Realizations

"If I'm reading the map right, this should be it"

Hidden behind the lushes canopies of trees and hedges is a rundown house. It was tilting to the right, supported by two logs complimenting the deteriorating walls to prevent it from total fall. Despite the central piece being neglected, the lawn surrounding the house received all the love enough for flowers to flourish and bloom.

"Doesn't look that much mysterious to me, is this really the right place," the book slowly drifted towards the house when all of a sudden, a loud rattle forced it to withdraw and fall to the ground.

"Who's that," Nicolas quickly put his guard up, hand on his sword's handle, prepared to draw. Slowly, he circled around the house, treading cautiously to launch a surprise attack towards the cause of the noise.

After hearing a light crack, he swiftly drew the sword and slashed it blindly, stopping inches from Hunter's face who froze in place, shocked and pale, "You— your majesty, what are you doing here"

"Well, isn't this a surprise, I thought you already killed yourself. Did the guilt finally become unbearable and you decided to seclude yourself here at the edge of civilization," he eased out.

"My mother and I used to live here a few years ago, your majesty. I— I occasionally visits and tends to the flowers when I'm free or the knights order permits it"

Nicolas finally sheathed his sword back in place, "So, you enlisted for the knights. Quite a brave move, especially for a coward like you. Don't pay me any attention then. Forget that you ever saw me in the first place, or else, if I hear you yapping about this to the knights, I will end you. Do you understand"

"Understood," Hunter saluted before picking up the bucket and gardening tools he dropped out of panic, "But refrain from touching the house, I've remedied it, kinda, but it might really fall considering its state.

Without looking back, Nicolas left their conversation at that and continued with his venture. Flipping the book through all the words and illustrations, he had already walked back and forth, climbed up and down the trees but no sign of the well he was looking for could be found. Not even a hint of its whereabouts since the terrain had already changed from the time the atlas was drawn.

"Maybe he really was deranged, I know what a well looks like and if it's really here, I would have found it by now. Unless…," he remembered the vicinity of the old house, "Unless that's thing was intentionally hidden"

Panting, he could only sigh in relief as he finally hiked back. Taking a deep breath as he eyed the large stack of rocks near the hedges that's hiding behind the house. One by one, he took the rocks on the on sides in order to get a clear view of what might be hiding underneath. After half an hour of labor, he finally met the bare ground, conveniently shaped as the thing he is looking for.

"Don't tell me I have to dig down too. So much for an adventure," he took a deep breath, walking towards the side of the house where he saw a shovel as he removed his cloak and set his sword to the side. Getting back in position, he pointed the tip of the shovel to the ground.

Inches before it hits the ground, Hunter came screaming at he shoved the prince to the ground, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING," a hint of anger and confusion was in the boy's voice as he seized the opportunity to take the tool and quickly stacked the rocks back up, "Have you no shame your majesty"

"Shame? Really? You're the last one I'll like to hear that from," Nicolas dusted himself, disregarding the sharp gazes that Hunter casually sends after him.

"I guess being born as royalty really does make you arrogant"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY"

The prince was about to lunged at him when they finally met eye to eye. "This is my mother's grave, your majesty. It might not look like your fancy tombstones or statues but please, I know I don't deserve your respects but at least spare some for her," heaving, he went back to stacking the rocks.

Finally realizing that he's totally in the wrong, Nicolas could only utter the words sorry for the disrespect that he caused.

"It's fine, at least you did not dig up her bones, yet"

"I already apologized didn't I. Look, I know we're already fed up with each other so why don't you help me find something and I'll be on my merry way"

Hunter disregarded him, lost in his own world where nothing else matters but to put the mess back in order for his mother's peace. Nicolas, although pissed, had no choice but to help him reconstruct the memorial. "There, will you help me now"

The boy debated with himself first before he finally placed the last piece and made up his mind, "What were you looking for that's enough for you to disturb my mother's peace, you majesty"

Nicolas could finally breath, he hates Hunter with every fiber of his body but the boy's mother is not a part of that, "I'm looking for this well"

"You should have asked me in the first place," he pointed at the falling house, "Unfortunately, I can't let you enter. As a soon to be knight, I have a duty to… your majesty!," sighing, he had no choice but to follow the prince inside.

Sandwiched between the to-low-for-comfort walls and ceiling of the kitchen was the well they are looking for. Trapped in a situation where one wrong touch would cause the whole structure to fall. Upon inspecting it a little closer, it left a small gap, enough for a person to squeeze through. Nicolas quickly reached for his pockets and procured a match, which was quickly snatched by Hunter behind him.

