Ocaptolum 1: Flare

Unknown

It was about the eleventh day of the twelfth month, year 1009. Twenty-nine days before my tenth birthday.

I can clearly remember every bit of it. I was standing in front of the highest balcony of a 50-meter castle, where my arms were resting on the ledge. The wind at this height was ferocious; the breeze kept slamming on me, messing with the style of my silvery gray hair.

I was just there, staring at the landscape of the cities outside these towering walls of our castle in silence. Numerous buildings and infrastructure were erecting tall, and some of them had complex architectural designs, giving a sense of progressive infrastructural modernization. Cute little lights were emanating a sparkling effect from myriad houses and establishments. .

It was an overcast afternoon. The silhouette of the three moons complemented the view of the magnificent landscape of our nation from this height.

This nation is prosperous and lively. Living outside this wall would surely be a life to live.

I released a deep breath and gazed at a little peanut-brown envelope on my right hand. It had a reddish-yellow yet interesting seal. A figure of a head of a red draconic creature.

"So you are here all this time?" A familiar voice of a young boy spoke behind me. He was catching his breath.

"Why are you even here?" I responded in a monotonous voice without glancing at him.

"That should be my question; why are you here?" He heaved before he continued speaking. "Sunlight is harmful for you, you clearly knew that."

He was right. Since I was little, I was discovered to have some unnatural kind of skin disease where my skin was disturbingly sensitive to sunlight. I went through innumerable medications, but all of them were useless.

It had been almost 10 years, but a cure for my condition was nowhere to be found- the main reason that even I, the prince of this powerful kingdom, could not even walk outside in daylight.

How miserable.

"You don't have to meddle in my concerns," was my cold reply.

I did not notice that the grayish clouds in the sky were starting to unmask the sun, making the sun's rays brighter and more intense.

My right hand on the ledge got accidentally exposed to the sunlight, and it effortlessly gave my hand a scathing degree of burn seconds upon contact. "Ahh!" I groaned as I quickly pulled my right hand away.

"Hey! Step back from the balcony!" Sheit tugged me back from the balcony, securing me inside the covered area.

"Crap." I uttered, staring at the back of my right hand. The burned area was a nasty sight. The wound even made the birthmark at the back of my right hand unnoticeable. My mother will definitely admonish me again if she sees this. It stung but I did not mind.

"Told you." He shook his head while also gazing at my wound, he was wincing at the view. "I really could not understand you, Flare. It's like your suicidal."

I stared at him. He was Shem Zerit Zadeox, but I call him Sheit. He was also a child like me, with me being a month older than him. He was noticeable for his ashy white hair with a few strands of green hair. Wearing an impressive attire for a noble child. His eyes were also mesmerizing from its' shiny green color.

Sheit came from a powerful and renowned Zadeox clan, a noble family in Amantria, our kingdom. Legends and myths tell that their clan was a descendant of gods that could manipulate time and space, although from a dozen generations, no one had awakened that kind of ability like the stories portrayed. He was one of my childhood friends, although most of the time he annoyed me with his other stubborn behaviors. I should not forget to mention that he was the crowned Arch Vaurch, a noble with the highest position before the princess.

So if I ever die or disappear, he will be the person who will ascend to the throne.

"Even if I tell you, you will not understand it." I murmured before I slumped on the floor.

He sat beside me on my right side. "Try me." He spoke and then gave me a wide smirk.

I clicked my tongue and handed the envelope to him, which he opened right up. "I will be engaged with the princess of Emmber on this upcoming new year, twenty-nine days from now to be exact."

He read the content before he darted his gaze at me. "Are you telling me you were that gloomy and suicidal just because you will be engaged with a princess from Emmber Kingdom? If I'm not mistaken, rumors tell that the royal family of Emmber were fire manipulators?"

"You won't understand me."

"I mean, yeah, if you will not bother to enlighten me."

I made a downward smile and said, "I just realized that my life sucks. Sometimes I really wonder, What does it feel like to live a normal life or play outside beneath the sun?"

"Flare, you are still a prince with no opponent against ascending to the throne, by the right age, you will inevitably be the new monarch. Being a king will not be boring, In addition, you will have a royal wife from Emmber Kingdom!" He argued with a wide smile.

"Really? I will be engaged by the age of 10, marry her by the age of 16, ascend the throne at 18, and kill myself on paper works and letters relentlessly until my last breath. What kind of life was that?"

"It's wonderful."

"What? No, it sucks."

"It's wonderful, unless the princess is that ugly... Or should I say unattractive."

"It's not about the appearance!"

"Well, even if she is indeed, not gorgeous, if you became the king, you could make a law legalizing polygamy!" He proudly suggested, raising his hands in the air.

