In the land of Bouna, birthplace of Clarque, in the small town of Ninna, a family, no more known as the Pearatas, but as the Peranzas, lived in humble peace. Lucius and Serena lived happily there, and they were able to have three children. The eldest was Blanche, a tranquil and fierce girl. The second was Ciran, a strong, brave and impulsive boy, like his father. The youngest was called Guilbaud, a boy known for his cleverness and for outsmarting his peers. Lucius and Serena gave everything they had to their children, Lucius taught them how to handle a sword and defend themselves, meanwhile Serena told them all the words of wisdom she knew, but most importantly of all, they gave them love and care.
Blanche and her brothers were often told about their parent’s story by them and Clarque, who was a close friend to the family, but often the children questioned their past decisions, asking why they would leave their revered status to live humbly in another kingdom. They wanted to go to Dorallan to claim what was rightfully theirs. Their father might not have been a duke, but he still was a Dorallean noble. Lucius explained that by relinquishing his name and status, he disgraced his family and could never return. He used to regret leaving so rashly, and said that, if he could go back in time, he would’ve done things differently. Not because of his wealth or Serena, but because of the dishonor he brought upon his family and his father. This regret came to pass when Blanche was born, saying that, by seeing her face, he deemed it all worth it. He had the love of his life and three beautiful children, and no money, titles or wealth could ever compare to what he had.
However, even after listening to the words of their father, the children paid no attention to them, they still dreamt of the perks that came with nobility, and oftentimes talked to each other about them. Their father always dismissed the idea, claiming that they couldn’t return, and it could be dangerous for all of them, since both his family and the priests at the temple could be after him, for what he did was dishonorable to the gods.
Meanwhile, in Dorallan, Primus spent his years rebuilding the reputation of his family. He proved to be quite useful to the kingdom, using his wisdom and intelligence to figure out solutions to the people’s many issues. Primus became well-known in the population, and everyone had him in the highest regard, to the point that his own relatives declared him clean of his shame from the past. The king was proud of Primus, but reassured him that, because of the shame of his family, he couldn’t be officially admitted to a position in the court. Primus seemed to accept this fate, and continue to gain favor in the public and the king’s eyes, since he wasn’t an official member of the court, he wasn’t abound by the state’s protocols, and could work by his own methods. This cleverness pleased the king, and he promised Primus that, should he need anything that’s beyond his power, he could request the court’s help.
This, of course, was all according to Primus’ plan. He said to the king that he had but one wish: to reunite with his brother. The man explained to the king that, when Lucius left, he did not give any clues to where he was headed, and asked for the king’s help to find him. Moved by this, king Thaddeus told the royal guard to search the entire kingdom in hopes to find Lucius, and that no stone should be left unturned. Primus, seeing that his meeting with his brother was close to happening, started to prepare everything for Lucius’ return. His uncles and aunts were displeased with the idea of having the one who brought them shame return, but Primus inquired them to forgive him, as he was still the same blood as their own. The preparations were interrupted a few weeks later, when the captain of the royal guard approached Primus to tell him that Lucius was nowhere to be found. This news disappointed Primus, but led him to think that maybe his brother left the kingdom altogether.
Clarque, Lucius’ friend, oftentimes visited Dorallan. He liked the pleasant scenery and the fair maidens of the land, and whenever he returned to Bouna, he always passed by Lucius and Serena’s house to tell his stories with the ladies, and to deliver some news of what happened in the kingdom, most times asked by the couple, although Lucius not once asked about the situation of his family, as he did not want to receive possible bad news and be stricken with guilt. As a matter of fact, Lucius never mentioned Primus to Clarque, not even when he resided in Dorallan, although Clarque knew he had a brother, his name was unknown to the Bounan.
