Wistful Destiny

The royal court is filled with murmurs as the great king of the Amorite, Augustus, sighed.The crown prince is standing on the left side of the throne, and his brother is on the other side.A frown was drawn on Arson Ritz. He wasn't informed about this meeting. He was working on a strategy to strengthen their army with the chief commander and his younger brother.A messenger was standing at the center of the court with eyes focused on the floral print on the floor."May I, your majesty?" King Augustus gestured for the minister to read it.Honorable king of Amorite, this king wishes you good health.After all, you need it for upcoming events. I shall not forget the tears of my daughter. Each tear will cost a thousand times of your royal blood.By keeping the sun as a witness. I declare war on your nation. If I wanted, I could have sneaked in and killed the crown prince. However, I want to kill his pride instead. Be prepared for the war, king, and crown prince.—King Temoúr.The minister carefully scrolls it and looks at the King."This is treacherous.""Our crown prince didn't do anything here.""We were ready to sign the peace treaty, and why are they declaring war?""Our prince is not wrong. He did not wish to marry her.""Exactly, the princess wanted to marry him.""Our prince kindly declined it. Look at those—""Silence!" The king's voice muted others, earning pin-drop silence."I'll let the crown prince decide the next move." The king said, looking to his left."I undoubtedly know and trust our army. They will never hesitate to fight to protect our nation. They're our pride." The crown prince looks back at the king and bows his head. "I'll accept it, your majesty."King's wide grin was concealed by his neutral face. His eyes were trying to see any hesitation or shivering about the upcoming war. But he saw only courage, power, and will.The king stood up, and everyone followed with respect. "In the upcoming days, we'll hold the ceremony to send soldiers to the borders." His hands held the royal sword. "The court is adjourned."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Arson looks at the map spread in front of him with his younger brother Emerson.Emerson was brought up by the head maid. He didn't get to feel the motherly care of his mother. Surely, his father had a concubine. However, none of them adored him. In turn, his elder brother, born from the same womb, got loved by many. He didn't like the attention, which always gravitated toward his brother more than himself.He took up the challenge to become better than his brother in archery, swordplay, hunting, politics, and others. However, his brother always stood a step ahead of him. Even now, he's standing behind his brother like a shadow."Emer, I believe they'll attack us from the north side." Arson spoke while looking through the map."Let's send all the troops there," Emerson suggested. "Our one million soldiers will scare them away." He smirks, "This will teach the king not to be foolish."Arson shook his head and placed his hand "We can't do that. It's just an assumption. They might have hired spies in the kingdom, and they might attack the palace instead. Or, they must be planning to attack from the west, as it's covered with desert.""I'll guard the west. You, my brother, watch the north. Since the remaining direction is only the ocean. These are the only possible points. The north, the west, and the central palace." He locks his sharp eyes with his brother and utters. "No matter what, protect the door."Their border is surrounded by high walls. Each direction has one door, which mostly opens after thorough checking and proper notice from the king of another dynasty. They should get the seal of an official of the Amorite court with a letter of agreement. When everything is correct, then the huge door opens for the merchants, kings, princes, or other officials. For common people, the soldier directly brings them to the court and needs to state their reason for entering their kingdom.Arson has worked hard to earn the title or to be worthy of the crown. His mother wished to see the crown on his head before she passed away while giving birth to his brother Emerson. Since then, he has taken an oath to protect and love his brother more than himself.He would meditate, learn to use each weapon, sharpen his senses in the deep forest, live alone in the forest to survive, and understand the needs of the forest. He fought barehanded with a carnivorous animal that had been hungry for days. He provided meals for the animal, and they became friends when the leopard felt the human was no threat.His father was worried about his disappearance from time to time. Whenever he felt like going on a trip, within the night he'd be gone, leaving a letter behind. He would live among the citizens as one of them, and he surely hid his identity so well that when the right time came for the king to introduce their eligible prince to the nation, many had their eyes wide because they knew the face standing in front of them. They knew the boy who would sit with them and have meals. They know the boy who worked in their shop to earn a loaf of bread.The king has just said that he's the prince. He didn't expect the crowd to roar with joy. He saw the crowd tearing up; some were even slamming their fists to their chests and shouting the boy's