《 PROLOGUE 》
A long time ago, at the dawn of creation, legend has it that the creator god was enamored with the world he had fashioned. His fondness was so great that he dispatched his magical creatures—elves, dragons, shifters, giants, and fairies—to safeguard and nurture this new realm.
When Satan, the covetous stepbrother from the underworld, became aware of the newly created world, he sought to be appointed its sovereign ruler. God, foreseeing his wicked intentions, barred his entry to the planet he would call Earth.
Humiliated and consumed by a burning rage, Satan secretly sent some of his foul souls from hell to corrupt the Earth. He successfully managed to sow seeds of evil into some humans, who were also creations of God.
To halt the mounting chaos and protect the creatures who remained untainted by the spreading evil, God separated the realms. The pure were safeguarded within the Enchanted Kingdom, shielded by formidable walls of spells, while the wicked were left outside its borders, forever forbidden from entering.
But did God succeed in safeguarding his precious Enchanted world, or did he commit his greatest mistake, leaving innocent humans defenseless and causing them to lose faith in their creator?
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Throne Room Enchanted Kingdom
"My Lord, the humans, aided by dark wizards, are once again attempting to trespass." One of my commanders reported. After my father, Lord Balthazar, banned humans from our realm to protect the kingdom from darkness, the forbidden magical and non-magical creatures have consistently attempted to invade our domain.
My father protected us all during his reign, and now it's my turn. Although I despise warfare, if it is the only way to defend my people, I will not hesitate to cut down the enemies and spill their wicked blood.
"Your presence here today, as representatives of all the kingdoms, is an honor as we celebrate the joyous birth of my firstborn. Let's put an end to this immediately!" declared the supreme ruler. As my decree holds absolute authority, the monarchs of the five realms shall comply.
The rulers of the five realms—the Elvish King, the Lycan King, the Dragon King, the Vampire King, and the Fairy King, rose from their respective thrones to join me in this ongoing war.
"General Thomas, mobilize the army and await further orders. Remain on standby, but issue one final warning before we commence this bloodbath!" The command resonated through the throne room, echoing with the force of my voice.
The moment the words were out of my mouth, he bowed his head and exited the throne room. "Lords of the Enchanted Kingdom. I, Lord Guillaume, Emperor of the Enchanted Kingdom, formally request your armies join my fight against the dark magic to protect our peace. You are also free to withdraw your forces and lead your people to safety before the conflict begins; no one will judge you for this choice." I locked eyes with every single ruler.
"The time for decision is now. However, be aware that should you choose to align with me today, you will bear responsibility for any and all outcomes of this war." Not a single person moved; the Dragon King, Draco, acted as their collective voice.
"We were born to be protectors, My Lord," he stated. "This is the opportunity we have been waiting for to prove our worthiness to the kingdom. Let's proceed." I acknowledged him with a nod, appreciating his willingness to cooperate and feeling proud of their collective leadership.
A matching look of pride adorned the faces of the other four rulers. With a smirk, I declared, "Let's not waste any more time, then," and the six of us advanced toward the commotion at the entrance of our realm.
We swiftly made it to the warzone, only for our eyes to widen in shock at the sight of thousands of humans, comprising men, women, and even children. They actually brought children to this war! What could they possibly have been thinking?. "My Lord?" the Fairy King, Nathaniel, asked, voicing the same dilemma. "How are we supposed to slaughter the women and children?" All Father, grant me the wisdom to choose correctly.
"Quite! What brings you all here ?" I demanded of the humans, directing the question at no one in particular. My booming voice brought their commotion to an abrupt halt, and the entire crowd fell silent. Subsequently, a human spoke.
"Lord Guillaume, we beg for entry into the Enchanted Kingdom. Our people are perishing, and we have lost our immortality. What offense justifies this punishment from the All-Father?" With his hands wrapped protectively around his wife and two sons, the man made his plea.
I was at a loss for words, wishing I could permit their entry, but ultimately feeling helpless to change their fate. "This is not your individual fault, human. The fault lies with your forefathers, who gave in to greed and knelt before the Devil. They inflicted this misfortune upon you. The human mind was compromised years ago, and that corruption has since extended to their physical forms.
Granting you access means, affecting all the rest of us sequentially. The All-Father's ruling is that the Enchanted Kingdom shall be untouched by the corrupted, who have aligned themselves with the Devil himself.” I elaborated.
"Please understand that we are not all the same, my Lord." He reasoned. "Surely you don't think my two-year-old son has any knowledge of greed or treachery? Do you truly consider all these children to be liars and burglars? Where is your judgement my Lord!?" Stepping forward, he bellowed.
He was right, I know, but they remain human. Despite being non-magical, their minds are a significant threat. "My lord, please, the children must pass," he pleaded. "Word is you just had a son, so you of all people should understand a father's suffering. Please grant us this consideration."
The Vampire King, Malcolm, spoke up rather than I: "You cannot enter, human. The issue isn't our unwillingness; the walls are enchanted. The all-father is the only one who can undo the spell. Return now, or face a painful death long before your natural end." His words provoked a reaction among the humans.
"But your very own descendants are here. Are you really going to deny them entry as well, brother." A different voice from the crowd made the statement, leading to a frown on Malcolm's face. "Not even you, brother. It was you who began relations with the devil. You are forbidden, too." The rogue Vampire hissed back.
