The King of Terror's domain to the North is a haven for death and despair. People starve as they slave away at the King of Terrors' behest.
The streets he reigns are littered with bodies, and those who wish to join him will find themselves unaware of their actions. If you fall to the King of Terror's seduction, you will be a slave to depraved actions, then discarded when he's finished with your corpse.
Blood paints the interior of his walls. He uses our people's bodies as decoration.
He is a fool and a traitor.
The King of Terror cannot be trusted.
Teachings to all grade levels at Kaldere Academy
-------------------
"Oh no! He's hot!" Teddy shouted.
Myria whipped her head and gave Teddy a disappointed look.
The King of Terror ignored him and continued.
"Become my Queen, help me eradicate the elven people from the face of this planet, and I will make sure you return to your home safely."
Gwyn's mouth was agape; his deep voice, that sounded like ghosts were tearing at his vocal cords, was replaced by a still deep, but sensual voice that sounded like a symphony to Gwyn's ears.
She had to separate herself from this situation, from his attractiveness, and associate the towering behemoth before her with the actions and atrocities he had committed.
But why was he giving me this option? Why not kill us now?
"She would never accept your terms!" Artero shouted. "You are a monster! You ruin people's lives!"
"Do I? Artero? Those whom I am protecting from the disaster that is the elven kingdoms. Do they appear as if their lives are ruined?"
"Your mind-controlling them!" Elise shouted.
"I have done no such thing."
"What are the terms of this marriage?" Gwyn asked suddenly.
The King of Terror smiled as if he had been waiting his whole life to hear this answer.
"No, Gwyn, you can't!" Elise pleaded, grabbing at her robe.
"I know what I'm doing," Gwyn said, somewhat unsure of her own confidence.
"The terms are simple, we will set to be married, you will make me a true king of the Chosen Ones, and I will declare myself ruler of Keceo. Those who join me will be protected; those who don't? Die."
"As if that's a real offer, you just said you were to eradicate all elven people!"
"Oh, and I will. If you join me, you will get to last up until the end, going painlessly instead of forcing the life force out of every last one of your arrogant people."
The King of Terror had hatred in his voice; it sounded as though he truly despised the elven kind.
"Yet you killed my mother," Elise broke down. "The kindest person our people have ever known."
The King of Terror stood tall, but did not respond to her claim.
"There have been unfortunate accidents in my rise to power, but it is for the good of every living being."
"Good, my ass!" Gwyn shouted. "You are just some power-hungry, egomaniac that wants to rule the world while there is still something to lord over."
"You shall not speak to the King like that!" Whisperer Soulseverance, who was an elf, spat at Gwyn.
The King of Terror raised his hand, and the Whisperer backed off.
"Do you accept these terms?" The King of Terror asked plainly.
All eyes were now on Gwyn, and she wasn't sure how she would respond.
"Do I have to accept today?" Gwyn asked.
"No," he said. "But you will know when your time is up."
"And if I don't accept?" Gwyn asked.
"Then a lot of innocents will die painful deaths." The King of Terror said, sitting back in his throne. "Where these wishes are will not be available at your leisure whenever you please. You've already wasted enough time. But it is your decision, Gwynevere."
"I refuse now, but I am open to compromise on the subject, only if you tell me where the wishes are," Gwyn said.
"Gwyn, you can't!" Elise shouted.
"This is our only hope, Elise."
Gwyn sounded as if this was her only choice. They had spent so long searching on their own with no results; they needed help, and unfortunately, the help was him.
"Need I remind you, Elise, they have put a cap on your lovers' lives? What was it, five years?" The King of Terror said, smirking. "If she were to be my wife, she would live far longer. We could even share her if you desire."
"You are disgusting!" Elise shouted.
The King of Terror turned to Soulseverance and said.
"I feel this is extremely reasonable. Do you think I should just kill them all now?"
Soulseverance smirked.
"I would gladly sacrifice my life for you, my King. It is an idea I find more preferable than letting them plot against you."
"And plot they will, but that doesn't bother me; I know they cannot defeat me." A smirk on his frustratingly handsome face. "So what do you say, Chosen One? Do you accept these terms?"
The King of Terror waited patiently on his throne.
"Only if you tell us about the wishes," Gwyn said.
"I assure you, I will tell you everything I know about the wishes," The King of Terror said.
"This doesn't make sense," Elise said.
"What doesn't make sense?" Artero asked.
Elise stepped forward.
"Why are you telling us of wishes? Couldn't we just wish for you not to exist anymore, effectively killing you?"
This caused nearly everyone to pause.
"Yeah! I bet the wishes don't even exist!" Teddy shouted.
