Destined

19. The King & Crests

The Corrupted King erupted in laughter while everyone was astounded at his timing. He got up and grinned. "If it was so important to you, then why did you bother leaving my friend?"

I shook my head. "I have no use for a crown any longer. You killed so many people all for what, a revival of a past that can never revive?"

He smiled. It was ingenuine that smile on his face. He was not going to admit I was right. "You still think small if that was all I wanted for this world."

"You do not need me as you claim you do."

His smile vanished within an instant. He appeared in front of me and grabbed my arm. Before I could pull away, he had me up by the throne. "Do you truly think this world did not need you? Is that why you left me here to fill your throne? Remember this. You are primarily the reason it exists. You refuse to change it, so who do you ask to do what you believe is evil?" His eyes sharpened, and his grip tightened. I cringed. "Light and shadow, that is what you and I have always been. Two sides of the same world, my friend, so when will you realize this is futile? Your 'world' is how you made it. The people, the land, the powers, all of it was you."

I felt my head pounding so hard my thoughts lapsed into shock. I fell into the throne, and sure enough, thousands of images filled me. My body stayed put like it did the day I refused to run away when my brother and mother died. His words ring true, and I did not deny them. I did not answer.

"Jaiden, none of this is true, you know it." Artemis tried to assure me this was a lie, but I remember.

The guilt and rage I felt inside were mine but from a different lifetime. My nightmares and dreams were manifestations of what happened. The Corrupted King played his role, not as some villain but the world's dark side, and that means if I kill him, balance disappears with him.

I stared at the man forced to play his role the same as his son was. I burdened this world because-I remember all of it. Kader lost his life in vain when he chose to protect me. It was not Artemis he died for; He died for me.

"My friend, will you ever acknowledge what we were, or will you give up this farce of yours?"

"Leave me be," I spoke it, and he backed off. His eyes widened at the softness of my voice. I leaned forward and stared at the ground. "I remember already, really wish I had not of." I scowled.

"Kid, you cannot be serious that he was speaking any truth." Mesmer riled up. Once my focus came to him and Artemis, they could see it now.

"This world was my responsibility, my role which I tried to escape, but it was a fool's errand. I ran away because I was through doing anything anymore. Everything I built up forgot me. What was worse was I wanted joy and only found loneliness. Judaven, Kader, and every hero this world had to offer could not take my place. Alva was right. I abandoned him, my throne, and my world, thinking I could do what I wanted." I traced a finger on the throne in circles and continued. "The pain of having power was simple. I can do anything I want. I have had many lives, but each one lived in misery as I am sure will continue to happen."

"My friend, is it truly you, or are you feigning you know all this?" Alva stared at me with strange bewilderment he wore when he could not read me.

"Are you finished badgering me, Alva?!" I narrowed my eyes at him. "I get little peace of mind around you. I recall everything does not make this world any better. You killed Kader, and I am not happy with you."

"You did not give me a choice. You gave that cur, power, and that spell."

Artemis stared at our exchange while eyeing the prince she thought I was. "Are you the Phoenix King, but there's no way my sisters and I were mistaken that you are the child of destiny?"