The night continued to shine with the bright moon. Every individual in the tiny kingdom gathered around the bonfire while listening to a tale.
"This festival not just symbolizes harmony and harvest. It does mean that two souls promise to stay together regardless of the situation."
Elric folds his left leg to his chest as he sits on the wooden log with the rest. His white robe circled him as though he were a lotus seated in the middle of the ocean. His chin rests on the knee while he listens to the epic tale with closed eyes.
"Souls do not have gender. Am I correct, grandmother?"
The granny smiled at the young prince. "That is true, your highness."
Elric's ears perk up listening to it. The people smiled at each other, their prince looking just like a divine soul.
"Souls do not have gender. However, he holds positive, negative, masculine, and feminine energies." The granny further added, holding the cane tightly and sitting on a chair provided for her. She gave a smile to the young prince. "Your Highness, you hold the most pure soul. You have the kindness that others rarely hold."
Elric did not understand how to reply. He ducks his head down, whispering a thank you. He could feel his cheeks turning warm. With hesitation, he glanced at Arson.
The boy watched him with a tender smile as though he agreed with everything the granny said. Elric looks away, feeling his cheek turning even redder. Perhaps he could blame the bonfire for this or someone still looking at him.
The lurking shadows nodded to each other. One masked person signaled his team member to climb the short tree. The other was quick to climb and take his arrow dipped in snake poison.
The shuffling sound caught Elric's attention. He swiftly turns around, eyes scanning through the darkness with a narrow gaze. The frown deepened when everything looked still. He turns his head, catching the eyes of Arson. He shook his head with a smile. However, he did feel something was wrong.
The black-masked man exhaled while his body was pressed to the tree trunk. He swiftly turns his attention to his other member, who pulled a sword from his back, ready to attack in case of emergency. They locked eyes and nodded to each other.
The first person gestured for the other two to be ready. The person on the tree pulls his arrow in the bow and stretches it with aim at the target. He took a deep breath and waited for the instruction from their leader.
The target is smiling at the other prince. The leader glanced at the shining moon and plucked a few blades of grass; he dropped them in the air, watching them flutter in a west direction. He looks at the man sitting on the tree and nods.
The arrow is drawn against the bow, stretching it to behind their eye level. His eyes focused on the boy behind the fire. The flames were hiding the side of his face. However, it cannot stop him from reaching his target.
The right grip loosened, allowing the arrow to tear through the air and find its destination. However, the assassin's eyes widen when the young prince stands up, shielding his target.
The arrow tore through the white fabric, piercing the skin, and the smile wiped from Elric's face. His eyes lock with Arson's as he gasps.
Arson is quick on his feet, running to Elric, who falls on his knees, unable to breathe. He inhales through an open mouth and falls into Arson's arms. The crimson iron glides past his lips while the royal crown falls from his head.
The people around gasped and circled their young prince. The subjects started crying, looking at the arrow pierced through their prince.
The assassins, noticing the disaster, left the scene in a hurry. However, they couldn't get past the predator gaze.
Arson's gaze falls on the burning sticks, the bonfire made to overcome the fear. He focused on the rustling sound of people running in agility, trying to elope from the scene, very much aware that the beheading was the only outcome.
Arson held one end of the burning stick, the force pulling the triangle to collapse, and he threw it towards the one running man.
The burnt wood slams against the back, tumbling the man onto the ground with a thud. His jaws hit the ground, scraping the skin. He stood up in haste; however, he fell back because his foot was stuck in between the uproots.
He stands up again. But he felt a warm sensation around his leg. He yelps, looking towards his team for help. However, they were nowhere to be found. He starts running again, wishing the wind to put out the fire.
Suvain did not need any command from his crown prince. When their eyes met, he understood the task. He ran with quick agility, following the assassin. The dagger reflected the fire, swallowing the pride of the assassin.
The knife cuts through the fire, piercing into the leg of the black-robed man, just as the arrow took Elric's breath.
How courageous of him to hurt the prince!
Suvain gripped a handful of the man's tangled hair, yanking him through the dense underbrush of the forest. Branches tugged at their clothes as they made their way toward the shimmering lake, its surface glinting invitingly in the moonlight.
The man writhed in both the pain of fire burns and stones scraping his body.
