| Based on | Click to view |
| Artist | Yugi [gallery] |
| Time spent | 1 hour, 12 minutes |
| Drawing sessions | 1 |
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by Yugi » Sat Jul 07, 2018 8:16 am
name; Fera
gender; Female
owner; Muttgirl310
owned as of; 8/7/18
payment received; Yes - 8/7/18
post; Here
Hatch Day: - - -
Mature Day: 7/6/18
Parent 1Parent 2
UzomiBeatrice
Mutations wrote:Penn x3 Minor Mane - UC - Rolled
Penn x3 Leopard Tail - R - Rolled
Penn x3 Short Tufts (Elbow + Ankle) - UC - Not Rolled
Penn x3 Major Mane - R - Not Rolled
by Stitch~ » Sat Jul 07, 2018 8:41 am
by Vixen Luo » Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:42 am
by muttgirl310 » Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:59 am
by Vluwu » Sat Jul 07, 2018 11:33 am
by fromage » Sat Jul 07, 2018 12:27 pm
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Motto/quote:Free Reign Writing:
by magpiemochi. » Sat Jul 07, 2018 12:29 pm
Oh, I hope someday I'll make it out of here ...
Sometimes, when no one else was around to witness it, Lehana would sneak away and over the boundaries of her village. The Queen would make her way toward a large hill that sat just outside the borders. It was just high enough for her to see the mountains on the horizon, the lakes leading up to them, and the small villages scattered along the plains, but also covered enough that no one would be able to spot her.
... even if it takes all night or one-hundred years.
Watching the crystal clear waters as they trickled along their path to the mighty mountains had her letting go of a melancholy sigh. Instead of cursing at the Goddess as she normally did, Lehana tore her eyes away from the scene in front of her to stare up at the pink and orange splattered sky. "How can something to beautiful exist in this cruel world." The statement was spoken aloud, though it was quiet and under a low whisper. She wasn't afraid of being heard, but rather there was just no one to talk to. No reason for her to speak it any louder than what she had.
Need a place to hide, but I can't find one near.
As the sun began to crawl even further away from sight and into the darkness below, an anxiety crept up into her esophagus; a guard would be passing by her hut soon enough and would find her missing. It was unfortunate to know that they would report her disappearance without worry of something happening to her, but rather concern over her leaving the village. She was the Queen, but she was being controlled and watched at every single turn. Without fail, if there was ever a time she wasn't where she was supposed to be at any given moment, they would sound the alarm. Villagers would look for her, the only thing on their minds being that she fled. At first, it hurt. They didn't care about the wellbeing of their Queen; all they cared about was the wellbeing of the continuity of their village and ancient, archaic traditions. In all honesty, Lehana couldn't even remember her life before the village. Before she was Queen. She didn't even remember her childhood.
Did she even have one?
Wanna feel alive; outside I can fight my fear.
That question alone haunted her thoughts on almost a nightly basis. Nightmares would flood from behind her eyelids that showed glimpses and pieces of a time she couldn't even remember. Some of them were so terrible and heinous that she would wake up in a cold sweat, nausea causing her to heave and cry. Others were tame, though they still terrified her. As odd as it was, she couldn't remember much of anything about them once she woke up. The only recollection she had was the terror she felt in her sleep. How badly she wanted to wake up and run as far away as she possibly could from the metaphorical demons that kept her tied down. She knew that if she made it out of the village, never to be seen again, she would be able to live her life to its full potential. She would be free of the control and emotional abuse suffered from not only her villagers, but the three viscets who were truly in charge. If anything, they were the ones to blame.
They called themselves 'The Council'; and to those on the outside, it looked as though they and the Queen worked together in order to sort through issues. So why then would the villagers need to question anything? Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Unbeknownst to them, the Council controlled every possible thing within the village. They did everything they could to keep the outside world from seeping into their comfortable and corrupted village. They couldn't stand the fact that their Queen was open-minded and willing to make changes in order to better the life of her people. In their eyes, nothing good could come from opening their village to outside ways.
Lehana knew better. Of course she knew better. When she wasn't suffering from nightmares, and her dreams were full of beauty and a world she had never before seen, it was obvious to her that they were visions. Or perhaps it was a life she had once lived and somehow ended up in the village to be brainwashed as their Queen. Perhaps everything she had been living was a complete and total lie.
