Kingdom of the Nine: The Princes (II)

Chapter 6

———Red———
I follow him out of the treehouse and into the open plains. As we step under the vast night sky, I look up and see Zenot, still radiating a strange white light. The sight is otherworldly, casting an eerie glow over the land.

"What happened up there?" I ask, turning to Domnik.

He shrugs. "No clue. I was hoping you could tell me."

"How would I know? I've never even been to Zenot."

He raises an eyebrow. "The way you collapsed last night, I figured maybe you were connected to it somehow."

"Or maybe I fainted because I was holding a blade forged by Iridian."

"Good point." He laughs a little, but his tone shifts. "Look, I wouldn't worry about it too much. We'll find out soon enough. Right now, we need to get back to Malice."

"Wait, no—you're supposed to be teaching me how to fight first."

He smirks, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Best way to learn is by doing. Wouldn't be the same if it wasn't a life-or-death scenario."

"You're mad."

He nods without hesitation. "I'm aware."

"Can I even go in there? I mean, is it even possible? Udis said this injury on my arm would help me enter the Shores of Malice, but..."

He stops, glancing at me with concern. "The thing that attacked your home gave you that? How long ago was that?"

"A day... maybe a day and a half? Time's kind of blurring together."

"Great, another thing to add to the list." He sighs, his expression shifting to something harder to read. "Most turn in three days, assuming any divinity within you doesn't stop it first. Just keep me posted on how you're feeling every now and then. If it gets bad, we'll handle it."

I nod slowly, processing. "Yeah... I can do that."

He nods back, then adds, "As for your question, technically anyone can enter any plane of existence. Udis gave you the task of getting ashes as a way to make a portal—that's the only real barrier. Your... condition doesn't actually have anything to do with getting there. Like I said, Udis lies. That's what he does best."

"So he's probably lying about Alyse, then?"

"Maybe. Only one way to find out." He stops, glancing around at the open plains. "This seems like a good enough place. Take my hand."

He extends his hand, palm open.

"A good enough place for...?"

He grins. "Do you trust me?"

"I mean..." I reach out slowly, grabbing his hand. "I guess... but—"

Before I can finish, the world blinks out. I feel a rush, a dizzying spiral, like my entire body is being squeezed and stretched at once. My feet hit solid ground, but we're no longer in the plains. I look around, and we're surrounded by skulls and rivers of fire.

Ahead is a drawbridge spanning a gash in the earth where lava flows like blood. Dead trees cling to the edge of the cliff, twisted and blackened. Across the bridge looms a dark castle, jagged towers jutting into a sky choked with smoke.

"Welcome to Hell," Domnik says with a smirk as he steps onto the bridge. "Usually, I'd teleport inside, but I thought we'd take the scenic route since it's your first time."

"This place is... intense," I say, glancing around, trying not to let my fear show.

He turns back, his gaze sharp, almost challenging. "Not a fan? Careful—that's my home you're talking about."