Eleonorin Palace
(Where the good, righteous, and pure live)
"We're here," said the man with a smile.
The three siblings were amazed by the beautiful palace in front of them. There were orbs at the top of the palace that served as the lights of the entire Eleonorin.
"Ahmm, just a moment," said Severus, running to a tree near the palace gate to stash the liquor he planned to drink later that night.
"Severus! Hurry up!" shouted Sixten.
"Yeah, I'm coming," he replied, running back to them.
"What were you doing there?" asked Sixten.
"I was just taking a leak, why? Do you want to join?"
"Idiot," said Sixten, annoyed, as he walked ahead.
When they entered, they saw the beautiful beings who lived there, and Severus's eyes almost turned into hearts looking at the women walking around.
They were all wearing white clothing from top to bottom, like ghostly figures.
Severus stopped ogling the women when a man suddenly spoke.
"The rules are set down in the walls, so you should read them before the class starts tomorrow," said the man.
"There are so many rules here," Severus mumbled to himself while looking at the walls they passed, which listed what should and shouldn't be done inside Eleonorin Palace.
1. Respect your elders.
2. Do not kill anything inside.
3. Do not use your power for fun, just use it if needed.
4. Maintain cleanliness.
5. Avoid using bad words.
6. Drinking liquors is forbidden.
And so on.
"If you break one of the laws, you'll be punished," the man reminded us.
"Excuse me, Ms. Su, can you accompany this beautiful lady beside me to her dorm?" the man called to a woman with a scowling face.
'What a waste, you're beautiful, but I don't like that scowling face,' Severus thought to himself, and Ms. Su glared at him as if she had heard his thoughts.
"Come with me," the woman said coldly to Seiren. She looked at us and nodded before leaving.
"Tomorrow, classes start from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Eleonorin Hall."
While walking toward the boys' dorm, I felt bored and quickly slipped away to explore elsewhere.
As I walked, someone caught my eye. It was a handsome boy with an expressionless face. He wore a round white collar robe with sleeves that had tight openings with a white ribbon. He exuded elegance and a few traces of vigor but a whole lot of good looks.
Severus didn't hesitate to walk toward him and tap his shoulder. The boy turned to him with an expressionless face. Severus smiled.
"Hi, I am Severus from Zarek Kingdom, and I find you very handsome and pretty at the same time," Severus introduced himself, but the boy just turned away. But Severus was persistent, and he tugged at the boy's clothes. "Can we be friends?" Severus asked with a smile, but the boy just glared at him.
"Get lost," the boy said coldly and left.
'Grumpy,' Severus muttered to himself.
"Goodbye, Mr. Pretty Handsome, till we meet again," Severus said with a smile, waving at the boy's retreating figure.
Severus felt a twinge of disappointment at the boy's cold response, but he shrugged it off quickly. He was used to rejection, especially from those who seemed to prefer their solitude. However, Severus couldn't shake off the curiosity about this mysterious boy with the expressionless face.
As he watched the boy walk away, Severus made a mental note to try again later. He was determined to break through that icy exterior and uncover the person behind the stoic facade.
With a confident smile, Severus turned on his heels and continued exploring the palace grounds, his mind buzzing with excitement at the prospect of making a new acquaintance, even if it meant breaking down a few barriers along the way.
"So you've already met him," a voice said, making Severus clutch his chest in surprise. When he turned to see who spoke, he saw the man who had helped them earlier.
"Oh, it's you."
"You've already met Master Evreux."
"Evreux?" The boy earlier?
"The boy you talked to earlier," the man replied. So that's his name? Hmm, "He's the youngest son of the king here in Eleonorin."
"Is someone dead? Why does his face look like that?" Severus asked, causing the man to chuckle softly.
"Since Master Evreux was born, that's been his expression. The king and queen even thought he was dead because he didn't cry, but the Elperes said it was normal."
"Ahh."
"Since I've been studying here, I've never seen him talk to anyone, except the king and his older brother," the man recounted.
"But you, in less than a day, he already talked to you. Good for you," the man said, turning his back on Severus. "By the way, your brother has been looking for you," he added.
"I'm in trouble," Severus muttered.
"And where have you been?" Sixten asked, hands on hips, as soon as Severus entered the dorm.
"Just around," Severus replied, collapsing onto his bed.
"Hi--" Sixten started to speak, but Severus interrupted.
"Can you scold me tomorrow? I'm exhausted from finding our dorm."
"How dare--" Sixten stopped when he saw Severus was already asleep. He shook his head and lay down on his bed.
'Stubborn kid,' Sixten muttered, looking at his brother.
Meanwhile, a meeting was taking place between the king of Eleonorin, his two sons, and his disciples.
"Luhan," the king called to the man who had helped Severus earlier. He stood up and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty."
