The carriage trembles as it leaves behind the dirt road and onto the rough gravel. A cloud of dust rises behind it, dancing in the afternoon sunlight. The wooden wheels creak and groan with every bump, as if they too sense the change in terrain.
Inside the carriage, Lucios watches through the window, his eyes squinting against the sun. His light brown eyes, just like his father's, are filled with a mixture of anticipation and weariness. He has been traveling for days, and the long journey is starting to take its toll.
But now, finally, he is arriving. Kaapurina, the city where he was born and raised, the ancestral home of the Apurina house. A place of wonders, with stone streets, bustling markets, and watchtowers that rise majestically.
Approaching Kaapurina, Lucios is greeted with a breathtaking panorama. Vast fields of golden wheat stretch as far as the eye can see, gently swaying in the breeze. Fruit trees laden with red apples, vibrant oranges, and succulent pears line the roads, offering a feast of colors and aromas. The pure countryside air is filled with the sweet perfume of flowers.
Amidst this natural beauty, Lucios observes the commoners diligently working in the fields. Men and women, young and old, bend over the fertile land, planting, harvesting, and tending to the crops with calloused hands and sun-kissed faces. Sweat drips from their brows. Children play freely among the trees, running and laughing while their parents work, their faces radiant with the innocence of childhood.
The carriage approaches the city, and Lucios can see the castle looming on the horizon. His heart tightens; he is eager to see his mother again, but he also fears his father's reaction.
The count has always been distant and reserved, unable to express affection for Lucios. On the other hand, Adrian was the count's favorite. His strength, courage, and all the qualities the count aspired to in an heir were present in him.
The carriage finally reaches the main gate of the castle, imposing and adorned with the Apurina family crests. The vehicle's tremors cease, replaced by the sound of hooves clattering on the cobblestone. Lucios feels his heart pounding in his chest as the door opens, revealing his mother, Isabella, clad in a blue dress adorned with fine lace. Beside her, a retinue of servants eagerly awaits to greet him.
Isabella opens her arms, and Lucios steps out of the carriage, falling into her embrace in a tight hug. The emotion of the reunion overwhelms them both.
"My son, what a relief to see you home!" Isabella exclaims, her voice filled with love and relief. "I was so worried when I heard about the attack."
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Lucios steps back slightly, firmly holding his mother's hands. "Mother, where is my father?" he asks, his voice wavering.
Isabella hesitates for a moment, her eyes averting from Lucios's. "Your father is busy with important matters of the realm," she replies, her voice tense. "He will be here to see you soon, my son."
Lucios frowns, frustrated with his mother's response.
Isabella places her hand on Lucios's shoulder, a gentle yet firm gesture. "I know you're tired and upset, my son," she says, with a maternal tone. "But let's go inside; you need to rest. Then we can talk more."
Isabella leads him into the castle, where a small welcome banquet awaits them. She notices her son yawning as they converse, and says to him, "Why don't you go sleep for a while? When you wake up, it won't be too late to tell me all about your journey to the new settlements of the family villages."
Lucios was indeed very tired and didn't argue with his mother. He went to bed, relieved to be back in his room after two months of traveling through the family lands with his brothers, on a mission his father had called horizon expansion.
When Lucios woke up, the moon still shone high in the night sky. Unable to sleep, he remembered that his father used to stay up late in his office. He got up and went there, trying to speak with him. Along the way, he crossed paths with several servants who bowed upon seeing him and some guards who discreetly greeted him. They all knew Lucios since he was a baby.
Upon reaching his father's office, he stopped. In front of the door stood four men in full armor. Two of them, Lucios immediately recognized: they wore light blue armor and were Sir Michael and Sir David, knights of his father's personal guard. They had a serious and even tense expression.
The other two were more relaxed. One of them even smiled at Lucios. They wore armor of black and gold. Lucios clearly remembered Sir Owen's teachings about knights who wore these colors: they were the King's Lions, the elite guard of knights who only received orders directly from the crown. "But what were they doing here?" Lucios wondered, intrigued.
Sir Michael saw Lucios arrive and approached him, with a worried expression. He seemed to want to say something to the boy but didn't have the time. As he got close to Lucios, the door of Count Tiberius's office burst open with a bang.
From inside the room emerged a man with short hair and one ear missing. He wore the same black and gold armor as the other two King's Lions who were there. He bowed to the count, who was seated behind his desk, and said something in a low voice. Then, he joined his companions and the three hurriedly left down the corridor, escorted by Sir David and Sir Michael.
The one-eared knight paid no attention to Lucios. He passed by him as if he were invisible, not looking at him even once. Lucios stood still, understanding nothing. "What was happening there? Why was Father receiving a visit from the King's Lions? And why did Sir Michael seem so nervous?"
That's when he heard a familiar voice: "Lucios, I thought you would be in your room resting. What are you doing here?" It was his father, Count Tiberius, who looked at him with interest.
"I just got back from the trip and didn't have the chance to speak with you, father. So, I thought I could..." Lucios tried to explain but was interrupted by a sigh from his father.
"Ah, it's alright, I understand now. Come in, I was actually wanting to speak with you. Come, come in." The count spoke with a distracted tone, turning back and entering the office again, inviting Lucios to follow him.