To Kill a Prince [ hiyi tharhe har-sipi ]
There was once a prince loved by all and loathed by more, he was named Salvatoré, a name hailed from the word music, salavathe, as that was his mother's description of his first cries.
He is said to be the incarnation of one's definition of perfection; kind, prudent, courageous, compassionate, humble, and just. Born with everything and achieved more than most, yet, he never showed arrogance for those who are lower than him in these askew social hierarchy. He strived to be on par with everyone's expectations of him. These qualities garnered him the adoration of the citizens of his empire, they are expectant of the fact that someday, he will rule upon them, especially because they hate the current ruler of the empire. For it is cruel, greedy and exploitive.
Alas, that day will never come, for as I had aforementioned, a great number despised him.
Most, mean no harm. They primarily believe that it is impossible to not disagree with his very existence. It proves that such kindness, such courage can exist in a man, and they are envious, that these qualities are not upon them. Most just stares in awe upon him, ogling the person they can never become.
However, those in power have other things that they cannot put up with him. He is a righteous man, in a flawed world. They supposedly rule the world, but if the prince were to rule upon the masses, the world will be a much cleaner place.
They hated this idea, for they use this imbalance, this world's imperfectness to leverage themselves towards the pinnacle of the social hierarchy.
Thus, many schemed many noxious plans to eradicate the prince, many tried, and more had failed, but when something is tried and tried again, the stars may well align, and after many moons had phased, the prince from the skies, fell. The perfect prince, Salvatoré Ssance of the Knights of the Golden Sword, of the Kingdom of Afridence, fell from his high-held throne.
Many was shocked and begged for ways to make him stay, yet from his family, no qualms were made, for no one hated him more than his father. But there is a greater story waiting for the prince in the wall beyond this tiered-wall city. This is just a prologue to a great quest that will change the world as we know of it now.
But first, where did this started? For it is established that in every story, there starts a person who plants a thought, nurtures it and then spreads it, patiently. This story, in its entirety starts with Salvatoré's family, so the seeds of jealousy grew well and plenty.
"There he goes again, see?" said a man, atop the tallest tower of the first wall. He was dressed in regal clothes, garbed heavily in silver, jewels and gold. Facing him, the emperor cannot be unrecognisable.
"Father, to what might you be pertaining?" His son, who appeared behind the shadows inquired.
Although he had already seen what caused his father's annoyance, this time of day. The other prince, Salvatoré had just arrived upon the last gate of the city, triumphant from his recent battle. People had started to surround them, raving he and his company, almost exalting him.
The emperor sneered, "You know full well who them is, Reganso. Who them is, causing me problems with me's court. He is revered, by them royals and commoners alike. They see him as somehow somewhat above me! They talk of him almost like a god!" He spatted. Grasping the sills of the window as he glared the ever approaching cavalry of his son.
"That may be so, but you shan't forget, them people can revolt at any time. We know full well that them can at the least threaten our rule, like what they did with Mytherosa. Them commoners that you sneer upon now, can be the very fangs that will tear you apart." And thus is so, they cannot openly harm the prince, for the people can and will revolt.
They know full well that the people hated the current rule and it had been very taxing of the emperor to extinguish all the coup that had been aimed at his self.
They of course are unapologetic of their behaviour, for them, it is only right for those with power to stay on the top and those who are impoverish to dwindle upon the side. Of the course, the current empire have had its glory days. It reached upon its' peaks when the current emperor married princess Leyar of the neighbouring empire, she tended to the people and prioritize the economy of the country putting everyone in a much safer place. However, this happier days didn't last long, after giving birth to Salvatoré, the Queen's health failed and soon after, died. The Emperor married a new queen a few weeks later which enraged the empire, and this Queen was a vile creature, she was as vile and cruel and greedy as the emperor, together, they spent their wealth upon lavish things and left everyone with no wealth upon the outer walls of the kingdom. They are abhorred, yet still did not bat an eye.
