The exiled prince

“When gods were still humans living on Tverindal, the moon and sun found each other in their loneliness. They were each other’s saviors, a reason for both of them to stay alive. But love that strong was bound to be broken, and the two soon found themselves on the other side of the line; lovers turned into enemies. The moon did everything she could to get the sun back, to be able to fall into her arms once more. The sun didn’t bat another eye at her, though. Convinced by a mere rumor, the sun turned against the moon. People had told her that the moon was planning on killing her to be able to be the greatest and strongest human alive. they were ripped apart and turned into humans hungry for blood. The bloodbath around them didn’t draw their attention; they were too busy fighting out their own war. When the moon looked into her lover’s eyes, she got caught off guard. The sun was able to defeat her in this moment, and the bright woman watched her lover die in her arms. The war ended up in killing all the gods and sending them up to rule through the clouds. Lyle, the kingdom of the sun as we know it now, never forgave what had happened in the myths. And so the war went on for thousands of years. Blinded by the love they once had, the sun and the moon brought their soul down to find each other, each soul picking out a vessel to control."

The maid closes the book when she hears a sigh leave Elai's mouth. “Alright, Elai. Let's end it there. I have got work to do.” The lady gets closer to the door, Elai’s heart starting to beat faster the further she walks from him. “Wait!” He stops her, hand reaching out for her. The lady turns around with a small smile crossing over her face, eyebrows raising and pulling on her old skin. “Can I keep that book with me?” It embarrasses him to ask. He hates admitting he wants to read it, hates the way it interests him in some weird way. The story had always been romantic in his eyes, no matter how much he’s supposed to hate the moon. There was once a moment when they were in love; that was enough for him to accept the circle-shaped god of their enemy land.

“I knew you’d be somewhat interested. Your last maid told me you were quite fond of this story.” The maid puts the book down on one of the shelves and quietly leaves Elai’s room. The silence returns to him once more, books surrounding the boy’s bed. Reading was one of the only things he was allowed to do. He had read every book at least twice, but it was better than playing with his brothers. They were all.. important enough to their father to be allowed to go outside. Mave was the one closest to Elai’s age, a kind and quiet boy ready to join the war when he turns 20. Jaya had already been fighting in the war for 3 years, together with his twin brother Zev.

The last time Elai had properly seen their faces was when they were saying their goodbyes. Elai remembers it was on his own sixteenth birthday, and that he hated the fact that even on such a special day, it was all about his brothers. He still blames his father for the fear his brothers had created towards Elai. After all, King Heseras was the one to tell them Elai was a curse. All because he killed his mother when she was giving birth to him. It was enough for his father to see Elai as a monster, and that rumor only thickened when the prince turned out to be unable to wield fire, unlike the rest of Lyle. When he wanted to show his father what he could do, flames did not travel out of his hands, no. when he reached out to put a cup aflame, it burst into tiny pieces instead. The boy was born with an ability known to be Turi’s specialty; and it made his father make a decision Elai is now still stuck with. He hasn’t set foot outside of the castle, ever. Not one single foot has stepped into the grass of the garden, or never has a nerve felt the festival music bounce through his body. All he does is sit in his room until the morning sun becomes the night sun. Sometimes he opens a window to count the birds he sees or the amount of people that trip. They are simple things, but it is all he has. He waits the days out until- oh! The door to his room opens up, startling the youngest prince. He lets out a soft gasp as he jumps off of the ledge and closes the window as quick as he can. It’s been a while since he saw his father in the flesh. The man looks tired and occupied, yet he came all the way up here.

“Jaya and Zev are back. They want you to come say hi.” Heseras doesn’t take a second time to look at his son. He can’t. He has allowed himself to believe that he truly is a curse; there’s no going back to trying to love the child.

“Hurry up, Elai.” Elai feels shivers travel down his spine; he hates the way his name rolls out of his father’s mouth.

“Elai!” Zev is the first to step forward when his younger brother enters the main hall, eyes looking at the rusty armor that hides Zev’s skin. “Zev.” Elai snarls the name out as he walks towards him. He doesn’t hug him like his brother expects, much rather sticking out his hand without looking at him once. “Eh?” Zev looks down at Elai’s hand with a frown on his face, but decides to play along anyways. They shake hands, the older gritting his teeth when he feels how cold the boy’s hand had gotten.

