Second chance at life:I'm going rags to riches

The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air, mingling with the faint whisper of raindrops. In the dimly lit room, there she lay motionless, bathed in her own blood. Her lifeless eyes, once bright and radiant, now stared into the void, leaving me shattered and drained.

The familiarity of this scene suffocated me, a haunting echo of the past. I stood frozen, powerless to alter the course of events, just as I had been before. The anguish of losing someone so dear, yet irretrievable, threatened to consume me whole.

My heart lay in tatters, my soul crushed beneath the weight of grief. The relentless rain outside mocked me, its rhythmic beat a constant reminder of my inadequacy. Each drop felt like a whispered accusation: 'You failed her.'

Perhaps the rain had been warning me all along, urging me to hold her closer, to never let her slip away. But I didn't listen. I let her go, and now she's lost forever.

Memories of our fleeting moments tormented me – bittersweet reminders of what could've been. 'If only' echoed through my mind like a cruel mantra. If only I'd acted sooner, been more honest, cherished her more... Maybe then she wouldn't lie lifeless before me.

Her peaceful face belied the turmoil within me. I, the crown prince, had never knelt before anyone. Yet, she brought me to my knees, shattering my pride and my heart. Fate, why must you be so cruel?

Tears streamed down my face as I whispered, 'Why did I not realize sooner? Why did I let you go?'"

"Your Highness," Edric ventured, compose yourself. As the crown prince, you must maintain decorum in public.

I glared, my voice icy. "Commander, I didn't grant you permission to speak. Your duty is to guard, not advise."

Edric bowed. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I overstepped."

With reluctance, I released Riona draping my cape over her lifeless form.

Your Highness, we've discovered something of significance in the annex. It would be prudent for you to inspect it personally."

"What did you uncover in the annex?" I demanded, my tone firm.

Edric hesitated. "It's better if you see for yourself, Your Highness."

As I descended into the basement, the metallic stench of blood assaulted my senses, and the gruesome scene before me ignited a raging inferno within. 'Search the premises,' I thundered. 'Bring anyone found to me, alive.'"

Before me lay a spirit, its ethereal form wavering between life and death. This revelation sparked intrigue and suspicion. Spirits only reveal their true form when bound by contract. Was this creature tied to Riona?

Why hadn't I detected their bond during our time together? How had she concealed it so flawlessly? If revealed, her slave status would have been nullified, granting her freedom

The spirit's whispers grew urgent, its voice laced with despair: "Master... Where are you? Save us... It hurts." The plea hinted at a deeper mystery. Was Riona contracted to multiple spirits? Yet, she couldn't wield magic, a hallmark of spirit users.

Every thread I pulled led to more tangles. Who was Riona, truly?

As the spirit regained consciousness, panic set in. "Who are you? Where's my master and the others?" Its gaze locked onto mine, recognition dawning. "You're... the crown prince. The evil one."

Trembling, the spirit begged, "Please, save Master Riona. She can't protect herself... We were captured, separated. I sense none of our kin nearby."

Tears streamed down its face. I hesitated, loath to shatter its hope.

"I'm sorry, little one," my voice cracked. "Riona... is gone." The words felt like betrayal.

"Please, tell me you're lying!" the spirit implored, its voice cracking with despair. "Master was alive, I felt our bond... I thought distance was the reason I couldn't sense it. But you're saying... she's gone?"

The spirit's bitter sobs filled the air as it trembled, asking, "Did you find anyone else besides me? We were together last night, but this morning... someone separated us. I couldn't sense anyone since then."

A knight intervened, "Your Highness, forgive me, but—"

"Silence!" I commanded. "Let the spirit finish."

The knight interrupted again, "Apologies, Your Highness, but we discovered something else. An artifact concealed a hidden room."

My patience wore thin. "Speak clearly, what did you find?"

The knight hesitated. "Traces of torture, Your Highness. And... an artifact used to drain mana. There were remains of spirits, too. Three spirits, judging by the remnants."

My mind reeled. "Four spirits, then. Riona contracted four spirits." I paused, stunned. "Impossible. A person can only form a contract with one spirit."

"The others... they're all dead, aren't they?" the spirit whispered, its voice trembling. "Why did I survive? Master promised we'd escape together, but... you left me behind, alone."

The spirit's words dissolved into sobs, its small form shuddering. Witnessing its anguish shattered my heart.

