Why is something heavy covering his eyes? He tried to open them but could see nothing, leaving him to wonder whether they were open or not. His whole body felt numb and weightless. He vaguely remembered hurting. An immeasurable burning pain. Confused by his state, he tried to focus on his magic, but all he encountered was a barrier, a block.

The panic was building inside him, bubbling like a hot potion ready to spill. His magic, his first weapon, greatest strength, and comfort, was now blocked. A danger, a red light. Heart was racing, and his breathing became shallow. A loud alarm started to beep, making him wince at the abuse on his ear drums. Then it was gone.

"Breathe, my lord, take a deep breath. You're safe here. Focus on my voice."

The soft yet firm female voice kept talking. A calm soothing wave of magic passed through his chest, easing the strain, and assisting his breathing.

"Can you open your eyes?"

He didn't think so, yet, there was no harm in trying. A bright light momentarily blinded him. A few blinks and a white ceiling came into focus.

"My lord, can you see clearly?"

Two unfamiliar healers were standing next to him. He could attempt talking but felt like that would be a waste of breath.

"My lord, I'm the head healer Nayom. We blocked your magic a while before you woke up. Because any panic can cause an accident. You are currently in a floating magical field, now I'm going to slowly lower you down. There will be some pain. But try to relax, alright?" the male healer explained, removing several wards around him.

Eiden felt his body weight settle on a smooth surface, pain flared in his back. The female healer angled a potion to his lips. If it was another normal day, he wouldn't have drunk anything from an unknown healer, but not today. Then, a glass of cool water with a straw was offered and he gladly took a long slurp.

"My lord, can you try to speak?"

"He..hello,"

The female healer flashed a kind little smile.

"Good, now, someone is waiting to talk to you. Healer Selene will bring them inside."

Selene came back with a tall man dressed in an elegant black robe. A familiar-looking man.

"Uncle..Uncle Elvin?"

What is he doing here? Mother, oh, where's Mother and Father, why didn't he remember them before?

"Calm down Eiden, it's safe here, how are you feeling now?" Before he dissolved into another panic-fueled state, Uncle Elvin spoke.

Why is everyone saying 'it's safe'? Eiden's panic transformed into confusion. I'm Eiden, right?

"Uncle Elvin, where..am I?"

"You didn't recognize the Palace infirmary? I know you have a lot of questions, but you need to recover first. Here, healer Nayom is going to see if it is safe to remove the magic block." Uncle sat on the chair the healer prepared and took Eiden's hand in his.

Where are the people I used to know? Eiden watched the healer cast an array of spells, recognizing a few he had learned. As the barrier to his magic disappeared, he felt alive with the warmth of magic spreading through his body. Relief was overwhelming and it lulled him into a comfortable sleep.

Eiden woke up scared, drenched in sweat and his heart was thumping like a mad galloping horse. He must have had a nightmare though he can't remember. There was a loud alarm ringing. Healer Selene entered the room fast as if she had been running.

"Did you have a bad dream, my lord? your heart rate accelerated enough to trigger the alarm." Selene kindly asked while checking Eiden for any other issues.

"Think so. Can I talk to Uncle Elvin?" Eiden felt wide awake. He needed answers and his parents.

"Good morning, Eiden. How are you today? Selene told me you had a bad dream." Uncle said, sitting beside Eiden.

"Uncle, what's wrong here? Where are my parents? Why is no one else coming? What happened to me?" Stopping only to breathe, he poured out.

"Wait, Eiden, that's too many questions at once. You were seriously injured, and healers thought your memory must have been affected too because as I know you were very close to a magical explosion." Uncle explained.

"Uncle, my parents?" Eiden grabbed Uncle's hand.

"Eiden, please, I can't make you too upset, when you're already in pain and scared."

Eiden never thought his uncle could be sympathetic like now.

"Uncle, please, I want to know," he pleaded with tears streaking down his face.

"Lady Eunthae was assassinated in secret, the night before the title announcement. Certain palace officials wanted to eliminate our family. And implant Lord Vincent who has long Craig ancestry, on the throne. I barely escaped with my family, and I didn't know what happened to your family at first."

Each word felt like a red hot iron carving them inside him. Eiden was choking on air, he couldn't breathe.

"Eiden, calm down, breathe now,"

He was crushing Uncle's hand. Letting it go, he tried to catch his breath. But couldn't stop bursting into sobs.

"At first, you said at first?" Sobbing, he let his uncle's warm hand gently stroke his shaven head.

