As the captain had instructed the previous day, we made our way to the barracks before the sun was up. The cold of the early morning kept me awake, even if we were still inside. The purple tones in the darkness, the silence, the closed flower buds, and our hands - holding warm cups of tea. That’s how we walked across the castle halls, the prince and I, huddled in blankets, crossing the stillness of the madrugada. As usual, Kiochery followed close, as did Arsamira’s new guard, Luze.

- “It feels like an adventure- Like, like a secret! A secret escapade before everyone is awake!” – Arsamira was strangely excited despite his sleepy eyes. Even as someone who yearned for sunshine, his aura shone so bright, so bright, I was unable to stare. – “I haven’t been out this early in so long- I think the last time was when Ae took me to hunt with her. I kinda miss her- Ah. Kio, hold my cup.”

Aaaaand- he let that cup go as soon as he said it. Kiochery had to rush and catch it, while the prince rushed towards the open doors of the back entrance of the palace.

- “Sure is nice being young… Kiochery, are you alright?”

- “I’m- Yes, I’mmah- fine sir.” – Let him recover, just a few seconds. - “Oh? Young? But, sir, you two are about the same age, are you not?”

- “I’m not really sure, honestly... Oh! How old are you, Kiochery?”

- “24 harvest moons, sir! Still got a long time to serve you.”

- “I see. So, 25 years old. I’m… I guess I have lived through 20 harvest moons.”

- “Ah, the pinnacle of youth, then. I wonder, maybe you should eat more, sir. I’m sure that will give you more energy!”

And that’s how it was, a laugh and a nice chat ‘til we arrived at the carriage. The same as last time - a modest one, that Kiochery had chosen himself, as the driver. We left the empty cups in a basket Luze had with her.

Arsamira decided to sit by my side. That ‘it’s cold,’ he said, curling up next to me.

The stars were fading away from the morning sky, and I was mesmerized looking out the window of the carriage. There was slow movement throughout the silent city as we crossed the streets, like a stretch after you wake up. The bakers, the merchants, the early workers - all of them paraded around, lanterns illuminating the nooks and crannies, waiting for the sun to help them. A gust of air went by, rushing, spiraling around my head as I looked through the window; thank the darkness that freed me from having to hide under a cloak. It was so refreshing to be out of the palace again - the smell of the cold air and the tears from the sky’s first yawn, the strength of a purpose and the determination of the way.

It was so nice, until-

- “Ah! Oh god oh lord what- A bug?” – Splashing onto my glasses, a multicolor wasp-y creature.

- “What happen- Oh! Oh that’s gross- Uuuuuh, here, a handkerchief. Silly you.” – So said the prince, offering a typical, impeccable, embroidered handkerchief. Which of course I took. – “You can keep it, don’t worry about it. But this has been bothering me- If you can do magic, why do you keep wearing glasses?”

- “Eh- I can wash it, don’t wor- Wait what? What does magic have to do-”

- “You don’t know!? Well, well, let me tell you! Since Mizuen didn’t! You see! Learning magic can improve the body, and so and so! It’s really good for people who are weak or get sick easily, since it’s vitality! The energy that is life itself! So I’m sure your eyes could get better.”

- “Huh- Is it really that good…?”

- “Yeah.” – The cold of the morning circled around us as the prince looked down, the first rays of the sun covering him in shadows. – “There is my… My sister- Foebi. The second princess. She has always had a weak body, ever since she was born. But she managed to keep going.”

A grieving tone. My glasses now clean, I stared at him, feeling the weight of the implications.

- “And she became a really good medic, too. Even... she became the Queen’s advisor. The Royal Counselor.”

- “That’s quite the feat… Isn’t she younger than the both of us, too? But she was standing so calmly next to the Queen, back in the meeting- She’s amazing...”

- “Ah, you’ll break my heart!” – He laughed it off. – “It’s no wonder no one wants me to be king, with such talented sisters.”

Ah.

- “I did not mean that, Prince-”

- “Arsamira. Just Arsamira is fine. Even Arsa, if you want…”

-“Ah, I guess…I’ll try.”

- “And, well, since I can- Since we are-” - The hesitation in his tone made me worry. The shadows didn’t hide any smile. - “I-!...Well. Listen to me for a second, Von. I waited until now, so let me say this. I’m… I know I’m the one who should be responsible for you, and that I wasn’t able to do anything right. I was selfish, and summoned you for my own gain. To protect my people, yes! But also-… to protect my title. And once you arrived… I was dumbfounded. It felt underwhelming… And I… I left you alone. I left you, because I thought it was troublesome, even after you agreed to help us. But-”

He smiled at me once again, shining like the morning sun that approached from behind the mountains. The warmth of his hand held mine against the cold, a hopeful grasp.

- “I know I asked for a hero. I was a fool to think I would get a knight in shiny armor. But if there is one thing I know, is that destiny brings us not what we want, but what we need. Now that I can say it with my own words, now that you can listen to it directly from me, I have to ask.

Will… Could you aid me? Could you stay by my side? Von, could you help protect the things that are precious to me?”

As the sun rose above us, far away, illuminating the horizon… I just closed my eyes. The rays made me see red under them.

- “Isn’t it a bit too late to ask?”

- “I had to do it sooner or later. I do have my pride.”

- “Pride, you say…? But-”

- “I’m sorry, you don’t have to ans-”

- “Let me talk.”

