A red sun risen up from the east early this morning.
Samuel stood up from bed and started preparing for his daily routine. He walked out of his cold room and marched to where he is expected by his father.
The same cold stares greeted him as the doors of the throne room opened. He walked on the white and snowy carpet towards the King. He bowed his head as a sign of respect and moved to his rightful seat. Next to his Queen Mother.
And like every day of his cold and winter life. Samuel sat quietly on his seat. Listening and suggesting a few things to his father's subjects.
It has always been like this probably longer than he remembers. As soon as he began to understand things, his father tested him and placed him in a position where he must be who he is born to be.
The crown prince of the winter people.
After the early appointments. The royal family left the Ice Castle and made it to the nearby farm that is being tilled by their farmers.
His parents would visit their people outside the castle everyday because it made them feel connected to them. The king wanted to show everyone that they are closer to the people despite the tall walls of the castle.
Samuel sighed as he gazed down on the white and snowy ground. Watching his foot dugged on the snow, counting for the seconds to run out until their business there is finally over.
The day was exhausting despite it being boring and expected by Samuel. They joined the farmers tending to their crops and giving out food to the commoners.
Though it was all politics, Samuel believes that it still helps their people which is all that matters.
He had seen what will happen since last night and he knew he will have to just wait and stand behind his King like a good son they deem him to be. So the only thing he can look forward to is to see it all happen and end.
They returned back to the Ice castle by sundown and Samuel was finally allowed his free time and go wherever he wants.
The prince was never the adventurous type of person. Nor was he curious of anything. So he only spends his free time inside the four walls of his chambers.
"My prince... We have prepared your evening bath." One of their workers called for him from outside his chambers.
Samuel stood up and opened the doors. Heading to his grand bathroom where a warm bath awaits him.
Not anyone in their kingdom can really last the warm like him. It's only normal for them to hate heat because they are winter people. Born and bred in the cold
Maybe that's one of the many reasons why some from the council are not in favor with him and calls him defected. They think he is not pure, which could affect his rule in their kingdom.
It used to hurt Samuel, but he eventually learned to let the hate go knowing it will always be there. He is the only son of the king and since he was born, he was named as the crown prince.
The crown has always been Samuel's bad dream. But he also dreams to rule his people, aware of the burden that comes with it. Because he knows and believes that he can become a good king. Especially with the guidance and knowledge his father gave to him.
As much as Samuel founds himself weakens by the touch of heat. He finds it very relaxing and comforting for him. He's always been different among his people. Unlike them, Samuel have the ability to last in heat atleast for as long as he sees he can handle it.
But what makes him very different among them. Is his gift of harnessing the power of time.
Only him and his parents knows of this ability. They didn't want other winter people to know, afraid that they'll take advantage of his powers and abuse him. Especially their council who made it their daily goal to find something bad to pinpoint about their prince.
His parents could not figure out why Samuel would be given with such a powerful yet dangerous gift. But even then, they chose to believe that is was a God-given gift.
Ever since a boy. Samuel never left the castle. Only when he turned into man, strong enough to protect himself.
This is because he can not initiate himself to any skinship. Or else he will have to deal with seeing their life from their birth and to their death.
Everyday felt like a book for Samuel. He already knows everything that will happen beforehand.
Before he falls asleep in the middle of his bath, Samuel stares at the water as he started seeing images that will probably happen tomorrow.
He's the only one who can see this images so he does it almost everytime wherever he goes. If anyone notice him, they'll probably just think that he's zoning out.
He and his parents know that he is growing powerful everyday.
But what Samuel did not expect to see that night was a sudden and unexpected fight. He saw how their kingdom was attacked and reduced into piles and piles of corpses.
He quickly stood up and covered himself with his silk robe. He ran across hallways and made it to his parents' chambers. To tell his father about the coming danger to their kingdom.
However, before he could open the doors.
There were sudden new images flashed before his eyes.
It is that if their kingdom decided to prepare, their enemy who will make the attack will retreat. To regroup with more allies that can outnumber them to the point where both kingdoms will try to enlarge armies and Samuel will end up exposing himself during battle.
But if he just tell his father about it and they will do nothing. Pretend that they did not know. Something else is bound to happen that is much important than both kingdoms trying to enlarge each other's numbers of armies.
Samuel quickly went to his father's room and told him all that he's seen. His parents were both furious. There was fear that lingers around them both and Samuel can read it as of it was displayed to him in big words.
Possible outcomes kept coming in Samuel's mind everytime they try to make a plan about it.
But only one outcome came into life.
"You should leave our kingdom at once, my son!" The king said to him in a stern manner.
"But father! What about the attack? I can't just leave and abandon you all to your death!" Samuel asked.
His heart raced knowing already what's gonna happen. It broke his heart as he came to realize that no matter how powerful he is, it is not something he can use to protect his family and his people.
And it made him so weak and powerless.
"Your father is right Samuel. Our kingdom will either survive or live as we face their armies. But you of all winter people must survive first!" The queen said to him.
It didn't took long for Samuel to see himself leaving the kingdom on horseback. And it made his heart cry even more.
"There is a reason why the Gods had given you this kind of gift Samuel! If not us... you must learn to protect it by keeping yourself alive!" The king said.
"If it was really the Gods who gave me this gift. Then for what reason is it if not for protecting our people?!" He questioned in a desperate tone.
The queen let out a deep and shaky breath. Pulling her son to her embrace to comfort his aching heart.
"We do not know, Samuel. But you are not yet ready to use that power." She said to him while properly facing Samuel.
