Mars was sitting in his chair with the book "The Mighty Cliffe" open in front of him.
He was so engrossed in reading that he almost forgot about the coffee on his desk, now cold.
He was halfway through the story, and those around him noticed a change in his demeanor. Each day, he looked more serious and sadder.
The dean understood what Mars was experiencing because he had been the first to read the book. He knew exactly why Mars was changing.
It had been three days since Mars started reading the book, and three days since Summer left to visit the North. She was due back soon, and Mars had so many questions for her.
"Eleanor, the Queen of the North," Mars mumbled, frowning as he adjusted his glasses. "This story doesn't align with the other books about the North, but why?"
Mars was confused. Throughout his studies and even while working on his thesis, he had never read a book like this one.
All the other books focused on the king and how he expanded the kingdom.
But this book was different; it told a different story.
"Is it mere fiction, or…?" He wasn't sure what to believe. The book was written by an anonymous author, which made him skeptical.
But if it was false, why was it hidden and only the dean had read it? Maybe it was kept out of reach to prevent misunderstandings.
Mars's mind was racing with questions, and he couldn't find any answers. Then he reached a page that shook him to his core.
The man named San in the book resembled someone he had been dreaming about. How was this possible?
The details about San opened up a whole new set of questions for Mars.
And then it hit him. He quickly opened a folder on his computer and scrolled to a document. He began reading it line by line. His frown deepened.
"31st Jan 2005," he mumbled.
"The end of the snowy winter in the east and the end of the white carpet in the north." He read from the book, trying to connect the dots. The more he read, the more his head hurt.
The answers he'd been searching for throughout his academic and professional life were starting to become clear through this book. But could he trust it?
Mars was in a dilemma.
Mars was halfway through the book, and he already understood what it was all about.
The Kingdom of the North, the mighty kingdom, was hiding countless truths behind its tall walls—truths unknown to anyone living in Amarias. He was sure of it because this book had all the answers to his questions.
Now, he wanted to meet the author. He couldn't believe that his years of research had been solved with this book.
He knew the truth.
He didn't know how he would find the author, but he had to. He kept reading until his eyes were sore.
"San, you're our trump card, our special force who can defeat any enemy in his path," proclaimed the King of the North, embracing the broad-shouldered man. "I expect honesty and loyalty from you. You would never betray our kingdom."
"I swear on my last breath, I live for the North and I will die for the North," San vowed, his powerful and rough voice capable of intimidating anyone.
His features were distinct from others in the kingdom, sharp and commanding, which earned him the rank of high-ranking military officer, the commander of the Northern army.
Once an orphan and injured, he had been taken under the care of the King of the North and transformed into the formidable person he was now, the most feared of all.
Although he had just crossed his teenage years, he was only a few years older than Prince Zayein.
The North was flourishing, and the king desired nothing more than to marry his son to a beautiful princess.
There was only one princess on his mind: Princess Eleanor of the East. She was not only the best friend of Prince Zayein but also his future bride, a match arranged by their parents when they were just children.
The plan was simple: if the North and East united, their combined power would be unbeatable, making them untouchable.
"Now that Prince Zayein is ready to take over the throne, I think it's the perfect time to discuss the marriage with the East. Meanwhile, Prince Zayein will undergo court training to prepare for his new role," the king announced, instructing his minister to draft a letter to the Eastern kingdom.
Soon enough, the letter was sent, and the prince began attending court meetings and handling affairs.
Just as expected, they received a quick response, inviting them to the East Castle. Arrangements were made for their departure.
The prince was excited to reunite with the princess of the East, who was also his best friend, after such a long time.
Unfortunately, the minister advised against it.
"I suggest the prince stays in the kingdom to learn the laws and fighting tactics. He's well-seasoned for a prince, but he needs to be ready to be king now," the minister said.
"Alright, the prince will stay here," the king announced with a heavy heart.
The prince was disappointed by the news but knew he had to agree without question.
He tried to look on the bright side. In his room, he shared his thoughts with San.
"Well, I'll be the future king, so I need to be well-versed and fit to protect my future queen," the prince rambled.
San chuckled. The two had developed a strong friendship over time. "But I really wanted to see her," the prince said, flopping onto his bed after pacing back and forth. "San, my friend, you go to the East and tell me everything about the news and..." He paused, giving San puppy eyes. "The princess."
"But Prince, I'm never supposed to leave you," San replied.
"Don't worry about it; I'll talk to my father," the prince said.
The carriages were set, and the belongings were packed, including gifts for the Eastern kingdom and especially for the princess.
A total of ten carriages were ready, and San ensured everything was in place.
