The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 116: A mother’s love

Chapter 116: A mother’s love

"You are the abandoned-by-fate prince?" Elron asked, surprised by his partner’s real identity.

"Yes," Solos sneered through his clenched jaws. He hated the title. He acquired it simply by being born the night after the crown prince was chosen among the King’s other twelve. He didn’t even get to fight for the crown.

Briella and Ella stood in silence when they saw the prince’s darkened expression. Elron, however, ignored the look on his face.

Solos didn’t give him a chance to speak. Having worked with him, Solos knew he would end up attacking the hateful fellow. He entered the cave behind Ella, followed by the others.

The cave was simple. There were some men in silver and blue, keeping a sharp eye on the newcomers.

"Ericka?" Elron eyed the beautiful noble girl with surprise. He hadn’t expected to see her here and certainly not strapped to a table.

She was gagged and pleaded with her eyes, but Elron ignored her and the average-looking man beside her. Edward, too, didn’t say or do anything, except take care of the girl. After all, there wasn’t much an average man like him could do.

"So, what’s the plan here? What orders did the Herald give you?"

Elron looked around like a curious kid. The members of Dawnbringers never knew everything. Having done his part, he decided to just follow along.

"The Herald doesn’t order me. We have an agreement: I keep the Paladins away, and he will give me a chance to change my fate."

Solos turned toward Ella. "The Vault has descended and materialized. It will fade soon if the baron doesn’t sacrifice something. So, he will perform the ritual and we will make use of that chance. Bring our sacrifice and be alert. We will move as soon as they do."

Ella nodded and signaled her men to do as the prince ordered.

"Let me go. How dare you lay your filthy hands on me. Do you guys know who I am? I am..."

A beautiful middle-aged woman was dragged by Ella’s men. She complained, shouted, and even spat at them. The trembling in her voice and her teary eyes betrayed her true state. She was about to scream, hoping beyond hope that someone would come to her rescue. But her voice remained stuck in her throat when she noticed Solos.

"Hello mother," Solos waved, clenching his fists so hard, the knuckles became white. A drop of tear hung on the corner of his eyes. Despite hardening himself, Solos couldn’t bear to see his loving mother in such a state.

"S-Solos?" The eldest queen of Asterella asked in disbelief. "W-what is all this, son?"

Solos wanted to avert his eyes but couldn’t. If he wished to change his future, he had to face his past in the present.

"Remember how you made me promise that I would have to become the next King? Even if it costs me everything? I am doing just that, Mother. I am willing to lose my most precious mother in exchange for the crown."

By the last sentence, Solos was bawling. Ella, seeing the Queen taking a step toward him, signaled her men with her eyes. They gagged the Queen from behind and strapped her on another table. This one had the runes depicting the Vault inscribed onto them.

Tears streamed down Ericka’s face. Seeing the prince being this cruel to his mother, scared her. Her hope to keep her child safe faded. Edward held her hand, feeling weak and helpless. If he would have been the King, he would have killed a son like this. But he was just an average man.

Elron raised a brow, giving Briella an amused smile. Both seemed to have enjoyed the drama unfolding before them. Only Ella stepped forward and hugged Solos, whispering soothingly to him.

"Please remain strong, Prince. The throne is not for the weak. It’s built on the corpses of those he holds dear. And he wears the crown, symbolizing the weight of responsibilities he carries on his head. So if you desire those, you will need a heart of stone."

...

Hex drifted in darkness. He didn’t know for how long but he held on. He was vaguely aware that the pain was ebbing away.

’I can’t lose consciousness now. I won’t die just like this. I would rather be sacrificed, taking her with me than die here.’

She might be sort of his mother but she had not shown any maternal love or warmth towards him. Instead, she seemed hell-bent on killing him.

’I don’t know why she created me but I won’t give her the satisfaction of victory!’

His hatred for the Witch kept him alive. His anger fueled him. He didn’t regret not killing the infant. If he had remained still, he might have gone through with it. But, he had a voice.

’Perhaps, just like I had when the baroness put life into me. If she hadn’t spared me. If not for her, I would be dead or a tool in the Witch’s hand.’

Suddenly, Hex saw a bright green light flash before his eyes. The light blinded him, making him squirm his eyes shut.

"Son? Can you hear me?"

Hex opened his eyes wide when he heard the baroness’s voice. To his surprise, he stood in his inner space. The monolith and his crystal-like stone heart stood before him.

He looked around but didn’t see the baroness immediately. ’Where has she gone?’

"I am here," he heard her say, drawing his attention to the front of his heart.

"What happened to you?" He exclaimed, seeing her shrunk state. She was barely a meter tall.

"That’s not important," she said with an annoyed face. "Why do you keep calling me the baroness? Am I not worth being called mother, mom, or even ma?"

"S-sorry...M-Mom," he stammered. Hearing him call mom, made a warm smile blossom on her face.

"No worries, son. And no one can sacrifice my son with me here."

"But the baron needs us," Hex said, afraid they had lost too much time already.

"He needs me, his wife," his mother said with a grin. With that, she threw herself at the monolith, bursting in bright light.

"MOM!" Hex screamed, unable to stop her sudden act of sacrifice.

...

"You are growing weak, Mikhael," the Witch said teasingly, as she battled the baron.

Their fight had flattened the hilly region. Even the path toward the mountains had nearly collapsed.

The baron held on. His golden armor was no more. Patches of golden hair were missing. Blood streamed from the corner of his mouth. But his face remained expressionless. And eyes were still burning like the sun.

Just as the Witch gathered darkness around her, a buzzing sound came from the Vault, causing her to freeze.

Creak.

Rays of light escaped the door as its hinges creaked. A narrow gap appeared in the door. Heaven’s Vault was about to open.