(Condensed version to fit Tapas. Full version +22000 caracters) on deviantart and Ao3)

Once upon a time, in a kingdom shrouded in poverty and misery, there lived a king who squandered the kingdom’s wealth on his beloved daughter, Princess Ximona. The people suffered, their hopes extinguished by the king’s lavish indulgences. In the midst of this despair, a kind-hearted young man named Joshua emerged as a beacon of compassion. Loved by all in the village, Joshua saw the dire plight of the orphans and sought to alleviate their suffering.

Driven to desperation, Joshua hatched a plan to steal the princess’s jewelry, hoping to sell it to provide food and clothing for the orphans. However, he was caught in the act and arrested. To his surprise, the princess showed no reaction, as if devoid of all emotions. The king revealed to Joshua that an evil wizard had stolen the princess’s heart, leaving her emotionless. Many brave knights had attempted to retrieve her heart but had never returned. Seeing an opportunity to rid himself of Joshua without incurring the villagers’ wrath, the king decided to let him try.

Joshua embarked on a perilous journey to the swamp where the wizard, Ewan, resided. The path was long and treacherous, stretching far beyond the kingdom’s borders. Days turned into weeks as Joshua pressed on, his resolve never wavering. The air grew thick and humid as he neared the swamp, the ground beneath his feet becoming soft and treacherous. The once clear skies were now shrouded in a perpetual mist, casting an eerie glow over the landscape.

As Joshua ventured deeper into the swamp, the sounds of croaking frogs and buzzing insects filled the air. The water was murky and still, reflecting the twisted trees that loomed overhead. Suddenly, he saw something enormous moving beneath the surface, swimming towards him. It seemed like a huge crocodile, its eyes glinting menacingly in the dim light.

Joshua tightened his grip on his dagger, his heart pounding in his chest. He stood his ground, not afraid, ready to defend himself. The creature pounced, but just as it was about to strike, it vanished into thin air. It had been an illusion.

A voice echoed through the mist, playful and amused, “Where’s the thrill if you don’t tremble?”

Joshua spun around, his dagger poised to strike, and found himself face-to-face with Ewan. His blade ended up just under the wizard’s throat, but Joshua froze. He hadn’t expected someone so young, and especially not someone so breathtakingly beautiful. Ewan’s beauty was otherworldly, surpassing that of both men and women. His delicate, ethereal features seemed almost too perfect for this world, his slender frame exuding an air of fragility.

“Welcome to my home,” Ewan said softly, his voice like a soothing melody. “I see you are not easily frightened.”

Joshua lowered his dagger, his breath catching in his throat. “I came to find you,” he managed to say, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him.

Ewan’s smile widened. “And find me you did. Come, let us talk. There is much to discuss.”

Joshua immediately followed him, explaining his mission, and Ewan listened intently. “I am willing to return the princess’s heart,” Ewan said, “but I need something in return. My own powers have been sealed away by my grandfather, a powerful mage who feared my strength. The key to unlocking my powers lies within a hidden parchment, safeguarded within a labyrinth in the swamp. Knights sent by the king have accepted the challenge but have never returned.”

Undeterred, Joshua agreed to help Ewan retrieve the parchment. Before setting out, Ewan invited Joshua into his home, a massive, hollowed-out tree that stood majestically in the heart of the swamp. The interior was warm and inviting, filled with the scent of herbs and the soft glow of enchanted lanterns. He prepared a pot of tea and offered Joshua a plate of freshly baked bread and fruit.

After their meal, Ewan guided Joshua to the entrance of the labyrinth. The air grew colder, and an eerie silence enveloped them. Joshua noticed a shimmering barrier at the entrance.

“Why don’t you go in yourself?” Joshua asked.

“It’s spelled to prevent anyone of my blood from entering,” Ewan explained. “My grandfather’s doing.”

Inside the labyrinth, the atmosphere changed instantly. The air was thick with tension, and shadows danced on the walls. He encountered grotesque creatures that were once knights, transformed by the wizard’s curse. These monstrous beings hungered for human flesh. He pressed on, determined to retrieve the parchment. After what felt like hours of navigating the twisting passages, he finally emerged into a clearing. There, in the center, lay the object of his quest, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.

