(if you read this, please, please let me know, feedback is very important to me)

(if you love BL, tragic, spooky stories, then you are in the right place)

In a mystical world, where magic flows as freely as rivers, legends and forbidden places abound. Among these tales is one of the seven kingdoms of Seron, united in an ancient bond. Each kingdom symbolizes a unique virtue: Rengo, nature; Warsa, loyalty; Ganeon, bonds; Fronhe, laws; Saul, fertility; Henn, freedom; and Otunm, creation. These lands, with a history rich in blood and betrayal, share an uneasy peace.

Ganeon, nestled in a remote valley surrounded by towering forests and rugged mountains, is the most populous of the kingdoms. Large wooden and brick houses stand against seemingly perfect castle walls. The kingdom is a haven for hybrids, humans, wizards, and elves alike. Its lively markets bustle with residents and wanderers. Children run gleefully in the streets, elders gossip on corners, housewives go about their daily chores, and men work the fields or patrol the cobbled paths. Birds fly freely above, messengers of good tidings.

Yet, Ganeon is also known as the cursed kingdom, encircled by the ominous Menzue Forest. This forest, draped in legends and lore, houses creatures of unimaginable horror. At the heart of Ganeon stands the palace, protected by the legendary Firefly's diamond, Syrge. This ancient gem, now a mere fragment of its former mountain-sized glory, casts an invisible shield that wards off dark forces. Its power has been harnessed for centuries, safeguarding the kingdom's inhabitants.

Among the people of Ganeon is Prince Scarde, the only son of King Ganeon Hezuga and Queen Felistil. The royal family resides in a magnificent glass-crystal palace, yet the prince's heart yearns for the freedom outside its walls. Often sneaking out to explore, Scarde mingles with his subjects, tasting the freedom denied to him within the palace confines. His parents, though protective, have grown weary of trying to contain his adventurous spirit, allowing him to roam the kingdom with one strict rule: he must not cross its borders.

On the morning of his 19th birthday, Scarde slipped out once more. He wandered through the lively streets, greeting familiar faces and savoring the vibrant life around him. However, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, he found himself on an unfamiliar path. The narrow, darkened trail led him toward the boundary of Menzue Forest. Fascinated rather than fearful, Scarde stood at the edge of the forest, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and dread.

He had heard countless tales of the Crystal Water Dragon, a creature said to grant fortunes in exchange for one's most treasured possession. His curiosity burned brightly, battling with the caution instilled by years of bedtime stories. Finally, with a resolute breath, Scarde turned back toward the palace, his decision made. For now, he would not enter the forest. But the allure of its mysteries had already woven its spell around his heart.

The prince started back towards the palace. People were still walking the streets, despite the sky taking on shades of crimson and orange. The sun's rays slowly descended along the windows of the houses, creating playful illusions on the walls. Scarde hurried through the streets, paying no attention to the colorful dances and cheerful sounds around him. He was eager to return before nightfall.

When the young prince reached the palace bridge, the soldiers immediately opened the gates to let him in.

He walked slowly among the roses and finally looked up calmly at the sky, dotted with fleecy clouds tinged with shades of red. He exhaled peacefully and gently pushed open the grand door of the palace, adorned with colorful glass. As he entered, he saw the queen, her worried gaze fixed on the Firefly's diamond. With slow but confident steps, Scarde walked over to his mother and softly called her for a conversation.

-Mother, what’s the matter? Your gaze so often falls on the gem lately,- he said, following his mother’s eyes to the large gemstone. The diamond shimmered in hues of lavender and broken blue as the orange light filtered through the stained glass windows. The boy stared and stared at the gem, but could not discern the reason for his mother’s prolonged contemplation.

-Oh, my dear son,- said the queen in a melancholic tone, as if picking the last grape of the year, knowing there would be no more to harvest. -I'm beginning to feel our beloved kingdom slipping away. The diamond's power is weakening, the armor that protects the city grows thinner. Chaos is increasing, and the king... he often holds his head in sorrow. Your dear mother is at a loss. I rack my brain, but to no avail.-

The boy gazed at his mother, his almond-brown eyes scrutinizing her expression. As the queen spoke further, his own eyes grew increasingly sorrowful. His long black eyelashes quivered as he listened to the revelation of their troubles, and his once cheerful face now mirrored his mother's somber expression.

Seeing this, the queen turned to him and gently brushed aside the soft black strands falling into Scarde's eyes. Her gentle blue eyes smiled encouragingly into the boy's sad brown ones. Her hand moved to his face, wiping away the crumbs of concern that he hadn't noticed he'd left behind during his adventures.

-Don't worry, my son. Just live your life. Your mother and the king will figure everything out....-

-Anyway, a bath has been prepared for you. Go, and wash up,- she said with a honeyed voice, her fingers caressing the prince's face. The boy nodded, bidding his mother farewell with a small word of thanks for the day.

He walked pensively down the long marble corridors. Many thoughts occupied his mind—the forest; the mysterious large gem that seemed to be losing its grip; and a girl he had seen at the market that day. Of course, beyond all these thoughts, the one that gripped him most was of the girl. She was of his age, with full lips, a beautiful hourglass figure, emerald green eyes, and wheat-blonde hair. One could say it was love at first sight. Yet, he knew this love or infatuation couldn't last. He couldn't marry a peasant girl, no matter how beautiful she seemed. Still, the thought of holding her hand and gently running his fingers through her thick, light hair was too alluring for him to forget.

