"Damn, they have been at it for hours," said one of the soldiers patrolling.
"Hey, she's a hot babe," replied one of the other soldiers.Covering her face with tears flooding down her cheeks, she ran out of the palace. The next following day Prince Eric woke up with Samantha in his arms. Pushing aside his hungover, he looked at the woman beside him. She was beautiful in his eyes. Then suddenly disappointment hit him as he realized that in a few hours he would be leaving for the frontline. He thought to himself that in the next few years, the person he loved most would be the one whom he misses the most. How Samantha will be in his thoughts all the time. This woman is dear to him, his childhood friend, and his first love. Then in the moment of his thoughts Ruby's face came into mind, but only for a split second and he shook his head that he must be crazy to even imagine her while holding his love in his arms. He looked back at Samantha's sleeping face and gave her a kiss on her forehead.He remembered seeing her at the age of eleven. Being the same age, they got along quite well. Since they were always together, he got closer to her as the years went by. Even though he never needed her to defend him, she would protect him with her petite body. Eric thought it was cute. That was why he fell in love with her. "Get up my love, it's time to wake up," said Prince Eric.Samantha moaned and said, "Not yet. I'm still tired.""No?""I don't want to get up yet.""Really?""Yes. So let me sleep a bit longer."Prince Eric did as she said. After another hour he nudged her to wake up."Is it time to get up?""Yes."Samantha still didn't budge."Aren't you going to say goodbye to your husband?" question Prince Eric moving in closer to her.Startled at his words she got up and looked at him. Realizing that she was in the same bed as him, she pulled the covers to herself. He chuckled and said, "What is there to be shy about?" Samantha blushed and said, "Pervert." She rushed to the bathroom. By late morning he was getting ready to set off. "Prince Eric couldn't you at least hurry up before it was high noon?" said Kevin Slow, who was the eldest son of Duke Elon Slow of Green Tortoise."Hey, let the man's beast come out, besides he finally got to be with the woman he loved," said John Wild. He was Samantha's first cousin. Samantha who was trailing beautifully along, heard, and blushed shyly. "Stop picking on her," said Prince Eric. "Coming forth commander, Zachery Leopard, the eldest son of Leon Leopard of the Black Tiger Clan," said one of the soldiers who was announcing his arrival. "Well at least we're not the only one who didn't have a wild night," said Kevin."You're the only one who didn't have a "good" night," replied John. "What?""Yeah.""Hey, what does that mean?""Humph.""So am I the only one....""I guess so.""But I thought you said you were going home early to take a rest.""I did go home early. And I did rest because the ladies did all the job.""What? What?"Zachery looked at him with eyes gleaming. Kevin hushed right away as he noticed that he was overheard by the dark brute. Zachery was tall, lean, with heavy muscles, with black hair and brown eyes. He have a seriousness in his face that show his firm and handsome face. Having a strong aura, he didn't say anything as he settled on his horse. At the sight of him, Samantha blushed at how handsome he was. When Eric noticed she was looking at him, he grabbed her hand and said, "Wait for me.""Yes. I will," said Samantha. The Emperor made a speech and blessed the soldiers for victory of the war. The crowd cheered. Soon Prince Eric and his troops marched out of the capital. "Hey, where is the one that keeps clinging onto you?" asked Kevin."Who?" asked Prince Eric. "Your princess consort.""She isn't my princess consort.""Why is that?""Didn't you hear that I was with Samantha last night after I proposed to her. She’s my consort.""I did. That's why I was hoping to see a commotion. Since that woman is so obsessed with you."Eric frowned at that comment. He thought to himself that it was true. That woman never let anything go especially when it comes to Samantha. If that woman is seeking revenge on them that morning, he won't allow it. He won't allow that ugly fat woman to harm his lover anymore. He won't let it happen. At least not on his watch. "I will divorce her soon.""Who?""Ruby Scarlet.""Alright, if you say so."It was true, Ruby didn't show up. Eric wasn't disappointed as she didn't come for, she didn't cause any commotion for the capital to see. At first, he was quite worried that Ruby would come and throw a tantrum. He was afraid she would come and embarrassed him. Especially Samantha. Ruby have always hated her and will do anything to ruin her good reputation, but Prince Eric have always stopped it all before it happened. He was