Just as he reached out to grab the parchment, he heard a low, menacing growl. He barely had time to react before a massive set of claws swiped at him from the shadows. He dodged just in time, rolling to the side and drawing his dagger. From the darkness, a fearsome dragon emerged. Joshua fought valiantly, but he was clearly at a disadvantage. The dragon’s strength and size were overwhelming.

Just as it seemed Joshua would succumb to his injuries, a mysterious buzzard swooped down from the sky. With incredible precision, the bird pierced the dragon’s eyes, blinding it. Seizing the opportunity, Joshua delivered a decisive blow, driving his dagger deep into the dragon’s heart.

The dragon collapsed with a final, earth-shaking roar. Joshua, panting and covered in sweat, retrieved the parchment. The buzzard, his task accomplished, flew away in the sky. Joshua, determined to find his way out, began to limp through the labyrinth, clutching the parchment tightly.

Joshua’s strength was waning. His legs felt like lead, and every step was a struggle. He stumbled through the twisted paths, trying to find his way out, but the labyrinth seemed endless. The trees loomed over him, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching out to ensnare him.

Just as hope was fading, the buzzard returned, its sharp eyes gleaming in the darkness. It circled above him, then swooped down, landing on a nearby branch. Guided by the helpful bird, Joshua navigated his way out of the labyrinth, traversing the treacherous swamp with every ounce of strength he had left. Just as he reached Ewan’s doorstep, the wizard opened the door.

Joshua stumbled forward, and Ewan caught him just before he collapsed completely to the ground. The buzzard landed gracefully on Ewan’s outstretched hand. Ewan looked at the bird with gratitude.

Ewan nursed Joshua back to health. Joshua’s injuries were severe, and he required constant care. Ewan was always by his side, tending to his wounds and ensuring he had everything he needed.

As the days turned into weeks, Joshua began to regain his strength. They would talk for hours, sharing their hopes and fears. Joshua learned about Ewan’s past, the pain of his family’s hate, and the loneliness that had followed. In turn, Joshua shared his own struggles and dreams, his desire to help the orphans and bring hope to his village.

As Joshua’s strength returned, they began to spend more time outside. Ewan showed Joshua the wonders of the swamp, the hidden beauty that lay beneath its eerie exterior. Their bond grew deeper with each passing day. Joshua no longer saw Ewan as just a wizard, but as a kindred spirit, someone who understood him in a way no one else ever had.

One early morning, Joshua lay awake, unable to sleep. He noticed Ewan quietly slipping out of the house, clutching the precious parchment. Curiosity piqued, Joshua rose from his bed and followed, careful to remain unseen.

Ewan made his way to a secluded clearing, where the remnants of a once-majestic tree stood, now lifeless and barren. Joshua watched from behind a thick cluster of bushes as Ewan unfurled the parchment and began to chant softly. His hands glowed with a strange, ethereal fire, casting an eerie light in the dim morning.

With a graceful motion, Ewan directed the fire towards the dead tree. The flames danced around the trunk, and to Joshua’s amazement, the tree began to revive. The tree stood tall and alive once more, a testament to Ewan’s incredible power.

But Ewan was not finished. He took a deep breath and, with a look of determination, opened his chest. Joshua’s eyes widened in shock as he saw Ewan’s heart, black and shattered into a million pieces, exposed to the morning air. Ewan’s face contorted with pain as he directed the same regenerative fire towards his broken heart.

The flames licked at the fragments, attempting to fuse them back together. For a moment, it seemed to work. The pieces began to move, inching closer to one another. But then, with a sudden, violent jolt, the heart shattered even further, the pieces scattering more widely within Ewan’s chest. Ewan cried out in agony, the pain evident in his eyes.

“Why does it hurt so much?” Ewan lamented, his voice trembling.

Finally, Joshua could bear it no longer. He stepped out from his hiding place and approached Ewan, his footsteps soft on the forest floor. Ewan looked up, startled, as Joshua knelt beside him. “Healing the heart requires time and patience,” he said softly. “You cannot force a solution. Your heart was broken by those who were meant to love you, your own family, who sought to end your life.”

With Joshua now fully healed, he requested the return of the princess’s heart. Ewan had hoped Joshua would forget about it, for as a mere human, Joshua could only carry one heart at a time. Joshua, however, expressed his unwavering trust and chose to entrust his heart to Ewan instead.

“If there is one person in this world I would trust with my heart, it would be you,” Joshua said, his voice steady.

