Chapter 66: The Road to Recovery

The memory of the assassination attempt still haunted Malachai as he lay on the bed, being treated by the young man. The prince closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. Lily's image flashed before him once more, and he felt a sense of calm wash over him.

Malachai remembered the night of the attack vividly. He had been watching the starry sky as he couldn't sleep, his thoughts consumed by Lily and the rebellion. Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. Before he could react, five assassins in black cloaks had emerged from the shadows, their swords glinting in the moonlight.

The prince had been caught off guard, but his training and quick reflexes had kicked in. He had fought with all his might; his mind was focused only on survival. The memory of Lily had spurred him on, giving him the strength to keep fighting when all seemed lost.

As the assassins closed in around him, Malachai felt a surge of fear and anger. He refused to let them win. He battled with every ounce of his being, his sword and spells flashing through the air. In the end, he emerged victorious, but not without sustaining serious injuries.

Malachai had stumbled through theforest, his body aching and his mind reeling. He had known that he needed help, and he had made his way to the only place he could think of—the small wooden cabin on the outskirts of the city.

The young man who lived there had taken one look at Malachai's injuries and had quickly set to work, his hands moving with practiced ease as he tended to the prince's wounds. Malachai had been grateful for the man's help, but he couldn't help feeling a sense of shame. He was a prince, a member of the ruling family, and yet here he was, relying on the kindness of a commoner to heal him.

Malachai's body might have been on the simple bed, but his mind was in turmoil. The dark prince couldn't believe that his father would turn against him. The wounds on his body had started to heal, but the wounds on his heart were still fresh. The pain of betrayal weighed heavily on him, and he knew that he couldn't let his guard down. He had to stay alert and focus on protecting Lily and the rest of the rebellion. As he lay there, Malachai replayed the events of the past few days in his mind, trying to make sense of what had happened. He had always known that his father was ruthless, but he had never imagined that he would turn against his own son. The thought of the king's treachery made Malachai's blood boil, and he vowed to do everything in his power to stop his father's reign of terror. But the road ahead was long and dangerous, and Malachai knew that the rebellion would face many challenges before they could hope to overthrow the king. As he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, he wondered what the future held for him and the people he had come to care for so deeply.

As he lay there, he heard footsteps outside the cabin. He tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword, but he relaxed when he saw the young man who had saved his life walking towards him.

"Good morning, my lord," the young man said softly, a gentle smile on his face. "How are you feeling today?"

Malachi nodded his head, constantly lost in thought. "I am healing," he answered, with a low and rough voice. "Thank you," Malachai said softly, his voice still weak from the attack. "For saving my life and taking care of me." The young man gave him a nice smile. "It is my duty, my liege." Your life is valuable and must be safeguarded at all costs."

Malachai shook his head, feeling a sense of responsibility hanging heavily on his shoulders. "I need to recover as quickly as I can," he said, with his words mixed with urgency. "Lily and the others are at risk, and I have to be strong to protect them." The young man nodded sympathetically. "I understand, my lord. I will do whatever I can to ensure your early recovery."

And he did. Days turned into weeks, and the young man tended to Malachai's wounds with a gentle touch, bringing him nourishing meals and herbal tea. Malachai spent countless hours training with the young man, eager to learn and improve his swordsmanship skills. He wanted to be ready to fight alongside the rebels against his father and prove his worth to Lily. In addition to his physical training, he devoted himself to practicing his magic, constantly pushing himself to master new spells and techniques. Malachai knew that he had to be at the top of his game if he was going to succeed in his mission. With each passing day, he felt more confident in his abilities, but he also knew that the road ahead would be filled with danger and uncertainty.

Would he be able to overcome the challenges that lay before him and help the rebels topple his father's reign? Only time will tell.