CHAPTER 1
There it was, the 50th year death toll from the eternal plague lay before them. The King of Lugh stared solemnly as The Doctor presented a list of the estimated lives lost across the kingdom. An uneasy silence settled in the throne room, while, just outside the door, the prince listened intently, hidden from sight.
The Doctor cleared his throat, “Total death toll: 619,730,012.. Your Highness.” He exhaled heavily, the weight of the number pressing upon him.
“Unbelievable,” Queen Elanor cried out, her voice tight with grief. “Doctor, please tell me you have a cure.. ” she asked, gripping the armrest of the throne.
“…Sadly, no.. Your Grace. But don’t worry. My team and I work tirelessly, day and night to—
. . .
As Klein, the prince, continued to listen, the voices blurred and faded away. He scoffed quietly, then turned and ran through the grand halls of the palace, feeling a deep tightness in his chest until he reached the courtyard, where the statue of Syne, the Sol Moth God, stood before an ancient tree.
Klein sat down next to the statue. He stared at the ground, he couldn't imagine the pain and agony his people felt while enduring the disease that was bestowed upon them. He felt helpless; he wanted nothing more than to save them, to bring them peace, to end their suffering. He thought it was unfair that he and other royals in his land were immune, while his people had to suffer——
“Hey, you okay?” A voice had suddenly emerged from out of now where.
Klein looked up, startled from the sudden disturbance. He saw his butler, not just any butler though it was his friend, Ronan.
The man sat beside Klein. “Overthinking is a bad habit, your grace.” He chuckled, then patted the boy’s head.
“I know.. it’s just, I don’t know what to do anymore, Ronan. I’ve researched all the books in the library, experimented behind my parents’ backs…” Klein paused, his voice dropping to a whisper. “And yet.. Still no cure.” He took a deep breath before continuing, “I’ve tried so hard. So hard to save my people.” He sighed, bearing the weight of his words as he buried his face on his hands.
The Butler looked at him intently, knowing the pain his prince was quietly bearing. “Your grace..” he paused, before sighing. “You’ve done so much, please, get some rest.”
Klein nodded. And the butler stood up, helping the prince to get up afterwards. A calm silence filled the air as they both walked together to the palace. Where silence would leave most feeling uneasy, they felt at home. They’ve been friends for years, and had grown accustomed to shared quietness.
Once they’ve reached the top of the stairs, Klein stopped at his tracks. “Hey, Ronan?” The butler looked at the prince. “Yes, Your Grace?” he asked, turning fully to face him. “I’m going to the town later. To you know, get some supplies. You don't mind..
Ronan smiled, then let out a quiet sigh. His young prince always relied on him when things became too much to bear. As much as he cared for Klein, he couldn’t help but wonder when the young man would find his own strength. “Of course, I’ll see to it. We’ll meet at the northern gate then?”
“Yep! Actually, I’m heading there now.” Klein sheepishly smiled. Ronan nodded, a small smile of his own. “I see. Well then, let’s get your cloak.”
Klein nodded, and they walked together toward his room. Once there, Ronan waited outside while Klein slipped inside to fetch his cloak. He draped it over his clothes, securing the clasp at his shoulder, and pulled his golden hair back into a ponytail. Satisfied with his disguise, he stepped out to meet Ronan.
Ronan led Klein to the northern gate, stealthily avoiding unknowing maids and butlers. Once they’ve arrived at the town. As Klein and Ronan moved through the bustling town square, Klein’s gaze lingered on the faces of the townsfolk. There weren’t many people around, aside from a few children laughing and splashing by the fountain, their voices echoing in the quiet square. Nearby, merchants stood by their stalls, selling particular supplies.
“Good evening, sir,” a merchant greeted him, bowing slightly. “It’s an honor to see you here once again.”
"Klein nodded back with a polite smile. 'Just passing through for some supplies. Package for K?'
The man gave a knowing nod and rummaged through a pile of parcels before handing a small bundle to Klein. The merchant’s voice dropped to a quiet, heartfelt tone. “Thank you, my lord, for all the help you’ve done for us.”
Klein felt a pang of guilt, aware of how much the townsfolk relied on him. He accepted the package with a gentle nod. He turned to leave, with a gentle word of thanks before moving on. His thoughts weighed down by the desperate hope he saw in their eyes.
Ronan glanced at Klein, a hint of guilt in his eyes. “Is there anything else you’re looking for?” he asked gently, hoping to pull Klein from his heavy thoughts as they passed another stall.
Klein thought for a moment. “Just one thing — the red-mist flower. I need it for an elixir I’m working on.”
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The merchant overheard and leaned in with a knowing smile. “Ah, the red-mist flower. Rare and tricky to find. Southeast outskirts is where you’d want to look, near the edge of the forest.”
Klein nodded, determined. “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind. Uh, Ronan, care to deliver this to the library? I’ll go look for the red-mist flowers myself.” He asked, “Yourself? Your grace, are you sure? It might be dangerous. Not to mention the sun is about to set—
“I know, Ronan,” Klein interrupted, brushing off his concerns. “But I can handle this on my own. Plus, I figured I’ll let you rest after you helped me with fetching my supplies.” Ronan sighed, concern etched across his face.
“Klein, you know I have to look out for you. The outskirts can be unpredictable, especially at dusk. It’s not just about the flowers; it’s about your safety. You can’t always carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
Klein nodded, his expression softening slightly. “I appreciate it, Ronan, but I need to do this. I have to try.” With a reluctant smile, Ronan shook his head. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, alright? I’ll just go to the Palace quickly and if anything happens, don’t hesitate to call for me.”
