In the Kingdom of Ascales, being a prince wasn't all fun and games. Leo's life was a monotonous routine having castle to academy, academy to castle. He longed for excitement, to explore the world beyond the palace walls. As a member of the royal family, he had responsibilities, but his curiosity and sense of adventure often got the better of him.
"Maan, Dorje, bro, why is life so boring?" Leo complained to his childhood friend, Dorje, a member of the prestigious clan of exorcists.
Dorje chuckled, "Now, what happened? Did the great lord scold you again?"
Leo's frown deepened. "I'm restricted from leaving the main city."
Dorje nodded in approval. "With your actions, you were bound to get restricted. Maybe you should be grateful you're not confined to the palace."
Leo huffed, "Sometimes I wonder if you're my friend or enemy."
Leo was known for his mischievous ways, often sneaking out of the palace to mingle with the villagers, explore the restricted forest, and help those in need. The people loved him, perhaps even more than they loved his father, the king.
On the day of the grand festival, celebrating the goddess Durga, Leo managed to slip away from his bodyguards and father. As the royal family arrived at the festival, Leo mingled with the villagers, enjoying the music, food, and rituals.
But his excitement was short-lived. He noticed something strange on the temple's backside. Children were being led to a shady looking alley, where an old man with an ancient grimoire was waiting. Leo intervened, "Hey, old man! What's going on here? Kids, come back!"
The old man cast a binding spell, and Leo felt himself being overwhelmed. As he struggled to break free, he saw the blue full moon rising, and a glimmer of hope sparked within him. His father would surely send guards to search for him, as for some reason he would always make Leo stay inside the palace with even tighter security while avoiding any kind of light passing through his room.
But the old man's spell was too powerful. Leo's vision faded..
Thud!!!
He collapsed.
When he regained consciousness , he saw the old man leading the hypnotized children to a large cart. Leo's instincts kicked in, and he rushed to confront the mage, knowing he wasn't alone.
The old man's eyes gleamed with malice. "You arrogant fool, you'll die with the outburst of your own magic, and no one will ever know about it."
As the mage began to cast the spell, Leo felt the moonlight on his skin, and a strange, itchy sensation spread through his body...