Chapter 1 - Prologue - The Cause of Everything (1)

There are many different worlds, and each has its own stories, and this one is no exception. Here you can find stories of Dragons being defeated by knights in shining armor, warrior kings defending their kingdoms from evil, and heroes putting a stop to demons and other evil creatures.

However, there are also stories of evil defeating good such as, a dragon's children being hunted by knights so that they could prove their honor, but the dragon ends up destroying the knights' land. Or where an evil god starts a war between humans which ends everything.

But this story is completely different, this story starts with the days of two young twin boys, who were princes kept in a tower for their own safety. Whether it was because of the conflicting feelings of their Uncle or the protectiveness of their father.

One day, they were leisurely enjoying a day in the tower they were kept in, one was by the window sill reading, while the other was in the center of the room playing with a toy sword.

The two princes quite enjoyed those days, even if they were forbidden from going outside. But one eventually had a thought, and said to his brother…

"Hey Andros, what do you think the outside world is like?" the younger of the two twins asked, pausing from swinging his wooden sword.

"Why ask that when you can see from the window?" Andros, who was the older of the two twins had replied while flipping his page, "Valor, don't you know that there isn't any point in asking?"

"And why do you think that? Is it because you have given up hope in going outside of the tower, let alone the castle walls? Don't you know that there is more than just the same courtyard we see every day?" Valor had said in turn.

"Well obviously not, I just don't see the point in wondering or asking that, it's not like we'll ever get to see it…at least not until we're older," Andros lamented.

"You shouldn't think like that! Besides Father comes to see us every week and brings us presents, like the novels you love to read of so much, or food from far-off lands!" Valor exclaimed with delight.

"He may be doing that now, but I know that one day he'll get sick of having to come all the way here and instead just stop coming altogether," Andros said closing his book and turning to his brother, "If you keep on hoping that we will see it, you will eventually jinx it and we'll die in this tower having never seen the outside world."

"Gods, you are so negative today! What has gotten into you? You normally talk about your books and how you wish that was the outside world that we long to see, what happened to that?" Valor complained.

"I realized a few things, that's all. And I think it's time you stop being so rainbow-eyed, just go back to swinging that toy sword of yours and rethink your thoughts," he said in a stern manner.

"Ugh, whatever! You are no fun! One of these days I'll make you realize that you were wrong and that having those thoughts wasn't worth it!" Valor retorted.

The two brothers didn't talk to each other the rest of the day, and for the next few days, they didn't talk about the outside world or what they thought it to be like. The two boys tried their best to make each day peaceful, but even they quarreled sometimes.

Most of the time it was over some little trivial thing, whilst other times, it was over more important things, or at least what they deemed important. One of the things they deemed important was their lineage, after all, every servant that came to their tower referred to them as "Your Highnesses," like the maid that came and took care of them every day.

"Your Highnesses must eat everything on your plates so that the two of you can grow up strong and healthy just like your father!" the maid had said to the two of the twin brothers.

The maid's name was Adalie, she was the main caretaker of the two brothers. She was also the one who visited them the most, whether it was to play with them, or just bring them necessities and help them bathe.

"But I hate tomatoes, why can't you just tell the chef to not make any tomato dishes!" Andros had complained. He hated tomatoes when they were whole, but never knew that tomato sauce and ketchup were made up of tomato, after all, they never told him what it was for that reason.

"Because the two of you always get the same meals, and your brother loves tomatoes! Plus, then we'd have to get rid of everything else that has food that the two of you hate, which would be practically every side dish!" Adalie exclaimed.

"Andros, if it makes you feel better, I can eat your tomatoes for you and you can have my brussel sprouts!" Valor tried to reason, though he knew Adalie wasn't going to allow it.

"Absolutely not! The two of you need to eat your own food! Now I don't want to hear any more complaining, finish up so that I can get the two of you to bed!" She lectured, wanting them to hurry up so that she could go and rest.

The two brothers then ate their food while silently thinking mean thoughts about Adalie making them eat what they hated. After they finished their food Adalie had drawn their bath, but she stopped helping them bathe, they were nine years old after all, and she deemed that they could do it on their own by now.

Once the two were done with their bath she helped them change into their sleepwear, which they had insisted that she needn't anymore since they took a bath without her help as well.

Both brothers then went to bed, however, instead of immediately going to bed, they demanded that the young maid read them a book. "Well, if you're highnesses insist, then I suppose I'll have to comply!" she would chuckle in response.

The next two years were quite peaceful for the twins, the thoughts they had of the outside world had seised, or at least they didn't share them anymore. And while they still couldn't go outside their tower, they still enjoyed their days reading, learning from a private tutor, and such.

One day though, their peace was suddenly interrupted. It was a week after the twins' 11th birthday, and they were using and playing with some of their new gifts. But, unannounced, someone was climbing the stairs to their tower. And it was none other than their Uncle, Prince Othello Merrick, he still lived in the palace due to not having his own land to rule over, so he still held the title of prince.

"Boys!" Othello shouted, busting through the door. The two brothers were quite startled, not recognizing the man who just called out to them. But, they had thought that he resembled their father in a way.

"Who are you?! And what are you doing here? It was supposed to be our father coming here, not you!" Andros said, getting down from the window sill and stepping in front of Valor in a protective manner.

"Hm, yes I suppose we haven't properly met each other yet. Then allow me to introduce myself! My name is Othello Merrick, and I am your guys' uncle!" He announced, then with his arms wide open he proclaimed, "Now I may not be your biological father, but do not be disheartened, because from now on you will call me Father!"

"No! You're not our father, our father is kind and gentle, not loud and scary!" Valor retorted, but he flinched upon seeing the cold expression on his uncle's face. The boy missed his father, after all, each time he visited he always brought presents that he liked. But this time, however, was a present that he was going to hate.

"Sorry to say this, but your father is no longer with us, and now I am here to take his place," He paused and watched the twins' expression fall into nothing but absolute despair, "But no worries, because at least you get to live, considering that he took the payment for your transgressions…"

"Our transgressions?...How could we have caused any transgressions?! We have been holed up in this godforsaken tower our whole lives! What kind of atrocities could we have possibly made?!" Andros shouted out, surprising Othello.

"...It looks like you got your father's cluelessness…I suggest you keep your little traps shut! Otherwise, you'll end up like Daddy dearest, be grateful I'm having mercy and letting you live," Othello said before turning around and slamming the door before locking it shut.

"Don't give them food for three days, and don't even think of disobeying my orders! Otherwise, you'll end up like your foolish master!" Othello snapped at the maid and guard at the bottom of the staircase of the tower.

Days later, the two boys were finally getting food, but the one to bring it to them was someone they didn't recognize. Each time the servant came in, the boys would hide in a corner by the bed. The servant knew they were there but didn't pay it any mind since they were minding their business and not keeping him.

Each time the servant left the room, the two boys would get up from their "Hiding" place and go check the door. Every time they checked they would put their ear up to the door to try and listen for any footsteps coming up or going down, and every time they would hear nothing and attempt to open the door.

Though every try would be futile, the door would be locked from the outside. They figured it was the servant who came every day to bring them their food, so to be able to at least check what was going on outside they devised a plan to try and steal the key from the poor servant.

But before they could ever bring their foolish plan to fruition, their old maid visited them again. When the twins looked at Adalie with worry, she came to the two of them wearing an expression full of fear and panic.