“Of course,” Klein assured him, then turned to head back to the palace, feeling the weight of both his responsibility and his friend’s concern. Klein then walked towards the gate of the city. The guards stationed at the gate barely acknowledged him, their postures slumping as they fought to stay awake, their eyes heavy with drowsiness. As Klein reached the edge of the kingdom, he paused and glanced back, taking in the familiar sights of his homeland.
The castle's spires rose majestically against the sky, and the winding streets bustled with life, a stark contrast to the weight on his shoulders. A mix of longing and resolve swirled within him as he prepared to journey to the Outskirts. A feeling of unease washed over him, he thought about Ronan’s words earlier,
“You can’t always carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.” ' The words echoed in his mind, each repetition a reminder of the burden he bore. He found himself unable to shake the thought, contemplating the truth behind it as he walked. The enormity of his responsibilities loomed larger with every step, intertwining with his determination to make a difference.
He made his way to the southeastern outskirts, the journey proving to be more challenging than he had anticipated. There were no paths — so Klein had to resort to navigating through the thick bushes, the sharp edges of twigs and brambles snagged at his clothing, leaving scratches and bruises on his legs. He continued on, despite the sharp pain.
It was already sunset, and Klein had to move fast. He didn’t wanna be wolf meat, as he knew wolves populated the area due to him remembering reading a passage about the southeast outskirts in a book once.
!!!!!!
A sense of dread took over, hearing a twig snap from behind him. He bolted into a run, the adrenaline surging through his veins as he darted through the dense forest, branches clawing at him as he fled into the encroaching darkness. He felt as if every tree had eyes and was looking at him, fueled by fear, he pushed himself to run faster than he ever thought possible, each stride driven by the urgency of escape.
He stopped his tracks when he found himself face-to-face with the statue of Syne. its presence both imposing and serene. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw no one following him. He exhaled heavily, still panting from the adrenaline rush. 'Well, that was eventful,' he thought to himself, a wry smile creeping onto his lips as he tried to catch his breath.
He laid his eyes on the statue. He felt comforted by it’s presence, an unexpected calmness washed over him. He took a deep breath, allowing the serenity of the scene to envelop him. The gentle expression on Syne’s face conveyed compassion, as if the deity understood his turmoil. Klein reached out, placing a hand against the cool surface of the stone, and in that moment, he felt a connection that transcended the physical world.
And in his peripheral vision, he noticed a particular flower. It was the red-mist flower! Klein was ecstatic, he quickly grabbed his bag and kneeled down to gather plenty of flowers. He thanked whoever is keeping him alive. As he was about to pick the last flower, he tripped from a twig and a mechanical noise quickly spawned from the statue.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the statue released a surge of energy that shot into the skyline. The force was overwhelming, propelling Klein backward until he collided with a nearby tree. Stunned, he gasped for breath as the vibrant energy crackled around him, filling the air with a dazzling light. The intense blaze almost blinded him.
Then the ground trembled beneath him, and a massive machine emerged from the earth, its large eye swiveling to focus on Klein like a predatory gaze. He felt rooted to the spot, paralyzed by fear as the machine prepared to unleash its wrath. Just as it seemed poised to strike, a figure burst from the bushes — Ronan, sword drawn and eyes blazing with determination.
“Klein!” Ronan shouted straining to reach him through the chaos, his senses alert to the danger that surrounded them. With his Starlight Edge sword in hand, Ronan lunged at the machine. In a swift motion, the creature retaliated, its ‘eye’ unleashing a surge of intense heat that grazed Ronan’s arm. He barely managed to dodge, but the blast left a painful scar across his skin.
Klein snapped back to reality and rushed to Ronan’s side. Together, they fled the scene, their hearts pounding as they escaped the chaos behind them. They ran, not even taking the risk of looking behind them. And as they felt it was safe enough, they rested beside a tree. Klein quickly sat Ronan down as he examined his injuries. It was bad, the heat radiated from his arm. Almost burning Klein’s hand.
Klein rummaged through his bag, frantically looking for bandages, and he quickly got to work with Ronan’s injuries. He kept murmuring apologies, glancing at Ronan’s hair, an idea sparked in his mind. Ignoring Ronan's protests, Klein took the Starlight Edge from his friend’s grip and deftly cut a few strands of his hair. He pressed the strands against the wounds with both hands, channeling his energy into the healing process, despite his getting hand burned from the heat. A soft glow emanated from the makeshift remedy, and slowly, the wounds began to close.
After a long pause, Klein gently removed his hands, his heart racing as he assessed the results. The wounds had healed significantly, and though Ronan's skin was still tender, the worst of the damage was gone. A mix of relief and exhaustion washed over him as he met Ronan's gaze. “R-Ronan, I'm so sorry- I didn’t mean for you to get hurt-” Klein muttered, deeply regretting his actions from not listening to Ronan earlier.
“It’s alright, what matters is that you’re okay.” He sat upright, putting on a weak smile. “Although, you didn’t have to use your hair to heal me. My wounds could’ve just gone away after a week or two.” He chuckled. “I needed to, you were hurt!” Klein protests. After a little debate, they both agreed to go back to the Palace. The trip back was fortunately safe. When they arrived, It was already dark outside.
Klein thanked Ronan repeatedly, gratitude spilling from his lips as they prepared to part ways. Ronan turned and walked toward his living quarters in the palace, while Klein headed to the library, the precious red-mist flowers clutched tightly in his hand.