At night, the boy was contemplating his wrinkled poster while laying on his bed. <<Ugh, this drawing dosen’t look like me at all>>. It was then, when he realized it… ─. Aaah! ─touched his chest ─. How could I forgot about this all this time?!!… I can’t believe it!

Raen ran to the waiting room, Viktor and Ingrid were getting ready to sleep. The young man check there weren’t any soldiers at the inn.

─Don Viktor! when you found me, what did you do with my things? my clothes and jewelry.

─Ummn… I hid them.

─Where?! Could you give them back to me, please?

─Ok, ok, calm down… ─he entered to his bedroom ─. But don’t expect much, they’re really worn out.

─Why the hurry? ─Ingrid asked, the boy was very uneasy.

─Here you go.

The prince’s stuff were wrapped with a fabric, he was frantically looking for something important, the other two didn’t undertand what was going on.

─It’s not here!! ─he hiperventilated ─. Don Viktor, is this everything? ─the man nodded ─. Did you see a collar like this one? ─he showed the drawing of his wanted poster.

─I’m sorry, there wasn’t anything like that.

─Are you looking for a simple necklace?! I can’t believe it, is something material, forget about it.

─I know is something material, but it’s not a simple necklace!!… Ah!… Maybe is there…

Raen ran to the cove; he serched and serched for hours his missing object without finding it.

─Aaaaargh! ─he kicked the sand ─. How could I lose it?… I was so scared and worried for being trapped in this place… I didn’t even notice I wasn’t wearing it.

Soaked, desolated and exhausted, the prince was sitting on the sand hugging his legs and his gaze lost at dawn. He noticed someone was approaching, so he rubbed his eyes.

<<Owww, it seems he was crying>> thought the girl.

─You spend the whole night looking for it?! Did you find it?

─Nope, it’s not here either.

─Well, surely when you come back to your city, you could ask for a second one.

─That’s the problem, I can’t.

─Oh don’t be so dramatic! it’s just jewelry, what’s so special about it?

─You don’t get it, that collar was a gift from my parents; they made it the day I was born. My mom was famous for being able to create gorgeous opal stones, and my dad added to a family crest medallion three shark teeth, for being their third son ─he was drawing on the sand what he was dercribing.

─Oh, well… just ask them to made another one.

He looked at her for a few seconds, then he returned his gaze to the dawn ─. Ingrid, my parents were killed by the imperial actions a long time ago.

─Oww. <<Uh-oh Goodness gracious Ingrid, at least you should known that!… Now he’s sadder, I should apologize>> ─. I’m sorry Raen, I didn’t know, if it makes you feel better… I lost my parents and my sister by the same reason.

─Oh… I’m so sorry… ─he sighed ─. Would you be mad if you tell me about it?

─Nope… Only if you talk first.

─Agreed ─he sighed one more time ─. I don’t remember anything about my mother, she past away when I was a baby; but Nero and Bao always have told me stories about her. Also, there are some paintings of her at the castle, she was a benevolent queen and very beautiful ─he yawned, tiredness was beating him ─. When I was five years old, in another imperial attack, I was kidnapped by the emperor along with other kids of my city. Months later, we were rescued bye the caravans; eventhough things got complicated. My father had to sacrifice himself in order for the rest of us to leave safely, Helios was already too powerful.

─That was atrocious!! you were orphaned at such a young age ─she had teary eyes.

─Don’t make that face. I never felt that way, Nero and Arleene were always there for me, they raised me like I was their son.

─Aww, that so sweet of them, you must love the a lot.

─Profoundly… Now’s your turn.

Now was Ingrid who took a deep breath.

─Mnnn… you see, this town enjoyed happiness, there were never any problems; we all haf normal lives. Since the beginning, the mines’ve been the richness of Minawoods, eventhoug they give few elemnts, the kivets were sold to you; the caravans. Four years ago… the empire invaded us ─her voice was cracking ─. Despite their army was commanded by two sentinels, it only was needed one to defeat all of our kivet warriors… In a blink of an eye, none were left alive.

Raen held her hand ─. You don’t need to tell me the rest… the empire is usually very ruthless.

─No, it’s fine. Once the town was subdued, they gathered all of us none users, and made us watch how our remaining beloved ones that could use kivets, were decapitated… one by one.

<<That’s why I was supposed to say I can use kivets… Mmnn… could use>>. He looked at her, afflicted by her words ─. I’m really sorry Ingrid, it should’ve been frightening.

She nodded and wiped her tears, there was a moment of silence, then the prince’s stomach growled, both noticed it was late for work.

─We should go back, or uncle Vik won’t be the only who scold us ─the boy agreed, both stood up and removed the sand. Ingrid stopped and pulled her friend’s arm ─. Oh, wait! that day uncle Vik… lost his wife and son.

