Before the storm; Ozciel's point of view.
I woke up just too early because today is the day that Krahn said she would pick me. We agreed that I'm going to the city with her to watch the thing that was so popular, the Lantern festival. I took some research about it and I found out that the Lantern festival is where you watch the light floats in the dark sky of Astrea. You can also write your wishes in the Lantern and surely, the gods will grant it.
"Say, what should I wear today?" I'm happily picking my clothes for my wardrobe. "How about this Carollina?"
Carollina is lolita-themed clothing, it has a vest, shirt, and small shorts that won't stop me from running and doing my things. This will do.
"Your highness." I turned my head to Lorei. His eyes were serious, he is not even smiling. It seems I don't have the approval of someone. "Are you sure you want to do this? Leaving this place, the city is a dangerous place for you."
He is sure a protective one. I can't blame him for being like that though. He was a friend of mine, and he claimed his position in this. Even though, he knows he will no longer serve the royal family, choosing to be here instead of being a high ranked general for my brother. It was truly heart-breaking.
"It's alright." I put down the clothes for a moment as I moved closer to Lorei to give him a pat on his shoulder. "It's not like we're normal after all. Besides, if anything happens. I'm sure that Lorei can handle it without any problem. Hm?"
I didn't bother what kind of expression he did after I said my point. I just run back to the clothes and observed them more carefully. It's no use though, I only see black and white, I can't see other colours other than that. My smile immediately ceased when disappointment kicked in. I wish I can see the colours of this world, just like that kid.
"Whenever I think about her, I can't stop fascinating that if I can see her colours too, isn't it that would be great?"
"Pardon me?"
Perhaps, I just envy her so much. So, I want to get closer to her as much as possible. That girl is emanating light. I want to have her, and her light to be mine forever. I won't let anyone still that light, that light is mine and mine alone. If anyone steals her from me I will—
"Your Highness?" I gasped to myself. "W-what I was thinking?"
I stared out to the window. "Today is sure peaceful."
***
Like our daily routine, Lorei would cook for me and feed me. Since the festival will take place later evening. It is still early for us to prepare, surely, Krahn will arrive later either. After we had our breakfast, Lorei would go outside to sweep and clean our backyard.
While I would just spend my time reading books that Lorei brought from the city. He actually brought a new edition of the book, entitled, "I am the daughter of the demon lord". The book was just fine, the protagonist has ill-fated as me. White-haired people, "are they really cursed?"
Somehow, this book is not only a storybook but it also tells a myth from afar. I know the kingdom, Luan Guo. It was a fallen kingdom and was once forgotten by the people. "I want to visit that kingdom someday."
I think it's fascinating to see something that became history, I bet I would see a ruin-castle. I closed my eyes and somehow tried to picture that place in my head. "Destruction."
However, I'm not pleased with what I saw myself. Sigh, if destruction is the only answer to stop the chaos of this world. I shouldn't have been born from here in the first place.
***
Six post meridians; After midday.
I wore the clothes I picked earlier and stared in the mirror. "I think it fits perfectly? What do you think?" I turn around as I tried to figure out if it is not strange for me. But still, no matter how I observe it, I don't think I can tell to myself if it suits me or not.
"It's good, your Highness. It fits you perfectly. The colours do make you simple." Colours, what is he talking about? I don't even see colours, it's unnecessary for him to mention it.
After a while of observing myself. We've heard a knock from the door, my mood somehow lifted as I grasped of myself. "That must be Krahn!"
"I'll open the door for her. Please—" I interrupted Lorei, "No…I'll open the door for her!" and I stopped him from going to the front door. I run quickly as I could to greet her with a pleasantry.
"Krahn! Geez, what took you so long—"
But when I opened the door for her, someone else is standing. My smile faded out, and my excitement left me. There are bunches of cloaked men who are standing, if my count is right, there are a total of eight who's mysteriously blocking my sight.
"Hm. I'm correct. This is where you hide." A voice came out from behind these men. "Oh, my dear Brother. Rejoice! For our family has finally acknowledged you!" and a kid appeared, walked right in front of me. My eyes were truly stunned when I saw him, my twin brother, who never once treated me as his brother.
"W-what are you doing here?!" I shouted at him. I took my step out but he keeps getting closer.
His smile was truly an evil one. "I'm here to retrieve you. Idiot. If not, what else will be the reason to be in this filthy place?" My anger toward him is getting stronger but all I can do is to clench my fist.
"Retrieve me? But Mother and Father already abandoned me, there's no way they—" he then griped my right arm tightly and even pulled me closer to him. "Blah blah blah! Stop complaining, if they want you now, you should be quiet and do what they want!" he digs in his fingernail tip in my skin that caused bleeding.
"Y-you're hurt me…"
I'm scared of him.
"Your Highness!"
Lorei suddenly appeared in the picture as he pushed my brother away from me. He embraced me tightly, as he confronts the other one.
"Tch! Lorei! What the hell?" To be honest, Lorei was also my brother's friend. In fact, they are closer than us but Lorei picked me, he followed me instead of my brother.
"What are you doing here? Together with those mages."
"You two are going home! Ahaha! We three are going to be together again just like the old days!" my brother seemed to be blissful on this but either of us was grateful for the idea. "What? Why are you two not happy at all? Don't tell me you two aren't pleased about going home?"
I noticed the glare that Lorei made, "There's no reason for us to go back in that place. Leave." he was sure of it; he wasn't even flinching. I stand firmly and secondly motioned from what my butler said, "That's right. We're not going back! Leave this place now or we will have to force you, people, to leave!"
My brother would eventually walk around as if he was thinking of something in deep.
"I see. Is there no way to do this in a peaceful way, huh? If force is what you want, then bring it on! Ahahaha!"
A clap of a white-blinding light appeared out of nowhere made by those mages he was with. He is using magic to get us. The whole place is engulfed by this harsh light and everything has growled immensely to us that we have to fight back from it.
"Krahn… please forgive me. I think today's event won't happen…"