5 The Dark Mage
Princess Asteria bit her lip, wondering if she got into some cult or some sort. Whatever it is, it's better than being married off. She has to revive Lord Eros for her future, for her fate in this novel.
Breathing deeply, she closed her eyes and forced herself to stand still.
"Show yourself, Villain lord," She yelled in the empty cave and waited for him to appear. Am I doing this right? Well, No one was brave enough to do this, no one was sane enough to even imagine this. She closed her eyes, inhaling as the cold breeze fanned her face. Asteria kept all the rules in her mind.
She's a female and alone.
Now she has to offer her blood.
Wait, she's not sure herself if she has the greater resolve to revive Lord Eros…and push herself to the cliff. One mistake could lead her to death.
But silence came. She sliced her hand to get some blood and mouthed his name, "Eros."
She then walked outside the cave where a cliff was waiting for her. She doesn't even sense Anteros and is hesitant if he's even around to come and rescue her in case something happens, just like he promised.
Focusing on the goal, she gulped and tried to push herself to the cliff but couldn't as soon as she saw the height with all the huge rocks below. Goodness, as soon as she falls there, her body will be torn into pieces, bones broken, and blood splattered all around.
Asteria was about to back away when her foot suddenly made a wrong move, and before she knew it, she was falling down the cliff.
She closed her eyes shut and yelled the only name she could think of, "Eros!"
She prepared her body for the impact yet nothing happened. As soon as she opened her eyes, she caught sight of a huge shadow sweeping her off of her feet. She didn't get a hold of his face as his black robe hid his figure.
She could feel a hot breeze as flames surrounded the place, and he gently placed her down and stared at her with a hard expression in his eyes, trying to read her.
All the while, Princess Asteria's eyes couldn't leave his face, her mouth dropped open at the sight.
She didn't have to guess it! Her ritual worked! Standing in front of her was a handsome man. Pale-skinned crimson red lips and long red hair were staring down at her with his emerald eyes. He was so tall that she had to look up and memorize his face. He's too gorgeous! That was the one thing that escaped her mind.
This is really Eros. The Villain lord…the villain she just revived who is the answer to her problems!
He scoffed at her, but gave an irritated look at her, "You had awakened me from my long nap, young miss. Stop shouting my name, I'm already here."
His voice sounded raspy and husky, but his eyes never left her golden ones. She jumped in shock, not expecting this to happen.
I did it. I really…summoned him!
"Tell me, Miss. How and why did you summon me?" His deep voice asked.
Still stunned, she pinched my cheeks and felt it was hurting.
So I'm not dreaming then! But still, this is not enough. I need proof. She thought to herself.
Princess Asteria slowly walked over to him and attempted to touch his shoulder, and he glared at her, pushing her hand away.
"How dare you grab my shoulder, peasant!" He snapped and she jumped.
"I just want to see if this is real," She said to him and he nodded.
He has pale skin and in contrast to Anteros, his twin this man in front of her had a long red hair that reached his waist. Just then, a harsh wind blew and a loud voice appeared.
"Finally!" Anteros exclaimed happily, hugging his twin, "You're finally awake, I missed you, brother!"
Princess Asteria was still stunned, realizing what she's done. With Lord Eros waking up, this is really going to change the course of the story. She's intervening in the story.
Lord Eros stretched a bit and looked at Anteros, "How many years have gone by?" Was the first thing he asked his brother.
"1000 years, brother."
He nodded, breathing calmly, and finally noticed her, "And what's her name?"
"Princess Asteria. The one who revived you. You have to thank her, she almost lost her life just to revive you. She has the rare power you've been looking for."
He slowly approached her, looking at her up and down, and raised his eyebrows. "You look like…her.."
"Who's her? Princess Asteria, not knowing what to say, looked at Anteros for help and awkwardly asked.
Anteros smiled sheepishly, "Oh, it's nothing."
"How about my power? You said you'll train me?" She asked Anteros, pointing at Lord Eros, her hand shaking a bit in fear.
"Train you?" Lord Eros asked his twin, "Brother, what promise did you make to her?"
Anteros chuckled nervously, "I uh said that you will train her for reviving you."
Lord Eros shook his head, "Oh no, we are not babysitting a kid like that."
Princess Asteria raised her eyebrows, "Excuse me, are you calling me a kid?"
Anteros sighed and faced her, "I apologize, I lied when I told you that part. We are the bad mages. We could do anything to you, you want that?"
"Believe me, I could take you apart with one blow," Lord Eros threatened.
She wasn't even scared at that. "Believe me, you wouldn't want that." She said. "And your twin said I'm powerful. What if I won't be able to control it and destroy this world?"
"Then it's not my problem." Lord Eros said. "And what kind of lady agrees to a random man about possessing a random power? Don't you think that this man Anteros here, has been lying to you?"
Anteros nodded, "I practically kidnapped you here, in this unknown place, princess."
She snorted, "So? Many kidnappers don't even admit that they are kidnapping me and pushing me away."
Anteros shook his head and face palmed, "Goodness, you're quite the strange girl."
Lord Eros instantly pushed her hand behind the wall and caged her in, "You do know the situation you are in? You are quite brave for a stupid girl."
She shrugged, somehow liking this situation, "So what happened to you, Lord Eros? Why were you locked up there? I thought you were only a legend."
She's curious about Lord eros and the legend and now that she was successful, she didn't hesitate a chance and interrogate him. Maybe this will help her essay when she gets back to the real world. If ever she's able to be alive at that time. Or if ever she will be able to get back…
"Did you just bring a dumb girl just to torture me?" Eros asked his twin brother.
Anteros shook his head, "I've never seen a person who's annoying her kidnappers like this. But she has the rare power that you want."
He clicked his tongue irritatedly, "She's a princess. So she must be the same blood bloodline as the king who betrayed me. I must kill her."
Princess Asteria gasped and panicked. Bloodline? Oh, that's right. His history with her ancestor, King Augustus, she had put that in her essay! "I don't know what my ancestor did to you, but let me pay for it,"
"Kill her? She looks just like your past lover," Anteros muttered, but Princess Asteria heard it enough as she grinned at that information, "Then all the more reason not to kill me then."
Lord Eros was quiet, his jaw clenched, "You're not her." He then sighed, "I am done dealing with her."
"Wait, brother! Let's hear her first! She said she needed something from you," Said Anteros.
"Fine, spill what you want so this can be over. I want to go back to my nap." He tiredly said, yawning.
Princess Asteria didn't hesitate to say another word. "You. I want you."
His relaxed composure suddenly broke and he furrowed at her, "Did you hit your head, princess? Me? What are you referring to exactly?"
"I ." I argued, "Between us, you are the only one here that needs something from me."
"Help me not to get married here." She said, staring at him straight in the eyes.
He sighed, "I'm a dark mage. Not a genie."
She crossed her arms in front of her and pouted, "But the legend says you can make anything-"
"That is false." He cut her sentence off, "I'm only a dark mage, performing forbidden spells."
"Do you need a wife? I can be one." She offered out of nowhere, which made Anteros choke in his own saliva, which surprised her own self. Why is she even offering marriage when she came here to revive the dark mage to avoid being married off?
