In the quaint village of Oakridge, nestled in the outskirts of Eldoria, Lucas returned home to find the air heavy with a foreboding stillness. The sun had just set, casting a deep orange glow over the landscape, but the usual warmth it brought was missing. He hurried inside, calling out to his mother.
"Mom? I'm back," he called, his voice echoing in the small, dimly lit cottage.
There was no response. Lucas felt his heart skip a beat as he rushed to his mother's bedside. She lay there, her breathing shallow and labored, her skin pale and clammy. The sight of her in such a weakened state made his stomach churn with fear.
"Mom, can you hear me?" he asked, his voice trembling.
She opened her eyes slowly, a faint smile playing on her lips as she looked at him. "Lucas…," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I'm here, Mom. Just hang on, okay? I'll get the doctor," Lucas said, trying to keep the panic from his voice.
She reached out and grabbed his hand weakly. "No, Lucas. It's time…," she said, her eyes filled with a mix of pain and acceptance.
Tears welled up in Lucas's eyes as he shook his head. "No, Mom. You can't leave me. I haven't done enough yet. I haven't saved you."
"You've done more than enough, my dear boy," she whispered, her grip tightening slightly. "You've been my strength, my hope. But it's my time now."
Lucas felt his chest tighten, his heart breaking. "I can't do this without you," he said, his voice cracking.
"You're stronger than you think, Lucas. And you have a good heart. Promise me you'll keep living, keep fighting," she said, her eyes locking onto his with a fierceness he hadn't seen in years.
"I promise, Mom," he choked out, tears streaming down his face.
With a final, labored breath, she closed her eyes, her grip on his hand loosening. Lucas watched as the life left her body, his heart shattering into a million pieces. He cried out in anguish, holding her hand tightly, unwilling to let go.
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Meanwhile, in the grand hall of Eldoria's castle, the ceremony to find a suitor for Prince Aric was in full swing. The room was filled with noblemen and women, dressed in their finest attire, eager to witness the event. The atmosphere was one of excitement and anticipation.
Prince Aric stood at the front of the hall, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. He watched with detached interest as a parade of hopeful candidates was presented before him, each one vying for his attention. His mind, however, was elsewhere, replaying the encounter with the skinny villager from earlier that day.
He couldn't shake the image of the man's resilience, his determination to pick himself up despite the hardships he faced. It was a stark contrast to the opulence and superficiality surrounding him now.
As the ceremony continued, King Alexander and Queen Isabella sat on their thrones, observing the proceedings. Queen Isabella glanced at her son, concern etched on her face. She leaned over to her husband and whispered, "He seems distant."
The king nodded, his eyes also fixed on Aric. "I know. But we must trust that he will fulfill his duty."
One by one, the candidates presented themselves, their practiced smiles and rehearsed pleasantries doing little to impress the prince. He barely acknowledged their presence, his thoughts consumed by a growing sense of unease.
As the 20th candidate showed up infront of them Aric sighed shaking his head, "I'm not sitting here any longer, if you like father you pick whoever you think is suitable." He said as he got up and walked out of the room.
"Would you-" "I would like to be left alone Elenor." He cut him off as he walked off.
As Aric was sitting in the garden, Valeria came along and sat next to him. "Oh my dear brother, why the long face?" She asked slightly smiling as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "I don't have time for this Valeria, please let me be." He replied, "is it rude now to care for my brother?" She remarked. Aric ignored her and got up from beside her, but as he was about to walk away Valeria said something that triggered him.
"His dead Aric, his never gonna come back." Suddenly Aric aggressively grabbed her face his looks so cold and angry, "don't you ever mention him ever again." "One more word out of you, and you're not going to like what I'll do to you."
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Meanwhile, back in Oakridge, Lucas was packing his mothers stuff in a box getting ready to put them away. But as he was pack her stuff Elysia came to comfort him.
"You did well a Lucas, you did everything you could to save your mother's life." She said patting his back, "but you can't live to blame yourself for her deaf, lord knows you tired your best so the only thing you need to focus on now is how you're going to survive for yourself."
Lucas looked up at Elysia, his eyes red and swollen from crying. He nodded slowly, though her words did little to ease the pain gnawing at his heart.
"I know," he replied hoarsely. "But it still feels like I failed her."
Elysia hugged him tightly. "You didn't fail, Lucas. You were there for her every step of the way. She knew you loved her, and that gave her strength."
Lucas clung to Elysia for a moment before stepping back and taking a deep breath.
"Maybe youre right, I just need time to process everything."
"Take your time, if you need anything know I'm here for you." Elysia smiled as she patted his shoulder.
Lucas slightly smiled and nodded, Elysia hugged him on last time and headed back home.
Lucas stood there his smile slowly turning into a frown as he watched his friend walk away. He had nothing left, nothing to live for, not even a Purpose to live.
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Later that evening as the sun was setting Lucas locked his house and gave it a last look before he headed down to the beach.
As he got to the beach he looked at the sea and the warm sunset shining above it, he let out a high sigh and slightly smiled. "I'm coming to join you mom, just a few minutes." He muttered.
he slowly started walking into the water, the father he walked the deeper the water got and he began to sink in, Suddenly someone came running into the water and pulled Lucas up to the surface.
"ARE YOU INSANE?!" The person shouted, "are you trying to kill yourself!"
As Lucas was dragged out of the water, his clothes clinging to him and his body shivering from the cold, he could barely register what was happening. The Prince's grip was firm and unyielding, his expression a mix of anger and concern.
Lucas looked at the guy and was on the verge of crying, "let me die, I have nothing to live for anymore."
"My mother is gone, there's nothing else to live for!" He sobbed into the guys arms.
"You're Highness, are you okay?!" Elenor asked as he ran up to the Prince who was holding Lucas in his arms, "get and take him to the car." The prince instructed.
"Get him a blanket," Prince Aric ordered, his voice steady as he handed Lucas over to Elenor. "And make sure he's warm. We can't have him catching a fever on top of everything else."
Lucas, still in shock and overwhelmed by his emotions, allowed himself to be led to the car. Elenor quickly fetched a blanket from the trunk and wrapped it around Lucas, who sank into the seat, staring blankly ahead.
Prince Aric climbed into the car beside Lucas, his eyes never leaving the distraught young man. "You're coming with us," he said firmly. "We can't leave you here alone."
Lucas looked up at him, his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and despair. "Why do you care?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Aric sighed, his expression softening. "Because no one should have to go through what you're feeling right now alone."
TBC