Part 1

Once upon a time, there's a rumor that there was once a powerful kingdom. The undefeated with all the other clans. They were too powerful that even their enemies began to combine-

yet they failed.

The king was too sure that their place will never be defeated. He was too sure that he even laughed at every battle because he know that they will won.

Until one day. An old woman called for help. She was shouting with her cracking voice. Her whole body is shaking. A lot of scratches and wounds.

“The-there's a monster outside! You must be prepared! Death is coming! ” She shouted.

But.

“Don’t worry about her, she's crazy!”

“Yeah! I mean look at her! ”

“If there's a monster, you're already dead”

The rumors about the monster became a joke than a warning. People even tried throwing a rock to the old woman. But she didn't stop trying.

“Guards! Take her to the palace! Let the king decide her fate! ” Shouted the General with a sword on his waist while ridding a black horse.

They guided the old woman inside the kingdom to face what they call the honorable king.

“So you were the one who's spreading the rumor. 'Death is coming! “Said by the king who's sitting on his golden chair. While holding his white bearded hair. He even wears a lot of rings on his fingers just to show off his wealth.

“I'm telling you my king! There's a monster! ” Shouted by the old woman who received a painful slap on her face by the king.

“How dare you talk to me with that tone of you voice you dirty mud!” Shouted by the king.

Everyone inside the room was quiet because how the king's voice echoed. The old woman started to cry. She even began to knelt down and started to hold the king's foot.

“I'm begging you, you majesty. Please save this kingdom ”the old woman beg but the king just laughed that even his fat stomach can't take it anymore.

“Fine. All of you! Find the monster and take it to me! Alive! ” Ordered the king.

The guards with their pointed sword and spears began to move. The general started to rode his black horse.

“Tonight! We kill death ”said the king.

It took them three days before all of them came back. Yes All of them. Nobody got hurt or even died. All of them are strong and healthy when they came back.

They were holding a lady like a prisoner, a lady with a pale skin and a lot of wounds on her. With her beautiful blonde hair, blue eyes and her cheery color lips, people started whispering and talking.

“Is that the dangerous monster that the old woman said?” Asked by one of the villagers.

The general didn't answer they just continue looking straight through their path going to the palace.

When they reach inside the palace, the king was so confused that he even spilled out the wine inside his mouth.

“What is this? Who is she? ” Asked the king while pointing the lady.

“She's the one you were looking for your majesty” the general answered

And again, the king laughed so hard and immediately stop laughing and stared at everyone.

“You're not joking?” He asked.

“Unfortunately, no my king”

“Huh?” King answered and slowly walks in front of the lady. His face was almost near the lady. He was not looking for that looking but the king is already obsessed by her appearance.

Then there was a sword between the two.

“I apologized your majesty but I won't allow you go near her, she's too dangerous” The general said

The king slapped the general.

“You can tell me that without drawing your sword you puppet!” The king said.

The king decided to go back to his chair but suddenly he stops.

“Wait. I have an idea. Take the monster to my room. We have something to discuss ”

“But-“

“Are you disobeying my order ?! She's just a woman with nothing I can handle her! ” The king shouted.

“Once again. Take her to my room ”

They did take the woman inside the king's room. The lady also began to cry begging not to touch her.

But in that same night. The whole kingdom was slaughtered. Not a single thing was alive.

The whole kingdom was painted by blood. No one knows what happened. The undefeated fell.

And today it was called the Forbidden Castle. 

Part 2

“Why does it call the Forbidden Castle when the whole kingdom was slaughtered?” Asked by the prince of Zealot, the heir to the throne.

“Some of the rumors said the monster is still alive and living inside of one of those castle” answered by the prince's trusted librarian.

“So it's a rumor? It means there's a possibility that it's not real right? Just like dragons right? ” Prince Marcus asked.

His Librarian smiled and patted his head. They were too close that they end up being best friends. The librarian is a beautiful girl with black hair and blue eyes. She even have dimples.

“Yes! Just like dragons! To this day no one knows if it is real or not ”answered by the librarian named Alice while brush her hair to her right ear.

“That's a good story!” The prince.

“I know, that's why I told you”

The prince was about to respond when the king called out his name.

“Oh no- I need to go! Bye Alice thank you again for the story! ”

“You're welcome my prince” Alice answered then bowed to her prince.

“Oh come on! Don't give me that! ” The prince respond then laughed with Alice before running back to the palace.

As soon as the prince went back to the palace, he heard a loud voice shouting inside the king's room.

“Are you really sure about this your majesty ?! That kid is air headed! How can you give up the throne to that useless kid !? ” Shouted by the jealous young general.

“Silence!”

Prince Marcus slowly entered the room and both the king and general were looking at him.

