The Mad King's Heir

The sound of boots echoed in an empty hallway lined with tall black stone walls. The man’s black cloak swept the ground as he walked. Soon he reached large, reinforced doors. He looked up and the doors opened slowly.

He entered the hall and bowed down, his fist striking his chest three times in salute. On the throne, a man clad in white robes said, "What did the seer say?"

"Your Majesty, he is still alive. It was all a ruse," replied the man.

The King of Helion chuckled before coughing out a mouthful of blood. "Of course he is. Even when the odds are stacked against him... He is truly the son of heaven."

The man lowered his head further as he clenched his fist tighter, his nails digging into the palm of his hand. He clenched his jaw and said, "Your Majesty. Send me, give me the order and I will get the job done."

His voice raspy and shaky, the king said, "Ah Urion, my ever loyal subject," his long bony fingers with long nails reaching for him. Urion crawled over and laid his chin on his hand but he didn’t dare raise his head to look at his majesty.

"He has failed so we can only take the matter into our own hands... Send someone else to deal with him. Right now I need you on the battle front... It’s time."

Urion was so stunned that he raised his head to look at him. The king suffered fatal injuries in the last war. Half his face that had been burnt was covered in a black ghost mask. When he met those silver eyes his body trembled subconsciously.

He was so terrified that even when he left the hall, he still felt waves of tremors coursing through his body. He was ready to serve the king. To fight for his people and avenge the distraction Aurelia was responsible for.

As he turned the corner a young man dressed in white and gold bumped into him. He bowed before turning to leave but the young man stopped him. "Urion," he called out blocking his path. "What did his majesty say?"

Urion’s gaze turned fierce and he said, "Your witchcraft failed. It’s time I take over now." He stepped closer and with his finger pointing at him he continued, "So stay out of it." After saying that he walked off in large strides.

The young man clenched his fist hard, containing his rage, With a loud bang he punched the wall. His soft and charming demeanor was gone. He now looked like a ghoul, his expression ugly. He had done everything to change the trajectory.

To change the miserable endings he foresaw in his visions. He had used his abilities to impersonate a system and control Xiu Ying but in the end, the son of heaven wasn’t fucking dead. That bitch had failed him yet again.

"Fuck," he swore before rushing back to his temple. He had to set up the ritual and reestablish communication with that treacherous woman.

He wanted her to deploy the full force of Aurelia’s army to find Li Jun and possibly kill him. The only way Helion could ever have a positive outcome was when Li Jun was dead.

When he entered the temple he yelled, "Everybody out!!"

The young women and men who had shaved heads and dressed in pure white robes, rushed out with their baskets. As soon as the doors closed, he walked towards the altar and the candles lit up in his presence.

***

Li Jun had no idea that trouble was coming his way. After a terrible night, he woke up in the middle of the day. Still in a dream state, he sat up. When he saw Yu Wen smiling at him with a breakfast tray in his hand, he felt his heart melt as he said, "You are still here?"

But this harmonious image vanished. The warmth he had felt before was replaced by the cold lonely chill of the hotel room. He got off the bed with a frustrated sigh. After taking a shower he went up to the restaurant.

The only reason he left his room was because he was sure Yu Wen was gone. After such a humiliating incident, who would stay unless they were a masochist?

He entered the restaurant thinking he could have some brunch. The waiter led him to the terrace overlooking the city. He was leading him to a table of one but just then he spotted a very familiar face.

It was Lu Anu and she was sitting by herself with a steaming cup of tea. He pursed his lips glancing over to check if she had noticed him. If Yu Wen knew what he looked like then Lu Anu also knew.

Seeing that she hadn’t noticed him, he heaved a sigh planning to cancel brunch. He was thinking he could have something delivered to his room like last night when Lu Anu’s voice came through his ears. "Litvin, is it?"

Li Jun swore, "Shit," under his breath and after taking a breath he turned around with a smile. He had great respect for Lu Anu. His mother always had a good impression of her. In another life, they could have been friends, but one was born of an underground gangster and the other a legitimate general’s daughter. They were from two different worlds but were almost alike.

He walked over and smiled saying, "Auntie." He didn’t want to play stupid and pretend he wasn’t who he was. That would be an insult to her intelligence. "I didn’t expect to see you here."

Lu Anu looked up at him and with a tender smile, she said, "I decided to have a late breakfast. Care to join me?"

Li Jun pulled the chair and said, "Thank you. I am starving."

She lowered her gaze with a slight smile and took a sip of her tea. "What would you like to have?"

"Same as you are having auntie. I am not picky," he replied and Lu Anu seemed pleased with his choice. She gestured to the waiter to get the same thing for him.

She then poured out some water and placed it in front of him. "Here, you must be thirsty." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Li Jun was indeed parched. He hadn’t drunk water since last night so he was feeling a little dehydrated, his lips chapped. "Thank you," he said before taking a large gulp.