name. The soldiers had bowed their heads. The king has surely never witnessed something like this, even during his coronation. The crowd was overjoyed. But this wasn't Arson's coronation. He was just being introduced to the nation. At that very moment, King Agustus knew who would be the crown prince.Something similar is recreated as the crowd again roars while watching Arson take the stage. The crown prince bowed his head to the king and then to the crowd too. The crowd immediately quieted down and bowed back almost in sync."I'll accept the war from King Temoúr, along with my brother Emerson," the prince says, looking at the crowd and tightening his hold on the sword. "And the victory will surely be ours." The gaze is drawn to the army present on the ground."Yes, Prince Arson Ritz." The soldier shouts, standing in attention. Their eyes were straight ahead. However, their ears focused on each word from the king."Long live the Prince Arson." The crowd cheered.Emerson clenched his jaws, watching the crowd swoon over his elder brother.Arson turns to the left and kneels in front of the king, who is also his proud father."Waiting for your command, king." The crown prince said while his hand held his sword tightly.The king smiled and took his royal sword, which has been passed down through generations. He placed it on either side of the crown prince's shoulder."Victory shall be yours."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Arson and Emerson moved to the north and west, respectively. One to protect his kingdom, and another to show that he's better than the other. One wants to strengthen his army. Another plan to strengthen his chance to snatch the crown One spends nights creating new weapons. Another throwing orders for the soldiers to be better.King Temoúr attacked from the west. Arson was quick to send a messenger to his brother and get the troops. However, due to calamities, Emerson couldn't reach him. Although the messenger did return, Arson didn't give it much thought and focused on strengthening the unharmed army."We have a total of 15,000 soldiers, prince." The commander says this while looking at the pictorial representation of the northern side of the kingdom."Use the trees," Arson whispered, looking keenly at the map.The commander raised his eyebrows. "I do not understand, prince. Kindly enlighten me.""Tie a long, strong rope to the palm tree and incline it till it touches the sand. Release large waste clothes soaked in oil. Ask the soldiers to aim at them with arrows lit with fire.""Ask the defense to use a shield to cover the western gate. Hand them a sharp spear, axe, and hammer." Arson's eyes narrowed, and he sighed. "Emerson can't reach here even now? I don't understand when did a calamity start?" He exits the tent and looks at the wide sky."The sky is completely fine, and there is no sign of clouds." He looks back at the commander. "Request Emerson to reach here as soon as he can."However, his brother didn't reach there, and Arson had to control everything on his own.A fight between two nations always resulted in bloodshed, where the kings might just be ordering and it's the soldiers who had to walk in the war with life in their palms. They won't know if they will meet their family again or not.One thing is good about that, even after their deaths. Their contribution is remembered. Their family is given financial support. Their family steps up to a higher rank in the pyramid of status. They're provided with a special badge, which the family can use to buy daily necessities at a lower cost. Something which Prince Arson proposed to the king and the court did fight. However, the prince has seen many things during his escape.Unwantedly, many ministers agreed, and the rule was known to the whole nation. The very next year, there were more candidates to train in the army. Hence, the idea did play a vital role in strengthening the nation's border.Swords clashed together as soldiers grunted, attacking their opponents. The sound of a metal blade slicing the skin and ripping the arms, as well as the groans of the injured soldiers. The shield is protecting against the attack of a hammer or sword, but an axe was able to make a mark on it.In the middle of the chaos was Arson, sitting on his black horse. His hands hold a spear and a sword, respectively. Eyes focusing on the incoming rival, he saw a man aiming an arrow at him through his peripheral vision. He pierced the spear through a trooper, taking the sword from his hand, and threw it at the man aiming at him. He pulls his spear from the man's chest and slams it on the next person, taking a dagger from his boot and throwing it at another trooper."Prince!" Arson looks back, and an arrow dashes past his face, puncturing the forehead of the man and aiming a sword at him.The commander turned back to fight with others, and Arson took his position. His eagle eyes narrowed, and he analyzed the opponent's strength and the setting sun. The war must end today. He wants the king to realize that he has made the biggest mistake of his life.Arson pulls the reins of his horse and moves forward to reach the king, who is sitting on the horse, guarded by an army around him. He gritted his teeth and turned the horse toward the palm tree, and he cut the rope with a slice from his sword. A part of his army knew the plan, and they