"Me ought to slash him meself!" said the emperor, hatred, profusely dripping from his words. His eyes glared as the company of his son reached the inner walls. Through the exuberant cheers and colourful flags and flowers thrown upon them, it is near impossible to miss them, even atop this tall fortress. The whole empire gathered upon their tails and the ladies draped their bodies upon those in the company. Although nobody tries anything with the prince for he is too oblivious of such profanities.
He never loved the child, he had given him everything and embellished him for all he wanted, for he was a viable person to continue his legacy. However, when at a young age he began to ascension to his fame and his achievements far surpassed his own, he saw what he really was, a threat to himself and everything he owned. When Reganso was born, he was ensured of his line, albeit the boy being as weak as a log, but his plans to kill the boy was in vain. Salvatoré had then joined the knights and were always surrounded by other knights.
However what irritated him most was when the boy ascended to being the General of the group at the age of 15. No one has ever achieved such status. He also rewrote every battle strategy that the Knights had and with that won every battle he had forgone. Every achievement piled upon each other, causing only greater irritation to the emperor, but what ticked him was how his son was one of those who shields him from propaganda. His mother had thought him only compassion and virtuousness that he was complacent to other's vileness. He has given him everything and he wished he can take it all back.
"Father, me was thinking," said Reganso, piercing his father's thoughts, "there is a way to make this brother fall from this precipice everyone has put him about, would you listen to me thoughts?"
The emperor looked at his son, sizing him up. He has been thinking why his son has followed him all the way up here, it irritated him, but it is never a waste of time to listen to other's schemes.
"What might you be thinking?"
"What if this perfect sock were to make a mistake?" Reganso's voice thickened with venom, "What if the perfect prince was seen as a human, a way to strip him off of him wings?"
A smile crept upon their faces, the emperor getting an idea, as to how to achieve this. "A mistake you say?"
"Yes, father."
"A mighty well plan then."
And thus a plan was discussed. A plan to make a prince fall and forever pin him upon the ground. But even so, as cruel as this fate was, the star seem to twinkle upon this very scheme, for they all multiplied in plenty upon the sky. It is as if they had been waiting for this very cog to turn and start the change of the world in the few months that followed.
~□□□□□□□□□□□□~
Where is this place, thought Salvatoré as he drifted upon a sea of bleak darkness. It is dark, yet warm, but the dark usually means the cold. It is quite eerie. But then, from afar, came a light igniting from a camp fire, he had seen one too many of them to think twice. There, seated on the side was two shadows, a woman and a kid, thought he, as he ventured closer, he can't seem to use his legs, but he can veer wherever he thinks to go. As he got nearer, he finally made sense of the persons. It was he, himself, when he was of youth, with his mother, Queen Leyar, facing him as he nibbled on a sizeable meat from the game that he and his mother carved from a day's hunt.
Queen Leyar watched him silently, a smiled plastered on his face, he felt so calm, these were the good times, when all he thought about was running and jumping and cuddling upon his mother's side, and playing friends all over the world. Such a world is now too far away, he had too many of them responsibilities right now.
The younger version of himself had just finished his meal and looked up to the sky, wiping the grease off of his mouth. They were covered with a gazillion lights, all from the stars above. Salvatoré has always had an affinity with the stars, they guide him, comfort and above all gives him strength, and hope. He does not know but the stars is very dear to him. The young Salvatoré perhaps got the same thoughts. For he scrunched his brows together and looked quizzically at his mother.
"Mother." chimed Salvatoré, trying to get his mother's attention, which is in no need, for his mother was clearly just looemperor at him.
"Yes, dearest Salavathe?" the child blushed, his mother calls him this weird old nickname from time to time and it just makes him uncomely. But the older wished he would hear it from his mother again, his eyes wet.
The child continued on, the power of curiosity far powerful than embarrassment. "Why are the stars too far away?" His head making upwards towards the stars. His eyes glowing from the camp fire in toxic green.
"Why do you ask, Salavathe?" said Queen Leyar who remains incredulous to his son's embarrassment of the name.
