The coming early-light, the prince had breakfast in a haste and tried his absolute best to carry out his royal duties as quick as possible. By the time the water-surface had lit-up, he was already rushing out the palace gate, his heart pumping like crazy in his chest in hopes of finding his friend at their usual meet-up spot. After swimming for a little while, he came to a halt, for his friend was nowhere to be seen... Matt frantically looked around, taking his surroundings in for any hint that his buddy had recently shown up. Small, round dents adorn the sandy ground, leaving a barely noticeable trail for the grantee to follow. He swam, following the trail a certain culprit had left behind, giggles getting louder and louder as he approached the end of the line.
Surely, the prince’s friend, Lev, was there playing with his sister, tossing an algae-bound shell from one to the other. Lev was a swain, rather scrawny child who resided with his mother and younger sibling somewhere on the outskirts of the village. Matt and him had run into each other close to the precipice in the vicinity of the castle town a little while back and had decided that the said spot should be where they’re to meet up if ever need be from then on.
The raven-haired boy took notice of Matt’s presence and briefly paused his game of toss, a shy smile creeping its way to his lips. „Matt- Your highness, it’s good to see you!” he said with a small bow. „Ah, I don’t think you have met my sister before, her name is Mila.” he adds, gently nudging the young lady forward. „Say hello, Mila, he is a friend!”
Shyly, she refused to speak, clinging to her brother’s tail of emerald green, her own punch pink one standing out due to the contrast. „Ahah, I’m sorry about that, my prince, she doesn’t seem to be the social type. Say, what currents bring you here today?”
„Not to worry, dear Lev. It’ good to meet you though, Mila. As to why I came here... Lev, I was wondering if I could have a word with you.” came the reply from Matt.
„Of course! Um... About what, may I ask?”
„I was just wondering if you had any particular interest... in magic?”
********
Going for a swim along the same coastline a couple of years later, after becoming quite invested in magic, the two boys took advantage of the serene silence to discuss their finds. This subject had not only given them something to occupy their spare time with, but also brought them closer together. „Remember last week, we consulted a manual about old forms of writing? I’ve been thinking, Matt, that one smudged word that we could not decipher... the first letter looks like a sort of ”bes”, don’t you think?”
The prince took his friend’s idea in for a moment. „I think you might actually be very right about that, my insightful friend. How would you like it if we headed to the royal athenaeum now and see what other clues we might stumble upon?” he asked, a mischievous smile on his lips.
„I’d be most delighted to accompany you there, my prince.” Lev bowed sarcastically, but couldn’t conceal the giggle that escaped past his lips. Two shared a genuine laugh as they headed back to the palace together.
Everyone around the palace already knew of the throne-heir’s closest companion, thus Lev was never questioned whenever he arrived and payed a visit, even less when he showed up by the prince’s side. They walked freely into the grand hall and respectfully bowed before the King and Queen, prior to swimming to the magically-sealed royal library. Cold stone walls seemed so familiar and welcoming down this corridor, the merry boys chuckled, passing through the set of doors, through the seal and into the shelves-ornate room. They sprung from one leg to another, their throats a bit sore from the dusty air of the chamber. „This place could never cease to amaze me...” excitement bubblesd up in Lev’s throat. „Matt, since when have you had access to this place?”
Pulling the great tome from its designated spot on the shelf, Matt replies: „I quite believe I was 12... What I can’t believe is the incredible magic that even allows this place to exist.” After a brief pause, he added „Come on, let’s check those notes out again! Could you get me the old language manual, please?”
********
Books and notes-covered pieces of paper were dispersed all around the floor, just as scattered as the magic enthusiasts’ brains. „Matt, we’ve been in here for almost half a light-cycle, they will get suspicious... and we just can’t get through this phrase, could we please stop here for today...?”
The prince, so lost in thought, didn’t even bother to pay any attention to his friend. „Come on, I am certain we will get to the bottom of this soon enough, look at all the progress we’ve made over the past only two years. But we shouldn’t forget to take a break every once in a while.” The heavy silence persisted. Lev grimaced, then slowly got up, placed a few delicate papers into a stack, waited for any sort of reaction from the prince, but when he didn’t even budge, the raven-haired boy took his leave. It wasn’t the first time he'd left without being shown out by his host, so few guards actually acted suspicious of him. The water-surface was deprived of light, the grand hall thrones empty... it is always so silent around here. Too silent.
The uncomfortable sensation finally dissipated as Lev made it home. His mother had been waiting for him in the main room of their small cave-house, a worried expression visible on her face, but it faded to relief as soon as her eyes landed on her son. „Lev! Oh, I’m so glad you’re back!” she wrapped her arms around her first born. „You never used to stay out so late, I thought something might have happened to you... Is everything okay?”
„Not to worry mother, I am completely fine, though I’m sorry to have made you uneasy... I won’t do it again.” A small smile creeped its way up to the boy’s lips, a small encouragement for his mother.
„Levie!” Mila’s excited voice boomed before she rushed to grab her sibling into a fierce hug. „You were out too long, mom was scared for you.”
„Ah, I know and I am sorry-„
„But look at this!” she intrerupted him and extended her arm, pointing to a patch of almost white skin. „Doesnt’t it just look interesting?” whitout waiting for a reply, she added „And there’s more! Mom tried to rub some plants on them, but they don’t seem to go away... Do they make me look ugly? Would you still think I’m pretty?”
„Of course, Mila! I would never dare think otherwise. You are beautiful, you are special, you are our little sun coral, but most importantly-” Lev emphasised with a small touch to the tip of his dear sister’s nose „-you are yourself. And that’s what just makes you so unique.”
„You’re the best brother!” Mila giggled. „Would you play catch with me tomorrow? Pretty please, Levie?”
„Well, I don’t see why Matt wouldn’t be able to work alone for a day... Besides, I always make time for my family, now do I not! Hahah!” the elder picked his hister up in a tender hug.
Their mother, Liuba, approached and hugged the two. „We should head to rest, my children. It’s late and you will need plenty of energy if you wish to play tomorrow!”
********
The world was sleeping soundly under the veil of darkness, the eternal silence still lingering... Or so should it have, if not for the missing prince and the panic that had set over the townsfolk immediately after glow-rise.
Comments (3)
See all