"I heard you were attacked by Deadly Corpses earlier?" the king asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Luhan replied, bowing.
"It seems the people from Gabayan are starting to move," said one of the disciples.
"The Book of Sacred says the people of Gabayan won't wreak havoc until they find the son of King Eleazar?"
"It seems they have found the missing son of King Eleazar."
The disciples murmured among themselves.
"Your Majesty, I suggest increasing the guards in all towns here in Eleonorin. We all know how dangerous and evil the people from Gabayan are. I don't want any of our citizens to get harmed," proposed one disciple.
"Very well, I will send guards to various towns in Eleonorin to protect our people," said the king.
"Thank you very much, Your Majesty," some disciples said.
"But, Your Majesty," interjected one disciple, "I am puzzled why Sir Luhan and his companions were in Ermi Town. Didn't you assign him a mission to go to Erina Town just yesterday?"
"That's true."
"It's impossible for him to finish it in one day, isn't it? Wasn't the mission given by the king very difficult?"
"That's right."
The people around murmured.
Luhan smiled and replied, "I never thought the mission given to me by our beloved king would be so easy that we completed it in one day. And what is your question, my friend? Why was I in Ermi Town? Simple, we wanted to have a small celebration with my companions for the early completion of our mission. And shouldn't you be thanking us instead of doubting us? Because if we weren't there, something bad might have happened to the three siblings from Zarek," Luhan explained, silencing the people.
"How are our three guests? Were they injured?" the king asked.
"They sustained no injuries, Your Majesty, but the youngest son of Mr. Steven was almost harmed," Luhan replied.
"Good, they are unharmed. Well, you may leave now."
"As you wish, Your Majesty," the disciples said as they all left, except for the king and his two sons.
Evreux was about to leave when his father stopped him.
"Stay here, Evreux, we need to talk," the king said.
"Elex, create a barrier so no one knows what we are discussing," the king ordered his eldest son, who immediately complied.
"As you wish, Father."
"Speak," the king began.
"I wonder, Father, why of all the kingdoms here in the Sacred Realm, did the people from Gabayan decide to come here?" Elex asked.
"Simple," Elijah replied, "The son of King Eleazar, the prince of Gabayan Kingdom, is here," the king added.
"Impossible," Elex muttered.
"Therefore, you two must watch the people around you. We must find the prince and kill him."
"But Father, weren't you the one who first said not to kill innocent people?"
"The blood of his father runs in that child's veins. Like father, like son, as they say. If the father is evil, so is the son."
"That is so unreasonable!" Evreux said angrily.
"Have you forgotten that they killed your mother, Evreux? Isn't that reason enough to kill his son? They took a life, so a life must be paid in return," the king said coldly.
Evreux stormed out of the room, his fists clenched in anger. He couldn't believe what he had just heard from his father. The idea of taking an innocent life as retribution for the sins of their parents seemed utterly unjust and cruel to him.
As he reached the palace gardens, Evreux paced back and forth, his mind swirling with different emotions.
"Damn, it's so delicious" Severus muttered after finishing a bottle of wine he had bought earlier. He brought two more bottles to drink with Sixten later when he wakes up. He put them inside the black robe he was wearing and walked towards the dorm.
'Sixten will be happy with this,' Severus whispered to himself with a smile.
As he walked, he glanced at the garden, hoping to see Mr. Pretty Handsome again. He wasn't disappointed as he saw him staring into the distance.
"Mr. Pretty Handsome!" Severus called out, but Evreux didn't look at him, so Severus quickly walked over and sat beside him.
"Deep in thought, huh?" Severus said with a smile to Evreux.
"Here, I brought some wine. Don't worry, only the two of us know about this. We'll keep it a secret so we won't get punished," Severus said, pulling out two bottles of wine and offering one to Evreux, who didn't accept it and instead glared at him.
"Get lost," Evreux said coldly to Severus, but Severus was undeterred and drank the wine in front of Evreux. Severus nearly choked when a sword was suddenly pointed at his neck. When he looked, he saw Evreux with a dark expression staring at him.
"Hey, put that down, you might kill me. Come on, there will be fewer handsome people around here if you'll kill me" Severus said with a grin.
This only made Evreux angrier, and he pressed the sword against Severus's neck.
"Ridiculous. Get out of here."
"But—" Severus started to speak but was suddenly pushed by Evreux.
"Now!" Evreux shouted at him.
"Okay, okay," Severus said as he left. 'Such a killjoy,' Severus muttered.
Severus walked away, shaking his head with an amused grin. "Well, that didn't go as I planned," he muttered to himself, glancing back at Evreux, who still seemed lost in his thoughts. "You know, Severus, sometimes people just need a little push—or a sip of wine—to loosen up."
He strolled through the garden, admiring the flowers and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. "Mr. Pretty Handsome is a tough nut to crack," he mused aloud, "but I'm not giving up that easily. Everyone loves a good drink and some company, right?"
