I snapped back to reality as I stare at the dark sea harshly swallowing the shore. A memory started to float through my mind. Crash. Swords clanged together as a small blonde tried to fight off blow after blow, the continuous hits of the soldiers. They were formidable, but the young boy was confident in his abilities- to him, confidence was the deadliest weapon there is. Crash. Back again at the seas, the waves getting even more dangerous. The winds are picking up speed, as if trying to take me away from the aggravating waters.
Another memory flashed through my mind. The shocked faces of everyone in the dining hall as the clear water slowly turned red, trickling down the neck of his uncle. The disappointment of my mother as I was taken away and thrown in the dungeon. Darkness. Suddenly, the sea quieted down, along with my emotions.
I stood up and picked up a small yet smooth rock. Thinking about the past doesn't do you any good. I glanced at the rock, glowing softly silver in the moonlight. Taking a deep breath, I gather those memories. They're not needed anymore. In one swift exhale, I let those memories drift away from me and towards the rock. I throw it as far away as I could, the rock skidding as it got lost in the horizon. There's a chance that anyone who picks up the rock gains my memories, and brings it back to me as well.
No matter, the risk is worth it. I'll do this ritual a thousand times if necessary. I don't want to remember what happened. I don't know why I started doing this but it seemed right. I walked back to my cabin as thunderous footsteps approached the sea, turning my back to them.
"Hey, you there!" A deep voice bellowed. I sigh as I turn again to face them. The royal knights are still hunting me, after all. The leader walked towards me, and inspected me closely. After ensuring that I was harmless, he took out a wanted poster. "Have you seen this man around here? We had reports stating that they spotted the traitor." I took a good look at myself on the poster, or what used to be me. Long blonde hair that went past my shoulders. Clear blue eyes, and not a single scar on the face. It looked nothing like me at all anymore, but I like to think that the mischievous glint in my eyes are still there.
"No," I said decidedly, "Although he does look like trouble. Who is this young man?" The leader looked at me incredulously. "How could you not know the traitor prince? Are you-" I laughed. "I mean, what did he even do to have the royal knights after him?"
"That's confidential information. But if you must know, his name is Zachariah. Now leave."
"Oh, I was about to when you stopped me in my tracks. Have a good night, gentlemen. Be careful around these areas- the shadows bite." A small, ironic smile escaped my lips. I looked them over once more and with a flourish, I turned around, coat flying against the wind. I find it humorous that the man so determined to find the traitor prince didn't realize that he was talking to him.
The sound of the sea and the loud footsteps of the men gradually grew softer as I returned to my current hiding spot, a tree house in the forest. It cannot be seen by any normal person; unless they had even an ounce of magic in them of course. I doubt it however, as the 4th region has long been losing its magic over the past century.
I knocked on the wood covered in moss. A ladder formed from the tree's bark and I went up, sighing in relief as I was finally able to let go of the masking spell holding up my disguise. Taking off my coat I stared at the golden ring stuck on my middle finger. Thinking back to my childhood- or what I can remember of it as I erased most of my memories- I vaguely recall trying to take the ring off countless of times. I tried to take it off again out of habit, but of course it would not budge.
I let my long, black hair down and glanced at myself in the mirror. It was near waist length. I have always wanted to cut it short, but my mom would not allow me. "Hair signifies how much experience you have, Zachariah. Look at how long mine is, it's almost to the floor! Yours is still quite short, just to your shoulders. But it's beautiful! Look, it's so golden it glistens in the sunlight!"
I shook my head at the sudden memory. As much as I miss my mother, I cannot trust anyone anymore. Changing my hair from blonde to black was just one step for distancing myself away from them. The Cleon's were known for their beautiful golden hair, and striking blue eyes. My eyes however- I stared at them again in the mirror. I don't know how they turned silver, not even when.
If my mother was here now, she would laugh at me. "Zachariah, you're thinking too deeply again, look at your eyebrows all scrunched together! You should be more carefree like your sister you know." I scowled at the thought. They always compared me to someone. With a flick of my hand, the bucket next to me was filled with water. Maybe I should stop relying on magic so much for menial tasks.
I watched the light silver mist surrounding my hand fade into nothingness. Although water is my fundamental, I shouldn't abuse it too much, especially with the knights after me. Every ounce of magic should be used accordingly- mostly for disguising myself of course. Despite changing my hair and my eyes, I still look like the infamous traitor prince if I do not enable the masking spell. To make it easier for myself however, I intertwined the spell to my gloves, which I always wear when I go outside anyway. The golden ring was too obvious and it would catch anyone's eye. And the palm lines of my hands had writings only the elite would have.
After a quick shower, I started to prepare my meal. I only go outside in order to gather ingredients, or perform the ritual. When I mean ingredients however, they're only limited to potatoes and... potatoes. If there's one thing that the 4th region is known for, it's their surplus of potatoes. Of course, with my magic I could easily find a fish in the nearby sea, however the Royal Knights closely monitor that area because it is the largest body of water here, and Zachariah was known for having water as his fundamental.