Ewan reluctantly revealed the princess’s heart. It was a ghastly sight: partially melted and covered in patches of mold, the heart was a sickly dark green, oozing a foul-smelling, viscous liquid.

In stark contrast, Joshua offered Ewan his own heart. It was a beautiful crystal, radiating a soft, pure light that seemed to illuminate the entire room.

Ewan hesitated, his eyes filled with a mix of awe and sorrow. “Your heart is so pure,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

With great care, Ewan accepted Joshua’s heart, feeling its warmth and light. In exchange, he handed over the princess’s rotten heart, a stark reminder of the darkness that had plagued the kingdom. Before Joshua departed, Ewan offered him a golden hairclip as a souvenir. 

Now with the princess’s heart, Joshua returned to the kingdom. He presented the heart to the princess, and as he did, he felt his own emotions drain away, leaving him hollow and empty. The princess, upon receiving her heart, seemed to regain consciousness.

“Oh, Father, I feel so much better,” she cooed, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

The king, overjoyed, pointed to Joshua. “It is he who saved you, my dear. This man risked his life to bring back your heart.”

The princess turned to Joshua, her expression shifting from sweetness to disgust. Joshua, now devoid of emotions, stood silently as the princess mocked him. “You will never be more than a lowly peasant,” she spat. “No matter what you do, you will always be beneath me. Lock him away in the dungeon. He has served his purpose.”

As the guards moved to seize Joshua, the princess’s eyes fell on the golden hairclip adorning his locks. She reached out and yanked the hairclip from Joshua’s hair. The moment she did, the air in the throne room grew heavy with a palpable sense of dread. The hairclip was an artifact, a powerful talisman that summoned Ewan.

Ewan’s wrath blazed through the throne room, engulfing it in flames. His eyes burned with fury as he swept away the guards with a wave of his hand, his powerful magic sending them crashing into the walls.

The princess, now terrified, tried to beg and play the victim. But Ewan was unmoved by her pleas.

Ewan unleashed his magic, sending the king and the princess tumbling into a fiery pit. Their screams echoed through the throne room as the flames consumed them, leaving nothing but silence in their wake.

Ewan turned to Joshua, his anger melting into concern. He gently placed the hairclip back in Joshua’s hair before putting his heart in its rightful place, restoring his emotions.

As Joshua’s feelings returned, he looked at Ewan, his eyes filling with relief and joy. Without hesitation, he rushed forward and embraced Ewan tightly.

Ewan sighed, his expression serious. “The king and the princess planned to dispose of you once you had served your purpose. By giving the princess her heart, you lost your emotions, leaving you hollow. They took advantage of it. But I came to save you.”

Joshua’s sadness deepened as he realized the king and the princess’s true intentions. “Thank you, Ewan. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

One of the senior guards, a grizzled veteran with a kind heart, stepped forward. “Joshua, Ewan,” he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion, “we have seen the darkness that has plagued this kingdom for too long. You have shown us courage, kindness, and the strength to stand against tyranny. We ask you, humbly, to lead us. Will you take the throne and guide us to a better future?”

Joshua and Ewan exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting the deep bond they had formed. 

“As long as we are together,” Joshua said softly, “we can do this.”

Ewan nodded, his eyes filled with warmth. “We will lead with compassion and justice,” he said, turning to the guards. “We accept this responsibility, not for power, but to serve and protect our people.”

The guards knelt before them, pledging their loyalty. The news of the new rulers spread quickly throughout the kingdom, and the people rejoiced. They had suffered for far too long under the oppressive rule of the king and his daughter, and now there was a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

As Joshua and Ewan took their place on the throne, they made it their mission to bring prosperity and happiness back to the kingdom.  The orphans, who had once been neglected and forgotten, were now embraced with open arms and provided with a loving home with Ewan and Joshua as their royal parents.

The kingdom flourished under Joshua and Ewan’s reign. The once-poor villagers now had access to education, healthcare, and opportunities for growth. The kingdom’s economy thrived, as trade and commerce were revitalized.

But somewhere, far from the now prosperous kingdom, in a crooked castle shrouded by an eternal storm, Ewan’s family seethed with jealousy. His mother, two sisters, and three brothers, all powerful sorcerers, had caught wind of his incredible transformation and the return of his powers. Consumed by envy and dark desires, they began to weave a sinister plot, determined to make Ewan disappear for good.