It was not easy to pass through the forest relying on the faint moonlight. Especially because no matter how familiar the forest path was, unknown obstacles could block the way at any ti, so it took ti to move forward. However, Abel continued without stopping and eventually found a field. Beyond the field was a lake. And if they find a large oak tree at the left end of the lake, they will finally arrive at their destination.
“Haah, haah... Your Highness, this is the field where we always had lunch. Today... haah, we’re going to a new place. We just need to go a little further.”
Now his arms had no sensation. His legs trembled even when standing still, and his heart felt like it would burst and explode with every beat. He didn’t know how he was able to carry the prince and co all the way here with that strength, but Abel kept telling himself.
Just a little more, just a little more.
The prince had been exhaling dry breaths like hot coals since a while ago. It made Abel even more anxious.
****
The command to gather at the entrance of the forest was given. Ashler, who had pretended to search the palace, felt a sense of foreboding and went there. Many soldiers were already surrounding the entrance of the forest as if waiting for soone. And it didn’t take long to find out who they were waiting for.
The key figures of the king, including Truyde and Norhox, were leading the soldiers. The night, illuminated by nurous torches, made one forget that dawn was coming. All eyes were focused on the key figures of the king, but they were in the midst of discussing sothing.
Ashler couldn’t take his eyes off them with an uneasy heart. They must know that not just anyone can enter the forest, so why did they all gather here like that? Then he noticed sothing strange about the soldiers who had followed them. Dozens of them were holding large water barrels made of clay in both hands.
What is that?
The curiosity was satisfied by Truyde’s command, who stepped forward. He pointed to the white fog with his hand and ordered the soldier holding the water barrel.
“Spray it.”
A soldier stepped forward and poured the liquid from the water bottle into the misty fog.
Shhh...
Although it couldn’t be seen, the sound of the liquid hitting the ground could be heard, and the soldier quickly stepped back. Ashler deliberately moved closer to the King’s Heart.
None of them noticed Ashler moving because they were all curious about what the King’s Heart was up to. And just as Ashler reached a distance where he could hear the sound, he heard the voice of one of the King’s Hearts. It sounded like a laugh as if it found it amusing.
“We should be grateful to the Regas for taking the prince and running away. Thanks to him committing treason, we are able to enter the forest.”
Enter the forest? How?
Without realizing it himself, Ashler took a step forward but stopped when he saw the face of another King’s Heart. They all had smiles on their faces. When one of them tapped Truyde’s shoulder, Truyde signaled to the other soldiers.
“Set it on fire. If the forest blocks our way, we can burn it down and make a path.”
The soldier who received the order threw a torch towards the area where the gas had been poured. Soon, a large fire shot up and the forest began to burn.
****
The Spring of Prayer.
It had a plausible na, but in reality, it was pitifully unimpressive. It was nothing more than a knee-high stone wall surrounding a small puddle. If it weren’t for the large tree, one would not believe that this was a miraculous spring.
But even if it wasn’t a miraculous spring, there was nothing else to find now. Abel sat down next to the spring with tired eyes. Sitting there and looking closely, the small spring was illuminated by a white moon, giving it a certain charm. Upon seeing the moon, wishes naturally flowed.
‘Please let continue to be with the prince for a long ti.’
Making a hopeless wish in his heart, Abel reached out and scooped up the water from the spring, then wiped the feverish prince’s face.
“Prince, are you feeling tired? I’m sorry. You’ll feel better soon. Would you like to try drinking this?”
Abel cupped his palm and gave the prince’s dry lips so water. The prince, whose throat was dry, struggled to swallow the water that entered his mouth. After making him drink a few more tis, Abel vigorously moved his trembling arms to cool down his feverish body. While doing so, he continued to talk to the prince without rest.
“You are a prince. Right now, you may feel like you have no strength, but it’s okay. When you grow a little more, when you beco as tall as , no one will be able to defeat you. It’s true. Right now, you’re still young... that’s why you can’t use your strength properly. So not being able to see what’s ahead is not a problem at all. It’s okay. Prince.”