With a snap of my fingers, soft flames sprouted from the wood I prepared. Although I have no talent in fire, I continue to practice it. The more I stray from my old self, the better. While waiting for the water to boil, I quietly peeled the potatoes. This is something I'm not used to- doing everything by myself. Yes, I am 19 years old but before coming to the 4th region, I was never tasked to peel potatoes. Then again, they always viewed potatoes as food for the inferior.
It hasn't been that long since I escaped- but maybe constantly erasing my memories made everything murky and hard to recall. I believe it has only been two months since I first came here. So far, two people have approached me- the first tried to sell me a fake medium, and the second attempted to convince me to work for them. After a few ice burns, they seem to get the message. That doesn't stop people from talking however.
Getting too lost in my thoughts, the knife slipped from my hand and cut my thumb. A single drop of blood appeared. My eyes widened- how can I be so utterly careless? One little drop of blood and even the dumbest tracker from the Royal Knights can spot me from miles away. I quickly grabbed the hair stick by my night stand and some salt.
"Abscondo," Tracing a small circle on the floor with the salt, a silver mist started forming around me. I put my blood right in the middle of it. Hopefully this works. Twirling my hair stick, it lengthened until it became the size of a normal wand. I took a deep breath, and with one long exhale, blew an ice barrier on my door.
"A veil. No one with intentions to harm me will be able to come in. Abscondo," I pointed the wand to highest point in the house, and a silver burst blasted out of it. That should hold for at least eight hours. I sighed in relief as the two spells finally took effect.
Suddenly remembering the potatoes that almost risked my life, I threw them in the boiling pot. "You cursed potatoes. Wretched, tasteless little plant. If by chance I end up becoming king, I'll ban potatoes from entering the palace! Ban them forever! Stupid-" A thud reverberated through the floor.
"Oh oops. Are you talking to yourself? Or to the potato? Because I wouldn't really judge either way you know." I looked at the intruder in shock. I just put up the veil- it's impossible that its' already worn out! How did he get inside so quickly? I twirled my hair stick until it became a long staff. Pointing it at him menacingly, I asked, "Who are you?"
His golden, amber eyes stared back at me, with an eagerness that only really energetic people possess. He was a bit tan- sunburnt in some areas too. But his most striking feature may be his hair. It was black with red streaks, around shoulder length. 'He has particularly long hair for a Delta' I thought to myself.
"You're taking quite long to answer-" His eyes lit up, and he smiled at me. "Sorry, I just can't believe that I finally met you! My name is Florence. You can call me Ren. I was just wandering through the forest and- I can't believe it led me to you! Can I ask a question?" He seems harmless. Overly active perhaps, but harmless. The veil even let him in- but I can't let my guard down just yet.
"Not until you answer mine. How did you get here and what are your intentions?"
"I accidentally knocked my head on the tree because I wasn't looking. It suddenly created a ladder and I climbed up. I don't get it, what do you mean intentions? To you? Well I want you to become your apprentice! Actually, I was trying to find you ever since you came here." I glared at him incredulously. The tree just opened up? So he actually has magic? Apprentice?! I'm too young and unknowledgeable to take anyone under me. I'm too harsh to people I just met, that's one thing my mother always likes to point out.
So, are you actually considering? A voice inside me said. No! It's too dangerous, and I'm not... worthy enough. I put my staff down and twirled it till it became a hair stick again. "No. You have to leave. There are people after me and you will get caught in our feud." His enthusiastic stature disappeared. He started looking more and more like a Delta- desperate, sad, longing for a new life.
"I know it was a long shot. I saw how you used magic. I think it was when you first came here." My first lethal mistake was using magic way too early. I scolded myself for it internally. "But nobody in my village had magic, so no one could teach me. That didn't stop me of course, I tried to go to the library to teach myself but the text looked so foreign I couldn't read it. So, when you came here..." His eyes lit up again. "I was so inspired! I know you can teach me! I'll do anything just to have a teacher! And I don't care about the people after you- I'll protect you!"
"You- protect me?" I asked quietly. This kid barely knew anything about magic but he had the guts to say he'll protect me. Before I knew it, a small burst of laughter escaped me. He looked confused. "Do you think I'm lying? I always mean what I say-"
"No, it's not that..." Despite his good intentions and honest personality, I didn't want to implicate somebody in my problems. "I'm sorry, I can't be your teacher. I'm not that good at magic. Tell me, where do you live?"
"I don't know why you're asking when you clearly don't have the motive to teach me." He said, his tone turning more spiteful by the second. "Okay, I'll teach you then, where do you live?" He brightened up immediately and told me. How gullible.
I approached him and put my finger on his forehead. "Somnus," I caught him as he fell to the floor. It was a sleeping spell that I did countless of times to escape my duties as prince. And sometimes, I do it on myself too. As I caress his head, I cast a spell to forget his encounters with me. Despite being hard headed, I would like a companion too. He was the opposite of myself- lively, talkative and gullible. But that would just make things more complicated.
I carried him in my arms, his soft locks covering his face. Despite being a few inches smaller than me he was still quite heavy. I climb down the ladder and chanted an invisibility spell. Even if I was harsh, I was not totally heartless that I would leave him in the forest. I pulled him tight to me as I ran towards his house, just on the outskirts of the forest as he said. He looked peaceful as I laid him on the stack of hay just outside their barn. Hopefully, he won't see me again.