In a very far place, in a lost kingdom that has lived for centuries, monstrous creatures of every type lived alongside humans, although their stay wasn't as pleasing. Humans would deliberately abuse those creatures when they were at their weakest: they would beat them, torture them, hang them up, burn them alive.

Humans made them live in a nightmare. They didn't have a piece of compassion for who wailed for mercy and sympathy before being forced to encounter death.

Those creatures were most commonly known as God's biggest mistake. Throughout decades, they started getting aggressive and stand up for themselves. They moreover started to exterminate the human nation, without pity.

In this world, there were only two rulers to control the population. The Gods created them to have them administer their people and insure them.

The first ruler was the most powerful and dominant, it was believed he was more powerful than the other ruler just because the main source of his powers came directly from the divine Sun, that shone most of the day when humans and animals would live their lives in peace and have fun thanks to his protection. In the other hand, the other ruler had to deal with the children of the night as her main power source came from the divine Moon, who only appeared throughout the night, where most creatures would be up and wandering around, terrorizing humans.

Everyone learnt their names: Light Ruler and Dark Ruler.

The Light Ruler was the humans’ saviour.

The Dark Ruler was the humans’ enemy.

Most people loved being in the presence of the Light Ruler, asking for protection and would pray every day to the Gods, wishing for the monsters to ‘rot in hell’. The Dark Ruler started to envy his position; he was loved by everyone, even the Gods appreciated his work more than ever and never really paid attention to the Dark Ruler. Even the people felt disgusted knowing a person like the Dark Ruler was in between.

The Dark Ruler got fed up and since they could control most of the world at nighttime, given that's when their power level was its peak, they started letting its inhabitants wander around freely even at daytime, and could do everything they wanted to do. Killing included.

The Gods couldn't accept such behaviour and so, the Light Ruler came to know about this and declared war against the Dark Ruler.

Unfortunately, when the war started, the Darkworld seemed to have the majority than the humans from the Lightworld, but even so, humans occurred with high divine power alternates that got them to be able to conquer the opposite nation of monsters and destroy part of them precisely close to hastily.

The Dark Ruler couldn't handle to be defeated, so they had to take the matter into their own hands and fool the other ruler. And so one day, the Dark Ruler disguised themselves as a woman, lost in the forest, crying out for help, knowing the Light Ruler would be around to defend her.

He eventually found her and when he lay his eyes on her, he fell in love of her beauty and immediately bought her in his kingdom and asked the workers and his population to give her the best service and treat her wounds. Strangely, the Dark Ruler liked his kind gestures and for a while, stepped back on the idea of killing him for another day.

Just a few days have passed and the two fell in love with each other. A love that wasn't supposed to happen and was a disgrace for the Gods, but, for their unfortunate, they couldn't intervene because what was going on was a matter between the two rulers. Although, if the two would have married, that meant the human world would join with the dark world and the ultimate catastrophe would be moving to happen.

The Dark Ruler fought by his side, so her plan wouldn't blow up but then noticed how much her own nation was suffering because the humans had the ability to use divine powers while they couldn't as they had to fight with their own strength. So, at night, the Dark Ruler collected their souls, slowly becoming more powerful than ever.

If she wanted the war to end, one of the rulers had to die.

When the Light Ruler didn't look, the Dark Ruler materialized a divine sword that was powered up by dark magic of the souls she collected. She gave a prayer to the Gods, asking them to keep his soul safe for when she would kill him. And it happened: she stabbed through his heart behind his back.

Now that she was able to get rid of the other ruler and consumed his powers from him, she had the chance to level up: The Dark Ruler became a new God. The Empress of the Underworld.

Or at least, this was supposed to be the story.

~❦❦❦~

117ｔｈ  ｄａｙ  ｏｆ  ｔｈｅ  ｙｅａｒ

“It's an honor to meet you, Lady Valiana and Sir Marcellus.” An angel bowed at the presence of the couple.

The violet-haired woman looked the other way, staring at the window while nervously rubbing her arm. “...”

The man next to her noticed her getting anxious, so he made this easier for her. “Oh oh oh, don't mind her. She's doesn't like talking to people, she has a socializing problem.”

“Mmh okay, sir. I am sent here on courtesy of the superior Gods.”

A sense of pure excited ran through the young couple, who waited for this moment for as long as they knew the existence of the Gods, also known as the most supreme legendary powerful beings who created life themselves.

“They asked for your presence and to announce to you that you can attend the ceremony of purification in less than a month.” The angel told, in a very serious polite tone as she glared at the two.

“Oh my, darling, did you hear?! We finally get to--” Marcellus was interrupted by the angel's clearing throat.

