A Silent Scar

Chapter 1

Silen, a young and muted female, had been dutifully guarding Leona since the very first day of her assignment as the second-born prince's personal bodyguard. Adhering strictly to Leona's orders, Silen escorted the prince wherever he went, except for the private confines of the bathroom.

Furthermore, Silen even accompanied Leona to the private lessons conducted by Kifaji, the royal chamberlain, as per the king's directive to educate the ten-year-old girl alongside the prince.

After the conclusion of Kifaji's afternoon class, Leona, with Silen in tow, returned to his chambers. The prince then reclined on his bed, propping his head up with his hands and lifting one leg in a relaxed posture. Meanwhile, Silen stood vigilantly at the doorway, keeping a watchful eye on the prince.

Prince Leona addressed Silen, "You should sit at my chair. We've just finished one of Kifaji's classes. We should gather some energy, especially you."

Silen nodded obediently and approached the chair at the royal desk, taking a seat. She remained in the chair, observing Leona.

Feeling the piercing gaze of the muted girl, Leona, who had just shut his eyes, opened them once more.

"Hey, come to my bed. Lay beside me," Leona ordered Silen.

Silen, obeying the prince's order, rose from the chair and approached Leona's bed. Gently, she laid down beside him, resting her head on the mattress. As Leona fell into a peaceful slumber, the muted girl with short white hair remained vigilant, her dark brown eyes wide open, guarding the prince by her side.

After a long nap, Leona's emerald green eyes fluttered open, focusing on the sleeping Silen. Exhaustion had finally overcome her, and she had drifted off into a deep, serene slumber. Leona observed the little girl beside him, noticing that she made no sound, her breathing soft and tranquil. He found himself captivated by her, wondering if this was the fate of the mutes - to live without the ability to voice their thoughts and emotions.

" Perhaps,I was lucky to have her as my bodyguard. She doesn't give out a noise unlike those gossipers of servants,"

All of a sudden, a tear dropped from Silen's closed eyelid, surprising Leona as he noticed it. His gaze gaped and his mouth parted in reaction.

"Did she just cry?" he murmured, his voice laced with concern.

Then, he saw Silen's small hand that rested on the mattress begin to lift up, as if reaching out to something. Leona anticipated that the little Silen was experiencing a nightmare. His gaze softened as he observed her pale, delicate face.

"Are you having a nightmare?" he asked the sleeping girl, his slender, long fingers reaching out to gently wipe away her tears. This caused the girl to wake up, making Leona briefly startled as he pulled his fingers away. Silen raised herself and seated on the mattress, facing the prince directly.

"Good evening, white head," he greeted her.

Silen accidentally replied to his greeting with hand gestures, as she was still half-asleep. When she realized her mistake, she stopped her hands and placed them on her lap.

"Was that meant to be 'good evening to you too'?" Leona deduced, to which Silen nodded in confirmation, her eyes still slightly hazy from sleep.

"I think you should teach me some sign language," Leona suggested. "That way, you don't have to carry your whiteboard everywhere once I've learned to sign."

Silen nodded in response, her dark brown eyes focusing intently on Leona's emerald green ones. There was a moment of silent understanding between them, a shared curiosity and willingness to bridge the gap of communication.

Leona smiled warmly, sensing Silen's agreement. "Alright, where do we start?" he asked, his voice gentle and encouraging.

Silen raised her hands, her slender fingers beginning to move with graceful precision. Slowly, she demonstrated the basic signs, her eyes never leaving Leona's, silently guiding him through the new language.

Leona watched, his gaze attentive and focused, as he mirrored Silen's movements, his own fingers tentatively forming the signs. A look of concentration crossed his features, but there was also a spark of excitement, a desire to learn and connect with the enigmatic girl before him.

As they continued their impromptu lesson, the air between them seemed to grow lighter, the tension dissipating. Silen's lips curved into a small, encouraging smile, and Leona felt a sense of accomplishment with each sign he managed to replicate correctly.

It was a moment of shared understanding, a bridge being built between two individuals who, despite their differences, were both seeking a way to communicate and understand each other better.

......

"Leona! Leona, where are you?" Ruggie called out, searching for the missing house warden in the botanical garden.

Leona, who had been sleeping on the open grass, stirred awake from his dream. He slowly sat up, his feet lifted up as he rested his arm on his knee. A sense of nostalgia overwhelmed him as he reminisced about the dream he had during his nap - a memory of his time with Silen, his former bodyguard.

Leona's brown hand reached up to gently caress the scar on his left eye. "How come I dream about that traitor?" he asked himself, his voice tinged with a hint of bitterness.

Just then, Ruggie appeared, spotting Leona on the grass. "There you are!" the young hyena beastman exclaimed, quickly approaching the house warden. "Leona, your History class is going to start soon. It's better to go now," Ruggie reminded him, resting his hands on his hips.

Leona sighed in response, feeling irritated by Ruggie's constant reminders. "Okay, okay. I'm on my way," he said, standing up from the grass and passing by Ruggie as he walked away, leaving the young beastman behind.

Ruggie furrowed his brows, watching Leona's retreating figure with a concerned expression. He couldn't help but wonder what had caused the usually composed, spoiled house warden to seem so pensive and troubled.

As Leona walked along the pathway, his mind drifted back to the past, recalling the events that had transpired six years ago. It had been that long since Silen, his former mute bodyguard, had betrayed him and disappeared from his life.

The memory of that incident at the Afterglow Savanna royal palace still weighed heavily on Leona's mind. He couldn't help but wonder about Silen's current well-being, as they had lost all contact after that fateful day.

Leona's brow furrowed as he replayed the events in his mind. Silen had been a constant presence by his side, a silent but steadfast protector. Their unique bond had grown over the years, and Leona had come to trust the enigmatic girl implicitly.

But then, everything had changed in the blink of an eye. Silen's betrayal had shaken Leona to his core, leaving him feeling betrayed and disillusioned. The aftermath had been a tumultuous time, as he grappled with the loss of someone he had once considered a trusted companion.

Now, as Leona walked, he couldn't help but wonder what had become of Silen. Had she found a new path in life? Was she safe and well? The questions lingered, unanswered, a constant source of unease in the back of his mind.

Leona sighed heavily, his steps slowing as he became lost in his thoughts. The wound of Silen's betrayal may have healed, but the scars remained, a reminder of the fragility of trust and the pain of losing someone you once held dear.