As the spirit lost consciousness, I resolved, "I'll take her with me. Prepare to depart and gather all evidence. Leave nothing behind."

My knights nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."

Returning to where Riona lay, I found her gone. Vanished. I scoured the area, frantic, but she'd disappeared into thin air.

My memories began to distort, fragmented images taunting me. My curse stirred, it's dark energy simmering.

My breathing grew ragged, mana churning in turmoil. The world blurred, colors bleeding together. Agony tore through me, familiar and excruciating.

"No, not now," I gritted, fighting the curse's hold.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Edric's concerned voice cut through my haze.

"I'm... fine," I lied, gritting my teeth. "We must leave, now. I don't know how much longer I can control this."

The next thing I knew, I was waking up in my room, drenched in cold sweat, with a pounding headache.

"Damn this curse!" I cursed, rubbing my temples.

The little spirit's voice startled me. "You're awake! I thought you'd never wake up again."

I turned to face it, relief washing over me. "You're still here. I thought you'd have left by now."

The spirit shrugged. "You brought me here, and I have nowhere else to go. I decided to stay a while longer."

The spirit settled on the bed's edge, its delicate form a stark contrast to the opulent furnishings. "Are you okay to be flying around like that?" I asked.

"I'm fine," the spirit replied, its voice gentle.

"I casted a healing spell on you," it continued. "You were groaning in pain."

I shook my head, wincing. "Healing spells don't work on me. They're useless."

The spirit's gaze turned curious. "You're cursed, aren't you? Did your family use black magic to fulfill their desires, resulting in your curse?" the spirit asked, its voice laced with empathy.

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about the spirit's kind eyes put me at ease.

"Yes," I admitted, the word barely above a whisper. "Their ambition came at a steep price."

Just then, Helga's voice interrupted "Your Highness, are you awake?"

I sighed, irritation flaring. "What is it, Helga?"

"Lady Luciano requests your presence," Helga replied.

My disdain deepened. "Tell her I'm resting and don't wish to be disturbed."

Helga hesitated. "Your Highness, she's insistent. She says it's urgent."

My frustration boiled over. "Inform Lady Luciano that I'm indisposed. Her timing is, as always, inconvenient."

"Tell Lady Luciano to wait in the reception room," I instructed Helga, my tone measured. "I'll attend to her shortly."

I couldn't bear the thought of facing her, not after everything that had transpired. But duty called, and I had to put aside my personal feelings.

"I've been asleep for three days," I muttered to myself, "and now I must face her immediately."

The spirit's concerned voice cut through my thoughts. "Are you really going to see her? You're still in pain."

I nodded, gritting my teeth. "I have no choice. It's my duty."

The spirit's empathetic gaze lingered on me. "Be careful, Your Highness. She may not have your best interests at heart."

I appreciated the spirit's concern, but I knew the stakes. "I'll manage," I said, forcing a reassuring smile.

_ALL RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED_

The phrase reverberated through my mind, refusing to fade. I thought I'd met my end, yet these words persisted, echoing through the void.

I forced my eyes open, only to be seared by an intense white light. Blinded, I squinted, expecting the radiance to dissipate. But it persisted.

Was this heaven? Or was I trapped in some limbo? Heaven was supposed to be eternally beautiful, filled with divine wonders. Yet, I saw nothing. No majestic landscapes, no shimmering rivers, no radiant beings.

I walked, and walked, and walked. But the scenery remained eerily static – an endless expanse of white, devoid of depth or dimension. No matter how far I traversed, the void remained unbroken.

"Is this truly heaven?" I wondered, my voice lost in the emptiness. "Or is this... something else entirely?"

As I wandered through the desolate landscape, my head throbbed and my heart pounded in my chest. The silence was shattered by the echoes of long-forgotten whispers.

"You're so useless..." The venomous words stung, resurrecting the ghosts of my past.

"I wish you weren't born..." Each phrase cut deeper, reopening old wounds.

"Why did you..." The question hung, a constant reminder of my failures.

"You're just like him..." The comparison stung, conjuring images of a person I'd rather forget.

The memories came flooding back, unchecked and merciless. Why now, after all these years? I thought I'd buried them, locked them away forever.

But the pain remained, a festering wound that refused to heal. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I stumbled through the void, haunted by the shadows of my own mind.

To be continued.