When Days End [4]

"Peek-A-Boo!"

A toddler giggled with laughter as a boy beamed continuing to entertain the child.

"Clover I told you to get some onions from Mrs. Kelly, not play with her kid," Clover's mother gripped his neck as the 12 year old sweatdropped. Mrs. Kelly just laughed it off picking her toddler up and placing them on her hip with a bit of a bounce to her actions.

"Sorry, mother!" Clover scratched his neck with a sheepish smile as he quickly paid for a few onions. Both women laughing at his quick actions.

When Clover found his mother to be deep into conversation with Mrs. Kelly he asked his mom to take the food they bought home. His mother gave him a nod not looking at the pestering boy as he ran off with shoeless feet.

Panting from the run he quickly put the food up before leaving the house in a rush, almost tripping on his feet as dirt flew into the sky. He bypassed the market and went straight to the flower shop seeing a lonely figure standing in the gardens. Clover grinned ear to ear as he fixed the cloth on his head and face before as he tackled the figure down.

"K.O!"

Clover had definitely gotten comfortable in the friendship he's made with Lucky. The two became inseparable yet curse at each other like an old married couple. Or siblings that acted as if they hated each other but deep down both cared for one another.

"No fair! You cheated commoner, you got me when I couldn't see you." Lucky screeched. He had definitely gotten taller, baby fat not as notable either. Both boys also found out they were the same age and their birthdays were only three days apart.

Clover being the oldest of course.

He's taken great pride in the knowledge of this fact and says it any chance he gets.

"Hey we worked on being nice didn't we?" Clover scolded as he sat on the dirt acting as a mentor to a bun.

No matter what Clover says though, both know of Lucky growing a great deal in being a decent person. He was no longer the boy two years ago who whined and was a huge brat. He's matured a lot and Clover reminisced on his growth like a teacher. He can now proudly say 'Lucky Pol Trevise Waln' is his good friend.

Why his name is so long? Clover will never know.

Lucky rolled his eyes at Clover as he patted the dirt off his trousers but suddenly his smile turned to a frown as if he remembered something and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Sensing something was wrong Clovers smiled tugged into a frown as he looked at Luckys figure with a head tilt.

"I um..." Lucky started but trailed off as he fidgeted with his sleeve.

Clover knew not to rush the boy as he waited with baited breaths at what he had to say, Clover knew it probably wasn't good. Straightening his back Clover patted the boy's shoulder for him to continue with a soft smile that melted Luckys muscles slightly as he gained the courage to speak again.

"Mom and dad said they want me to go home," Lucky smiled with happiness although his eyes betrayed him with unwillingness. Clover paused for a moment before he grinned as bright as the sun giving him his best wishes. "Really!? See our training worked!" Clover innocently wiggled with joy as it seemed infectious because Lucky smiled wider, Clover played some more with Lucky the two enjoying their games.

They didn't talk much about themselves, past, family, or magic. When they were together they felt equal no longer seeing one as a higher status than the other. They played as children would and talked as children did, never worried about politics and current society. Even if Lucky was the first prince and often talked as if he was an adult when they first met when Clover got his childish side to come out none of it mattered and the two years of freedom from having to be high and mighty really took a lot off Luckys shoulders. Clover noticed and felt a sense of sadness for a boy who has such expectations on his shoulders to be the king of the country in the future.

Nevertheless, with his ego, Clover knew he'd be okay.

When they both separated that day Clover never asked when the boy would be leaving thinking it was probably in a few weeks. But...the next day when Clover opened the shop and the Lucky never showed up his heart sank realizing he never even said goodbye.

"That stupid brat!" Clover cursed as the sky darkened.

Although he said that, behind the cloth on the boy's face revealed tears glistening in his eyes as he bit his lip. Clover tried to steady himself like the man he is, but just couldn't! He took a shaky breath as he slowly sat on the floor behind the counter as tears slipped down his cheeks. His throat felt choked up. Clovers flushed with sadness, looking like a helpless child.

Lucky was his only friend in this world.

Clover sniffed wiping the tears on his cheeks before smiling painfully, and he was gone, probably never to meet again. It's okay though, Clover stood up as he trudged to the closed door listlessly before stopping in his tracks, his foot had hit something hard and when he looked down he saw a big bag. Clover looked below with confused eyes as he opened it slightly his mouth gaping open as a surprised gasp left his lips.

It was a bag of gold! And a letter was tied on the rope holding it intact.

Opening the contents of the letter another wave of sadness hit him. Sighing deeply Clover lunged the heavy bag up to his shoulder in a bear's hold and walked the streets lit by magic ore.

-

𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒! 𝐿𝑒𝑡'𝑠 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑜𝑛. 𝑂ℎ, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑎𝑦𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑. 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑙𝑙 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑒𝑡.

-

But as days passed so did the seasons and with the seasons came the years. Clover never once saw a hair of Lucky again...