“Hey Luke! How was your first week of school?”
After surviving the last two weekdays, Luke had finally gotten to visit a real friend again. When he stepped into the flower garden, a feeling of calm had washed over him like never before.
“It sucked.”
He didn’t come off as too negative, but he wasn’t going to pull any punches.
“Oh, what happened?!”
“I got into a fight, I got into trouble, and the teacher treated me like crap.”
“You got into a fight?! Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I lost, but he didn’t hurt me.”
This was a half-truth, even Luke admitted that much to himself. It didn’t hurt him physically, but whatever crumpled bit of pride he had left was now ashes in the wind.
Relaying the rest of the story, Luke had eaten up the genuine sympathy the princess had given him. The harshness of the school kids was melting away.
“Public school sounds terrible. You shouldn’t have to put up with that.”
“It’s fine. I bet any day I’ll be able to use mana. When that happens, everything will be normal. Until then, I have you as a friend, and that’s all I need.”
“Thanks Luke” Elizabeth blushed a little at his statement, but pulled her head behind her pink bangs.
“Hey, why don’t we play tag?”
“Sure-“
“You’re it!” Luke had poked Elizabeth on the nose before running off, taking advantage of her shock to get a head start.
Running out of the garden and through the halls of the castle, Luke had memorized the castle walls over the last two years. made his way to the left wing of the castle, knowing that at the end sat a room full of armor suits that he could use to sneak around the princess.
Looking back, he could see she was steadily gaining on him. He would definitely have to outsmart her since he had no mana to keep pace with her.
Making his way into the armory, Luke dove behind one of the suits, waiting for the princess to enter. A suit of armor was twice his size and a little wider, allowing him to be completely invisible unless his opponent peered around the side; although they agreed to ban such a move, both were guilty of doing it anyways, never giving each other a hard time if the game went on too long. As the door creaked and princess began scanning the area, Luke slowly snuck toward the exit, breaking into a spring when he passed the open door.
Turning his head back to see Elizabeth not even within sight, he looked forward again thinking he was going to gain a strong lead, when suddenly she had appeared in front of him, booping him in the nose.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Tag!” Elizabeth began running off.
“No fair! You’re not supposed to use your element!”
Luke chased the pink haired girl down the hall, forcing his legs to keep speeding up in order to catch her. As his hand was about to touch her dress, the princess had suddenly appeared far out of his reach, Luke’s forward momentum causing him to trip and fall onto the floor.
“Oops, I’m sorry Luke.” The girl rushed over to the fallen boy, looking as though he were about to cry.
“We agreed no teleporting. It’s not fair…”
The boy was upset, but he wasn’t going to let his pain get the best of him. Breathing in heavily, he forbade himself from tearing up.
“I won’t do it again Luke, I promise. I’m sorry.”
The princess embraced her friend, nestling her head in his shoulder.
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“It’s time to come back to you room miss Elizabeth.”
A weedy man had called, signaling the princess to return to the throne room. Luke had followed her, having been accustomed to doing so over the years. His first year, the lanky man didn’t approve of the boy doing so, only putting up with it because the princess would allow it; eventually he had simply learned to tolerate the boy.
Who he really was, Luke had no idea. His name began with an ‘Ed’ and his title began with a ‘Ch’, but Luke was completely ignorant of politics outside of queens and princesses.
When Elizabeth ran off to her room, Luke was left in the throne room with the Queen of Lumina, the man having escorted the princess beyond the boy’s sight.
“Hello there, Luke. Did you have a fun time with my daughter?”
The boy was always overwhelmed by the queen’s presence, her slender figure, silver dress, and draping white hair. Around his father, the boy had never gotten a chance to speak to the monarch personally; now he had no idea what to say, simply nodding his head instead.
“Mmm, that’s good. I’m glad you’re keeping my little strawberry company. You know, you’re all she ever talks about.”
“Your little…strawberry?” Luke titled his head at the words, snapping back when he realized he was beginning to slouch. His father would be livid to see such slovenly behavior around royalty.
“Yes. You’ve noticed her hair color; it’s not a color that humans naturally have. Except for her, she’s special in that way. But not just in that way, she’s special in another.”
“Her element?”
“Oh, so you know? I shouldn’t be surprised, you two knowing each other for years now. You wouldn’t tell anyone else about her element, would you?”
Luke shook his head. He wouldn’t dare tell anyone else, knowing friendship with Elizabeth was already highly sought after.
“Good. You know, you’re also very special.”
“I don’t feel special.”
Hanging his head low, the boy felt a downpour of depression at his own words.
“Oh, but I know your special. I can feel it. Your father was special, your mother was incredible, your brother is showing signs of his amazing lineage; all that leaves…is you.”
A clacking noise echoed through the room. Luke fidgeted uncomfortably when he saw the woman walking up to him, the slit in her dress revealing her white high heels hitting the black floor. As the woman leaning in to close the distance between their faces, the boy had stepped back a foot or two.
“You may not know how you’re special, but all things make themselves clear in due time. Everyone finds their light. Every one. Even those from Umbro or elsewhere.” Standing herself upright, the queen waved her arm. “You’re dismissed.”
Wasting no time, Luke turned around and walked off, only breaking into a run when he exited the castle.
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“Luke, we need to talk.”
Matthew had stopped his brother before the two parted ways for the night.
“About what?”
“Well, the other day I was thinking. Have you made any new friends?”
The boy hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.
“Luke, I know you really like Elizabeth, but you might want to make new friends. You can’t always see the princess, but I bet if you made other friends, you’d never be alone.”
“Ok Matt, I’ll try.”