“Get him out of here” a portly man yelled at the guards.

This was the third prince of the royal Starsk court. He stood on the steps barely three meters behind the royal throne, petitioning to his father to look into the matter of the disappearances.

At the beginning he thought that these figures were just leaving to some of the other great kingdoms, he didn’t give it a second thought. But barely three days ago, even more citizens had disappeared. A notable general, court politicians, merchants and even a fat old second stage teacher from the Companion School.

The only reason he could mention it to the king, his father, was because even his two brothers had left. The first and second princes had fifth stage companions and were a valuable asset to the kingdom not to mention being royalty.

“Who was he” an aged voice reached the third princes ears. His father had barely reached the second stage before becoming 80 years old.

To be 80 years old and not reach the third stage meant he would not live much longer. In fact, the princes at fifth stage would live for over a hundred years with no problem. This was the main reason royalty were trained from a young age. If the crowned king had reached past the fourth stage they would be able to live 90 years in great health.

The stronger the person was, the longer they could rule. Hence the importance of the two strong princes.

“Father. I caught him trying to recruit a merchant into some sort of cloak and daggers organisation when visiting.” The third prince said, while recalling visiting his good friend in the merchant sector of the city.

Just before he could be shown in by the servants he heard a huge commotion. Rushing into the room he found a man intimidating the merchant. After the guards disabled him and discovered what he had told his friend, the prince dragged him to the palace immediately seeking council with his father. Who could have known that the man would kill himself with a poison capsule in his teeth the moment he woke up? the prince thought.

As they dragged the still twitching body of the man outside, the prince took a deep breath. “He’s from the organisation that has been taking our people.”

The king paused and seemed to deflate on the throne. “They began to act.”

“Yes, they are finally beginning and we don’t know why. We must leave at once!” The prince addressing the king in such a way was blasphemous, but the reasons behind the outburst allowed him pardon.

“No” the king replied. “The other major kingdoms of Airlenn are sending their diplomatic groups to lend their power to us.”

“Father, please!”

“No, do you want to offend the major warriors and nobles of the Farsi, Estone and Trejor at once. Do you know what that means? Do you?” The king began to shout in rage, his son could only bow his head and clench his fist.

I will not be like my brothers, those bastards just disappeared and left father.

“We might have a huge military with many ranked fighters. But we lack real power, the guardian squad do have some powerful 6th stage fighters, but above that!” A sigh burst from the old kings’ mouth. “I made up the existence of a soul mate leading the squad to keep the other kingdoms from getting to pushy.”

“If we leave, at least we won’t be caught up in whatever is going to happen” the third prince replied in a dejected tone, he knew he would be rejected. His father would rather die than abandon his post as the king.

“LEAVE. On what basis, because of some man you found in a merchants house. Who knows if it really is them, if it is, so what? Do you know what existence these diplomatic groups are? Every single one of them has a soul-mate leader, a soul-mate for gods-sake. One soulmate could decimate at least a quarter of our military without a problem, not to mention four.

No we must stay and greet them with respect, we have no choice. We must display our meagre military might to them in the Annual Yearly March.”

Θ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ Ξ

Cain dragged his reluctant Father out the front door. “Don’t worry dad there are too many people to recognize me.”

He had woken up early. Usually his birthday was a boring event since he didn't have any friends to celebrate it with. But this year the ‘Annual March’ was on his birthday and he could witness all the powerful companions in the city.

“Don’t you want to watch from afar like usual and then go home to celebrate your birthday?” Toké asked his son. Although it was a sad query, it was one he was used to obliging.

“No way, there are so many cool things going on and since it’s the annual march all the food is cheap.” Cain replied with enthusiasm.

“Fine.” Toké was happy to stay at home like regular. He should’ve known that he would be going to the city anyway.

Toké whistled and from the sky dived a brown blur which landed on his shoulder. “Let’s go, Bark has returned anyway.”

The usually dreary outsides of Starsk had become bustling, crowded with humans and companions entering the walls. The Annual March had become a festival over the years with the majority of the population, whether noble or commoner, witnessing the event.

