The moment I woke up and recognized this old, lame stone ceiling, I knew I lose.
My teeth gritted with anger as my hands clutched. Memories from yesterday elapsed in my mind, destroying my morning mood.
“A pact, my ass!” I madly growled.
Knowing this tainted blood running in my veins is a curse enough, now you think some lame pact could stop me?
Eat that crap.
I woke up and dressed myself in my uniform, ready for some scolding. As I tied a clean white bandage on my tampered wrist, an expected presence entered the room.
“Your highness,” Arabelle, a maid, greeted me with a humble bow. Whenever I hear that title, I feel myself being suffocated.
“General,” I corrected with a sigh before I pulled my long auburn hair together, tying them with a simple white ponytail.
“His Majesty is waiting for your presence.” She formally informed with her normal tone. I only gave her a nod before passing her by, going to that Devil’s lair.
-----
“I apologize for my intolerable failure, your majesty, I did not only fail to capture a dragon, I let the downfall of a dozen men,” I reported as I kneeled in front of him with my head bowed down, facing the ground.
“You impudent!” He yelled at me with rage, “How dare you lose exactly 13 blessed swords?! One is not even worth your life!”
---That dragon boy!
I clenched my hand upon that thought.
Those swords are exceptional since that magical stone, Gaia, blessed it. It could pierce through every dragons' scales like iron, jade, and stone. It could split fire and is also bestowed with plentiful spells that could defeat a full-grown dragon. Yet, there is only an assessable amount of it.
“It takes years to yield a fine sword and you are saying you lost them in just a single night?! You useless FOOL!”
Yeah, I am getting used to his scowls and yells that convey no concern about a single lost life. He only cares more about what could save him.
And now that the swords are lost, I might as well take that as an opportunity to rest for a while, and find a way to severe this freaking pact.
---and just eliminate him already.
As he took deep breaths to calm himself down, I waited for orders without looking at him.
“A week from now is the crown prince and the first princess’s 20th Birthday, Hera and Harith.” He started, “Retreat from dragon hunting, stand by for now until that day, and do not disappoint me again!” He spat the last word, and finally, he commanded me to leave.
I will be facing some humans again, huh, What a nuisance.
I gave my last respect and lifted my head to look at him, yet he did not do the same. I wonder why you won’t even look at me in the eye, uncle.
I left the room, only to see those familiar long golden curls and amber locks. Her bulgy and colorful dress telltales her superiority and position. She walked towards me with pride, and with that same old smile of hers, Hera.
“Father scolded you again?” She stated as she halted in front of me, “I hope you would not mind his short temper---”
“Princess Hera, I wish you luck for your incoming birthday,” I said instead as I took a slight bow. I fixed my posture and decided to leave, but the weasel started to talk again.
“Why are you in such a hurry? As if you even have something right to do, don’t you?” Without looking back at her freaking face, I know she’s sneering at me. “Why don’t you have a little fun with us, Rhys?”
“Yeah, to be honest, I’m quite busy lately,” I stated with a smirk. Slowly, I turned around to look at her in the eye. “I’ve been busy protecting that big lousy butt of yours.”
Before her palm even reaches my cheek, I blocked her hand with my rigid arm. I enjoyed watching her face frown after hurting herself from my defense. She held her flushing palm as she slightly rubs it, mending the pain.
“Ugh, you will pay,” That was her last word before sprinting towards her father’s room.
I sighed, what a good day. I strolled onto this lonely marble hallway; the walls were decked with pure gold, furnished crystals adorned the ceilings, and some sore-in-the-eye trophies were displayed on the right side of the gold-covered wall.
Until how long will these people play the role of the gods?
I then found myself at the end of the hallway. Somehow, I managed to leave this place without slitting a throat, how lame.
The entire castle was busy preparing for that very big day, and I am not even allowed to leave the walls. I should at least walk around before confining myself to that desolate house.
I allowed my feet to lead me to the unknown, wherever I am welcomed or at peace. It must have been minutes; I found myself in front of a familiar door. It is made of plain oak wood and old that it is getting a bit mossy and also somewhat wrecked, but I entered anyway.
The door creaked open, only to smell a nostalgic odor of burnt wood. It is still here.
