THE PALACE BALLROOM
Time was almost up and there was still no sign of Luminous making an appearance. People wandered into the room and the prince put on his best smile as he mingled. The anxiousness within him had been locked away.
He was a prince after all, showing weakness was a flaw he couldn't afford to let slip out. When he was sure a good amount of time had passed. He excused himself.
He was the guest of honor but he didn't feel like it. Truth be told, he felt wronged.
His father had never acknowledged him, He was just a figurehead prince, one used to keep the nobles who coveted the throne in check.
He didn't mind playing along thinking it made his father happy but one fateful day.
SIX MONTHS AGO
"Father, you called for me" the prince said as he walked into his father's personal study.
"Sit down," the king said.
There was an awkward silence that hung in the air. The prince didn't know what to do. To the world he could put on a facade. But that all crumbled whenever he stared in his father's eyes.
The king noticed this but made no comment.
"How have your studies been?"
"I've been doing my best"
"I see"
The King picked up a piece of paper and handed it over to the prince.
The prince looked it over and was taken aback. He truly couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"The rites ceremony. Why are you holding it this early?" the prince asked
The prince clung onto the parchment like it was his life scared that dropping it would cause it to fade away.
"Because it's necessary," the king replied.
"But you know I'm not…"
"Shh. Do not speak of that. The walls have ears."
The prince looked down dejected.
"What if it fails" the prince whispered.
"You already know the answer"
The King said no more and dismissed his son.
The prince walked out of the room that day feeling like his existence, all the hardships he had endured, the facade he put on for everyone had all been a waste.
His father hadn't acknowledged him. He probably never would.
PRESENT
The prince was brought back to reality when Aquarius,his advisor tapped his shoulder. He knew he couldn't run anymore and that was the moment he stepped into that hall. His fate would be decided.
AT THE WEEPING WILLOWS
Luminous wished that what he was seeing was a dream but unfortunately it was reality.
Emily was falling from the sky. She looked lifeless. He tried to move but a wave of pain crashed through him.
He needed to do something, anything or Emily would come crashing to her death. The creatures looked like they were eager to witness that outcome.
He could reach her if he got up and ran a few steps. He attempted to put this plan into motion and puked blood.
Emily was still falling, a few seconds were left and he wondered what devilish soul was letting this play out like it was in slow motion.
He was so close yet so far.
He tried to move but collapsed. He stretched his hands hoping, praying that they could extend and reach her.
He closed his eyes and cried. Emily was almost close for impact and he didn't want to watch.
He prayed to whoever could hear.
"Please, please someone save her"
Seconds later, Luminous felt something take over him. His body extended and before he knew it, Emily was in his arms.
He put it down and cast spell after spell while dodging the Choralmoths with practiced skill.
When all of them were taken care of, Luminous collapsed once more.
IN THE PALACE
The King opened his eyes and looked out the window for a few seconds before opening the ballroom door and disappearing within.
AT THE WEEPING WILLOWS - HOURS LATER
Emily awoke and quickly scanned her surroundings. When she recalled her last memory. She jumped up and looked around to make sure she was safe. Luckily, she noticed no immediate threat in the vicinity. She let out a sigh of relief.
Emily checked her body to know whether she had any injuries. Then she noticed it something sticky on her dress. She wondered what it was but it was to sticky so she refrained from touching it.
Then Emily remembered something important. Luminous. She looked around her and saw his body in the distance. She tried to fly towards him but lost the strength in her wings immediately.
Emily settled on walking but that attempt failed as well. She then entered a crawling position and moved her body a little at a time until she reached him.
Emily was about to touch him when she remembered his lifeless state. The tears she had been holding back flowed down her cheeks like a damn had been broken.
Emily wept and wept to the extent than when she felt someone pick her up. She thought she had cried herself to sleep.
"You worked hard, Emily. Thank you for taking special care of my body" Luminous said with a cracked voice.
Emily's dams… uhhh eyelids regained a fresh outpour and Luminous held her until she was done.
"I missed you, Luminous"
Emily said when she had finally calmed down.
"I missed you too, Emily"
Emily smiled clearly satisfied that the feeling was mutual.
"Can you tell me what happened to you?. If your up to it , that is." Luminous said.
Silence.
Luminous was about to tell her to forget about it when he heard
"It's…"
She paused.
He waited.
"It's all a bit hazy but I'll try my best."
"Take your time"
Emily took a deep breath and exhaled.
She recounted the tale as she remembered it.
" The Choralmoths surrounded me due to my pain. They're large moths with translucent wings." she explained so Luminous could better understand.
"They got you. I fought back but when you were finally within my grasp. I was ambushed by something much worse."
Luminous held Emily closer when he noticed she had started to shake and waited until she could speak again.
"I was ambushed by Crown wraiths. Silhouettes with humanoid faces… Disgusting beings the kingdom fears they can hijack minds and force them to relieve scenes of the past, even some from ancient times, until they lose their will to live. I blacked out from fear and when I opened my eyes, everything was over."
Luminous wondered how strong those Crown wraiths had to be to frighten someone as strong as Emily.
"What about you? How are you suddenly awake? Do you remember anything?" Emily asked.
"When I woke up, you were falling and after that I can't remember," Luminous replied.
When they realized that they had no memory of how the Crown wraiths or Choralmoths left, they decided to look around.
When Luminous tried to stand up, he fell back down.
"Are you ok?"
"My body aches but I'm fine. It's probably from earlier when I tried to save you"
Emily nodded.
They stayed there and looked around, noticing a tree bent at a weird angle in the distance. That's when it also hit them that it was quiet. The birds weren't chirping and all the animal noises had disappeared.
They would have continued to think deeply upon it but remembered the deadline for reaching the artifact was near.
Emily cast a float spell on them both and they continued towards their destination.
THE PALACE BALLROOM
The prince walked towards his father and when he finally got there. He stared into his eyes. Hoping with all hope, that his father still had a shred of sensibility within him.