"Please spare me; I was not attacking that prince."
When the man confessed. His anger rose even higher. So, it implies the assassination was not for Prince Elric, but rather for his crown prince, Arson Ritz.
"You are courageous. You dare to harm my crown prince!" Suvain kicks the man into the lake. "You shall receive the reward of your worth. I, the Commander of the Amorite army, shall make it true."
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Arson tore his outfit at the end and wrapped it carefully around Elric's wound to stop the blood flow.
"Please remove the arrow from our prince."
Arson glanced at the panicked man and nodded his head. "You, please call the physician and a room to let him stay." Arson points at another man.
The male quickly ran to complete the task. Meanwhile, Arson slides his arm below Elric's knee and another on his waist as he takes the man in his arms.
He glanced at the fallen crown. "You'll wear it again."
The old woman ducks down and takes the crown in her hand. She took slow steps, following Arson with Elric in his arms. The people are crying aloud, looking at the sky, whispering prayers to save their prince.
People stood in their steps in front of the hut, whereas Arson entered it with a swift motion. The old woman is holding the crown to her chest with all the people's eyes staring at the open door of the hut.
The royal physician is riding the horse with his subordinate. The physician swiftly got off the horse, followed by his subordinate. He takes the bag brought along after knowing the situation from a guard hurriedly explaining the things.
The crown prince, along with his father, the king, came with their horses.
The subjects stood up and bowed deeply to the king and the crown prince.
"How is my son?" The king asked, walking inside the hut.
The king's eyes widened when the arrow was pulled from his son's shoulder. He rushed to his son's side, his heart pounding with fear and concern. "Stay calm, my boy," he whispered, kneeling beside him, while his subordinate quickly signaled for the healers to come.
The prince whimpers, parting his eyes for a blink and closing it again. The king's throat tightened as he gently cradled his son's head in his hands, studying the wound with a mix of desperation and disbelief.
"You will be alright," he assured the prince, his voice barely above a whisper, as a wave of healers rushed into the hut, their hands steady and ready to work.
The healers quickly assessed the situation, their faces a blend of urgency and determination. As they moved with practiced efficiency, the king could only pray that their skills would be enough to save his son from the brink of despair.
"Your Highness, please do not close your eyes." The royal physician instructed his helper to open the bag and take the thread-like pins.
"Get a bowl of warm holy water and mix these herbs in this." The physician instructs his helper. He held Elric's palm, noticing his skin turning a light shade of blue. The face is turning paler.
"Your majesty, the prince has been hit by the arrow dipped in venom. We have very little time to save the prince."
"What is stopping you? What do you require? Tell me; I shall get everything, no matter where it is. I request, please save my son." The king's stern voice trembled at the end.
Arson, standing aside, steps forward. "What do you need?"
The healer's eyes were filled with urgency as he replied, "We need the rare flower that blooms only at dawn in the Elderwood Forest. Its petals can counteract the venom, but it must be plucked when the first ray of sun falls on it." The physician looks at the young prince. "Let us wish I could remove the venom before dawn, and we do not require the flower."
The king's expression hardened with determination, and he nodded resolutely, ready to send his fastest riders on the perilous quest.
The physician glanced at the sleeping Elric on the bed. "His Highness needs to stay awake and bear all the pain. His Highness has to keep sitting throughout the time, and no moment should be made, or the pins will twist and bring danger to his highness."
The king looks around the hut. "Please get a chair for--"
"Sorry, your majesty. Let me help." Arson whispered and sat on the bed. His arms tenderly wrap around Elric's waist, pulling the boy close to him. The shallow breath falls on his neck as he takes Elric's leg and pulls it over his lap, allowing the man to sit on his lap with his head resting on his chest.
"Are you a toad? Do you not--" Aaron's words were cut off by the father raising his hand in the air. "Let him; I do see worry and care in his eyes for my son."
Aaron shook his head. "But, Father, he cannot! This is very intimidating. Two people being so close is not right. He could see and feel Elric's..."
Arson watches the physician swiftly dipping the pins in the warm bowl of water. "Your Highness, if that's the case." He takes the sash from his waist and wraps it around his eyes. The outer robe is falling apart, showing the inner white robe. "Your majesty, my eyes are closed, and I shall hold the prince without any inappropriate touch."
