Jahdiel

Prologue

The royal family came every year to choose a random family from the first level to graciously grant them citizenship in their luxurious exorbitant city.

Each time my parents wished it would be us so that they could get a better life for me and my younger sister, Daramis.

Evey year during May the royal would arrive and lodge into their private manor built at the outskirts of town.

Fadila, my best friend and I had gone there once before to 'investigate' we said. But ran off because of the huge barking dog at the gigantic gate. The only building in the whole of the first level with an iron gate.

Then there would be a broadcast message in all public places about their arrival. Us, the people of the first level would gather at the town square anticipating the raffle draw. Papa would carry me up on his shoulders so I could see everything that was going on.

One fateful day, the day before the raffle draw. Mama sent me to Fadila's house to collect some sugar from Fadila's Mama.
Fadila's house wasn't too far from mine. We all lived in Farmer's Quarters where all the people that worked producing food resided with their families. It was a pretty decent place to live unlike the other parts of the first level.

Mama sent me along with two pot pies that she baked in the morning; one for me and the other for Fadila. She knew that I would stay over than the required time.

Kicking a stone that laid on the red soil path, swinging the basket in my hands and humming to a random song I made up in my head. The occasional house dotted either side of the path. After some time I could see a figure in the distance no bigger myself. Me being my curious self went on to get a closer look. Initial thoughts forgotten.

Now the figure got clearer, an outline was forming. It... It was a boy. He was hunched over sobbing. His clothes were not of the first level. The colours were richer, more vibrant.
He wore a purplish robe of some sort. But maybe I was wrong maybe it was blue. A golden crown on his head. I had never seen one before, I mean in reality. Even though my Papa made sure I saw what was going on. I never got this close to one before. I wanted to reach out and touch it. Instead I tapped him. "Um.... Hello there."

"Hello." The boy said straightening up to face me properly, his brown face tear stricken. He definitely looked lost. And confused too.

"Are you lost?" I said stating the obvious.

"Yes... I wanted to look around but I missed my way." He wiped away his tears, dusted his knees and stood up to face me. He looked about my age but he was taller than me with a head.

"Which way did you come from?" I gripped my basket tighter. "I definitely know that you are not from around here. It shows."

He looked at me like three new heads sprouted from my shoulders. "How did you come about that?"

"For one your clothes." I tugged at the plain faded red hand-sewn dress I had on, moving closer to tap the crown. "And the thing sitting on your head. If you didn't come this way you would have been robbed or better yet kidnapped. "

He gasped. "Really?"

"Yes, really."

"So what is your name?"He asked.

"Jahdiel."

"What of yours?"

"Prince Zeid." He offered me a smile.

I cleared my throat noisily. "Where exactly do you stay?"

"I don't live here but I came for a.... Eh raffle draw. It's my first time here. I got tired of hearing my mother and sisters talk so I sneaked out." He shrugged."My father wasn't in so he couldn't show me the town

That explains why he looked so out of place. He was a fifth leveller. Probably a royal.

"I know where the house is. I can take you there, Zeid."

"Thank you Jahdiel. I hope in the future I can repay your kindness?"

"We will see when the time comes."

"I give you my word." He said and crossed his index and middle fingers over his chest.