Amun, the Elvish King, had the final word. “Return now. We will attempt to speak with the all-father. Rejoin us in a week; that is the maximum extent of our assistance.” Their reaction was defiant. Widespread protests broke out and and several resorted to using abusive language.
A chant began among the dark wizards and witches, which caused a portal to open. The humans then shoved through the opening aggressively, one by one. The situation is dire. Our wizards and white witches quickly started chanting counter-spells to shut the portal, but the situation is now spiraling out of control.
“Silence!!” With a roar, I caused everyone to freeze solid. “We sought a peaceful resolution, but you proved unworthy. So be it. We fight, and the winning side will possess the Enchanted World!" I threw down the gauntlet. While the men with families hesitated, the rebels surged forward—a sinister host of dark witches, wizards, and demonic creatures. My final warning went unheeded.
I signaled my warriors to prepare for battle. The humans, armed only with their mundane weapons, arrived on the field. Without magic, their strategy remains a mystery. A silent consensus formed among the six monarchs as our eyes met. The time for deliberation was over; the inevitability of conflict was thrust upon us.
"Let the war begin!!" I cried out, sealing their fate. Both sides descended into a bestial frenzy. Though the humans knew their cause was lost, they fought with desperate courage. It was a tragedy to behold, with women and children standing by, forced to watch their loved ones cut down.
The man who had previously pleaded for the children's welfare fought desperately now. Though
on the brink of death, his resolve remains steadfast. A wave of sorrow passed over me, and I shook my head. I looked toward the man's wife—her eyes brimming with tears, her face a mask of enforced strength for her children.
Her two-year-old son stared at me as if asking for his father's rescue. I averted my eyes, unable to hold that innocent gaze. The battle was swift and entirely one-sided. My warriors routed the enemy forces with minimal effort, resulting in high human casualties and few injuries. And the dark wizards and witches vanished when the Elvish King arrived.
As I surveyed my surroundings, I witnessed a grim scene: men who had once refused to fight were now performing the somber duty of collecting the dead and lining them up. Several women were working alongside them. In stark contrast, my warriors have already returned completely unharmed.
What a catastrophe. I felt an unprecedented wave of self-loathing and shame. No voices broke the stillness. The only testament to the tragedy was the heartbreaking chorus of women and children crying over the dead. The solitary family unit not in mourning was the same one whose pleas for aid had earlier been ignored.
Cradling her two children beside her fallen husband, the woman slowly lifted her grief-stricken eyes to meet my own. "I apologize," I said, the guilt palpable in my voice. "My kingship is defined by its limitations, and I cannot operate beyond those bounds." I spoke with a weary, dejected tone.
My pleas met a wall of silence. She remained unmoved as I explained my impossible dilemma: "I cannot offer yo
ur children sanctuary without the conse
nt of All father. I beg you to understand my constraints." In an instant, her face turned to stone, erasing all trace of emotion. Wiping her tears, she met my eyes and finally spoke.
"You hold your position as king for a purpose. People look to you as a source of strength, as an agent of change. Your decree is absolute. You possessed the power
to prevent this tragedy, yet you failed to act. There was a reason my husband sought an audience with you..." Her eyes fell to her husband's body.
"A day will come when you and your Enchanted people will seek us out, pleading for our presence in your world. Remember what I say now." My confusion was evident, yet her subsequent declaration struck me and everyone else present into a profound silence.
"Because I," she proclaimed, her voice ringing with power, "Rihanna—daughter of a witch mother and a human father —hereby curse your Enchanted Kingdom and all its magical beings to take non-magical creatures as their eternal Mates!"
The curse was barely spoken when the heavens themselves responded with a crack of thunder. A tempest gathered, tossing the trees while, paradoxically, leaving the humans serene and unaffected. A collective shock held us captive, punctuated only by the Lycan king's incredulous whisper, "What the..."
Rihanna's indictment of the kingdom was unfinished. "You all cherish your eternal lives and magic, do you not?" she inquired, her smile sharp and judgmental as she directed her gaze at the assembled crowd. "I doom your descendants to an eternal search for their companions." Tears streamed down her rage-filled face as she laughed.
"When the fated meeting finally occurs, you will discover your mates are human—and crueler still, they will neither sense the profound bond nor feel the irresistible mate pull." As if in agreement, the skies roared with a fresh clap of thunder.
"Your enchantments would hold no sway over them. You must kneel before them, acknowledge their superiority! Never believe for a second you could manage without your true mates, Oh no. Only your true mates hold the key to your bloodline's continuation. Without them, your heritage ends."
Such was the power of her curse that tremors rattled every corner of the kingdom. She quietly departed with her children in tow. Despite their exhaustion, all survivors looked proudly victorious, as if they had just won the war.
As I turned, the devastation among my people confirmed the harsh truth: we were the defeated in the struggle. Glances passed among king to king. We were all shaken, despite our strong fronts. The deed is done, and the curse is irreversible. My father's words, spoken at my coronation, finally made sense.
"To wear the symbol of power is to carry its heavy load"
Despite possessing the power to change things, I couldn't help my people; this failure proves I am unworthy of the crown. I'm worthless. My own heir is afflicted by this curse, as are the rest. What ruin have I ushered in? What fate have I condemned my people to? All-father, lend us your guidance and protection, for I can find no resolution to this plight.
The Enchanted Kingdom is bound by an everlasting curse.
To be continued...
