The blast had disrupted the commotion at the palace gates and more people were able to come into the walls.
The unknown people had taken off their masks to cool down from the heat of the explosion.
While trying to cover their faces, they saw a little girl, staring at them.
Her eyes were wide, she had seen them.
She couldn't move. Her knees gave out in fear and she started crying.
Roshan crawled to reach her.
"Are you alright?"
A this time, the citizens that had gotten inside had begun to watch the scene before them.
The little girl didn't answer Roshan.
The unknown people nodded at each other and decided that the best way to shut her up forever would be to roast her beyond recognition.
They aimed at her and shot fire but Roshan had embraced her and took the heat directly.
By the time they were finished, Roshan's back had been burnt beyond recognition.
"Everything will be alright" he said to the girl and he lost consciousness.
His body stayed limp for a minute before his eyes glowed like a bright light.
The sorcerer had taken control of Roshan's body.
The unknown people cursed underneath their breaths, wondering what they would do.
Before the sorcerer could take a step forward, a large number of citizens who watched Roshan sacrifice himself for the little girl, charged forward.
They formed a protective shield around Roshan.
"We won't let them hurt you, your majesty!!!!" they all echoed.
"I am the sorcerer. I killed your ancestors. It is in my nature to take lives"
"Only the heavens know what they might have done to you to incur such wrath. W are terribly sorry on their behalf . We will stand by you, your majesty. We may be useless and weak but will stand here, right beside you!"
The sorcerer's eyes dimmed after hearing these words.
"You're.....sorry?" he asked.
"We are! Our ancestors are not the gods, they were human and were capable of doing wrong and being injust. We are sorry for whatever they might have done to you"
The sorcerer just stood for a little while, not saying anything.
The unknown people had begun attacking the people and they fought back with everything they had in them.
The sorcerer had made up his mind, he killed the unknown people by causing their blood to leave their bodies. Blood bending.
Roshan wasn't back yet but the sorcerer had no intention of hurting the people.
"You may all leave, so that another thing doesn't happen again"
The little girl's mother fell at his feet and thanked him with tears before taking her daughter and running.
The sorcerer noticed that the boy's lover wasn't coming to help and decided to go looking for him in the palace.
He found him easily but his energy was diminishing by the second.
Zane was lying down on the floor, a red sun mark on his forehead.
The sorcerer instantly knew what was going on. I was a ritual. A sacrificial one. Roshan was the offering and if they had successfully killed Roshan, Zane would be dead too.
The sorcerer also found that not only was Zane roped into the ritual but his entire family as well.
....
Zane looked around tiredly. He had just finished fleeing from creatures that couldn't be killed. There was not metal in this world and he couldn't bend.
He was hiding out at a spot when one of the undying creatures found him.
At this point, Zane had no physical strength left to fight, and he didn't know what to do.
Suddenly, he heard a voice.
"You said you'd save him but he's saving you? Pathetic"
And his eyes opened to see Roshan standing beside his bedside.
However, Roshan's eyes were different. Not the colour, the gaze.
I was the sorcerer, Zane thought.
"Where is he?" Zane tried to sit up but started coughing up blood. I seemed the injuries he obtained were real.
"inside. Weak but there"
"What happened?"
"I'll let him tell you himself. For now, you need to save your people"
"Unlike the boy, I can't heal others permanently but I can heal for a short period of time. Take my help and help your people. They don't deserve to die by the hands of your enemies"
Zane didn't understand what was happening but he took the help he could get from the sorcerer.
Zane rushed to save his people and quickly showed both friend and fie why he was king. They stood no chance against him.
By the time Zane had returned, the sorcerer had gone to rest and Roshan was still unconscious.
Zane called for the priest pleadingly.
"His soul, it's not complete "
"Why? How do we complete it?"
"We can't. It has passed to the other side already "
There was silence when a voice spoke from Roshan's body.
"I'll give him half of mine to complete it"
"Its too dangerous"
"It would work. His body has always houses two souls. It shouldn't be a problem for the two to become one"
"But- but what happens after. Who does he become after?"
"We'll find out soon"
The priest began the ritual of the joining and surprisingly, it was quick.
.....
Roshan sat in the dark when a bright light caught his eye.
He began to follow it until he reached a figure.
He looked confused, so the figure spoke.
"It seems I don't look like you anymore. This is my real form. My real face"
"Where are you going?"
"To hell. I got what I needed more than anything"
"B-but..."
"Im giving you half my soul, but it won't change anything about yours neither will I be able to possess you"
"Why are you doing this for me"
"The people you saved, they apologized on behalf of their ancestors. Turns out, that was all I wanted to hear"
Roshan felt tears fall from his eyes and nodded.
"Goodbye young boy. Live well"
"Thank you" Roshan whispered.
...
Roshan opened his eyes gently, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dimness of the room he was in.
Zane noticed Roshan's movements and looked into his eyes. I was him!
Zne hugged him and kissed him over and over again like he would disappear the next second.
"I missed you darling. I love you " he embraced Roshan and they sobbed together.
Roshan looked outside the window and smiled at how serene the fields looked.
Oh how he wanted to play in the fields and maybe kill some small animals in his free time.
A small unsettling smile formed on his face as he relaxed in Zane's embrace.
...
AUTHOR'S REMARK
It's been one hell of a ride. I had this idea in December and I'm so happy it finally came to life. Thank you for reading my piece!