"Yes, but I heard they escaped. Apparently, your grandmother had just enough time to warn them. But, we couldn't meet, as we had to stay hidden. Long story short, I managed to get our loyal people in the House of Lords to my side. There was some bloodshed and violence, I can't deny.

But I couldn't find your parents. A whole year later, a month ago, I heard that you all were attacked near the Northern borders of the Sangona, and you were taken captive by rebels. Imperial guards attacked the place they kept you hidden, precisely five and half weeks ago.

I'm sorry, I couldn't get you before, Eiden. I was quite worried about you taking that long to wake up."

Eiden didn't think about how much his body hurts anymore. Because his heart was screaming and writhing in pain. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, must be a lie. Yes. Liar. He dropped Uncle's hand and pushed him away.

"LIAR, you lie, no, no, they aren't gone, noo..."

The anguish screams filled in the stillness of the hospital room. After many attempts to calm him down, Healer Selene tried to get Eiden to drink a sleeping aid, but he refused.

"Uncle, please, I'm sorry, please don't go. Did you search for them? How do you know they are gone?"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Eiden reached for his uncle, and all the animosity he harbored for his uncle vanished as the morning dew drops in the wake of the sun. All he wanted was familial comfort and the reassurance of safety. Uncle patted his shoulder and assured the healers that Eiden would be given the sleeping aid after some time.

"According to the theorists, the magical explosion had created some disturbance in our magical dimension. The people near that have been sucked into an unknown structure like a portal. That's what some people who attacked your group had said. They were all punished severely." Uncle explained.

“But, Eiden, we have no way to find them, for now. There are magical theorists, looking into that matter. We will do what we can. But the first thing is you need to heal." He softly patted Eiden's hand.

"Are you handling the government duties now?" Eiden knew where his priorities should lie. He was trained for that. Your land and your people come first.

"Yes, until you come of age, it's my responsibility to take the position of Regent. Do you have any objections?''

"No, Uncle, I'm glad, thank you,"

"Drink this. Healers specifically told me, that don't pressure you to remember anything. What is the last clear memory you have now?" Uncle Elvin patted his head and offered him the sleeping aid.

Eiden closed his eyes and waited until his breathing became steady, letting his magic flow through him, clearing his mind.

"I remember, we were getting ready for the title announcement."

"Hmm, you must have received quite a shock, hearing Grandmother's passing. It's about a year and a half ago, did you realize that?" Uncle's expression was grave.

"I have just foggy memories, after that. Do you think I won't remember when I get better?" Eiden stared at his uncle in disbelief.

"Of course not, it will return. You only had been awake for just a day. Now go to sleep."

Eiden downed the sleeping aid. When Lord Elvin stood up to leave, he gripped Uncle's sleeve.

"Could you please stay?" he muttered. Though a little ashamed to sound so weak, he couldn't stop himself from asking such a question.

"Of course, Eiden, I will stay. There are guards outside. And no one is allowed to see you without permission."

"Thank you, Uncle."

Eiden couldn't believe it took a whole week before he was allowed to get up from the bed. He wasn't sure the wounds weren't painful or he was too heartbroken to feel that, as he cried alone in many waking hours, wondering why he had to lose everything at once; his family whom he loved to the moon and back, his memories of the last moments with his family, and his beautiful wings.

Uncle said that the people who captured him had damaged his back with dark magic, which resulted in some kind of damage to his wings. If the rebels were Craigs, it must have been done out of spite because some Craig people hated wings. However, he was not allowed to unfurl them as his magic was too disturbed by the torturous events, and wound healing was very slow due to the presence of an unknown dark magic residue.

He was also incredibly bored, and couldn't wait to get outside. Eiden wanted to see more of the government affairs, but Uncle was not having it, telling him he needed to heal first. Eiden sat up with a big smile as his uncle entered the room.

"How are you feeling today? Still up for a walk outside?"

"Yes, please, Uncle"

Eiden slowly stood up supported by his uncle. The hallway in front of his special sick room which was reserved for the family members of the Lord or Lady, directly led to an inner courtyard which was designed to give patients a calm environment. Therefore, it was filled with flower beds, ponds, a fountain, and a few walking trails under the cool shade of the trees.

"How many people from Grandmother's days are still in the palace?" Eiden was worried that those who were very loyal to his family must have been murdered by the rebels.

"Not many. Some people I discharged from the service. We can't risk another incident, since you're still young"

Uncle‘s explanation had a point. It was not a surprise that people were harder to trust after a conspiracy. He hoped this incident hadn't increased the wedge between Nesols and Craigs.