I closed the door behind, causing for the specks of dust to fly around. The library was empty and messy. Some old and leather-covered books were just piling up beside the shelves, and signs of dust are everywhere. The windows were not even cleaned and spider webs flaunt off by the corner.
“What a tragic end you have,” I mumbled as I looked at the blackened wooden floor, ceiling, walls, seats, and tables that were almost set ablaze.
Back then, thirteen years ago, everything was perfect, but then, everything was almost on fire.
I lost everything.
Almost.
“Your highness,” An old man’s voice managed to pierce through my downbeat train of thoughts.
I looked to my right, only to meet his old jewel gaze. Silver linens had become more dominant on his once coal hair. Wrinkles were etched ideally on his once youthful face, his body got slimmer and his complexion; It is getting paler as days go by.
I noticed he held some books in his shaking hands, geez. He must have been fixing this hopeless dwelling.
“Sir Cart,” I mumbled before taking a step towards him. I took the books off his lift and coldly asked, “Why do you still take care of this barren place? There is nothing left here for you to use.”
With his half-closed eyes, he faintly smiled at me, making his wrinkles take more of my attention. “Her highness has been so good to me, and I vowed to pay her by at least cleaning this place that she once adorned for the rest of my---”
“Go home,” I interrupted before I reached for the table to place the books I took from him. “This place is nothing special, and we might as well just leave it this way.”
My word met silence, and I do not even have the courage to look back.
“Cart,” I spoke up, “You are too old to even hold a book. With your current situation, you wouldn't do good. You are weak, thus, useless. Someone like you must stay home.” I coldly suggested, before looking back at him. “You can go home.”
He only gave me a sad smile, took a bow, and left.
I huffed, why am I feeling sick right now?
My gaze went back to the table and run my fingertip to its wooden surface, checking for dust before sitting on it. Its roughness only made me conclude it was wiped out clean. Maybe by Cart himself.
“I once adorned, huh?” I mumbled as I sat down and took a glimpse of the darkened ceiling made of wood.
You made me hope back then, you bastard.
You made me hope with all my heart that maybe one day, as you always tell me before, I will someday soar to the sky and when I see the world below, it is peaceful and undisturbed.
---And in the end, it was all but an illusion that fooled an ignorant kid.
Two days from now is the so-called special day, but they already set a job for me to do. That is escorting nobles and some distant relatives of the royals.An escort is needed since bandits mostly show up in this kind of situation, or worse, dragons would.They would take this opportunity to enter the castle and just like before, they will tear down these walls, and flood the castle with seas of fire.I could hardly remember what it looked like before.As I stand by the gate of stones, waiting for official orders. Carriages of exquisiteness already reached the castle, safe and sound. Gladly, not a sign of any assault from the foe, it is making me wonder.I was about to stroll towards the other side of the gate when I heard my co-general called my name.“General Rhys,” he formally greeted, “We assign you in the outskirts of the palace.”I only gave him a nod, took my horse from the stables, and headed immediatel
The grand day has come.Colorful buntings, lanterns, and posters decorated every house and street, and the castle was lit as the sun is about to set.Several carriages await at the entrance as the Nobles enter the great hall.As I got in into the main hallway, murmurs and giggles muddled in the empty atmosphere. Maids, mistresses, and visitors, they sure do talk a lot.They had been talking about finding a partner for tonight, pathetic.Instead of being stuck in this crowded place, I would rather do some safe-keeping job before the party starts. As I wore my same old lame uniform today, I walked out of the hall, towards the supervision area.“A dragon was insight,” I heard from a messenger inside the tent, “By the border.” He added.And that is where the fun starts.Alone, I rode towards the outskirts, looking for any sign of the sighted demon. I want to see that dragon myself before the army catches it.
