The news of Prince Magnus' death and the sealing of the demon lord reached the palace. While the kingdom of Eldoria mourned the loss of their brave prince, they also celebrated the victory over the demon lord. However, not everyone shared in the kingdom's mixed emotions. The head mage, whose ambitions ran deeper than anyone suspected, was far from pleased.
Upon hearing that Prince Leon had awakened, the head mage's mind churned with dark thoughts. With Magnus gone, the path to power was clear. If he could eliminate Leon, the throne of Eldoria would be his for the taking. The head mage wasted no time, making his way to Prince Leon's chambers with murderous intent.
Leon, still reeling from the recent events, sensed the danger just as the head mage arrived. He fled through the winding halls of the castle, but the mage's dark magic soon cornered him. Just when it seemed that all hope was lost, a piercing roar echoed through the air—the sacred eagle, Magnus' faithful companion, had arrived.
The eagle swooped down, claws bared, attacking the head mage with a ferocity born of loyalty. In the chaos, the eagle seized Leon and flew out of the balcony, but the head mage's dark magic struck true, injuring the eagle's wing and blinding one of its eyes. With great effort, the wounded eagle carried Leon away from the palace, its strength waning with every beat of its wings.
Unable to continue flying, the eagle dropped Leon into a river, the current swiftly carrying him away. The eagle, now gravely injured, sought refuge in the branches of a tall tree, where it rested, its sharp eyes still watching over the prince from afar.
Leon was swept along by the river's powerful current, which led him into a dark, mysterious cave. The river's flow dragged him deeper into the darkness until it eventually emerged on the other side, into a hidden village shrouded in sacred energy. The village was a haven of peace, inhabited by monks and sacred beasts who lived in harmony.
As Leon's unconscious body was carried by the river, a vigilant monk spotted him. Without hesitation, the monk dove into the water and pulled Leon to safety, bringing him to the riverbank. The monks worked quickly to treat Leon's injuries, saving him from the brink of death. For two days, Leon remained unconscious.
Meanwhile, in the castle of Eldoria:
The head mage, now seething with anger after failing to capture Leon, stands before the throne, his eyes narrowing in thought. With Prince Magnus dead and Leon missing, the kingdom is without a ruler, and the mage sees an opportunity to seize power. However, he knows that to truly control Eldoria, he must eliminate all threats—including Leon.
The mage orders his most trusted and ruthless soldiers, known as the Black Guard, to hunt down Leon and retrieve the crystal. He also begins to spread rumors throughout the kingdom, painting Leon as a traitor who conspired with the demon lord to kill Magnus. The people, already shaken by the loss of their king and prince, begin to turn against Leon, believing the mage's lies.
but when he finally awoke, he found himself in a small, serene room.
The chief of the village, a wise and compassionate elder, summoned Leon to his quarters. When Leon entered, the chief gestured for him to sit on a simple mat.
"Come, sit down, boy," the chief said in a gentle tone.
Leon, still disoriented but filled with a burning desire for vengeance, took a seat. The chief studied him for a moment before speaking.
"Now, tell me, who are you, and where do you come from?"
Leon's voice trembled with anger as he responded, "I am Prince Leon of the kingdom of Eldoria. My father, King Alaric, and my brother, Prince Magnus, were killed. The head mage betrayed my family and tried to kill me as well."
The chief's expression softened with pity. "You have endured much, young prince. But let me ask you this—do you seek revenge?"
Leon's eyes burned with determination. "Yes," he answered fiercely. "I will avenge them."
The chief nodded, as if expecting this answer. "I must tell you something important. There is a curse upon you—the Curse of Sickness. If you wish to take revenge, the curse must be lifted. Otherwise, your chances of survival are nearly zero."
---
Chief: "I know someone who can help you. I will contact him."
Prince Leon: "I'm counting on you."
Chief: "Until then, go and get some rest."
The chief thought to himself, That poor boy, carrying such a heavy burden.
The next day:
The chief sent someone to summon the prince.
Monk: "I will call him immediately."
In the guest room, the prince had just woken up.
Monk: "The chief is calling for you."
Prince Leon: "Yes, I'm coming." On the way, the prince asked about the lifestyle in the village. As the monk explained, they arrived at the chief's quarters.
Chief: "Come in, boy. The priest has arrived to see you."
The prince sat in front of the priest. The priest used a curse appraisal skill and said:
Priest: "This curse is called the Curse of the Leech. It slowly drains all life force and mana, weakening the host over time."
Chief: "How can we lift the curse?"
Priest: "This curse is difficult to lift, but there is an artifact I have that might help. I'll need some time to retrieve it."
The priest left the village. The story cuts to his home, where he searches the basement, finding an old box. Blowing off the dust, he opens it, revealing a bright red artifact. He thinks of his wife, who could have been saved by it, but it was too late—she had already passed away.
The priest began his return journey to the village, arriving two days later.
Priest: "I've brought the artifact. Let's begin the process."
He drew a magic circle and asked the prince to stand in the center. The priest channeled 50% of his mana into the artifact and placed it near the prince's heart, but it didn't work. He then used 90% of his mana, and the curse began to lift, but more mana was needed. Finally, the priest used 100% of his mana, successfully lifting the curse. The artifact shattered into pieces, which then absorbed into the prince's body, causing him to glow with a red aura.
Priest: "I wanted this artifact to save my wife, but I couldn't get it in time. She's gone, but I'm glad I could save you. Now I can die in peace and be with her."
Prince Leon: "Why! Why would you sacrifice yourself for me, filled with such sadness?"
Priest: "I have lived my life to the fullest, experienced everything there is to offer. I have no regrets. You, young prince, should live... you must live..."
The priest's voice fades as he breathes his last breath, a peaceful expression on his face.
Prince Leon: "Thank you, old man. I will make sure to repay the debt I owe you. The life you saved will be used to save many others. May you rest in peace."
The village mourns the priest, conducting a solemn funeral in his honor.