Royally Elemental: A Chatroom [SLOW]

-:chapter three: a child's concern:-

Princess Rafiya and Prince Victor sat beside each other on Rafiya's bed.

"What do you think Mom meant when she said it was just a bad dream? It was clearly more than that..." Rafiya started. They weren't completely sure that it was right to talk about this with their brother--who was only 7 years old--but there was no else they could go to.

"I don't know... Maybe she wasn't lying?" Victor suggested, tilting his head to the floor and avoiding eye contact.

"I don't think so. I think she... I don't know, but it wasn't a normal bad dream and I know it!"

"If you really think so, Rafe... What should we do?"

"We have to figure out what's going on, obviously!"

"How do we do that?"

"Well... I'm not sure. Yet! Let's go ask around. Maybe one of the castle workers or subjects will be able to tell us something!"

And off the two ran to find some answers.

But little did they know...

They would find more than they were looking for...

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Queen Coralia sat at a long table, devoid of people. There was easily 6 seats on either side, but it was completely empty.

Well, aside from her Adviser, of course.

A strand of her brown hairs slipped free from her braided crown--how clever--and her Adviser practically tackled her to the floor.

"How improper!" Her Adviser muttering, tearing her hair down to reform the crown.

Queen Coralia blinked. She was used to this now.

"If one of the other Royals were to see you now! What would King Indulf think?"

'Kind Indulf isn't even here right now. Nor anybody else...' Queen Coralia caught herself thinking, then mentally slapped herself. If her Adviser ever knew...

"Don't forget! You have Training with Augustus scheduled directly after this," her Adviser reminded her, stepping back to admire their work.

Queen Coralia knew. She hated the stare her Adviser gave her. Her Adviser thought of her as a piece of art they'd just completed. Something they could change and mold. Remove what they didn't like and add what they did.

Queen Coralia was no sculpture. She was a human being. With real human being emotions and thoughts and feelings.

Her Adviser didn't seem to realize.

Queen Coralia stood, forcing her shoulders back.

"I'm going to take a walk, then I'll head."

Her Adviser stood as well.

"Alone."

They did not sit, instead giving Queen Coralia a look.

"Dismissed, I said."

They sat.

Queen Coralia turned promptly and stepped out of the door. She sighed.

At least training with Augustus wasn't bad. She quite liked Augustus. He was funny, and treated her like any other students he had.

Queen Coralia didn't want to be seen as "A Queen". She wanted to be down-to-earth, to be someone no one had to pretend around.

But that would never happen.

Except for with Augustus.

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Prince Terran walked down the dirt road of his Kingdom. The destruction was... unbearable. He actively searched for anywhere he could help, anywhere at all.

But there was little he could do.

He could not rebuild homes, could not repair families. And he hated it. He wanted to be strong--to be the best. To be... Perfect.

A part of him hated that word. Only because it was impossible to achieve. You can't ever be perfect. You can't always be strong, can't always do what you want to.

He stopped in the middle of the street, closing his eyes. He drew in a deep breath, before letting out slowly.

Prince Terran then shook his head and regathered himself.

He couldn't let anyone see him like this. No, no, to see a Prince--almost a King--crying in the street? Unacceptable.

He turned and quickly left, just trying to get to a place no one could see him. He desperately tried to blink back the hot tears that had quickly formed in his eyes.

He stepped into the Palace Garden, staring blankly at the flowers he's seen a million times. The trees he used to climb every day. Used to, back when he was a small child with no responsibilities. No concerns.

Think good thoughts, think good thoughts. Don't think about the faults, don't think about your weaknesses. Don't think about how you'll never be good--

He was fine. The Kingdom was fine. Teeara would recover. He would recover.

It was good. It was gonna get better, and he was overreacting. 

Prince Terran took in another deep breath.

He was fine. For now.

But he didn't know how much more he could take before he cracked...

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King Dylan sat on the docks, staring down at the dolphin who poked it's head out of the water. For just a moment, Queen Miya crossed his mind, and he was glad she couldn't understand what he was saying. For he was listening to the aquatic spy's report.

King Dylan knew--perhaps too well--that Queen Miya never approved of his war tactics. She never had, and never would. Queen Miya would try to talk him out of it, explain there was always a better way.

King Dylan loved her and could never see himself ever loving another woman... But King Dylan always handled the battle strategies, and Queen Miya handled the people of their own Kingdom--and there was a reason they did it that way. He knew as well that both of them were equally important, and that should one die the Kingdom would collapse in a matter of days. 

He blinked, realizing he had zoned out.

Of course, the spy had nothing to report. Just as normal. Fortunately. King Dylan was certain that with the stunt their pulled last night, King and Queen Indulf were sure to be planning something else.

He hoped that wasn't the case.

King Dylan dismissed the dolphin with a mere wave of his hand before promptly turning away from the ocean and back towards his castle.

If the Firens weren't going to attack...

Perhaps the Waterns would have to beat them to it.

Water DID beat fire after all.