Unknown Power

Aeron had been locked up for three months in a room with barely any contact with anyone in the palace. The only person he communicated with was a guard that would bring him meals three times a day. While being confined to his room, he had a long time to think about things like the empire, its rules, his father, his siblings, and himself. As he was thinking about all these things, he noticed that the center of all the problems had a common similarity. His father was the main culprit of it all. After coming to terms with the fact his father was at the center, he had no love or affection in his heart for his father.

King Emeric ordered the release of his son from confinement and told the guards to bring him to the throne room.

"Aeron, my son, I'm sorry that I placed you in such a punishment, but it was for your own good. I hope you've learned your lesson and will think twice before trying anything like this again", said the king.

"Yes father, I have learned, and I will think before making rash decisions. I thank you for your kindness", Aeron said respectfully. Aeron was lying to him because he felt betrayed by his father.

Alana and Rose came to go take Aeron back with him when he was released.

"Aeron you are free to go, I hope to hear a lot of good things about you" said king Emeric.

Alana and Rose walk with Aeron to a famous restaurant in Kingsfall. The owner of the shop is a noble with fame throughout most of the Venied Empire. His son, Pierre, was a good friend of Aeron, and they grew up together in the school for nobles. Pierre see's Aeron as a lifelong friend and would never betray him.

Aeron, Alana, and Rose entered the restaurant, when Pierre took them to a special private lounge to talk.

"Aeron, Alana, and Rose thanks for stopping by, how are you guys doing?", asked Pierre trying to be friendly and polite. He could tell the mood in the room was a little down, so he wanted to raise their spirits.

"We're okay ", responded Aeron. "So, what have you been up to Pierre."

Pierre smiles with confidence and says, "Well I graduated from the knight academy and I applied to be you and Alana's personal security guard." He then bows to show respect to Aeron and Alana because of their Royal blood.

"You didn't have to do that Pierre; we wouldn't want to be a burden you." Said Alana.

"We won't treat you any different then you are now, since we've known you for a long time", said Aeron.

"I did it because you guys are my friends and I want to protect you, plus we don't hangout that much anymore", said Pierre. Alana walks over to him and gives him a big hug and she whispered, "Thank you so much Pierre", His face lit up like a cherry from embarrassment because he's had a crush on her ever since they were little.

"Congrats Pierre good luck, you're going to need it with Aeron", Laughed Rose.

Aeron paid no attention to Roses comment knowing that she was trying to be funny. The food comes to the table and they all sit down and begin to eat. Aeron begins to get lost in thought at the table, he starts spacing out and not paying attention to what the others are talking about. His eyes have a cold look to them as if he had seen something that scarred him. Alana looks at him then taps him on his shoulder, he snaps out of it, then turns and looks at her.

"Aeron are you okay?" she asked. You could see the worry on her face. Her eyes were fixed on his face and Aeron felt like he was trapped from telling the truth.

"I'm okay, you don't have to worry about me", he said unconvincingly, but the look on her face showed she didn't believe him, but she said, "I hope you're not lying to me".

After they all ate it was nighttime, so they all said their goodbye's and went their separate ways for the day. Aeron and Alana head back to the palace but they see a small commotion in front of the gate. When they approach the gates, they see Alvis Harpis being blocked by the guards, but he looks like he's in a hurry. They rush over to see what the fuss was about.

"Hey what's going on here?" yelled Aeron, the guards look and see Aeron and Alana, they then stand at attention. The Captain, Mason, steps out to talk to Aeron.

"My lord, this man is trying to enter the palace but audiences with the king are over for today." Said captain Mason "We were told not to let anyone enter."

Alvis then says, "you fool I am the famous mage Alvis Harpis and I'm here to inform the King of a matter of upmost importance".

"let him through captain" said Aeron "now Alvis go see my father."

"Thank you for your help Aeron" Alvis says as he hastily walks away.

"Now guards stay alert" Aeron said before entering the palace.

Captain Mason looked upset that his authority was overruled but didn't act on it because he knew questioning royalty could be considered treason.

Aeron and Alana part ways to go to their respective room. Aeron goes to the far end of the palace to go take a bath. He enters the bath section and takes off his clothes. He then goes to check his body to see if his wounds from three months ago have healed. While looking in the mirror everything around him turns dark and foggy. He starts to get a little scared, but he tries to stay calm and figure out what is happening. The voice he heard 3 months ago came back and, in the mirror, there was now a dark figure which had looked to have wings and glowing green eyes.

Aeron called out to the figure hoping to get a response, "what are you? What do you want?"

The figure stared backed and then replied, "look deep and your dreams can become reality… with your ancient power."

"what power, what are you talking about?" asked Aeron out of confusion. his heart started racing and he could hear its beat in his ears like war drums approaching a city.

