Orange and red eyes

At the north end of Castela, we can find many interesting points.

The main and only entrance to the Arctic Ocean in the east, the port of Camelot.

The three beautiful, white and never crossed or climbed by any living being, the foggy mountains in the north.

The east forest was where the great prophet was last seen. To the south flowed the majestic river of the mountains of the fog, the second largest river of Castela island.

In the center, between the river, the mountains, and the forest, the capital, a joyful and large place.

Home of the founder of Castela and the current King. Founded less than fifty years or two generations, it had its port and three walls.

A fortress that alone resisted the attack of an entire nation, to further become the capital of a nation.

And in the highest tower of this huge castle, a little prince was crying.

He shouted and sobbed, on purpose, so that the wind would take his wails to the ears of someone who could help him.

And if anyone heard. This was Lion. Lion was sitting on a wooden bench while silently watching the bell tower from a window.

He desperately takes one last look at the back of his impetuous teacher who has just written a poem on the board.

Upon hearing Prince's screams echo through the castle again Lion took a deep breath and asked.

—  Professor, can I please ...

—  The answer is no, now focus on the class. - Replies the man in the suit with a harsh voice while stroking his brown hair.

—  But teacher, he's screaming for more than ten minutes! Please. -Lion begged as he got up from his chair with all the charm he could use at his age.

The professor's brown eyes looked irritably at Lion.

— It's a five-year-old Lion, they scream and throw tantrums. If you go home and give him candy, you are only encouraging this behavior. Now sit down Lion and pay attention, not all children your age can take my private lessons.

Lion sat down silently again. He couldn't think of any argument to contradict his teacher. All Lion could do was continue to hear the prince's cry and wonder about the cause.

Just before the end of the class, the crying stops, to the relief of many and the concern of others.

— You are released - At the sound of these words, Lion runs out of the room towards the birth of the castle.

His next class was fencing with a general renowned for all the nobles of the capital.

To Lion's delight, among the students, was the little prince.

As a newly appointed nobleman, fencing was entirely new and extremely difficult. Fortunately, that was Prince's specialty.As if to answer what had stopped the prince's crying, Moli casually enters the courtyard where was a line of all the other cadets ready for the class. With a little prince in her arms. He was almost six years old and was taller than most children of his age. But the same could be said about Moli's strength and dedication to the little one.

The sad prince left the shelter of his caregiver's arms and still with red eyes joins the other cadets. Regarding Moli's rigid gaze, the general does not dare reproach Prince for being late and quickly started the class.

After Prince, Lion was the second youngest in the class, this also made him the most suitable companion for Prince. As the boys circled the courtyard, they passed the castle garden and the stables, which gave them a few minutes unattainable of the general. This was when Lion took the opportunity to ask as many short questions as his breath would allow. The tough prince used to be able to answer them for the long minutes of the garden's extension without difficulty.

But this day was different when Lion asked Prince the reason for his revolt. Prince replied in a weak and melancholic tone.

— Wha-what does it matter now? You- you didn't come when I called you by your name. — Lion could see that the time he would spend screaming had exhausted all the boy's strength, leaving him exhausted. Even though he felt guilty, Lion knew that he couldn't have helped him.

He took another step and at the moment he didn't have enough breath to answer Prince.

— I'm sorry. — Lion said before the tall trees in the garden ran out.

The two passed the rest of the way in silence.

Upon arriving back in the yard, in the same way that apprentices normally were lined up, there were logs of varying sizes.

Each one took a rope and tied the trunk to the back, they were to carry them through the castle to the second wall and then return. The general comfortably sat in a chair and waited for the cadets to return. Lion and Prince's trunks were the smallest, yet Lion received a smaller one than Prince's, which was no more than a meter shorter than the rest of the other trunks.

Normally, this would be proportional to the prince's strength, but Lion knew that today he would not be able to drag the trunk all the way.

As soon as the general stopped paying attention to the apprentices, Lion tied Prince's trunk close to his and together the two slowly moved the trunks towards the walls.

— Are you calmer?— Asked Lion gently.

Prince replied with a simple nod, for Lion it means a little.

— I would like to … Can I talk about it? Lion asked again, already feeling the extra weight drain his strength.

— The nobles commented … about my eyes. — replied the little prince recovering a little more of his strength.

— Aren't they … Beautiful? What's the matter? ” Lion asked, only more confused by the answer he received.

