"Men have called me mad; but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence– whether much that is glorious– whether all that is profound– does not spring from disease of thought– from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect".
~Edgar Allan Poe, The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
Upon the shores of the cold Sea part of the kingdom of Grania laid the lands of Runic. The Abarca's ruled this land for years coming from the ancient lands of Lyikar which was then named Sopour. They helped found the lands of Grania. Though they were given credit then now it is not the same.
Once friends with the royal family they were now at each other's necks. But this rivalry did not start until Agustin's father's days. Arley Emilio Abarca was his father. Ever valiant,smart, and handsome was Arley. Most treasures by the late king Gordan. And ever jealous was the current king Decimis. Friends that it seemed him Thomas and Arley.
With jealousy came lies and discord with the three of them leaving only Thomas and Decimis as friends. How it grieved Thomas to not be friends with Arley anymore. But the discord between them and the situation happening in his own household he unknowingly chose sides.
Never would Thomas and Arley be seen talking in public but in private they sent letters up until the death of Arley. His wife the late duchess Animia was pregnant with Agustin. The funeral was too much to bear and after giving birth to Agustin she soon died after from a broken heart. Leaving little Agustin alone to his uncle's claws and neglect which Decimis had commanded him to do. Preying on the child from a young age.
Agustin grew without love and did not know love. Rarely warmth, only a little from his nanny. Up until the day he met Mariquis Tunis Longwood who visited the white shores of Runic. He stared at the young child who looked like a commoner playmate of the dukes son and not the duke at all. If it wasn't for his uncanny resemblance to the late duke Tunis would have not known who he was at all.
"You are little Agustin yes"? Tunis asked. Agustin nodded not saying a word. "Hmm". Tunis said staring at the boy. "You do not look like the child of a duke". Tunis said raising a eyebrow. "I-I am"! Agustin stuttered. "Are you"? "Truly then why is you countenance so low"? Tunis kneeled down to let Agustin face to face.
"Though you may not have the title of duke yet you are still duke the son of Arley Abarca who was a sort of light in his time for his innovative business ideas and looks". "Nice and kindhearted was your father but strict and with an iron fist he held authority". Tunis began fixing Agustin's clothes on him and wiping the snot from his nose.
"Tell me Agustin will you too rule with a iron fist or let your right be taken from under you"? Agustin shook his head no. "As I thought". Tunis smiled gently. "I shall be your sponsor, we shall be sending you to school". "Okay". Agustin nodded excitedly.
Now Agustin's uncle Janus was a weak man which was why he could only step to a little child but in the face of Tunis he could not stand and so at the age of eight Agustin was sent to the academy. There he had the wits and ways of his father the teachers weren't surprised at this. He far excelled above his peers and when Agustin realized that he didn't have to take bully which some of his classmates had begun doing to him seeing he was abandoned by his uncle.
They began to bully Agustin and took counsel to Tunis who told him to take to some form of sport. And so Agustin did with sword fighting and horse riding. And Agustin soon realized that he had a knack for fighting. Those who bullied him and dared to put their hands on him would be met with Agustin's fists. Every week it seemed someone would try to fight Agustin not believing the rumors of others even some of the seniors would try to pick a fight with Agustin.
Pushing, shoving, or slapping Agustin in the back of the head thinking that he wouldn't do anything because of his small stature at thirteen. Agustin soon grew in size and height. Gaining the attention of Simon and Eddison who had watched some of his fights. Agustin's personality was a fiery and fierce as his fighting. The complete opposite of his father.
He loved to hunt. To ride his horse that had begun to grow up with him. He horse which was proud as ever was black as the night. Which matched Agustin's dark hair and eyes. Though he had a fiery personality Agustin was always alone. He lacked the social ques of someone his age since he had only conversed with Tunis who was a old man. Which gave Agustin a sort of wisdom at his young age.
Both Simon and Eddison were wary to talk to Agustin. Especially since they themselves were popular and Agustin was not. "Outcast". Some hissed as they passed by him. But as long as they did not touch him Agustin did not care of the words they spoke. Which Eddison and Shimon had picked up and approached him under the cool of the huge oak tree that he often laid under while reading a book.
Smart Agustin was often seen reading books apart of the few that was top of the class. He was often seen walking around reading books when he wasn't fighting. But in his later years of his teen hood Agustin had gained a sense of confidence that none could break. He was handsome as he was stern. Which only added more to his handsomeness not one mark was upon Agustin's face after his fights. His curly hair was wild upon his head but it suited him. He sometimes laid it down for the small academy balls they had.
"Hello". Eddison said approaching Agustin with Simon lingering behind. Agustin set down his book and stared up at Eddison who smiled and held his hand out to greet Agustin. "I am Eddisom Whitewood and this is the crown prince Shimon Declan". Agustin stared at Eddisons hand wondering if he should take it or not.
Whether Eddison would try to strike him at the moment he took it and this Eddison perceived and chuckled. "We are not here to fight just wondering if you would like to hang out with us". "Why"? Agustin said acting as a car on guard. "Because you see terribly lowly". Shimon blurted out making Eddison scold him.
Agustin watched the two bicker back and forth and laughed within himself. "Okay". Agustin said. "Okay"? They both said at the same time. "Yes okay I'll hang out with you two although I am not lonely I quite enjoy my own company". "Ah okay". The both of them said.
From then their friendship began and the brotherhood of the three houses was established again. But what came with their brotherhood came with the jealousy of Decimis own son. Shimon's was no small house on par with that house Abarca but not as great as them owning the major banks in the kingdom even the royal family owing money to them and the Abarca's the Hennis family was the late queen's family.
