To The End of Time

Chapter 1: Arrival

"Would you like for me to announce your arrival, your highness?"

Pavel glanced up from his comwatch toward the concentric castle that now stood in front of him. Its walls glowed a rainbow of colors, revealing the bismuth that was mixed in with the various other metallic crystals.

The great symbol of peace was what the very first king had called his domain, and it remained true till the Hybrid war.

"No, that won't be necessary Donovan." He unbuckled himself as Donovan flipped the switch to drop the ramp into the ward's center. "I'll announce my arrival in a moment." If he had his way, he would have more than a minute, but alas, he knew that was about as likely to happen as once in a....green...moon? No, that didn't sound right. He would have to ask Eileen about that human idiom again.

Reaching the steel doors, he pressed his hand against the keypad. As the doors groaned open, he flinched. For a moment, he could have felt the soft fur of Takon's coat. Stop it, Pavel. He stepped back. Don't be delusional.

"Your highness?" Donovan's voice snapped through his thoughts. His gray eyes studied him with a mixture of concern. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Pavel waved his worries away. "Though I should be asking you the same." He would be naive not to notice the slight limp in his personal guard's steps.

The council saw Donovan as the perfect model for the Visutilis' health and strength. Six-feet three with a muscular build, almost indestructible silver hue skin, the ability to lift up to hundreds of pounds. The pure role-model of Visutilis superiority.

They didn't see what Pavel did. They didn't see the swelling in his joints when he was pushed too far, the way his eyes filled with tears when the pain became too much, leaving him many times on the edge of unconsciousness.

"I will be fine."

Pavel tilted his head. "You always were a pathetic liar."

Donovan's lips curled into a ghost of a smile.

The perfect Visutilis everyone. A laugh of irony pressed against Pavel's chest. Instead, he turned his attention toward the golden lobby. "Very well, I see no use for you today since I won't be going anywhere beyond the castle walls."

Donovan simply nodded, before he turned to take the ship back to the others. From there, he would make it to his room and hopefully rest. If not, Pavel will simply have to demand it. With a pin in that thought, he finally stepped into the room.

Lyria was a city of advancements far beyond anything imaginable. The electronic components of the castle itself was enough to make even the wealthiest look on in pure awe. There was no shortage of minerals and metals, from golden highlights to silver stairs and crystal stained tiles. A river of rare flowers and shells hung along the walls.

Making his way to his room, his steel door shut behind him. Leaning against it, a shaky breath left his lips. He was starting to feel weird....starting to feel off. His eyes flickered around his room, taking in the dark metal furniture that was encrusted with various precious metal details.

His bed hovered slightly over the floor while old paper blueprints lined the walls, shifting from a written out idea to the invention's design the more he walked. He had been young when he first created them; young, naive, and foolish. Back when he thought he could make a difference, back when he thought the council actually respected him.

The door snapped open behind him.

"Your highness," A feminine voice spoke.

Pavel flinched, before he turned to the council woman.