What a depressing story, ain’t it? Welp… sadly, it will continue like this for abit longer. Six months had passed since the Iskyla attack, Raen was still trapped at Minawoods, his injuries were already healed. He continued saddened and overwhelmed, he had tried to escape several times without success, General Yago made him work at the mines to keep the boy watched.
The friendship between Ingrid and the prince had grown; although they still argued from time to time. Also he entered into Rozen’s circle of friends. Unfortunately, by living with the people of this town, they were infecting him with their poor mentality of feeleng less and being losers. His desires of getting out ot that place were dimishing, he was resigning himself to his new outrageous lifestyle.
In a rest day at Minawoods, the joung prince was with his friends at the fire outside the inn. They used to roast some meat skewers for dinner when new people arrived at the town, while they were waiting for the meal, the conversation wasn’t missing.
─So, nobody in this place can use kivets, but soldiers? ─asked one of the newbies.
─And my uncle Viktor, the healer ─she pointed to her house.
─There should be a way to escape, what have you tried? ─asked another guy. Everybody looked at Raen.
─Tell them Dragon Boy.
He still didn’t liked being called by his nickname ─. Honestly… everything.
─Aren’t there any messenger birds that we could use? ─asked another dreamer newbie. The eyes turned to the prince for a second time.
─There are some, but they’re guarded by soldiers inside the fortress.
─What about by ship? We could hide as cargo, right?
─We can’t do that either, thanks to this punk and his failure attempts, General Louis increased security and he inspects every ship ─said one of the grown ups that was sick of the kid’s actions.
The new group looked at Raen, who was nodding; confirming what they just listened. They continued like this, every idea they thought of, was already tried by certain someone.
─There’s an option ─Raen said while biting his skewer.
The ones that already new what was coming next those words, sighed, snarled, others made a disgusting face and others roled their eyes. The new people didn’t understand, they looked at each other bewilderment.
─Which one? ─asked one of them, fearful to receive a crazy answer.
─Join forces and confront the army.
After a period of silence, laughter were heard from everyone, he was already used to get that reaction, so he kept eating.
─But they have powers, we don’t ─said another newbie.
─Hahaha, keep listening, here comes the best part ─people were mocking.
─It’s not necessary to win. We just need to create a diversion and someone can runaway and… ─was interrupted.
─And ask aid to the Iskyla Kingdom, hahaha, can you believe this kid?
─It’s not a bad plan ─everyone but Raen were surprised ─. But… Iskyla is far from here ─Jethro said: a man in his twenties, skinny, with crimson red eyes and hair, and very pale skin ─. Surely the one who escapes, could get caught easily.
─Yep, it’s possible that happens ─Raen added. The little hope that the new ones had, vanished. It was a far-fetched plan without a doubt.
─Iskyla, Iskyla, Iskyla, we’re nothing to those scoundrels ─said old-man Norman in a angry tone ─. When the empire invaded this place, we sent messenger birds asking for aid, and where was their help, eeh? surely in one of their stupid parties, humn.
─Maybe they didn’t know where is this place ─Raen said in his defense. <<I didn’t know this place existed. You have no idea of how many notes and letters arrive on daily basis>>.
Minawoods folks were angry at this response, Ingrid just looked at her friend with anguish ─. They didn’t know where are we?! Of course they know. If not, what use are their luxuries, technologies and powers their boast so much? ─another angry person said.
─True! their help never arrived, but their invitation to Prince Raidha’s twelfth birthday came in heaps!! ─Rozen exclaimed.
<<WHAT?!>> Raen couldn’t believe what he was listening.
─He’s right, with us, invitations to dumb parties was the only thing that showed up ─Elyon said: Jethro’s sister, with hair and skin like him, but her eyes were green and with an intimidating gaze.
─Where I come from, the same happened; but it was to the fourteenth birthday, hahaha.
─Iskyla and the caravans think they’re the good ones of the story, but they are just as superb as the empire. They only watch over their friends or wealthy people ─Leo spoke.
─We’re nothing for them ─Isaac added.
─Idiot boy you live in a illusion, wake up! ─Norman scolded.
<<Is that how they see my family, friends and me?>>. Raen was in shock, the others kept talking trash about the royal family and the caravans.
─The most pathtic of them all, was that dumb fucking prince of shit, he only thought of himself. So much that he presumed his greatness, and I heard he was shattered by the emperor, like a toothpick ─Rozen expressed his feelings. Ingrid looked at Raen who was loosing his temper.
