Sealed Destinies

Six months have passed. Greg has trained tirelessly during this time, honing both his swordsmanship and his magical abilities. Now, his power is superior to that of any wizard... The King will arrive at the kingdom in a week.....

Greg still spent his days in the library, but he was no longer alone. Emma, now his friend, accompanied him in his studies...

"Hey, Greg, I see you're still studying. That's good."

"Oh, hello, Prince Robert. Yes, I need to keep preparing. I'll be leaving in a week, so I'm taking full advantage of this time. Emma is helping me; she's incredibly smart."

Robert, deep down, thought it best that Greg stay in the kingdom, to train him and keep an eye on him. He knew Greg carried the power of a god, capable of destroying an entire kingdom...

He decided it was necessary to speak with Abby to discuss Greg's future. He knew that the decision they made would have great consequences...

"Abby, we need to talk about Greg."

"Tell me, what's going on?"

Robert began to explain his thoughts about the need for Greg to stay in the kingdom to protect him, as rumors of the divine key were spreading rapidly among the kingdoms and villages...

Abby listened carefully to Robert's words, as what he said was true, but she also knew that Greg was just a boy, bearing a burden he should not have to carry. Still, Abby understood that Greg had to explore the world, not remain locked in a castle, training every day...

"Robert, I can't accept that. Greg is just a boy, I can't do that to him."

Abby was honest with Robert, though fear gnawed at her, unsure how he would react, as he seemed deeply convinced that Greg should stay...

"Abby, I understand your point, but you're not making this decision with your mind. You're letting your feelings guide you."

Though Abby felt discomfort from Robert's words, she made a firm decision...

"I'm sorry, Robert, but I can't do that to Greg."

The conversation fell into a deep silence for a moment. Robert gave a slight nod of his head. "I understand..." And then he walked away slowly. Abby felt that something was wrong, but she decided not to dwell on it. The days passed, until King Ross finally arrived. He was a man of great age, with white hair and magnificent robes of a mage. The whole castle awaited his arrival, and Prince Robert immediately told him they needed to speak...

Abby watched the meeting from afar, so she decided to check on Greg to ensure everything was alright... Everything seemed calm, so Abby stayed close, keeping watch over Greg...

But that very night...

"Father..."

"What's going on, Robert?"

"I heard they're looking for the divine key, is that true?"

"Yes. It's said that the divine key has found a new bearer, which means the demon god will soon come seeking it. All the kingdoms have made a pact: whoever finds it will use it to defeat the demon god and prevent more lives from being lost."

A small figure was hiding, listening in silence. It was Emma...

"P-pa... Father, the divine key is in this castle."

"What are you saying?"

Without hesitation, Robert explained everything to the king: that Greg was the bearer of the divine key. The king, then, pronounced a decree that sent a chill through the air...

"I want to see him."

Upon hearing these words, Emma ran as fast as she could to Greg's room to warn him that they were coming...

"GREG!" Her loud shout echoed outside the room...

"They're coming for you."

Quickly, Abby grabbed her sword and, looking at Emma, asked, "Who's coming, Emma?"

"My grandpa... My dad told him that you have the divine key, and they're coming for you."

"Alright, Greg. When they arrive, greet them properly. I'll be here, watching in case something happens, understood?"

Greg nodded, resolute. At that moment, the door opened, and the king, accompanied by his guards, arrived. He knocked on the door.

Knock-knock.

Greg stepped forward and, with a deep bow, said, "Greetings, King Ross, it's an honor to meet you."

The king looked at him intently, then made a gesture to shake his hand. But as he drew close, he grabbed Greg's wrist with force, lifting his sleeves and revealing the divine mark...

"Oh, fascinating."

"LET HIM GO!" Abby's voice rang out, filled with fury. Without thinking, she launched an attack at the king, intending to sever his hand. But one of the guards quickly intervened, blocking her strike with his sword.

Grrr.

"So you're Abby... I appreciate what you've done for my granddaughter, but this is not your concern. Step aside."

In the blink of an eye, the king cast a spell that struck Abby directly in the stomach, shattering the walls around her. Abby was sent flying, collapsing outside the room...

"ABBY!" Greg tried to move, but the king held him tightly. Then, the king spoke words that shattered Greg's heart...

"Take Abby and kill her for defying the king."

Upon hearing this, a wave of fury surged through Greg's body. He couldn't imagine that his only friend in the world would be killed. In that moment, his left hand began to form a ball of fire, growing larger and larger, becoming more and more powerful... The king watched, smiling arrogantly, as if Greg's power was insignificant. But soon, his smile faded...

Greg's spell began to shift in color, turning dark, as it spiraled into...

"D-dark magic."

Suddenly, an explosion of energy erupted from Greg, shaking the very foundations of the castle. The roar alerted everyone, but nothing could stop Greg. He leaped into action, heading straight for Abby to save her...

"Abby, get up! We need to leave!"

Although Greg spoke to her, Abby did not rise, so he made a decision. The whole castle was after them, but someone approached... It was Emma.

"Here, Greg, give this to Abby, it's a powerful medicine. Give it to her, and run. I'll miss you, Greg."

"Thank you, Emma."

Greg handed the medicine to Abby, who managed to open her eyes. Though she couldn't stand, she was regaining strength. With a faint smile, she spoke...

"Greg, leave me... Run, they're coming for you."

"No way, Abby. I won't leave you behind. I have a plan."

Using wind magic, Greg lifted Abby gently and began running at full speed. His plan was already in motion. They quickly reached the stable where Abby's horse, Tersi, was kept...

In the blink of an eye, Greg placed Abby on Tersi and mounted the horse himself. With a determined gesture, he conjured a thick mist that enveloped everything around them, creating a curtain of invisibility. They fled at full speed, leaving the kingdom behind as they made their way into a dense forest...

In the distance, a loud whistle approached, followed by a massive magical spear flying directly toward them...

Fuuuuui!

The spear passed by them, and before them stood a gigantic blue dragon, roaring with fury. It began charging a devastating attack...

Fuuuuuuuuu!

The dragon unleashed its power in a fierce blast. Greg didn't hesitate for a second. He jumped off Tersi, stood before the dragon, and, with a defiant look, aimed his sword at it. He blocked the attack with a technique Robert had taught him, but the dragon didn't relent, its strength growing...

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

With his right hand, Greg formed a spear of stone and fire, a massive projectile spinning at incredible speed. And in an instant...

Shhhhfff.

He hurled it straight at the dragon's head, destroying it with a single strike... The dragon fell, defeated, while Greg collapsed to his knees, exhausted from the effort...

From afar, Robert watched, stunned by Greg's power, a power he hadn't imagined...

"DON'T LET HIM ESCAPE!" A scream echoed from the distance. Without wasting time, Greg mounted Tersi, and rode at full speed, until he found a cave where they had taken refuge. They sealed the entrance with earth magic and waited in silence, until everything calmed down...

"G-Greg... ..thank you...."