"Brother!" Gavin called but Jarius didn't respond. He held onto Jarius' hand, strongly as he did while calling out the physicians for help.
Soon, the First Prince was brought to a room as the greatest physicians tried to treat him. Hours seemed to have turned into years; with every step, every movement of the physicians in and out of the room, Gavin waited beside his elder brother, never leaving his side even for a moment.
"First Prince is alive," the physician soon declared which made everyone sighed out of relief. But then he added, "But he is poisoned, it may have been from one of the arrows that shot him while fighting in the battlefield. I highly suggest to call the hunters right now immediately."
"Yes, doctor! I will ask for the hunters now!" Miss Grace, both Jarius and Gavin's nanny when they were kids, said as she quickly turned and left. The poor woman must have been too startled, she even fainted for a while earlier after seeing the blood coming from the First Prince.
"The hunters are responsible for going outside the walls of the mainland... What are you planning to order them, Mr. Lewis?" Gavin asked the physician.
Mr. Lewis gave him a look, and assuring no one was too near to hear their conversation, he told Gavin, "The cure to the poison is a bit... complicated. Aside from the poison, it seems the First Prince also has caught some disease. Different plants will be needed to treat him back to health, and I'm afraid that some or most of the plants needed can only be found outside the mainland. One can be found near the borders to the South, the others... They can all be found outside the borders of Moon Valley."
"Is this related to that disease spreading in a village far from the mainland?" Gavin couldn't help but ask. If this was the case, then perhaps, this disease wasn't as simple as the majority thought it was.
"I don't have much knowledge of that disease yet but as far as I have learned from my colleagues' descriptions of the disease, this can be similar to that. I will have to verify this. Your Highness, can you order the hunters who will go to talk to me first? I will have to give them some reminders," Mr. Lewis asked.
Gavin glanced around and seeing no one else had arrived so far, he spoke in a low voice. "You can tell them to me, Mr. Lewis."
Mr. Lewis' eyes widened as realization hit him quickly. "Your Highness!"
"My brother's life is in danger. I can't afford to lose him. This kingdom can't," Gavin said, eyes full of determination.
"But Your Highness, His Majesty will surely..." Mr. Lewis looked helpless as he tried to convince the second prince but knowing how stubborn he could be too just like his elder brother, he could only sigh out of frustration of his situation.
"Rest assured I won't speak a word about this to father. You only need to tell me about the specific locations of the plants and I will get them for you," Gavin said, eyes silently thanking the physician who looked like he was about to faint from worry and fright.
A scent of jasmine lingered through the wind as the moon shone brightly, full and white, along with the stars that paved the way with enough light. Reflecting through the hinges of the trees the horse passed by was the shadow of its rider, unfazed as his eyes were directly focused on the road ahead. The Second Prince of Moon Valley Pack, the strongest and biggest kingdom in the world, had finally set foot on the road, leaving the Capital and heading to the Southern borders.
There were just too many things he needed to know, understand, and learn. From the past to the present, if he could uncover them just a little bit, little by little - just how good would that be?
That night, as he and three more hunters who came with him began their journey, the second prince of Moon Valley Kingdom dreamt. Perhaps it was the past, or maybe a future he was yet to see. But someone caught his attention and he was left wondering who it could be.
In a place where the grasses were greener than the trees and the sky was bluer than the ocean, a woman with long, white hair dancing through the winds of the open field stood far away from where he stood. She had her back on him but somehow, deep inside, Gavin felt like he knew her, knew her more than anyone else did.
Before he could even ask, the scenery changed as Gavin found himself inside a wooden house, the table right before him having three bowls. Three bowls for three people, each containing something hot and watery. When Gavin glanced over, he felt his heart drop.
The familiar smell of a soup tackled his nose, almost urging him to finish the soup in one drink. Somehow, he knew this soup. And his heart wanted to taste it again. He had longed to taste this familiar soup, only, he didn't know why... Just as he was about to point out what the soup was all about and where he could have possibly tasted it, Gavin felt a hand touching his shoulder up to his neck.
When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to see a familiar face he least expected to see.
Before him was a woman, eyes closed and face too close to Gavin, her lips inches away from Gavin's own. Gavin almost had a heart attack as he realized who it was.
"Princess Carrie?!"