Baruch City, the Capital of Proule Kingdom.

On its outskirts could be found the market. In here merchants come and go, to trade with the community. Crowds bustled up here and there trying to purchase and bargain.

“Hey you bastard!” -???

A boy is running through the street dodging left and right, passing through the limited space between people.

“Stop that thief!” -???

The boy wave through multiple people as he went to different alleyways to escape. He is wearing rag clothes. Torn out shirt and pants. No footwear. On his arms are two loaves of bread. He glance at his back, his pursuers nowhere to be found.

Stopping at an intersection, to catch up his breathe, leaning on a barrel.

Huff, Huff

He closed his eyes. Sense of hearing started to heightened, he heard multiple bubble of conversations. A horse carriage is coming from a clip clop of the horse’s shoe, and rumble of the wheels. He could also hear different kinds of animals. Chicken, Bull, Duck, etc. And the swinging motion of a knife as it *thump on a chopping board. This is the Market of course. He dismissed it all as he focused on other pressing sounds.

Footsteps.

Stomp, Stomp.

Not just any footstep. Unlike others, this one had its rhythm on it. One Two. One Two. The boy’s eyes opened as a shocked expression covered his face.

Soldiers! He thought.

The boy hastily hid the two loaves of bread inside the barrel. Then ran as fast as he could across the street.

“That’s him! Catch that thief!” -???

As the boy suspected the soldiers are here to catch him. He glance towards the one who are shouting, it is the Baker. Beside him are three to four of the Patrol Soldiers.

Crap! He cursed inwardly as he turned to the right of the intersection.

But unbeknownst to him, that was where the horse carriage is passing through. As he turned, he saw two white horse that are clearly much bigger than him. The driver pulled the horses back to avoid much accident.

Neigh!

The horses stood on their hind legs. The boy in front of them had his eyes opened wide, as he slumped on his butt.

“What in the name of my Mother’s whip! Happened?!” -???

A fat man walked out of the carriage as he inspect the situation, with his angry looks. The man is wearing extravagant clothes on his person with lots of jewelries to compliment it.

“I’m sorry sire.” The driver said in a very relaxed manner. Wearing fit clothes that represent him as being a butler of sorts. “We were about to crash into a person.” He leaned on the fat man, as he whispered, “We don’t want our ‘guest’ to see that happen…… And your cursed... it’s a little bit… you know.”

“Ahem,” The fat man coughed. The baker and the soldiers were able to catch up and are now also inspecting the situation.

“My Lord! I apologize for the inconvenience. It is because of this child!” –Baker

Grabbing the boy in the collar, the baker lift him up to stand. The fat man snorted, as he only took a glance.

“Silence! All of you must be pun…” but a whisper from the butler/driver and he abruptly stopped his sentence. He suddenly laughed out loud. The crowd was confused, especially the baker and the soldiers. All except for one, the boy. The boy had his eyes still staring at the white horses. Seemingly mesmerize by what he saw in them.

The laughter ended.

“I am going to be generous today. Because it is I, Lord Fredrick.” The fat man gestured while posing his incredible body, “The most generous of them all aristocrats. If someone wants to cause strife, just call me Lord Fredrick.” After saying that speech, he grabbed a bag inside the carriage and throw some gold coins on the area.

The silence crowd bustled up as they were crouching down and grabbing the coins, including the baker. The only one unaffected of the gold are the soldiers and the boy.

“Let’s go!” –Fat man

The fat man entered the carriage, the driver whip the sleigh. The driver had clearly noticed the boy’s absence in mind, as he grab a gold coin in his pocket and flip it towards his face. The coin tossed went towards the boy’s forehead as he snap out of his stupor and grabbed it.

While the baker is busy grabbing coins on the ground, the soldiers attending to the rest of the bustled up crowd for any more conflicts to happen, the boy slipped away silently.

Unbeknownst to him, a person inside the carriage wearing a sun hat is observing him. Presumably, this is the ‘guest’ the butler is speaking of.

The boy went back towards the barrel to get his two loaves of bread.

“Hm? Why is it not here?!”

The boy exclaimed as he turned over the barrel upside down.

“No! No! After all that hard work?!!”

“What hard work? Does stealing can also be called hard work?” -???

The boy turned where the voice came. A young man stood in the middle of the alleyway. Wearing soldier clothes, he had the demeanor of someone who upholds fairness and justice. On his hands are two loaves of bread, one of it had a bite on it. Thinking about it thoroughly, the young soldier is clearly the ‘culprit’ about that bite.