— Beautiful, but dangerous, that's what one of the ancient prophecies said. The one with the orange eyes can never be King, or it will get sick.

The first king, also had orange eyes. Replied Prince again, almost completely recovered, but melancholy.

— How terrible! But it's just a rumor, it's not really, is it? Asked Lion, startled.

— They say I owe my strength and courage to my eyes, even though I don't think I'm brave, I know I'm stronger than any other child. So, I am only an heir until there is someone to replace me. But I don't have a mother and Dad doesn't want to fall in love again, the nobles are starting to worry that the lineage will end. If that happens, Castela will be without a king for fifteen years! Until new children raised and educated to be heirs grown up. And thereafter, they still need to compete to find out who is the most worthy! … Everything … Because of my eyes … — said Prince until gone was his breath. He was more recovered and the weight of the second trunk and even his trunk slowly lifted off Lion's shoulders.

Taking advantage of the rest Lion found the strength to complete.

— Being each participant in a house could lead to political intrigue. But nothing would be your fault! You're the strongest and bravest boy I know, I'm certain that one day you'll find a way to pay everyone who takes care of you. Well, they only do it because they know your value as the prince of Castela. Said Lion excitedly.

— Thanks. The Prince replied, a little ashamed of having doubted himself.

The silence lasted for a few minutes, but at one point Lion could no longer contain his curiosity.

— These prophecies … I had heard of them … they say that the prophet was born and died in our lands …, but I only know some prophecies made for the continent. I didn't know we also had one … how do you know?

— They are kept secret, only a few nobles and sages from Kreg and Castela know it.

— Why? … Is it really okay … to reveal them to me? — Each time Lion learned more, he got more confused, it seemed like an endless mystery cascade.

— I trust you. Prophecies are more like a piece of advice I would say, kept secret, as they can all lead to the ruin of Castela if they are fulfilled.

— All? Is there more … than one? — Lion was no longer surprised that one question led to two more, he just concentrated on asking the right questions to make the most of his time before they reached the wall.

— I only know one more, in fact, the old people don't talk about them very often ...

— Cadets! What should this be! Came a harsh voice from one of the soldiers on the walls who pointed in the direction of the logs that Lion and Prince carried together.

The Prince shrugged at the soldier's voice. The soldier was a blue-eyed and long-haired blond man in shining armor, a terrorizing figure for whom wasn't his allies.

 Arthur was about to disdain the knot when Lion stepped forward and proclaimed:

— It was my idea Sir. I wanted to prove my strength by carrying not only my torso but also helping Prince with his. His voice trembled, but he completed the sentence without even pausing between words.

— Truth? So I suppose you will love to carry both logs, alone until the end of the path to the wall! I will oversee your progress myself! — The soldier replied sarcastically. Laziness was one of the biggest sins in Castela because it was believed that it prevented not only the growth of the person but also of society.

— Yes Sir!—  Lion attested and without regret put Prince's rope on his shoulders.

— Are you sure? — Whispered Prince with concern in Lion's ear as he passed the rope to him.

— Probably not, but I think of it as a payment for not having helped you this morning. — Whispered Lion back to Prince with a smile.

—  Prince! Do you see that big rock over there? You can replace it with your torso, and never be lazy again to the point of letting someone else do their job!

— Yes Sir. — Prince replied as he ran to the rock.

The stone was about 30 kg height, was probably left there by a soldier to train, that pulling stones usually started at eighteen when the body was already stronger.

Even so, with the bare hands, the little prince stood behind the stone and started pushing it. At first, the stone did not move, but after putting all the weight and strength on the back of the stone, it slowly pushed the jammed earth and began to be dragged with the prince's first step.

He had already recovered from the morning scandal, but that step required all his strength and breath at once. He falls to the floor. It was impossible to do this up to the walls, no matter how close they were.

Looking to the side, he realizes that Lion had moved only three steps since Prince had passed the ropes to him. But he didn't fall, even though his legs were shaking, and he kept pulling even though his breathing was heavy and his body was covered in sweat. Prince had never noticed how thin Lion was. He had always seen him as a big brother who could and knew as much as an adult. Now he was just a skinny boy trying to push two logs twice his size. Lion stops for a moment and looks to Prince lying on the floor, then smiles, pretending to be stronger than Prince and continues pulling the trunk.

