There is silence, and the world is still, just as the sun peeks over the horizon. The light of the new day passes over the land, vanquishing the darkness and waking the sleeping citizens to another glorious morning. A quiet and desolate town soon begins to bustle as its residents wake to begin their usual routines. Overlooking this central town, high above in the mountains, stands an ancient castle, where their Great Lord resides with his family, always watching over them. The Junsui Kingdom is peaceful, and for hundreds of years, they have flourished and thrived.
"Good morning, Lita! Nice to see you out and about so early. Shopping for breakfast?" A young shopkeeper with a cloth headband around his forehead greets a younger girl dressed in white.
"Good morning, Macias Sir. Mama had to work overnight, so I want to make sure she comes home to a hot breakfast in a few hours. I need a bit extra today too, for a friend."
"Ah, I see. How darling you are. Your mother should be so proud, and surely your dearly departed father would be as well if he were here to see you. Your friend is lucky too."
"I appreciate your kind words, Macias Sir. I'll continue to do my best." She pays for her items and with a smile and a wave, bids him farewell. "Until next time, Macias Sir. Take care."
"You as well, Lita. Give my regards to your mother. See you soon!" He waves gently.
Lita hurries down the dirt path, her excitement bubbling over. This is the first time he's ever stayed over, and she wants to surprise him with a special meal made just for him. She wasn't exactly lying when she said her mother was working overnight; she certainly was. However, her mother won't be returning for several more days, as she's on a special expedition with her fellow researchers. That means for two more days, Lita will be free to socialize with her beloved.
She enters her home and quickly gets to work. In just thirty minutes, an extravagant feast of meat, omelets, fruit, and toast is laid out across the table. She gives a satisfied nod and proceeds to enter her room, where she left her lover asleep. However, she's surprised to see he's not there. "Darling? Are you here?" She looks around but cannot find him anywhere. She hurries outside, thinking she may have missed him in the yard, but only finds Mrs. Dridera, watering her lawn.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Dridera, did you see my friend by chance?"
A woman who looks very young but possesses a high level of maturity smiles wryly and calmly responds, "You mean that fetching young man with the pretty lavender eyes, right?" Lita nods, slightly perplexed. "Yes, he left not long after you. He told me that if you came back and were looking for him, I should give you a message. It was simply, 'My Love, last night was a memory I will cherish forever, but like all good things, it must end. Thank you for your kindness and your love. I will always be thinking of you. Please be well, and know you were a favorite.' He said that and left right after. I hate to break it to you, but I think you were had."
Lita is rendered speechless and unable to respond. She knew he was never the type to settle, but she thought he'd at least give her a fighting chance. She's devastated, but she manages to hold it together enough to reply, "Thank you, Ma'am. I'll be going back now." She walks away as Mrs. Dridera gives her a pitiful nod.
However, once inside, she loses any composure that remained. With a swipe of her hand, the plates of food get caught up in a twister of wind and smash into the walls, cabinets, and eventually onto the floor when the wind dissipates as quickly as it came. Her eyes suddenly become red, and her face morphs, making her look less human and more like a beast. She roars in anger, "Damn you Judas!" She curses his name before finally falling to her knees and crying.
~
"Yahoo!" A young man jumps through the trees with little effort, having so much fun he can't help but cheer. He whips through and around with the assistance of vines that come to him with only a simple pull of his hand. He finally reaches a clearing devoid of trees, and if he had only been blessed with the power of nature, he'd be in trouble. However, once the last tree has been surpassed, he drops down toward the ground, but rather than smashing into it, the ground rises to meet his step. He's soon running across pillars of rock and dirt that push up from the ground as he goes. He then reaches a cliff, which would be the end of the line if the power of earth were his limit. But he effortlessly dives down toward the river, and just before plunging in, a large, wide wave rises. Like a professional surfer, he rides the waves, leaving a path of rock-solid ice behind him, displaying his skill in using his powers of water and ice manipulation. Once he reaches the bank, he waves his hand across a large pile of leaves, and they instantly combust, allowing him to dry off in mere minutes thanks to the power of fire. With a second wave of his hand, the fire dissipates. He looks up to see a large cliff, his only path to freedom.
At this point, he'd be stranded if not for his final ability to control the wind and its properties. Creating a vortex of wind beneath him, he propels himself into the air and practically floats up to the base of the cliff. Before him, a massive castle awaits, signaling that his journey for the day is over, and he already feels a pang of anguish. Out here in this big, wide world, he can be the fun-loving charmer who bends all the natural elements to his will—a legend. However, here in this castle, he's trapped by his duty and obligations, known appropriately as…
"Young Lord Silas! There you are!" A green-skinned troll with short seaweed hair, pale green eyes, and dressed in the highest of the servants' royal garb arrives in a huff. "Where have you been, Young Lord? I was so worried. You shouldn't wander off to the town. It's unsafe!"
