FLORIOGRAPHS
Chapters 6. Curses
Antheia has been tending to the kennedia flower garden in the yard all day. He sat on a large rock, looking at the flowers that were blooming in front of him. Just then, Hades suddenly appeared before him.
Antheia was shocked. He had never met or even spoken to a king, and he was suspicious of his ill intentions. However, before he could ask, Hades clutched the necklace Antheia was wearing around her neck.
"This necklace will be mine" Hades said heartlessly.
Antheia was completely unaware of Hades' ill intentions. Taking advantage of this opportunity he seized the source of his strength, his necklace and made Antheia dying. Antheia felt her fatigue increase when her necklace was snatched away. He tried to take back his necklace, but Hades was already too strong for him.
After successfully seizing Antheia's necklace, Hades destroyed the necklace's pendant and made Antheia moan in pain, feeling a loss of more energy than she had ever experienced before. Despite that, he still had enough power to cast a curse on Hades.
"You can never reach your goal. Even if you try to destroy me, the new me will live on and you will suffer for life" Antheia snapped in a weakened voice"
Before Antheia vanished, she gave her final curse to Hades, fearing that Hades' greed would destroy the balance of nature.
Antheia's final curse made Hades flinch and feel threatened.
he knew that the curse would be on him.
Hades' face turned crumbling and wrinkled, like the result of countless thousands of years of life. His mighty skin was now shrinking and fading, shrouded in complexity and destruction by the skin disease that gnawed at him. Not only was his physique undergoing a terrifying transformation, but the curse was creeping rapidly into his powerful body, affecting the strength of his familiar self.
As a repository of all the secrets of darkness, Hades felt a threat he had never doubted before. An inscrutable and unimaginable pain continuously crept itself apart, shattering its calmness. His depraved and collapsed body shook his resolve, forcing himself to retreat and leave the temple
With doubtful steps and a face filled with bitter taste, Hades turned back, leaving behind the signs of glory and power he once had behind the walls of eternal darkness. The magnificent and originally bright temple doors now look gloomy and empty without the presence of the Goddess. In his regret, Hades realizes that there is no safe haven for those caught in the inevitable curse.
Since that day, Hades's condition has deteriorated, like a dark shadow that continues to haunt his life. However, there is no denying that the power of this king still remains in control. Inside his majestic palace, his shadows and voices filled every corner, stalking and herding the tribulation endlessly.
Unstoppable suffering spreads throughout the kingdom of Cait. People who are already in a state of abandon and are squeezed are increasingly mired into the abyss of despair. The center of the kingdom takes what is, without mercy or consideration, creating a pervasive instability and making the people restless.
Those who were not fortunate enough suffered from the spreading disease, while others were tormented by the hunger that tore their stomachs apart. The pale and feeble faces, the emaciated bodies, all became depressing images of living under the shadow of the rotten power of Hades.
***
The news of the medicinal prowess by a genius alchemist was experiencing a faint spread and reached the hearing of the elites of the royal palace. Hades ordered the royal officials to gather all their resources and efforts to find out more about who this figure named Howard.
As a pillar of the kingdom, the palace elites raised the call and engaged all their subordinates to obtain the necessary information. In fact, the task of finding and capturing Howard was considered an urgent mission and had to be completed as quickly as possible.
To his astonishment, the royal warrior heard about this alchemist and his expertise in medicine obtained through the stories circulating. Fulfilling the orders of the higher-ups they carry out their respective roles. They began to walk down hidden streets in busy markets and even entered dark spaces hidden from the eyes of ordinary people.
Meanwhile, the government is after him.
And far away in a place they never imagined, Howard knows that he is being hunted by the kingdom. He did not want to face the king and treat him, given his evil intentions and what he would do to the people and his desire to become the ruler and the person who would destroy the entire kingdom. Howard quietly maneuvered through the city, his journey undetected by the eyes of the persistent watchdogs. Even as he gets closer to being captured, Howard goes into hiding, hiding in a secret place where he cannot be found.
However, Howard's attempts to hide from the royal warriors ended in vain. Catastrophe finds its way to Howard.The sound of loud footsteps breaks the silence of the dark night. Howard felt his heart beating faster.
And then, they came. Iron masked soldiers surrounded Howard's hideout. Nimble and resolute, they caught him.
He was taken to the royal palace. When Howard arrived inside the royal palace, he saw a row of soldiers standing tall along the way. They looked at him with sharp gazes, as if wanting to see clearly whether he had the strength to fight against him.
Howard took a deep breath in his heart. A hard struggle awaited him, and he was ready to face it. He put his cloak on his body and ascended to the magnificent throne.
Howard let out a deep sigh, preparing himself for the uphill battle before him. Steadily, he tightened his robe on his body and ascended to the throne.
The king stood before Howard, his face filled with violence and sharpness that radiated from his sword-like eyes. "Howard, you have to make that potion! Don't think about running, there's nowhere you can hide except in jail."
Howard looked at the king with a pair of soft yet piercing eyes, exuding unshakable courage. "I won't just give you that potion! You're the source of the disaster, I won't be part of your crime plan."
The king looked at Howard with fury, sighing deeply as if trying to hold back his emotions. "If that's your attitude, then you won't be given another choice"
Howard smiled cynically, staying firm with his principles. "King, you will never be able to force me to do anything with such a threat. presenting my potion for personal gain, and playing a role in harming many. I'm ready to face any consequences that will come."
The King approached Howard with steady steps, looking at him harshly. "You dare to fight me?
I am the king, the owner of this throne, and your destiny is now in my hands".
Howard remained calm, taking a quick glance around the room.
In a resolute tone of voice, Howard replied, "King, the destiny you fear is the change that must come. I will not follow your will. You may make me suffer, but in my heart justice will always shine bright".
"Take him off and execute him!"
The soldiers approached and grabbed Howard roughly. Howard showed no fear. He was well aware that his rebellion had attracted dangerous attention, but there was a power within him that could not be stopped.