Green embers

chapter one

Chapter 1

My name is Conrad Wryler. Nothing about the way I look stands out in any sort of way; just normal ochre-colored eyes and amber-colored hair, cut in a not unusual cropped style. I don’t have much of an outstanding height but I’d like to think that at least I don’t hunch. I suppose my face is of a regular shape; forgettable complexion and unremarkable features. I am the 3rd squad captain of his majesty King Lainus of Loringham’s army. His kingdom is the largest of the Mist Valley and he is the strongest king I know. He has two children; Haku and Hatsuharu. His majesty’s late wife Queen Hakura came from a far off foreign land in the Gray Valley and she was the one who named her boys. From where she comes from, the name Haku stands for purity and the name Hatsuharu stands for spring, which was appropriate since he was born in that season’s time. Prince Haku, the older one of the two brothers, died two years ago due to an ambush. Though surrounded by his guards and the dense trees of Arkana forest, his life was taken, never to return again. His death was unforgettable, for he was loved by the people and even more by the king himself. Sometimes I think that King Lainus got the people's approval and appraising due to the kindness Haku showed, that same kindness that won him the people's love and support. However, there is one fact I am certain about which is that King Lainus’ good side is definitely his eldest son and no other. I know this for certain because since Haku's murder, the king has never been the same again. He never was obsessed with conquer or full domination before. He was satisfied with his kingdom, settled that it was the largest and couldn't ask for more. Now, all he wants to do is conquer. His temper has become greater than ever and his wrath unlimited. He poses his peril on anyone against him, punishes who ever opposes him or tries to knock some sense into him. He’s no longer the just and merciful man we once knew him to be. If not for our loyalty and our sympathy for his lose, the entire army would've deserted him and the people would've left him. What I can't understand most about him is his show of hatred towards his younger son, now the only son he has left. He may have neglected him since the day he was born, too busy raising Haku to be his successor and king after him, but it was never hatred. He may have loved Haku more; being his first born and everything and loved Haru less because of that but still…it was never hatred. Unlike his majesty’s own brother, who had lost his only son in battle and no longer has a successor to his throne, King Lainus perhaps would've felt satisfied and lucky that he still has his younger son, who can redeem him from his loss but surprisingly, it didn't turn out that way. I certainly can't understand it at all. To begin with, King Lainus gave orders that Haru -Hatsuharu’s nickname- is to never hold a weapon, face battle or even fight one. He ordered his senior officers, most of whom trained Haku aside from himself, never to do the same with Haru if he ever asked for it one day or if they ever decide to do it on a whim. He gave these orders, made them a law and vowed that whoever disobeys them will be punished severely.

I look at the whole matter as the King's way of protecting his only living son, that after the death of Haku, it was only natural to be over protective of the one he has left. That is why I truly don't understand why he hates him. He never wants to see Haru; he never dines with him, always avoids speaking to him and only hears of his day and whereabouts through daily reports from the young prince's royal guards. Haru, on the other hand, loves his father and idolizes him. He is indifferent to his father's resentment and would always try to meet with him as much as he could. Whenever that happens, his father would speak coldly to him and would order an exchange of guards due to their incompetency in keeping his son away from him.

The high council of Loringham does not like the situation. They see it unreasonable for the king's only son not to be trained as the kingdom’s future king. ‘How can he be king,’ they say, ‘if he's not trained in battle, if he's incapable of protecting the kingdom which will one day be his let alone hold a sword to protect his very own life!?’