The king smiles, glancing at the wide-mouthed prince. "I'm trusting my son. Please make sure he stays awake."
The king and the crown prince vacate the hut. The people made way for the king. They brought a single bed from someone's home and carefully wrapped a new bed sheet. "Your majesty, please have a seat."
The king nods and sits on the bed with grace. His eyes focused on the hut. The subjects glanced around themselves. "Your Highness, please sit. Our prince is a fighter and has always been the kindest. The creator shall never do injustice."
Aaron glanced at the bed and shook his head. "My brother is fighting for his life. I cannot sit and wait for his death."
The king snaps his gaze at his elder son. The eyes commanded him to keep his mouth shut and not sprout nonsense. Aaron lowered his gaze, holding his sword tightly.
Suvain was dragging a half-drenched man in the water and torn, burnt clothes wrapped around his wounded body. The man was barely breathing.
The subjects gasped at the sight.
"He is the one who aimed the arrow at the young prince." Suvain pulls the man to the center of the crowd.
Aaron pulls his sword to behead the man. The man even in shallow breaths trembled, wishing for his death. However, Suvain put his palm against the sword.
"Your Highness, please pardon me for this action. However, you cannot kill him without a proper interrogation. We should know why this person did so and what and who guided him."
The king nods his head. "Put him in the dungeon and keep an eye on him. He shall not die. Keep him alive until further instruction from my end."
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Inside the hut, Arson heard the noise of fabric tearing. Noticing Arson's furrowed eyebrows, the physician explained, "I'm tearing his highness's cloth near the wound. Since the arrow has poison, I shall remove the venom before it reaches the vital organs."
"Please do so," Arson whispered, cradling Elric close.
The healer takes the needle dipped in the water closes his eyes, whispers a few chants, and carefully pushes the first needle on the right side of the wound, thankful that the blood stopped flowing and making the process easier.
Elric gasped, clutching Arson's robe. A sharp breath passed his lips with a whimper. Arson swiftly cradles Elric's face. "Please stay with me, hmm? We have a lot to explore. You wish to visit my kingdom. I shall take you there and give you everything."
Elric's anguished cry echoes through the dimly lit hut as yet another needle plunges painfully into his skin, the sharp sting cutting through the silence like a knife.
Arson felt the needle tearing his heart, and the pain was unbearable. "Everything is fine. This is needed for you to get well." Arson caressed his cheek tenderly.
Elric closed his eyes tightly, gritting his teeth as another needle pushed inside his skin. "Hu-hurts!"
The physician closed his eyes, drawing in a shaky breath as he steadied himself. With a practiced yet trembling hand, he grasped Elric's limp fingers, feeling the warmth still lingering in them.
He took a moment to assess the situation, the weight of his responsibility heavy on his shoulders. Carefully, he took another needle, its metallic tip gleaming under the candle lights. With a focused determination, he aligned the needle with Elric's vein, pressing it gently but firmly into his skin.
Elric yelps, shaking his head. "Hurts! hurts so much!" He cried with tears flowing in his eyes.
Arson held Elric's body to immobilize him. According to the instruction, he shouldn't move or lose his consciousness. Arson hugged Elric and tucked Eric's face on his neck. He takes the end of his sash, carefully rolling it in one hand. "Bite this."
Elric parted his lips, a surge of nervous energy coursing through him as he clenched the fabric between his teeth, the rough texture grounding him in the moment.
His voice, muffled and strained, barely escaped as another needle plunged into the flesh of his left hand. The sharp, stinging pain radiated through him, intensifying the tension that gripped his entire body.
"My prince is brave," Arson whispered, and Elric bit the fabric harder with his veins popping on his forehead. Tears flow down his face, eyes turning redder while it felt heavy to keep them open. The fabric fell out of his mouth as he fell limp on Arson's hold.
"Your Highness is losing his consciousness. Please keep him awake." The healer shouts, gesturing for his helper to get more needles.
Arson held Elric's face. "Please stay awake; I cannot lose you. You are very precious. Please, for me, do not close your eyes."
Elric whimpers softly, a sound of pain escaping his lips as he feels the cold needle puncture his vein, tearing through the tender flesh. With a struggle, he pries his eyes open, desperately searching for the familiar face of his friend. As his gaze lands on Arson, his heart tightens.