Raen was speechless <<He lost his beloved ones too…>>.

─My cousin was around your age… Maybe he sees him in you. I believe that’s why uncle Vik tried so hard to save you.

<<WHAT?! How am I supposed to face Don Viktor now that I know this?… Nnnngh Ingrid… you should’ve stopped when I asked you to…>>. Trying to hide his panic, he just answered ─. Ummn… got it, thanks for sharing your story with me.

The rest of the day, Raen was very uncomfortable with Viktor around. At night, the boy was contemplating the moon as he used to.

─You really enjoy gazing the night sky, eh?

─Yeah, it is very relaxing, over all the sound of the sea, I could do this all night… Ah! Don Viktor ─he stood up rapidly and faked a yawn ─. Ohm, but I’m really tired today, I… better go to sleep, have a great night Don Viktor ─he walked away but the healer grabbed his hand.

─Wait, don’t leave; I want to talk to you ─he didn’t released the boy ─. Have you been avoiding me, Raen?

─Ehm… No, no, why would I do somehting like that? ─he passed saliva and saw him with anguish.

─Mnn, it must be my imagination then ─he smiled a let him go ─. Get some rest.

The prince was going back to the inn, though the fact of lying was eating him, so he turned around ─. Yes!… I was eluding you ─with a warm smile, the sir made a sign for the boy to sit next to him. Once together they chat ─Today I found out what happened to your family. I’m so sorry, I wish I could have done something to stop the misfortune of this town.

─So that was what’s going on… don’t worry about it, that’s on the past now. Weren’t you too young for goint to battlefield? that was four years ago ─he was doing math with his fingers, trying to calculate the kid’s age.

─Well, that’s true. But you know?, at that age, I was already training to be part of the Order of the Caravans.

─You were alrady training?!! Wow, you are very brave, I don’t even dare to defy Minawords guards.

─Hehe, I’m not always been so brave. In fact, it took me a loooooot of work to stop being fearful ─curiously Viktor asked about what he had done to become corageous ─. When I was five, I was abducted, tortured with psychic kivets for months, they tried to brainwash me to be part of the empire. When I was rescued and returned home, I didn’t want to leave my chambers; there was no human power to pull me out. Everything made me dread, even attacked my family to get away from me, I saw them as monsters that wanted to hurt me. I also herd a voice inside my head demanding me to do terrible things.

─How awful! Could they still control your mind or something? ─the boy nodded ─. What did you do to remedy it?

─Back then Bao, my brother, attended the academy of the Order. On of his friends, Ulrik, with his psychic powers, ammn… I’m not sure what he did to me; but I saw things again as they really were. Although it was temporarily, then another psychic user cured me completely.

─Oh, and with that you weren’t afraid anymore.

─Mmmn, ot quite, I was traumatized. I couldn’t abandon my chambers if I wasn’t accompanied by Nero. He had just taken the throne of the kingdom, he had to deal with all the changes in his life and I was driving him crazy; so it occurred to him to hire a bodyguard.

─To be with you all the time and everywhere.

─Exactly, five or six big soldiers like gorilla dudes showed up, was then when I… met Heimon… ─the tone of his voice dimished, his countenance saddened. He hugged his legs, put his head down and stopped talking. Viktor patted his back silently ─. Since that day he stood by my side, endure all of my whims; he taught me to defend myself. We were always together, he also gave me some advices… quickly he became my best friend. The day we comfront Helios… ─he grieved ─. I couldn’t know if he survided.

─I’m so sorry Raen.

He yawned and streched his arms and legs ─. Ehem, sorry for ramble ─he relaxed ─. I think I stopped being so fearful thanks to the trainings and that I grew up; naturally I got stronger. My victories and failures in the battlefield strengthened my confidence, my kivet control improved, I can use kivet abilities with both of my elements, something never seen before, HA! ─he was all excited while telling positive stuff about himself, until he remembered it ─. Well… I can’t do it anymore… ─Raen kicked a rock.

─Don’t get depressed, there should be some reason why you couldn’t use them in that occasion.

─Yeah… the goddesses have abandonned me.

─Don’t say that.

─Then tell me WHY?! ─he stood in front of the man.

─Ummn… Well I don’t know that. But I’ve never heard of anyone loosing their powers out of nowhere.

─Oh! and you have heard a lot of things being locked in this town ─said in a haughty tone.

─Raen.

There was a pause, the kid calmed down ─. I’m sorry Don Viktor I… This is just…

─Too frustraiting. <<His emotions are truly volatiles… >>.

─Mmn-hnn ─he nodded while pouting. Vik was smiling at him ─. I’m exhausted, I should… I should go to sleep… good night ─the prince said saddened, then both went inside the inn.