“That’s mine!”

“Hah! Criminals can’t really admit their own wrongdoings.” After saying that, the young soldier throw the two breads on the street, towards the direction of the boy.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“HEY!” the boy picked the loaves up. “You! .....”

“You what? Just shut up and come with me. Thief.”

Dashing towards the boy, he thought ‘I must grabbed him at once.’ By grabbing the boy, he can pin him down. Looking at how the boy looks skinny, and with him being well trained as a soldier. He knew that he can easily do the task.

However, he is gravely mistaken. He was able to grab the boy’s right arm. The only thing left to do is to turn the arm to the boy’s back and push him to the ground. But sadly, that’s not what happened. The boy with his right arm being grabbed, and the young soldier is placed on his 60 degrees.

He jumped and flip backwards. 60 degrees towards the back of the young soldier. Grabbing the young soldier’s hair with his left hand, he pulled hard to put the soldier down.

“Aghh!”

The boy went and picked up the two loaves of bread. He is now preparing to go for another run, when suddenly the horse carriage from a while ago stopped on the other side of the alleyway. The boy turned to the other exit.

But moments later, a female in a white dress and a sun hat that covered her face, impeded the way. The boy hesitated, but for only a moment, he dashed planning to push the female away if ever needed.

It was in this moment where the female raise her sun hat. Then the boy stopped in his tracks. The same also happened to the young soldier, now kneeling, hands on the back of his hand, on the process of standing up. As the young soldier saw the female he also stopped.

The boy on the other hand, was mesmerized. The same thing happened to him a while ago, when he saw the majestic white horses. But clearly what is happening at hand is different.

On the boy’s perspective, silence permeated the surroundings. From the entrance of the alleyway towards him are shaded because of the tall building on both of its sides. The only light source coming from the entrance where in the female is now standing. It is like he is watching a deity coming from the heavens strolling on the mundane world.

Last time he saw her, it was the wonderful occasion of the Proule Kingdom. It is because of this female. The daughter of King Clark Baruch, and Queen Eris Jaeger from the Jaeger Bloodline, the Bloodline of Warriors.

He was on the far corner of the street at the time, on the verge of death. He had never known his father, and his mother died from childbirth. He live with his aunt but after he became 7 years old, she suddenly disappeared. He never knew where she is. Whether she left him to live … or die by himself. Or something happened to her. He doesn’t care. He knew since from the start the surviving in this world starts from his own hands. And today he is giving up.

He can’t get any strength from his body, as he just focus on his surroundings with his hearing.

“Let’s go! Let’s go! The King is going to announce something on the square!”

“Do you know what His Highness is going to announce?”

“I have heard on one of the castle maids that he is going to introduce His Highness’s Heir.”

“Really?”

“Yes! Come on, Hurry!”

The King? Heir? Heh! Who cares? I don’t care. I only want to be able to survive. Is what the boy is thinking. But unbeknownst to him, his body rejects that idea as it trembled from its prone position, and then tried to stand up.

He heard the bustle of crowds coming from the square. It started loudly, then abruptly silence, there was gasping of the crowd, then a loud cheering of ‘Long Live the King, Long Live the Princess, Long Live Proule Kingdom’.

Princess? He asked inwardly. He clearly remembered that he heard someone saying the King’s Heir is a …

“Boy?” -???

Yes a boy!

“Do you want to see the festival?” -???

Hm? Is he talking to me?

He felt a hand snaked through his back. The cold ground leaving his sense of touch as the man lifted him. Some type of round object was thrown on his mouth which melted a few seconds later. This brought strength to him as he started to open his eyes.

A hooded man carried him in a princess style. His eyes stared at the person below that hood. He was unable to distinguish the person’s features. The only thing that caught his eyes is the necklace on the person’s neck. A sword necklace.

“Long Live the King! Long Live the Princess Hannes! Long Live Proule Kingdom!”

But his eyes diverted from the person, as he glance at the direction of the square. He is not near and also not far, a distance long enough for him to be able to see the gorgeous beauty of the girl that he place in his heart.

“…. I ..” A hoarse voice came out of his mouth. A dried feeling came from his throat as he uttered a couple of coughs.

“….” The hooded man just silently stood.

I want to be up there!

Looking at the boy’s fiery gaze. The hooded man came upon on a conclusion.  “Do you have a dream?”

The boy nodded weakly.

“Then do everything to pursue it. Michael.”

