Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
Horobi drowned himself in academy training, double spell practice, and endless duties. The small village of Orakshade completely slipped his mind, along with the girl waiting faithfully by the lake.
Daily Despair at the Lake
Every single day, Mahi went to the lake.
She sat on the same rock, staring down the empty path with hopeful eyes that slowly turned to worry, then fear.
The rumors of the massive black dragon sighted near South Forest made it worse.
"Horobi… where are you?" she whispered each evening as tears fell silently into the water.
"Did that dragon hurt you? Are you okay? Why haven't you come back?"
Elder Paul grew stricter, barely letting her leave the house. Headman Geri visited often, his greedy eyes lingering on her longer each time.
Servant Prince's Humiliation
At the academy, Keal's life turned into a living nightmare.
Each morning he carried Horobi's bag, fetched special snacks for Mio and Liora, and cleaned their desks until they shone.
Mio would smile sweetly. "Servant Prince, make today's tea stronger, okay?"
Liora chimed in with a grin. "And don't forget the honey cakes. Extra sweet this time."
Keal's face burned red with barely contained rage, but the magical contract glowed painfully on his wrist, forcing obedience.
"Yes… as you wish," he muttered through gritted teeth.
Students snickered behind his back. "Look at the mighty prince now."
Desperate Letter Home
That night, Keal poured his humiliation into a long letter to his father, King Dravon.
"Father, Horobi Enma has made me his servant. What should I do? Who is this Horobi really?"
In Dravon Kingdom, a messenger knelt before the throne.
"My lord." He bowed low. "Prince Keal sent a message for you."
"Keal?" King Dravon raised an eyebrow. "Read it."
The messenger read the entire humiliating letter aloud.
"What?!" Dravon roared. "He challenged someone from the Enma clan and LOST? What's the boy's name?"
"Horobi, my lord!"
"Horobi Enma..." Dravon muttered, eyes narrowing. "I've heard that name before. Where...?"
A minister stepped forward. "My lord, he's Lord Chem Enma's son. He visited our kingdom often as a child."
Dravon slammed his fist on the throne. "What is Keal doing?! Tell him never to provoke an Enma again!"
One week later, Keal received his father's reply. The letter was brutally short.
"Keal,
Do NOT fight Horobi Enma.
The Enma Clan controls 45% of this entire state. Even I, your King, cannot oppose them openly.
Chem Enma is untouchable.
Obey as servant. Stay silent. I told you in politics class—pay attention!
You're a PRINCE, not some common street boy.
One wrong move drags the entire Dravon family to ruin.
— Your Father"
Keal read it over and over. His hands shook. He'd dismissed Horobi as just a strong student.
Now he understood the terrifying truth.
For the first time, he felt real fear.
From Enemy to Friend
The next day, Keal approached Horobi with complete respect.
"Hey Sir Horobi! How are you doing?"
Mio and Liora exchanged shocked glances. "Sir Horobi?! What's gotten into him?"
"No idea," Mio whispered. "He's actually being nice. What's his game?"
"Think he's plotting something?" Liora asked.
"You're both overthinking it," Horobi said. "He seems genuinely changed."
Keal pressed on. "Sir Horobi? You didn't reply—are you unwell? Let me carry your bag."
Horobi waved him off. "No need. Contract's over. You don't have to do this anymore."
"What are you saying, Sir Horobi?" Keal looked genuinely confused.
"Stop calling me 'Sir'," Horobi said firmly. "Just Horobi. Okay?"
"Really?" Keal blinked.
"You're a prince. Not my servant."
Keal extended his hand, face earnest. "You're right. Sorry for all the insults before. I'm Keal."
Horobi shook it firmly. "Horobi Enma. This'll be fun."
"Friends?"
Just like that, the two became genuine friends. Keal started treating everyone with respect.
Lake of Fading Hope
Two months came and went. Horobi never returned to Orakshade.
He was too consumed by academy life to even think about it.
He never realized the pain he caused—the girl who waited every single day by the lake, heart breaking a little more each time.
Mahi had stopped hoping.
She still went to the lake, but now just to sit silently and cry.
"Horobi… did you forget me?" she whispered to the empty water. "Or did that dragon...?"
She wiped her tears and forced a smile. "I still believe… you'll come one day."
But deep inside her heart, doubt grew like a shadow she couldn't shake.
The lake was quiet.
Only the sound of gentle water and Mahi's quiet sobs filled the air.
"Horobi…" she whispered softly.
The wind carried her voice across the empty water.
But no one answered.