Beyond Shut Doors

Character Arc 1: Prince Syphilis | Chapter 3

As my fourth year of existence came to be, my parents organized a huge festival in which everybody with certain interest was free to join. I had been dressed in completely new clothes, despite not understanding why. Still, it got me excited. My mother made sure that everything looked perfectly fine on me and for the first time in my life, I had the obligation to wear my crown, since a lot of strangers were going to enjoy this day with me. And certainly they did. Aside from commoners, there was another royal family I had been introduced to that day by my father. As I learned, they had been great friends to my parents and owned a daughter. Her name was Eirian. With a gentle bow she greeted me.

„I wish you a fulfilling birthday, Prince Syphilis."

She spoke softly, yet at the same time excitedly, as if she would have waited for this day to come. I myself found that rather adorable and nodded gently.

„I appreciate your words, Princess Eirian. It is a pleasure to meet you."

My parents looked at each other for a moment, then at the both of us as Mother had to slightly smile.

„How about you two find something to do together?"

Both me and Eirian smiled at each other, agreeing to mother's suggestion as we left our ways, just walking around. Soon though, I was introducing her to my horse, which she admired in surprise.

„You have a horse?? That's amazing!"

„Yes, his name is Caelum. My father gave him the name."

„Sky?"

A little confused I looked at her, slightly tilting my head, unsure of what she was referring to.

„Caelum means Sky in Latin. Do you not learn Latin, Prince?"

„Oh, right, father told me. But no, I don't. I'm trying to learn French though."

She wouldn't have needed to know how incredibly hard it was for me to remember any sort of word from any other language than my own. Eirian suddenly grabbed my hand and ran off with me to the gate of our garden, however I stopped her, demanding some sort of explanation. She smiled.

„We shall go outside! There's not so many people there, also I would like to see how your surroundings look like."

„I cannot simply leave, my parents would become worried."

„We will return soon, your mother said it was fine anyway. Or are you more afraid than a girl?"

I crossed my arms as I put on an uncertain serious expression.

„Well, no, of course not!"

Eirian had to laugh slightly before the both of us ran into the forest nearby, where a small lake would eventually appear. Quickly her feet brought her to the edge of the water as she kneeled down, trying to find the fish inside of it. I myself didn't get too close, since I didn't know how to swim and I wouldn't have wanted to risk falling inside. While only looking towards the other side of the lake I started wondering about why we never left anywhere, me and my family. I had noticed people arriving at us multiple times, however we never arrived anywhere else. A sudden splash sound scared me, bringing me back to reality as she proudly held up a fish while laughing.

„Look at this, Prince! I have caught one!"

The strange movements of the fish made me back away a step as I seemed slightly uncomfortable. She tilted her head, not understanding my reaction as she threw the fish back into the water again, then came up to me.

„Why are you so scared? I do this very often, my father insists on me being curious about anything."

„I am truly sorry... I am inside a lot, since I enjoy to read and learn."

„What? You don't go outside? That is a shame."

For a moment then she thought silently as I only looked at her.

„I challenge you to catch a fish!"

Despite explaining to her that I had not ever done that before, she insisted to give it a try. Since I didn't mean to be rude, the both of us got back to the lake where she first demonstrated me one of her „best tactics" before it was my turn. A bit uncertain I looked into the water, waiting for one of the fishes to appear. As soon as the chance came, I put my hands into the water, trying to catch it, yet missed quite a few times, which had me somewhat upset. Eirian held her hand onto my back.

„It's alright, the first few times are hard, for they are quite slippery."

„They are!"

I agreed with her, yet became more than eager to catch one of the fishes by myself. So, after a few attempts, I in fact managed to get a grip on one of them as I pulled it out and smiled happily. Eirian applauded me proudly as shortly afterwards I let go of the fish again.

„Let's name it after you, Prince, since this was the first one you have ever caught. Haha, Fish Syphilis!"

We both had to laugh, as I agreed to that idea. Aside from teaching me how to catch a fish with my bare hands, she also moved on and taught me how to climb up on a tree safely and how to throw small rocks onto the water to let them appear to be jumping onto it. This was the most fun I had ever had gotten during my first years of existence. Eirian was an imaginative, brave and optimistic girl, greatly enjoying my company. As we finished our activities, she was laying down on the grass, hinting at me to do the same.

„You want me to just lie in grass like that? I am going to be dirty."

„So what? It's merely clothing. It can be washed!"

Hesitantly then I in fact did lay down as well, looking up at the sky with her. She made up funny figures in the clouds and the both of us shared a big laugh as we found a silly face in the sky. From afar then I noticed how my father seemed to have been observing us and quickly I sat up again, looking towards him. Eirian seemed a bit confused before she as well understood what was going on. We both got back up on our feet as she helped me cleaning myself as well as I helped her. Then, fast as lightning, we returned to the garden of my home.