"So, what brings you here, old fool?" Zefrin asked, a smug smirk tugging at his lips.
"Long story short," the mayor replied, exasperated, "this… monkey boy has dragged the great elk into town. If we don't stop him, the place is going to be destroyed. And, unfortunately, we need your help."
"The great Elks still roam till this day?!," Zefrin said, his tone sharp with disbelief.
The mayor's hand slammed into the rough brick wall, sending a small cloud of dust into the air. "It's the last one!" he bellowed, voice tight with anger. "And of all the hunters who've tried and failed, this… fifteen-year-old boy—barehanded—can lead it straight into the village. Straight into the village! Do you realize how insane that is?!"
"Sounds like a prodigy if i've ever heard of one", Zefrin Laughed Loudly
Before the mayor could respond, a loud crash echoed from the streets above. Lanterns shattered and splintered wood flew as the Great Elk barreled through Silver Shore, hooves pounding the cobblestones like rolling thunder. Villagers screamed, diving for cover. Suren, still weak from his fall earlier, struggled to his feet, bruises burning across his ribs. He had been caught by Lafin after tumbling from the elk, but now the creature was charging again, unstoppable.
The mayor grabbed a halbert from one of the guards and sliced the chains holding him to the wall and zefrin dashed at incredible speeds, seeming to have almost dissolved in the darkness.
In the streets of Silver Shore
An ally in front of where lafin and suren stood, From the shadows came a clink of chains. Golden hair glinted as Zefrin appeared, moving like liquid across the cobblestones. He was thin, almost frail-looking, but there was a predatory confidence in his eyes. Each step was deliberate; his gaze locked on the elk as though calculating its next move.
Zefrin's golden eyes glinted. "Are you the Beast boy the mayor spoke of?" he taunted, already moving. "good job, but ill finish it off"
Suren blinked in disbelief. "Wait—what are you going to do?"
Without hesitation, Zefrin darted forward. The elk's hooves slammed into the ground with terrifying force, but he didn't flinch. He slid under the creature's legs, its hooves barely missing him, and rolled across the wet cobblestones. Dust and splinters flew, yet he emerged unscathed—his immortality letting him survive risks that would kill anyone else.
he dashed in once more and the beast followed. In a blinding motion, the elk whipped its head downward—its jagged horn driving straight through Zefrin's chest. The impact echoed like a thunderclap.
Blood spattered across the cobblestones… yet Zefrin didn't flinch. His expression didn't waver.
Instead, his hand shot forward—fingers curling into a tight fist. With a roar that split the air, he drove his knuckles into the elk's skull. The blow landed like a falling mountain, shockwaves rippling through the air.
The great beast's eyes rolled back. Its legs buckled.
One final groan escaped its throat before it crashed to the ground, earth trembling under its massive weight.
Zefrin exhaled softly, glancing down at the horn still lodged in his chest. With a single pull, he wrenched it free—blood spilling briefly before the wound began knitting shut, steam rising faintly as the flesh sealed itself.
Suren staggered beside Lafin, mouth agape. "How… how is he still alive?!"
From the shadows, the mayor stormed forward, fury etched into every line of his face.
"Suren Godrick!" he bellowed. "Do you know how much destruction you've caused?!"
Suren tried to respond, but every muscle ached. "I… I was trying to—"
"Hunting it?!" the mayor interrupted. "Half the town lies in ruins, and now you'll pay!"
Two guards stepped forward, cuffing Suren's wrists with cold iron. "You're coming with us," one said. Lafin sighed, stepping back. "He'll… pay for it somehow," he muttered.
Zefrin, still chained, raised an eyebrow. "Looks like the party's over," he said flatly.
The mayor led them through winding alleys to the town's Dungeon. Damp air and the scent of mildew pressed down as they descended. At last, they reached two side-by-side cells. Heavy iron doors clanged shut behind them, locking with a final, echoing click.
Suren slumped onto the stone floor, hands sore from the cuffs. He stared at the chains, then at Zefrin, who leaned lazily against the wall.
Suren muttered, almost to himself, "There… has to be a way to fix this. All this debt… I can't just rot in here."
Zefrin tilted his head. "Go on. I'm listening."
Suren's mind sparked. "The other side… the Crossing. Treasure, gifts… unimaginable things. If I go—if we go—we could pay everything off. All debts. Mine, Lafin's… gone."
Zefrin raised an eyebrow. "You'd risk dying for treasure?"
Suren's eyes burned with determination. "Not risk. We survive. I will survive. And I'll make it count. I have to."
The next morning, the mayor was summoned. Suren, still exhausted, explained his plan. Zefrin smirked faintly, silent approval in his eyes.
The mayor's stern face softened. "You would leave this world behind… and travel into the unknown… for your debts," he mused. "Very well. I clear your debts on one condition: you survive, follow the rules, and return—or at least return with treasure of some sort to pay it off. Fail… and all consequences remain yours."
Suren exhaled in relief. "Agreed."
Zefrin tilted his head lazily. "About time someone made a decision worth listening to."
That night, they slept in their small cells. Stone floors pressed against their bodies, air damp, but sleep claimed them anyway. Suren dreamed of the Crossing—the swirling mist, unknown waters, and treasures glimmering just beyond reach.
