He headed to the back of the mansion as quickly as he could before his ring flashed out his last mission [fight Lily and win, show Shawn who she really is and tell Alex how you feel dying a heroic death to save your older brother, 1 day] he read it and sighed as a heavy feeling came over his heart 'this world really is too lax, I definitely must have changed something successfully' he realised the evil God wouldn't notice this change and secretly rejoiced at his good fortune. Using his magic he headed towards the barren landscape the original battle took place on, a no man's land in every sense of the word. He finally arrived after travelling for about one hour and calculated the time it would take the army to arrive 'I give it ten minutes' he nodded confidently and despite his impending death he wasn’t worried or scared but happy that it was all coming to an end, that this would be the last time he’d be controlled like he was.

The air was thick with the scent of death but after many lifetimes of being the villain and killing his way to the top, killing to get what he wants and killing because he had to he wasn't fazed by the smell permeating his nose and lungs. The dark energy in the surroundings helped him recover his Dark Arts magic anyway so he didn't see the need to move to another place, the battle wouldn’t be a long one either. The church of light had already discovered his identity telling it to the king and anyone affiliated with him, Alex was bound to find out soon too. The sinking feeling in his heart told him he didn’t want Alex to hate him but the influence of the host’s memories and what he’d witnessed when he first arrived told him otherwise, Alexander was bound to want to kill him after this.

After ten minutes he heard Shawn and the army approaching before he saw them, turning around he saw his older brother, well step brother. He had the same black hair as Alex which was cut short unlike his and his eyes were a light blue with spots of gold, truly beautiful "Willow what are you doing here it's dangerous," Shawn faked concern to keep his image up with the army that followed at his back "don't you know a Dark Arts practitioner is around here, did you come to beg me to forgive you?" He sniggered and so did the men behind him Lily just looked on in disgust for she knew what he was "oh wait you don't have a regretful look on your face," he stated with a sneer "no Shawn I'm here to KILL you," he made his voice devoid of emotions except for the cold tone that struck everyone presents hearts, fear showed on their faces briefly before swiftly disappearing soon replaced with anger. Lily was the first to act and began drawing white magic patterns on the floor then Shawn and his army of around 200 men rushed in to attack. What no one but Lily was expecting was Willow flying into the sky chanting incoherently "he's the Dark Arts magic user, quick kill him," the men shouted behind Shawn. When Willow looked at Shawn he noticed a flash of reluctance in his eyes which was easily masked, this made Willow smile some more 'this will be easier than I thought' he finished the spell knocking out the 200 men before him then lowered onto the ground and pretended to be exhausted "DIE!" Shawn swung his sword "big brother," Willow fell to the ground and whimpered making Shawn stop his sword, you could see the love he had in his eyes for Willow "big brother it's a trick, why don't you believe me," he cried the same words he'd told him when he found out about Lily but the reaction he got was different than expected, Shawn looked like he believed him this time. It was only faint but it was there "brat get away from him," Lily unleashed her magic hitting Willow, he put up a barrier defending against most of it but some got through. White magic was more powerful than the Dark Arts especially with its corroding effect on black magic barriers which was a category of the Dark Arts, Willow cried out in extreme pain making Shawn look at him guiltily.

What Willow did next surprised the both of them 'in the original Lily kills Shawn after hitting me' he thought to himself 'but I die in the original meaning the ring can't issue any orders' he smirked quickly hiding it behind his usual cold face then got up and blocked Lily's magic that was about to hit Shawn "shit," she cursed and took out a dagger made by sea sirens, as she was about to stab Willow he grabbed his own knife and blocked her then pushed Shawn to the side with surprising strength "reveal the beast," Willow chanted making his magic hit Lily; Shawn was just as shocked as Lily when they saw him use white magic but then Shawn saw it. Lily was a siren.

Alex woke as normal only to see Willow had already left his side ‘where could you be kitten?’ he thought to himself and wondered why he had a bad feeling in his gut, he felt like something bad would happen today. Brushing it off he got up and changed his clothes before arriving at the main hall where Shawn and Lily stood with a summons letter “father the king wants to talk with you about the emergence of a Dark Arts practitioner,” Shawn held out the sealed envelope ‘what are they doing back?’ he wasn’t pleased the people who hurt his kitten were back “I’ve been ordered by his majesty to mobilise the manors army to deal with the practitioner,” Shawn saw his fathers suspicious look and hurried to explain “get my horse ready,” was all he said as he passed his son, despite all he’d found out about the king and his brother he couldn’t ignore the summons and had to put his worry for Willow to the back of his mind.

