By the time the guards arrived at the scene, Elias was nowhere to be found. The cold night wind blew through the quiet palace corridors, rustling the leaves of the trees nearby. The torches flickered, casting long shadows across the stone walls as guards ran back and forth, shouting commands.
Elias moved swiftly through the dark alley beside the palace garden, his breaths shallow, his steps light. He could still feel the warmth of the blood dripping down his face and neck. The pain was dull now, masked by adrenaline and something else, confusion, perhaps.
Then, as he turned a corner, he bumped into someone. It happened so fast. The collision was sudden, his momentum forcing them both a few steps backward. His mask slipped off, falling silently to the ground.
The soft glow from a hanging lantern above illuminated his face.
"Brother?" a soft voice whispered, eyes wide.
It was Seraphina.
She froze. Her breath caught in her throat. His face was stained with blood, sweat matted his dark hair to his forehead, and his eyes...they were wild, dark, and unfamiliar.
"Damn it..." Elias muttered under his breath, gritting his teeth. "Just how many innocent people will die tonight?"
Seraphina stood there, shocked and confused. The brother she knew would never be like this. He was gentle, quiet, always smiling. But the man standing in front of her now had a sharp gaze, a dangerous aura, and blood all over his face. It didn't make sense.
"Who... who are you?" she whispered, still unsure if what she saw was real.
Elias didn't reply. He reached behind him, unsheathing the sword he had taken from one of the guards. The blade gleamed under the lantern light. With a cold expression, he stepped forward and raised the sword. His hand tightened around the hilt, muscles tensed, ready to strike.
Seraphina gasped and closed her eyes, her body trembling. "No!"
She screamed.
The sound echoed through the hallway, bouncing off the stone walls like a cry for help. It reached the ears of the nearby guards.
"This way! Hurry!"
They came rushing, holding long sticks with glowing tips that brightened their path.
Elias lowered the sword, something stopping him from delivering the blow. His hand trembled slightly. He stared at her. Why couldn't he do it? Why did his heart feel heavy?
As the guards drew closer, he snapped out of his thoughts and leaped onto the rooftop above them, vanishing into the night like a shadow.
One of the guards arrived seconds later, panting. "My princess! Are you alright? Did you see the assassin?"
"Assassin?" Seraphina echoed, still in shock.
"Yes, the one that killed the priestess!"
Her eyes widened. What? He... Killed the priestess? That couldn't be true. Her brother wouldn't even kill a bug.
"Did you see which way he went?" another guard asked urgently.
Seraphina swallowed and pointed in the opposite direction. "He... he went that way."
The guards nodded and ran off without hesitation.
Back at the scene of the crime, the king and his personal guards stood in silence, the body of the priestess covered with a white cloth.
"Who dares to kill within my palace walls?" the king roared. His face was red with fury, his hands clenched into fists.
He turned to his trusted personal guard, Edward, who was the best swordsman in the nation.
"How many in this kingdom have the skills to kill ken so easily?"
Edward, tall and broad-shouldered, with sharp features and eyes that saw everything, answered calmly, "Only two, Your Majesty. Myself... and the son-in-law of the Minister of Land Affairs. He's ranked second."
The king's expression darkened. "Lock every gate. No one leaves this palace. Not until we catch this assassin."
"Yes, Your Highness," Edward bowed, then turned to carry out the command.
The king returned to his chambers, though his mind remained restless. Servants moved quickly to clean the scene, removing all signs of the violent act.
The next morning, the sun rose, casting a soft golden light over the palace gardens. The birds chirped, and the scent of morning dew filled the air. Despite the chaos of the previous night, the palace tried to return to normal.
Elias awoke to a knock on his door. He sat up slowly, rubbing his temple.
"My prince," a servant called gently from outside, "The princess seeks an audience with you."
Before he could respond, the door opened abruptly. Seraphina stepped in, her face full of emotion…anger, confusion, worry.
"I need answers!" she demanded. "What happened last night?" You come back saying you've lost your memory, and now you killed the priestess? Isn't that weird?
Elias remained seated, watching her. She was fiery, her emotions raw. Her hair was still a bit messy from sleep, and her voice cracked a little as she spoke.
"Listen," Elias said softly. "I'll tell you everything." Just not now. Please."
"No. You're acting strange. My brother wouldn't do this. He wouldn't lie to me. He wouldn't... kill someone."
She stepped closer, searching his face for any trace of the brother she knew.
Elias looked at her for a long time. There was something in her eyes. Something sincere. And yet, something stirred inside him…an emotion he couldn't quite name.
Why couldn't I kill her last night? He wondered. He had never hesitated to kill someone. To him, it was weakness.
He needed to know.
He reached out suddenly and gently pulled her down beside him on the bed. She gasped, eyes wide, unsure of what was happening.
Then, he placed a finger gently on her lips.
"Shush," he whispered.
Her face turned red almost immediately. She froze. Her heart raced. He could hear it…clear and fast, like a drumbeat. His enhanced hearing picked it up easily.
So, she has feelings for her brother, Elias thought, a sly smile creeping into his lips. And this body... maybe it feels the same.
Seraphina blinked rapidly, then, as if on instinct, slapped him across the face.
The sound echoed in the room.
"What are you doing?!" she shouted, standing up, embarrassed and angry.