The King's Beloved

Ducis' face was full of hatred towards Rania. It was not enough that he already tolerated her and her sprites friends, now she went on blabbering the worst thing she could ever ask.

" - Ducis," Elliot calmly called out to the raging dragon. "It's fine. She doesn't know."

Ducis' face was full of vexation. He never really appreciated Rania. After being reprimanded by Elliot though, he just kept his anger inside and glared at her.

"I - I'm sorry for asking. You don't need to answer, I -" Rania felt very guilty. But then deep inside she thought, "I'm so sorry for asking...but..if there's something I could help with.."

" - I can't get out of this place," Elliot answered. His expression? You could never really guess with the mask he's wearing. "I'm bound and chained to this place by a protective barrier. Ever since I was a baby I've been here, locked away...like... some kind of monster".

Rania gasped and her beautiful face furrowed as she clenched her chest, "I'm... really..sorry."

"It's alright. I'm used to it."

"You're not a monster, Elliot! You're…" Ducis wanted to say something but he couldn't and just kept looking worried for Elliot who looked like he was in so much pain at that time even if he was wearing a mask.

"It's alright Ducis. You don't need to hide it from me. I've noticed it a long time ago. I'm...rather special...and dangerous".

"Why do you say that? Of all the times I've been here, all you did was take care of me - ," Rania interrupted.

"Yeah, I did. But I didn't do it for you. I just didn't want to be bothered by your annoying sprite friends. It's all gonna be easier if I just kill you though, I would have to use magic and if I do, it would cause destruction".

Elliot's eyes grew colder and colder by the minute.

"The spiritual energy that flows in me, it's... too much to the point that it's dangerous. No magi is allowed to possess such a huge amount of spiritual energy and yet here I am, overflowing with it," Elliot continued as he raised his hand and stared at it. "I'm a ticking time bomb. Imagine if I became angry, or sad? If I'm unable to control my emotions, I could certainly...destroy this whole planet with this much power".

At this remark, even the sprites trembled. Rania got frightened for a moment but she thought…

"That's...if...you became unable to control your emotions, right?"

"I guess so. Or maybe whenever I feel like it. To be honest, I've thought of destroying this world many times already. Because, what's the point? I'm just stuck here anyways while the world continues to go on not knowing I even exist".

Rania's heart ache at his every word. She could feel something tingling in her heart, pinching it hard.

"- But you never did,'' she butted in with her gentle voice. "Because deep inside…. you're not really bad. Instead, you are good. The fact that you can help a ...human stranger, give them trust, and take care of them warmly proves that you're not bad at all. You're saying that you're bad, but your actions speak differently of you. And your actions show me who you really are".

Elliot chuckled. "Haha. You can't be sure about that. For all you know, I could be pretending, or plotting something. Even right now, you can't even see my face. You don't know what kind of expression I'm making. I could be grinning right now and planning how I should kill you". And with a sudden malice, he looked at Rania.

"No, you're not." Rania answered firmly. Then she approached Elliot and stood beside him. She then held out her hand and touched Elliot's mask.

Elliot shoved her hands away.

"Don't even try," Elliot warned her. "Even if you do, you won't be able to remove it. It's cursed. This mask is a limiter. It's there to keep me from using too much magic and from actually destroying this world."

But Rania didn't listen. "No, you won't destroy this world."

"You're too naive, if that's what you think. And many people die from foolishness, you know". Elliot's eyes continued to glare devilishly at her.

"You can call me naive if you want.

You can try to push me away if you want.

But know this….

People...even without magic, have the greatest power of all.

And that's the power to make their own choices!

Choices that can change their lives and direct it to where they want it to be," Rania answered him with her eyes full of conviction as she stared at his eyes.

"I believe that anyone given too much power doesn't necessarily mean they are dangerous," Rania continued. "But instead, they are HOPE. They possess enough power to protect anyone.

And I believe that things happen for a reason...

You having an enormous power as you mentioned, and that immense power choosing you, amongst all people out there, proves that it's because you are WORTHY of it.

So never, ever think… that you are a danger or a monster!"

And with that remark, Rania took off his mask.

Yes, for some reason, she was able to take it off.

After the blank, white mask revealed a very lonely yet very handsome countenance. He was so beautiful that he surpassed anyone before. On his bright aquamarine eyes, a shed of tears could be seen at its corners. The stars could be seen twinkling in his eyes and the moon's light reflected on his skin made him look like he's glowing.

"Master….," Ducis whispered. He couldn't utter any more words for he was appalled that a human girl was able to remove his mask. But deep inside, he felt thankful and sighed of relief.

Rania smiled warmly at Elliot as she caressed his face. Elliot, feeling her soft and tender hands on his face, felt warm in his heart for the very first time. He lifted his hands afterwards and held Rania's hand as he closed his eyes. And little, very little, he let out a genuine smile on his beautiful face.

Yes, Elliot had been suffering for years of fear of himself….and a lack of purpose. He always thought that living or even existing for him was of no value and that he should just die. Or that he shouldn't have been born instead. Being locked up inside and all the pain for those years of being alone….no parents... no friends….all gone... because of Rania.

After all those years, someone finally opposed his idea of himself.

It was as if all the worries he had about his existence suddenly washed away leaving him with tranquility and peace of mind….like a rainbow after a storm…. Or the spring time after the long and brutally cold winter.

"Thank you." he whispered in a warm and gentle tone.

The little sprites giggled and felt happy witnessing what was going on. Everything was perfect.

Until… the full moon's light touched Luna's little body. And suddenly, the little sprite shone bright and her eyes turned full white and glowed. As if someone possessed her, she started speaking in a mysterious voice.

"When the chosen one

Who is not one of us

Unveils the hidden Truth

The barrier shall be broken

And the path to the unknown shall open

But take heed and be wary

For in the unknown lies trials untold

The pits may be fiery

But take heart! For history is about to unfold!"

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Title: "A Beautiful Catastrophe"

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