Sleeping God

Chapter 1: The Reckless Prince

"That is enough, Desmatius." Forty-three-year-old king Remus addressed his right-hand man. "The prince is exhausted. He is going to pass out."

Desmatius pumped his fist in the air, signaling victory. The burly man placed his sword back to his sheath and walked towards the king before glaring at the fallen body on the floor, the royal prince and the king's only son, Riven Requila.

Riven immediately stood up with trembling knees. He pointed his dull blade at the king's guard while wincing at the throbbing pain on his abdomen. "D-don't stop here! I can still stand."

"That is enough, your highness!" Desmatius scowled. "Look at your current shape! You can barely stand! Kids these days...."

Remus tapped his cane to the floor. "That is enough! You are dismissed for today, Desmatius."

With that curt announcement, the broad-shouldered man saluted the king before casting a mocking gaze at the prince. When the door finally closed behind the giant royal guard, Remus made his way towards his son.

"It seems like your form has improved, my boy." Remus' cane tapped against the floor as he approached his son.

Riven's eyes landed to the wooden staff grasped within his father's fingers. Even though it assisted his father to stand, Riven's expression darkened at the sight. Remus had been using a cane for two months now. Riven wanted to ask his father about his condition, but Desmatius' sardonic expression lingered on his mind, overshadowing his attempt at courtesy.

"You pitted me against the best swordsman in the kingdom." Riven's voice dripped with spite. "You know it's barely a month since I took swordsmanship classes, right?"

Remus frowned. "Forgive me, my son. But there's nothing wrong with speeding things up a little, am I wrong?"

Riven flung his sword to the floor and said. "You make me study advanced kingdom politics in three weeks! Then, you make me spar with that brute....!"

Remus paused and looked at the fallen sword. He inhaled deeply before speaking. "The sooner you learn the better. You are going to be the king of this nation in three days."

"I never asked for this!" Riven threw his hands in the air. "All of this...came out of nowhere! Why am I suddenly becoming king? You never explain anything except spoon-feeding me with this ridiculous program we never agreed upon -"

"That is enough!" Remus slammed his cane to the floor. "Such entitled attitude shall not be possessed by a king! I am dying, Riven! Don't you understand your situation now?"

Riven lowered his gaze to his father's cane. Guilt and shame welled up on his chest. He knew his father was sick, but he couldn't believe his ignorance stretched far that he missed his father's current condition. Riven parted his lips to say something, but Remus raised his hand, beckoning him to remain silent.

"You're dismissed." Remus stalked passed his son. As Remus limped out of the room, Riven watched his father's hunched shoulders without a word.

~~

The black haired prince slipped out of the castle. Sitting on a bench by the castle's gate, he looked up to the lightless sky above. The synthetic moon rested on the atmosphere, emitting artificial light. It was the brightest object in the dark velvet sky.

Even though he loved the man-made satellite, Riven wondered how similar it was to the authentic one. Of course, it was just a far-fetched dream for a Requilan to see light and any celestial object associated with it.

"Why is there an ugly crease on your face, your highness?" a woman's voice dragged the prince out of his reverie.

Riven turned to a lady in a guard suit. She sunk to the seat beside him and offered a sympathetic smile. Riven returned her grin. "Hey Aileen. You're on guard duty tonight?"

Aileen nodded, her ponytails bouncing behind her shoulders. "Pretty much. You're arguing with the king again?"

Riven's fingers ran across his messy hair. "Yeah, same old."

"The crown is too heavy, isn't it? Running a country that is absent from light isn't your ideal version to be a ruler, am I correct?" Aileen noted.

Riven chuckled. "Sometimes I'm scared at how much you know me."

Aileen's cheeks blushed a little. "W-well.... But remember, the closest nation to light doesn't exactly have the best of hearts and morals. You know what I'm talking about."

Riven's chest grew cold. The words he was about to say hung heavily on his throat. He still remembered how those men sunk their spear on her flesh. If Riven could turn back time to replace her fate, he would do it in a heartbeat. Death was a wise choice than living in a world where he would never see her smile again.

"They killed Aira." His voice croaked.

Aileen brought her fist to her chest with a frown and nodded.

Thirteen years had passed since Surgere (the kingdom of light) destroyed the kingdom of Aurora. Even though Aurora was a minor kingdom compared to Requila and Surgere, it was rich in magical resources. It was a surprise attack on Aurora's end, but historians wrote it as the 'Crystal War' that plunged the Aurora bloodline to its tragic end. The Crystal war was a bloody massacre.

King Remus and the rest of the Requilan soldiers came to Aurora's aid, but it was too late. The Surgere had killed the king, queen and their youngest princess, Aira Aurora. Fortunately, their older princess Aileen was found alive. Remus decided to take her in and raise her as his own. To repay the king's generosity, Aileen volunteered as a royal guard and swore an oath to protect the kingdom of Requila. Aileen missed her sister dearly, but she knew Aira still held a place in Riven's heart.

Something Aileen would never have.

The royal guard put her head up, trying to lighten the mood. "I wish nothing but for my little sister to rest in peace. Even though the kingdom of light has committed an unacceptable deed, that doesn't mean bringing light to the world will make us like them. We will show them that we are different."

Riven smiled at Aileen's attempt to cheer him up. "It's gonna' be comical if the first thing I do as a king is trying to get this dark sky out of the way. Imagine the riots caused by those who love slithering in the dark."

Aileen reached out for Riven's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "No matter what choice you take, I will remain by your side, always."

Riven's eyes landed on Aileen's ears. They were redder than monkey's cheek butts. He inwardly grinned before thanking her. "I appreciate your support, Aileen."

Suddenly, an explosion conjured beyond the castle walls. Second-ranked soldiers and local policemen jogged towards the conflagration point with panicked murmurs.

"Well...what a scene. It has been too quiet lately." Riven put his arms behind his head, mildly amused and relaxed.

Aileen stood up and pulled a blade from her sheath. "What on earth could it be? I will check it out."

"I'm coming with you!" Riven chimed.

Aileen sighed exasperatedly. "You have no weapons!"

Riven gave her a mischievous grin. He pulled out a silver wand from his pocket and gave it a gentle twirl, allowing it to emit blue lightning sparks.

Aileen gaped. "It's the Lazuli Pen. Don't tell me you're going..."

Riven placed the tip of the wand on his forearm and started drawing a rune. The rune hissed hotly on his arms before molding into his skin. The prince winced at the burning sensation on his skin, but a smile replaced his painful expression when a cool surge of energy ran across his veins.

Blue flames danced over his fingertips. He experimented with the fire and shot a fireball to the lightless sky. "So, what do you say? Let's save the city."

Riven ran to where the commotion occurred, leaving Aileen behind. The royal guard rubbed her temples with a sigh before trailing him with her dagger.

"What a child." Aileen sighed, shaking her head in dismay. "You're too reckless to be a king, Your Highness."