Mission To The Unknown

The Lock-in (1)

In the sun-drenched Kingdom of Hephaestus, life hummed with energy in the hometown. The joyful raucous of children playing amidst the bustling town filled the air, a comforting symphony on this perfect morning. Among the clamor, a boy stood out in the younger prince's chambers. His striking features a halo of vibrant orange hair, a smooth complexion, and mesmerizing mismatched eyes, one light up with beautiful emerald and the other a lustrous amber reflected an exotic charm. Eyes much like the serene lake hidden in the forest, reflected nothing but the pristine beauty of the green nature around it. As he took in the breathtaking view of his prosperous kingdom, the melody of birds seemed to accompany his thoughts, like the soft jingling of bells.

Without any warning, the tranquility in the room was interrupted by a gentle knock. In response, prince Second extended an invitation, speaking with a reserved yet polite demeanor. As the door opened slowly, he found a humble, young maid bowing, soft respect riddling her eyes.

"Prince Second. I had come to inform your highness that king Victim and your brothers request your immediate presence". She passed along the message from his family, causing Second to crease his delicate eyebrows, tilting his head to the side. He nodded his head in acknowledgment, fixing his gaze on her for a moment before turning back to the window. In a calm voice, he said,

"I shall come at once, you may go".

"As you wish, my prince".

After granting the maid permission to leave, Second stood near the window, gazing down at the scene unfolding below. The sight of the town and the children freely playing triggered a twinge of envy within him, making him crave for the simple pleasures he was forbidden in this bubble of a palace. Weighed down by the constraints of his privileged existence, he brushed his hair into a practical ponytail and determined to follow his step-brother's invitation, leaving the comfort of his room.

As he treaded the palace, eyes well practiced at politely ignoring the repetitive bows and curtsies of palace staff, his mind buzzed. He sought nothing more than to be treated like an everyday person, rather than this claustrophobic sense of being a spoiled prince who was only seen through the magnifier of his royal status.

In his solitude, he felt himself wading through an endless ocean of loneliness, anguished by the yearning for the unknown, to longing for freedom to explore the world beyond the palace walls, for the faces that wouldn't bow before him, for friends who didn't see the crown but the heart beneath, for love that wasn't a matter of royal arrangement, but a connection that flourished gratuitously. His heart thundered in his chest, rebelling against his royal bindings. And even though he was the prince, he felt trapped in what was his own home.

Pushing his thoughts aside, he entered the meeting room. The sight of his brothers, Dark and Chosen, there alongside King Victim managed to instantaneously refocus his attention. Victim, the king, looked visibly unwell, a sharp contrast to his usual robust demeanour. It was then that Second couldn't project his thought-motivated aloofness any longer. Concern drowned his previous melodramatic sulk.

"Second, please take a seat. We have an urgent matter to discuss".

"I see. What's troubling you, brother?". Second asked before doing what Victim's ordered him and sat between Dark, whose cheek was resting on his cheek boredly, and Chosen who looked as concerned as Second was.

"An attack took place today when I was assisting our people in building a tower. It appears that we got attacked by some... Forest creatures. But they looked different. Their eyes, they were black as the night sky, and their feral disposition was terrifying".

"Wait, forest creatures?". Second asked in confusion before Chosen explained why they were both so confused since Dark, as usual, didn't seem to understand what was going on.