Lord Vincent, as Eiden remembered, was an ambitious young minister from Ocealia, who was elected to the House of Commons with a majority of votes. He never thought that the pleasant young man, only ten or so years older than him, would have been involved in treason against the Lady of the Dawn.

"I know you'd been planning to join the military before. But, remember the duties to the Empire come first than the personal preferences.“ Uncle said as he assisted Eiden to sit on a wooden bench by the side of the fountain. For some time, they both left with their thoughts. At last, Lord Elvin broke the heavy silence.

"Eiden, I guess you're familiar with the old customs and requirements for the title."

"Yes, Uncle," Yes, Eiden was quite familiar and that was another reason that he dreaded where this conversation was heading.

"You're going to be seventeen in the summer and will be allowed to take the title in four years from now. Within this year and next, I expect you to get ready for your title. The Empire needs a steady pillar for the ruler. Do you understand?" Uncle said, looking at him.

"Yes, Uncle," he mumbled. Here comes the grand explosion.

"Eiden, you're almost an adult now. What are the main two requirements to be eligible for the title apart from being the heir?"

Eiden took a gulp of air.

"The candidate must be married and must have a healthy heir to continue the bloodline," he replied with a shaking voice.

"You may remember, once I asked your parents, but they weren't in a hurry to match you with anyone. At your age, your mother's union was already planned, even though they didn't marry right away. You've heard that, right?'' Uncle asked with a serious tone.

"But, Uncle, Grandmother, and Grandfather were friends and allies for a long time." Eiden knew that was no argument, he faintly remembered how he always ran away from any marriage talks.

"So, it wasn't like your parents didn't have friends. Do you have any preferred partner, a girl you liked from your father's side or here?"

"Err..No, Uncle," Eiden squirmed under Uncle's gaze.

Girls...Arrh. Well, it wasn't like girls didn't desire him. There was this girl who left a bouquet of a different flower on his desk, every day, during her stay in the Palace with her father, Lord Clement, or someone. What was her name? Eiden remembered asking her name and probably told her some nice things. The only thing he remembered now was that she had long and pretty wavy black hair.

"I watched you grow up, Eiden, actually I was sometimes concerned that you were being too sheltered and coddled like a young child."

Eiden stared at the ground. He mentally pouted as Uncle Elvin continued his lecture.

"Before this unfortunate event happened, I spoke to your grandmother about a proposal for you. We were planning to talk to your parents about that after the title announcement."

"What?" Eiden looked up with wide eyes. A proposal??? Did he hear that correctly?

"Yes, a marriage proposal. Of course, it's only if you haven't considered a suitable partner yet. Since you now said you haven't, would you like to hear about that proposal?"

Eiden wondered if he was going to burst into flames because he was suddenly feeling very hot.

"Noo, err...no I mean. Should I?" He turned to see his uncle looking at him, with an amused expression with a slight smile.

"Eiden, what do you think of my daughter Esmeralda?"

"What?" For the second time in the span of a few minutes, Eiden lost his composure by blurting out the same word twice.

"Err...Esme is ok, I mean nice, err..I don't... I mean I didn't fight with her in the class often," Stop stammering like an idiot, he chided himself. Uncle laughed loudly.

"Of course I know, I wouldn't dream of pairing you with her if you fight her like with Evan. But, Eiden, they are both now older. The harsh time of bloodshed and loss of family changed their attitude and perspective." Uncle said, still smiling.

Oh, yeah. Evan and Esme were always perfect little white clouds for Uncle and Aunt.

"Esme is older than me, (on second thought) and taller," Eiden pleadingly interrupted.

"Only two years, you are still growing. Healers diagnosed that the heavy dark magic might affect your growth. But you're definitely going to be taller like your father, as you heal.

I'm not pressuring you, Eiden. You know that my father is only a half-brother to your grandmother. So, you're not very closely related to Esme. If you dislike that, as your sole guardian, I'm responsible for searching for a suitable bride for you. Do you want me to look for a bride?" Uncle asked.

It was a reasonable explanation. But, Eiden found the ground is much more interesting than the conversation about looking for a bride. There's grass and there's dirt.

His mind is filled with chaotic thoughts. His memories are foggy and useless. He doesn't know what happened after the assassination or with his parents. His wings are gone or damaged. He's hurting and alone. Eiden felt so lonely and miserable.

"I don't know," he whispered, taking a deep long breath and struggling with emotions.

"Eiden, it's ok, I think it's enough time outdoors today. Let's go inside. Like I said, I'm not pressuring you. I only want what's good for you."