Azra's swift steps were far louder than they should have been as he walked through the halls. His hand was still bandaged and his head vaguely muddled, leaving his thought process to run like honey.
The lower floors of Asteri were usually bustling with maids and butlers alike regardless of any possible event happening. Today there was not a soul in sight, making the already spacious place seem disturbingly massive.
Not long after Scott had given his grudging approval for him to start moving around, Anna and a host of knights were waiting to escort him back. Usually he would have been quick to babble everything to her but the steady glances of concern on her face only made him slump in shame. Instead, she spoke only to inform him of his father's wish to speak with him.
It was moments like these he had to remember he was the Prince and sole heir to the throne. There were people who would depend upon his judgment in the future. Recklessly throwing himself at a mana crazed fire; to save a commoner no less was stupid. Commendable but stupid.
Perhaps if he was raised differently he would take his role with a higher level of severity. He knew his father kept him in Asteri due to his paranoia stemming from Adaline. There he was the safest, danger spawns everywhere but they were better contained and swiftly dealt with in the Palace. On the other hand this meant he grew up shielded, treated more as a son than royalty. Perhaps if he had interacted with the outside world more, forced to see the disparity between royalty and everyone position below it then he would feel more like the Crowned Prince of Alfonsi and less like he was a son pretending to act as him.
After ensuring he was safely within Asteri Anna left muttering something about a meeting which was probably where all the other workers disappeared to, taking half the knights with her.
Now left on his own Azra hurried to where he was told his father would be waiting. There was no doubt he was in for a good deal of scolding and lecturing. The only thing worse than getting lectured was being late to said lectures.
The knights guarding the doors straightened as he made an appearance. One of them reached for the handle but pulled back as it opened. Azra blinked, not expecting to see Professor Nile exiting with a contemplative pinch to his otherwise expressionless face.
How did he get here so fast?
"Professor Nile."
The man bowed as he addressed Azra with his proper tittle. He almost told him to stop but remembered himself. This was the Palace not Yelrine where status was defined by magical prowess.
"It appears I will need to forfeit my place in the entrance exam."
"Your Highness you displayed abilities that show without a shadow of a doubt that you have what it takes to make it in Yelrine. The school would welcome you with open arms but… it seems it isn't our decision to make."
He glanced back at the closed door before turning his gaze to the Prince. What the man was thinking Azra had not the faintest clue. Still, he watched his orange hair disappear with the fragile bud of hope growing within him.
He entered the sitting room with high spirits, hoping the news of him passing would lift his father's spirits and somewhat get him out of any possible punishment.
"Dad I-"
"Perhaps it was too soon."
Azra froze.
Matteus was standing before the large windows, gazing down at the capital as mana lights began to glow like tiny stars in the distance. The day had gone by so fast.
"Did Nile say something? How did he even get here?"
"I needed to speak with him… discreetly."
Sometimes it was easy to forget that Asteri Palace was connected to various parts of Alfonsi. It wouldn't be strange if a transportation room was connected to Yelrine directly. After all, Azra never used them to go anywhere.
"He told me I passed. I can attend the institute."
"You're not ready."
"And if I stay here I never will be!"
Azra's shoulders tightened, anger and helplessness bubbling beneath the surface of his skin. Perhaps at first he was unsure about Yelrine, more concerned with hiding himself than anything. Now that he had seen it, had gotten a glimpse of what the institute and magic had to offer he couldn't go back.
He could uncover the mysteries of his abilities with the aid of specialized researchers. He's take the poking and prodding if it helped him avoid another incident like the one he just encountered. There had to be a better way of using his mana manipulation. Yelrine could give him those answers.
Mattues still refused to turn around.
"Callum has no problem going and even Quentin has been there for years."
"Your situation is different, you know that."
"You were fine with it before. What's happened? What aren't you telling me?"
"You are too young. There is no need to rush when I will still retain my tittle as King a hundred years from now."
"But I-"
"Azra!"
"Why!"
Matteus turned around so swiftly his hair shifted like a whip, his gold eyes hardened and fists clenched.
"Because that time your mother left was the last time I saw her! I will not allow history to repeat itself! I forbid it!"
With a lump in his throat Azra turned, practically running as he escaped the room.
"Azra!…"
Matteus let out a long breath at the slam of the door. The conversation with Nile was still settled at the forefront of his mind. It left him more shaken than he cared to admit.
- - -
Moments ago
Matteus sat unflinchingly as Nile recounted the incident in vivid detail.
"You're Majesty if you have summoned me here for some form of punishment then I-"
"You will not be punished, nor will anyone else. It was an accident…"
Nile nodded and sat for a moment. He was unhesitating as he asked his next question.
"May I say something?"
"Speak freely."
"The Prince's… gift. Is very similar to something I have seen in the copied scriptures from Amaryllis."
"Be frank with me. How many others know of that particular religious belief?"
"Not many, the writings are a part of the library only open to mana researcher. The others are far more interested in dark mana itself. They care not for the religion of the neighboring nation."
Matteus nodded his face cool though his thoughts were running a mile a minute.
"Perhaps this is me behaving too sensitively but I remember seeing two people from Amaryllis applying for the entrance exams."
Matteus pinned Nile with a sharp look. The man rubbed at his neck with a sigh.
"I'm not insinuating that they harbored any ill intent toward the Prince. It simply stood out to me because they are rare among the aspiring students."
- - -
It could be a coincidence, but if it was not. If they had managed to see Azra save that boy…
Matteus didn't put it past them not to try something, with or without the queen's consent. The information was impossible to keep hidden now. Too many people had seen, and while those of Amaryllis kept their religion close to their own it wasn't impossible to find information on.
It was too dangerous for Azra out there. Matteus needed him here for his own piece of mind.
He was still so young, far too young to become the reason for the possible conflict brewing between two nations.
Azra needed to know, to understand the implications of himself. How sometimes the right thing to do isn't always justified. Hiding the truth from him would only make him ignorant which could get him taken or something worse.
It was their first serious fight and Matteus refused to let the metaphorical wound fester into something that would scar. He began to look for him.
Azra wasn't in his room and while the Palace was big Matteus knew almost instantly where he would be. Perhaps he had rubbed off on his son more than he noticed.
Azra looked up at the portrait. The mana stones shining bright in the crystal chandelier helping to highlight even her minuscule facial features.
Adaline's half smile was frozen in time and Azra always wished that he had other images of her to look at. He wanted a portrait of her making every face, how she looked when she found something funny, or frustrating, or how her brow crinkled when she was about to cry. Did it look anything like his?
He'd never know.
Azra could only stare into the familiar purple eyes. Silently begging for the brush strokes to come alive and for the woman herself to crawl from the frame and into this moment.
It was a strange feeling to miss someone you've never known.
"Mom… what should I do? Tell me what to do."