***

The Underground World, four months ago

Day Unknown

How long has it been since I wrote in here? Was it days or weeks? The clocks died eons ago, and without being able to see the sun, God knows how many decades or centuries we

Delzd immediately closed his palm. The magic formation disappeared, and the pen stopped transcribing his thoughts. As he browsed through the older pages of his notes, a sigh escaped his lips; he was writing the exact same words as he had written six, ten, seventeen, twenty-six and forty pages ago. With how little there was to do in this dim and empty dirt hole, recurring thoughts were becoming more common. Leaning back into his chair, Delzd thought about his how he once believed that his immortality and the lack of a need for sustenance were gifts from his then Queen. Some had called it a curse, but how could living forever be a curse? It was a gift to be able to outlive other people, to have unlimited time to do whatever you want -- that was what his younger self concluded. Now he understood why.

Taking in a deep breath of this stale earth that carried the scent of the damp earth and decay, Delzd made his way to the door, his hands fumbling about in the dark as it tried to find the knob. After some seconds of groping in the dark, his palm finally landed on a round object. With a twist, he pulled, walking out into the "living room" where the exit to the Aboveland was. Elder Thale was sitting on the rotten earth, likely eyes closed, and arms folded, doing his sentry duty. A black staff rested on the wall next to him. What was the point of this duty anyway? It was not like the Abovelanders have found them before.

"Going somewhere?" Elder Thale's deep voice boomed.

"Just visiting our fallen comrades, sire," he replied.

"Go."

The mortuary was the brightest room they had down here, but one still couldn't see more than an arm's length away. Treading lightly, Delzd inched forward, one toe at a time. Finally, he made out the silhouettes of the lifeless bodies stacked on the floor. He took a knee and bowed. These people took their own lives a long time ago. It was understandable, and Delzd once contemplated doing the same. Who could stand living like this, down in the dirt with no light, no food, no water, for who knew how long? But Delzd could not take his life. He had a younger brother who still looked up to him; he couldn't give up before he did. And deep in his heart, he still believed that perhaps one day the Abovelanders would forgive them and understand that the past was not their fault.

As he paid his respects, the earth suddenly rumbled violently, marking the first time of an incident. Delzd quickly returned to the living room, where others have started to gather as well. Elder Thale, along with the other Elders, stood in a line holding their black staff tightly in their grasps, their eyes focusing intently on the exit above. Everyone only had one common yet dreadful thought:

The Aboveland has found us.

***

Present moment

Creating a mask for myself, I made my way back to the Grand Palace, brushing off the specks of dirt that still remained on my clothing. As I started crossing the bridge, my eyes caught sight of a huge commotion ahead. Ordinary citizens were gathered at the palace gates, still roaring for the Queen to surrender herself and pay for her mistakes. Guards were positioned strongly in a line, pushing the more aggressive protestors back, denying entry into the sacred palace. It had been at least an hour since both Layla and I had left, wouldn't news of our death have been reported by now? But without Layla or Javen around, I also realised I would not be able to enter the palace. Damn. Head slightly lowered, I turned on my heels and crossed the long bridge again, heading back into the city.

Fuck... what do I do now? I kept asking myself as my feet carried me aimlessly around the city. Alone in this future world, with my powerless self unable to defend the love of my life — how could I be this useless? If only I was stronger. If only I was better. If only I stopped Layla from her stupid self-sacrifice. I should have stopped her.

As I wandered, I continued bashing myself, my eyes not paying attention to where I was walking to. Eventually, I landed in The Haventry Park. This place more or less looked the same as it did a century ago. Ancient oaks and spruces stood tall, their cathedral of leaves providing a huge shaded place for those seeking refuge from the sun's blazing rays. The scent of herbs and flora permeated the air, a fragrant reminder of the garden that bordered the dirt walkways. Children dressed in simple tunics and leggings were running about, chasing one another, their laughters harmonising with the melodious chirps of the birds resting in the trees. Finding an empty wooden bench, I plopped into it and tried to figure out the Ghoul Champion's plan.

Okay. So far, The Ghoul Champion had not killed anyone yet, only capturing Layla and Javen, which I thought was strange. I had always assumed that he wanted to kill them to siege the city, but if he didn't, it meant that he must have had something else in mind. But what? I leant forward and cupped my head with both hands, my toes bouncing my lower legs. What was his plan? What does he need the King and Queen for? Their power? Their status? How would he use them?

"Oh, the resurrection device!" My face emerged from my hands. He must be still looking for it, given that Layla had killed to steal it. I still didn't know how to feel about that: Layla committing murder just to bring me back... anyway, perhaps he also wanted to retrieve the device to create an unkillable army, explaining why he hadn't done much yet. Thinking back to when I was captured by the guards, I recalled Gaurus saying that the device was immovable. So it should still be there, assuming the ghouls had not found it yet.

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Wasting no time, I rushed out the park, attracting the eyes of all those who present. Then I left the city boundaries and flew high into the sky to search for the destroyed palace.

"Wait," I muttered, immediately descending back down on the ground. Flying up there would attract attention for sure, and the ghouls may follow me if I were to be spotted. No other way then.