“I should go now” The general said then kneel down before going out of the room. He even stared straight to the prince and whispers-

“Useless brat”

Prince Marcus was already used to these words. He does not have knowledge. He even can't even fight with his skinny body.

“I'm sorry son if you heard something”

“No, my king it's alright”

The room was too quiet and end up hearing their own heart beat.

“Anyway my child, I have something for you. A quest ”

“Yes!”

“Don't get too excited. Have you heard the forbidden castle? ”

“I just heard it like a minute ago”

“Kill the monster”

“Wait- what ?!”

“To prove that you're worthy of this throne you must prove yourself. I hate to do this but you must earn something ”

“But-“

“No more excuses! Your quest will start tomorrow ”

The prince didn't respond he just knelt down and thinking how he would survive. He does not even know how to fight a pig. Or even kill a chicken. How can he possibly kill a monster?

Goodluck to Prince Marcus.  

Part 3

“Alice help me!” Beg by the prince while hugging her in a waist level like a child.

“Oh poor prince” Alice answered while patting his head.

“I know you can do it! I believe in you ”Alice continued

The Prince Marcus sighed and started stood up straight.

“As long as you believe in me! I feel like I can do it! ”

After that night, Marcus began preparing his things. He tried wearing the knight's armor but end up being too heavy.

“Hey what's with all that stuff?” Asked Alice while pointing the big bag that Marcus is preparing.

“Oh this? It's my adventure bag, cool isn't? ”

Alice did a facepalm and Marcus was too confused to understand.

“You can't even wield a sword how can you even carry that bag that is bigger than you?”

“Oh- you're right!”

“You should just bring something important to you” Alice suggested

“Oh okay!” Prince Marcus answered grabs Alice's hand.

“What are you doing?”

“You told me to bring something important? That's why I'm bringing you ”Prince Marcus said with his innocent eyes.

Alice just blushed and immediately patted the prince's head.

“That's not what I meant my prince”

“Oh-“

With a few explanations Prince Marcus at last gets it. Marcus prepared something like food, water, clothes and a weapons like bowing arrow, arrows and small sword.

He's ready for the adventure.

For the first time in their history, someone's going to travel and do some quest on foot. Marcus does not know how to ride a horse that's why he's walking.

Before Marcus left no one's there to give him some good luck. Nobody came except Alice the only friend he have.

“By the way, once you saw the monster by chance that it's a girl. Don't kiss her okay? You'll turn into ash ”said Alice.

“What? Is that a joke? ”

“Who knows?”

“Oh”

“Take care my prince” Said Alice then maybe for the last time patted his head.

“Thank you! You too! ”

“Come back will you?”

Prince Marcus didn't answer. He simply smiled and wave his hand before tripping by some rocks.

“Is he really going to be alright?” Alice murmured.

And with that Marcus's adventure started. 

Part 4

Marcus began his adventure. Fought a rock because he couldn't move it. He even talked to some rabbit through his journey.

He tripped a lot.

“Yey! Water! ” Marcus shouted then ran for the water. As soon as he reached the water he saw a waterfall.

“Woah!”

He put down his things and immediately jumped into the water. He felt the cold and refreshing feeling by the water.

“At last! I took a bath after a three days trip! ” Marcus shouted.

As Marcus enjoying the his bath, there's a sudden sound coming from the bush. He immediately panicked and swim near his stuff. Until he saw a girl with a blonde hair and blue eyes.

“That must be her!” Marcus shouted and because of his voice the girl started to run.

“Oh wait!” Marcus panicked and grab his bag without him noticing that it was already ripped. He even forgot his weapons.

Then again. Yes He tripped.

He felt down through the ground and started rolling until it stops. Marcus captured a lot of wounds and scratches but he even forget about that when he saw the castle.

Marcus eyes were sparkling. It's too beautiful despite of how abandoned it is. Then he saw the girl again. Marcus started shouting again calling out for the girl.

Without him knowing, he end up entering the forbidden castle. He started opening different doors and end up into a big library.

“Cool!”

As he walked inside the room, he saw book with a hand written on it. The book was too old to read but good thing that Marcus has a lot of interest on books.

He started sitting and reading the book. And end up finding something.

The rumors was wrong!

The first thing that came out of Marcus's mind is Alice. He need to get back and tell his story.

Not for a moment. Marcus heard a loud sound outside the castle. He bought the book with him and started running outside.

“Aha! Found you! ” Shouted Marcus while pointing the woman who she's looking for.

Then he realized that the girl needed some help. The wolves cornered her and ready to ripped her apart. The girl just stared the three wolves, and her claws started to comes out.

“Cool” Marcus said.

Without a minute pass, he thought something good. An idea that maybe nobody thought is possible.

“Hey dogs! Fetch! ” Marcus shouted and started waving the stick then throw it away.

Surprisingly it worked! The wolves follow it and Marcus started grabbing the girl's hand. It feels warm.

