The Dark Fairy King
Chapter 52: Origins

Chapter 52: Origins

There are always loose ends.

Questions without answers.

Things slipping through the cracks of even the tightest plans.

Lumera and Devran—both complicated creatures. Weirdos, really. And now, somehow, part of my council. Why would I invite such shadows into my inner circle? Why bring these shady characters so close to home?

Well, you know the saying: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

If you’re not a fan of old sayings and passé beliefs, let me leave you with a more pressing question: could I afford not to? Especially when extremists still cling to outdated, ludicrous prophecies. Extremists like the Anti-Magic Mages.

Those goons. Deluded, yes. But competent. Coordinated. A threat far greater than I ever expected.

They infiltrated my palace.

They even bought over Faragonda—the esteemed Love Fairy Elder. That must have taken no small effort.

I did what I had to. Ensured Faragonda’s death stayed a secret.

Those who were in that room that day? They better keep their trap shut.

There’s only one road ahead for them if they don’t: peril.

A soft, familiar voice broke through my thoughts.

"Still in the courtroom?"

Scarlette.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked as she stepped closer, her presence warm, the faint scent of roses and fresh leaves trailing behind her.

"Tell me you don’t believe Lumera’s charade," I muttered.

"What exactly did I miss again?" Scarlette’s gaze didn’t waver, calm and steady on mine.

I sighed, the weight of the day pressing down on me. "Maybe the part where she levitated and unleashed exploding Light Blasts. She blinded and killed two Anti-Magic Mages in seconds. And let’s not forget—they were both Light Fairies. Her own people. The very ones she was supposed to represent."

"I know, Ver..." she said, reaching out to hold my arm gently. "I know..."

Frustration surged in my chest. I shrugged off her touch without thinking, and she recoiled, surprised.

"Veravos Spade." Her voice sharpened. "We can have our differences. We may not always see eye to eye. But you will never—never—shrug me off."

Her glare locked onto mine, unwavering.

"Don’t push me away. You hear?"

"Scar..." I tried, but the words caught in my throat.

"I get it," she continued softly. "Things are stressful. The world’s a mess. But we can do this."

She stepped closer, placed both hands on my shoulders, and searched my face.

"Together."

I let out a long breath. This woman—passionate, sincere, powerful, and after everything, still here. Still choosing me.

"Scar, I love you. You know that." My voice lowered. "I will never push you away."

"So you’re not angry that I’m taking Lumera’s side?"

"Oh, I’ll be angry tomorrow," I smirked. "But right now, I’m with the woman I love."

I paused, taking her in—olive eyes framed by a cascade of crimson hair.

"My Queen. My wife. My love. I will always choose you."

"If you want to help Lumera after all that, I’ll stand by you."

Scarlette wrapped her arms around me and rested her face against my chest. I felt the steady beat of her heart against mine.

"But what if I’m wrong?" she whispered.

"Then we’ll be wrong together."

I kissed the top of her head, breathing in the familiar, calming scent of her skin.

Her question hung between us longer than I expected. Could I really trust Lumera? The Light Fairy Elder who blinded and nearly killed her own kind, who hid so many secrets beneath her fragile facade? Was this sleep fighting real, or another mask?

But Scarlette believes in her. And for once, I want to believe too. Because trusting Scarlette is easier than facing the gnawing doubt alone.

"Seriously, you’re going to trust Lumera just because I said so?" Scarlette looked at me skeptical.

"Begrudgingly," I teased. "But you are never wrong about people, so I’ll take my chances."

Even though I know better—Lumera is a sleep-fighting Light Fairy tangled in shadows I don’t fully understand yet.

Is she the same Lumera from the old world? Is she truly fighting her trauma, or hiding something deeper? Time will tell.

For now, I’ll trust Scarlette.

Scarlette tiptoed and kissed my forehead.

"What was that for?" I asked, still confused why she suddenly did that.

Did my trust mean so much? I merely stood by her, yet she blushed hard.

"You know the prophecy doesn’t allow this, right?" she looked into my eyes, pulling back just enough to meet my gaze.

"Ah, but it was written by some idiot who hadn’t met us yet," I said, a playful spark returning to my voice.

"And who may that idiot be?" Scarlette smiled, her curiosity light and teasing. "Why didn’t we encounter this prophecy back in the old world?"

"No idea. Some foreign Dark Fairy named Haro-douche wrote it," I shrugged. "Can’t even pronounce it."

"Douche?" She laughed. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," I said, waving a hand. "It’s right there at the end of the scroll. That’s why I never took it seriously."

Scarlette raised an eyebrow. "And how do you spell Haro-douche?"

"H-A-R-O-D-U-J," I spelled out carefully.

Scarlette’s eyes lit up as she paused. "Isn’t that Judorah spelled backwards?"

I froze.

Shit.

Even when she was erased, even when she was rewritten away, Judorah’s handiwork remained. She still found a way to screw us over.

Scarlette recited the prophecy from memory, her voice soft, deliberate.

"A Love Fairy will marry a Dark Fairy and give birth. Something borne not of natural magic, but of strife, pain, and greatness. A hybrid with a dual nature, great power, walking the line of Light and Dark. He will be a force of change, a harbinger of doom, a destroyer, a venomous spider in the cosmos, and a threat to all who wouldn’t bend to his will."

I stared at her, stunned she could remember every word.

"Seems vague, huh?" she said.

"Exactly — harbinger of doom for who? Destroyer to whom? Or maybe the very guardian we need," I replied.

"Albeit an unwilling one, full of wrath, power, and complications." I smirked.

"Kinda like our life," Scarlette chuckled, nudging my shoulder. "Sounds like you."

"Who’s going to tell the Anti-Magic Mages and their leader? Nathaniel, wasn’t it?" I said with mock seriousness.

Scarlette raised her hand theatrically. "Yes, tell Nathaniel and his entire movement they got it all wrong. Hybrid Fairies are heroes."

I did an absurd crab walk across the courtroom floor. "Look at me, I’m a venomous spider in the cosmos," I declared with a ridiculous snort.

Scarlette doubled over in laughter.

We were having way too much fun for such a serious topic.

Then, she turned to me again, her expression softening. "Do you ever wonder if we could be parents? What kind of father would you be? What kind of mother would I be?"

I paused, heart catching in my chest.

She went on, voice quieter now. "Would our hybrid children be safe? Would I be good enough?"

I reached out, holding her hand firmly.

"You are good enough. Always. Not perfect, but enough for me."

"I don’t know what the future holds. But if we survive this... we can be parents. If you choose to."

Scarlette’s smile was small but real.

"You’ve grown so much, Ver. You started as an observer, then got swept into the heart of the conflict, sacrificing yourself for me..."

"And now I’m a King. Fair, cunning, always ten steps ahead. Still hilarious, skeptical, and devastatingly handsome," I added with a wink.

"But you’ve changed too," I continued. "You’ve grown into your power. You’ve become a Queen—a woman who rose from chaos and madness and made something beautiful."

"Ver..." she said softly, squeezing my hand. "That’s why I want to do the same for Lumera."

I sighed heavily at the sound of her name.

"My hands weren’t clean when we first met," she admitted. "But you grounded me. You were the anchor in the middle of all the madness. I want to be that for her."