I rubbed a hand down my face and asked, "How in goddess Inferonia's name does this conversation even tackle polygamy?" A sharp response to repudiate his suggestion.

He shrugged with a thrifty smile. "If being a crowned prince who will be engaged to a princess from a cool kingdom is not wonderful, then what is wonderful-"

"-To live a normal life." I quickly replied before he even finished his sentence. "Just normal, where you can do whatever you want without these stupid rules, etiquettes, and extravagances. You're always telling me that I'm a prince, but I can't even go outside that goddamn wall all my life! I want to explore the outside of this castle, the outside of this kingdom, but I'm as if a prisoner here. This world is full of magic, wonders, and mysteries, I want to discover and experience any of those! But I simply can't."

"Travelling outside our country is not safe. The news about the upcoming catastrophic war has already spread around the world, and we could already see the effects of the incoming resurrection of that God." Sheit stood and walked onto the balcony. He looked outside. The sky was not that vivid blue like it normally would be.

The news about the upcoming war spread about three weeks ago. That day, many bizarre things followed. Some kinds of animals in a particular zoo in this city have become aggressive and hostile toward one another. Plenty of reports also stated alarming amounts of incidences regarding sudden changes in the behavior of some wild animals. And what was even weirder was that the night was getting longer. The sun was setting faster and rising slower.

"Well, that's my whole point. I don't want to die without even trying to live the way I want. At least I want to be an archalion."

"Archalion? You don't want to be a prince or king of the country, but you want to be an archalion? To be a soldier of another country?"

Well, an Archalion was a prominent profession on this planet. Archalions were skilled warriors who, most of the time, were traveling all around the world for different kinds of deadly quests and missions. Numerous archalions were known to have some kind of magical ability or powerful weapon. Many refer to them as modern-day heroes.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Yeah, I would rather work myself, training and traveling from places to places around the world while helping others, than sit, lay, eat, and sleep here." I stood and dusted my pants. "And why are you even here?"

"Thanking me wouldn't be bad after I saved your life, you know?"

I didn't listen and started to trudge my way to leave the balcony, but I halted as I walked past the doorway. "Thank you for the talk, it knocked some senses out of me."

"Hey Flare, there are better things to do than kill yourself. Trust me." That were his final words before I left him.

It felt weird. Just a while ago, I felt really useless, but now I feel like nothing happened. Maybe I just got overwhelmed by the royal engagement. Or maybe I just needed to talk my concern out a bit.

I found myself at the front of the grand library. A place where I could consider it my second home. I literally spend most of my free time here, reading books and searching for things about the outside world.

[screeech]

I pushed through the huge wooden double door with special, elegant carvings. Anyone nearby can hear the tiny screeching sound of the door swinging open. The first thing that will be observed from the doorway is the blinding amount of books and literary materials, including those tall bookshelves around the spacious room. There was even a second floor for this splendid library. The room was dimly lit by technological torches from side to side of the area. Right after I stepped a foot inside, a smell of old paper books greeted my olfactory senses.

My favorite scent of all.

I walked straight to my study table, and as usual, the books and papers were all over the table. Different kinds of novels and research books were left open and lying on the table with a messy appearance.

[Screeeeech]

Someone entered.

I cocked my head a bit to inspect who entered. A figure of a female child was what was to be seen. From the style of her braided hair and a tiny silvery crown on it, I already knew who she was before I even looked at her face or dress.

Oh please, not now.

I quickly looked away and acted as if I did not notice her presence and just focused on fixing the study table. I proceeded to stack the books in piles by order, depending on their genres or ideas.

"Your highness." She said in a calm tone. "I would like to speak to you for a moment, if I may."

Hmm? She was off. I'm not used to hearing her talk like this, in a calm tone.

I turned around and put on a face as if I were quite shocked to see her. "Oh, Mallinete. Is there.. something you need?"

Mallinete Ramossuei, the arch Vaurchess from the Ramossuei house. Normally, her voice and attitude were pesky and irritating, but she was kind of different now. She can be seen as a child with long, light, blondy braided hair, honey brown pupils, and a fair complexion complementing her bluish dress. She looked composed and mild.

What I mean by Arch Vaurchess was that she was the crowned nobility who also had a high position in the Monarchy, below the Arch Vaurch.

She gently bowed her head toward me, showing respect. "Please forgive my mother for bursting into your room a week ago."

Yeah, how could I forget that moment? Actually, there were seven engagement letters that were offered to me, eight days have passed. One came from the Emmber Kingdom, one from Malinnete's clan, and the other five came from different kingdoms or countries. I really didn't want to choose any, but I ended up choosing the Invitation of Emmber Kingdom. If you do not have a choice but to choose, choose the better option.