It wasn’t a long ride to the castle and as the situation was urgent he was allowed in immediately to see the king, both the king and the pope of the church of light were there waiting for him with grim looking faces “what is the matter?” the king and Alex were old friends so etiquette was thrown aside during this dire time “it’s about a member of your household,” those words stopped Alex in his tracks, a feeling of dread bubbled into his gut as he listened to the kings next words carefully “we have discovered the identity of the Dark Arts practitioner,” he explained before the pope cut in “his name is Willow Dradet,” the popes words sent despair and fear through his whole body “impossible, he was with me for two whole years,” Alex argued not wanting to believe he was betrayed by the person he loved “he was practicing the Dark Arts for a little over three years,” the pope explained solemnly and Alex instantly knew what had happened, the constant betrayal of his family who were hypnotised by Lily had caused immeasurable grief to the young Willow and started something irreversible. Alex remembered a conversation from one year ago with Willow, at the time it confused him but now he whished he had paid more attention “Alex, if one day I have to leave for my mistakes please don’t hate me ... I didn’t trick you,” Willow had a solemn look on his face as he said those words “what are you talking about?” Alex didn’t understand what he meant “nothing,” Willow returned his blinding smile but his eyes held sorrow and regret, it was then that Willow gifted him a purple stud earring.

He now knew why he’d said those words, why he looked like he regrets the decisions he’d made. It broke his heart how he didn’t realise the one he loved was always in so much pain, it made him regret not noticing Lily’s magic earlier. He hated himself more than anything at that moment in time “we’ve sent an army out already, you don’t need to worry,” the king’s words caused panic to set in as he worried for his beloved ‘kitten please hold on’ he thought and turned to run back outside “we can’t let you leave Alex,” Thorn, the pope, spoke grimly and guards blocked the way out “I’ll kill you myself if anything happens to him,” he was furious and consumed with fear as he struggled to escape the guards hold “that’s treason Alexander, you wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea now would you,” Thorn stated with a smirk “I don’t care about you or this country, let me go he didn’t do anything wrong,” Alex grew increasingly worried and scared as he thought of the fragile little Willow, thought of how a high levelled princess of the western siren clans had a grudge against him and then he thought of his only son “no need for that,” at that moment a voice sounded around the large throne room and a magic circle appeared teleporting Alexander outside where a calm faced Zaphion stood waiting with his horse “well what are you waiting for?” he smiled as Alex jumped onto the horse, Zaphion got onto the horse behind Alex and they sped towards the no mans land.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Big brother run," Willow pretended to be exhausted and nearing defeat but carried on blocking Lily's sharp claws despite the agony of having his foundations break down and his life slowly slipping away, Shawn got up and swung his sword cutting Lily's head off just as she stabbed Willow in the heart. He took out his Dark Arts magic tome and passed it to Shawn "goodbye big brother," he cried sadly then looked to Zaphion who only nodded his head, you could see it was traumatic for Zaphion to see him die again but he was holding it in. Alex dismounted in one swoop and rushed over as Willow fell to the ground in a pool of rapidly expanding blood followed by Zaphion also running over "Willow!" Alex shouted as tears began to fall "Willow don't leave me come on stay awake for me," Alex cried but his next words shook even Willow "I shouldn't have tried to hide how I loved you, I love you Willow and as someone I want to be with forever," he cried but Willow really hated the man who had succumbed to the hypnotism so easily and wasn’t moved, he wouldn't spend much more time in this world though so he allowed Zaphion into his ring then decided he could only accept the confession and ask him for more than he could possibly give "if you truly love me like you say Alex, then find me in the next reincarnation ... Hope we reincarnate in the same world, I love you Alex," Willow touched Alex’s cheek leaving a blood trail as his ring beeped silently one last time then coughed up blood onto his chest "don't leave me Willow my love," he cried "don't worry Alex, just focus on me," he managed calmly but he was crying on the inside in extreme pain, he didn't want to be so sappy with the one he hated either "I'll follow you, I will," Alex promised and lay his head upon Willow's shoulder as he straddled the boys dying body "Alex just remember my name, you'll find me with that ... Willow," he whispered to the man currently kissing down his neck and holding him like that will stop him from going away, he used the name carved into Willow's bed as a guide and decided that was how they would remember one another, he yearned for someone to love him so much they’d find him again even if he did hate them. He wanted a love so pure even the evil God couldn’t take it from him; he didn’t care if this was the price he’d have to pay.