Curciana Hennis was her name. Elegant and beautiful she was. As beautiful as she was and how desperately Decimis wanted Curciana he soon began to hate her after marrying her because of the influence she had on the kingdom one he did not have. So Curciana died a few months later after giving birth to Shimon of a sickness she could not get over after his birth though some believed that it was Decimis who had caused her sickness with poisoning.
Decimis thought with Curciana the Hennis family would abandon Shimon but they did not and held him dear seeing his was the exact replica of Curciana except that of his hair and eyes. He had taken after the traits of the Declan's. Looking like one of the first kings of the kingdom. Shimon had golden blonde hair and grey eyes. This of which his father had not taken after the queen downer with black hair and green eyes.
The very image of Shimon and spited Decimis and threatened his position. He feared Shimon would do the same thing he do to his own father who on his deathbed foretold the ending of Decimis who had conspired against him to take his throne. Now doing this deed Decimis was always on edge suspicious of everyone and everyone.
Even when he remarried that evil of a woman Ilaka. He still do not trust her as evil as her deeds was even a evil person like Decimis could not trust her. She bore him three children two boys and a girl named Decelia who was named after her father something not even her older brothers had gotten.
Each child came out looking like their father which only angered Decimis even more why was Shimon the only child who bare the image of the royal family? What was so great about the child of Curciana? With his wrath and jealousy he took it out on Agustin and Shimon hoping to stunt them in their ways so they wouldn't raise up after their mother and father.
His plans did not work and Shimon and Agustin rose high. "I'm going back home". Agustin suddenly said to Shimon and Eddison. "Why"? Eddison asked. "I need to inherit the duke title before I graduate and also to clean up house". "Clean out house"? Shimon and Eddison said, looking at each other.
Agustin had took a leave of absence from the academy and went back to the white shores of runic calling a meeting of the elders. Now Janus was thinking he would be seeing a small boy afraid coming to castle bluemist. Looking to scold him on who was he to call a meeting of the elders. Instead he was met with seventeen year old Agustin who at his much younger age towered over Janis just as his brother Arley did.
"Hello uncle". Agustin said with eyes of a wolf. Janus could not utter a word and Agustin walked passed him with a sneer on his face. "I assume the elders are already in the board room let us be going uncle". Thus with this meeting the iron fist of Abarca and castle blue mist was back. After he swiftly handled the matters(some of the being business matters). Agustin returned to the academy as Duke Abarca and graduated
Soon after began the torments of Shimon and Agustin with him sending them away on quest one which he could not even return home for the funeral of his sponsor Tunis longwood and to meet his granddaughter whom he had talked about in his letters. He was only able to send flowers to the funeral. But who would've known Agustin would meet the famed granddaughter Tunis mentioned in his letters.
Bit by bit he pieced the puzzle pieces together the more he talked to Canary. And now he was following the blood trails of Canary. She had stopped and talked to a servant who left and later joined her at a bench in the garden with a tray of medical supplies. Agustin who had thought she had simply cut her hand had appeared out of the shadows scaring the servant and Canary.
"What is the meaning of this"?! Agustin said leaving the servant confused on what language he was speaking. "You scared us"! Canary yelled and held her chest. "Sit down"! She said pulling Agustin down on the bench next to her. "Thank you". She said to the servant who quickly left. "What happened to your face"? He said picking up the medicine himself and dabbing it on Canary's cheek.
Canary did not answer Agustin who stopped dabbing the medicine and stared at Canary. "Will you not speak"? Canary did not answer again. Her head was down and she dared not to look at Agustin who bent his head down to see Canary's face. What he was met with was sadness and worry. A bit of anger in the mix and since knowing Agustin he did not know Canary could make a face like this. "Would you rather tell me in Lyikarian"? He asked.
Canary's eyes widened and she finally looked up at Agustin and began to tell him everything in Lyikarian while Agustin listened and applied medicine and bandage on Canary's face. Hoping this cut would not be permanent on Canary's beautiful face. He paused for a moment realizing what he had just thought. Of him thinking Canary was beautiful. He brushed it off what was wrong with thinking Canary was beautiful he thought her eyes were beautiful too. But Agustin loved beautiful eyes so he thought nothing of it.
He listened to Canary with grimace on his face of the betrayal and things he had told him of her mother and father. It wasn't until she had gotten to the point of telling him how Alexia and Thomas were stopping her from going to Lyikar and looking to take Canary's business plans for their own and give to Stellan. "Let's go to your brother right now"! Agustin said standing up. "Sit down"! Canary scolded.
"I shall figure out a way". Canary said, sighing and looking up at the night sky longing for Lyikar. Agustin followed her eyes up to the sky remembering how Canary had once said she loved to walk under the illuminated night sky of Lyikar. "Shall I steal you away"? Agustin said. "What"? Canary said, looking at Agustin.
"If all goes wrong I shall steal you away and return you to Lyikar". Canary chuckled. "You tell a funny joke". Canary said standing up. "I am quite serious". Agustin said standing up after her. "Such a bright mind as yours should not be locked away especially to that Wolf boy". Agustin said angrily. "I shall steal you away and we will continue on with our business". Canary smirked. "And who will be responsible for me if my uncle decides not to get involved with this nonsense".
Canary only meant this as a joke to Agustin's crazy plan. Knowing her uncle Lumus would take her in and never deliver her back to Grania again, Canary was like a daughter to him. He adored and loved her. But Agustin was as serious as ever, rarely did he joke about such serious matters. "I will". Agustin said. "I will be responsible for you we shall marry".