She gasped and backed away from him and the book realizing how close they were.

"You've gone mad..." she said despite the faint memory of her mom whispering my fairest into her ear one night.

Prince Grisonce didn't seem to agree as his honey-colored eyes appeared firm and confident.

"Your parents... who were they?"

"It's none of your business," she said wishing to leave now.

"I only ask because the knowledge of the B-Book of Legends only exists w-within royal walls and the high temples of the realm."

"Meaning?" she said unable to control the agitation leaking from her voice.

"Either your parents were High Priests or... Royals."

Mageia swallowed hard and felt her palms sweating. "Or they could've been historians who happened to know about it."

"But you said they knew it cover to cover," the Strange Prince said, eyes narrowed.

Mageia's mouth opened and closed. "No, they knew enough of it to tell."

"You know this sacred book gives a defined definition of a Fairest."

"Okay..."

"A Fairest cannot lie. It's in their blood to tell the truth and when they lie it is felt by those around them."

Is that how the Commander knew I was lying?

"I am not what you think I am," she said.

"Let this be a promise bound to the Serene by the s-sacrifice of my flesh and blood," he began to recite slow and easy so not to stutter, "-to always bless Valeera with a Fairest who shall be the Keeper of Magic, the Restorer of peace and order, the Crown above crowns, and the High Seer until the end of time. Do you know this?"

"Yes. It's Hamino's Promise," she said averting her eyes to the boy's plain boots.

The Prince smiled. "The First Fair God. It is the most important p-part of the entire book, yet not many know of it. The Sacred Book of Ardania excludes that part because it d-denies the power to Royalty. It means that every throne in Valeera is temporary, b-bound to serve under one Royal, one Seer. It identifies one Fairest above all those Fair."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"I've been reading and studying this book for a v-very long time now," he said placing a gentle hand on a page.

"It sounds like you need something better to do, Your Highness," she scuffed.

He gave her a playful smile that washed away the cruel look he gave when she mentioned his mother. She shifted feet, wishing she was anywhere but here.

"The Last Fair Prophesy given to us by the Vanished Fairest King, Tiivon Seviine, states to, cure your heart before the death of the last Fair Tree as the days of chaos masked by peace draws near. Only then shall a promise be r-restored, not to land, nor to sea, nor to gem, but to the fairest of the realm. I don't believe it's mentioning a g-group of Fair people but only one Fair. The one in Hamino's Promise."

I know this. You're making me remember what I wish not to, she wanted to say but bit on her bottom lip instead.

"Lady Mageia. Did your parents ever tell you how a Fairest is physically identified?"

She shifted feet not recalling such information, but she easily assumed what it was.

"No. But let me guess... purple..." she said almost scolding the word.

"Ah. Purple. It is said that Hamino, Gilondale, Alalia, Amar the Fierce, Th-Thuriend, and Brendyn were Fairest with eyes of the amethyst gem. The lost gem of Fairlaana. And they possessed the gifts of the six s-soothers: Terran, Ersan, Fiisen, Aeran, Iisan, and Julien p-plus the power of the gods."

"You are mad to think I am anything like them. I am nothing but a Strange girl," she said.

"But you-you are Fair in the eyes of the gods."

She shook her head wishing to strangle the boy for his blasphemous words. "Do you think I'd know if I was a god or not or if the gods favored me?"

"Perhaps you've never dug deep into your soul to seek the truth?" he said.

"You sound like a mad man!"

"You are special to the gods, if you were not, my father would've sent you to your death, instead, he's curious to discover what you are."

Mageia scuffed a laugh and pointed a sharp finger at him. "I'd rather die than serve a coward like him or any Royal in that matter."

"My lady, I know it's a lot to dig-gest," he said not missing a beat.

"I don't give a crap about this stuff. I have more important things to worry about then entertaining such madness."

The Strange Prince gave a hard sigh withered in uncertain frustration. "If you sit and allow me to exp-plain and show you-,"

"I d-d-don't want to hear any more of this," she shouted mocking his speech impediment, and receiving a frown in return. "And here I thought my parents were the only ones that had gone mad."

"So, your parents believed it too?"

Mageia could have slammed herself into another wall. "I don't know what they believed. They kept me hidden from the world because some old man told them too."

"An old man? What old man?"

"Look, Your Highness. I appreciate your strange interest in who I am and my well-being. But if you are that interested in my well-being you can go to that father of yours and grant me freedom. I don't deserve to rot in a cell."

"I can seek servitude within the palace."

"I'd rather go to the Runes then work under this wretched place," she said and before he could break through his stutter she continued. "You best be happy I'm not a god or you and your pathetic family and court would not be breathing about now."

The Prince held out his hands for her to calm down as his face lost its color unable to spit out a word. She shook her head wishing she could punch the mad prince but knew it wouldn't be a good idea having been in her present predicament.