I retraced the path that Gaurus had took when he brought us to the palace. Thank god memory was one of my strengths, so I found the destroyed Jaden Palace rather quickly. Hiding behind the trees and bushes, I scanned the only viable entrance and checked for magic trails. Hmm, there seemed to be no guards around, strange. Didn't Gaurus order some of his men to be stationed here? Maybe they were hiding amongst the trees and bushes like I was to avoid unnecessary contact with the ghouls. In any case, I mustn't be spotted by either party.

***

The Underground World, present moment

"It's a shame the spell doesn't work on you somehow. Well, at least it works on her." The Ghoul Champion taunted, his gaze now fixated on Layla. "Can you imagine what your people would think? My King is attacking me!"

"Nnghhh... ngh..."

Layla shook violently as the rest of her skin slowly turned into a hideous black. Her hair, an eye-catching platinum-blonde, started to darken, matching the colour of her skin. She let out a guttural moan, the sound raw and filled with agony, as if each breath was a struggle against the transformation overtaking her. Her teeth clenched tightly, creating a grinding noise, and her wrists fought desperately against the chains as the waves of pains surged through her entire being.

"Layla! Layla! No, stop, stop it please!" Javen begged with tears welling up in his eyes. "Please stop! I'll do anything! Anything!"

With what remained of her little strength, Layla turned to Javen. Her sorrowful eyes conveyed a thousand thoughts.

I'm sorry, Javen... I... I dragged you into this. Our relationship may have not been real, but I still thank you for taking care of me all these years. Whatever happens, it is all my fault. Don't blame yourself my King... until we meet again...

Javen could only look back, his eyes widened with helplessness.

What are you saying? I'll save you, I promise I'll save you! Hang in there, please!

Then her body suddenly convulsed as her back arched violently. Bone cracks sounded loundly. Her head snapped upward, her mouth gaped open, releasing a loud and unnatural growl that echoed throughout the cell. A second later, her body went limp, hung like a dead person. The ends of her hair fully blackened, completing the transformation. Afterwards, Layla gradually raised her head. Forcefully bringing her wrists forward, she broke free of the chains, landing on the ground with a soft thud.

"Amazing." The Ghoul Champion reached and carressed her cheek to feel the smooth black skin she now possessed. "Go out there and wait for me."

With a nod of her head, Layla complied and made her way out of the cell, her movements robotic and unnatural.

"Layla?!" Javen called. She did not respond, only continuing to walk.

"Poor fool. Your lost your Queen, and now you are going to lose your city. Just how weak can you be?"

"What did you do to her?!" His eyes blazed with fury.

"What did I do? As you just saw, I made her better. I made her stronger."

A magic screen materialised before Javen, its light casting shadows on his face.

"As promised, you will watch your city fall. And in the meantime, you can stay there and realise how much of a failure you are."

The cell bars slammed against each other, leaving the furious yet powerless Javen alone with the magic screen.

***

Gaya Forest, present moment

Going around the destroyed palace, I waded through the tall grasses, their long blades brushing against my arms with a mix of gentle and prickly sensations. I remembered this heavily-forested area just right outside the laboratory room I had awaken from -- that was probably a good place to enter. Soon enough, I was in that hallway of the palace, with the laboratory-like room only steps away. Not much has changed since the day I was resurrected, but looking around with my magic eyes, there were several unrecognisable dormant magic formations on the floor and walls. If they were alarms or sensors, then I would have no way of getting past them since I have yet to learn about them. Damn.

"They-they're here! Retreat... aa-ahhh!!" Distant voices abruptly shouted, followed by explosions and sound of magic casts. The wall on the far end of the hallway blasted open and a black ball of flame wooshed through the air, narrowly missing me by the hair and only stopping at the other end of the hallway. Holy shit! I immediately ducked down just in case. Peeping ahead, I noticed several guards running away from this place.

"There's nowhere to go, we're surrounded!"

"D-Dammit, ATTACK!"

Loud battle cries echoed through the hallways, each with desperation and defiance, as the explosions and magic casts intensified, filling the air with burnt smells and blinding flashes of light. Fearing for my life, I fleed back into the forest, wrapping around back to the entrance. Before my eyes was a fiery battlefield, with both the ghouls and the guards fighting against each other. There were twenty -- no, thirty -- no, forty ghouls marching from the forest decimating all guards that stood in their way. Blood and gore splattered all over the ground and trees, the stench of death overwhelming. The guards fought back with everything they had, their swords and shields flashing in the firelight. Magic spells crackled in the air, bolts of energy striking down foes with searing heat. But no matter what they tried, no one could take down the ghouls. I could see the fear in their eyes as they realized the hopelessness of their situation.

"Let us take back what is yours, my brothers!" The Ghoul Champion hovered in the sky, observing the massacer with a twisted smile, with a few other ghouls hovering right behind him. They seemed a little different from those on the ground, wielding a black staff and donning thicker robes. However, one of them had long hair and a smaller build, and unlike the rest, that ghoul held no weapon.

In just mere seconds, the last of the guards dropped to his knees and collapsed on the ground, blood pouring out from his abdomen. The battlefield was now littered with the bodies of the fallen. Oh my god. The ghouls then took a moment to heal themselves. Once done, they resumed their march toward the city, with The Ghoul Champion leading from above, paying no attention to the destroyed Jaden Palace.