(Before nightfall...)“Leonor said he will be reporting at midnight,” My servant, Fish, informed as we stood by the crowd. I then glanced at the window with curiosity; it was still giving off evening signs.“And what about the girl?” I asked next.“I don’t think she is here, sire.” Was his reply.Hmm.She is a royal, yet she isn’t here. But the party has not started though; maybe she will be coming by any time sooner.The room was getting crowded as visitors were piling up. Everyone is clothed with nobleness. That it shone together with the dazzling light of the glow stones. The place was wide enough for four full-grown dragons to fit and quite grand.Well-furnished maroon tiles, an old canvas of dragons and human beings painted together on the domed ceiling, and a kindled crystal chandelier in the middle. A throne is nowhere to be found, and
“How dare you fail to show up yesterday, Rhys.” Fiona furiously probed as she fixes my hair at a bench by the garden. I was meant to be scolded today either, but with my aunt around, I managed to avoid that, yet sadly, they dismissed me from my hunting job and must remain inside the walls once again.---since I so-callingly broke an important protocol.“Ouch,” I softly mumbled when she accidentally pulled my hair a bit too harsh. Involuntarily, my gaze traveled upon my bandaged hands, resting on my lap. Then, it slowly averted onto this thin, white, average-length dress that my aunt forced me to wear today.How unpleasant“Look at you, you are growing old.” She madly spat with the voice I could hardly recognize, “Do not wait for love to find you and just go on, MARRY someone and leave this crappy place.”“Yeah, and be stuck with some crappy guy too, huh,” I coldly responded. She didn&rsquo
Damn, I can’t stand her, leaving just like that in the middle of a discussion. Where did she even go?I scratched my head as I remember how I waited for her to come back only to know she runoff.But looking back earlier, with that plain white dress she wore and her braided hair. I never thought she has such side, I mean, she looks good in it.Her behavior is a drawback though. She even blabbered about seducing someone; I am not planning to go that far, that bastard!---And she did not even thank me for lending her a hand to go home, how ungrateful that is.I left the mansion and fled back to Leonor’s resting place, planning to investigate. Who even bothered to start an assassination on such a prestigious day?---The place will obviously be well-guarded.My mind then flashed a memory. I don’t know but; it is bothering me, why she opened up to me just like that. It was kind of unusual for someone wicked like her.
Fierce untamed flames and flailing dreadful screams became my everyday bedtime story. It creeps into my mind, corrupting my once lively dreams into nightmares. I tried to bury it all deep down into my guts yet it only kept resurfacing, pleading to be released from this benighted prison of misery and sorrow, wishing to see the so-called light one more time.I realized I was the one foolish on that part. That these dark cold demons inside me crave for the warmth of the light even though they know they would perish, and I obliged them from that due to the fact that I cannot just let things go.Just because I am afraid to remember, I am afraid to feel too much. I have prolonged my agony for so long that it clouded me from recognizing freedom.After all those terrible years of being alive, I decided to let it go. I faced my demons head-on with the courage that I could muster. I devoted myself to ending this century-year-old suffering of mine once and fo
Too much happened today;A lit-up motivation to end my connection with her and then,---a waver.Surely, the past has nothing to do with her anymore; she is not the person they knew back then, but, why is it bugging me?I thought as I stared at the candle-lit wooden ceiling while lying on my bed.What made it worse is that she is loved regardless of her sins, and even though she is at her worse. The fact that those kinds of people, the good one, are the one who is still hoping for her to come back is unrealistic. I mean, is it even possible, for humans, to create such a pure and strong bond?How come someone still loves an evil-deprived person?What made them think she has hope?I heaved a deep sigh at these idealistic questions in my mind.Betrayal and greed,---that is their nature, so I guess, forgiveness and selflessness either, huh,I closed my eyes, deciding not to think much about it, but I failed when I rem
An intimidating silence somehow woke me up, just to find myself alone in a grim and prison-like room, as I rested my back on the wall. I tried to stand up, only to find myself cuffed from hands to feet which I just recently noticed. My hands are roped on my back and on my ankles too.“What happened?” I softly mumbled, trying to remember what came to pass.I went to visit Rhys by early midnight at the Bescheil residence to ask her about her upcoming birthday, only to hear she was not there. Well, my actions were quite questionable too, since it is already midnight, and I am known to be cold-hearted around her.Upon leaving, that was when I blackout. For heaven’s sake, who dares hurt a princess and store her in such a filthy place?!I glanced at my surrounding. The walls were made of mud bricks, a table far in front of me, and a wooden door on the left side of the wall that I am facing. The floor is made of stone. There are no windows, and