The Path of Ruin

Chapter 22: To A New Life

When Kael went out into the garden, he wasn't quite sure where he should go. He knew he had to get away from the palace, yes... But he couldn't do it through the entrance gate. He was either the only survivor in the palace or one of the very few. So they wouldn't let him out easily.'It won't be long before they come...'

The palace was not connected to any city, the nearest city was a few kilometers away. So... it wasn't really that far away.

'Was there another entrance or exit to the palace?'

Actually, the palace already had more than one entrance... but he was looking for something else. A more... hidden entrance. Like a hole in the walls, for example. But he had no knowledge of the existence of such a thing.

The longer he waited, the more he felt like he was wasting his time, so he started walking again. This time... he was heading towards the walls. And it wasn't long before he reached the nearest one.

The walls were almost ten meters high. He had no idea how thick they were, but he was sure they were not thin.

He turned to his left, on the opposite side to the entrance closest to him, and started moving forward.

Minutes followed minutes, he felt like he was running out of time... though it was a miracle that no one had arrived so far. The palace was the center point of the kingdom after all... there were many people coming here every day.

He paused, his brow furrowing as he realized something he hadn't thought about before.

Yes, indeed, dozens of people came to the palace every day. But... why was it so... deserted now? The state of the palace should have been noticed long ago, in the very first minutes.

He didn't know, it was a matter that really puzzled him. But, eventually, he gave up. It suited him anyway, and there was nothing to be gained by continuing to question now. So, he stopped thinking and kept looking for a way out.

However, no matter how hard he

When he thought of what he had been through so far... what was a simple forest?

Even as a young boy, he had survived the catastrophe that had ended a kingdom. He had killed two creatures even though he had no power. He had conversed with a king in earnest. He had come back from death itself. And... despite being a slave, he had the blessing... okay, maybe the curse for him... of a king.

He could and would make it.

So, he made his way deeper into the forest... leaving behind everything he had experienced in this palace... and took the first steps towards his new life with a determined look on his face.

But there was something he didn't know. And that was... that there was actually someone, or rather something, watching him...

High above, above the trees... No, much higher. Beyond the sky, in the dark void that stretched into infinity... something was looking down at him. And... it was smiling.