Edwin was startled because of that sudden outrage from the Deity. Until just a mont ago, the test was going really smoothly and the Deity was really calm and poised. But out of the blue, the Deity was mad at Edwin for so reason that was unknown to him.
Edwin lowered his gaze and then dared to ask the fearso Dragon Immortal, "I am sorry, Dragon Immortal. Did I do sothing to offend you?"
"Yes!" Golden scales appeared on Azriel's face when he glared at Edwin and shouted at him furiously. "You are offending by being alive! You don't even have the lifeline on your palm and yet you managed to survive for more than three decades… If this is not the greatest mockery towards God then what is it?"
Edwin took a few steps back because he was now genuinely scared of the Deity. The face that looked so beautiful until just a while ago, now looked like the most petrifying face that he had ever seen.
And he was really confused by what the Deity was saying to him, what did he an by he didn't have a lifeline? Lillian had never told Edwin that he was a stillborn child, so Edwin had no idea. And he began to stutter in fear, "I don-don't under-ss-stand, Dragon Immortal. What do you- what do you an by that? Please tell what I can-"
And as if Azriel had read Edwin's mind, he cut his words and shouted, "You can do nothing to ask for my forgiveness. You stole the life force from three people and yet you have the guts to even think about asking for my forgiveness? You wouldn't have been so greedy and sucked those poor maids' lives if you were even capable of repenting for your sins."
Azriel already knew all the dark deeds of Edwin. He never had the intention of even including him in the test in the first place. But he went along and took his test just so he could drop that brat at the pitless bottom after giving him so shreds of hope that he was going to be the next future ruler.
Azriel's whole body was covered in golden scales by now. He grabbed Edwin by his collar and glared deep into his eyes. And then he growled again, "If you were back to being bedridden then you would drain others' lives in a heartbeat if that ant you would be saved again… So tell … why I shouldn't kill you right here and now, and protect the countless innocent lives?"
Edwin, who had thought that his test went very well, was now sweating like a pig that was ready for the slaughter. He joined his hands and then pleaded to the Deity because like every normal human, he also feared death, "Please don't kill , Dragon Immortal. I will do anything that you ask to do. But please don't kill ."
Azriel was still giving Edwin a death stare. And he spoke in a low yet very threatening tone, "You still don't feel guilty for killing all those people, do you? You abused your power, tortured the people, and you did every other thing that would book your place in Hell. And yet, all you do is ask not to kill you?"
Edwin went all quiet when the Deity made him reflect upon his sins. Until today, he didn't even believe in God. And neither did he believe in Hell. But hearing the Deity point out all of his sins that would make him go to Hell, his whole world started to spin around.
Azriel pushed Edwin to the floor with a great force and then asked piercingly, "Just give one reason why you deserve to live, and I will let you live."
Edwin knew that the Deity wasn't bluffing when he said that he would kill him. He was the Deity after all, and Edwin had sinned. So Edwin thought that the Deity sure had the right to kill him.
Suddenly, the Prince was feeling light-headed and he began to hallucinate. He could feel his body floating and the air around him was getting hotter and hotter. He could hear the screams full of agony coming from all directions. In short, he could feel his soul slipping away from his body and getting closer and closer to Hell.
Of course, that was not happening in real. It was Azriel who was just trying to frighten Edwin with one of his great illusions. He was treating Edwin like a little mouse that a cat was playing with before it was devoured whole.
After so ti, Edwin felt his soul being slamd back inside his body. He heaved a sigh of relief seeing that he was back inside that hall. Because of that illusion, Edwin was unable to think of any excuse that would make the Deity forgive him and leave him alive. Edwin wiped his sweat on his forehead with the back of his hands and resud racking his brain to find an excuse.
But then, as it was very typical of Azriel, he was rry all over again. He was back to his normal angelic form and said to Edwin, "Oh, I have one reason why I should let you live."
Edwin stared at the Deity cautiously. And Azriel gave him a smirk and asked, "Why don't you promise that you will protect the future ruler of Wyverndale from all harms? If you promise that you will loyally serve the future ruler then your remaining stolen life might be put to so good use."
Why was Edwin going to deny the offer that the Deity made? If pledging his loyalty to one of his half-siblings ant that he could keep on living then he was very much willing to do that. Yes, it was now sure that he could never be the ruler of Wyverndale. But he happily bowed to Azriel and said, "I am willing to serve the future ruler with all my loyalty, Dragon Immortal. I will do my best to protect the ruler from any harm in the future."
If Edwin was not getting a death threat from the Deity then his pride would have never allowed him to pledge his loyalty to the one he lost his crown to. But considering the tight spot that he was trapped in, staying alive and serving others was better than dying with pride.
Azriel had a sly smirk on his lips. He twirled a few strands of his golden hair on his finger and then added a warning, "Now that you have pledged your loyalty to the future ruler, if you ever dare to betray then you will die in that instant. Also, with every wound that the future ruler gets, your soul will be scarred. The mont your soul reaches its limit, you will cease to exist. You won't even enter the cycle of reincarnation. So better be careful."
Edwin's eyes widened in fear because of that warning. But he dared not to speak. He was at least glad that the Deity didn't leave his soul in Hell just a while ago. "I understand, Dragon Immortal. Thank you for showing rcy!"
Azriel didn't even bother to say anything else and simply snapped his fingers to make Edwin unconscious. He narrowed his eyes at the unconscious Prince and the expression on his face turned disgusted. "How can soone like this even think about becoming the King?"
He chuckled to himself and whispered, "It is going to be so much fun to see him scared for every second of his remaining life. He is going to be a guard dog of the future ruler." He happily patted himself on the shoulder and said, "I am proud of myself.. The future is going to be so much interesting to watch."
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