Kingdom of the Abyss
Ocean waves crashed against the castle walls as if trying to spit out their fury, sharpening the fortress's teeth. The eyes of the Kingdom of the Abyss were wide open. The treacherous carried out their dark deeds with cunning, while the naïve rotted in the daylight with foolishness. That was the nature of the city of darkness; this was how the days passed. People lived in the shadows and wailed in the light.
He climbed the endless palace stairs, breathing deeply. The palace of the King of the Abyss rose before him... dark, mesmerizing, threatening.
When the guards saw the sorcerer Gideon, they hesitated to let him pass. He smirked. Today would be a beautiful day. It was impossible to hide his excitement.
The citadel of the abyss lay beyond a long, massive bridge. He would find him there. He had to - that magnificent king of shadows. He walked between the greenery and the angel statues lining the bridge. Even they seemed to continue paying silent homage to the king. He turned back several times, checking them with a shiver. It felt as though the dark king's eyes were upon him.
When he reached the heart of the palace, he took a deep breath. It was beginning. He raised the sword in his hand with great admiration. He stared at it for a long time, then, after a brief hesitation, finally moved forward.
This sword held immense power within it - a power that could control the entire world, a power that would place its wielder at the center. This enchanted blade carried a massacre within it. It felt as though that power already belonged to him. A voice inside whispered, "Do not give up," it said, "it belongs to you."
But beyond the great doors, the true prize awaited him. He let out an uncontrollable laugh. As the guards at the main gate looked at him as if throwing his madness in his face, he stepped through the opening doors.
Now he stood before him - that tall silhouette, that dark aura. His hair, reaching down to his hips, swayed within the shadows. Gideon was a sorcerer, yet he was the one enchanted. To him, this was not merely a king; he was the most important figure, the true jewel. He bowed deeply in reverence. He wanted him to see, to read his devotion... to know that he had crossed deserts to steal that enchanted sword for him.
While his back was still turned, the King of the Abyss addressed Sorcerer Gideon within his own chamber:
"Such loyalty... I am astonished"
He slowly turned toward him, his goblet entering the sorcerer's line of sight. On his face was that deceptive smirk Gideon so loved to see - the very smirk he had imagined throughout his journey. He raised one hand as if surrendering. He saw him.
"You have succeeded."
He took a sip of the blood-red wine from his goblet. He stood there as if he had stepped out of a painting.
"I have brought you the enchanted sword, Your Majesty. Your plan worked flawlessly." the sorcerer spoke quickly.
Luna... that girl has fallen into our hands, he thought.
Unable to contain his excitement, he added:
"Can you believe she thinks the ritual was what awakened her power?"
Silence. He continued:
"She will never know the real plan. Everything went perfectly, Your Majesty."
He was certain greed had filled his eyes.
The ritual had worked, yes - but not on that wretch. It had worked on the sword.
With this blade, I hold true victory in my hands. We will win. We will play with the girl and the Ice Prince as we please; slowly, silently, we will surround them, the ambitious sorcerer thought.
"Well done, Gideon."
A smirk appeared on the king's face again, though he still seemed to be thinking.
"That girl... will she come to me?"
His tone sharpened; his eyes were piercing, as if reading the sorcerer's soul.
"She will, Your Majesty."
He trembled in all his grandeur.
"Good."
He laughed. Gideon shuddered.
Wait... you will see. My respect for you, my loyalty... I will keep my promise, King of the Abyss. And when I do, you will be the one enchanted, he thought.