were quick to light their arrows.Temoúr who was sitting and enjoying the struggles of the crown prince didn't realize the cloth balls were flying in the air. Soon, an arrow peered through it, and it landed on a soldier, who dodged it. Even the others laughed, moving away from it.Arson glanced at the commander and scratched his chin. The commander blinks and cracks his neck. The soldiers got their signal. They moved back and cut the ropes from the remaining palm trees.This time the king chuckled. "Poor boy, he didn't get help from his great nation."The Amorite soldiers were defending themselves and subtly stepping back, making a circle. The rival soldiers thought they were winning. When they saw the same circular object flying in the air. They chuckled while mocking the Amorite soldiers.It was leaking too. The Temoúr soldiers felt rain showering over them. However, it wasn't a cloth ball but rather a large metal container that was larger than a horse. The soldier smells something fishy, and soon many more were flying in the air. They saw Amorite soldiers aiming arrows at them with determination in their eyes and fire in the arrows."It's flammable oil." A soldier yells and attempts to flee. However, a soldier aimed the ball in the air, and it blasted, throwing many soldiers in the air and having a brutal landing.King Temoúr widens his eyes and turns his horse to leave. However, Arson had his sword on his neck. The king saw his guard lying on the ground and the horse. When did this man do all this?"When I successfully distracted your guard and your attention," Arson replied, pressing his sword more against his neck."Your kingdom?" Arson smirks, urging the horse to step forward and narrow his gaze.Temoúr had difficulty swallowing and whispering. "Yes, your highness. It's yours. Even the princess.""I do not need her. I told you from the beginning." He turns his head toward his soldiers. "Take this man to the dungeon. The king of Amorite will decide his fate."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"Commander," Arson whispered, looking over the moon from his tent. The winning news has been sent to the King of Amorite."Yes, my prince." The commander quickly bowed."I was planning to visit a neighboring kingdom," Arson explains, turning back to Commander."I did not understand, my lord." The commander spoke of his confusion.Arson grins, "Explore the world. I want to see how many different kingdoms there are." He turns his head to the moon again. "Does everyone see the moon the way I do? A white drop of paint in the sky."Commander didn't mutter anything but rather looked at Arson with more confusion. He really can't understand what the crown prince is implying."I'll inform the king about your departure." Commander bowed again."Please do not tell the king about the kingdoms we'll visit." Arson requested with a smile.Commander smiles back. "As our crown prince wishes."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"My prince, how long?" A servant whined, holding a vessel filled with fruits.The said male smiles, stroking the white cloth with a red tint, matching his lips."I never knew fruits could be this heavy." The servant huffs, holding it steady.The brown eyes locked with the servant with a shake of the head that shuffled the black hairs. The white inner robe had flecks of paint smudged on it."Is it done? My hands are falling off." The servant further added a frown. With each passing second, the fruits are getting heavier for him to hold."Tomorrow I need to be pardoned, my prince. I won't be able to serve you." The servant could not stop blabbering."I shall inform my brother about it." The prince spoke while gently keeping the wooden brush aside. "He'll see whether you should be pardoned or not.""You know the answer well." The servant mumbled, looking away from the mischievous smile."Yes, my brother will never allow it. He loves me very much.""Also, protective and spoils you too." The servant added and stepped away to keep the bronze container away."Let me see how you drew me." The servant quickly skips his way to see the painting of the prince. However, he saw only the fruit drawings."Where am I, my prince?" The servant asked, squinting his eyes."You are brighter than the moon." The prince replied, dipping all the used brushes in a vessel filled with water."What does that mean, prince?""You are here." Elric Ryan points at a random point and says, "But, you are brighter than the moon, so...""So, I'm invisible?"The prince nodded with a toothy grin.The servant looks at the prince with his mouth agape."In the coming days, we'll have a festival in the kingdom, right?" Elric asked, lying on the round bed."Yes, my prince." The servant replied, washing the brushes."Shall we sneak out?" The prince suggested sitting upright."You'll be present with the royal family, addressing the crowd." The servant reminds him."After that whole talking is done. I want to follow this tradition." The prince lies back on the bed."Tradition made for yourself to sneak out every festival."Elric rests his cheek on his palm, looking at the servant. "My royal friend knows me very well.""I've spent my youth taking care of you." The servant kept the brushes aside to dry.The prince chuckled. "Are you perhaps implying that you're old now and can not be my partner?""I will be with you at your service."