Suren's eyes fluttered open, the chill of the cell stone biting into his back. He pushed himself upright, wincing at his injuries from the recent hunt. Across from him, Zefrin stirred as well, golden hair catching the faint glow of the lantern light.
Breaking the silence, Suren spoke, his voice still rough from sleep.
"So… who exactly are you? And how did you stop the great elk like that"
Zefrin gave a low grunt, stretching against the restraints with casual ease. His gaze flicked toward Suren, sharp yet unreadable.
"Do you want the short answer," he said, voice edged with dry amusement, "or the long one?"
Suren hesitated, eyes narrowing in thought before finally replying.
"…Long one. I guess."
Zefrin leaned back against the wall, his sharp, boney spine scraping lightly against the stone. His eyes narrowed, as if weighing whether Suren even deserved the truth.
"You really want the long answer? Fine." He drew in a slow breath. "I wasn't always some vagrant thrown into cells. I was born a crown prince. My kingdom was the kind you only hear about in fairy tails—wealthy, radiant, untouchable. People expected me to rule one day. To play the noble heir. To shine."
He laughed, bitter and sharp. "But I didn't care about ruling. I didn't care about peace. I didn't care about being another name carved on a dusty throne. What I wanted…" His gaze flicked toward Suren, golden eyes burning. "…was forever."
Suren's expression tightened. "Forever?"
"There was a relic. Forbidden. Locked away by the Allegiance that bound kingdoms together. The Elixir of Immortality. I found it. I stole it." His lips curled into a cruel smile. "And when I drank it, the world changed. Not for the better. Four kingdoms went to war over my theft. By the time the fire burned out, three of them were ash—including mine."
The smirk faded, leaving something harder. Older. "I should've died with them. But the Elixir doesn't let me die. Doesn't let me fade. I've watched empires rise, fall, and vanish under the dirt. I've buried my own legacy beneath centuries of silence. And still, I remain."
Suren sat frozen, the weight of the tale pressing on his chest. "So… you really are immortal."
"Immortality isn't as good as we humans portray it." Zefrin's grin returned, though his eyes betrayed the weight of endless years. "That's the truth. I didn't drink it for my kingdom, or for anyone else. I drank it for me. To see every age. To outlast gods and mortals alike. And that's exactly what I've done. For better or worse."
Silence lingered, broken only by the faint drip of water somewhere in the dungeon's dark. Suren couldn't tell if he should hate him… or admire him.
The weight of centuries hanging in the damp air. Suren shifted, staring down at his hands—calloused, bruised, but still trembling slightly.
He finally broke the silence. "You destroyed your whole kingdom… and two others… just because you didn't want to fade away." His tone wasn't judgmental, more stunned than anything. "That's… incredibly selfish."
Zefrin's smirk widened, sharp as a blade. "Of course it was. I was a prince, boy. Everything was handed to me, except the one thing no royalty could buy—godhood. So I rested my lips upon the elixir." He leaned forward slightly, golden eyes gleaming. "And I'd do it again."
Suren exhaled slowly, then shook his head. "You talk about it like it's worth all that. Me? I'd settle for a chance to just live free."
Zefrin raised a brow. "Free?"
"Yeah." Suren's fists clenched in his lap. "All my life, it's been debts, constant hunting, working for scraps. Lafin and I—we can't breathe without owing someone something. All I've ever wanted was to have friends, but I've been spoken down on and been called names relentlessly" He laughed bitterly. "I don't need forever. I just want… enough. Enough to pay what I owe. Enough to choose where I go. And enough to find a place where i'm accepted"
Zefrin studied him for a long moment, his smirk fading into something more thoughtful. "Hmph. So you're chasing freedom and companionship?."
Suren met his gaze, fire flickering in his eyes. "Yes and many other things. But unlike you, I don't plan on burning the world down to achieve those things."
That earned a laugh from Zefrin—low, sharp, echoing through the dungeon stones. "Careful. You say that now. But desperation changes men."
Suren held his stare, unflinching. "Then I'll just have to show you how strong my resolve is."
Zefrin chuckled, the sound low and dismissive. "Save the heavy talk for tomorrow, young one."
Suren let out a tired laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… Now that I think about it, I'm completely drained." His grin spread wide despite the exhaustion tugging at his body.
Zefrin's sharp smile softened, his tone losing a hint of its edge. "Then at least tell me this—what do they call you?"
Suren hesitated for a moment, then straightened. "Well everyone calls me The Beast Boy and my 'name' is Suren Yorim but Lafin told me it's actually Suren Godrick."
The name hung in the air like a spark.
Zefrin's eyes flickered, recognition flashing behind the golden hue. Godrick. The last kingdom left standing after the war his theft had ignited. The one realm that survived the fire, ruin, and collapse of the others.
For a heartbeat, the immortal prince studied the boy in silence. A piece of history—his history—sat right in front of him, blissfully unaware.
Zefrin's grin returned, softer now, almost unreadable. "Hmph. A fine name."
He leaned back against the cold stone, closing his eyes as though nothing had stirred inside him at all.
Suren, too exhausted to notice the weight behind that look, stretched out along the floor, sleeping already pulling him under.
Only Zefrin remained awake, golden eyes glinting faintly in the lantern light. He said nothing, but in the silence, the past whispered.