Somnium

Prologue

Somnium

I stand over the small prince. His hair is as black as the starless night and his sun-gold eyes were shut behind closed lids. The little Prince Volon is sound asleep and blissfully unaware of the dangers of the world. I will keep it that way for as long as he will have me, not that I expect that to be long.

"Halt! Intruder!" a passing guards snaps at me.

"Shh, you'll wake the prince."

A few others nearby race to the scene like ants to a crumb. A rather big bodied one bellows,"Surrender now and you'll be allowed a chance."

"There's nothing to fear from me. I'm but the wish of an idle mind, likely to be gone by morning."

"I don't know what you're trying to pull, but we're not falling for it!"

"I only wish to protect him, just as you."

"Step away now, I'm not telling you again!"

"You are worried for him, he's in good hands then," I will not last long, but they will. They dream therefore they are; I've never had the chance.

"We didn't want to do this, but you've forced us!" the brown haired big guy pulled out a broadsword. It looks heavy, but it really doesn't bother me. I won't last long anyways. He swings it. It slashes through my chest, but I don't feel anything. It simply glides through me as though I'm air. Their expressions quickly turn to ones of shock and fear.

A surprisingly small statured one babbled,"Ph-ph-phantom!"

"What do you want with the Young Prince!"

I answer the best I can,"I want whatever he wants from me."

There's a collective murmur and a few keep their weapons pointed at me. Volon continues sleeping, entirely oblivious to the stir just beyond his bed. Having nothing better to do, I stroke my fingers through the dark hair. I'm obviously making them nervous, but they have a while with him, I don't. I smile softly as he nuzzles into my hand. There's a spark of something warm in my chest. He smiles and sighs contentedly. That spark grows. I want to protect him. He's so small.

"Get your hands off him."

"I won't hurt him. It'd be easy though, wouldn't it? He's so small."

"Step away now."

"I'm not phantom, but I'm not alive either. What could I do?"

The sound of crashing and a scream ring from below. Whatever it is is moving fast, I can tell. It's definitely not human.

"Griffin! Stop it! Quick!" someone yelled from below.

"How is this possible! Griffins are supposed to be extinct!"

"It's probably an attack from the Tempus Kingdom!"

"Shut up and kill it!"

"Its heading for the Young Prince!"

That's all I need to hear. That, and a hooked beak showing the doorway and a few suddenly flying guards. It claws its way in before I can react and immediately lunges for me seeing as how I'm the only thing between it and the Young Prince. It's a huge drain, but I halt it, grabbing its front legs in my hands to its apparent confusion. Volon stirs restlessly. I use a little of what I have left to throw the beastly bird down and stroke his hair, whispering,"Now is not the opportune time to wake up Young Prince. After all, wouldn't you prefer to fly? High and far away from danger, flying in the sky? If not for myself than you," I whisper. No response.

If this doesn't work, I hope I'm strong enough to fall from 10 stories and still run. Even if it doesn't, he'd die by griffin anyways. I cradle him to me and jump. Cool night air rushes past and I can feel the little thing's heart racing and he whines loudly, little hands gripping tight to me. As the ground comes dangerously close, I maneuver us so that I'll take the brunt.

"S-Somi...?" he mumbles, little eyes opening. He's woken up.

"Sorry, I guess that's my end... My Young Prince..."