The fearless General was currently crying his eyes out and kissing his slowly dying love "I love you Alex, now and forever ... just remember that," he said and accepted Alex's kiss on his lips, allowing his tongue to slip inside his mouth and memorising the soul shaking feeling that spread through his body "I'm sorry," was the last thing he said to Alex before darkness engulfed his entire being, he was sorry for not telling the man his true feelings, he was sorry for not being around long enough for his feelings to change from hate to love and he was sorry for giving the man a false hope when he asked him to follow. He'd finally succeeded but a part of him wanted to stay, wanted to see if the man could make him genuinely feel the emotion known as love. His heart yearned to feel such emotions again but he knew it was impossible; he would carry on living and remembering whilst Alex would stay in that world’s reincarnation cycle, even if they somehow met again he wouldn’t remember him, it would break his heart "see I told you it would all work out," he heard Zaphion’s soft voice whisper inside his head. The god of magic was now just a small child in need of a body and he a free soul in need of a way home, he'll find a way. He knew he would.

Alex wailed mournfully upon Willow’s cold body, Shawn gaped in horror at his father's words as he held the black tome tightly "Willow," Alex cried the name over and over again before Shawn pried him away to burry their youngest, Alex was barely there as they said their goodbyes and the realisation finally hit him when the boy didn’t welcome him home.

They returned to the mansion after burying Willow beside a cherry blossom tree, Alex was distant and detached as they entered the mansion. Shawn was regretful and resentful as he followed after his father's back; Alex had no intention of staying though and returned to his room to collect the one thing he had left of Willow. It was a small stud earring with a purple jewel embedded within. He wore the earring then headed out of the mansion calmly "father please," Shawn was fearful of his father’s current state of mind "I leave everything in your hands," was all Alex said before mounting a golden brown horse and riding off towards Willow's grave.

During the ride Alex thought of all he found out about Willow’s descent into despair and hopelessness, he finally concluded that it had to have begun with his parent’s untimely murder. Thorn certainly killed Mary to hide whatever secret she knew of but to kill Darren was something else entirely, Thorn wasn’t jealous of the two’s love but he still poisoned Mary whilst she was pregnant. At the time no one knew she was pregnant not even her husband and it wasn’t until he had shaken Lily’s hypnotism that Thorn and Edward discovered the existence of the Dradet heir, Thorn had in fact ordered Darren dead during the war as he had predicted the rise of a Dark Arts practitioner being born of the Dradet line. Killing two birds with one stone was far simpler and easier to explain to his brother than killing just the woman, the destruction of the Dradet house was something he took great pleasure in watching and Alex couldn’t bear to think of how stupid he was at the time. Whilst listening to the galloping of his horses’ hooves he delved into his memories and remembered his time with Ashleigh, he now knows he didn’t love her like he thought he did and the lack of such emotions for her became clearer as he delved. There had always been a connection between him and Darren Dradet, when Willow was born he had the urge to be close to and protect the baby entrusted to him and when he saw Willow again around four years ago he knew what love really was. It was like his heart and body were subconsciously drawn to the boy and he slowly fell for him, even Lily’s hypnotism couldn’t stop the way his heart constricted when the boy was hurt. He felt it was all fate, that they will meet again and all he could do now was hope for the best.

It was midnight, the moon was full and red "my love I'll be along in just a moment, wait for me," Alex whispered and drew a dagger from his saddle, he sat beside the grave and slowly dragged the blade along his right wrist all the way to the inside of his elbow. As he bled out he recited the name of his love and used what little strength he had to lift his left hand towards his ear, playing with the earring as he slowly closed his eyes. This was all he could do now, all he could do to be with him.

All he saw was darkness before he woke again with no memories of the past, he was but a child wondering the world alone after his parents abandoned him, he was part of a poor family and they didn’t want to waste more money feeding him than they already had. All he could remember was the seven years he'd currently lived and the name ‘Willow’ his left ear was pierced with a purple stud earring, he didn’t know why the name was so important and he didn’t know where he had gotten such an expensive item from but he knew they were important and he kept them close to him. He was soon taken in by a rich family but he still felt as empty as he always had, his heart was calling out to someone but he couldn’t remember when he had met them. It was like his instincts had taken over his body and he was walking around without purpose, then he met them. They confused his heart to no end but he knew he’d find the one he was looking for eventually, he wanted to show him how he felt again.

Wanted him to know, he would follow him forever.