“It worked!” Marcus shouted while putting both of his hand in the air like a champion.

The girl tilted her head like full of confusion. Then Marcus realized something-

“Hey you look beautiful but Alice looks much beautiful than but I don't mean to offend you I jus- you know what? You want some food? ”

In that moment he realized that his bag is completely ripped. The only thing that left is his an apple. The woman with a blonde hair just looked at her with a straight face.

“Uhm. Here you can have it! I can still manage! ”

The girl smiled widely and ate the apple. Marcus simply smiled and hold the book tightly. He wanted to share this book to Alice.

The moon started to light up and the clouds are already spreading from the sky. Marcus grabs some stick and tried to light it up and surprisingly with his low survival skills he manage to made one.

“It's pretty dark huh?” Said Marcus while looking at the girl that might be a monster.

The girl just nodded while looking at the fire Marcus made.

“So you must be the famous monster they said”

And once again. The girl just nodded. Marcus smiled and suddenly they heard a sound. A terrifying sound lurking in the shadow.

The girl instantly do her defense stunts while Marcus grab a stick. Yes A normal stick preparing to attack the other creatures that are ready to eat them.

Then suddenly there's a rabbit hop in

“Whaaa!” Marcus shouted.

“Oh it's just a rabbit no need to worry” He explained while looking at the girl. The girl with a disappointed look.

After that, Marcus and the girl spend the night together. The girl's head was laying on Marcus shoulder. He even patted the girl on the head.

“Alice my friend always patted me on the head whenever I'm scared so I think you deserve it too”

Marcus just look at the girl with a innocent look. He knows it already. Everything. 

Part 5

A loud sound once again woke the two adventurers. Marcus hold a rock and ready to shoot while the girl do her stunts again with her claws.

Then suddenly there was a huge bear approached. The girl was hit so badly while Marcus is shaking. But despite of his weak body he tried attacking the bear. Hitting it with a rock. Just to save the girl.

Until he was hit by the bear's arm and blacked out.

The moment Marcus opened his eyes. He's already home. The first person he saw was Alice's face.

“ALICE!” he shouted then hugged her so tight.

“Oh my poor prince!” said Alice while patting his head.

“By the way! I need to tell you something! About the incident! About the story of Forbidden Castle! ”

“Slow down Marcus”

Before Marcus could even tell his story there was a sudden knock on the door. Alice slowly opened the door and it was the general.

Marcus was forcedly drag by the guards. He can hear Alice shouting and being worried. But Marcus just smiled and giving her a sign that it will be alright.

With Marcus injured body, the general drag him so bad and push him in front of the king.

“Is this the heir ?! He even come back with nothing! Are you sure about this? ” The general shouted.

Marcus didn't answer. He just simply look at the floor and said he was sorry for being a disappointment.

“He came back with empty handed”

“He didn't” a familiar voice shouted. It was Alice.

“What do you mean ?! He didn't even kill the monster! And who the hell are you by the way? ”

“I am the monster”

The whole room was quiet. All of them were surprised. The monster that they were looking for is already here. Living with them. Eating with them.

“You killed thousands! You deserved to die! ” The general said.

“No! The story is wrong! The one who slaughter the whole kingdom was their general. He was in love with the lady and end up protecting her till the end but guess what ?! They didn't include it to the story because the real monster is- “

Marcus didn't finish because he received something on his shoulder. An arrow.

“Father” mourned Marcus but the king didn't answer. Marcus already know what's going to happen.

Marcus forcedly push himself up and drag Alice outside the palace. Both of them heard the general shouting.

They ran both of them.

“You must let me die Marcus” said Alice while running.

“I rather die with you than living with such horrible people” Marcus answered with a smile.

As they keep on running, Marcus was being shot by a lot of arrows. He's completely bleeding. His blood is coming out through his mouth.

They end up on the place where they first said goodbye. The gate of the kingdom.

And at last. Marcus fell down.

Alice put Marcus's head on her lap while brushing his hair. Marcus is smiling, you can see through his eyes that he does not regret anything.

“You knew?” Alice asked.

“I might be dumb. But I know you well ”

“My mother wanted to save the old woman. We never hurt someone but- I hate being like this ”

“I never saw you as a monster. All I see is the woman I love ”

And with that Alice tears fell down through her cheeks. It was too painful for her to endure. She can also felt something hitting her back. It was an arrow too.

With Alice's tears covering her vision she felt something warm on her lips. It was Marcus kissing her.

“No! You'll turn into ashes! ” Alice shouted.

Marcus simply smiled.

“I love you” he answered then patted Alice head. As he slowly turns into ashes. Alice didn't felt something painful through her body.

Not from the arrows.

Not from the wounds.

But from her heart.

They both died loving each other.

The monster was never Alice.

It was the people.

End