kill the boy."
"But they had pieced the evidence that he was truly possessed," I reasoned.
"Agreed," Connor replied. "But they were sure that if they allowed the boy to live, they would all perish by the darkness."
"So they just killed him?" I concluded.
"It's said on the day of his execution, an elder arrived and stated that he could heal the boy. They emphasized that no one from near or far could save the boy and get rid of the evil spirit, but the elder assured them that he had the power and skill set to complete it. On the very platform they were going to kill the boy on, he knelt down and told the boy to reveal his true self. The boy was frightened to follow the man's advice, saying he’d rather be killed than show who he was. The elder promised that if they didn't like who his real self was, he'd sacrifice himself in his stead so he could leave the kingdom and find a place that would accept him for who he truly was. The boy decided to do as the elder asked."
"What happened?" I asked in suspense, looking into his eyes as they sparkled with pride.
"The boy decided to show his true self, and the skies began to grow dark while thunder boomed and clouds gathered quickly. The kingdom thought the world was going to end and prepared for the worst as a swirling black gust of wind wrapped around the boy. Everyone cowered away, all but the elder. He remained in his place until the truth was revealed."
His lips curled up and he closed his eyes, as if the very scene were playing out within his mind. "When the spinning darkness vanished, instead of a little boy it was a man who was garnished in golden fabric. Jewels from olden centuries rested on his neck, arms, and ankles, and black tattoos of various symbols and markings of their very culture were engraved in his skin. All the people watched in shock while the elder stood there with pride and turned to the very people who'd doubted him."
Connor opened his eyes to look into my focused ones.
"The little boy that carried darkness was portrayed to be evil by the very people who wanted this kingdom to crumble. Little whispers in the night, carried by crows and beings of the shadows, told them that this boy was possessed with something evil when he carried the magic of the royal king," Connor declared. "They had forgotten that their ancestor's magic wasn't of light but was born from the darkness. It was why each royal who passed on would be buried in the depths of the ground, and pyramids and other large structures were built on top to ensure their darkness would be absolute. Not to seal them away like they say in the movies, but to allow them eternal peace because they were born in darkness and had to return to darkness to pass into the gates of heaven above."
"Meaning...they would have killed their prince and broken the ritual?" I suggested.
"Exactly." Connor proudly nodded. "The people who were spreading rumors worked for the kingdom next to them that was their rival. They knew that the little boy was the next prince and wanted to get rid of him while he was young and not yet awakened. The elder's hope in the boy was what saved him because he didn't believe the darkness in the boy was evil. He knew the darkness was a power that gave the boy strength to rule with clarity and knowledge from all the rulers before him."
"Killing him would have made them lose all the knowledge of their people and how they conquered opposing kingdoms in trying times," I whispered as I thought about it. "All a trap."
"Indeed," Connor agreed. "The elder explained all of that and even pointed out the individuals who had initiated the rumors in the front row of the crowd. They were captured and confessed the truth before the people. The final mission, once the little boy was murdered, would have been to send out their army that waited at the borders."
"What?" I gasped. "What did they do?"
"The army charged in, but the prince decided to prove his worth by calling out to the very element his people feared. A dark storm emerged from the sky, but this time around, his people didn't waver. They stood nice and tall while singing hymns of praise and worship. Their motivating songs and