Chapter 14

The helix stairs had several branches, and each one led to different sides. They went to the small room at the end of the great hall right beside one of the giant sculptures, which belonged to the astronomer Alendan. It was the port room. A room that is going to every part of the castle. While they got into the room and were ready to go. Suran said, "I'm going to show you all around here."

He took his hand, and a second later, they were inside a portal room in the west part, then they left quickly.

"While you have the portal rooms, what's the reason for having stairs?"

"There are many students who can't use portals. It's a wasting of time for all of them to use them, but they are allowed to use the rooms only in emergencies."

"Oh, that is right," "when we were in the station, people were talking and looking at you excitingly, it seems that you are an idol to them," Athor said that with a sneer.

"Do you think that way?" Suran asked.

Even in tales when the prince is handsome and strong everyone fell in love with him.

Athor nodded his head; the price was handsome to him. They got close to a big door; it had an ancient engraved tree on it. They stopped in front of it, and he knocked on the door, the branches started moving away to the right side, and a minute later, it was open. Athor's eyes widened by the shock of all he was facing across his eyes, and could not believe his eyes.

As they walked in, the king was already there waiting in the hall beside the white curtain; the wind used to make them dance in the air, surely he knew that they are inside the castle, but didn't show up at first to let them spend some times together.

"Hello, please accept my apology for being late; it took time to convince our new member. Certainly, it wasn't easy" Suran said putting his hand around Athor shoulder and smiling at him.

Athor was being shy, rolled his head down, still was amazed at what had happened from a few hours ago, and after a short hesitance, he swallowed another deep breath and said "Hello, your majesty."

He didn't know what to say and wasn't ready to see a king a front of him especially an elf king.

The king took steps toward and got closer to him; now that their distance was shorter, he opened his hand and replied "Hello, my sons" Then turned his sight to Athor and said, "I'm Sayan, welcome to elf's region."

Athor stretched out his hand and shook hands with him "I'm happy to see you, your majesty."

King Sayan smiled warmly, reached his hand, and said "please be comfortable, you don't need to call me by the epithet".

He shortly smiled, which definitely was not a comforting situation to him, and replied "yes, sir" and thought, "I wish all people on earth could have the same region, kind and warm-hearted people." However, it was too soon for judging.

He watched around, noticed that elves' houses have the same architecture as the castle, there were not so many differences between them. They had the same magnificent beauty.

He attenuates to the king's face, just enough short to not to be considered rudeness. There were so many unspoken words behind king Sayan's gaze, which they were looking forward to finding a way out, he could only see all of that in his eyes, but he couldn't comprehend his happiness just beside his significant pain which was evident in his eyes screaming from the deep of his soul.

After going through so many hard situations and seeing every kind of people specifically those who were living around him; the ones who were tired of being in pain, the eyes of poor children who were spending their lives waiting for someone's help, he could recognize pain from the eyes without hearing even a word.

The king was a middle-aged man, there were wrinkled lines on his forehead, had a long diamond kind face and long black hair, but some grey hairs could also be seen, his blue eyes attracted attention more than anything else, they were more shining stars landing on his eyes. Athor could realize why at this age he was taller than everyone. Because most of them were tall.

Something that caught him, and made him peering at it for a long time was the note on the top of a wooden door, he was able to read it merely, "the king's library", but he was wondering how is that possible. He didn't believe in elves, but he was in their world now, he didn't learn their alphabet, but he could read it!

King Sayan put his hand on Athor's shoulder looked into his eyes and said: "you look exhausted, you'd better have some rest, we'll talk tomorrow."

Athor still was confused about what his destiny brought to his life path, from still life to unknowns; it is a gift or curse he couldn't guess. He bowed, but king Sayan stopped him quickly and said "you should not bow to everyone, but the lord."

He got ashamed and surprised. They believed in god. At least he found a common thing to feel better, the heaviness made his body crouched, and something choked his throat then he wasn't able to speak, to him it was magic. "I'm truly sorry, but I thought this is a sign of respect because we always bow for the king."

"We don't, the king is a simple guardian who must protect people, we'd sworn for it son." The king said. His thick smooth voice could make him feel asleep.

"Oh, that's right. Suran already told me this; I apologize again" Athor said.

The king just noticed that Suran is still there, turned to him who leaned on a round small-sized table, "I'm sorry my son, I'm just so attracted to our new member, and forgot you are here."

He smiled and could understand his feeling "No problem father, I had the same feelings, he also stole all my attention at the first sight, I'll give you right to be attracted."

Athor was amazed again, they injected him with another surprise and with widening eyes, gaping and raising his eyebrows said "father? Son? You?" and looked at Suran and said, "It means you are the prince. Right?"

"Yes, I'm prince Suran," he said warmly.

"That's why people were looking at you that way and showed you to each other, but why you came after me? You could have sent a surrogate." Athor asked.

Suran nodded his head and said, "Well because I was enthusiastic to see you first and preferred to convince you and bring you here with me."

Athor started yawning unexpectedly. He was exhausted and couldn't stand on his feet more than that. Although being so curious to understand more. Showing discipline in such a case was the toughest.

"Alright, you look completely exhausted; it's because of timing differences. Please rest well; we will talk tomorrow",

"Sure father," Suran said.

After many years, the king could see his son smiling. His cold sleeping soul was waking up and gaining a new fresh life.

Looking deep into Athor's eyes, found out that he had a rough life, but still alive, and it was more precious than everything in his life.

He had been fighting for living like all other orphan children who were in need, the ones who knew the value of living more than anyone else in Farya lives and had a prominent perception of it. Their residence was elegant.

They walked to the middle of the hall; stairs connected to the other floors; they scaled up the stairs. They were too much especially when you are tired. Athor thought that he must learn to transport as soon as possible then things will go easy on him. They arrived on the second floor, after passing a short corridor with large size windows the rooms appeared. Suran fetched up, stretched his hand, directed to the second room on the right side, showed him his room, and said "please rest well", Athor thanked him and waited there for a few seconds and saw that his place is just beside him, then he grabbed the doorknob and pushed it in.

The first thing that occurred to his mind was how big the window is, he could see the garden in the backyard, always wished to have a room with a window, so he could wake up to see the sunrise in early mornings. He achieved even more than he asked and dreamed. He was so thankful for all of the blessings the Lord had intended to give him the whole time. Still could not resist that insisting fear within him or brush it away. He took off the boots and heaved himself to that fine bed, it was heavenly fluffy and swan feather was recognizable inside the pillow. As he fell, his eyelids dropped down in peace.