“How are you doing? Did father change his-“

“Don’t bullshit me. You know he would never.” Elai’s words are only for Zev and Jaya to hear, the king luckily keeping his distance. The twins look back at each other with question marks above their heads. Elai had grown quite an attitude, even towards his brothers. He used to try and be nice to them, to see if he could become friends with his own family. “Why don’t you eat dinner with us tonight? We can step outside of our duties for a few hours and talk about our adventures..” Jaya puts a hand on Zev’s shoulder and smiles down at the slightly smaller Elai.

“Father wouldn’t want that.” Elai shrugs. Maybe it makes him feel somewhat warm inside. His brothers are actually trying for once.

“I don’t care! I want my little brother to join us for dinner!” Zev smiles at his younger brother, a soft scoff leaving his father’s mouth. Heseras doesn’t say anything, though. It’s obvious that he loves his other kids enough to give them permission to put a curse at their dining table. “I’m nineteen in a few days, you know. I’m far from little.” They hug and laugh and secretly even swallow the lumps in their throats away. It’s what family is supposed to look like, and it’s all that Elai has ever wanted.

Elai can’t remember the last time he had been inside of the dining room. The scent of chicken and flowers entered his nostrils, a hungry stomach begging for food. He lets out a soft chuckle; maybe this can even be the start of something new. Maybe now that his older brothers are back, Elai will be able to walk around freely, maybe they will even protect him from all the frightened looks.

“So Mave, how has Elai been? Have you been teaching him how to use his ability?” Zev had always been the one with the most to say. Elai wishes he could stab him, but he knows his brother isn’t aware of all the changes in the castle. It was promised to Elai that Mave would help him with his ability when the older twins went out to war. The promise was broken the moment they left, though, and it was never spoken of again.

“No. Want to know why?” Elai can’t keep his mouth shut. He scolds himself for speaking before Mave, who has his widened eyes gazing at the youngest prince. King Heseras tightens his grip around his fork and knife, eyes not looking up from his food.

“Never mind.” He doesn’t know if he wants to say it or not. He knows the better option; the one that’ll keep him save from his father’s harsh hands. It might even be the only option right now. “I uh- I don’t know how to work with a Death Gazer, so I just gave up.” Great; Mave saves the day. Elai feels himself rolling his eyes, even though the act isn’t being done consciously. If what Mave said was true, nothing would’ve been wrong. He would just keep on eating this stupid fucking meal in front of him and keep. His. Mouth. Shut!

“Mave never got to teach me. Death Gazer knowledge or not.” Elai hates the name they had given the ability. A death gazer is able to break anything with either his hands or eyes, core concentration always being the most important aspect. The better the concentration and control a death gazer has, the stronger they become.

“Father forbid him to even try the second you guys left for the battlefield. Said I’d become a danger if I ever would become able to control it.” Elai had tried teaching him himself, but he never gotten any further than breaking cups and plates. A frown appears on both Zev’s and Jaya’s faces. They had no clue, yet Elai hates how they act. Everyone at this table is guilty for locking him up.

“Father. We had a deal.” Jaya is the one to speak up this time, Zev simply nodding.

A deal? Elai feels himself softening. Had they truly tried to speak some sense into their father? Do they love Elai enough to do such a dangerous thing?

“It would endanger our kingdom. I can’t allow him to take that chance. What if he tries to destroy everything we have built up? What if he joins Turi? What if he becomes strong enough to-“ Heseras’ voice dies down when Elai’s chuckles reach his ears. The boy is shaking his head, grin growing on his face the longer he thinks about what his father was saying. “Really? You think by teaching me how to control my ability will make me snap and kill you all?” The boy grabs his glass and allows the red wine to travel down his throat. He has always hated the taste, but at least it made him feel better.

He had never downed one before, though, the taste even worse now that the entire glass is empty. He slams the glass back down onto the table. “Correct.” The word startles all three of his brothers, the boy simply standing up without saying another word. Elai doesn’t seem to mind the gazes that follow him. He just wants to leave right now. He doesn’t look up at his father and grits his teeth when he feels his hand appear around his wrist.

“Elai, why don’t I help you out tonight? I’ll teach you the basics of core concentration.” Zev breaks through the growing tension.

Heseras’ head shoots up to look at the prince in front of him, his dark blonde hair pulled back into a bun. “It’ll be fine, father. It won’t be more than core concentration. I’ll request some extra equipment so that he won’t break anything important.”

Elai can’t believe the doubt he sees appear on his father’s face. No way.

“We’ll wait until his birthday has passed.”