I hate humanity. They use me in more ways than I could ever count. If someone would just look beyond just my strengths and actually would see me for who I truly were. Maybe I wouldn't come to this. I long to be loved and appreciated as a whole, not just bits and pieces of myself but it also scared me too. My ugly sides ward off people because I don't know and they don't know how to handle it, nor have the patience.
So I've long closed myself off to the rest of the world as the world infuriates me. If no one loved me for just who I am, why would I do the same. I've given so much of myself in the past and people took greedily and never gave back.
"I'm tired of being a martyr."
The world rejects me, so I reject it in return.
"I can only rely on myself. I need no one else. I'm my own compass."
I've lived like this until I met his Highness. I viewed everyone as a selfish person. I long ago stopped smiling openly to others and closed myself off to love. Kliene was different. He treated me for who I was. Not because of my feats or strengths. It's like he saw me for my actual self, not this fake front that I've put up as a barrier. Where others see me as cold and hard to approach. Kliene sees my broken parts and loves each and every one. He knows my past has made me into who I am today and he's actively trying to mend it.
"Has no one asked you what you want Seth? Like what you truly want?" Kliene asked me one day.
I broke down crying that day and told him, "No.. no one has ever asked me that question, nor seemed to care. I've never thought for myself."
"That's because you're a giver. You need a giver in your life. So many people are takers because people take things for granted. A majority of your suffering has come at the expense of others. It's no wonder why you've come so closed off." Kliene smiled, "Let me be your giver. If you experience love and compassion from another me, maybe you too would come to love another person. I'll be the first to extend the hand as you have in the past. I'll keep extending and if you grow tired of me, that's okay."
This is why Kliene's words mean a lot to me. I've never met another person like Kliene, ever. A person willing to take the fall and to give trust willingly. So when I didn't open up and he called me heartless, it stung. Words like that coming from someone that self sacrifices for me, mean a lot. I just became a person I despise. I'm a hypocrite.
~~~~~
"His vitals are fine." Ryan's voice sounded. "I picked up a change in his breathing, he should be waking up soon."
I heard scuffling and someone was pacing. Most likely Kliene. I opened my eyes and sat up. Kliene instantly looked at me and zoomed over. He hugged me and then grabbed my shoulders roughly. I jolted.
"You gave us a scare! No, me, a scare!" He said loudly. Kliene sounded in distress.
I blinked a few times. Ry was drinking tea and Lucas was sitting with Auriana. Kliene was shaking. I pulled him back into a hug. "Sorry, your Highness."
Kliene sobbed, "Who was that?"
I frowned, "I don't know. It was a man though. He was as tall as me, but faster. I didn't even get to pull my sword out before getting hit." I smiled gently, "Some prince you are." I gently pushed him back and rubbed my thumb under his eyes.
"I- I know." Kliene sniffled, "You scared me!"
"He hasn't slept." Ryan sighed, "He's been up watching you all night."
I moved over, "Come here."
Kliene climbed up and laid down while hugging my torso, "Don't leave."
"I won't." I ran my hand through his hair.
Kliene clung to me tightly. His face buried into me, "You're not alone Seth." He said sleepily.
I've long convinced myself that I am alone. I'm surrounded by people who care about me, but why do I still feel so alone.
'Because, maybe you don't believe you deserve it.' The voice said to me, 'Stop fighting it.'
Who are you? I asked. It doesn't respond as usual. WHat bothers me is that this voice is mine. It echoes through my mind at the most randomest times. Am I becoming paranoid?
I rubbed my eyes and Kliene clung tighter. He fell asleep just a while ago. Ryan had his window open and was reading an article while sipping his tea. Auriana and Lucas were playing with her pet fox.
'Can't catch me!' It sang.
Lucas and Auriana were jumping at it as it disappears and reappears in different spots. It paused and looked at me. Auriana grabbed its tail and pulled it down.
'WHA!' It yelled and its eyes were wide. It disappeared and reappeared in my face. It stared at me. 'You smell different.' It spoke.
Huh? I looked at the others and Ryan closes out of his window.
"That fox has been blabbing non stop about it." Ryan sighed, "'Human smells like a different person' and 'You sure it's the same person?' Blah blah."
'But he smells like-' the fox cuts off as a blast of white light rains down onto it. 'OW!' It shook its body and raised a paw up to its mouth, 'like-' another bolt of light rains down and the fox coughs smoke out of its mouth, 'S-sorry guys, guess I can't talk about that subject.' The fox blinked out.
Ryan was staring at me and sighed, shaking his head, "When his Highness wakes up, we need to get moving."
He paused, then looked at us, "How do we plan on escaping?"
"The windows?" Lucas offered.We all glanced at the windows. They opened, but it's a long fall down.
"Khrysos has wolves that can help. They portal through shadows." Auriana chirped, "If we leave by dusk they can teleport us outside. THey're big and only one can fit in here at a time."
