Chapter 244 - Gavrael (Part I)*

Unbeknownst to the creatures who were contentedly living on the surface, there was actually a hidden sixth empire of the great Land of Lirea. This hidden empire lies exactly beneath the Middle Land, the land of the faeries. And it was called the Under Land, the land of the real dark Faes.

The Under Land was a paradise in the dark and the dark faes were all living there together in peace as one united people. The dark faes were the real creatures of the dark. They were born of the dark, they embraced the dark and they thrive in the dark. They cannot live long on the surface because the light has some elements that limited them, not only in their growth, but even more so, in their magic.

Apart from the fact that the dark faes could not live under the sun, the dark faes were also forbidden to go up to the surface even during the night time because of the treaty that was agreed upon between the Light and Dark Faeries. According to legends, countless millennia ago, the light and dark faes were once mortal enemies until the king of the dark faeries and the queen of the light faeries agreed to end the long and drawn-out war. And the solution to their problem was for the two races to never set foot on each other's land ever again.

Because of the treaty, the portal between the two empires was sealed. Only the most powerful of the dark faes can leave the Under Land. But there was a price that had to be paid – they will lose their power and all of their memories about the Under Land. This was the spell that was cast on the sealed portal and the payment of those who were powerful enough to cross it.

Only the King of the dark fae was strong enough to leave Under Land but even the King must return within a given duration of time. If not, he will lose his memories and powers as well. They must not see the light. That meant, they could only stay out of Under Land during the night time.

Within the glorious and massive palace in the midst of a massive city, a beautiful and fair skinned woman clad in a dark gown and blue jewelled crown nestled securely on her head was rushing with much haste along the corridors.

"Gavrael!" She threw open the doors as she barged inside the large room of the dark fae's second prince. She was the queen of the dark faes and she was clearly not a dark fae but... a vampire!

A young man, stately in bearing and of exquisite appearance, gracefully lifted his head and turned to look up at his distressed mother who had just charged her way into his private chambers. The two of them were the only ones with pale white skin. All the dark faes in the entire empire had dark skin, an indication that they were dark faes – only they were the exception. Gavrael and his mother were fair skinned, and of course, he knew of the reason why. His mother was a purebred vampire royal and being a half-blooded vampire, he thus inherited his mother's features – one of which was his skin tone. 

"I heard you tried to leave the portal again." The woman said worriedly as she looked over her son, checking if he had sustained any injuries.

"Mother." Gavrael was unrepentant, his tone lazy and without tension. "I have already told you. Many times, as I recall… I want to leave the Under Land empire. I am not a pure dark fae and you know how I … how I looked so out of place here!"

"You are not. You're a dark fae too, son. The dark fae's royal prince." His mother's voice was worried even as she tried to insist and coax him into accepting what she held to be a fact and one without dispute.

"You're the only one who thinks that way, mother. I always feel like I don't belong here..." Gavrael said in a pained voice. "Ever since you told me of those stories on how the surface looked like. About how the creatures who lived up on the surface looked just like us, I have always wanted to leave this place and live there instead. And that has been my goal ever since. I know you are more than aware of how I feel for years since I have found that out, mother." Gavrael explained to his mother patiently as he levelled a knowing look at her troubled face.

"Gavrael…" the queen's face became utterly melancholy as her eyes roved over her beloved son's attractive face. "The surface is a very dangerous place right now." She could not help but sigh after revealing that to him, her fingers clenching in uneasiness. Gavrael silently looked at his mother's agitated state and drew in a deep breath.

"I already know about that, mother. But I still want to go. I am powerful enough to open the gate even without the king's help." His voice held more than a tinge of pride as he mentioned his ability to shoulder his own burdens and actions.

"Are you willing to leave us all? After the allotted time duration, you know that you're going to forget about us." She began to weep, heartbroken at how adamant her son was in his decision. "And what will happen to you if you lose your powers too?"

Gavrael stood and embraced his mother gently. "Whoever said that I'm going to forget about you and this place? It will be alright as long as I return here before I lose my memories and powers, right? Don't worry, I know what I am doing. Perhaps, once I see the surface by myself, I might find it boring. If that happens, I guess I'll just accept my fate and return to fight my brother to the death and be the next king of the Under Land."

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*flashback

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A/N: If we stay rank 1 in golden ranking until an hour before weekly reset, i will give bunos chapters again next monday. So don't forget to cast your Golden Tickets for our Evie and Gav. ^^