"I said no touching, and no fires either, you might burn the house down. Besides, how did you even know about this well? The folks disregards it because it's almost always dry ever since I can remember. It's best if we leave at once…," Hunter bravely stared into the prince's eyes only to back down when his eyes started to glow, reminding him of the night of his nightmares.

"This is none of your business. You either give me the match back or—"

"FINE, here," he handed him a small glass, topped with a cloth tied in place with a rope.

"What's that"

"Moss, glowing moss form the river"

His anger dissipated as his curiosity prevailed, "How did you managed to preserve this"

"I turns out you need to water it from time to time. Although it won't work either if it's not bask on moonlight for some time"

"Interesting," Nicolas took the glass and threw it to the well. It did not take long before It hit the bottom and illuminated the landing. "Well then, here goes nothing," before Hunter could even move, the prince already landed, both his feet on the mushy ground as he picked up the moss lamp.

A loud crack came from above and a second later the boy followed him with a thud. Nicolas's condescending gaze spelled his disappointment.

"Save you ridicule, your majesty. The house finally fell and in case you haven't notice," he pointed up, "We're trapped"

"Could be worse," he continued his inspection.

He shone the lamp on the walls of the well. Layered bricks stacked from bottom to the top, algae painting its entirety white the bottom was draped with strong willed weeds attempting to reach the sun. Etched on one of the bricks were scripts that none of them had seen before. When he finally placed his hands to get a feel, the book regained its sentience.

It pirouetted above them, glowing brighter each second, mesmerizing both their eyes as they were left in an awe. Without a warning, its light started to pulse, radiating its bright light to the surroundings. The two were familiar to this sight and its nature, but for some reason it's different. There's no hint of anguish and the soul wrenching grief that Nicolas emits, in contrast, it was calming, as if basking the soul with warmth.

With one big blast of light, the scripture on the walls lit up and together with the book, it crumbled as the display finally came to rest. It revealed a passage that filled Nicolas's veins with excitement.

"Are you seeing this? Glowing moss, glowing mushroom. Almost everything is luminescent," he pulled one of the mushrooms and took a closer look.

"I don't think touching it is a good idea, your majesty"

"No one asked you to be here in the first place. You are free to go back if you want"

They kept on venturing deeper and deeper, following the trail of glowing moss that led them to a spring. From then, they followed it up towards the source only to find a wide area. It was filled with trees with purple, blue, red colored leaves. In the middle is a small island, surrounded by a knee-deep moat. One large tree is rooted on the center, its leaves were the collection of colors and hues while the grass under it mysteriously glows as the duo approached.

Hunter was left speechless. Never in his wildest dreams would he thought that there is a place like this under their house, he felt calm as if something is telling him to rest and stay.

Nicolas on the other hand showed his awe by touching almost anything that caught his eye. As he moved closer to the tree, he found a familiar book clutched on its roots. He reached for it and before he knew it, the tree freed the book from its grasp. With a wide smile, he reached for it, only to be halted by a glowing white arrow that came from above.

"How dare you trespass this sacred ground. Leave at once"

"Not so sacred now I think, especially when you've greeted us with violence," he regrouped with Hunter.

"I don't know what trick you used to be here, but someone who has a soul like yours never step in here"

"And what does one's soul have to do with this place"

"You don't have to know. Kill them"

Nicolas was about to ask more when Hunter finally interrupted, "We're greatly outnumbered, you majesty. What should we do"

One after another, six archers appeared on the branches of the tree, ready to draw their bows with one wrong move. The passage they came was blocked by three swordsmen while another three waits for them at the other side of the moat.

Cautiously, Nicolas surveyed the area. There's not that much of an option but an unlit cave pass the three that's waiting for them, "I lost my sword, did you bring yours"

"I left mine at the barracks"

"What a great time for an ambush then. Did they already train you for hand-to-hand combat"

"A little"

"Good luck then, RUN"

Nicolas swiftly picked up the book and attempted to take the arrow but it dissipated, having no other choice, he went for the closest rock he can find and threw it straight to the swordsmen before sprinting.

Crossing the moat with one long jump, they both shoved two of the men to the ground and went for the other passage. Nicolas, who already exhausted his luck, nearly dodges the third man's blade which grazed his cheeks. The archers at the back took this the chance to snipe at him but he managed to move the second time, missing his chest hitting his shoulder.