The prince had convinced the king to let San accompany them.
"San, remember what I said, tell me everything, okay?" The prince looked at him seriously, and San smiled, showing his dimples.
"San, is everything set?" the king asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty, we're ready to move as soon as you give the order," San replied, bowing slightly.
One by one, the carriages started their journey to the East. It was a six-day trip, and the night they entered the Eastern kingdom was memorable not just for the king but also for San.
They hadn't yet reached the castle when the king suggested they visit the town and market.
So, they stopped at one of the royal inns built by the Eastern king for visiting royalty.
The North king decided to continue the journey the next day as he was tired and felt weak.
"Your Majesty, you need to rest," San said, helping the king to his room at the inn. "By the way, Your Majesty, if it's okay, may I—" San hesitated, and the king noticed.
"San, how many times do I have to tell you that you don't have to hesitate every time you talk to me? You're like my son."
"I wanted to explore the town and market now."
The king looked at him, saw his nervous face, and started to laugh. "Oh boy, you can go. You're a young man. Visit, get drunk, have fun, but don't hesitate," the king said, patting San's back.
San laughed nervously. "Loosen up, boy, now go," the king encouraged.
The town was buzzing with people chatting about their daily lives, and it brought a smile to San's face.
These simple moments were what he loved most. He wondered, if he hadn't been chased off the cliff when he was just 10 years old, would he be like these civilians, living a normal life?
But he quickly shook his head, remembering why he was who he was.
San loved the bright yellow lights from the lamps that decorated the town. He smiled to himself as he walked toward the various food stalls. He tried everything that looked appealing and felt happy.
But on his way back, he heard something: the sound of footsteps coming from the end of an alley. The noise stopped, followed by a girl's voice.
It sounded like she cursed and grunted, as if she was hurt.
San, thinking quickly that there might be danger, moved towards the alley. It was dark, and he didn't like it one bit.
But the voice of a woman sounded hurt, and his gentle nature compelled him to help.
He instinctively clutched the sword he was carrying, though he didn't draw it.
The voice stopped again, and San waited, hoping to hear something that would lead him to the woman.
He ventured further into the dark alley, listening intently. He heard faint footsteps and stopped, leaning against the wall to hide. But no one came into view.
After a while, he heard someone running and saw a cloaked figure, obscured from head to toe.
It was too dark to make out details. The figure ran toward him, glancing behind them, and crashed right into San's chest, falling to the ground with a groan. From the sound of it, the figure was female.
She fell hard on her butt, groaning in pain from the impact.
The woman was about to shout, but San quickly covered her mouth and pulled her behind a pile of crates in the alley.
She struggled, her muffled groans showing her frustration, but San held her firmly.
"Shut up if you don't want to get caught," he whispered in a hoarse voice. She immediately stopped and stayed silent.
They heard footsteps—the men chasing her were closing in, shouting as they searched.
Suddenly, the alley lights turned on, and San pressed them closer to the crates.
"I think they're gone," he said, peeking over the crates. He didn't notice the woman staring at him until their eyes locked in an intense gaze.
San slowly removed his hand from her mouth, stunned by her beautiful grey eyes, though his grip on her arms remained firm. He kept staring until she finally spoke.
"Are they gone?" she asked. He nodded, still lost in her eyes. "Then let me go," she said roughly. San quickly loosened his grip and stood up, straightening his clothes.
The woman stood up and took a long breath of relief. "Thank you," she said.
"Why were they after you?" San asked nervously.
The woman untied a pouch from her waist and said, "I won all this, and they couldn't accept losing to a woman." She cursed under her breath, "Male ego."
Then, she looked at San, examining him carefully. "You don't look like you're from here."
"No, I came from the north with the king to meet the eastern kingdom and the princess," San replied, and the woman nodded.
"Well then, enjoy your stay in the east," she said, starting to walk toward the main market. San hesitated and watched her go.
"Wait," he called out. The woman stopped and looked back.
"What? You want money because you saved me?"
"No, it's not that. Will we meet again? I didn't catch your name. By the way, I'm San," he blurted out in one breath.
The woman laughed heartily as she approached him, increasing his nervousness.
"Nice to meet you, San. Thank you for saving me." She paused, pretending to think. "I don't know if we'll meet again, but if you show up at the town's market five days from now, maybe we could cross paths," she said with a smile, making San smile and flash his dimples.
Then, she started to leave again.
"Wait! You didn't tell me your name," San shouted.
This time, the woman didn't stop. She shouted back, "Don't worry. If it's in our fate, we'll definitely meet again, San, and I'll tell you my name then. Besides, I already know your name." She vanished into the crowd.