"Henley, please calm down. As you can see, I'm unharmed. I am always cautious when I travel down to the town, so don't worry. They have no idea who I am, as I use a pseudonym and wear common clothing. None would ever expect the royal prince to be dressed in such raggedy garb. No one's even seen Young Lord Silas anyway, as he's yet to make his public appearance."
"Yet. That is the key word, my boy, isn't it?" A deep, bellowing voice interjects.
"Master Cain! Forgive me, I let him out of my sight for just a moment, and he—"
"Henley, enough. I'm well aware of how tricky he can be, so I don't fault you. He's always had such a fascination with the outside world and the commoners, that it comes as no surprise he began sneaking down to the town to see it for himself. Perhaps he shares a touch of that wandering spirit that possessed his father and enticed him to leave our kingdom behind."
"Hell no!" Silas becomes visibly agitated. "I'm nothing like my father. I'd never abandon my kingdom or my child. At least Mother returned for a time and left again for a cause, but that man didn't, and now no one knows where he might be. I love our kingdom and our people. I will never abandon it or them!" His bitterness can be heard beneath his words of resolve.
The red-haired man, just beginning to show signs of aging, smiles warmly at the purple-haired boy before him. "Yes, I have no doubt that you will be a worthy successor to this kingdom one day, Silas. So don't get too upset about things that hold no significance anymore. It was indeed cruel your foolish father left everything behind and tossed all his responsibilities onto your shoulders at such an early age, but I believe that things are as they should be.
I hate to say it, but he wasn't cut out to be king. He wasn't as reasonable as you. He desired to be free, but unlike you, who always returns and carries out your duties proudly, he fled, disgracing me, our kingdom, and our people. Even if he were to return here, he'd be unwelcome."
"As long as you understand, Grandfather." He's calmed down a bit. "Also, I'm sorry for raising my voice to you and for sneaking out again. It's just so liberating to be able to flex my powers freely and be a normal young Junsui. I just wanted to enjoy it now, while I can, is all."
Lord Cain can see he's trying hard to be strong, and his bronze eyes soften as he places his hand on his grandson's head. "You're right, Silas. You should be able to enjoy the world while you're young. So, how about we make a deal? How about I allow you, with Henley of course, to go explore the world for a few years and come back on your 21st birthday, when you're a man?"
Silas' eyes grow wide. "Grandfather, are you serious? You'll really allow me to go?"
"Yes, but only until that time. The deal is, once you return, you will immediately be betrothed and have your coronation, where you'll wed your bride soon after and secure an heir."
Silas finally shows visible excitement. "Of course, that's more than fair, so I accept. I promise that when I return, I'll be a ruler worthy of succeeding the Great Lord Cain, I swear!"
"Glad to hear it, my boy. Now, I'll need to make some preparations, but you should plan where you'd like to go with Henley, as like I said, he will be accompanying you."
"But Master Cain, I am your servant. If I go, who'll serve you? Surely there's another—"
"I'd like to go alone, Grandfather. I want to prove myself a man, or I'll never be worthy of your throne. I must learn to navigate this world without guidance. I must grow strong and learn to be independent. I need to put into practice the survival skills you've trained in me. Please."
Lord Cain contemplates deeply, rubbing his trimmed mustache and beard. He then laughs as he replies, "You get a bit of hair above your lip, and you already think yourself a man."
"I'm not a child, Grandfather, even if I'm not yet an adult. I'm an adolescent, aren't I?"
"Indeed, you are, but I question if you're ready to face this world on your own. You'll find the world outside our kingdom is not as peaceful or as accepting, especially if you dare venture into the human world. They are prideful cowards, fearing anything unlike them, but rather than admitting as such, they respond with violence. A Junsui against a human isn't even a competition if that Junsui is fully matured, but against a young Junsui just starting to master his abilities, they may have the upper hand if they know anything of our kind. They are even more dangerous if you become fond of them. They will pretend to be your friend but stab you in the back when you least expect it. Never get close beyond what's necessary to secure a meal. No more than would one befriend the cow they intend to slaughter for steak, should Junsui ever befriend a human they intend to eat. We are cursed to always require the flesh of humans, Silas. There can be no getting around that. That said, humans are not our enemies either. Understand?"
"I understand, Grandfather, and I will be careful. I will not reveal my nature nor my identity to anyone on my travels, human or otherwise. I have no ill feelings toward humans either, so I'd never harm them beyond what's needed for feeding. But they are also not very appealing to me either. I intend to marry a good Junsui girl, and I've never much needed friends. So, keeping my distance won't be an issue. Please give me this chance. Allow me to prove myself fully capable."
Lord Cain stares intently into the firm lavender eyes of the boy he raised, who is slowly becoming a man before his eyes, and he sighs, realizing that he truly is no longer a child. "Very well, I'll allow you to go alone." He sees the boy's eyes fill with enthusiasm. "However, you must send word of your status every six months, understood? No exceptions."
"Understood, Grandfather. Thank you!" He grabs him in a tight hug, catching him slightly off guard, but he quickly returns the embrace. "I'm going to go prepare my things!" He hurries off, leaving only Henley and his Master to look fondly after the boy who's slowly becoming a man.