surprised that after announcing that he had taken in Samantha as his consort she didn't come running through the doors to confront him. He had also laid claim to her last night, so he was sure Ruby wouldn’t let him off easily. But to his amazement she didn't do anything which was awfully strange. He was sure she was going to come up with a scheme to spoil his happy mood of last night, but nothing happened. However, he must still be on guard, for Ruby may still show up and ruin his departure. The least to Eric's expectation was being humiliated by her before leaving to the frontline, so seeing her before he left made him worry. He felt a heavy weight lifted off his shoulder when she didn't come as he got closer to the edge of the capital. It's a good thing that she showed her thoughts. As he left the capital, he turned to say his goodbyes to Samantha. Since Samantha and her are rivals, Ruby always does everything she can to ruin her. It was a good thing that Samantha always catches her in the act. Being able to see the true face of Ruby, Eric was able to see her wicked ways. He knew he have picked the right woman. Eric thought to himself that he won't let Ruby off easily if she dares to harm Samantha again. Even though he denied not wanting to see Ruby, his eyes was searching for her. He wonders why he did that, especially when he hated the ugly fat girl. A weird feeling overcame him, as he thought of the promise. He doesn't like that hideous girl, so he wouldn't care whether he kept or broke the promise. Broken promise. Ping! An ache came to his heart. He gasped at the sharp pain that suddenly came to him. Shaking off the feeling, he ignored it. As he left the capital that day, an overwhelming feeling of guilt washed over him.Even though he denied not seeing Ruby, his eyes was searching for her. He wonders why he would do that, especially when he hated the ugly fat girl. A weird feeling overcame him, as he thought of the promise. He doesn't like that hideous girl, so he wouldn't care whether he kept or broke the promise. Broken promise. Ping! An ache came to his heart. He gasped at the sharp pain that suddenly came to him. Shaking off the feeling, he ignored it. As he left the capital that day, an overwhelming feeling of guilt washed over him. As they got further away from the palace and towards the countryside, Eric saw the Forbidden Mountain. He frowns as he wanted to avoid it at all costs."Kevin, make haste towards the west," said Eric."West?" asked Kevin."Yes.""Alright."Oddly enough they walked the whole day and still ended up coming back to the Forbidden Mountain. "What?" asked some of the soldiers."Kevin!" shouted Eric."Yes," replied Kevin in a nervous tone. "What is the meaning of this?""
"What? You mean FAT! Or even better, SCAR! What happened to your face? It used to just be pimples, then it became scars!" He jabbed his index finger at her head and with a push she fell backward. She fell and scrapped her hands on the ground as she was trying to brace for her fall. Her hands were bleeding and she felt like crying."For her, you will push me, call me names, humiliate me, and make me bleed." Eric saw what he did to her, and he brushed his hand through his hair. He looked at her hands and saw that they were really bleeding. Without sympathy he said with annoyance, "Get out." "What if I don't want to. What if I want to spend the night here with you?" asked Ruby hugging herself on the floor."What?""You heard me.""If you don't get out of here, I will personally drag you out myself.""Why won't you be with me tonight, the same as you spent last night with her.""How-how did you know?" asked Eric, shocked and surprised."Rumors tend to spread very quick.""I guess it did
"I will make you change your mind one day.""How? When you got nothing compared to Samantha.""I'm Ruby Scarlet. I'm ten times better than Samantha. No. I'm a million times better than her." Eric pushed her away from him. Annoyed that this argument is getting nowhere. “You need to leave." Eric looked at her with agitation.“Why?” asked Ruby with tears falling from her eyes.“You know why. You don’t need me to tell you the reason.” Eric turned away from her. "You're judging me before you know me, you're hating me before you got to understand me, you're despising me before you know the truth. How are you so mean? How did I even fell in love with a jerk like you!""I never asked you to fall in love with me,” said Eric whipping around to look at her. "How do I tell that to my aching heart?” asked Ruby clutching her chest. "I don't give a f*ck what happens to you and that trash heart of yours," smirk Eric. "I'm your true love, Prince Eric.""Stop saying that!" Eric was boiling with ra