"I-i… well. They just seem so far away," the prince seemingly unsure of what he says. "so unreachable, just like him."
"Hmn? But the stars aren't unreachable son." said the Queen.
The child once again furrowed his brows. "What do you mean mother?"
"Have you ever heard about the thurasa guthind?"
Thurasa wund hi-guthind, the words seem to echo loudly through the entirety of the landscape, his ability to veer had also betrayed. His whole body is in a panic. He wanted to yell. His heart ached that this time with his mother is ending and it rightfully seems that it is the end of him. A force so great started pulling him towards the unknown and then his eyes opened, a dream, thought he. But his whole body was drenched in sweat. His head pounded, and his body felt like it was falling still. He suddenly remembered what night that was, it was his last hunt with his mother. The last hunt, before her body grew too weak.
He tried to look around hi but his sight was still blurry. Was he hit upon the head? Well, anything is better than being dead and claimed by Hiketho, thought he. His eyes adjusted and saw that he was in a caravan, but his eyes refuse to steady, so he closed them again. But why is he here, he remembered that he was supposedly in a battlefield, on the deserts of Loravanthe and…
"Commander-General Salvatoré! I see that you have woken?" intervened someone, he opened his eyes but felt another pang of dizziness. He knew the voice but his brain refuses to encrypt anything throughout the pain.
"Uh, yes. What happened?" said he without opening his eyes. He laid silently, to at the least comfort his head.
"I have no complete details, and we were hoping that you can fill us out on the details." said the man. The pain had subsided into a hum, so thoughts had slowly come filtered. "We were fighting in the Loravanthe Desert, with the intent of a re-con, but what we were greeted was in itself a full vanguard. We were surrounded, so we fought, however, in the middle of the battle, we found you unconscious upon the ground. Many men had been wounded and their numbers still are far greater than our own. So I called for a retreat. It is cowardly, yes, but we were taught to never fight an impossible war."
"It is fine, Lord Averety." said the prince, as he can finally open his eyes and look upon his dear friend, Valeran Averety. "It is a suicide mission at the first of sight, it was doomed to fail."
"But dearest lar',"
"How many were of casualty."
"2 were dismembered and 4 are still of no consciousness. 1 was dead."
"Who died?"
The Lord did not know why the prince was questioning about the casualties so persistently, while a greater topic was brought forth. A suicide mission, the prince has had many of that, but he usually brush this accusations. It was an astonishing first.
"Lera, do you have no account?"
"I-I am sorry dearest Lar' I had been thinking of one else. The one who is of casualty is the newcomer Ravert…"
"His corpse?"
"It cannot be found in the carnage, but why do you ask of this.?"
"Because he is a mole. I do not know if my father had thought of him as indispensable, but he was the one who slashed upon me, made me unconscious. If he is dead, then no truth can be extracted off him. That is deplorable"
The lord was taken aback, the words that comes out of his friend's mouth is extremely off of his character, had the blow cause more than his conscience.
"Lar' what do you mean by all of this, I am quite confused. You have been agitated since we went off to this mission, but what is these all?"
"You are of knowledge that I consider you one of my dearest friends, Lera. Through you can I confide such secrets I hold in my heart. These days may be the last few that I will see. I fear that my father's plans has completed in preparations." stated the prince looking dead serious upon the eyes of his companion.
"Salvatoré," uttered Valeran, feeling that the conversation is turning rather personal. "Are you really stating this upon my self? For it has been known that you usually deflect people's accusations towards your father. It is a first, so I am rather taken aback." and thus the truth is so.
"Yet now, I cannot disregard it no more. My days are limited, their plans are final, so I have made a few counter measures of mine own. That is why I have to ask something of you Lera."
"What is it, my prince?"
"I would like to transfer my rank upon you."
"Me? What is the purpose of this all?"
"It is as I had said, a counter measure. If they were to kill me, they will have no power to put upon the position, for as long as the Knights of the Golden Sword first operated, it had been ruled independently from the crown. And as I said, I only can trust some. Even the older knights may had been bribed. The quorum can be contacted and signatures can be penned if a messenger was sent forth early. All I need is your approval."
