Jasper was a 15-year-old boy with platinum blonde hair, staring into the large crowd while sitting in one of the V.I.P. seats for the speech of the King. He sat straight, wearing formal clothing, and did not flinch nor sweat. The prestigious families were excluded from each other. The fancy tables and chairs were something only the most important people would get. Jasper glanced around without breaking his posture and saw the other families look up to the balcony to the window where the king might soon arrive. The crowd behind him cheered and shouted. He noticed silhouettes of large animals above him. Large birds fly around, spitting fire to light up the torches in the palace. It was a grand banquet. Jasper turned his attention back to the balcony - but no one showed up. The crowd still cheered. He let out a small breath, looking at the woman with long brown hair and amber-coloured eyes who twitched her brows. His father has the same platinum blonde hair as the boy and gazes rather calmly. He squeezed tightly the hand of his son under the table.
“Stay here with your mother,” he said, getting up. Jasper looked closely at his father as the man in the tight black suit walked out of the V.I.P. section with a calm posture. He turned his gaze to his mother again.
“The king is taking his time for the speech. Do you think Leon is alright?” he whispered to his mother.
At this point, someone walked out of the balcony.
Jasper widened his eyes, staring at the man with a grey beard and old face. It was not the king. The man with the black clothes talked to someone behind him, looking nervous and sweaty.
Jasper was about to get up from his seat.
His mother grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly.
“Wait till your father is back. Do it for Leon,” she said, her voice breaking and her eyes empty. Jasper gently pulled his hand back and got up from his seat anyway.
“I apologise for the inconvenience.” Jasper widened his eyes. The mike was loud enough to make him hear even the smallest disfunction. It almost drilled his ear open. He did not turn around as he was about to walk down the stadium. “The king died last night. As per the protocol, I will be handling the speech tonight. I hope you guys do not mind it…” Jasper widened his eyes - just like everyone else who gasped in shock and went silent. He turned around, seeing someone appear from the balcony. The one with the brown hair that looked golden red - just like the fur of a fox whenever it hits the sunshine and the same amber-coloured eyes as him. The older boy wore black and formal clothes, almost reminding him of his father. Beside him was a blonde boy with blue eyes, hinting at the royal family. He wore a robe and blue and golden uniform, just like a prince from a storybook. He had a light smile, going from one year to the other - but there was not a happy expression on his face. He looked like the younger version of the king. “As I said before… The king died abruptly last night. As I am not good with formal speeches… I will postpone the funeral until the war is over. We are just 48 hours away from landing on Jupiter XI,” the young prince said, having a cold but formal expression. It felt like he was looking through his soul. The young prince moved slightly to the side, making way for the person who stood in the shadows for so long. But Jasper would recognize his brother anywhere. The 18-year-old boy showed himself to the public, smiling - but Jasper could see the coldness through them.
“I am Leon Hales - and I will be leading the main troop mission to Planet Jupiter XI. I will make sure to lead everyone... to victory,” he said, looking straight into the eyes of Jasper.
The crowd cheered while others were still confused about the whole fiasco.
The king died - and even the royal nobles whispered among each other.
It was chaotic.
Leon turned his gaze from Jasper to his mother - who did not even look at him but stared down at her feet.
Leon huffed, turning back to the crowd with a smile.
The banquet finally ended, and the two moons rose brightly in the sky for everyone to see near the palace.
Jasper bit his lip, standing close to the royal palace gate. He huffed, looking at the two guards who held weapons on each side.
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He turned his gaze from the weapons back to the royal guard. He tried to sneak over to them.
But someone grabbed him tightly by the shoulder.
“Jessi, it is me,”
He turned around to see the eyes of the same man who would lead the current mission - an 18-year-old young boy.
Jasper jumped onto him, hugging him like he would never return. The boy let out a deep huff.
It took a while before he let go. He hid his teary eyes and bit his lip. Leon ruffled his hair, having the same expression as Jasper.
“I will leave you two alone. Go spend the rest of the day with your family,” someone said. Jasper glanced over to the right shoulder of his brother and saw the prince holding multiple papers and having two more guards behind him.
“Come with me. We can not talk here,” Leon said.
