Eclipsed

chapter 29

As they entered Alric's room, the vast space was like something out of a royal legend. The room was meticulously clean, every corner perfectly arranged, with the light of the midday sun streaming in through large windows that offered a panoramic view of the palace grounds. Plush carpets of rich, deep colors lined the floor, and the walls were adorned with framed portraits of past royal figures and landscapes. A large, four-poster bed sat in the middle of the room, draped in fine, silken sheets.

But what truly caught Ren’s attention were the numerous, imposing canines mounted along the walls. Some were large, others grotesque in their size, and all looked disturbingly real. The teeth gleamed in the sunlight, and their presence gave the room an oddly chilling vibe.

Ren, unable to stop himself, pointed to one of the largest sets. “Why have you got those?”

Alric, casually strolling toward a grand table filled with maps and weapons, glanced back with a slight smirk. “Yeah, I just enjoy hunting large beasts for fun.”

Ren blinked. “What, really? How do you take them out?”

Alric grinned, his expression almost mischievous. “With my bare hands, obviously. Makes it much more fun. I may use weapons occasionally, though.”

Both Ren and Valen stared at him, their disbelief palpable.

Valen broke the silence. “A kid from the royal family killing beasts with his bare hands? Now that's new.”

Alric shrugged nonchalantly, a gleam of pride in his eyes. “What, just because my family’s royal doesn’t mean I’m not my own person. Damn, people have it all wrong.”

Ren tilted his head, a little more intrigued now. “You’re not an ordinary prince, are you?”

Alric chuckled. “Guess you could say that, haha.”

Valen, now steering the conversation back to business, cleared his throat. “Can you tell us about where the Mal’Gorath are currently located?” Kallius and Lysandra “I need to know where they are and how to deal with them.”

Alric’s expression shifted into something more serious as he glanced at the map laid out on the table. “Hm, so... Kallius and Lysandra, they’re always together, and they’re located near Vanthelos Cove.” He paused, eyes scanning the map. “Well, I’d say the best way to take them down would be to separate them and fight them individually. We could do it today, if you want.”

Ren’s jaw nearly dropped. “WHAT? Today?”

Alric grinned wider, his energy infectious. “Hell yeah, it’d be fun.”

Valen raised an eyebrow. “What the hell… Well, this is good.”

Ren, still processing the idea, frowned. “It’s quite far, though. How are we gonna get there?”

Alric gave them an almost smug look. “On my dragon, obviously.”

Ren and Valen exchanged shocked glances. This prince wasn’t just different—he was unpredictable, and clearly, he liked to live on the edge.

As Ren and Alric walked through the grand hall, Ren, still slightly bewildered by the prince's informal nature, hesitated for a moment. He cleared his throat.

Ren: "By the way... Oh, your highness, my apologies..."

Alric (grinning, turning around with a playful smirk): "Hey, don't call me 'your highness.' Sounds weird. Just Alric is fine."

Ren: "Alright... So, uh, how old are you?"

Alric stopped mid-step, raising an eyebrow in mock surprise.