Eric felt uneasy at her words. He looked at the shards of pieces on the ground and saw blood. He was startled. He couldn’t understand why he should be bothered, for he shouldn’t even care. For he finally got rid of her. Finally, she will stop pestering him. That’s what he always wanted. Or so he thought. But what is this aching feeling. Ruby looked at the bright moon. Trying to grasp it with her hand she whispers, “How beautiful you are, that no matter how cruel the world is, you still shine.” Like the moon’s light there is still a way for her to shine no matter how people looked down on her. She looked into the night sky, and she saw the shimmering stars. Something seemed to be sparkling at her from the sky. Tears of hope were clouding her blue eyes. “That’s right like those glittering lights, I will also illuminate,” she whispers into the wind. Even if the whole entire universe goes against her, she will not bend or break. She will uphold the righteous that no one did for her. S
Ruby trudged onto the path that leads to her home. She looked up at the weary path. Tears now dried on her face, and her back was covered in blood. Feeling the oozing of the blood dripping down to her waist, she can feel the broken pieces dig deeper into her flesh with every movement she was making. She was numb from the pain in her back and the tingling sensation in her heart was now gone. Ruby knew that there was only one thing left to do, and that was to let Eric go. Knowing that once it's done, only time can mend her broken heart. Looking up at the enchanting peach blossom tree she stared at it with tears wielding up again in her eyes. Kneeling down before the peach blossom tree she said, "Grandmother Willow please teach me how to unbind the red string." Grandmother Willow who was asleep, woke up yawning. When her visions came to, she saw Ruby bleeding and stains of tears on her face. She saw the pain her granddaughter was in. For this was also her last straw with this stupid pr
Eric was puzzled and thought to himself, was it a dream or was it a hallucination. He looked at his table and opened the drawer. In there he saw the two broken pieces of the ointment jar. "No, it can't be. It must be because I feel guilty for hurting her that I just dreamt of her. It's nothing else," he said to himself. He was restless that he couldn't sleep that night. His heart felt unsteady as if he lost something important. Ruby returned back to her home and lay in front of the river. She was exhausted. Even with her eyes closed she couldn't sleep.Grandmother Willow's tree branches pivoted to lift her chin up to her and said, "What's bothering you?""How do you know I'm not asleep," asked Ruby."You're frowning.""I just can't sleep.""Ruby, dear...""Yes, Grandmother Willow," said Ruby looking up at her."I think it's time you hear the truth about me.""You sure?""Yes.""Have you ever read about the Northern Border's great beauty?""I have, but there were only words. Not a sin
“While they were searching, they stumbled upon a withering peony. Henry who saw it first, didn't care for it, so he went forth in search of the mission. While Ethan took that peony flower back and nurtured it. Rumor was that the peony flower was the dead girl's spirit. For some unknown reason the powers of the phoenix passed onto him. Some believe that since there was no more descendent, the powers went to him since he took care of the flower. The answer is still unclear.”“So, my grandfather was the first to have the phoenix’s power without being a direct descendent?”“Yes. And one thing is for sure, he is also a part of the Vermilion Bird Clan who is closely related to the Phoenix as well. So, for a while, that was also another thought that the phoenix choose him.”“That is true.”"Your grandfather practiced the phoenix's power in secret, never revealing to anyone he have the power. Only Henry knew.""Of course, that man would know." "One day Henry asked your grandfather to borrow
“GRANDFATHER!” Shouted Eric. He spat out blood as his poison surged through his body. The poison he accidentally ingested five years ago is slowly working its way through his body. He could feel the coldness tinglingly in his fingertips. The hotness was scorching in his chest. Grunting in pain as he fell down onto his knees and vomited blood. This strange poison is slowly making its way through his body. How he got this poison is still unknown. By the time he realized he was poison, it was already too late, for it was embedded in his blood. “Eric! We got to retreat!” shouted Kevin.Eric saw that many of his men was dying, and some were heavily wounded. His grandfather who came to help with the war was also badly injured. "We can't hold onto the provisions! We must leave it," said John. "Let them have it," exclaimed Kevin trying to fight off more demons. “RETREAT!” shouted Eric. Everyone stopped fighting and returned back to the military camp. He frowned in worry as he saw the so