Her mother went to my room seven days ago after they heard the news that I would be engaged to a royal princess from a distant kingdom instead of her daughter. She pleaded for me to accept her clan's royal engagement invitation, but I politely declined.

"Truthfully, I don't mind that anymore." I just rewarded her with a quick fake smile.

I turned my attention back to my study table and continued fixing it.

"Umm, your highness, what is this map?" She said while holding onto a quite large piece of white paper.

"It's just a map of Amantrian's sewage system." I said without looking.

"What do these blue lines and red dots indicate?"

Why does she even become so interested in these things?

"Blue lines indicate the tunnel or passages underground, while the red dots indicate manholes." I briefly replied. I could notice how she was so fixated on the map.

The door opened once again, followed by a tiny screeching sound.

When I checked from behind, it was a royal guard, wearing an honorably white royal guard uniform with a handgun on his right hip and a long sword on the left. He walked towards me and then halted before he saluted in honor. "Permission to make a statement, your highness."

"What is it?"

He lowers her right hand. "Mr. Infield was already in the music room and waiting for your highness."

Ahhhh. Two days ago, my mother gave me a performance instructor for the royal engagement. Initially, before the engagement or ritual, the children that will be engaged will have a performance act. Well, my mother or the queen herself ordered that I play a violin for that.

"I'm going."

***

Five days later, on the sixteenth day of the twelfth month, year 1009.

I was heading to the Grand Library when, by an unfortunate coincidence, I stumbled upon Sheit. He grinned the second he noticed me.

Why do I keep encountering him?

It had been seven consecutive days, seven consecutive days of running across him since their family arrived in the castle. For all the days created by gods, he was using those just to pester me. This castle was massive, having five wide floors and 86 rooms, excluding the royal and other key areas.

"Oh, what a coincidence do we have here?" He greeted.

"Yeah, coincidence." I sarcastically replied, using an unlively tone.

"Where are you going?" He asked, following me on my walk.

"Grand Library." My thrifty answer.

"Don't you even have more interesting hobbies than reading?" He rolled his eyes and put his hands on his nape.

"It's not like I'm forcing you."

We entered the Grand Library, and the first thing I did was reach my study table. Sheit just wandered his vision around the spacious room.

"Where is it?" I muttered, scouring the table.

"What are you looking for?" Sheit stared at me as I bowed down to inspect something under the study table.

"The map of the sewage system." I just stood and sighed. It was not here. "I came here to return it to its book where it was tucked."

"Don't you have a librarian or room keeper here?"

"We actually have, but Mr. Nathamel only visits this library four times a month." I happened to see a lady servant sweeping the floor in the distance. "Could I borrow your time for a moment?" I spoke loud enough for her to hear it.

She responded and came immediately, with a slight bow. "What can I do, your highness?" She politely asked.

I scratched my head. "Did you see a white map? It's quite wide."

"Oh, I sincerely apologize, but I did not happen to find any map, your highness." She answered, bowing her head.

Hmm? Then where did it go?

"I see. But if ever you see something, just put it on this study table, okay?" I smiled at her before I thanked her for her time.

"Oh! Before I forget!" Sheit uttered in joy as he seemed to recall something important.

"Hmm?" I glanced at him, racing my right eyebrow.

"I'm not sure if you know this, but the royalties and other representatives of the Emmber Kingdom arrived just today in Kridel."

My uninterested face changed. "Really? How do they look?"

"Yup, unfortunately, I didn't see how the princess or the other royal family members looked. They were inside convoys of dozen cool reddish carriages drawn by some kind of I don't know. They look like orange lizards, but bigger and kinda scarier." He explained as he was using his hands to describe the details. He mean dragons or fiery salamanders?

"Did you follow them?"

"No, my dad stopped me." He answered and pointed his index finger on his right cheek while looking up above. "Hmm, all I know is that they will be staying in the residence of the Sterlen family."

Sterlen Residence? They are land owned by a noble family headed by a Dunreq, a noble rank lower than a Vauch. All I knew was that they have a dozen hectares of land and properties here in the city of Kridel.

Regarding the etiquette and superstitions behind royal engagement, it was prohibited for the subjects of royal engagement to meet each other before the day of engagement.

I just found myself biting my right thumb.

"You only do that when you have a problem but can't get a solution." He noticed.

I shook my head and left the room out of discomfort. I don't know how to describe my feelings. I thought I was going to be alright, that it would be fine.

As the engagement drew nearer, day by day, the distress in me grew. It was a feeling of regret every moment I realized I just accepted this kind of fate.

I strolled around the third floor and watched the servants busy cleaning and setting up the castle. As I was trying to calm myself, meditating through peaceful breathing pattern.

