaping the pain this time, but he could sense everything. The thieves' mission did not go smoothly; the lightning outside crackled, flashes illuminating their tense faces. Many figures watched the one who dared to take the crown from the baby's forehead. It was a deadly task.
The one figure who kept his distance looked up at the sky and froze in place. The lightning seemed alive, furious. A crack split the air. Suddenly, a bolt struck. It was too fast to warn anyone. The figure with blue eyes, still pulling the crown, was hit. Pain shot through him, muscles tensing, but his endurance allowed him to continue.
Deep within his soul, Killial felt it instantly. Something terrible was about to happen. That's when The lake around him darkened. A star above faded almost completely. Shadows crept across the water. Half of the lake now shimmered with a black, malice-filled liquid.
"What the hell is happening now?! Half a step into this world, and I'm already halfway to death?!" Killial's thoughts raced. "King bastard… wait until I make everyone pay."
He wasn't afraid of the moment. He feared the consequences, the long-term damage this event could cause.
Outside, the scene stabilized. The crown floated, brilliant and glowing, sending a blue light to penetrate the sky and disperse the clouds. It was a treasure most could never claim. Some might see it as useless, but many would risk lives for it. Sparks of electricity danced around its surface, crackling into the air.
The man who tried to take it from Killial had been reduced to ashes. Lightning struck again and again, each bolt stronger than the last. Death came instantly, no mercy.
The silent figure, who had watched from afar, finally spoke. "Step back. Your payment will be dealt with. I will personally deliver this crown to its new owner." He moved closer to the floating crown.
Then he added "Sadly… our fellow sacrificed greatly. We will honor his life and death later. Let's not linger here for a second more,"
As the others left with the crown, one figure remained: the shadow who had kidnapped Killial. He looked at the baby. Killial's skin was pale, veins dark and visible, covered in malicious aura. The shadow fed him a bright green liquid, then departed.
The ruins felt empty again. Killial stayed in his inner space, watching the lake. It was split in two. One half dark, full of malice. The other half calm, still, and beautiful. The sky above the good half was clear, stars shining. The other half was dark and cloudy. All the star, hidden behind clouds and chaotic lightning.
The turmoil in the palace finally subsided. It was hard not to notice the storm far in the distance, lightning rampaging and striking with intent, as if cleansing the world of its dirt. The crown's blue brilliance pierced the dark sky, shining like a legendary treasure, even more obvious from afar.
The king immediately sent people to scout. Many soldiers rushed to the area, among them Marianne. Although the shadow who kidnapped the baby had arrived quickly, it still took hours for the others to reach the ruins. That's why those mysterious figures were confident enough to steal the crown there.
The guards finally arrived at the ruins, but they were too late. The baby lay on the altar, unconscious, surrounded by a malicious aura. His skin was pale, veins dark and visible.
Seeing him like that made Marianne's heart and body shiver, but she didn't hesitate to take him back to the palace.
The king's reaction was cold, like watching a soldier injured on duty. The coldest expression one could see. "So unlucky bastard… just a few days in this world and he's already cursed. Letting him live might bring great danger to our kingdom…"
Those words were uttered in front of Marianne. She didn't argue. Clearly something was wrong. He wasn't the same person the queen had spoken about. She left quietly, knowing the king might harm not only the child but the sleeping queen too. The reason was yet to be unraveled.
---
Two days later, she went back to the library, this time taking the prince with her. If anyone knew what to do, it would be that person.
When she called, the old man didn't appear. Instead, a woman's voice came. "I always wanted to see the little prince, but I was too busy… I'm sorry, my dear…"
Marianne didn't recognize the voice. "Who are you?? Where is the old man? I need his help…"
The voice only laughed gently. "I'm sorry I didn't help last time. He's now tied up in trouble like a newly married man, hahaha. He couldn't leave even if he wanted to…"
The voice paused for second..."But don't worry, today I won't let you down. Don't think I don't know what's happening in that palace. The prince is in danger, and the king is bewitched. The person behind it wants him for themselves… it's all about jealousy."
Hearing that, Marianne was shocked. Her thoughts raced. So it was what she suspected: the second queen, pregnant, wanting her own boy as the crowned prince. Could the king really be under her spell?
Before she could speak again, the old woman added, "I know what you're thinking, but I can't help much. Not only can we not leave the library, we can't interact with the world for the next few days. You're lucky you came now. If the boy is in danger, I can get him out of the kingdom in the blink of an eye. He will be safe, but I can't guarantee his mental state."
Marianne's shock grew. What kind of person could move someone out of the kingdom just like that? "You said his mental state is uncertain?" She asked.
The voice explained further, "When a baby loses their crown, a mind-breaking curse triggers as backlash. Most go crazy and become useless due to weak consciousness. Their mana pool expands, attracting demons. They eventually become demon-possessed. But this one is different. Something blocks me from investigating fully, but I sense a faint demon presence and a stronger presence of his own consciousness. Normally this strength appears after forty, but however it came, it's good; otherwise he wouldn't survive the demon. He seems asleep, not screaming in pain. Believe me, if it were you, you'd rather die than live a second. That's why in many areas, they are killed as mercy."
Marianne finally felt relief. "In this case, I feel relieved. If there's a chance he will live, I will entrust him to you."
She put the baby on the floor, took a final glance, "Goodbye, Little Devil…" she said, her eyes full of tears and hurried back to the palace.
A gate appeared beneath the cradle, and the baby began slowly sinking in. In a breath, he disappeared, and the library went quiet again.
That's when an old man's voice sounded again " old witch..you didn't help her either, you just sent the prince to another kingdom..".
The old witch had to knock his head before she replied" he's safer their after all, I can't ignore my descendants at times of true danger. I just hope that whatever lies deep within his body isn't the demon that walked through this space crack".
During these days, Killial remained in his inner space, sitting on the lake water and facing the invisible wall that split the world into two. Yet he was looking far beyond it. There seemed to be new changes. "I had doubts that all these things happening lately were because God hates me, but now I'm certain… for an old person like me in his 40s, this is too much… uuugh."
He was definitely losing patience because, on the other side of the lake, the malicious liquid had finally stopped multiplying. Because not long after the crown was taken, a strange form began to take shape devouring the black liquid until it resembled a humanoid body, pale white skin covered in thin black veins just like the baby's skin, only worse.
It had two long black horns and two tall black wings. It hovered in midair, unmoving, like a shell without consciousness. More and more black liquid was being absorbed into it. Killial instinctively knew that if this thing came to life, it would come straight for him.
Not knowing whether the black liquid was a threat to himself or this mysterious creature that swallowed it all.
As pain prevented him from going back to his baby body and helplessness overwhelmed him. he stayed in his inner space and kept watch, waiting to see what would happen once the absorption was complete.
Meanwhile..
Far beyond the horizons, a mysterious gate appeared in midair, and a baby silently floated out of it and settled in front of a large house