SPELLBOUND

Leon's eyes widened a little before narrowing them in suspicion, not sure where Gavriel was going with this. "You didn't even give me a chance to agree." He gritted his teeth.

"Oh, did I not?" Gavriel tilted his head slightly. "Well, that's not important anymore. You've lost the bet. Therefore, you will serve me from now on." The prince declared with a wide smile.

It was not just Leon who was shocked at the words that came out of Gavriel's mouth, but everyone else who had heard him. Gavriel shrugged his shoulders casually.

"Caius left you behind while retreating with the rest of his troops. That means you're not as valuable a weapon to him as you seem to think you are." Gavriel did not hold back in his comments and observations. One of the things he had noticed with Leon was his intelligence. Unlike Gallas, Leon was certainly aware of how the royals truly see the half-bloods. Gavriel could tell just by looking into his eyes.

"Why would you want me to serve you?" The half-blood finally spoke, his voice questioning and with a hint of suspicion. "You are strong… a monster even I never thought could ever have existed. Someone like you don't need a not-so-valuable weapon like me." There was a tinge of self-reproach as he said that last statement.

"That's right, I don't need a weapon. But I do need allies. The stronger they are, the better." Gavriel's eyes were clear and bright, staring straight into Leon's.

Leon's eyes widened. He felt that strong and sincere gaze pierce sharp and true through him, making his heart pound in expectation without really knowing the reason why. The colour of his eyes changed into a surprisingly beautiful shade of purple and violet, slowly replacing the red.

"You are strong Leon." Gavriel complimented straightforwardly. "It would be a total waste of resource if I let you remain as just a mindless weapon at the emperor's disposal. Serve me well and be one of my comrades. Or are you the type who would rather die than serve the monster who had just beaten you up?"

"I am no fool, Prince Gavriel. I acknowledge wholeheartedly that you are simply stronger than me."

"Exactly. You're not a fool and that's why you're going to accept my offer and serve me." Gavriel bent and picked Leon's sword up before throwing it at him. "Right?"

Leon caught it and as their gazes met, Leon felt something unfathomable crawled under his skin. There seemed to be an invisible force that made him suddenly feel a certain kind of freedom.

"From now on, you're no longer one of the emperor's weapon and no longer do you have to obey and bow to his demands. You're now Leon, one of Gavriel's men." The prince's loud declaration echoed all around and Leon did not know why but he suddenly fell on one knee and bowed his head in submission to the prince.

This felt really different from the time when he was bowing his head to the emperor. Why did he feel as though this was so right? As if this man was supposed to be "the one" that he and all the other half-bloods were to serve and no other since the very beginning? Why was it that it felt as though he was happy to serve him and would even happily give up his life for this person… this traitor prince?

The soldiers who witnessed the scene remained silent until they watched Leon stood up and followed Gavriel to the entrance of the fortress. It was strange but none of them doubted or complained about what their prince had just done. It should be quite understandable if some of them would feel bothered with the prince's move, taking in someone who was clearly an enemy just moments ago in their midst. But for some reason they all felt like what happened was meant to be.

At the top of the watchtower, Gavriel stood there, looking down at the initially pristine snow-covered meadow that was now regrettably tainted with blood. Soldiers were now lining up the bodies of those who had died, separating the Dacrians from those of the imperial army. Even though the battle stopped midway, there was already so many casualties. The meadow reeked with the stench of blood and death that night even as the moon shone silvery and bright, reflecting nothing of what had happened down below.

Gavriel was still waiting for the men he had sent to spy on Caius's army. He could not declare that this battle was over until he was fully certain that Caius and his army had really left.

Zolan had started to question the still healing Leon, but the half-blood appeared to know very little about the plans of the crown prince and the emperor. All he was able to tell was that the emperor sent them here to kill Gavriel and destroy Dacria.

The half-blood's statement was just as Gavriel had expected. He knew of how the emperor and high officials of the empire treated the half-bloods. They were just tools of war for their use and these tools had no need to know on the more in-depth battle plans.

"Your Highness," Zolan suddenly called out as he approached Gavriel. His eyes narrowed while staring intently at Gavriel's neck.

"What is it Zolan?"

"Pardon me, but… isn't that little wound on your neck taking too long to heal? I've been looking at it for a while now. That wound that small was supposed to have healed a long while ago. Isn't it?" Zolan's voice was serious, feeling as if something is off and gravely wrong.

As though Gavriel was not aware about the wound Zolan was talking about, he lifted his fingers to touch the spot on his neck that Zolan was staring at when he suddenly experienced a wave of dizziness and wavered slightly where he stood. Everyone who was looking at him had their hearts dropping. Had something severe happened to His Highness, Prince Gavriel?

"Your Highness!" Panic coloured Zolan's voice despite his calm expression. Even Leon was alarmed. "What's wrong?"