Severus paused by a statue "Maybe he just needs someone to talk to," he reasoned, "and who? of course me. Who's better than me, the charming and incredibly handsome Severus?" He chuckled to himself, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder. "Plus, I've got more wine, and if that doesn't work, I can always try my stunning conversation skills."
He decided to head back, determined to give it another shot. As he approached, he saw Evreux still seated. Severus approached with a softer demeanor this time, holding up the wine bottle as a peace offering.
"Look, I know you're not in the mood," Severus said gently, "but sometimes talking it out helps. Or, if you'd rather, I can sit here and do all the talking for both of us." He sat down again, keeping a respectful distance this time.
"I'm not here to pry," Severus continued, his tone more serious. "Just thought maybe you could use a friend, or at least someone who can listen or talk nonsense to lighten the mood." He took a sip from the bottle, glancing sideways at Evreux. "No pressure, though. I'm quite good at keeping myself entertained."
He leaned back against the bench, looking up at the sky. "You ever notice how the clouds look like giant fluffy pillows? Makes me want to take a nap right here." Severus let out a content sigh, hoping that his lighthearted chatter would at least provide some distraction.
"Or," he added with a playful grin, "if you're not in the mood for clouds, we can talk about how you ended up with such a dramatic name like Evreux. Sounds like something straight out of a knight's tale. Very noble, very mysterious."
Severus glanced at Evreux, waiting to see if his light-hearted approach would elicit any response.
Severus chuckled as he noticed Evreux's lack of enthusiasm. "Looks like my conversation skills aren't winning you over," he said, trying to keep things light. He took another sip from the bottle, hoping to get Evreux to relax.
Suddenly, Evreux's face hardened. "Rule No. 6 at the Palace: Drinking liquor is forbidden. And you're going to be punished for this," he said firmly.
Severus was taken aback as Evreux grabbed his arm. "Hey, let's not rush into things!" Severus said, trying to pull away. "I was just trying to be a good friend."
Evreux's grip was strong, and he started pulling Severus towards the punishment hall. Severus stumbled along, trying to keep up. "Seriously, dragging me to the punishment hall over a little wine? I was just trying to lighten the mood!"
As they walked, Severus tried to use his playful charm to get free. "You know," he said, swinging his arm playfully, "you're pretty strict about rules. Ever thought about relaxing a bit? tsk"
Evreux didn't say a word and kept pulling Severus through the corridors. Severus continued to struggle, making exaggerated attempts to break free. "Alright, alright, you win," he said, laughing despite being dragged. "But can we talk this over? I bet we can find a way around this."
As they got closer to the punishment hall, Severus threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay! I'll behave, I promise. Just let me finish my drink before we get to the punishment hall."
Severus gave a dramatic sigh as Evreux's icy glare told him all he needed to know. "Alright, alright," Severus said, raising his hands in surrender, "I guess the drink is a no-go."
Evreux threw open the heavy doors of the punishment hall with a firm push. The room was stark and foreboding, and the echo of the doors closing behind them made Severus shiver slightly. "Welcome to the punishment hall," Evreux said in a cold tone. "I trust you know why you're here."
Severus tried to maintain his playful demeanor despite the grim surroundings. "Well, I wasn't exactly planning on a tour of the punishment hall today," he said, looking around with exaggerated interest. "Is there a special guidebook or something I should know about?"
Evreux's expression remained unchanged as he motioned for Severus to stand in the center of the room. "We don't have time for jokes. You've broken the rules, and there are consequences."
Severus raised an eyebrow and leaned closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "You know, I've heard the punishment hall has a reputation. Some say it's where the most intense disciplinary actions happen. I'm curious—how bad can it be?"
Evreux's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, clearly unamused by Severus's antics. Severus straightened up and tried a different approach, his tone more earnest. "Look, I get it. I broke a rule. But maybe we can work something out. What if I promise to be on my best behavior from now on? I could even help with some of the tasks around here. Surely that's worth more than a trip to the punishment hall, right?"
Evreux's gaze remained as cold as ever. "The rules are the rules. This is not a matter of negotiation."
Severus threw his arms wide in mock defeat. "Alright, alright. I'll stop pushing. Just one last thing—can you at least tell me what sort of punishment we're talking about? A little heads-up might make it less... daunting."
Evreux remained silent, his stern demeanor unwavering. Severus gave a resigned chuckle. "Fine, fine. I'll take my chances. But I'm holding you to that promise to at least let me have another drink afterward."
Evreux's only response was a cold stare as he turned away to prepare for whatever was next. Severus sighed and stood alone in the center of the room, trying to stay optimistic despite the harsh setting. "Well, here's to hoping this turns out to be more adventure than disaster," he muttered to himself, trying to maintain his playful spirit.