The boy’s eyes opened wide in shocked. He looked at the man abruptly, which took away the little bit of strength he had and slowly his consciousness slip away.

Back on the alleyway, the two idiots are staring at the female. She stepped forward, and neared the two of them.  

“Someone coming from the filth of the world. And someone from the grass fields, waiting for a storm to come in.” –Princess Hannes

She stopped from in front of them, crossing her arms, she declared.

“From now on, you two are my…“ –Princess Hannes

“No! I am the only one!” –Michael

But before she could continue, Michael interrupted her.

“What?” –Princess Hannes

“I … said … I am the only one!” –Michael

“Only one what?” –Princess Hannes

“… Only one of … What you are about to say.” –Michael

The female tilted her head as she looked confused.

“What I am offering is you two to become my personal guards.” –Princess Hannes

“It would be my honor Your Highness! I am Hank!” The young soldier out of his stupor corrected his posture to kneel in front of the female

“Good!” –Princess Hannes

She smiled at Hank as she stared at Michael.

“Wha… What?” –Michael

“Do you accept my offer?” –Princess Hannes

“Wh… why woud-wouldn’t I!!” –Michael

“Excellent!!” The princess exclaimed as she clapped her hands.

“But!!” –Michael

“Hm?” –Princess Hannes

“Can I ask a question? Princess?” –Michael

“Oh! After all this time I thought you had no manners.” This made Michael blushed out of shame as clearly he had been talking to the Princess casually for a while now.

“What is it?” –Princess Hannes

“Why me?” –Michael

“Huh?” –Princess Hannes

“Why pick me?” –Michael

“Hahaha!” The Princess burst out into laughter. “Oh right! You don’t know. I am finding personal guards who is going to be with me all the time. And there is going to become a screening and I want the two of you to be included in it. Good Luck!” After saying that she left them as they were.

She turned around and asked, “Names?”

“Michael!” “Hank!” They voiced out together.

The two were the only ones left in the alleyway as the Princess entered the carriage and speeded away.

“Hey! HANK! You rascal!”  -???

BANG BANG BANG

Behind bars, someone is making a ruckus.

“Hahaha! We were offered. Yes. But that doesn’t mean that you’re able to slip away. A crime is a crime. Idiot!” Hank came and stood in front of a cell. Inside could be seen a boy, it is Michael!

“Why me?” –Hank

“Huh?” –Michael

“Why pick me?” –Hank

“Hey! Shut up! Hey!” –Michael

“The only thing that is missing is you saying,” Hank gave an exaggerated gesture as he said in a flirty way, “I love you, Princess.” -Hank

“HAHAHAHA! You looked like a moron out there for a while!” –Hank

Hank burst into laughter, “You just wait over there. People of your age tend to be sent to volunteer camps.”

“Bye!” Hank waved at him as he went out of the prison cells.

“Hey! You rascal!!! I’ll get back at you! You Moron!! Do you hear me?! Hey!” –Michael

Laughter came from the door, as it was slammed shut.

“Tsk! Crap!” –Michael

Michael looked around his cell. One side full of black bars, and three sidewalls without windows. The only light source comes from a hole from the ceiling. Michael sat on the side, his face full of dirt. The same goes with his ragged clothing.

“That bastard! I’ll come back at him.” –Michael

An evil laugh come from him. “Kekeke! Yes! Yes! I’ll do that. Oh! What a wonderful idea. hahahAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I’M A GENIUS!”

“SHUT UP KID!” -???

GRRRrrrrr……

….

…..

.....GRRRrrrrr ...

“I SAID SHUT UP!!” -???

“I apologize Mister. I have not eaten since… since…. God knows when, and thank you.” –Michael

“That explained your behavior.” –Mister

“Hm? Why?” Talking while his mouth is stuffed, his words couldn’t be distinguished.

“Aish! Shut up! Just eat your meal right away. Thank the Guards not me.” –Mister

“Yes! Yes! Sir Guard! Thank you!” –Michael

“ARGH! Can’t you just close your mouth for a sec?!” –Mister

…

….

…

.

“Thank God!” –Mister

.

..

…

..

.

“..argh.” -???

Hm? –Mister

“Argh!” –Michael

“Wha-What is happening to you? Hey! Speak boy!” –Mister

“ARRGHHH!!! That bastard! I’ll clabber him! Smash him! And lots, lots of things.” –Michael

“BLAH!” Mister said on the other cell as he covered his ears with both of his hands.