Chapter 4: Country Of Sizen

[POV: Narrator]

Silver woke up yawning deeply as the sun spread its shimmering rays. There was a window beside his bed, from which he could see the city beyond. There was a shop with a young and incredibly stunning lady selling fruit and vegetables to the people. Watching those crowd, he recalled his own home and his terrible destiny.

Sizen, his homeland, was a closed nation surrounded by the land of pólemos and was on the top of Elohim's plateau. The population of the nation was roughly 225,000. The country had a palace, one on each land.

Fire Village to the North, Wind Village to the East, Lightning Village to the West, Earth Village to the Southwest and Water Village to the Southeast, Capital to the Middle. Each village was about a hundred miles away from the capital and had a population of about 20,000-28,000. Whereas capital had a population of 100,000; (50,000 humans).

The land of Sizen was mostly occupied by Elementals like him.

The capital was enclosed by a large black wall. The walls housed five different gates that lead directly to five different castles. King of Sizen was chosen from one of the eldest princes of five lands.

The first prince was the King's son, while the other four were the sons of four councillors, each from separate villages serving alongside the King. The King and his four councillors are the rulers of their villages.

The king was Pawan Davis from the 'Wind Village'.

***

About a month ago.

In the water village, Country of Sizen.

Even though it was larger than most cities outside; they still called it a village, no one knows why.

Early in the morning, the golden sun emerged to turn the dark and rainy skies into a warm, sunny blue sky. Milky white clouds hovered across the vast horizon. Blue and blackbirds were singing and dancing in the sky.

There was a large farm next to the castle and a lake next to it. The black wall stood high southeast of the lake, which enclosed the whole water village. The remainder of the lake was surrounded by a small forest. There was a wide gate built within the wall on the northwest side of the village facing the capital of Sizen.

In the forest, the trees danced with a whistling, cold breeze that greeted the new dawn.

Men wearing dirty clothes and tattered garments were engaged in the field. Other men hacked the woods, and a few others raised the weight. The gate of the village was guarded by two men. Children played and bathed in the lake, women were washing clothes and dishes while watching children play.

"Hope we have a huge harvest this year, unlike last year."

"I hope so too." A farmer replied while yawning.

An old lady smacked both Farmers with a stick and said, "We will never have a good harvest if you guys keep talking all day long, will we now?"

"Sorry ma'am," the farmers responded with terror in their voices and began to work again.

On the other hand, women were crying to their children, "Don't go swimming too far away from us."

Their children answered, laughing and splashing water at each other, "Ok mom, don't worry about us." and they started to swim again.

It was a joyful, fun and lovely morning like any other morning. Before any storm, though, there was a brief silence. And the laughter of the children could not be heard and was more erratic than the storm itself.

Soon.

The army of 2000 arrived at the gate of the village. The groups in the front were hefting a red coffin.

***

[POV: Silver Davis]

Silver was in the prince's quarters with his mother, Kara Davis. The room was a little cramped. There was a wooden bed in front of the window. There was a table under the window, a closet by the table, and a little dressing area next to it. Silver was lying on the chair, and his mother was sitting next to him with a sheet of paper and a pen.

Silver was learning the art of healing, poisons, and medicines from his mother for, he was to become a future court physician or maybe even The King. Kara was asking Silver questions about poisons and remedies and he was answering her questions.

"Which is the most effective potion to stop heavy bleeding from wounds...?"

"Witch Hazel," Silver replied with a smile.

"Tell me about the blue rocket."

"It's a flowering plant with a flower of violet colour. Deadly poison can be extracted from its root. It is commonly used by assassins but it can also be used to neutralize another poison extracted from seaweed, sea devil."

"Good. What about 'Winter Blessings'?"

"It's a potion derived from the leaves and bark of the shrub by the same name. It can also stop the effect of most poisons. This potion is effective for about... "

As he explained about the 'Winter Blessings', he was interrupted by a messenger who hurriedly came in sweating all over his body.

"Forgive me my lady, but... Umm... Can we speak in private...? It is a... Umm... Matter of utmost urgency." The man looked terrified to his bones and was trembling visibly. Cold sweat was brewing all over his body. 

What could have made him so frightened?

Kara looked at Silver and handed him a piece of paper she was carrying. "Go to the forest and collect all the herbs listed in this paper."

"Fine!" Silver answered with a loud and deliberate snort, took the basket on the table, glared at the messenger with angry eyes, and left the room slamming the door behind him.

I am supposed to be a prince. Not a servant. I should I collect the bloody herds.

In the clearing of the forest beyond the lake, Silver inspected a herb. Few herbs lived here. Hmm... It has a single red heart-shaped berry and brownish and hairy steam. It has to be Redheart. No, wait, that’s wrong. The hue was different. The berry wasn't just a shade of red. It looked as if the berry was on fire. It’s Fireheart. Very rare herb indeed. It fused with natural Grace it was very effective for severe burns. Argh! Why do I have to do all the chores? I mean, I’m the prince, ain’t I? I should be living in comfort with few servants at my command.

It’s going to take forever to collect all these herbs on the list. Argh! I can’t locate any of them. I may not be able to gather them by today. No, I’ve got to complete the job today. It was a challenge for me from my mum, and I have to prove to her I can do it. His eyes glowed with resolve; he didn’t know he had.

I’m going to avoid doing it, talking to myself. And I’m still talking to myself to state that. Whatever the hell is wrong with me? And I’m still doing it. Stop it! He smacked his head with his fist.

Then Silver began walking around the forest, searching for various herbs and picking up a couple of them. He enjoyed the birds singing, whistling leaves and the animals jumping between the underbrushes.