CHAPTER 4: RHYS

The moment I woke up and recognized this old, lame stone ceiling, I knew I lose.

My teeth gritted with anger as my hands clutched. Memories from yesterday elapsed in my mind, destroying my morning mood.

“A pact, my ass!” I madly growled.

Knowing this tainted blood running in my veins is a curse enough, now you think some lame pact could stop me?

Eat that crap.

I woke up and dressed myself in my uniform, ready for some scolding. As I tied a clean white bandage on my tampered wrist, an expected presence entered the room.

“Your highness,” Arabelle, a maid, greeted me with a humble bow. Whenever I hear that title, I feel myself being suffocated.

“General,” I corrected with a sigh before I pulled my long auburn hair together, tying them with a simple white ponytail.

“His Majesty is waiting for your presence.” She formally informed with her normal tone. I only gave her a nod before passing her by, going to that Devil’s lair.

-----

“I apologize for my intolerable failure, your majesty, I did not only fail to capture a dragon, I let the downfall of a dozen men,” I reported as I kneeled in front of him with my head bowed down, facing the ground.

“You impudent!” He yelled at me with rage, “How dare you lose exactly 13 blessed swords?! One is not even worth your life!”

---That dragon boy!

I clenched my hand upon that thought.

Those swords are exceptional since that magical stone, Gaia, blessed it. It could pierce through every dragons' scales like iron, jade, and stone. It could split fire and is also bestowed with plentiful spells that could defeat a full-grown dragon. Yet, there is only an assessable amount of it.

 “It takes years to yield a fine sword and you are saying you lost them in just a single night?! You useless FOOL!”

Yeah, I am getting used to his scowls and yells that convey no concern about a single lost life. He only cares more about what could save him.

And now that the swords are lost, I might as well take that as an opportunity to rest for a while, and find a way to severe this freaking pact.

---and just eliminate him already.

As he took deep breaths to calm himself down, I waited for orders without looking at him.

“A week from now is the crown prince and the first princess’s 20^th Birthday, Hera and Harith.” He started, “Retreat from dragon hunting, stand by for now until that day, and do not disappoint me again!” He spat the last word, and finally, he commanded me to leave.

I will be facing some humans again, huh, What a nuisance.

I gave my last respect and lifted my head to look at him, yet he did not do the same. I wonder why you won’t even look at me in the eye, uncle.

I left the room, only to see those familiar long golden curls and amber locks. Her bulgy and colorful dress telltales her superiority and position. She walked towards me with pride, and with that same old smile of hers, Hera.

“Father scolded you again?” She stated as she halted in front of me, “I hope you would not mind his short temper---”

“Princess Hera, I wish you luck for your incoming birthday,” I said instead as I took a slight bow. I fixed my posture and decided to leave, but the weasel started to talk again.

“Why are you in such a hurry? As if you even have something right to do, don’t you?” Without looking back at her freaking face, I know she’s sneering at me. “Why don’t you have a little fun with us, Rhys?”

“Yeah, to be honest, I’m quite busy lately,” I stated with a smirk. Slowly, I turned around to look at her in the eye. “I’ve been busy protecting that big lousy butt of yours.”

Before her palm even reaches my cheek, I blocked her hand with my rigid arm. I enjoyed watching her face frown after hurting herself from my defense. She held her flushing palm as she slightly rubs it, mending the pain.

“Ugh, you will pay,” That was her last word before sprinting towards her father’s room.

I sighed, what a good day. I strolled onto this lonely marble hallway; the walls were decked with pure gold, furnished crystals adorned the ceilings, and some sore-in-the-eye trophies were displayed on the right side of the gold-covered wall.

Until how long will these people play the role of the gods?

I then found myself at the end of the hallway. Somehow, I managed to leave this place without slitting a throat, how lame.

The entire castle was busy preparing for that very big day, and I am not even allowed to leave the walls. I should at least walk around before confining myself to that desolate house.

I allowed my feet to lead me to the unknown, wherever I am welcomed or at peace. It must have been minutes; I found myself in front of a familiar door. It is made of plain oak wood and old that it is getting a bit mossy and also somewhat wrecked, but I entered anyway.

The door creaked open, only to smell a nostalgic odor of burnt wood. It is still here.

I closed the door behind, causing for the specks of dust to fly around. The library was empty and messy. Some old and leather-covered books were just piling up beside the shelves, and signs of dust are everywhere. The windows were not even cleaned and spider webs flaunt off by the corner.

“What a tragic end you have,” I mumbled as I looked at the blackened wooden floor, ceiling, walls, seats, and tables that were almost set ablaze.

Back then, thirteen years ago, everything was perfect, but then, everything was almost on fire.

I lost everything.

Almost.

“Your highness,” An old man’s voice managed to pierce through my downbeat train of thoughts.

I looked to my right, only to meet his old jewel gaze. Silver linens had become more dominant on his once coal hair. Wrinkles were etched ideally on his once youthful face, his body got slimmer and his complexion; It is getting paler as days go by.

I noticed he held some books in his shaking hands, geez. He must have been fixing this hopeless dwelling.

“Sir Cart,” I mumbled before taking a step towards him. I took the books off his lift and coldly asked, “Why do you still take care of this barren place? There is nothing left here for you to use.”

With his half-closed eyes, he faintly smiled at me, making his wrinkles take more of my attention. “Her highness has been so good to me, and I vowed to pay her by at least cleaning this place that she once adorned for the rest of my---”

“Go home,” I interrupted before I reached for the table to place the books I took from him. “This place is nothing special, and we might as well just leave it this way.”

My word met silence, and I do not even have the courage to look back.

“Cart,” I spoke up, “You are too old to even hold a book. With your current situation, you wouldn't do good. You are weak, thus, useless. Someone like you must stay home.” I coldly suggested, before looking back at him. “You can go home.”

He only gave me a sad smile, took a bow, and left.

I huffed, why am I feeling sick right now?

My gaze went back to the table and run my fingertip to its wooden surface, checking for dust before sitting on it. Its roughness only made me conclude it was wiped out clean. Maybe by Cart himself.

“I once adorned, huh?” I mumbled as I sat down and took a glimpse of the darkened ceiling made of wood.

You made me hope back then, you bastard.

You made me hope with all my heart that maybe one day, as you always tell me before, I will someday soar to the sky and when I see the world below, it is peaceful and undisturbed.

---And in the end, it was all but an illusion that fooled an ignorant kid.