"I-i don't know what to say. This is information dumped upon me, it is too overwhelming."
"I am sorry, but I had not foreseen that my time to prepare is too short. So what do you say beloved Lera?"
"I will not hesitate to follow your instructions my prince. However, if I were to be named, wouldn't the crown just dispose of me as you? Unlike yours, my heart fails to brave upon facing Hato with such serenity."
"Do not fear, my friend. Father will not think of doing such spree of madness. If their attack upon my person is to be of success, they will have no purpose to kill another general of the force. People will certainly look twice and have their doubts, people will revolt."
A breath of silence took place after such heated discussion, both heaved a sigh. Salvatoré took it upon himself to break it.
"I am sorry dearest Lera, for me to burden you with a request as such." He raised his head to look at his friend, thinking that this last few days may be his last. "You have been with mine own since I was of youth and mine own trust lies upon yours solidly."
"Is not there any one else? You speak of others, of which you have vested companionship, are they not to be eligible in such matters?" counter Valeran, for he fear not just for his own, but for his friends life as well, he would very much want his friend to live.
The prince fiddled with his fingers, "Even if they are of capabilities to house mine own, the merit to stand beside this times, It cannot be so." he looked upon the distant north as if he yearned for the company of those people he tells of. "Alas, they are of another country, and aiding mine own can disparage their standings."
Lord Valeran took a gamble to guess, for it is very much apparent who the prince pertains to. "This person you speak of, it is the President Darumin of the Mythene, is that correct?"
The blood flowed upon the prince' face immediately, all his tough act unravelled upon hearing his lover's name. He fidgeted in his place, "H-how could you come up with such n-notion, Lera? H-he and I only talk about the c-ceasefire and such to… to end such b-bloodshed between our country!"
The prince rumbled for moments past, his palms covering his face. Valeran chuckled at the sight of the prince trying to cover up its' relation with the ruler of the nation they are supposedly at war with. Everyone knew of their relationship, it was a public knowledge, yet it appears that the two of them still thinks of their relationship as a well-kept secret.
Yet his thoughts lead him somewhere, upon looking at Salvatoré's flustered face. For such a long time, Valeran saw his friend's good, old side. The fun-loving Alva. He saw the youth and truthful age of the prince, upon these times, most people would be more concerned about other trivial things; such as love, valour and games, yet, the prince was exempt of these joys since his youth, yet he tries to please those around him, and shines like the stars that now shines upon them.
"About your proposition," said Valeran, to aide his fumbling friend.
The prince tried to straighten himself, yet his face is still flushed with red.
"I guess I have now no choice but to accept." Valeran continued, finally understanding the woeful condition that his friend faces.
Salvatoré rasped, "No, Lera, you do not understand! I will not force such things upon you if you choose to…"
"But to turn away from such travesty?" said Valeran, not letting his friend finish. "Salavathe, I take upon these plan of yours who;e heartedly." Salvatoré's eyes watered, it had been so long since someone mentioned his nickname, known only to such few.
"Then listen well," continued he trying his best not to break down.
~□□□□□□□□□□□□~
The two discussed the plans further as they travelled towards the great tiered city of Afridence. The prince's strength had slowly come back to him in a matter of days, his body had been steeled by his years upon the battlefield and his mind too had been trained to endure. But all cannot be solved by endurance nor strength, that is why his heart seemed to carry upon it more weight than he can endure as they marched further towards upon the heart of the empire.
The caravan followed the path of the great Ckourion Strait, it was wide and churning, generating fog upon its banks from time to time. He felt at the least relieved, thanks to the fog, for it embraced him and all those around him so the journey did not meet any adversary. A week had passed since he had spoke of his plans to Lera, all the preparations has come to an end and the only thing standing between its' fruition is his death. It made him gulp, for any man, despite their courage at the field will shiver at the thought of their murder, even if they say otherwise.