"I apologize f-for upsetting you," he said. "I didn't mean to offend. If we were under d-different cir-circumstances-,"

"Even then, I wouldn't believe you," she said.

"May I ask you o-one last question and I promise not to bother you about this again."

Mageia growled and backed away from the boy. "Whatever."

"You said in court that you were seventeen."

"I did... and?"

"I am the same age. I was born in year 1000 which means you were too."

Mageia's back straightened somewhat sensing where he was going with his question. She wished she could slap herself for being so stupid to give her actual age in the court appearance.

"Why does it matter?"

"What was the month and day you were born?"

"The fifth of Marc."

The Prince cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. "You're lying. Wow I can feel it, let alone see it in your eyes."

"Where are you going with this?"

"Did your p-parents ever tell you what happened on the first day of Janus, year ten hundred?"

Mageia couldn't help but warp into her memories of time spent with her mom and father. They did love each other but it was always in secret. He'd pass by the house, and they'd whisper so low, not even an owl could hear them. The stories they'd tell her were unbelievable, but never did they mention anything happening on the actual day she was born, but she knew what the prince was referring to.

"I know what happened on that day, but they did not tell me it. I found out on my own."

"And you never questioned it?"

"I wasn't born on that day."

"I believe you were," he said. "It was the day the last Fair Tree died."

"Some say that never happened."

"But it did. There was r-representation from every kingdom to witness," he said and went to search his table for a scroll. He brought it to her and carefully unrolled it for her to read.

"Your Highness, I do not wish to continue this conversation."

"Just read this account p-please and then we're finished," he said.

Mageia gave an irritated sigh, but her curiosity was nagging her gut.

She went to read the scroll and the Prince stepped back to give her space. At first, she noticed the colorful designs of the border surrounding the long parchment. It was Ardania's colors of greens with defined writing within.

She read it aloud:

"The First of Janus, Year 1000. Time, the first spot of dawn, the last Fair Tree of the Holy Lands in Fairlaana gave up the last of its magic and withered to ashes upon the ground. Nothing happened after the tree died, except a feeling of emptiness. The elves of Ilseda, the Guardians of the Holy Lands, collected the ashes and divided it between the Royal households and proclaimed the Lands to stay uninhabited and unruled until the Fairest Prophesy was fulfilled. Ardania's representation were..."

Mageia gasped as two names popped up and slapped her in the face.

Ser Trekon Arynliit and Soldier Leon Holt.

They were amongst the representing convoy along with the High Priest Hercones and the then Prince Dimitri Arlon. Her father went to the prophesied event instead of being with her mom when she gave birth. Why would he do that?

"Are you okay Lady Mageia?" he said noticing her drawing closer to the scroll.

She stood her full height and casually backed away. "You have a lot of time on your hands."

"You do not h-have to believe what I'm saying now but-,"

"You just met me, and you want to slander me with mad assumptions."

"My intentions are good."

"Get me an appeal or buy my freedom first and then I'll ponder and entertain your theories."

"I know it sounds ridi-di-cu-,"

She held up a firm hand to his face despite the curiosity now pricking her skin. What he was saying could not be true. If it was true, the gods wouldn't have allowed her father to be assassinated and her mom to be executed. But then again, she did survive her own execution and healed herself from almost fatal injuries. The strange outweighed what made sense, but it only left her even more confused. And then, here is this boy she'd never knew studying the Promise and the Prophesy and connecting it with one of Ardania's notorious bandits, unaware that the fact about her purple eyes could be false.

"This is just madness..." she said and rubbed the back of her neck with uncertainty. The Prince watched her intently and she felt utterly exposed.

"Gris, I am back. Are you still alive?" Limp shouted up the stairs relieving her of this conversation.

The Prince swooshed pass her and leaned over the rail. "Yes."

"She's still with you?"

"She is. What do you want?"

"Be aware of your time. The Royal Luncheon..."

"Damn," he sputtered, pulling out a gold timepiece that made Mageia feel sad suddenly. She couldn't pinpoint whether the sorrow was due to the given delay of being caged in the Taefo or time flying by too fast towards her entering the Dungeons.

"This conversation is not close to being over," he said. "I give you permission to stay up here and Limp and Dargany will escort you back. Read through the passage again and-and th-think on my words."

"No," she said but her mind was already fighting the unwanted theory.

He ignored her and flew down the stairs. She stared at the scroll, not wanting to put the pieces together. Why did my parents keep their surnames from me? Why did they lock me in a tower for so long? Why wouldn't they just tell me the truth? She knew one thing though. No one but her family could be trusted, especially anyone within the palace walls.

Mageia then cursed realizing the key to the double doors was still in the Prince's pocket.