Chapter Text
Once upon a time, in a kingdom long forgotten, lived a brave young knight. A knight who fearlessly slayed every creature that threatened the kingdom he swore to protect.
Once upon a time, in an enchanted forest, lived an evil witch. A witch so wicked no one dared to step a foot outside the kingdom's gates. The wind carried whispered legends about her. No one had seen her yet everyone had been a victim of her rage.
The suffering ends tonight.
He's deep in the forest, wrapped in darkness and weak moonlight with a sword raised high above his head, ready to eliminate the figure, kneeling in the soil in front of him. He's determined to stop these attacks. To free the kingdom from her curse and the world from her presence.
The witch has been terrorising Aphelion since he could remember. At first her existence was just a rumour being spread around like gossip. But then the attacks increased in frequency. And each time they were worse than the last – slaughtered animals, missing children, buildings bursting into flames in the dead of night, diseases spreading amongst people and animals, failed cropps and many other cases that worsened the kingdom's state. Many people have tried to rid the world of her and to bring peace upon these lands but their attempts have always been unfruitful... Until now.
The blade shines, reflecting the soft moonlight as the momentum of the swing pulls it closer to its target...
He's sent flying towards the trunk of an old tree. His back hits the wood with a loud thud sending sharp waves of pain down his body.
—What kind of sorcery is this?!— He grunts.
She is ready to bolt, already having lifted up her skirts to make her escape easier. But she stops when she hears him speak.
—S-So you-you're... you are the witch who's been terrorising innocent people?— He says between ragged breaths.
Her spell is still holding him pressed against the tree, while she's trying to hold back an eye roll. Here they go again with the same made up story of her cursing kingdoms and terrorising people.
Every once in a while a team of witch hunters is sent by the king who has made it his life goal to execute her. She's spent years learning how to hide from them, improving her skills so she can defend herself against them, learning more about their history, culture and religion in a desperate attempt to understand them better. But they have never tried to understand her or learn anything about her. From the moment they've learned about her existence they've been trying to hunt her down, blaming her for the kingdom's every problem no matter how insignificant. All because they're ignorant enough to follow their tyrant of a king. Never question his morals or decisions. They'd rather follow his orders mindlessly than question his actions.
—Please enlighten me. What have I done this time?— She crosses her arms, taking a few steps closer to the man clad in metal.
—Do not act clueless! You know what you've done!
He tries to yell but it comes out feeble. How's that even possible? He spent years training to achieve this strength only to be held against a tree so easily by a scrawny girl.
No, I shan't be deceived! This might not even be her real form.
—It might surprise you, but I actually don't. I hope you wouldn't mind sharing what the current crisis in your kingdom is, so i can at least know what I'm taking the blame for.
—Do not play these games with me! Quit acting innocent! We all know it's you. How stupid do you think we are?
She refrains from answering, focusing her attention on the fact that he's on his own. Every time the king has sent out teams of at least three people. He's either alone....or they're planning an ambush.
—Is the rest of your team too cowardice to face me? Or perhaps the royal guard is understaffed?
—I have no team and no orders from the king. I have come to slay you myself because I'm tired of seeing innocent people's suffering!
Innocent people suffering? Interesting. I don't remember anyone asking about my side of the story.
—And what exactly are said evildoings? May I at least know why I've been hunted for the last 8 years of my life? What could I have possibly done to make your king hunt me like I'm some wild animal that has to be caged?
She knows she might be making a mistake, but she approaches the knight, who's still trying to free himself from the grasp of her magic.
—You are a threat for the subjects of Aphelion. You've brought curses upon our land and caused so many people unimaginable pain. Your demonic rituals have been the reason for so many crisises in our kingdom. Do you need me to go on?
—Demonic rituals? Have you seen me perform them before? Or are you so naive that you believe all the lies your king spreads about the one person he can't control?
Slowly she weakens the spell that's holding him against the tree trunk.
—I knew your king was a coward but i didn't think every natural disaster would send him in such state of terror that he'd need to blame someone for that as well, just to feel slightly more in control.
—Do not speak ill of his Majesty!— the knight makes an attempt to stand up, his legs barely capable of holding him up.
—Has anyone ever attempted to speak to me and ask me why I "curse kingdoms and perform demonic rituals"?
She's completely forgotten the possibility this could be an ambush. Slowly she approaches the knight while still keeping enough distance not to put herself at risk. Her eyes don't leave him as he picks up his sword, still swaying under the effect of the spell.
—It's been years since your king suddenly decided i was intimidating his kingdom and the best way to fix the issue is to capture and execute me. For a royal figure he lacks diplomacy and tact— she challenges.
He can't hide the effect the spell has on him even when he isn't directly affected by it. His hand is pressed against the bark, using the tree to help him stay on his feet. Yet the determination and anger in his eyes don't fade even slightly. He's preparing to swing again, but he's way too slow and his aim– worsened.
—Shut your mouth, witch!
Thorny branches wrap around his wrists and ankles, pulling him back until his back is pressed against the bark. They keep wrapping around his body until an armour of branches warps itself around him and prevents any kind of movement. Pale fingers wrap around the sword's hilt. If he lied about coming here alone the rest of his knight squad should come out of their hiding spots to help him.
—You know nothing about me or what and why I do it. You all blindly follow your foolish king and believe his every word without questioning it.
Her hands reach for his helmet and slide it off, revealing a deep blue gaze filled with fury. The metal headpiece is carelessly tossed on the ground, hitting the dirt with a loud clank.
—Why would you be foolish enough to come by yourself?
Her slender fingers grasp the sword handle tighter as she recklessly let's anger pull her closer towards him.
Thorns are poking his skin, some even drawing blood. A new branch inches closer towards his face and wraps around his neck. Not tight enough to cut off his circulation, but tight enough to act as a warning. All she gets in response is a hiss and a clenched jaw. It's enough to know the poison is entering his bloodstream...