Reaching the end of the corridor, Scarde entered a spacious, high-vaulted bathroom, where a marble bathtub with golden feet stood in the center of the room. Surrounding the tub were white tiles with diorite patterns and columns; birchwood shelves hung on the walls, holding the kingdom’s most expensive toiletries. Opposite the tub was an enormous leaded mosaic window offering a view of the crystal-clear waterfall in the valley.

Scarde peeled off his clothes, dropping them beside the door, and once he was completely nude, he stood by the tub, gently stirring the steaming water with soft, slow movements. Rose petals floated continuously on the surface, swirling around. The water sparkled, casting a play of colors on the ceiling adorned with legends. Scarde stepped into the tub and submerged himself up to his neck, letting the soothing warmth envelop him like an embrace from a loved one. With delicate movements, as if caressed by a breeze, he ran his fingers along his limbs, washing away the worries and adventures of the day. He rested his head against the edge of the tub and closed his almond-brown eyes. His breathing slowed, and he let out light, gentle sighs as he felt his body relax and tire from the weight of the water surrounding him.

A tender smile appeared on his lips as he imagined the trees with red leaves swaying invitingly in the wind, the nearly black trunks covered with soft moss at their bases, and the birds whose songs anyone would want to hear every morning. But no matter how vividly he imagined it, when he opened his eyes, he saw only the mosaic depiction of the giant serpent legend on the ceiling—not the red-painted trees, not the green moss, and not the birds with their angelic songs.

He sat in the tub for a while, then stood up with a deep sigh, waiting for the tiny, tickling droplets to run down his body. He stepped out of the tub and dressed in a light blouse and pants over his damp skin. He tousled his hair and walked barefoot towards his room.

The prince reached his room, striding in and throwing himself onto his massive bed, covered with pillows and thick blankets. He drew the bed curtains closed, creating a cave-like space for himself. Lying on the bed, he stared at the ceiling, from which small gemstones carved into mystical animals hung on long chains. As the early evening breeze blew in through the slightly open window, it made the curtains dance and gently swayed the gemstone decorations, causing them to emit a tinkling sound, as if the mystical animals had come to life.

Scarde lay peacefully on his back, then turned onto his left side, running his graceful fingers through his hair, and once again imagined the forest. He envisioned walking along the path, running his hand over the trees' red leaves...

As he happily daydreamed, he became aware of something unusual. It felt as though someone or something was watching him through the curtains. Feeling slightly apprehensive, he pulled one of the curtains back just enough to peek through and cautiously scanned his room. His eyes swept over the dark furniture, bathed in the moon's silver light. Seeing nothing suspicious, everything as it always was, he drew the curtain back more fully. Slowly placing his feet on the floor, he stood up and walked around the room, gently trailing his fingers over the cabinets.

He walked to the window and looked out. There was nothing visible, only the evening mist settling over the palace gardens. Scarde sighed, convinced it must have been his imagination.

He returned to his bed, this time with the intention of sleeping. He crawled under the large duvet, rested his head on the feather pillow, and let the world of dreams carry him away.

His mind relaxed, and his body found complete tranquility. As he slept, his dreams constantly shifted. He dreamed of peaceful memories, like the first time he left the castle as a child, or the joy he felt seeing the people of the kingdom living happily and being so kind to the young prince. His lips curved into a soft smile as the dreams flowed one after another. Yet there was something unsettling within those dreams that he didn't notice-four blue eyes, not seeming to belong to any human, appearing in the darkness of each dream, always watching.

As the night wore on, a long, continuous dream took hold of Scarde's mind. He wandered through a maze of houses, lost. He had no sense of direction or where he had come from, just walking straight ahead. When he reached the end of the street, he found himself in a familiar place-the edge of the forest. The wind ominously rustled the leaves, and the darkness emanating from the forest sent a shiver down Scarde's spine. He moved slowly toward the first tree, when at last he saw those blue eyes.

The forest itself exuded darkness, as if it intended to swallow the boy whole. A chilly wind blew, and he could almost feel the freezing cold on his skin, the same cold that raced through the trees and played with the leaves, creating a haunting sound. There were no birds singing; the path seemed desolate.

The crimson and amber leaves rustled angrily as the branches, darker than manganese brown, tossed them around in the wind. The usually welcoming basil-green moss appeared menacing, with its flowers reaching toward the sky like tiny hands trying to grasp Scarde's feet.

As he tossed and turned in his bed, shivering at the sight of those eyes and the forest in his dream, a chill ran down his spine. They were radiated coldness and foreboding, yet there was also a strange warmth and loneliness within them. The icy blue hues mixed with coral and manganese blue, like a kyanite stone bleached bright by the sun. They are stared at him, freezing him in place. He couldn't move. Two sets of eyes, one pair above the other, as if a four-eyed creature was staring him down. Their gaze grew colder and colder, nearly freezing the blood in his veins. The scene dredged up Scarde's deepest fears and worst memories from childhood, pulling forth negative emotions. The slit pupils didn't widen in any sign of friendliness. And then suddenly... the creature closed its eyes, and darkness engulfed Scarde, jolting him awake with a gasp.

He panted, struggling for breath as he sat up in bed, clutching at his throat as if he had been strangled in his dream and had just escaped. He couldn't shake the image of those kyanite eyes, their icy stare seeming to pierce through his very flesh. He began to tremble, terrified of what this dream could mean. Reaching for the pocket watch carved from Firefly's diamond on his nightstand, he held it to his chest, pleading with his mind to erase the nightmare. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't forget it. The image was burned into his mind.