Without further ado, Prince gets up, takes a deep breath, and pushes the stone harder than he has ever used it. His child's muscles burn, and he screams, but he never stops pushing the stone. One step, two steps another step, and when he realized he was already overtaking Lion.

He stops, looks back, and shows the tongue to Lion while continuing to push the stone.

With new motivation, Lion shows his tongue back at the prince and begins to use all his strength as well.

Screaming, the two boys pass through the wall gates and the surprised soldiers. Slowly, step by step, but more slowly than when they split the weight of the logs. Behind the boys, the knight who gave them the order was walking calmly, the boys might not have noticed, but he smiled while walked proudly behind them.

When they finally reach the endpoint, the two boys fall to the ground, covered in sweat and without breath or strength to speak or get up again. They were the last to arrive, all the other nobles had already started their way back or had passed Lion and Prince while still pulling the rocks and logs.

— I think they will learn their lesson, right? — Inquire the knight for the fallen boys.

Lion does not answer.

—Sir, I can't…. Get up … — Prince replies with his last strength.

— Hmm? I should have foreseen that … — Says the kghnight to himself as he watches the dirty and tired boys on the floor.

— Very well! I will personally ask the general to give free practice to both! You were great today! — Without waiting for an answer the rider puts them one by one, the boys on his shoulders, and starts to carry them like sacks of potatoes on the way back. As much fun as it was for the boys they didn't have the strength to laugh.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, the younger nobles were already lining up for hand-to-hand combat and a general with a frown glares at the newcomers. But when he notices the comic scene, his gaze turns to astonishment, and he asks:

— Ronald! What you did to my cadets! —He shouted with his voice more hoarse than ever.

— They were trying to circumvent the training by carrying their trunks together. The eldest was very brave in taking the punishment. But I could not let our little prince go unpunished, and I ordered him to carry one of the training stones. I only planned to see how far they could go and then return them to their usual training after a short break. But you won't believe it! The little ones made it all the way! That's why I let them pass this training.

— Hmm! Memorable Ronald, you did well, those brats learned their lesson! Of course, I won't force them to continue training! The way you brings them I bet they can't even stay on their legs! Leave them in the shade, and you can go back to your post, we'll talk more at home, now I need to continue with the other boys. — Lion and Prince looked at each other behind the back of the soldier who carried them. They had never heard their general being so kind to anyone! Royal Knight Ronald was someone special.

—Thanks, Dad,— Ronald replied politely as he left the boys leaning against the courtyard wall.

Astonished, the boys are thrown in the same position as the rider had left them, watching the rider's back disappear into the horizon.

— We were lucky. — said Prince, who recovered faster.

— Who knew … that … someday I would find … the general's son. — Answered a Lion who badly had the strength to stay awake.

— I have the impression that I knew him before … I don't remember where. Prince mentioned as much as he was confused by the statement itself.

— That prophecy … you haven't said which one is yet.

— Oh! Didn't you say you didn't think you were worthy of such information? — Replied the prince.

— I arrived first … that you …— he said in a grave tone despite being tired

— The stone was twice as heavy as its trunks! — Prince replied in the same tone.

— Dear Your Highness. Are we going to talk about your eyes gifts?... Oh! My grand prince? — Most recovered Lion can use an exaggeratedly formal tone.

The two laughed for a few minutes, unaware of anything else around them, even at the look of the general who was repressing himself in order not to stop the boys.

When they stopped laughing Prince started to quote:

— I heard that there is a prophecy for Castile that speaks of a genius with red eyes. This one must not come close to the crown either, or a disaster will fall over all Castile. One of the nobles feared that my eyes would change color …

— Good one! If that ever happens and my prince becomes a genius I will kiss your feet! No offense, I say this because I’ve heard of such a genius, and I'm not talking about prophecies! He exists and lives in Kreg's palace! They treat him like a treasure, but isn't it strange? His eyes give him intelligence and yours strength! It's like…

— Silence! I let them skip training, but I won't let them get in the way! If you want to talk it out there! — Shouted the old general, returning to his usual behavior. The boys stood up with incredible speed for those who dragged so much weight little by little time. They ran and laughed through the courtyard and the walls as they talked. And so, another afternoon passed.

I could tell you about all the afternoons like this that have happened in the adventures of Prince and Lion. But then this would be the book by Prince and Lion and not by the heirs of Thea. For this reason, I entrust you with the task of imagining how the next two years went by.