─Yeah! Nobody needs someone like him, the world is better like this! ─Old-man Norman yelled and the rest of them cheered the death of the one they were talking.
Unable to bear another word, Raen stood up ─. It’s so easy to you to speak behind someone else’s back. Unlike you, at least they have the will and courage to face the empire!!
─Did you just called us cowards? ─with the heated environment, Rozen and Raen started fighting.
Soldiers arrived inmediatelly to stop the disturbance ─. Enough! ─they turned out the fire.
─Everyone to your houses if you don’t want to be punished, now! ─Sennet spoke ─. Except you two ─held the fighters ─. Geez, not even on an OFF day you can’t be at peace. You make another show like this again, and I’ll take you myself to the guillotine, understood?
─Yes, sir! ─both answered, glared at each other and left to their respective houses.
Raen still upset enter the inn, slamming the door ─. Argh!
─Raen! What happened? your mouth is bleeding ─preoccupied Viktor asked.
─I’m fine! ─he ran upstairs and locked inside his bedroom, he was so enraged that he tore off the door’s knob ─. Uuurgh! ─he threw it away.
─Fine and really angry… What happened now? ─he asked his niece who was just entering the place.
─The same as always, but today they didn’t stop offending a certain deceased prince.
Laying on the ground, he leaned against the door, gasped desperately ─. I hate this place!!… I don’t want to be here… But I can’t run away on my own, argh! ─punched the floor.
He wanted to cry, scream, destroy everything, but he didn’t do it… yet. He went to the cove, stayed in his underwear and with his bandages that covered his tattoos. He swam into the deep ocean, and it was then when he shouted with all his might, went up to take a breath and repeated this a couple of times; when he finished letting off steam, he lay on the sand.
─Huh… Well… I do feel a lot better ─he was dressing himself again ─. Though… something is still missing… I know! it’s the “Lundberg hour” ─he clapped his hands.
You could say the “Lundberg hour” was a tradition of the men of this family, every day they reunited for an hour and chatted about trivial things, marital or personal problems, or whatever. The only forbidden topic was the empire stuff or their work; they had the rest of the day to talk about those issues. So Raen drew faces on the sand, painting different expressions simulating his brothers and sat cross-legged.
─Ummn… Eh… I miss you guys so much, I wish I could tell you that I’m alive and come back home.
─We miss you too little Rai ─he changed his voice tone imitating his family members.
<<Ogh, now I’m truly crazy, I’m talking to the sand>> ─. What would you do in my place? How do you do to be loved and admired by everybody in your kingdoms, huh? ─he sighed.
─We are cool and amazing, unlike you.
─Tsk, I know. Here I’m considered insane for wanting to flee, they beat me, they don’t want to help me escape. They force me to work in a mine all day; as if that were not enough, it is slowly killing my lungs. They call me by a stupid nickname, I lost my collar… and the worst; I lost… my kivet control…
There were a few minutes of silent.
─But not everything’s been bad, hasn’t it? ─he began walking reflexively from side to side.
─That’s correct… If it wasn’t for Don Viktor and Ingrid… I wouldn’t be in this world, they’ve given me everything to survive. The others aren’t bad with me unless I start talking about fleeing. The soldiers also don’t beat me up unless… I brake a rule or they stop me from running away. I… I invented the dragon story… ─he snorted ─. Maybe the goddesses blocked my powers to save me from the situation I was in, or… because they’re right and I’m a selfish person, and they don’t want me anymore. All this time I’ve been looking for ways to leave, without caring what happens to the rest of the inhabitants of this place ─he fell to the gorund in a pose of defeat.
<<Mmmmn… I think I don’t blame them for hating me so much, even I disgust myself right now>>.
─They surely want to get out of Minawoods.
─How am I supposed to defeat the soldiers?… They have powers and I don’t… AH! ─he gasped ─. Oh for all the kivet goddesses!! ─he pulled his hair with both hands ─. NO!… No, no, nooo… I’ve become one of them! Even I'm speaking with the same sentences and the same losing attitude!!… diaaaagh.
He fell depressed on the sand. ─. Just take me now… swallow me earth… take me universe…
Goodness gracious, please excuse this melodramatic teen boy. After some minutes of lamenting, he had a deep breath… exhaled and he slapped his cheeks.
─ENOUGH! I’m not like them, I am Raidha Lundberg! prince of Iskyla, a great caravanner with lots of experience, and I’m going to free this town from the empire claws ─now his posture was triumphant.
<<Did that sound too arrogant?… Ugh, don’t answer>>.
He erased his doodles on the sand and went back to his house.
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