"I've seen this tactic before," he quickly caught one of the men on a head lock, "You have friends from Algernon right, have you heard from them since?" he provoked them, shielding himself from any attacks as Hunter waited for him at the mouth of the passage.

"You know them?"

"They tried to kill me once. My guess is that they're that same group from years ago," he broke the man's right arm, pushed him, then quickly ran for safety.

The other passage is felt longer than the one that came from, what made matters worse is the lack of illumination. Little to no hint of glowing moss and mushroom is present and even the moss lamp they had earlier excused himself nowhere to be found. Navigating the path became more problematic than dodging the arrows their pursuers kept on sending their way.

With one wrong move, Nicolas fell to the ground.

"Your majesty!," Hunter came to his rescue, dragging him a little more distance. With the help of the same arrow that's forsaking them, he found a boulder for shelter. "Are you hurt? have you been shot?"

"There's nothing more we can do. I— I guess we're gonna die after all," Nicolas laughed, indisposed as he lose the prideful aura he has.

Hunter who's also at the end of his sanity could only watch him turn tail, not sure how to convince him when he himself is losing hope. The prince kept repeating the names Alisa and Arthur as the footsteps of their pursuers kept echoing as they inch closer in closer. It seems like not only his body had collapsed but also his spirit.

In desperation, he kneeled to the ground and slapped him, "Keep a hold of yourself, your majesty, I know you're more capable than this"

Nicolas slowly looked up to him, shaking and teary eyed, "But, they— they already killed Alisa and— and Arthur, there's nothing else we can do"

"There is, you still have that sword"

"Sword?"

"Yes, the glowing thing that you used that night, when— when you almost killed me"

"Kill? Like they did to Alisa and Arthur?"

Hunter could only bit his lip in anger, clenched his fist before pulling Nicolas a little bit farther, but it was no use. One of the swordsmen rushed towards them and he could only shield the prince with his body. He fell to the ground and the man got a hold of the prince.

"LET HIM GO," he tried his best to push through the pain clung behind the man. Locking his neck, and after one swift blow, he broke his neck, "Your majesty, you need to take hold of yourself. They're going to kill Alisa again if you kept on going on like this!"

"She's already dead"

"She's not," he filled him with lies as he finally got his attention, "She's waiting for us outside, if— if you don't fight back, they're going to kill Alisa again"

He left the prince kneeling on the ground as he tried to fend off the enemy with the best he can. Placing the gamble on his last provocation. Nicolas froze, his eyes constricted as the explosion that took his dear friend replayed continuously inside his mind.

As Hunter took an arrow to his lower abdomen, Nicolas stood up.

Emitting radiant blue around his body, the prince slowly conjured the stem of Hunter's nightmares back to reality as he once again lose himself to the same anger he felt back then. He turned around, deflecting the arrows to his sides with ease. The swordsmen who gave him a hard time got a dose of their own medicine as Nicolas effortlessly parred every attempt to his neck.

As the hatred radiating from his sword intensified, the troupe finally realized that they're totally out of his league. They all tried to return back to the giant tree but with one wave of Nicolas's sword, their point of retreat caved in.

"Must you really leave when the party is only getting started?" he took down the closest target with one strike. "My memories are still incomplete but I know you came back for me. You have the audacity to come back here at Gregoria after you took everything from me," he pointed his sword to one of the archers as he sat down, "Go on, draw that bow, but I assure you, your head will fly in its stead"

The man retracted his weapon, "You think we're scared of death? Even if we die here, as long as we can take your head, our soul will go on and rejoice our victory"

"I see, so you still have no idea you've already lost. I don't know what's your deal with soul but your creeping me out. You don't have to die though. I am more than willing to spare you. You just have to answer me why in this mess up world do you want to kill me"

The group exchanged gazes as they are puzzled by his question. Seconds later, the archer began to laugh, followed by the smiles of his comrades that seemed like a celebration.

"You're saying you don't know? How comical, everything we did so far, every life we've sacrificed, it was all for nothing but a fuss. Oh, how wrong we've been, Donnor," he continued cackling before switching to a more serious tone. "But I guess this is fine too. As long as you still don't know who you are, we still have time"

"What do you mean"

"I'm afraid that's all you can squeeze from us, your majesty," his bow turned to particles as he held the arrow close to his neck and the other's followed his lead, illuminating their ecstatic faces, "Tread lightly Prince of Gregoria, nurture your soul well and never lose sight of who you are"

Blood painted the ruble, their swords and bows gradually lost their glow, reverting to light particles as their horrifying smiles we're immortalized.

