The Third Prince Of Darkness

The front of the magnificent palace, once adorned with white marble, was now stained red. Alpshar, now a young and handsome man with red hair, walked calmly among the corpses. He wore a large black armor that accentuated his broad body even more. Though he had just turned eighteen, he had accomplished feats that even those in their sixties couldn't.

Every strand of his long red hair was more noticeable in the refreshing breeze. The sounds of battle and the screams of people in pain behind him had become so familiar that they now sounded like a melody to his ears.

Alpshar slowly pushed open the grand double doors of the palace. Not a single soldier remained inside; they were all fighting outside. The sound of his steel boots echoed off the palace's outer walls, but aside from that, there was a deathly silence within. The palace courtyard was so clean it reflected the sunlight. As Alpshar walked slowly, he heard a brushing sound and turned towards it.

When he stepped into the wide courtyard adorned with white and red marble, the first thing he saw were the magnificent statues. Even the smallest statue was at least five meters tall. When Alpshar looked at the smallest statue at the front, he saw a stern-looking man with powerful arms.

This man was one of Conqueror Ogedion's generals and one of the few who remained loyal to him until the end of his life.

As Alpshar examined each grand statue, he realized they were the greatest leaders of the south. Finally, when he reached an area with black marble, he understood it was the center of the statue courtyard. In the very center stood a statue about thirty meters tall, adorned with gold and precious stones. The person depicted in this statue was none other than Conqueror Ogedion.

Next to Conqueror Ogedion's magnificent statue was a statue of a beautiful woman, his wife. But what caught Alpshar's attention was the a old man cleaning the statue with a brush. When Alpshar approached the old man, he seemed to have finished his work and stepped down, looking at the statue with admiration.

"You've done a pretty good job" said Alpshar.

"It's our duty, kid" said the old man, rubbing his tired eyes.

"Unfortunately, the end of the woman and her husband depicted in this statue was not as magnificent," said Alpshar, crossing his arms and looking at the statues with interest.

The old man turned to Alpshar and looked at him with a bit of reproach. "No human's end can be magnificent. The important thing is the magnificent of their legacy" said the old man.

"Don't get me wrong, I admire both of them, but in the end, there's one thing that even Conqueror Ogedion couldn't overcome in this world: time. Above everything else, it defeats even the strongest leaders. His grandeur and power bowed to time. But his legacy lives on here, in these statues, for us."

Alpshar's words carried a heavy melancholy. The old man nodded silently, accepting what he said. Both of them stood silently for a while, looking at the statues, contemplating the splendor of the past and the harsh realities of the present.

After a while, the old man broke the silence: "Since you still kept me alive, I guess you want something. What are you after, kid?"

Alpshar took a deep breath. "I'm after Conqueror Ogedion's greatest secret," he said with determination. "Before his death, he hid something. A power, a treasure, or maybe some knowledge. I don't know what it is, but I'm seeking the most valuable thing he left in this world."

"While Conqueror Ogedion was being killed by his own traitorous children, the last thing he would think about was hiding something," the old man said, disgusted at the mention of Ogedion's children.

"Moreover, since you come from the lineage of those traitors, I wouldn't tell you even if I knew such information" the old man continued.

"I come from the lineage of Conqueror Ogedion, not from the lineage of traitors" Alpshar said as he threw his helmet aside.

"Everyone who comes from the lineage of traitors denies their heritage, kid" the old man replied.

"Just don't make it difficult for me, old man. You might regret it later. If you don't value your own life, at least think about your grandchildren. They would surely hate you more than they hate me, especially since you had them killed by the man they loved" Alpshar said.

The old man seemed terrified by Alpshar's words, and his flinch showed that he truly cared about his grandchildren.

"You are very cunning… You seduced my grandchildren because you knew I would refuse your request... I must admit, you are a great leader, but remember, every Conqueror has a Jaohar," he said.

Jaohar was Conqueror Ogedion's eldest son and also his killer. Over time, this event had become a proverb used by anyone who became a great leader.

"Okay... but Now, before revealing Conqueror Ogedion's secret, don't set your expectations too high, because you might be disappointed." he said and walked toward Conqueror Ogedion's statue. He stepped onto the stand where the statue stood and pressed on something with his toe. As Alpshar watched curiously, he saw that Ogedion's little toe was actually a removable part.

This was undoubtedly an engineering marvel, especially for such an old statue.

The old man handed the little foot toe to Alpshar, who examined it with both hands. When he saw nothing, he turned the statue's toe upside down and noticed the engraved writing on the back. It was a list, and as Alpshar read each item, he realized it was a sort of advice written specifically for a king.

Initially disappointed, he then set the statue's little toe aside carefully to examine it more thoroughly later.

"So, what happens now?" the old man asked.

"A king should only be killed by another king… But I respect you, Master Lencesg, so you can decide how and where you will die" Alpshar said, clasping his hands over his abdomen.

"Master? I did think we were enemies" Lencesg said, surprised.

"Whoever I learn something from, I call them a master, and I often learn the most from your enemies," Alpshar said.

"Hmm, wise words" Lencesg said, then turned and walked slowly.

They entered a large garden adorned with beautiful flowers, and Lencesg approached a large tree in the center of the garden. The light from the setting sun on the horizon created a magnificent scene in the sky. It was the kind of view a painter would want to capture on canvas.

"Was I a good leader?" Suddenly Lencesg asked, looking at the setting sun on the horizon.

"You were a very good leader… And also you are a good man, Lencesg" Alpshar replied.

"Thank you" Lencesg said with a heartfelt smile.

"Do you have any last requests?" Alpshar asked as he drew his sword from its scabbard.

"I would be very grateful if you bury me in front of this beautiful view..." Lencesg said, still enjoying the beautiful scenery with his old eyes.

"You will get your wish" Alpshar said and raised his sword, slashing deep into his neck to ensure a painless death in the next moment. By now, the blood had stained the landscape. Alpshar cleaned the blood from his sword and put it back into its sheath.

"A great leader like you should have a statue here, Lencesg. And I hope there is an afterlife, because you are a man who deserves heaven."

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This chapter is very special and important to the story, but why this chapter is special will probably be understood hundreds of chapters later.