23 Sense of loss

The forests that border the quaint town of Melvedore are dense and mysterious. Few dare to venture deep into these woods, though they either do not delve far enough to uncover the concealed secrets or they cannot return to disclose them to the world.

No one knows how old this forest is, since how long ago these trees have been growing from small saplings to the large woods that they are now. Hence the name, 'Old Jade Forest.'

Because of how dense this grove is, it is difficult for any vehicle to cover long distances.

Aries, though, with his strong long legs, pierced through the thick trees and glided on the green grass with incredible speed. Eleanor, perched atop his back with elegance and grace, looked like a fierce warrior princess from the olden times, on her way to join the troops in a war waged against other nations.

But neither was it the eighteenth century, nor was Eleanor a warrior, let alone a princess. Her mother may disagree, though.

Eleanor felt the cool winds against her fair face, and the powerful gust of air made her loose tresses float behind her. She saw tall trees and grey rocks, small shrubs and colorful flowers and herbs, all merge into one abstract blur as they all zoomed by.

Eleanor loved riding her bicycle down the busy roads of the town and in her large University campus. But sometimes she wished she could summon Aries and whiz past those polluting motor mobiles during bad traffic.

Aries was an exceptionally intelligent horse of a rare breed, which exactly that Eleanor was unaware of. She kept Aries hidden from the world in order to protect him because people would raise questions on a bourgeoise owning a horse, and if she tried to explain their friendship, greedy people would only take advantage and try to capture Aries on the pretext of a wild horse without an owner is fair game for everybody.

When the horse reached their destination, the rider jumped down from his back.

Eleanor looked around her paradise. The waterfall was consistent, and the grass danced along with the mellow breeze. Direct sunrays fell on the water and reflected off the surface of the river, making it look like shimmering pearls and crystals lay within its depths.

She patted Aries on his crest and nuzzled him toward the clear stream for a refreshing drink to rejuvenate him.

Eleanor's striking features wilted into a frown. She felt perplexed at the absence of bodies that should have been lying there on the grass.

'Ok, maybe they gained consciousness and ran away. But, that doesn't explain the lack of any signs of the fight that happened here. I know there was blood spilled here on the grass.'

Eleanor bent her knees and stared hard at the clean blades of the green grass under her feet. She searched high and low, but did not find what she was looking for. Well, it wouldn't be incorrect to say Eleanor did not know what exactly she was looking for.

She wanted to find any evidence related to the scuffle from the day before, but there was nothing. And this made her even more doubtful about the identity of that man and those assassins sent to kill him.

Defeated, she sighed and gave up on trying to find any clues, for they seemed nonexistent. Questions brimmed in her mind and only the one person who had disappeared without a word could answer them.

Eleanor held back another sigh. Why does that person, whom she only knew for a couple of days, make her feel such a sense of loss at his departure?

'Where are you, Will? Why did you leave without saying a word?'

___________________________________

William Luther Sigwald sat inside a long, dark limousine and stared outside through the tinted windows.

Giant, lofty, iron gates stood before him, as he waited patiently for his men to alert the guards and have them open the gates. With a relaxed purr, the car gently rolled inside, and vast houses that showcased a modern take on ancient architecture, greeted him.

Each home had a different style theme that was unique to them alone, and their well-kept lawns with mowed grass and colorful plants added to their aesthetics.

The concrete paths were paved to perfection. Not a single bump on the road and the car sailed smoothly down the streets.

The crown prince was glad he came unannounced, otherwise, flashy banners, blinding lights and noisy people would have filled these streets at the fall of dusk.

Too bad the eager subjects would not get to welcome their future monarch.

After long and dull minutes, the car stopped near another pair of tall, imposing gates, though this time they were golden.

This one, compared to the previous one, was way more magnificent with opulent carvings of a majestic lion in the center, an eagle on the top and a snake at the bottom.

Will was reminded of his young self asking his father the meaning that lay behind these carvings.

"They're the guardian animals of Neviza." His mother who overheard his question had answered with an indulgent smile before his father could speak. "It is said that an eagle is a messenger of the gods, and its feather symbolizes freedom, honor, power and immortality. You already know the lion signifies Royalty. It is a majestic and ferocious creature. A snake is a symbol of regeneration and rebirth. Also, the energy of consciousness."

His father had then taken him in his arms and said, "That is right. Do I not always tell you, son? Be wise and powerful, full of vigor like an eagle, be courageous and bold like a lion and-"

"- Shrewd like a snake." He muttered out unwittingly along with the memories unreeling in his mind.

The driver thought he heard the prince say something, but was not sure if it was a command for him or not. He kept quiet, hoping that his master had not called for him because he knew that he might get punished for asking the devil prince to repeat himself.

Without a sound, the gates opened, and the limousine slid in. From afar he could make out the dark silhouette of the castle. The driver followed the cement path, and the car climbed upwards to reach the palace.

As the journey progressed, Will felt his calmness dissipate and his clouded eyes reflected his conflicting emotions that overwhelmed him with sorrow and an irreparable sense of loss.

Soon they reached near the enormous palace that looked radiant in the day's light and mesmerizing in the night's darkness, illuminated by the pale glow of the moon.

Fortified, thin walls made of obsidian connected the strong round towers that are both defensive and decorative aspect of this elegant castle. In perfectly symmetrical patterns, tall, wide windows littered across the walls.

Neatly trimmed beds of grass with overgrown hedges and groomed flower bushes occupied the palatial gardens that embellished the outside of the castle.

There were also statuesque fountains that had thin streams of crystal clear water erupting from their spouts in fixed trajectories so the water did not spill out of the basins.

The outside of the palace was the epitome of peace and serenity, but the same could not be said about the inside.

The servants in the palace were trying not to run and get in trouble by walking speedily down the halls, helter-skelter. The sudden dump of the information about the crown prince's arrival had wreaked havoc upon them.

He was supposed to come days before, yet he did not. And now that there's supposed to be no news from him, he suddenly announces his return?

Their work was cut out for them, and they did their best to complete their assigned tasks in record time.

The eldest person in the castle, Philip Henry Sigwald, steadily made his was down the stairs in an upright and dominant gait, to welcome his grandson home.