Upon breaking away from the strait, they saw from a distance the great mountains and waterfalls that enshrined the great city of Afridence. They reached the first gate in a few moments after. A great wall that circumvents the entire capital, with the great waterfalls serving as the other half, detailed in an ornate fashion, showing the city's extravagance.
The scenery still takes Alva by surprise, even though he confronts it every time he goes home, it still baffles him by its size and grandiose. It not only looks like a perfect fortress, but an impenetrable cage as well.
"Are you of light heart, dearest Alva?" inquired Valeran, for his friend seemed of the contrary.
No, Salvatoré wanted to say. For all he wanted to do was buck his horse the other way and run. But he stated otherwise. "Yes." He managed to croak.
They marched, like as always towards the palace, also known as the First Wall, however, things are amiss. No cheers or cajoling can be heard upon the area, everything was silent except for the sound of water and the harrumphing horses. They had been accustomed to the merriment every time they arrive, that this silence seemed chaotic in itself.
It dawned to Salvatoré that this was part of his father's plan, but he struggled to point out this significance. What does the involvement of the whole city gain for them. However, the company kept trudging forward. The eerie silence continued as they entered to the inner walls of the city. However, as they entered the Third Wall, or the commercial area and city central, people started to be seen. A sea of people in the fact, like the whole city is here.
People were upon the windows, upon the fountains, roofs, some are even hanging from the trees. And all of them, every single one of them looked upon the company with questioning eyes
'What is it that happened?' they seemed to inquire, a question that Salvatoré is asking himself.
The company did not stopped, and trudged forward, until they reached the balcony upon which his father, the emperor was sitting. Their eyes met and his belief that this is indeed his father's plan. Upon meeting his eyes, the emperors lips stretched, forming in to a devious smile. He stood up and regarded the crowd.
"So the prince has come and arrived! Returning at the last, Prince Salvatoré Ssance, Commander of the Knights of the Golden Sword." shrieking loudly, his voice boomed. Although it was irritating on the ears, it was of power, that all of the nobles have upon them to commander and incite their subjects.
The emperor continued with his monologue. "As I had stated upon earlier to you, beloved people of the kingdom," upon which the crowd snarled.
"This upon your front is the perfect prince that you had vied for, the one who was said to be compassionate, humble and kind person that you cheer upon every whence he entered the gates of my kingdom." He paused, as if to incite a dramatic effect, yet all that it procured is irritation.
"But what is the reality of such words?" asking, he looked at the prince. "Was it really of the truth, or was it all the you tell of them?"
The prince puzzled over the words. What is it that his father wants?
"What is the meaning of this father?" he inquired.
He thought that his father will order another assassin to end him, but what is this crowd doing here. He has a few ideas, but they don't seem to fit with his father's thinking.
The emperor did not answer outright, instead, he motioned from behind him and a man, clad in a grimy battle armour, limped forward towards the fore.
"You?" Prince Salvatoré exclaimed. He was shocked at the man's appearance, the person being none other Ravert, the person who stabbed him upon the battle at the Lorienne.
"Them young man," The emperor said, pointing upon the bastard. "had been upon them side of our army of knights, upon the very side of them whom you call saviour. He had been through wars and battles against those of them Myhtrinne bastards up north!"
The person on that is of subject stood upon the sides trying his hardest to act pitiful and to garner sympathy, however, his act was to much to be taken seriously. The crowd only grew more contempt. All was trying to figure out what the scheme of the emperor is this time.
The emperor never really minded the people and just continued with his speech. "Those bastards whom poisoned the late queen! But despite them lad's efforts, once them had fallen, all he did was forgotten, he was discarded bleeding upon the road. He could only gather so much strength to carry this self up to a horse that had been happened upon."
Salvatoré stood firm upon his ground carefully dissecting his father's story. Though it is filled with lies, it has no lines that is too far off the truth. He has no idea, what his father's story is leading upon; well, there is a few but they are too incredulous that he just brushed them off.
The emperor finished his persuasion of the crowd, of the course, with no avail to move them off their beliefs of the people. "So, what is it that you state of this, Prince Salvatoré?"
