Aisa listened carefully to the prince as he narrated details of her life that she could not recall. While she was curious about all he had to say, she remained suspicious of him, seeking to discover whatever he was plotting.
She listened cynically to the incredible tale about how she was once a noble who lived within the palace with a life-gem. Prince Zova proclaimed that he had loved her and wished to make her his bride. The King who also loved her as a daughter had approved of it, and desired that she be crowned princess. However, some were jealous and did not wish for her to be the crown princess. The night before the prince planned to make an official proposal to her, someone lured her into meeting with the king of the underworld. Whatever it was that she was told had been sufficient to make her steal the Master life-gem, and hand it over to the evil king, whose only wish was to see the kingdom of Salem destroyed.
The master Life-gem was eternal and gave the same immortality, power, and authority the royals had to the one who wielded it. It was to be given to whosoever was chosen as the prince’s wife. That way she could bear royal children that possessed eternal life-gem, like the king and prince.
Everyone else in the kingdom had a mortal life-gem, that only lasted a lifetime. They also could sell their gems for wealth, after which they became susceptible to being taken to the underworld, as they lost the power and protection it offered. Unsurprisingly, the master life-gem was the most coveted object in the kingdom.
The prince explained, that when she stole the gem, she had not known of its use and power, nor did she know it was to be hers. He did not doubt that she had been deceived into thinking it was insignificant. The evil king successfully took her life-gem, and the master life-gem away and this caused her to lose all her memories. When this was discovered, the elders had proposed that she should be killed for committing such a heinous crime against the kingdom, but the king and prince agreed that she would be banished till they could reclaim the master gem, as they only wished to restore her. There was a consensus that a barrier be set up to protect the palace and its immediate regions, so only those who possessed life-gems could enter the place presently referred to as the inner kingdom.
By the time Kuroi returned to her assigned bedroom, she felt overwhelmed by all the prince had disclosed and had difficulty comprehending all she had been told. She tossed and turned on the luxurious bed, pondering. When she eventually was about to drift off to sleep, a noise at her window jerked her out of her slumber. She sat up abruptly, thankful she had not put out the candles. She felt her heart race as she saw a person enter through her window. She was about to scream in trepidation when she noticed the twisted but familiar face, she was most acquainted with.
“Zebub! How… when… what are you doing here?” She questioned, in surprise.
THE WRITTEN FAITH 
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