4 A new way opens

Pexon seemed to be in deep alleys of thought for a few minutes. Then he looked at prince Daniel and then at Imthyas with Daniels sword in his arms, then turned to face David and Maria, the king and queen, and sighed." My king, I think, I know the reason, why prince Daniel is injured now. But I am not entirely sure about my theory."

" Imthyas, tell me something.was there green light when the lightning struck?"

" Yes, it was green everywhere. It felt like, we were stunned, frozen with the weapons and all."Imthyas recollected the green sparks.

Pexon was silent for a minute." what is it, Pexon? You are making us worried. What does all of this mean? Green lightning, my child injured in a battle, the shadow creed. Tell us the meaning of all these things." Queen Maria exclaimed, worry etching her features.

, "Honorable majesty" Pexon began." Please have the patience to hear all I have to say. It's well known to all, that, in the past thousand years Daniel has never been injured nor failed in any of his fights. The reason is dangerous and I want complete confidence that it doesn't get out of this room."

King David looked concerned and Maria swiped her unused tears to the bay. Imthyas went to the guards of the entrance to dispatch them from Daniels's room.

" What is it pexon? What is happening to my son?" David asked in a hoarse voice.

" My king, prince Daniel is so brave not only that he is so strong. And we know that because even shadow Creed had to back off from a direct fight with Daniel even though our prince was in an injured state. but, the fact that puts me in distress is Daniels lion bronze sword." He said gazing at Daniels's sword in imthyas arms.

King David seemed to be perturbed in his thoughts. Queen sat down beside Daniel running fingers through his golden-brown streaked hair, and Imthyas stood dazed with the new information.

Pexon sighed and continued."As we know only the soul mate's touch will complete a true man. As our ancestors taught, the crowning of the everlasting nation, Atlantis is only completed when the soulmate of the crowned prince touches his true weapon, and give his or her blood to it to seal the sacred bond between them and vows to be faithful to the kingdom and her king forever." Pexon let out a deep sigh before letting on further.

" Daniel was gifted with extraordinary strength and courage from birth, and as it's a symbol he was bestowed upon with the blazing bronze sword from our ancestors to tackle all our enemies, and lion, the symbol he was gifted shows how majestic he is. His weapon has ever been his confidence, as all of ours have been. but, our prince Daniel is injured now, because the lion dwindled during the fight..."

Imthyas let out a gasp." yes, it dwindled when the spike of shadow creeper struck." He said, staring at the sword, as if, he has never before had a good look at it.

The king and queen's collective gasps were heard." Is something like that even supposed to happen, Pexon? No warrior has ever been betrayed by his or her weapon till this time, known to us, in my memory."

Pexon paused for a second as if living a very painful memory." I am afraid that it's not true your highness. Yes, my Lord .it has happened to your great great grandfather, during the evolution of shadow creed. Queen Britsilla, the soulmate of king Andrew, when chose to be unfaithful, his weapon javelina, named tulip chose to betray him in the middle of the battle, leading to his death."

"But why would it happen, now.? To my prince Daniel..?" queen Maria let out her constrained voice.

Pexon sighed, concerned at his Kings and queens distress." Your highness, all I have is assumptions here. As you know, Daniel has been very different from all the princes ever seen by us. He has displayed unusual strength, extraordinary bravery, and characteristic cleverness in all his duties. I have always been mesmerized by his actions and wondered who his soul mate will be. Who can complete such an extraordinary man? Haven't you..?"

Imthyas stood as if everything is blank and he's in space. He couldn't help, but wonder, why haven't ever thought of that. All the royal people of Atlantis have been crowned by their soulmates before they reach their thousand years of life. But prince Daniel has not yet found his soulmate. They were all consumed with the ominous battles that started fifty thousand years back, with shadow Creed, seem to be resurrected, from whatever hell, it has been cast to. Prince Daniel was the one who holded Atlantis from the hands of those dark creatures till now.

" But...but Daniel hasn't yet found his soulmate. So why would she or he be unfaithful?" Imthyas asked, uncertainty visible in his voice.

" As I said, it's all assumptions, my son. But if I am correct, Daniels's soulmate is not in our world. She might not be our type or strain or race. I am afraid, the other assumption is much more brutal, that, maybe, his soulmate died at the moment, his lion, the majestic sword dwindled, that has displayed its effect on Daniel."Pexon replied, anxiously.

" No...That can't be true. Daniel's soulmate ..dead. No...my son cannot be a loner for eternity. It's not fair. He is the one with so much goodness in his heart. Why did this happen?" Tears were flowing down Maria's cheeks

"what about the other probability? How can that happen? How can Daniel have his soulmate outside Atlantis? Never in history, anyone from the kingdom of Atlantis had their brides from outside our world" king David spoke as if he was choking on his breath.

" As I said, my Lord, it's all assumptions. But, I fear that most of my assumptions lead to facts. Daniel must find his soulmate, fast. As we have seen, the shadow creed is gaining strength. We don't know, how much time we have left, till that shadow reincarnates completely. We all know that's the definition of destruction. Daniel needs his strength. That would mean, the lion, should be claimed by his soulmate with his or her blood. If not, I ...doubt that the coming battles can injure him, more severe than the present.."

No one spoke a word. The weight of Pexon's words heavily weighed their thoughts down.." Is...is there any way to know that my son's soulmate is alive...?" Queen Maria spoke in a voice that was meant to be a whisper.

Pexon thought a moment before his reply." I don't know, your highness. Unless ate and destiny decide to intervene we are left with nothing. Let's hope that fate will show a new way to prove that he or she survives. I don't think the journey of Daniels's soulmate is an easy one. Considering Daniels ride of life, his soulmate must pass through the thorns too, to reach him, that is if the person in question is still alive ."

That's when Imthyas noticed blood drowning the green and golden pillows below Daniels's head.

" Daniel...his head is bleeding..." Imthyas spoke rushing to his best friend's bed. Queen Maria seemed taken aback by what happened.

They tried to stop the bleeding. Pexon rushed to Daniel's side with all his medical supplies only to find that there was no wound to treat, no gash, no tear not even the minuscule of an injury. How the hell does it even bleed when there is no wound..!

Pexon took blood wipes to clear the blood from Daniels's head. The golden-brown streaks of his hair appeared red now. King and queen were dazed and Imthyas wasn't sure of what he was seeing.

After a pregnant moment of distress, Pexon let out a laugh.." Thank God, now we have an answer."

Imthyas looked at Pexon to know, whether, he had gone completely off his hooker. David's and Maria's expression mirrored his own." What are you talking about?" David asked with an edgy voice.

" Your highness, we have the answer. Prince Daniels's soulmate is alive. I don't know how long. But he or she is not dead. However, the person is injured in the head and bleeding. ..."Pexon replied with a thoughtful smile.

" How....?" Imthyas asked flustered, his ears red.

Pexon had a little smile.." I don't know, son. But a true warrior bleeds only twice when he is injured or his soulmate is injured. I went for the latter. But that will mean, she or he will be injured when Daniel will be too. It's an old concept. For pure bonds, without malice staining them. That means currently she or he is bleeding from their left arm."

Nobody spoke. It was a dazed silence. Daniel slept peacefully, not knowing what's going on in his heart.

Shh... the heart is still..why are you beating so loud...?