Fire to Ash
Description
Some say that he is a cruel king.
The cities burning. Men, women and children alike slaughtered. He doesn’t have mercy, to enemy and subject both. He doesn’t blink when he kills. He rules with an iron fist to keep everyone in check and to keep a sturdy grip on the throne. Many rumours circulate about how he murdered his older brother in battle just so he could have the throne.
Some say he’s a good king.
Despite the battles waged, he’s kept the kingdom safe. People can walk in peace and not fear for their lives because their borders are secure. While he is firm with his rulings, he is still just.
No one disagrees that he’s mysterious. The common folk do not know his name, much less have they seen his face. He's referred to as "the King" or "His Majesty" when he's mentioned on the streets. He wraps himself in the cloak of night when he battles, and when dawn breaks, he’s fleeting and then gone.
But most of all, I think he’s a lonely king.
It’s the way his fingers linger at the windowsill, mere centimeters away from where the sunlight is flooding in, but not quite touching it. It’s the way he stares out listlessly at the rolling green hills and winding rivers sparkling in the sun, though he can never quite reach it.
When King Chanyeol is simply like that, by himself, I don’t see him as cruel, good, or mysterious. He’s simply lonely, and that’s perhaps the worst one to be.
Foreword
They say what you’ve done in your past life determines how your next life will be like.
Chanyeol thinks he must’ve destroyed the kingdom ten times over in his past life.
And maybe, he thinks bitterly, Maybe I’ll do the same this life so the person in the next life has to suffer too. It’s only fair, isn’t it?
_________
THIS IS GOING TO BE FOUR CHAPTERS AND THEN AN EPILOGUE. EVERYONE SHOULD SLAP ME IF IT GOES LONGER. LITERALLY. It was originally going to be a long oneshot but I want to rotate with chapters in CY’s POV and the OC’s so now it’s four chapters :’)
Notes before you read:
>It’s not extremely clear in the description, but Chanyeol can’t touch sunlight or he’ll turn to ash. Which is where Fire (Chanyeol) to Ash comes from.
>There’s a whole theme of reincarnation going on. If your wrongs outweigh your good in your life, your next life will be miserable and terrible and stuff. And vice versa.
>Um angst probably
>King AU if you haven’t noticed but you probably have
>Why am i starting this you may ask i don’t know either okay
Look at this fanart I am so inspired asdfghjkl
Poster credits (click on the poster to be redirected to the designer's profile):
Other stories:
Cutlass — Baekhyun x OC (pirate!au, romance, fantasy)
Touch of Hades — Chen x OC (assassin!au, romance, fantasy, action)
Fearless — Baekhyun x OC (slice of life, romance, school life)
Darkest Hour — Baekhyun x OC (fantasy, adventure, romance, action)
On Angel’s Wings — Baekhyun x OC (angel!au, slice of life, romance, angst)
Sea of Flames — Baekhyun x OC (oneshot, romance, fluff, fantasy)
Prometheus — Kai x OC (action, romance, fantasy)
Windwalker — D.O. x OC (prince!au, fantasy, action, adventure)
Comments