The figure reached out its arms as it touched the other side of the mirror and pointed at his heart. "I will help you awaken your power, but you must tame it on your own" it said, then Aeron felt a pain starting to grow in his chest like he was getting branded with hot iron. He yells in agony after the pain becomes unbearable for him to with stand and he falls to his knees. He looks at his chest and sees a bright green light glowing radiantly. He looks at his chest after the light dissipates and he sees a black tattoo that resembles an oval, with points at the top and bottom of it over his heart. The center looked like the eye of a lizard, wide open and forever staring forward, but never closing.

The final words of the figure were "We will meet again." The fog and the figure disappeared but Aeron woke up on the floor. "Was it all a dream?" He asked while picking himself off the floor. When he looked into the mirror, he saw the symbol on his chest. He ran to the bath and tried to rub it off with water, but it was one with his skin. Aeron didn't want to let anyone see the mark, so he got out the bath and put his clothes back on and walked discreetly to his room trying not to bring attention to his self.

While he was walking to his room, his brother Endre saw him and motion him to come over with his hands. Aeron didn't want to act suspicious, so he walked over.

"Were have you been all day, I needed some help. Father asked me to help with a lot of stuff today" Said Endre with a bit of annoyance. He notices Aeron's posture is a little off and Aeron's Sweating likes he's nervous.

"Aeron are you okay you don't look so good?" he asked.

"Oh, um nothing wrong here just uh tried yeah that's it" Aeron replied unconvincingly.

Endre didn't want to pry so he said, "okay then, well you know what never mind about the work. Enzo should have helped me today, so see you later then." He walked back to his room

Aeron, now in the clear, walked back to his room to figure out what was going on. Meanwhile in the king's room King Emeric and Alvis were discussing a very important matter surrounding Aeron.

"Alvis what has caused you to rush to my home this late at night" asked the King.

Alvis replied "old friend I have come to talk to you about your son. He shows a great deal of resentment towards you."

The king looked at a painting of the whole royal family. "I know that Alvis, I do everything I do good or bad for my all children including Aeron." He sighed then continued "I don't understand why the boy feels that way, I try to treat them all as I was treated when I was a young boy. Even if that means a little rough."

"I believe he thinks you neglect to acknowledge him and what he does for you." Alvis said "but Sire that is not the only thing, your son, Aeron, has a dark power inside of him. I have never seen anything like it."

King Emeric face change to a serious expression "what are you talking about Alvis. What is this dark power you speak of?"

Alvis then replied "I have been researching this every time I train Aeron in magical combat. There is no explanation for what he has, but only that he could have the power to become one of the most powerful people in the world."

The king sat down then looked at Alvis "why should this concern me? He's more on the weaker side anyway."

"Because if he hates you enough that could be the catalyst that allows his power to manifest." Alvis replied.

After being warned by Alvis, King Emeric disregarded what he was told and said "I don't think Aeron will ever be powerful enough to kill me or whatever you are trying to get at, so if that's all Alvis you may go." Alvis then thanks the king for his time and leaves and returns to his house.

A week goes by and the mark on Aeron's chest doesn't go away. Instead of panicking has decided to hide it from everyone epically his father. Since he is of royal descent it would be frowned upon if he had some thuggish looking emblem on his chest.

Aeron was looking at the mark in the mirror in his room. "why me? What does this mean, is it a curse or something?" he thought to himself. Alana knocked on the door to Aeron's room.

"Aeron come on its time to eat breakfast everyone is waiting on you" she said impatiently, then she knocks on the door again.

Aeron tried to quickly put his clothes on, but he trips and falls on the floor. After hearing a loud crash Alana rushed and opened the door.

"Aeron are you oka…" she paused in the middle of talking after seeing the mark.

"what is that?" she said in disbelief as she walked over toward him.

Aeron sat up and looked at her "What is that on your chest Aeron?" she said one more time.

Aeron's lips became very dry and he was at a loss of words to say. He then got up and said, "I don't know."

"How do you not know what that is, it's on your body Aeron. Dad's going to be really mad at you, you know that right." She said persistently trying to get it through Aeron's mind.

"He doesn't have to know as long as we hide it from him" Aeron replied. Alana's face show disappointment but she got over it and agreed to keep the mark a secret. They both then go to breakfast and sit next to each other at the table. Everyone else had already begun eating.

"Aeron why is it that your sister has to wake you up in the morning" asked King Emeric.

"I was up I just needed to put some clothes on" replied Aeron

"Well next time do it faster" king Emeric said while eating the last bits of food on his plate. When the King got up from the table, He looked at Aeron and said, "Aeron its time I asked you to do something very important. Meet me in my room." Then the king left the table.

Everyone looked at Aeron to see his reaction, but his face didn't show any type of emotion from what his father had told him.