The air carries scents of fresh roses,saffron and camphor.
That's what the royalties in the kingdom of Altaza always believed.
The air also carries unnoticed scents of iron,bled-out wishes and cold,fractured hopes.
That's what the royalties in the kingdom of Altaza rather not think of.
But even if they tried their best to fill up the hole on the wall covering the despair behind it,they will always see the sickening truth about it:the dreadful reality of Altaza.
Which is very unfortunate for the citizens of Altaza.
Aiden Acharya HATED it.
His official title is actually His royal majesty, Prince Aiden Acharya of Altaza,Prince of the royal Acharya family.He was also known for his beauty and wisdom.(and if you don't know his age,I'll add it right here.His age is ummmmmmm....actually I haven't thought of it yet,maybe 20?Yeah.20 it is)
And all his life he's been raised by burning wills,empty promises of the husk of Altaza.
All his life of being kept in the view of his temptations but could never fully grasp it,no matter how he wished.
He didn't need to need to be told twice that his kingdom,his homeland was suffering.
Even when his parents tried,tried their best to shield him from the truth,he always managed to knock a tiny hole through the inscrutable,invisible yet thick wall that the royal council of Altaza and his parents had carefully constructed for him.He managed to see through all the sliver-tongued lies the royal council of Altaza fed to his father, the King, the ruler of Altaza.
And he hated that as well.
All he ever wanted was to have the chance to look at his kingdom with power,not an illusion.
But then again,the fragrant perfumes weren't wafting up like that.
He stopped looking out of his window and instead stared at his room.It was dimly lit,the only light coming from the jasmine-scented candles from the jewel-covered golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling of his bedroom.Another soft wind blew into his room,making the wind chimes that were hanging by his window sway,a gift from his mother,or late mother.
The chimes twinkled softly,weaving a melody into the silent night sky.They reminded the young prince of his mother's lullabies that she used to sing to him whenever he had a nightmare or couldn't sleep.
"Beta?What's wrong?" His mother's grasp as asked as she entered his room and sat on the bed's edge.
"M-mom,I c-couldn't sleep,". A five year old Aiden mumbled quietly as he cried beneath his favorite blanket.
"It's ok,beta.I'm right here.There's nothing to be scared about,".His mother said softly.
Aiden sniffed.
"There,there beta,".His mother reached out to hold his hand while using the other hand to stroke his hair softly.Aiden felt her fingers gently combing through his messy,wave like hair.It's soothing,almost making him fall asleep.
Then came his mother's voice.
(Spoiler alert:Tarzan movie from Disney)
Come,my dear
Stop your crying
It'll be alright
Everything's all fine
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I'll protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small
You seem so strong
My arm will hold you
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us,can't be broken
I will be here Don't you cry
Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes,you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and Forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be in my heart
Always
Always
His mother's voice sweet like honey,poured down into his mind.Her voice was alluring him,telling him to close his eyes.He sniffed again,breathing in the rich rose perfume from his mother.
With a yawn,he fell into a dreamless sleep.
His mother smiled at her son.
"Sleep well,beta.I love you so much ace-cakes,".She planted a kiss on Aiden's forehead.She covered her son's small body with his favorite blanket before leaving the room quietly,closing the door behind her.
Aiden furrowed his eyebrows and a frown formed across his face.His vision became blurry and tears stung his eyes,threatened to fall down his face.
I miss you mother,I wish that you were still here,he thought.
He still held the memory of his mother's warm skin touching him as she embraced him lovingly.
He still remembered her soothing voice as she sang lullabies to him or read him stories about mythical tales of creatures and gods.
He still had visions of his mother smiling widely,her white teeth flashing like pearls in the sun,eyes bright like amber jewels beneath moonlight.Dressed in a colorful lehenga and littered with golden bangles and jewelry,she looked majestic in the morning and evening.
People used to call her "the lady of beauty and peace" or "She who brings harmony".
She was famous for her kindness for the citizens of Altaza.
She was also famous for her beauty,for people brag about her loveliness was enough to make flowers bloom.
Now that she's gone,her whole existence seemed to be forgotten by the world.
Tears were pouring down freely as Aiden recalls what her last words to him as she laid at her death bed.
"My son,my baby boy."
His mother weakly lifts up her hand towards Aiden as she coughs badly,spitting out blood in the process.
A six-year-old Aiden rushed to her side,tears flowing freely down his face.
" Mother!" he screamed as he held her hand tightly.
"I want you to remember this clearly ace-cakes," his mother said softly as she wiped his tears gently.
"Remember,you are the strongest little boy I've ever seen.Don't give up.I love you,ok?" His mother whispered softly into his ear as she felt the last of her strength leaving her body.
"NO! You said you won't leave me!Please mother! Don't go! Please..." Aiden screamed at the top of his voice,it cracked as he broke down completely.He remembered his throat turning raw as he shouted at his mother to keep on fighting for her life.
But his words were unheard by the queen.
He remembered the feeling of his mother's weak grasp as her hand relaxed and her heart stopped beating. He watched in horror as his mother's soul slipped away and floated to the spirit realm,a smile was forever plastered on his's mother face as she looked proudly at her son,her body now an empty shell without any trace of her love or her soul.
His mother was gone forever.
He took a deep breath,the cool night breeze filling his lungs.His head became clearer and he looked out of his window again.
Nowadays the whole kingdom was busily fussing about a particular "pest" within the streets of Altaza,mostly from the richer side.
The masked thief.
This "pest" has roamed around the kingdom stealing precious items from the richer side of Altaza.You would never know when the thief will strike.
The people they'd stolen from said that one second the item was here,then it disappeared.The only evidence that the thief was here was a single red rose with a black stem laying on where the item once was.It was a signature move of the thief.It was as if the thief felt sorry for the person that they'd stolen from so they left behind a "present" to make them feel better.
Like that would make a difference.
Dozen of wealthy families of Altaza would line up in the court to see the king every day,only discussing the same topic.
The masked thief.
They wreaked havoc wherever they went.They had became a pest to the wealth,but never the poor.Well,seldom.
They say the masked thief was sly like a fox.They could outsmart even the smartest of people.
They say the masked thief was slick like a cat.They could appear into the light and disappear back in the shadows with a blink of an eye.
They say the masked thief was as fast as lightning,as strong as a bull,as deadly and unpredictable as a canon.
The situation was getting out of control.
They needed to find this thief.FAST.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yeah I almost cringed while writing this so
How is it?
YOU ARE READING
By shadow and light,empower our inner light (an Aru shah Au)
FanfictionMeh We had enough So let's jump right to it