"What is it that you want from this story, father?" said the prince in retort.
"Oh, I have no wanton about them much things, really." said the emperor, feigning ignorance of the matter.
"Then, what is of it?" Salvatoré, tiredly stated. 'This is dragged on too much.' thought he.
The emperor smirked, "Why, it is no one but the law that wants every thing from you."
The prince knitted his eyebrows, 'What is this turn of events?' The law, whom his father'as despised reading through ever since his boyhood. A relationship that gave his advisers headaches, putting them on their toes whenever the emperor opens his mouth. Standing by at a moments notice because his father is as unintelligible of it as of the next commoner.
Yet here he is announcing such words with vigour! His body quaked in horror.
The emperor continued, "Upon the book of them law and stuff, it is stated that when a commander or some general of the army, under our empire, were to disregard his man, alive upon the battlefield, the emperor has the right to evict him of his position, Are of the line in my thoughts?" questioned he to the prince.
"Of course, father, I am the one who wrote such law." countered the prince, so this is what this is all about. His plans hadn't been ruined. The emperor on the other hand was already of irritation, upon seeing his son was of composure.
The emperor harrumphed, continuing upon his speech. "There is also a statement, saying that if there is no one who holds the position, and since I am relieving you of such position. I have the right to appoint my pick to govern the army. And thus I…"
"The prince had already stepped down from position, upon learning that a man was left off the battlefield." interjected Valeran. The company has stayed silent, watching the exchange, but it dawned on him that it is the best time to interfere with the discussion.
"What is it that you are saying, Lord Averety?" said the emperor, growing in apprehension, for his regal speeches were either denied of audience or stumped midway.
The Lord relayed, "My emperor, upon waking up, after a certain someone has stabbed upon his back," eyeing the man, Ravert on the stands. "the prince grew ashamed of his impotence in such situation and stepped down from his position."
The emperor tried to interfere, "That is all well, then I…"
But the Lord did not buckle down. "That is why, upon our return, a quorum had been set up to appoint a new Commander-general of the Knights."
The emperor fumed, "You… you can't do that!"
"But we can, father." Said the prince, knowing that this had been the last stage of his father's scheme.
"Then who is this that took them place, brother?" said Prince Reganso, who as of this moment waited patiently upon the back, silently.
Valeran stood by his friend's side and uttered. "Prince Reganso of the First Wall, I present myself." cautioned himself before announcing. "By the power bestowed upon the quorum of the Knights of the Golden Sword, I, Lord Valeran Averety, had been put in general command of all the policing army of the empire."
The crowd cheered, for the first time, finding something of joy in this large plaza, they are of cheerful exaltation, unlike the Emperor and his court. The two schemers tried their hardest to conceal their contempt, but it is of no avail, everyone saw right through their faces.
The emperor urged himself to procure some words, for he believed that not all is lost. "That is- that is all fine, Lord Averety is a great man of honour." said the Emperor, "Hail to the new commander-general of the Golden Sword, Sir Valeran Averety of the Second Wall!"
The crowd continued its celebration. Drowning the emperor's following curses towards them all. Everyone was in tears and in great gratefulness to the gods, breaking apart the emperors plans. Although the prince has been demoted, a sliver of hope lies upon Valeran's hands.
"How-however, the prince with no title, re-rejected off the knights…" said Reganso, suddenly standing upon the edge of the balcony. "He is of the wall now!"
"What is it upon this time, Reganso?" the boy whimpered, upon hearing his older brother's retort
Upon, realizing that his brother would not reply, he asked the emperor, "Father?" continued Salvatoré.
"That is right!" the Emperor's voice almost breaking. "What Reganso was mentioning was that of the dishonour that you gave our family. Demoted from the Knights, lost in a battle no less!"
The emperor glowered at him inputting upon his every word his hate towards the man in front of him. Salvatoré was scared shitless of himself as well, he knew too well what was happening and it is one he had no plans against.
"I cannot deal with this impotence, as your friend has worded!" continued the Emperor.
