Next To You

Prologue~

*Chaos erupts in front of a kingdom. Fire spawns with explosions following it, men riding down hills to the front gate that was embroidered with gold and blue sigils representing the Cryo Kingdom.*

*The infiltration was led by Helios' son, Atees. His men trickled into the kingdom, passing the front gate and killing almost any man with a heart beat. They lost some men, but not as many men as their enemy lost.*

*Inside the Kingdom stood Mikael, a mortal King. And his daughter, Saeroyi. They sat in the throne room, Saeroyi sat on a small bench like chair behind the King. Mikael sat in his throne chair waiting for them to enter knowing there wasn't much he could do.*

"Saeroyi..."

"Yes father?"

"You are going to be a Queen soon... I know you may not be ready, but remember everything I taught you about how to lead and survive."

*Saeroyi was seventeen at the time, she was confused by his statement. Until the realization hit.*

"Are you.. giving up father? Why? We can still fight-"

"Our men are dead, most likely our best warriors were assassinated in their sleep. The others are rookies fighting with their last ounce of hope." *he kept his gaze locked on the door and spoke with no emotion, almost as if he had already died internally. Until he spoke his final line to her.* "Im sorry I failed you... my precious girl." *he gazed back at her just for a moment, a tear running down his face* *he quickly glanced back at the door as the sounds of energetic men began to knock down the palace's front door* 

"One! Two! THREE!" *the door opened, all the men ran inside the throne room but came to a halt at the stairs that led up to Mikael's seat. They lined the sides of the entry way, leaving a walkway down the middle for Atees. He rode in slowly on his horse with his blood-covered sword in hand. Wearing the colors of his kingdom, gold, red, and orange shined in the moonlight*

"Ahh... Mikael I am home." *his pride showing as he laughed*

"You have invaded my home... killed my men."

"Oh you don't have to be so proud of me young Mikael! It's all thanks to this little guy right here." *one of the soldiers follow in with a hooded boy tied by his wrist and ankles, he waddles in with the soldier shoving him to the ground once they passed Atees horse. The solider snatches away the hood to reveal a 19 year old boy, his face and torso covered in dried blood, bruises and cuts. Mikael looked upon his face with confirmation of his theories and sympathy of what he had gone through.*

"Zeno... it was true. Did he threaten you? Was there a reward for this chaos?" *Saeroyi stared at the unkept Zeno with anger, this was the boy who has killed their palace.*

"My parents, siblings, the village... My King I don't know if you'll ever find it in your heart to forgive-" *Atees' solider kicks Zeno in his core, cutting off his words*

"Do not beg now poor boy Zeno. You only beg to me, I am your King!"

"Y- ye- yes- your- gr- grace." *with the air knocked out of him, he still made effort to respond to not suffer more pain.*

*Saeroyi stood on her feet and walked in front of her father's throne* "Aww look at that, the little girl wishes to speak!" *he spoke trying not to laugh at her small stature*

"You brag about a kingdom that is smaller than your own. You tortured a young boy to give you secrets on our home. You ripped through and killed men in their sleep that you knew you could not beat. You call yourself the new king? I call you the new piece of shit that stained our marble floors-"

"Enough Saeroyi." *Mikael commands* "I've already lost our home, I will not lose you too."

"Oh little 'Saeroyi', I don't think you understand how much this is actually worth. And you stand in your own skin not knowing your power? You will be my 'weapon.' You barely know how to use it according to Zeno. I could snap my fingers and you'd be dead next to your father. But you hold a special gift-"