In one of Clarque’s visits to Dorallan, he took interest in a lady called Ada, sister to a jealous man called Emil. When he witnessed Clarque trying to court Ada, he furiously ran in their direction and punched the Bounan in the face, saying that no foreigner should ever lay a single finger on her. Clarque retaliated and the two fought. Ada, disgusted by her brother’s actions, called the guard, who quickly separated the two man. When asked about the meaning of the fight, Emil accused Clarque of pestering his sister, but Clarque denied, saying that they were just talking. The argument was getting heated, and the guards, seeing that they were close to the Pearatas home, thought of taking them to Primus, so he could use his wisdom to solve the situation.
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When Primus heard the accusations, he first asked Ada what really happened. When she denied being pestered by Clarque, Primus asked the guards to inquire if anyone who was near saw the two together, and to report what they saw. A few minutes later, the guards returned, confirming that all who saw them, said that they were just talking. With this, the guards told Emil to go home and stay away from trouble, while also advising Clarque to be more cautious with the women around, as many of them had jealous brothers like Emil, and that his life could be in danger if he approached the wrong one. Nevertheless, the situation was resolved.
Clarque, recognizing the Pearata crest embedded in the door of the house, was surprised to see that the house was respected by the guards and cityfolk alike. He knew about Lucius’ concerns that his house might be disgraced because of him, and could barely believe the reputation that the house has gathered. Thanking Primus, Clarque told him that he was genuinely surprised to know that the Pearatas were that respected, explaining that, some time ago, he heard rumors about the infamy of them. Primus confirmed the rumors, telling him that years past, his brother left their home, and never saw him again ever since. Primus even explained that he was trying to find his missing brother, even requesting the help of the king, but with no success.
Clarque knew that the man who he was talking to was Lucius’ brother, since he was from the same family, and the story told by him coincided with what happened to Lucius. Clarque, feeling indebted to Primus, naively told him that years ago, a man and a woman went to his kingdom, Bouna. They didn’t look like merchants or travelers, and soon settled in a small town. Despite telling all of this, Clarque omitted him knowing that it was, indeed, Primus’s brother, and them being close friends, as he wouldn’t know how Primus would react.
When this news came into the ears of Primus, he was stunned. He begged Clarque to find out more about them and, if possible, take them there. He gave Clarque a badge containing the crest of the Pearatas, and gave it to his brother, Lucius, should he be found. Primus also instructed the Bounan to tell Lucius that he misses him dearly, and would give anything to see him again. This was only a façade, however, since Primus actually planned to enact his revenge on Lucius because of what his brother had done. Clarque departed to Bouna, and told Primus that he would do his best to find out more about the couple that went there all those years ago.
Arriving at Bouna, Clarque went to Ninna, and visited the Peranzas, however this time, before talking to them all, he called Lucius to speak in particular. Outside the house, Clarque told Lucius that he had news from his family, saying that he had met his brother, Primus. Lucius was surprised, but didn’t know exactly how to react, because he didn’t know if it was good or bad news. Clarque soon calmed him down when he told that his family, more specifically, his brother Primus, had a pretty good reputation among the people and the royal guard, also telling him how his brother saved him from trouble.
Lucius was happy with this, he felt relief knowing that his family wasn’t doomed because of his actions, but at the same time, questioned Clarque what exactly needed to be spoken in secret, as his family also knew his story, and probably also wondered how his distant relatives were. Then, Clarque told Lucius about Primus, about how he was missing his brother since he left Dorallan, and how he requested the king’s help to find him, but with no success, and by being indebted to Primus, he told him that he might know where Lucius resided, although not mentioning his name. Lucius, hearing this, severely reprimanded Clarque, saying that was naive of him, as he might have put him and his family in danger. Clarque, on the other hand, told Lucius not to worry, as his brother showed genuine concern for him, and gave Lucius the badge Primus told him to deliver, and saying that his brother missed him dearly, and would give anything to see him again.
Lucius agreed to depart with Clarque to Dorallan, but on the condition that Serena and his kids stayed in Ninna, so no harm could come to them, as he was suspicious what his brother, the royal guard, or the priests of the temple would do if they found him. He also told Clarque not to mention any of this to his children, as their curiosity could get the better of them, and their greed might make them follow the two to Dorallan, possibly endangering themselves. Clarque agreed, and passing a few days, they both departed.