The Legend of the Flower Demon Lord

BOOK 3: Chapter One - A Valiant Hero and a Vile Demon Lord

BOOK THREE

Chapter One – A Valiant Hero and a Vile Demon Lord

The foot, clad in lightweight, high-class armour, stepped upon the ash laden ground, creating a crunching noise as the young man made his way through the dead garden. His steps were careful, hand on the hilt of his great golden sword, his whole body on guard and ready to fight at any moment.

The young man scanned his surroundings with sharp alertness, yet there was still an easy smile pulling up his lips gently. He was ready, but not scared. Actually, it looked as if he wanted something to appear.

However, he soon passed through the garden uninterrupted, and reached the grand double doors that let into the castle. He sighed deeply, "I thought they said a fearful dragon would be guarding the entrance...So disappointing. I was really looking forward to it."

"However..." There was a glint in his eyes as he looked up, all signs of disappointment gone. Looking as if he couldn't contain himself, "The main course should still be up ahead."

Placing a hand on each door, the young man looked as though he would burst with happiness as he easily pushed the six-meter-tall, dusty doors open.

The blinding light that poured through caused the hero to flinch for the first time, using a hand to cover his eyes. The scene outside had been dark and gloomy – a cloud so dark it almost looked black, eerily standing directly over the castle. The sky out of its range was a bright azure without a single white cloud in sight, and yet this single ominous cloud had shaded the area of the great castle so much, one could mistake it for being night-time.

Nevertheless, somehow, inside the castle itself, a great light had burst forth and hurt the young hero's eyes. As he finally got used to the brightness, he took in the scene before him.

The floor spread out before him was pure white, without a fleck of dust, veins of sparkling gold swimming through it like rivers. Even the walls and ceiling were the same. Grand chandeliers hung overhead in an array of bright colours, sparkling like jewels and reflecting off the marble floor. All the furniture was lavish, golden with white fabrics, the kind even a rich country would find difficulty in affording a great quantity of.

When he looked at the walls, expecting darkness to seep through the windows, only bright light emerged from them instead. It was truly strange. Why had no one mentioned this strange castle when informing him of his objective? Was this really the right place? The hero couldn't help but doubt.

And yet, nothing would shock him more than what he saw next. A great distance away, at the other side of the great chamber, a throne stood. Smoothly blending in to the wall behind it, it was made of the same white and gold marble. It was simple, yet splendid. However, that was not what caught his eye...

The hero's azure eyes widened more than they had in his whole life, and he even forgot to breathe as he showed an expression of pure awe.

Strings of silver, shining even more brightly than the chandeliers overhead, were gentle stroked aside by a hand so fair snow would be ashamed. Long, thick silver strands of eyelash draped over piercingly golden eyes, so golden they made gold itself appear as a poor imitation. Downcast, the eyes glazed over the pages of a book, looking almost bored. The girl's other hand was moving so quickly one could barely see it as she turned the pages, and yet her whole aura was so calm and serene one could mistake her for being asleep – of course, her piercing eyes begged to differ.

Those same piercingly golden eyes looked up to meet his.

A tremor passed through the hero's body, any sign of sharpness and alertness gone. His guard completely down, the hero muttered, still in a daze, "A princess..."