San ran after her, but she was gone, lost among the townspeople. He smiled and rubbed the back of his neck, realizing he hadn't gotten her name.
This was the first time he'd been so struck by someone. She was more beautiful than he could ever describe, and her voice was sweet like honey to his ears.
Oh, how he wished to meet her again. But how was he supposed to spend the next five days anticipating their next encounter?
That night, San almost didn't sleep when he returned to the inn. He kept thinking about her eyes, the way she walked, and how she vanished.
He worried about what might happen if he couldn't meet her again or if she hadn't meant what she said. San tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and spent the whole night awake.
The next day, he struggled to stay alert due to his lack of sleep.
"Are you okay, San? Did you drink a lot last night?" the king teased when he saw San drooping.
San quickly sat up straight to appear fine. "It's okay, you don't need to be on guard; this area is safer," the king reassured him. "This is my friend's kingdom."
As they approached the kingdom, the streets were decorated, and civilians offered flowers, which San accepted politely.
A troop of royal guards lined the road to ensure everything went smoothly.
They were welcomed with music playing in the background and people dancing as they approached the castle.
The massive castle doors opened, and one by one, the carriages moved forward.
Despite his sleepiness, San felt completely awake at that moment.
They saw the king and probably the prince of the east standing near the inner door to welcome them.
"Welcome, my dearest friend, the King of the North. Welcome to the Eastern abode," the King of the East greeted the Northern king with a warm hug. "The prince didn't come?" he asked.
"And who is this handsome gentleman? If he weren't wearing a knight's uniform, I would have mistaken him for the prince," the king laughed.
"No, he's been training in the court to be a king," the Northern king replied, then pulled San forward. "This is like my son, my obedient son San, charismatic and most feared among the fighters," he said proudly.
"Your Majesty," San said, bowing before the Eastern king, who gestured happily and nodded.
"By the way, where is the princess, the future queen of the North?" the Northern king asked.
"She's inside with her mother. Let's go inside," the Eastern king said, leading them inside.
Within the imposing walls of the castle was a space that's both grand and practical. At its heart was the Great Hall, a vast room filled with high wooden beams and cozy stone fireplaces.
Long tables stretch across the hall, surrounded by benches, while colorful tapestries and banners decorate the stone walls.
Nearby, the Throne Room catches the eye with its luxurious furnishings and golden decorations. Next door, a peaceful chapel awaits, its stained-glass windows casting colorful light onto the serene stone walls.
And a grand staircase probably leading to the private chambers and there stood the queen at the base of the stairs.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, King Lunar of the North," the queen said, gracefully bowing as the king reciprocated the gesture.
"How have you been, Queen Amelia?" the king inquired.
"Never better, especially now that our two kingdoms have decided to unite," the queen replied with a smile. "Princess will join us in a moment," she added, casting a glance toward the grand staircase.
There, the princess emerged into view, radiating with glory. Despite half of her face being veiled, her eyes, raven-black, shone brilliantly.
With each step down the staircase, she exuded power and elegance.
Observing this, the North King nudged San, who, being a gentleman, approached and politely offered his hand.
"Your Majesty," he murmured, never once lifting his gaze, keeping his head respectfully bowed.
The princess delicately placed her hand upon his rough one, descending the final step with grace. She thanked him softly and then stood beside her mother.
"Welcome, Your Majesty," she greeted, bowing respectfully to the northern king.
"You've grown into a beautiful and formidable queen," the northern king remarked warmly. "You're destined for greatness." He smiled reassuringly.
"Has the prince not arrived?" she inquired.
"He's honing his skills to become a worthy king and husband for you," the king replied.
"Shall we head to the royal dining hall? I'm sure you're both famished," Queen Amelia suggested, leading the way as San followed behind. The princess glanced back at San briefly before turning away.
San couldn't shake the feeling that he saw a hint of sadness in her eyes. Why? His heart felt heavy seeing that sorrowful gaze, longing to be heard.
"Oops," Mars muttered as he noticed blood splattered on the pristine pages of his book. It dripped from his nose, a nosebleed he hadn't had in years.
The last one was during that trip up north with his buddies, where they stumbled upon a cliff adorned with vibrant purple petals.
Grabbing a handful of tissues, he quickly pressed them to his nose, trying to stem the flow.
It took a moment, but the bleeding eventually ceased.
However, his head began to throb mercilessly, and he glanced at the clock — 2 am already.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness swept over him, and he struggled to maintain his balance.
"No, no, I need to keep reading," he murmured determinedly before blacking out at his desk.