Arson's face is turned away, obscured to him, and a dark cloth is tightly wrapped around his eyes, leaving him blind to the chaos around them. Elric's own eyes begin to glisten with unshed tears, the red hue reflecting his anguish and fear in that harrowing moment.
"Please do not hate me," Elric whimpers, raising his hand to hold Arson's face. The hand fell in a firm grip of the healer. "Your Highness, please do not move."
"Please pardon me; I did not wish to hurt you." Elric took his hand away and wrapped it around Arson's neck. "Please forgive me,"
Arson couldn't understand why the young prince was apologizing. Why are his cries tearing his heart apart as though every fiber of the heart is being skinned to thin slices? This is taking his breath away.
The boy's sobs are not helping him to calm his mind either. Why is this happening anyway? This was supposed to be an auspicious day. A beautiful day of festive vibes. Alas! Nothing goes according to wishes.
Arson tightened his grip on Elric, drawing the boy in closer until their faces were mere inches apart. The intensity in Arson's emotions bore into Elric, a mix of urgency and determination shining through the shadows.
As he held him, Elric could feel the warmth radiating from Arson's body, contrasting sharply with the chill in the air, amplifying the weight of the moment.
"Hush, we shall survive through this. You are a brave prince. Do you not wish to play with our tiny sparrow?" He caressed his hair tenderly. "It must be waiting for us."
The physician worked diligently, his hands moving with practiced precision as he swiftly removed the needles from the prince's skin, each one sliding out with a soft pop.
His fingers were careful yet efficient, ensuring the process was as pain-free as possible. As he prepared the new needles, he organized them neatly on a small tray.
Arson leaned in, his voice low and steady, urging the prince to hold onto hope and remain resilient. "Stay strong, my prince," he whispered, his words laced with a calming warmth.
The prince, overwhelmed by the situation, clutched the fabric of his robes, his face flickering with moments of distress.
He retaliated against his fears by humming a soft hum and tender nod, the sound barely rising above his quiet sniffles and occasional whimpers as he tried to drown out the pain and anxiety swirling around him.
The physician carefully removes each needle, one by one, from Elric's skin. With a practiced motion, they let the needles fall into a container filled with clear water. As each needle enters the liquid, a small splash dances across the surface, and the water begins to darken incrementally.
The once pristine water takes on a shadowy hue, transforming as the metallic objects settle at the bottom, their sharp points now submerged in the murky depths. Each needle adds to the grim coloration of the water, creating a somber reflection of the procedure just completed.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
Two figures are running through the dark forest in the deep night. They dare not look back, nor do they wish to stop their exhausted trembling legs.
"Our task," the leader spoke through his breath. The forehead and neck throbbing with exhaust.
"They have caught him, leader," the other person replied, turning to look back. However, there is no trace of his subordinate.
"I know; he would never tell the truth through his teeth."
They stopped for a moment, the heart pumping against the chest. Taking deep and short breaths through their mouths. Sweat glued their black attires to their skin. The chilling cold winds are raising goosebumps.
"Shall we rest here, leader?" The subordinate falls on the bed of grasses. Finding comfort on the grass. It turned extremely difficult to keep the eyes open.
"We do have come afar from the land. Yet, we are one night away from Amorite. We must report to his highness about the disaster before he gets the news and beheads us."
He looks around, even though he is feeling tired while the sun is rising at any moment. "We can rest for a few moments. But we must start our journey with the first ray of the sun."
As the sun rises, its golden light filters through the lofty trees, their dark, dense foliage creating a striking contrast. The rays dance across the glimmering blade of a sword, highlighting its polished surface and the intricate engravings that hint at a storied past.
The figure of the bearer sat resolutely atop his sleek black horse, a striking silhouette against the dimming light of the forest. His fingers gripped the hilt of his sword with increasing intensity, a reflection of his determination as the horse's hooves splashed through the muddy earth below.
The ground, rich and damp from the lack of direct sunlight filtering through the thick canopy of leaves overhead, betrayed the presence of others.
Each footprint in the soft soil marked the passage of the assassins, who had, in their arrogance, dared to believe they had eluded capture. They lay unsuspectingly, asleep in the underbrush, lulled by the false sense of safety—ignorant of the lurking danger.
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