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I lived in a kingdom, it stood tall, and proud, but most importantly, peaceful.
It remained that way until the Xesersial Kingdom came, they attacked, killing many of my people.
I wasn't born yet at the time, my mother, Queen Siadalor, was pregnant with someone, someone I never got to meet, we don't know if it was a prince or a princess, but the next one was a prince.
And here I am, Prince Siadalor, soon to be ruler of the Heson kingdom. At least I would be, I am currently, sadly but true, living amongst my people, hiding under a hidden alias, Byun Baekhyun.
When they raid started my mother was able to get away, no one ever tells me about what happened to my father. Believe it or not, no one here really likes to tell me anything.
The only person here who acts like I matter here is a kid.
Only because I live with a baker, only because I can give him bread and sweets as they desire.
In turn he tells me stories and so called prophecies.
"The woods are magical, Uncle Baek, they say that if you survive in the woods for a night you're the most wisest and strongest man alive."
"They say that the North kingdom only came to attack because they're scared of a bigger kingdom to the east that we don't know about, Uncle Baek."
"My mama told me that the prince of the land is gonna save us all, she said no one knows who he is but he knows he's gonna save us all."
And so then I'd ask, "How's he supposed to save everyone?"
and he'd say
"Well, mama said that he's go to uncharted lands like no other, face a beast, tame it and then find the stone of wishes, he's gonna save us from those jackasses."
"Kyungsoo, language, please."
Sorry, Uncle Byun, may I have something sweet today?
And of course, I'd say yes.
He was the baker's son, she didn't usually let him have anything from the shop so he came to me, his "uncle", little did he know.
My mother lived on the other side of our now low populated village, I'm not sure about where exactly but I know I was raised by the baker's parents, along with her.
Even though I'm not her real brother, we're basically siblings anyways.
I could hear her motherly anger walking into the front of the shop, me behind the counter and boom.
The doors slam open,
"What did I say about giving him bread?"
We said in unison. "Don't do that, it's childish- stop that!-..Baekhyun!!"
"Listen, Taeyeon, I know you don't like when I feed him things but Kyungsoo just wants a snack."
"He can wait until dinner to eat, we have to sell the food in the bakery, we have to make up the rent, until you're ready to get out and get a job at a brothel."
"Hey, I could get a better job than that-"
She gave me a knowing, unconvinced look. There was a moment of silence before there was a loud, pained groan.
I looked out the shop's large windows.
Taeyeon did the same.
"What is it..?" She asked, "What are you looking at?"
"Didn't you hear that?" "Hear what? Is this a game, Baekhyun? I'm not going to actually make you work at a brothel."
I stared out the windows, "What's down the street from us again?"
"Down the street? You mean Doc's office?"
"No no, the other way?"
"Nothing, Baekhyun, we're the edge of town, why?"
"I think someone went in and got hurt.." I was already climbing over the countertop and making my way towards the door.
"What? What do you mean someone got hurt? Baekhyun? Where are you going?" Over her words it happened again, louder, an ear ringingly loud groan from the woods.
The Forsaken Forrest.
The Wicked woods.
The enchanted woods.
Uncharted lands.