"By this point I can safely assume that they're a cult right?" among the ruble came the book they found, floated towards him before settling on his left open hand, "Isn't that convenient"

He browsed through the book only to be disappointed. It no longer had any clues about his peculiar ability but one last message from his grandfather.

"Isn't this place wonderful, it calms the soul and eases the mind, what's more peculiar is that in here, I don't feel thirst, I don't get hungry. If I we're the one to decide, I would stay here forever. Laying down on the glowing grass as I watch the fireflies decorate the leaves. Documenting the peculiar plants and it's reason for existence.

I have no idea how long I've been here but it must have been years. My brother must already have a family by now, but I know I can no longer go back. After all, it took me years just to find this place, moreover on the other end of the continent.

How I long to see those plains of Gregoria once again. If only one of the exits to this cave would lead back there, I would take the chance to ask forgiveness to them. Oh, how I wish for it to be, it would have also made your journey simpler if only that well had permitted my entry before, but I guess that's all in the past now.

I realized that I've been worrying about the future that I probably won't even get to see. Forgive me, my blood, but this is as far as my attempt will go. I'm going to live my life"

"So, you bolted at the end, maybe you indeed have lose screws," he closed the book, "All is not lost though, at least he left some clues. He found this place on the other end of the continent, so how did we managed to find it here at Gregoria"

"It must be like those stories, a space that has no permanent address. Something that only shows up to those that we're called, my mother used to tell me stories about it. A place that also opens itself to deserving souls"

"Souls here souls there, what in the world are you all talking about. Just die already like the rest of them"

Hunter tried to laugh only to cough blood.

"Just so you know, I still hate you. I have no intention of helping you. I'd very much prefer to take your head but this is fine too, a slow death where you can slowly feel your body losing its functions as it gets cold," Nicolas walked pass him.

"Your majesty—"

"In case you have forgotten, your plead for forgiveness won't change anything. I will never bring Alisa back," Nicolas exclaimed as his sword glowed even brighter. Hunter knows how much hate that glow contains, he had seen it before.

"I know," he weakly breath. "But I'm doing all I can to try and make amends for what I did. I have been training as a knight for the past two years now, hoping that I can at least atone even a bit for my sins," Hunter got down to his knees, shaking from the pain.

"Who cares about what you feel. Don't you know how much pain you've cost me and Mrs. Valorona? All you can do now to atone is to die here, never seeing the light of day," Nicolas pointed his blade at the boy.

"Believe me my Prince, I know that what I did was unforgivable and the pain I had cost you is far from bearable. I don't have a family that will miss me even when I'm gone, my mother, she died after the incident, but please understand. It's not only you who was scarred by what happened," he lowered his head to the ground even more.

"I too had suffered the consequences for my actions, every day and every waking second for the past nine years. I'm doing my best to obtain the forgiveness I can't even give to myself. That's why for— for the past years after their memorial was raised, I tended it in the dark without no one knowing. Hoping that I'll at least see a spark of the light that I, no, we lost that night."

"Are you expecting me to believe you?" Nicolas could only laugh, with parts of his memory back, his hatred for him had reach a different kind of level. He was about to move on when Hunter finally fell to the ground.

He debated, staring at the sword on his hand and forced to choose between his pride and hatred or saving the life of the boy. Taking a deep, he remembered the vague memory of Alisa. Bright smile, soft voice with a caring tone. The perfect portrait of kindness and beauty.

He reminisced about her cheerful laughter and their boundless banters as he asked himself, "What would Alisa do in this situation," he hates to admit it but he already knows the answer. Taking one last glance of his sword, he reverted it to particles before sighing.

Moments later, they found themselves in front of the bridge, traversing the path towards the castle gates as the other knights came to their rescue.

"Are you awake," he asked, tapping Hunter's cheeks.

"Barely"

"This does not mean that I've forgiven you. I don't care if you become a respectable knight, I don't care what you do with your life but remember this, I still haven't forgiven you. So, if you somehow lived never show your face to me ever again. The next time I see you, I might really kill you myself"

Horns sounded as the knights finally got a hold of the injured boy, behind them is the Queen, worried sick and crying as she caged the prince in her arms. Frederick on the other hand was unamused, wearing the meanest look he can give.