They were both near a small pond belonging to the royal palace - and had multiple lily flowers. They sat down on a bank, turning to the lake where the moon mirrored perfectly. Jasper huffed, supporting his elbows on his knees while hunching down.
“Please do not go,”
“I promised them, Jasper,” Leon said, ruffling Jasper's hair.
“What if I come with you? I can not deal with it if you are dead,” Jasper said, his eyes looking empty. Veins were showing on Leon's face. The older guy bit his lip as the wind got colder.
“You would not survive even one minute above the stars or at the training. Stay with mom and dad. Promise me,” he said, pinching his ears. Jasper screeched lightly, almost tears forming in his eyes as he resisted from his grip. Leon laughed.
“While I am gone, promise me that you will stay at your normal school, doing normal stuff and be an engineer like you wanted to,” he said, pulling him close until their foreheads touched. Jasper could see the cold glare that almost gave him a shiver.
No. I want to go with you.
“Doctor. I want to be a doctor,” Jasper said, they both now sitting at a distance again. It was silent for a moment as they stared at the lake.
“Thank you. You wrote me letters while I was still at the academy. At least someone cared-” Leon said quietly under his breath. Jasper grabbed his hand tightly.
“She has become a shell - you better talk to her before you go. I can not force her to come here. Just-” Jasper said.
He looked at him with big eyes like Leon remembered him - when his little brother was 5 and still could not control his excessive saliva problem.
Leon ruffled his hair again.
“I will. Where is mom right now?” he asked.
“I´m sorry to interrupt you so quickly… but there is a time change. Jupiter XI is getting closer with its troops,” someone said again with a soft but cold voice.
Jasper widened his eyes, glancing at the prince again.
He huffed, looking annoyed but still forcing a formal smile.
“Your Highness,” Jasper said, about to bow down.
The prince nodded, smiling with the same energy and turning back to Leon again.
The prince and his brother exchanged some glances at each other before he left so abruptly.
The goodbye was short with a hug as Jasper could feel Leon's rushing heartbeat and cold sweat.
The prince glanced down at Jasper, staring at him like he found a new little creature.
As Leon was ready to go with him, the prince stayed behind - just staring at him up and down.
“Louis,” Leon said coldly.
Louis smirked, pulling some cards out of his coat.
He handed it to Jasper.
“You could at least try to get to the exam… Even a doctor once killed a man with his own bare hands,” he whispered.
He patted Jasper on the shoulder, which the young boy showed disdain for.
The card was an invitation to the exam at the Scarlet Fangs Academy. The most prestigious school for tamers, mages, and healers. In other words, people who will be sent into outer space. Jasper looked up from his card to the two guys who left him alone at the lake, walking back to the palace. He looked closer at the card.
He wants to be a doctor - saving as many people. On the other hand, his brother might go to war often.
“Scarlet Fangs… huh. Why not,” he said, smirking. He looked at his palms - which were pure and innocent. A doctor once killed a person with his bare hands. Was he talking about the story in one of the battlefields? What was going up there in the spaces? Where will the journey lead him?
Can he really kill with those hands?
Jasper turned his palm into a fist, feeling the cold breeze in the park.
Days passed as Jasper looked through his studies in his fancy bedroom, large enough to place 5 people. The walls had golden designs - and the floor was made of the rarest stones. He wore glasses, almost looking like his father whenever he had to go through family affairs. His father left the table at the banquet so abruptly. Jasper got up, huffing. He looked at the drawer where he still placed the letter from the prince. Why would he give this to him? Only those with potential had letters.
Jasper heard his own footsteps as he walked to the door. He stepped down the stairs and saw his mother knitting something in the living room.
The school uniform belonged to Leon. Jasper huffed as his mother looked up to him wide-eyed, hiding the clothes. She got up.
“H-honey, what do you need? This is just an old school uniform, it ripped… maybe if you grow older, you can fit in those,” she said. Jasper huffed and bit his lip. He hid the letter behind his back. “Jessi? Is everything alright? You can talk to mommy. Everything will be alright, your brother will come back… we will have dinner like last time. I know you miss him…” she said, smiling brightly.
He gripped the letter behind him tighter.
“Did you say bye? If you are so keen on holding on to his old stuff-” Jasper said.
His mother fell back onto her chair again, covering her face. Sobs echoed in the room as Jasper pulled the letter out, looking at it.