All of the windows were not covered, letting you see the towering wall of the castle. The sun was noticably setting. You can even spot the guard patrolling on top of the tower, armed with a rifle.

Hm?

Something made me halt my last step, catching my attention.

What is that?

I darted my gaze upon the top of the tower, it was like the air was ripped with some kind of dark element. From my calculations, it was about two meters. It was stretched open by something—an arm, I assume.

A surge of terrifying aura burst from it as a mysterious creature in a deep black cloak set foot on the surface of the wall.

From my distance, I cannot clearly examine the appearance of the creature, but it was kind of tall, I believe. It was wearing a dark Byzantine violet armlet in its left hand, and I can assume it was also equipped with some kind of otherworldly armor.

I do not understand, but I felt like our eyes met each other. I just froze in my position. My breath stopped and my senses went numb, but I could imagine my extremities were experiencing extreme coldness. Everything in that moment just stopped. I do not know if there was a connection between us or if this was just a result of crippling terror.

"Flare! Hey! Flare!" A familiar voice of a young boy.

I snapped out of it and found myself taking a massive breath. I felt like I survived from drowning in a deep, freezing lake. And the first thing my eyes met was a waving hand.

I recognized Sheit with a frown. I just grabbed his right arm and quickly pointed in the direction of the thing I saw, "Can you see that-"

I fell out of words when the creature I witnessed seconds ago was not there the moment I returned my sight to it.

No way. Where did that thing go?

"See what?" He asked, confused.

I shook my head while still looking for it, "No no no, I could not be wrong- I saw something- its there-"

Sheit pulled me in, gripping my upper clothes, and crumpled the area to face me. "-Flare." His serious tone once again pulled me into calmness.

"Sheit I'm not lying, it was right there!" I pointed in the direction again, but he seemed to ignore it; his attention was locked in me.

"I don't know what you are talking about or what you are referring to, but you need to calm down." He slowly removed his hands from me. "I know you, you are not that delusional or a liar. Maybe you're really just uncomfortable with the royal engagement. You are right, I shouldn't judge you, we are different, but still, I'm worried about you. I think you really need to take a good rest and avoid stressing yourself too much."

I slapped a palm on my face out of premature realizations. "Yeah, yeah... Maybe I'm just stressing myself too much."

Maybe I'm just seeing things...

But it looks real... It felt real... It is something...

I made a deep sigh again and fixed my posture.

"Feel any better?"

"Oum, let's forget about it. Maybe I'm just hungry." I replied to him, and I could see his face full of relief.

Sheit sure is annoying, but this guy is true to me.

"Grilled meat with high-class sauce would be a great snack." He uttered.

We started our way to the royal dining area. I could not keep myself from peeking outside through the windows. Ironically, I was hoping I could see it again.

Since I saw that, it gave me a sensation that something bad horrible about to occur.

***

Third Person

"How can he see me?" The mysterious cloaked creatures solemnly watched Flare as the prince was walking along the hallway with another young noble besides him.

The creature was peacefully resting on the ledge of the high wall. It's cloak swayed along the bashing winds, exposing the appearance of his lower body that was armored, made with extraterrestrial materials and designs. The height of it's position was dizzying high that falling from it was a one-way ticket to death. Wearing a unique dark armlet with an enigmatic design that was actively emitting a slight dark violet aura from it.

A male armed guard just casually walked past the creature on his patrol, as if the cloaked creature were invisible to his sight. "What was that?" said the guard as he felt a unique sensation of fear near the cloak creature.

"It still confuses me how he can detect me through my phantom concealment." The creature spoke again, implying that it was unnatural for him to be detected by any normal individual or creature. The way the prince noticed him was straight astonishing. The guard who failed to see him was a testament that his ability was active and working.

A blade embedded with a large nightmarish slit eye materialized in the air in front of the cloaked creature, and soft midnight lavender glows emanated from it. The blade has a dark, intricate pattern hilt with a silvery figure of a falcon head design for its guard. Crimson orchid spikes were gleaming bloody red as the blade's back. "It's been a while since I saw a sky this vibrant." An eerie voice from the gruesome weapon echoed.

The creature stood, not removing his gaze from the prince, as if his vision had the ability to see through walls. "More importantly, it looks like we arrived at the right timeline based on my calculations—the timeline where everything is still peaceful." The creature's right eye glowed in a mesmerizing green hue but his facial appearance was still unknown. "Twenty-four days before the disaster, I just need to wait."

The eye of weapon rolled around, producing slimy sounds. "I can say this is a powerful and beautiful land."

The creature cocked his head, gave the talking weapon an odd gaze. "Nothing stays beautiful. Even the most gorgeous flower can wither, turning to its ugliest state, far more abominable to imagine." He stared at Prince Flare for the last time. "Could you survive it?"