Chapter 1 A World of Monsters!

...Thousands and thousands of years ago, before the mighty Flood that wiped out almost all creatures, Earth was a world far different from what you currently have in mind. It was a place that inspired all the mythological stories you may have heard of... believe me, ninety percent of those stories are true... but they may have been twisted over time, just as I have to twist mine. Even I do not know the exact events that took place.

People in those days lived for up to a thousand years, far longer than we do today. They weren't the first beings to be created, nor were they the last, but for some reason, they were known to be special and powerful... so powerful that they could dine with the mightiest creatures in the entire universe—angels, the beings who govern all the realms in existence. Although this was known only to a very few who understood their hidden prowess.

The world of men became a place of attraction for all beings. They couldn't understand how humans could wield so much power... how they could command the heavens and the angels, and how they were given the free will to do whatever they pleased. No other creature possessed this...gift.

This curiosity turned into obsession. Angels were the first to descend into this world, followed by other creatures who wanted to see these little beings for who they truly were. But this small act of curiosity did not end well. Earth was plunged into chaos, and soon it became a world of monsters and all sorts of evil beasts. Of all the worlds in existence, none was like Earth—sinful, wicked, and corrupt...

"Princess Lyriel!!"

A deep masculine voice resounded along the hallway, and Lyriel halted in her steps, fuming. She was disappointed to have encountered the last person she wanted to see that morning. But instead of showing him courtesy or even sparing him a glance, she kept her eyes forward and walked quickly down the hallway, her golden wings brushing against the glowing floor.

The young man was startled by her nonchalant behavior for a moment but surprisingly found it amusing and chuckled. Lyriel wasn't just a regular princess; she was a bit naive but also very blunt. She wasn't the type to hide her feelings or opinions about a person or an idea, and of course, he wasn't in her good books.

An idea popped into his head as he gazed at the princess's retreating figure, and he smirked. He spread out his wings and flew toward her, hoping to sweep her off her feet. He was successful.

"Farren!!" Lyriel gasped in surprise as he lifted her off the floor without batting an eye. What had just happened was far beyond her imagination. She never expected that Farren would play such a prank on her... and of all days, it had to be the very day and moment when she had to appear before the council chambers.

She struggled and clawed at him, hoping to escape, but failed. Farren won, and this time he took her outside the palace. The ride was rather rough as they circled through the air, one trying to escape while the other tried to hold on. Farren was stronger and therefore able to keep her in place until he descended into an open field.

"Have you gone crazy?" Lyriel yelled and pushed him away. "Why did you play such a prank on me?"

"You were walking too fast, my love," he said, flashing a smile that probably worked on everyone else—just not her.

"Because I have somewhere important to be!" Lyriel frowned and turned around to leave, but Farren held her back, grinning widely. That grin made all the females go crazy with love for him, everyone except her.

"We should discuss our upcoming wedding! I've been thinking... maybe we should move the date closer. What do you think?"

She turned to him slowly, her blue eyes narrowing.

"Farren," she said evenly, "I'll make sure that wedding never happens."

Farren laughed out loud at her threat. He could not understand why the princess despised him so much.

"You cannot go against your father, Lyriel."

"Watch me!"

"Can't you see how much I love you?"

But Lyriel was already walking again, faster this time.

He ran after her in an attempt to make her listen, but just as he was about to touch her, a branch coiled around his legs, moving slowly and steadily. It caught his attention, and he wondered what sort of plant had the ability to do such a thing. The branch slithered further up his thigh, and when it had secured a proper grip on his leg, it pinned him to the ground and dragged him all the way to the river.

He looked up at Lyriel for help, only to see the grin on her face. He had never seen so much happiness and satisfaction in her eyes. How could he have completely forgotten that the princess had developed the habit of magically manipulating trees and branches? Bringing her down to the field was practically like signing his own death warrant.

More branches attacked him, stretching toward his torso and neck, coiling around him like snakes. Luckily for him, he was also a high-order Fae and therefore possessed magic. He fought against the branches, but the more he destroyed them, the more Lyriel sent to strangle him. He could see the glee in her eyes; she treated it like a game.

When she saw that he had been overpowered, she took to the sky and flew toward the castle in haste. She had an important meeting to attend, and Farren would definitely not be the reason she was punished for arriving late.

Unfortunately for her, Farren had broken free and accepted the challenge of stopping her from attending the meeting. She increased her speed and rose higher into the sky. It was impossible to beat royalty, as they were naturally stronger and faster than non-royal Fae, a trait indicated by their golden wings. Still, she couldn't underestimate Farren. He could definitely beat her if he set his mind to it.

The citizens of the kingdom were more than pleased to witness the chase between the princess and Farren. It wasn't every day that they even had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of them.

Lyriel flew into the hallway, her wings producing a gust of wind as she skidded to the left. The palace guards gazed at her in alarm, wondering what danger had caused her to barge in with such speed. As they looked toward the direction she had come from, Farren barged in as well with the same intensity and raced after Lyriel, who was heading for the council chambers.

He was only a second away from grabbing her wings when she yanked open the tall golden doors, flew inside, and slammed them shut in Farren's face so hard that the sound echoed throughout the chamber.

She smiled happily, gasping for breath. Farren had indeed made her perform an exercise she wasn't prepared for, but the fact that she had won filled her with a happiness that nobody could understand.