"But father, I…" entered the prince but the Emperor paid no heed. He was done with them lot ruining his plan. It all ends here.
"I, Galmonth Ssance, the fourth, Emperor of the great city of Afridence! Emperor of its vast and glorious empire, head of the the proud and holy family of Sanasa, are banishing you, Salvatoré, the Knight from this empire and therefore, thy name, from now and ever forward."
Salvatoré steeled.
He was… exiled.
'What was happening?' All manners of thought streamed forcefully, hurtfully upon his head. He wanted nothing more but to break down and scream, and stab upon those around him. Wanting to pour upon them the anguish, the distraught that is building upon his chest.
Around him, the crowd roared; not with cheers, but battle cries of whys and noes! They were ready to rampage upon the emperor, and the only thing that they feared was the swords that his guards hold.
"Silence! Every one of you!" but the crowd never did. "This is a matter within my family this is also of dignity and the upheld pride of my kin. For the tranquillity of my house I have every right to banish him!" shouted the emperor, although not many heard for the clamouring crowd was fastidious upon drowning his words.
"Down with the monarchy!"
"The emperor does not deserve the throne!"
"No one will offer fealty!"
"Down with the monarchy!"
The emperor's face flushed off all colours, for it was the first time that such words reached his ears for most of the time, Salvatoré would put them to calm, but now. They want him dead.
Those ungrateful bastards.
"Dignity, says the emperor."
The crowd silenced when they heard the voice of the new commander0general of the knight.
The eyes of the two men met and a spark of conflict formed heavily.
The emperor sneered, "What is your point, Commander0general Averety?"
"If it is only dignity that is lost, it may as well be recovered, or retrieved, as per se."
The emperor puzzled over upon his words. Valeran assumed that the emperor will take long before answering so he continued.
"If I may suggest, a way to clear his name and yours in the process. I suggest that he be given a quest. A quest to rebuild his repute." Valeran stated.
Salvatoré looked upon his friend, he smiled with gratitude despite his head aching from all his thoughts.
"A quest you sa…" "A quest to find the rasa!"
Gasps were heard everywhere. At first no one knew whom it came from, but one by one, their eyes attracted to the prince Reganso. He cowered from their gaze, his body visibly shaking.
'This is not normal.' thought he. Was this the attention that he craved for. It was scary. How could his brother put up with this expectant gazes every day? It felt like, to him, that upon these very gazes, a world has nestled upon his shoulders.
"My so, what is it that you are of noting?" said the emperor.
The little prince tried to shrug of his fear, he put on a resolve. It is time to see his brother off of the line. "If-if this great of a tear is-is to be patched," sought he. "A greater ch-challenge too must be quested. He is to go find the Rasa of the gods, Thurasa Guthind."
And with those words, a sentence of death had been brought upon Salvatoré. All of the persons in the crowd was gasping.
Thurasa wund hi-guthind; from whence the gods came, was the last gift of Hanami to the earth. Those that appear upon its steps will be given whatever their heart desires most, be it eternal life or infinite wealth. However, no one has ever come back from the quest.
Well, no one of the right mind. Those who came back halfway spouted of moving trees and magical metal. Things unknown even to the greatest magicians. Most brushed them off as lunatics.
And so Reganso thought of this as a perfect plan to rid himself off of Salvatoré.
A smile crept upon the faces of both son and father. "And so, it is said." announced the emperor. "The exile will have until the dawn to pack his stuff and venture outwards the empire. He has until the day's end tomorrow to exit the city and a week to exit the empire, after that, he will be treated as a convict upon my territory."
And so everything ended. Valeran helped his friend towards his quarter, for it had seemed that all of Salvatoré's prowess in the field has been siphoned off. The crowd gradually diminished, but not without looks of contempt to the royal family.
The family, however were of their merriest, they gave each other congratulations as they enjoyed their victory, of making the perfect prince fall.
Everyone else though, rested upon their beds with heavy hearts upon the night aptly named sathelir' luheli-no wund-sipi, the day whence the prince fell.