Tomorrow, one of my sons will die. 

This thought weighs heavily on my mind as I gaze at the setting sun from my bedroom window. Perhaps this was inevitable. The Kingdom of Sol is no stranger to Princes killing one another for the throne, but as I watch the last blood-red rays of light fade behind the horizon, I can feel the shadowy echoes of the past looming over my heart. I hear the door behind me suddenly open and the familiar clanking of my Knight, Aquilo, entering my room. I don’t turn around.

“Your Majesty,” he says, in the same surly tone I’ve grown accustomed to, “The preparations for tomorrow’s ceremony have been completed. Please get some rest tonight.”

I continue staring out the window, and I can almost feel the shadows creeping up my spine, sinking into my flesh and poisoning my thoughts. I turn to reply, but I can feel my voice wavering.

“Please, Aquilo, stay by my side tonight.” 

My Knight nods, “Yes, your Majesty. I will accompany you, even in death.” 

Despite my dark mood, I can’t help but smile at him, and a familiar feeling of warmth spreads across my chest, like the heat of a fire during a winter storm. I summon the maids and prepare for bed with haste before crawling under my silk sheets, my old bones creaking. Aquilo sits in a chair next to my bed, still in full armour. It’s a familiar arrangement, so I don’t bother telling him to go to bed. He never does, instead always insisting on keeping watch. I close my weary eyes, and with the comfort of his familiar presence, slowly drift into sleep.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

I open my eyes and see Aquilo sitting in my room, but something has changed. His hair is dark black, unmarred by the snow-white streaks that appeared in his later years, and his icy blue eyes, which have grown tired with age, appear as clear and bright as the full moon. I look down and, unexpectedly, see that my once wrinkled hands are now as smooth as they were in my youth.

  The young Aquilo notices that I have woken up and says:

 “Good morning, your Highness. Please allow me to help prepare you for the Selection.”