Eyan's eyes narrowed, suspicion burning beneath his calm. "What's in this bottle?"
Prince Velco smirked, his tone velvet-smooth. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. It's not a poison."
Eyan and Luca exchanged a wary glance. The potion looked too still, too alluring.
Eyan's voice dropped lower. "If we drink this… you'll tell us where Leo is?"
Velco's lips curved into a dark smile. "Yes. You have my word."
He tossed the bottles toward them, the glass glinting as Eyan caught one mid-air. He handed the second to Luca.
For a brief heartbeat, silence ruled. Then both men uncorked the potions and drank.
The taste was metallic—cold—wrong.
And then it hit.
Their knees buckled. The ground met them with a brutal thud. Eyan's sword fell from his hand, clattering beside him as a heavy force pressed down on his chest—an invisible weight crushing every muscle.
"Eyan!... brother" Eva's voice broke with panic as she rushed toward them. "Eyan! What's happening?"
"I… can't move," Eyan groaned, his fingers twitching uselessly against the dirt.
"Neither can I," Luca hissed, his body stiffening as the unseen pressure grew stronger.
Eva turned to Velco, terror flashing in her eyes. "What did you do?! What was in that bottle?"
Velco chuckled darkly. "Nothing lethal. Just a magic potion that renders the body immobile."
He tilted his head, studying Eyan like a broken animal. "I wasn't sure if it would work on you, Your Majesty because of Dragon's Blessings you had. But it seems it's working very well."
Eyan strained to move—his jaw clenched, veins tightening on his neck—but his body refused.
Velco smirked. "Don't try too hard. The more you fight, the more pain you'll feel."
He rose slowly, brushing dirt from his coat. "Now two are down…"
His gaze shifted toward Eva, his smile twisting into something sinister. "…that leaves you alone."
Eyan's breath hitched. "No…" His voice rose, hoarse with fear. "Eva, run!"
But before she could take a step, Velco's hand fisted in her hair, yanking her backward.
"Stop!" Eyan roared, his voice cracking with helpless fury. "Let her go!"
Velco ignored him, dragging Eva down to the dirt. "Now you'll both watch her die," he whispered.
"Don't—please!" Eyan's voice trembled, raw and broken.
Velco threw Eva to the ground, pinning her by the throat. His grip tightened, cruel and deliberate. "No poison or spell can kill you because of that child you carry," he hissed. "So there's only one way left."
Eva's hands clawed at his wrists, her eyes wide with terror as she gasped for air.
"Die," Velco whispered.
Her vision blurred. Her lungs burned. I can't… breathe.
Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. Someone… please… help me.
Eyan…
"EVA!" Eyan's scream tore through the storm. His voice cracked with desperation, his eyes red with fury. "Let her go!... Don't hurt her!"
Her face was pale, lips trembling as she tried to fight back—but her strength was fading.
"You deserve to die," Velco spat.
Eva's eyes fell to her belly—her hand weakly brushing against it. My Leo…
Then, through the haze of pain, her gaze flicked to the dagger lying near her.
If I must die… then I'll end it before he does.
Her trembling hand reached for the blade. I'm sorry, Leo.
With tears streaming down her face, she lifted the dagger toward her chest.
"EVA, NO.. DON'T DO IT!"
Eyan's body convulsed against the invisible force. Blood trickled from his fingertips as he clawed at the ground, trying to move. "Damn it—MOVE!"
Eva's hand froze—stopped by an unseen power.
What…? I can't move… Her mind screamed in silence. Just let me die in peace…
Eyan's entire body burned as he forced his way up, trembling, breaking through the force that bound him. "Eva!"
He staggered forward—then sprinted.
With one powerful kick, he struck Velco in the chest, sending him crashing backward.
Eyan's body was still heavy, every muscle shaking as he dropped beside Eva, grabbing her wrist—just before the dagger could pierce her heart.
"Eva, let go!" he shouted, his voice breaking.
Her hand loosened, the dagger clattering beside them as she gasped for air, coughing violently.
Eyan hovered over her, his arms braced on either side, trying not to crush her fragile body. "Eva—are you okay?"
She coughed, nodded weakly, tears staining her cheeks.
Behind them, Velco rose again—blood on his lips, rage burning in his eyes. He lifted a large rock, staggering forward.
"Eyan! Behind you!" Luca screamed.
Eyan turned his head—too late to dodge. If he moved, the rock would crush Eva instead.
Velco lunged—
And then, a blinding light tore through the air.
It struck the rock, turning it instantly to dust.
Velco stumbled back, falling to the ground with a grunt.
A voice echoed, calm but heavy with power.
"Forgive me… for arriving late."
Eva blinked through her tears, disbelief washing over her face. "Leo…"
Eyan exhaled shakily, eyes wide. "Leo…"
Leo rushed toward Eva, his body faintly cracking as he moved.
"Mother, are you all right?"
Eva's tears streamed down her face. "Leo… I thought something happened to you."
Her trembling gaze fell on the cracks spreading faintly across his arms. "Your body—Leo, it's—"
He shook his head quickly. "It's nothing, Mother. Don't worry, I'm fine."
She cupped his face, still crying, her fingers brushing against the faint fractures along his jaw. Leo's eyes softened, but then his expression hardened as he looked past her—first at Eyan, who was half-kneeling, frozen above her, then at Luca collapsed nearby.
"What are you doing, mister? And what happened to Uncle?"
Eyan's voice came out strained. "We… drank the potion. We can't move our bodies."
Leo blinked, disbelief flickering across his face. "Are you two idiots?"
Eyan's brow twitched. "What did you just say?"
"Who drinks a suspicious potion from the enemy?" Leo shot back, crossing his arms.
"He said he'd tell us where he was keeping you if we did," Eyan replied through clenched teeth.
Leo groaned and dragged a hand down his face. "Who made you the emperor of Velmoria. Unbelievable—you actually fell for his trick."
Eyan let out a frustrated sigh. "Well, I'm sorry for being stupid, then."
A low laugh broke the tension—
Prince Velco was standing again, blood staining the corner of his lips. "How the hell did you escape from there, brat?"
Leo turned to him, his eyes narrowing. "I can't tell you that."
Then, glancing back at Eyan, his tone softened slightly. "Just keep protecting Mother like this. I can't use my power to lift the potion's effect from you and Uncle right now."
He stepped forward, the air around him trembling faintly. "I need all my power to deal with him."
Leo's gaze locked on Velco's. His eyes ignited, glowing a fierce, molten red.
A slow smirk curved his lips.
"Now," he said, voice low and cold, "let's end this."