In A Faraway Land

Quest Start Now?

 August passed by the numerous maids clearing away the debris left by his one-week birthday celebration. August would typically enjoy these gatherings. After all, he was the reason for the celebration, but this year he counted down the days until the week was over. Even though August was a prince in title, he didn't feel like one. Lavish parties and piles of gold could only take you so far in life. What really mattered was having upstanding character and being a hero. Real princes, were brave, selfless, went on daring adventures, and did many great deeds. Going on daring adventures was not an option for August, he had never even stepped foot outside the castle. And helping the maids clean up after his birthday celebrations was the closest thing he had ever come to great deeds.

He wouldn't be able to help the maids clean up this year though. After years of training, August was ready to embark on a quest that would change the trajectory of his life. August felt a bit of guilt as he trod on the debris and maids in the hall. He received a number of good mornings, and as he disregarded them his guilt increased. He couldn't spare time to talk to them. After arriving at his destination, August paused to take a breath and fortify his thoughts, He raised his fist and knocked on the door.

"Come in," a muffled voice said.

August entered his father's study but didn't go too far from the door. His father's study wasn't very big, but there was a huge chasm between them. King Harry didn't look up at August as he continued to scribble on a document. His father's desk had stacks of paperwork on it, but it was far from unorganized. Nothing was out of place.

August shuffled his feet on the floor quietly. The only other sounds in the room were his father's scratching of his quill and the crackling fireplace. It was a bit unorthodox for August to speak before his father, but the silence was making his skin itch.

"Good morning, Father."

"What do you have to say, Augustus?" His father sighed.

August rocked on his feet and took a deep breath.

"Father, now that I'm eighteen, I think it's time I save Evelyn."

The scratching stopped for a brief moment before starting again.

"What makes you think you're up for that?" He said without looking up.

"I've been training with the sword for six years. I can hold my own easily."

"I have trained for over thirty years and I wouldn't step into the dark dimension."

August furrowed his brows and took a step closer to his father's desk.

"I'm not a kid anymore. You can't keep coddling me."

"I'm not coddling you. I'm being honest. Your skills are embarrassingly average and I have no doubt you wouldn't last long on your own. We've been over this before. You're not ready."

August's heart was full of needles. His father couldn't even bother to look up at him even once.

"Father, are we supposed to leave Evelyn to rot?" He tried again.

"One day someone will come along and save her." His father said indifferently.

August gritted his teeth. Did Evelyn mean nothing to him? August practically grew up with her. How could he be so passive about this? August knew his father wouldn't sit idly by whenever there was trouble so why now of all times was he sitting back?

"Someone? She can't be saved by just anyone. If they could, then wouldn't she have been saved a long time ago? Father the prophecy-"

August bit his tongue silently scolding himself for thoughtlessly speaking. For the first time, his father looked at him with a deadly glare.