The prince flinched. His eyes met with mine. A gaze was enough, apparently; was it that he didn’t want to confront it, was it that he didn’t even want to bother himself with it-? He turned away - away from my anger.

- “This is the first proper conversation we’ve had alone, isn’t it? I also had a few things that I wanted to say to you… No. I have a question for you, prin- Arsamira.” - I wished I could stop myself, but the words just flew and flew and-

- “What would be of me if I had dared to refuse? Did I… Did I even have the choice? Did you even think of me as a person? Did you even think that I, too, have feelings? That I have a family, a home, friends- And that you took me away from them? Qué- Qué- ¿Que me trajeron a un lugar donde estoy completamente solo? Do- ¿Donde dependo totalmente de ustedes?”

- “W-Wha- Yes- Of course- ! I’m really sorry for what happened, but I never thought you would feel like this- Von, you really don’t have to help if you don’t want to. I promise-”

- “Leave it alone.”

- “But-”

- “It’s a lovely morning. Let’s leave it like that.”

- “I prom-“

- “Promise me that I will live to see my world again, or don’t say a thing.”

Utter silence. Not even a cough. Just the sounds of an awakening world, and a traveling cart.

The only thing I remember from then on was Luze’s judging gaze; it made my mind go wild with all the types of torture I would have to endure for daring to defy the prince.

Now that I think about it, I probably leapt over Kiochery, as he opened the door from the outside, in an attempt to get off the carriage quickly. I couldn’t breathe properly, the cold was oppressing, and my thoughts kind of...went the wrong way, yeah- to the many medieval tortures I remembered: the pyramid, the rack, the thumb screw- I didn’t want to be dunked into water or tied to a wagon wheel...

(I’ll admit) I had overreacted back then, but even after calming down, the uneasy feeling of bothering someone who had treated me so kindly, despite their intentions, dragged me down.

The morning dew and the fresh air eased the spirits - it brought a mutual welcome of truce between the prince and I.

- “Sir, I’m sorry if this is out of place, but… did something happen?” - Kiochery whispered to me while we walked through the patio.

- “Ah… Nothing you need to worry about.”

- “I see… Is just, the prince looks unusually bothered.”

That’s one way to say it, with how bitter he looked. It ate me internally, to leave it like that.

Not being able to stand my ground, bearing a shameful stance of regret, I tried to approach him - the prince; even as bothered as he was, he shone as brightly as ever.

- “Pri- Arsamira.”

- “What is it, Von?” – I think... the fact he spoke to me so casually did calm me down, somehow. Maybe it did. My body was tense anyways.

- “I…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be…so... harsh… I’m just...scared. I know you are doing what you think is best for your people…! I’m just… Uh…”

He smiled at me, as he would normally do. Just that, his smile. That was enough. I didn’t wish for confrontation, nor for tension - or anything, really - to grow between us; aside from simple camaraderie - or, maybe, a lighthearted friendship. As addictive as his gleam of light was, I did not wish to stand under it. But, if kneeling down is what it took to keep him smiling, I would do it. For now, following him was… enough.

- “It’s fine, Von. It’s fine. You don’t have to be scared.” – He raised a hand. And, even with that charming smile, I feared the worst. My eyes closed by instinct, flashbacks coming to me as I waited for the pain. I let my held breath leave my body when all I felt was the warmth of his palm on my head. Some ruffles. – “I will make sure nothing happens to you. I will protect you, it’s a promise. I will…I will make sure that you get to see your world again. As well as those that wait for you.”

As I looked again at that bright smile, there was nothing to do but let it sit. The unwavering feeling of disappointment, the weight of a burdened heart, lurking in the dark.

But in my awareness of the charisma within his smile, within his words - a golden prince with a silver tongue - even with the wariness haunting me, I decided to trust him. Because his smile wasn’t a fake one, it never had been. And that, by itself, was good enough for me.

As I tried to hide, shaking ever-so-slightly behind Kiochery’s wide back, a feeling that shook my guts and compressed my heart attacked me violently.

I couldn’t ignore it, I couldn’t let it go; there was one thing I would never be able to run away from.

That if they knew I wasn’t going to be a mage, they would give me cold stares; what I deserved for the ‘lost potential.’ To walk the walk of shame. Disappointing others was, truly, the only thing I was good at.

Arsamira stopped them, elegantly waving his hand.

- “Now, we have something to do, so we don’t have time to lose. Go have breakfast for now. It’s an order, alright? Thank you. It’s nice to see everyone so energetic this early, please keep doing your best.” – He talked as clearly as possible over the voices of excited soldiers. Disciplined as they were, they didn’t waste time before leaving. Arsamira turned towards me. – “Are you alright?”

- “Yes, thank you, pri- Arsamira. I’m sorry I got-”

- “It’s fine. I told you I would protect you. And I keep my promises close to my heart, from the very second they are said.”

Kiochery looked at the both of us with a slightly dumbfounded expression, I noticed. I held to his sleeve after bowing to the prince, trying to hide my own confusion.

After that, past that, we finally arrived at the main building, where the captain’s office was located. Knock knock.

- “Ah, Arsaboy and the shrimp - finally! You are kinda late, huh?”

- “I’m sorry tito, I didn’t manage to wake up in time. I made them wait for me.” - Arsamira bowed slightly towards the captain.

- “Ah, it’s fine then. No prob. As long as it wasn’t the shrimp. Anyways. Chery, kiddo - since you’re already here, stay.”

Arsamira told Luze to go away, then.