He stopped speaking and closed his eyes for a mont as if he was tired. But as soon as he closed his eyes, his mind beca hazy as if he was overwheld by fatigue. As the silence continued, the prince, who was absent-minded due to the heat, opened his mouth.
“......Eppel.”
Blink. As if questioning why Abel closed his eyes, he opened his eyes wide.
“Oh! Did you call , Prince?”
The prince’s consciousness was hazy and he couldn’t see ahead, but he could tell that Abel had opened his eyes in response to his words. When he calls, he opens his eyes. Even when he doesn’t, he must be looking down at himself and laughing like a fool. As evidence, Abel’s laughter could be heard.
“Hehe, I fell asleep for a mont. Your Highness, did you understand everything I said?”
Nodding quietly, Abel smiled as he ran his hand over the prince’s forehead. It was strange. Abel’s body cald down as if extinguishing its last fla.
“Prince. You may face difficult tis ahead. There are those who will try to use you, and those who will harm you... So, never relent.”
Abel couldn’t easily bring himself to say what he needed to say next. No, he couldn’t. How could he say not to trust people easily? He taught the prince about the forest, how animals and trees, the whole forest, harmoniously coexisted, yet he had to say not to trust people. But even though it felt like his mouth was sealed with a blade, Abel forced the words out.
“You must never trust people easily.”
He looked down at the prince calmly for a mont, then took out a bottle containing black liquid from his pocket. And he opened the lid with difficulty and let the prince sll it. Even without getting close, as soon as he opened the lid, a unique stench like sothing rotten filled the air.
“Rember this sll well. This is poison. It not only ruins the body but also destroys the mind. The reason why your mother is like this now is because of this poison. It’s not because the Queen dislikes you. It wasn’t her own will. Soone fed this dicine to the Queen. So you must never drink this. But those who want to harm you will sohow mix the poison into your food. However, since this sll is so strong....”
Abel pushed the bottle towards the prince again, so that he could sll it.
“They will only mix it with strongly scented food to mask the sll. Your Highness, do you understand? From now on, you must never eat strongly scented food. You must never forget this sll.”
Abel emphasized it several tis and hugged the prince tightly.
“You will do well even without . No, Prince, being with is no different. Do you rember the pendant with the dragon that I gave you?”
The prince moved his hands restlessly and pulled out the pendant from his clothes as if he wanted to show off that he had it all along. Abel smiled widely and touched the pendant.
“Haha, you kept it with you all this ti. It’s embarrassing that you carry it in your pocket, Prince. But still, please carry it well...”
While speaking, Abel noticed sothing that wasn’t there before on the pendant. It was a writing engraved crookedly with a knife.
‘Eppel’
Abel stared at it with his mouth half open.
“Wow, Prince. Could it be... Did Your Highness carve this?”
Abel asked with a trembling voice, but the prince didn’t notice and nodded slightly.
“Ah, I see. I’ve defaced our faction’s treasure that has been passed down for hundreds of years... Ha... Hahaha, ah, you did a great job.”
While he laughed, tears stread down Abel’s eyes. The bleak afterlife where he would receive punishnt from his master unfolded before him. He beca genuinely afraid of dying. However, he quickly wiped away his tears and put the pendant back in the prince’s pocket.
“As long as you have this pendant, I will always be with you, Prince. And, this spring is a Spring of Prayer. If you pray earnestly, it will take you to the side of the person you desire. I prayed earnestly. I asked to be by your side, Prince. This spring is a magical spring that grants wishes. It really does. If you pray desperately enough, it will co true... I’m really praying as if I’m going to die, haha, because I want to believe it so much. This place, you see, besides , there is soone who prayed here before. That person is none other than the king.”
Abel’s voice subsided but continued. He told the story of the dead king at the Spring of Prayer as if telling an old story. Soon, after the prince took a deep breath and fell asleep, Abel’s voice was cut off as smoke rose with a red light in the distance.
The raging fire burned most of the forest, creating a path of black ashes.
It was sunrise when the soldiers who entered the path found Abel and the prince. Abel was lying dead while holding the prince, and the prince was deeply asleep with a fever in his arms. According to the first soldier who found them, the expressions of the two were said to be very peaceful.
User Comments
0 comments from readers