The sun was already beginning to set. Dinner will be here soon, so that gives us about an hour and fortyish minutes to prepare.
"Our destination is so far away by foot since Kinnarus cutted us off." Lucas sighed, "I knew it wouldn't be this easy." His teal eyes had a hint of anger in it.
Teal… only non-human races have unnatural eye and hair colors. That made me suspicious of Lucas's real identity. He fell from a great height and survived too. I know Kliene and Ryan had the same thoughts as me. Who is this guy? He summoned an outer deity too. The only races that he could fall under are the diluted Astorian bloodline, Fae, Wolf-kin, and the blood mages that are blessed by Lumoria's High Lords. Even then, all of those options are very slim. The only family noted to be tied to Astoria lived in Novaria and were heavily guarded by the High Warlock. Lumoria's blessing is only given to a select few people and they serve the Clan Leaders by a blood bond. The Fae folk are deemed to be almost extinct as they were hunted in the past for their bones.
"What are you thinking about?" Lucas nudged me.
I blinked and looked at him startled, "Um." I glanced away, "Something personal."
"That is?" He pressed.
"Personal." I said strongly trying to imply for him to not ask anything further.
He took up on it and nodded, "Okay. Boundary set. I respect it. Though you have so many walls."
"Lucas!" I snapped.
He put his hands up. "I got it, you don't like talking about yourself."
"I don't. So stop trying." I crossed my legs and Kliene grumbled in his sleep.
A knock was heard at the door and the priest got up to answer it. He cracked it just enough so he could pass the food over to us. Ryan set the dishes on the table and Lucas came back in with the last order of dishes. He shut the door and sighed.
"Eat quick." Lucas handed me a plate and I jostled Kliene awake.
He sat up and brushed his auburn hair out of his face. His amber eyes were a lot more clear. Kliene moved to the edge of the bed with me and Lucas also handed him a plate and fork. Ryan blinked with surprise as Kliene began to eat it.
"Your Highness!" Ryan blurted out, "I didn't check if it was clear of poison or not. Also, please sit at the table."
Kliene ignored him and continued to eat, "If I die, I die." He said simply.
"You have no heir." Ryan said coldly.
"I nominate Seth Heart to take my place." Kliene shoved a piece of bread into his mouth and he stood up. Kliene went to the window with his plate and fork in hand. He used his other hand to hold the bread as he chewed.
I looked at him and sighed painfully. Kliene trusts people so easily and he puts on this facade of a happy go lucky prince that comes off as naive. Though deep down, he really is a good monarch. I do poke at him from time to time when it seems that he isn't taking his job seriously. Kliene built his staff so well that they can pick up where he fails to fulfill, and in short times, the nation can function without him as a Prince. That is why he can leave randomly and the nation doesn't crumble. In many areas, he has already succeeded his ancestors, like wise, in other areas, he lacks. Experience is one.
Lucas was staring at Ryan, "I-I would never poison Kliene." He said this with a surpsingly strong amount of hurt in his voice. His facials displayed a rare look for the priest, anger.
Ryan was taken back too, "really? We barely know you, also you used His Highness's first name."
Lucas bit his lip and his eyes were in anguish. Why though. He sniffed and his lips trembled. Lucas turned away and Kliene was staring at them in confusion. Whatever Lucas wanted to say, he couldn't. Maybe he was trying to make up for his doppleganger, who knows.
'Should I tell them?' Foxy's voice sounded. He was floating next to Lucas.
"Go away." Lucas waved his hand at the demonic fox. Its red-orange fur glistened.
'Hmph. Suit yourself. ■■■■■■■.' It vanished.
It talked in a foreign language. I tried sounding it out. I recognized the sound, but not the word.
"What was that?" Kliene frowned.
Lucas looked up, "Nothing. He… is reminding me of my past."
"Oh? But that fox spoke in Avalorne's language." Kliene set his plate down. "It called you something."
Lucas's eyes darted around. He seemed cornered. Auriana was looking at us. I tried sounding out the word again. I've heard it before. I tried searching my memories.
'■■■■■■■.'
'Remember… I task you two with-'
I flinched. The same voice got louder.
'Astoria will fall.'
I saw the faces of many people. Two of them looked very familiar. Maetel and…. Lucas.
'I need you all to trust me.'
"SETH!" Kliene's shouted and I opened my eyes. His hand was on my shoulder. Ryan and Auriana were next to him too. They all looked deeply concerned.
"Huh?" I stared at them in confusion.
Kliene looked at me and stared into my eyes, "You started glowing like a star. Your head was down in your hand like you were in pain. I got very concerned."
"I'm fine." I took his hand off of my shoulder and stood up. Kliene nodded slowly and Lucas was also looking at me a bit concerned.
Whatever that vision was, Lucas is definitely much older than how he looks, even if that version of him had two different eye colors, heterochromia. Teal and gold. He also had a person next to him that looked like Angelo Von Haven, the current High Warlock of Novaria.