“I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. The Gods only requested your presence, Sir.”

“What?!” Marcellus gasped, then started to get furious, ready to insult the angel, who seemed to be emotionless anyway. Valiana stopped him as he looked into her sweet cherry eyes and shook her head.

“Don't.”

“But it was supposed to be me and you... This was supposed to be for both of us. If it's only one of us, then I must refuse.”

“No, this is an opportunity you shouldn't let slip by you because of me. I-I think I'll be fine, really. The Gods just want to see you, not me. If that's what they wish for, let them be.” Valiana stroke his cheek as the angel bowed for the last time before flying up in the ceiling were suddenly a portal was created and the angel flew in. The portal closed immediately after.

Marcellus felt guilty as Valiana kept looking down on the floor, kicking her foot. “Valiana. How do you feel?”

“Meh, if the Gods don't even want me then I really must be Hell's daughter.” A single tear escaped from her eyes. He quickly swept it away with his fingers.

“Stop saying that, my love. Wherever you're Hell's daughter or Heaven's daughter, I do not care. I'll love you no matter what because I know you have a good heart for our people.”

“I-I always wanted to meet the Gods. Ask them why was I ever born if I keep being refused for my existence? I wish I was like you, so many times I envied you! You're the son of the Sun itself. Who am I? A human curse. Gosh, I sound so stupid for even saying this.”

He quickly grabbed her hands.

“The ceremony of purification could've helped you with your past and know the real you! I bet if I talk it out with the Gods--”

“Easy for you to say,” Valiana slowly let go of his grip as she looked into his coral eyes with her sadden ones. “You present the holy divine Sun, loved by everyone. I have to present the holy divine Moon when most are asleep. It has never been fair if you excuse me.”

“Where are you going?”

“You know where I am going.”

“No, don't you dare go there. The Death Forest could kill you in a second with that toxic atmosphere!”

The violet-haired young woman sighed, feeling wounded. “If I truly am Hell's daughter, would you honestly still love me?” Valiana talked, still her back on him.

“Of course, love.” Marcellus walked behind her and wrapped his arms over her shoulder, pulling her close to him.

“Then let me go.”

“But Valiana, you do realize I adore you. Please, for Heaven's sake, don't go in that forest. If you don't come back, what would Alena do without you?” He turned her around, to look deep in her facial expression to see what she was really feeling.

“Alena-- Where is she?”

“Uh, Miss Sanania has bought her outside, in the gardens.”

“Oh...” Valiana patted her thigh, incapable of what to tell.

Marcellus closed his eyes for a moment then groaned. “Ugh, I didn't look at the time, the sun is about to set in a few hours. I have to go do some things. Just promise me, you won't step in that forest.”

“...”

“Valiana.”

“Go do your own things and stop telling me what to do, okay?! I do what I want to do.” She raised her voice but regretted it after the look on his face.

Marcellus sarcastically cracked up at the young woman as he looked down on the floor. His eyes glowed as he quickly grabbed her by the neck and pushed her to the nearest wall, still choking her but his grip wasn't too tight. “Valiana, seriously! I'm not joking! If you go there I swear I'll rage!”

“I--!” Valiana suffered, as she also activated her powers when her eyes also glowed. “Leave me alone!” She pushed her knee up and, with her foot, she kicked him far away from her. Valiana almost fell on her knees but didn't and slightly touched her neck that was paining her.

“I just want to protect you and keep you safe!” Marcellus used his speed ability to run back to her and stood in front of her. Her hair and dress flew for a second because of the wind Marcellus caused.

“No, you don't. You don't...” Valiana whimpered resting her head on his chest to hide her face.

“... I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me.” Marcellus's eyes stopped glowing and Valiana shut off her powers too. He hugged her to comfort her but she let go. “But what if you get bit and get the mark of the Shady Mortem?”

“I'll either survive or die.”

“No one ever survived it.”

“Then I'll die.”

He clenched his teeth. “But Valiana think!”

“Marcellus, I'll see you tomorrow morning. Soon the darkness will need me. You have to go do your job because there's still brightness outside, while you peacefully can.” Valiana left the hall, leaving the man dressed as a divine Knight by himself.

“Oh, what happened to you, my dear? Where's your smiley, happy face gone? I do not want to listen to the Gods and make me execute you. I know you're a kind-hearted person.” Marcellus mumbled to himself as his hands became fists, devouring the need of telling the truth to Valiana about her fate.

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END OF CHAPTER 22! (PART 1/3)

For some reason, I got lazy and added more dialogue this time than description :p

What do you think about this chapter?? This was definitely a different chapter than usually.

Please VOTE and leave a COMMENT to read more.

Until then, see you next time fairies.