Echoes of a Forbidden Wish

 

Love,hate, betrayal,romance, dark fantasy 

In the shadowed depths of the Underworld, where rivers of dark flame wound through obsidian plains, ruled Asmodeon, the Demon King. For ages, he had commanded legions and realms of shadow, but he harbored a secret longing for the warmth of the mortal world above.

One season, he ascended in the guise of Cassian Veyre, a charismatic young lord of great wealth and charm: midnight hair, eyes like burnished gold, and a presence that drew others effortlessly. He wandered the mortal lands, forming deep connections with many, but none captivated him as much as Liora.

Liora was a healer’s daughter from a quiet riverside village, with eyes like storm clouds and a gentle spirit that shone through her every action. Cassian courted her with thoughtful gifts and shared dreams under starlit skies. Their bond grew into a profound romance, filled with tender moments and whispered promises.

“You complete me in ways I never imagined,” he said one evening, holding her close as they watched the river flow.

“And you’ve brought light into my life,” she replied softly. “Tell me, Cassian—what do you desire most?”

He smiled, his golden eyes warm. “Only your happiness, my love. If there is anything you wish for, speak it.”

She placed a hand on her belly, a secret joy in her voice. “I carry our child.”

Joy lit his features. “A child… ours.”

“And I wish for him to be strong,” she continued earnestly. “Blessed with great power, so that no force in this world could ever overpower him.”

In that moment of deep affection, Asmodeon—moved beyond caution—nodded. “Then it shall be granted.”

He sealed the promise with a gentle kiss, unknowingly invoking ancient magic tied to his realm. Long ago, a prophecy had warned demon lords against granting wishes to mortals, for it would invite ruin. But love had clouded his judgment.

Months later, Liora gave birth to a son with striking golden eyes—Erynn. Cassian arrived, beaming with pride.

“He is everything I dreamed,” Liora said, cradling the infant.

“Our greatest treasure,” Cassian agreed. Then, with concern in his voice, “But there are dangers in my world—rivals who might seek to harm him. I must take him to a safe place, just until he’s older.”

Trusting him completely, Liora agreed. Cassian carried Erynn to the Underworld, promising a swift return.

There, under Asmodeon’s watchful eye, Erynn was raised with rigorous discipline. Harsh trials and intense training forged him into a powerful demi-demon—master of shadow magic, swift and formidable. Asmodeon believed this severity would prepare his son for any challenge, though it bred resentment in the boy’s heart.

By his seventeenth year, Erynn had become a force of unparalleled skill, his abilities rooted in the wish his father had granted. Yet he harbored a growing anger toward the father who had kept him from his mother.

One day, Erynn returned to the mortal world. He found Liora, now aged but still waiting faithfully.

“Mother,” he said, embracing her.

“My son… you’ve grown so strong.” Tears filled her eyes. “Where is your father?”

“He will come soon,” Erynn replied. “But tell me—did he truly love you?”

“With all his heart,” she answered.

Erynn’s expression hardened. He began to wield his power in ways that sowed chaos—challenging tyrants, toppling corrupt rulers—believing he was claiming his destiny.

News reached Asmodeon, who descended to confront his son on a windswept plateau overlooking the mortal sea.

“Return with me, Erynn,” Asmodeon commanded, his true demonic form revealed: towering, with shadowed wings. “You belong at my side.”

“I belong nowhere but as ruler,” Erynn retorted, his own powers flaring—dark sigils glowing as he summoned blades of shadow.

The battle erupted fiercely.

Asmodeon unleashed chains of dark flame, whipping through the air. Erynn dodged with unnatural speed, countering with bursts of void energy that shattered the chains into harmless sparks.

“You were trained well,” Asmodeon admitted, circling his son.

“Trained in isolation and hardship,” Erynn shot back. “Now feel its fruits.”

Erynn advanced, shadow blades clashing against his father’s defenses in a flurry of strikes. Asmodeon summoned barriers of flame; Erynn pierced them with precise bolts of darkness. The air crackled with magic—waves of force shaking the ground, illusions clashing with raw power.

“You could have been my legacy,” Asmodeon said, voice strained as he blocked a powerful strike.

“Your legacy ends here,” Erynn declared.

With a final surge, Erynn drove a concentrated spear of shadow through his father’s defenses, striking true.

Asmodeon staggered, a faint smile on his lips. “The prophecy… you’ve fulfilled it, my son.”

“What prophecy?” Erynn demanded.

“The wish I granted your mother bound your power to my life. Slay me, and it fades forever—you become mortal, as fragile as any man.”

Horror dawned on Erynn as his sigils dimmed, his strength ebbing away. Wings of shadow dissolved; magic slipped from his grasp like sand.

Asmodeon collapsed, his voice a whisper. “I loved her enough to risk everything… and you.”

The Demon King passed, and the Underworld mourned its fallen ruler.

Erynn knelt on the plateau until morning light, now powerless and ordinary. He returned to Liora, who welcomed him without question.

In time, Erynn lived a quiet life in the village, helping as a healer like his mother. He married, raised children, and passed at a ripe old age—strong in spirit, but never again in magic.

The prophecy had claimed them both: the father undone by forbidden love, the son by vengeful pride.

Love’s echoes lingered, a reminder that even the mightiest wishes carry unseen costs.