Chapter 2: Chapter Two

"My lord, your Parrottle has arrived." An older servant man with long gray hair and a burgundy robe with a vibrant flame pattern approached another man, who was middle-aged and dressed in fine garb, put together with silk and cotton.

The middle-aged man was Lucian Yin, Harold Yin's younger brother. He stood over a cliff, peering down at The Valley, watching the people of Elvanor interact and creatures frolicking around.

"Is the boy still sulking at my brother's grave?" Lucian kept his eyes forward. The older servant man named Arthur Reynolds, who was close with Harold Yin before he passed nodded.

"He is. He's been there for at least 4 days."

"Has he eaten?"

"Not a bite my lord, not even a seed of grain."

Lucian loosened the cuff of his sleeve and turned to face Arthur with a scornful look on his face. His gaze shifted to the Parrottle, a large bird that could carry him through the air and fly him back to the palace. "Let us return and bring him to the Palace. We must give him something to eat."

"He will not listen to you." Arthur sighed.

Lucian knew that his nephew wouldn't sit at his table to eat. Harold and Lucian weren't close at all, often their parents, the rulers that preceded them made their relationship out to be what it was. They often battled for the throne, completing rituals and challenges to see who'd best be fit to rule Elvanor.

Because Harold displayed great strength and swift speed, most similar traits to the dragons, he was deemed more fit to rule than Lucian.

Lucian was sure that Harold told Kai all the stories about the two. But despite Harold's hate for his brother, Lucian was surprised that he didn't take all his anger out on his son, Dan.

"It's such a shame that my elder brother was poisoned and his time has come far too early." Lucian snickered. "Just when life was starting to get interesting." Lucian walked over to the bird and grabbed onto the reigns. He hoisted himself aboard its back and made sure he was secured in place.

"I'm afraid that the young master will become depressed once he realizes that he lost his right to the throne," Arthur murmured. "As the law states, you will become next in line and your son will succeed you."

"As it should be." Lucian's lips perked into a faint smile. "My brother's barbaric ways prevented me from forming alliances with the Sellors."

The Sellors were a neighboring nation a mile away from Elvanor's borders. They specialized in the trade of copper and silver. Excellent resources for the Elvanorian citizens to make jewels and gems, also tools.

"The Sellors may provide a great resource, but they're not to be trusted. Greed is in their nature." Arthur hopped on his Parrottle and tightened the waist belt so he wouldn't fall off.

"I'm not stupid, I know how to stand my ground when I'm deceived, Arthur. Mind your tongue or I'll have you bound by your feet and thrown in the river." Lucian glared at the servant.

"Yes, my lord." Arthur humbly bowed his head.

"See to it that the boy is brought back to the palace and eats his share of food for today. I can't afford for another member of royal blood to die." Lucian then muttered out his next words in an undertone so Arthur wouldn't hear him. "Not yet, at least."

Lucian pulled on the reins and the bird walked over to the edge of the cliff. "Tut! Tut!" Lucian brought the reigns up and slapped them down on the bird. The Parrottle jumped off, extended its vast wings, and began to fly. He soared up before drifting down slowly towards the large structure in the middle of the land.

Arthur on the other hand stayed behind a little while longer. "Harold... why did you have to go so soon?" Arthur looked to the sky. His face went grim and he sighed. "Your boy is going to need all the dragon's blessings he can get."

Back near the palace, where all of the fallen rulers were laid to rest, Kai sat over his father's grave silently. He hadn't cried. Not once at all. It wasn't because he didn't want to cry, but because he was so overwhelmed with emotion, that he couldn't figure out his inner thoughts.

"Maybe if I worked harder and studied more, my father wouldn't have resulted in this." He thought.

It all happened too fast for him to register. One moment he was enjoying tea with his father, and the next day he was pronounced dead. All because someone had poisoned the pot. It was a mystery he couldn't figure out.

Why would someone poison and deliberately kill the leader of Elvanor? Who would do such a thing?

And just like that, he was stripped of his royal title, only to be called Young Master instead of Young Prince. The title was revoked and given to his younger cousin, as his Uncle Lucian would become the next King.

"Kai..."

"Speak of the devil." Kai sneered.

"Don't you use that haughty tone with me, nephew." Lucian stepped toward him. He narrowed his eyes at the boy. "Grieving is okay, but it's not fine when you drag it out like a play and act out. For Thi's sake, come to your senses."

"You haven't visited my father's grave. Not once have you come to show any remorse." Kai spat back at his Uncle. "It makes me suspicious."

Lucian raised his hand and slapped him. The boy's head snapped to the side as Lucian shook his fingers off. "You may have been able to talk back with your father, but your wild behavior will not be tolerated by me." He scowled.

"You are of royal blood. For the sake of our country, you will act as if you belong to the royal family. Our ancestors never sat around moping when troubles arrived, and you will see to it that you follow along in their footsteps if you know what's best for you." Lucian grabbed the boy by his arm.

"Unhand me!" Kai groaned.

"Quit whining or I'll have the servants lock you away in your quarters." Lucian scolded him. "I will not have another family member die because of your illogical thoughts. You will eat, rest and then you will prepare for tomorrow's training session, as the routine usually goes."

Lucian continued to drag the boy by his arm, and Kai could not take it any longer. He sunk his teeth into his uncle's wrist and freed himself out of Lucian's grasp. Lucian growled and yelled before releasing him.

Kai took steps back and sprinted in the opposite direction. Lucian let him go. "Well, I suppose it's not my fault if the boy doesn't come back alive. He ran off on his own." Lucian pressed his lips together and turned on his heel before strolling back to the palace casually.

When he arrived, he told the guards about Kai and then arranged for them to go after the boy.

Kai on the other hand continued to run. He didn't stop until he reached a river. On the other side was a dark-colored hut. It was so dark that it almost blended in with the scary-looking forest ahead.

Kai decided to ignore the odd feeling tugging at his heart and he began taking off his shoes. He took one step into the river water with full plans of attempting to cross. He wanted to leave and have some time to himself.

It was weird that everyone was acting so casually as if his father never passed away. They were too quick in their mourning.

They treated him like an outcast for wanting to slowly accept the reality that he became an orphan in just one day.

But Kai knew that it was supposed to take time. Harold was annoying at times, and he was closed off, but it was still his own flesh and blood, his father that he loved so much.

Deep down, although the two rarely showed affection, there was still love there.

Kai loved his father very much.

"Ouch!" Kai shrieked when he felt his foot scraped against something. He lost his balance and was soon engulfed by the flow of the river. Kai tried to swim to the surface, but the pain in his foot prevented him.

He felt his body being carried away, and then his body slammed into a stone. The impact made him lose consciousness, and his vision faded to black.

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