"Do not think of your leave as abandoning us. You are our prince, and our future lies in your hands wherever it takes you. We will never be truly gone as long as you live." She added and then turned to the king who had remained silent.
Samuel also looked at him. The king held a small smile on his face, before he walked towards to his son. He patted his shoulder and then brushed his hair.
"The path of a king is rough and lonely. But you must carry on to lead those who are walking after each of your steps."
"Tonight you will leave. And you will carry with you our future. No matter how long it takes."
"You may feel like it is all not worth it. But that is part of the long road. You need to be strong and brave and eventually, you will find the end of your journey."
Samuel cried and hugged his parents for the last time. He couldn't argue more now that the King had given his official order for him to leave the castle as soon as possible.
"I will make you proud. And I promise I will return. Someday."
Samuel left by himself a few hours before dawn. Riding his horse which is his only companion for his journey ahead.
Before getting further from the Ice kingdom. Samuel turned around to give his home one last look...
"I know I'll be back here someday..."
"But when I do.... home will never be the same again..."
Samuel pulled the reigns and his horse began to ride haste...
Leaving his home and never see his family again.
+×+
Many years went by and Samuel had found peace by leaving alone in a small and quiet village. He never interacts with anyone unless needed.
And one festival night. He decided to see how the folks celebrate such event.
He was amused by the various foods and delicacies prepared on every tables. Many were dancing to folksongs and many kids are also playing.
The entire village felt so warm and it made Samuel long for his home.
But like his old home. Every peace has its limits.
Samuel saw batallions of savages that will murder everyone in the village. He was there to help but someone will be taking him to a place he could somehow not foresee.
Due to curiousity. Samuel waited until those savages arrived. He fought and even exposed himself as a winter warrior.
And in the middle of his attempt to save the village, someone suddenly grabbed him and he was pulled into an underground cave.
As much as Samuel wanted to go back and help the villagers, he couldn't leave in frustration of not being able to see any possible outcomes. Aside from that, he was still being dragged.
He couldn't tell which from the hooded person or the cave it is. But he knows that both person and place are different just like him. And that person is stronger because he was being carried away like he was a pebble.
"Your powers will not work in here! Unless you're one of the celestial hierarchy..." the person spoke in a voice of an old woman.
Samuel frowned upon hearing her statement.
"Angels?" Samuel's ears perked at his own words.
He have heard stories about angels before. But those stories only tell him that they are the messengers and loving angels of God. He doesn't know if there's any angel that walks on their land or if that's even possible.
"Uhm. May I know who you are?" Samuel asked as they continued going down the deepest part of the cave.
He wasn't being dragged anymore as he eventually started following the old woman.
"And where are you taking me?" He asked again.
"I am too old and too weak to carry on with them. I have spent the remainder of my powers to keep myself alive just so I can find another one who is worth keeping them safe." The old woman answered.
Samuel didn't understand much the meaning of what she said except for being old and weak. But the first thing that came to his mind is that she may be giving him something he can probably sell for a good price.
Soon, the two arrived at their destination. There was a large ring of fire near a pond. In the center of the ring of fire is a little scaly egg and a red-orange phoenix beside it.
The phoenix immediately turned to their direction upon sensing another soul in the cave. It lowered his head as if acknowledging Samuel's presence.
The winter prince shocked to say the least. His mouth fell agape upon laying eyes in front of one of the most mystical being to ever exist on the face of earth.
"Your eyes do not fool you young man. That is a phoenix." The old woman said and let out a very tired and weak smile.
"It's so beautiful!" The prince said with an astounded expression on his face.
He looked so hilarious. His brows were about to meet in the middle and his eyes were enlarged as if he's scanning the phoenix to make sure it's not an illusion.
"What is that thing?" Samuel asked and pointed at the oval stone in the middle of the ring.
He carefully observed the phoenix and eventually realized that it was guarding that scaly stone.
"That is the last of the dragons. The only egg that survived for billions of years ever since the extinction of their race." The old woman said and Samuel's eyes gleamed as he looked back at the egg.
It's scaly and tinted with dark blue. He looked at the phoenix again with amusement realizing it was indeed guarding whatever's inside the egg.
"The phoenix will die soon... But she will be reborn like every phoenix does." The old woman said again and she slowly walked to sit on an old, ragged and dusty bed beside the ring of fire.
"They are yours now boy. And you must protect them with your life."
"They will remain the same until they find the rider and the real master of the phoenix."
Samuel turned to the old woman wearing a very confused expression.
"I don't understand!"
"Why me? Why should I keep them? I couldn't even stay behind to protect my own family." He said and his voice broke at the last part.
But the old woman did not say anything and closed her eyes instead. Samuel sensed her final breath and just like that... the old woman died and her body turned into ashes within seconds.
Before Samuel can even process her death, the phoenix was suddenly engulfed by fire.
Samuel panicked and tried to cross the ring of fire to check on the phoenix but some kind of magic threw him away.
The Ice Prince groaned in pain as he regained himself and stood up. But then something made his ears perked up and he immediately looked at where he last saw the phoenix.
There was a pile of ash beneath the wood where it was standing earlier. A few seconds later, a head of a little phoenix poked out, letting out small whines.
Samuel cooed at the sight as he approached the ring of fire once more.
He stared at the fire then closed his eyes.
He tried to step inside the ring and he felt something warm touched his leg. Soon, he was able to enter and saw the fire turning into blue.
Samuel made his way to the egg and the little phoenix. Petting its head while looking at it with adoration.
"I guess you two are the official mission now."
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