Chapter 5
(Chapter updates are done in a way that aligns with my availability, and I aim to provide at least one chapter per weekend, though this may vary depending on my workload.)
After the harvest festival, we returned to our daily routine, where I spent my days training and sharing stories. Without realizing it, a year went by, and I turned 14 while Ciri turned 11.
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"AIDEN, RUN AND GET CIRILLA."
"GRANDMA, NO."
Without looking at Ciri, the queen looks at me and says with a firm tone, "Aiden, that's an order." Hiding my tears, I run away, taking Ciri and escaping into the woods with her cries begging me to stop and go back for the queen.
But as I ran, I heard, "They're out there catching them!" We continued making it, catching up easily. I felt a sense of fatigue, but before the soldiers could strike, a man intervened, swiftly eliminating them. He looked at me, gesturing with his hands, and then everything went black.
For the first time, I saw the man's eyes. Cat's eyes.
"Aaah," I woke up, sweating and out of breath. "These dreams are becoming far too frequent." Initially just flames and a feeling of running, over the years, they became more detailed, almost like premonitions. "I hope I'm wrong."
Getting up, I took a bath with water brought by the servants. Over the years, I started taking up more space, especially since the queen gave me the title of knight protector of the princess, granting me powers akin to a baron.
"Phew, I'll have to cut my hair one day. But I wonder why my hair is getting whiter and whiter." Initially black with slight white streaks, my hair turned white over time, while the black disappeared.
Getting out of the bath to groom myself, I looked in the mirror. Recently, I noticed that one of my once-blue eyes had turned green. "I still can't get used to it," I muttered as I went to get dressed.
Of course, my transformation didn't go unnoticed. Ciri was worried, and her mother summoned a doctor. I vividly remembered that day.
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"Your Majesty, I don't see anything wrong with Aiden."
"That is not true; you can see he has changed," said Ciri with excessive concern.
"Your Highness, I assure you there is nothing wrong with him." He then turned his gaze to me and continued, "However, I can say that his body is beginning to become inhabited with magic, but that is only a guess."
"I see you may be able to." The doctor walked away.
"Aiden, I say that, but you can rest if you need to."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty."
"Well, I'll leave you two," said Her Majesty as she left, not noticing the smile on her face as she overheard our conversation.
"Aiden, are you sure you're okay?"
"Of course, Princess, don't worry. I have to take care of you until I die. Isn't that my knightly promise?"
"Mmh, but please don't take any unnecessary risks," Ciri said as she hugged me. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I don't want you to disappear. I don't want to forget all the memories we've had together, and I want it to stay like this forever."
"Yes, Princess, don't worry. Don't forget our promise that we both made."
"I remember."
"Say it, Princess."
"From now on, you and I will always be together until the end of time. And even if the world should turn against us, we will endure it."
Then I continued in Ciri's place. "If misfortunes and sufferings were to happen, we would bear them together."
Together, we said, "Simul usque ad finem."
Then we laughed.
Remembering this, a smile appeared on my face.
"That promise is something I will never regret making."
I then left my room to wake up the princess.
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"Your Majesty, isn't it time?"
"You are right; it is time to conquer the north. Tell the armies to prepare."
The servant left the office where a man was looking at his capital with a thoughtful look.
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Names, memories, and promises are all strong elements that define our universe. This promise formed between two people appeared in an unknown place, where we could see the black rope and the white rope linked even more strongly, as if they couldn't be cut without affecting both. Words flew and landed on these strings, making them stronger and more resistant, ready to fight together and face their destiny forever.
(We are finally going to start the main part of the story. It might seem long to some, but I believe it's a necessary step for character development, the environment, and the entourage. Thanks for reading.)