"We don't know if the wishes exist, but Gwyn has to marry you if what you are saying is true?" Elise asked.
"There is no guarantee of these wishes existing." The King of Terror let out a long sigh, his dazzling blue eyes staring down from his throne. "What you are gambling on is that what I tell you may lead to wishes, which then could destroy me. But if the wishes don't exist, I live, and Gwyn becomes my Queen; if they do exist, well then it doesn't matter anyway."
This caused everyone to pause. The King of Terror was gambling? Why would a man as powerful as himself not be able to obtain the wishes?
What are we missing?
"Why can't you get the wishes?" Gwyn asked.
"They are part of a dungeon; I could not complete it." The King said matter-of-factly.
"What do you mean by 'can't complete it'?" Di 'Vinci growled.
"If it were a test solely in brawn and intellect, I would have easily accomplished any challenge, but there are even things I do not know, foolish Chosen One."
"So you aren't smart? King of Dumbasses, amirite?"
Teddy looked around for validation in his poorly timed joke. Confidence seemed to return to him once the King's helmet was off.
The King of Terror laughed at his remark.
"This fat one has jokes," Soulseverance said.
Teddy was thrown across the room. He slid across the floor and collided with the wall on the other side. Myria ran up to him.
"You bastard!" Gwyn shouted.
"He will be fine," Soulseverance said. "He really should learn to keep his mouth shut."
"Why is the contract not broken? Why are you not dead?" Elise shouted.
The King smirked on his throne.
"Because I dulled his pain, he feels no hurt. But he does feel terror."
The situation was suddenly tense again. They all stared. Artero was the next to speak.
"If you can't complete it, how are we expected to?"
"That is the gamble you take," Soulseverance said.
The King of Terror nodded.
The group paused at this information, stared at one another, and considered their options.
"Is it worth the risk?" Di 'Vinci asked. "I hate to say this, but I am not strong enough to defeat him."
Gwyn looked towards Artero and Elise, they both looked just as conflicted as Gwyn felt.
"If what he says is true, the dungeon locked him out after one failed attempt," Myria said. "That happens with every dungeon; there is a challenge, if you fail, you can never attempt it ever again. If we failed in the forest, we wouldn't have been able to attempt that again."
"So that's why he is using this information to gain something; he was unable to finish, and he is betting we will be unable as well," Elise said.
"I think it's worth the risk," Gwyn said in a low voice, not entirely sure of herself.
Elise held her hand tight.
"I support whatever you choose," Elise said.
"I as well," Artero said.
Gwyn turned to face the King of Terror. Without his helmet and ethereal voice, he was actually quite charming.
"Why do you wish to marry me? Why is that such an important step in your plans?"
The King of Terror just stood up from his throne, slowly walked towards Gwyn, his armor clanging like chains with each step. Gwyn averted her gaze as he approached, but he gently raised her face to meet his gaze.
"In the one hundred and thirteen years that I have lived, I have yet to meet a creature as dazzling as yourself," he said, before releasing her face. "That is why I wish to wed you, Gwynevere. You are the most illustrious being I have laid my eyes upon. The moment I knew what you looked like, I ceased every assassination attempt. You are a treasure worth protecting. I desire spending the rest of my days with you by my side."
Everyone's faces dropped, and Gwyn flushed red, unsure how to respond. The most powerful person in all of Keceo was proposing to her, right in front of Artero and Elise.
"You just think she's hot?" Teddy asked. "I kind of respect that."
"I-I-I-I," Gwyn just stuttered, face flushed.
A flash and he was back on his throne.
"So what do you say, Chosen One? Do you accept my offer?"
Gwyn's head was swimming. She couldn't think straight.
Was the information worth marrying him? What he is saying implies that the wishes are real, and they are in a dungeon. But if he couldn't complete it, what hope do I have?
Gwyn thought rampantly, thought after thought poured into her head. Trying to reason herself into the best outcome. Her eyes darted back and forth between the Royals, and she had no idea how to pick something that would make everyone happy.
Artero then stood beside her, placed a hand on her shoulder, and said.
"I will accept whatever you choose, Gwynevere; we will get through this together."
A soft smile was on the prince's face, but his features were clearly worried; his gesture still brought Gwyn comfort.
The Chosen One slapped her face to clear her head, stood tall, and said.
"King of Terror, I accept your offer, only if the wishes are real and the information you provide is accurate and true."
The King smiled, for he knew the information to be concrete.
"I accept these terms." He said coolly, and a burst of magic left the King of Terror and enveloped Gwyn.
Gwynevere Grim formed a contract with the King of Terror.