In fact, all of the workers on the edge of the dark expanse would not be able to attend. Fortunately Toké's boss knew he always asked for a day off on his son’s birthday and allowed it.

The crowds that entered the city had no indication of stopping and the guards were overwhelmed as usual. They didn’t scan for people who were allowed in the city but for dangerous people with weapons instead.

Cain and his father got through the gates without being hassled and began strolling around the city waiting for the Annual March to begin. Toké looked at his son swivelling his head as fast as possible trying to take in all the sights and smells.

I can’t wait to get his present . Toké thought smiling to himself.

Suddenly Toké felt himself being dragged to a Noi store. Sighing, he realised he was going to lose a bit of money today. Noi was Cains favourite food, it was meat wrapped in pastry dipped in a spicy sauce.

Most of the time it was way too expensive to buy regularly and Cain would rarely get to eat it. But the cheap prices of the Annual March meant that Toké could buy his son some without worrying too much.

..

“Come on Dad. The Annual March starts in a few hours, we have to go and get a good seat.” Cain exclaimed basically on the toes of his feet with Noi sauce all over his face.

Chuckling at his son’s unrestrained excitement for an event that won’t even start for a couple of hours, Toké laughed. “Don’t you want to go get your present? I got you something great this time.”

Cain looked up at his father and laughed nodding his head, “Let’s go!”

Θ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ ΞΘ Δ ∪ ∀Δ Ξ

Toké stood in front of the jewellery store with his confused son beside him and opened the door. The bell went off and the old man came to the front.

“Ahhh. Your package is ready sir, that will be 2 silvers.” The old man said to Toké with a brown paper bag in his hands. Cain behind him gasped at the price, it was much more then he’d ever seen in one place.

Retrieving the package from the man and reluctantly giving him the two silvers he left with his son in tow and smiled.

“Here is your present for your 11th birthday.”

Handing over the brown paper bag to his son as they slowly walked to the city square with the rest of the crowds to where the best view of the Annual March was. Barely waiting even a second, he ripped open the brown paper bag and saw his father’s aquamarine necklace.

Looking up at his father confused, he threw away the wrappings and realising it wasn’t a necklace any more, but rather a bracelet. Placing it around his wrist he adjusted the sliver chains, admiromg it as it captured the sun’s rays and split it into many little blue lights.

“But isn’t this yours father?” Cain asked his dad. Although he was enamoured with the bracelet, he knew his father had been wearing it as a necklace since he was a baby.

“Actually, it wasn’t mine. It was your mothers. ”

Cain’s eyes widened and he became confused. No matter how much he asked about his mother, his father never really said anything. His father’s attitude seeped into his son and Cain subconsciously disliked his mother for leaving them.

Seeing his sons face darken, Toké sighed.

“Before your mothers, it was my mothers. Your grandmother. It’s a family heirloom and now it’s yours to keep safe. Ok?” The question emphasised by a quick tweet from Bark on his shoulders.

Cain visibly smiled at that. Even though my mother had it, it’s still pretty cool that I have a family heirloom. It looks pretty expensive, maybe it’s even worth a gold coin. Cain thought to himself.

“Ok”, he replied. “Can we go to the City square now. Pleaseee.”

Chuckling, Toké and Cain continued walking. As soon as they reached the outside of the city square, the crowds became even thicker and the excitement was palpable. They had come just in time for the march to begin.

“Look, dad. Look!! There’s a giant-eagle.” Cain shouted from atop his father’s shoulders.

“Look, see a silver Wind-Wolf”, Cain exclaimed. The boy began to shout all of the passing companions to his dad as they went by.

Suddenly he went silent.

“What happened son.” Toke shouted to his son over the sounds of the crowd. Looking to where his son was staring.

“Isn’t that the royal viewing platform” he muttered to himself.

Suddenly everything went quiet. The chatter of the crowds died down and even the marching of the army stopped. Everyone’s eyes faced the royal viewing platform in shock.

:)

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