The Rune Smith

Chapter 9- Revelation

To start off 2019,  let's jump right into chapter 9! Happy (late) new year! :P

"No. No. That's not possible."

Ali pushed away from her sister. She regretted her decision when Estara flinched, gently clutching the area that had been touched.

"Luca is a Forlorn. The king doesn't have a Forlorn for a son."

"But he does. I met him."

"Why didn't you see him after? I've spent so much time with him, and yet you never noticed? You look after me every day!"

Estara sat up, a sudden movement which scared Alia.

"I don't know why I didn't see him. All I know is that I can't see Forlorn using runes. Not that I've tried that hard to. I... I just never needed to. Alia, please, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Even if he is a prince, he must have a good reason to hide his identity. However, I won't believe it unless he tells me."

"Believe what?"

In the doorway stood Luca, staring at the two girls. Alia met his eyes.

"You said you had two things that you had to tell me, didn't you?"

"No, I definitely did not. I only said that I had to tell you something. What did Estara tell you?"

It felt weird to hear Estara's name from his lips.

"She said that you were king's son. Which is absurd, especially considering the fact that he only has six sons. Or is it seven? That doesn't matter. Just back me up Luca."

Alia looked at him with pleading eyes. He evaded her.

"Please, Luca. Please tell me that Estara's wrong. Please."

"I'm sorry Alia. I... I can't lie to you."

Alia's forehead burned with the tears she was holding. Estara had to be wrong. Yet here Alia was, the trust she had forged between her and Luca fading. Estara's predictions had been accurate. Luca was hurting her, even though Alia knew that wasn't his intention.

Alia's mind wandered through her experiences with Luca, leaving an epiphany behind. She didn't know Luca as well as she believed she did.

The dam holding her tears back came crashing down. Alia's face grew dry from the salt in her tears. She found herself close to collapsing as she wiped at the moisture with her sleeve.

"Alia, I swear I di-"

"Luca, leave her alone. You've done enough damage already."

Alia could barely see through her tears, but the fire in Estara's eyes was clear. Alia used to be protected by Estara until she got sick. It was weird to have that protection again.

"Alia, I came all this way to tell you in person. If I sent a messenger, you never would have known. I... I needed to tell you, but Estara managed to tell you first."

Alia wiped at her eyes, trying to look at Luca's face and determine whether or not he was lying. She had seen his face so many times, yet he didn't appear as she had always seen him. It was like she was meeting him for the first time. The familiar arch of his eyebrows had suddenly become foreign, the soft grey of his skin an entirely new color in her eyes. Even his eyes had seemingly lost their recognition of Alia. Alia had known Luca for years.

And yet, somehow the boy standing before Alia was a stranger.

She almost couldn't bring herself to say his name.

"Luca, do as Estara asked and leave, please. I can't do this now."

It was almost funny how they could have shared the bond that they had had just a day ago, but today they were complete strangers. Alia came to the conclusion why they wouldn't have remained together wasn't because Luca was a Forlorn. It was because he was a prince.