In times such as that, she always waved the notion away as if she was just looking much too far into it. Her broken and emotionally traumatized brain was created things that weren't really there. Brainwashing wasn't even possible...
Or was it?
"Up here again?" A low but brash voice startled the Queen out of her deep thoughts and she nearly sprinted away from the interruption until she realized who it was.
"Zoya, I told you to stop doing that!" The statement was spoken with a laugh, Lehana moving her paw to her chest in order to catch the breath that was forced out of her.
"I know, but since when do I ever listen?" The two laughed together as the older viscet took a seat next to her, head tilting upward to look at the sparkling stars above.
"The sun disappears far too quickly lately. Have you noticed?" Lehana said in a soft, relatively sad tone. "The night sky is beautiful, and the solitude is very much welcome, but the sun is so warm. So rejuvenating. If I could, I would lie in it for hours and hours."
Zoya listened to her Queen as she spoke, a small smile appearing at the image of the Queen sprawled out on the ground to soak up the sun. It was an adorable image.
"I quite enjoy it, but I suppose that's what brings us together. Your love for the sun and my absolute hatred of the damn glowing Hell orb."
Lehana turned her heard to stare at her friend with wide eyes before bursting into near uncontrollable laughter. "Hey, next time why don't you tell me how you really feel about the damn glowing Hell orb!"
Once the two settled down from yet another laugh-fest, they sat in a content silence, both of their eyes on the moon and surrounding stars. The anxiety that Lehana felt earlier was washed away the moment Zoya made her presence known. With her there, she knew that she had told the others not to bother the Queen. Lehana knew her disappearance wouldn't be given away by Zoya, and the Council would believe her.
"Do you ever think about going up there?" Lehana asked, pointing to the moon.
"What? To space?" Zoya crinkled her face, confusion obvious in the tone of her voice. "I'd very much like to keep both paws square on the ground, thank you very much."
Lehana would have laughed, but she was far too deep in thought. Her eyes twinkled as she stared harder at the bright moon. Maybe she didn't want to go to space, no. She just wanted to escape from the world she currently lived in. She wanted to be anywhere but there in that god forsaken village, but she didn't know how to say it. Besides, Zoya was already well aware of how she felt. She saw it on her face every single day, though she could say nothing. So instead, the two would trade knowing glances before living in not so blissful ignorance.
It wasn't fun, but they both had a duty they couldn't ignore. Lehana had to pretend as though she was happy in her current situation, knowing the things she knew, and Zoya had to pretend she was unaware of the happenings in the village. She had to pretend not to be close with the Queen or else the others would get suspicious; and Lehana needed at least one of them to be in good standing with those truly in charge.
With a heavy heart, Lehana caught Zoya's eyes before standing to her paws.
"Come now, Zoya. We should return before they really start to wonder."
The older viscet would have reassured her that she had it under control and they wouldn't be searching for them anytime soon, but it was fairly obvious the Queen was just ready to call it a night and disappear into an evening of hopefully peaceful and pleasant dreams where she would be swept off into a familiar yet unfamiliar world.
A place where Zoya knew her Queen had been before. Where she lived as a true power, not to be reckoned with. It was unfortunate that she had to keep this secret from her, but in time, she would figure it out, and it would be then that she would take her place as true ruler. Not of the village, but of an entire Kingdom. An entire world.
Unbeknownst to Lehana, she would soon be a Goddess. The very Goddess she cursed day and night for trapping her in the hell she currently lived. Patient, diligence, and vigilance would reign supreme in the mission the herself didn't even know about.
Nothing is impossible, and Lehana knew that. Zoya knew that she knew that. Nothing is impossible, especially not for one as determined and willing as the Queen of the M'Bari village.
In time, she would learn that all of her suffering and sadness would be for a reason. A lesson of sorts.
1,602 words
Zoya belongs to me
by dzo » Sat Jul 07, 2018 12:29 pm
by Yugi » Sat Jul 07, 2018 12:41 pm
More Information wrote:Likes: Fishing, humming folk songs, sitting by the creek
Dislikes: Mountainous regions (primarily due to difficult traveling), dishes with meat in it, most insects
Hobby: Catch and release fishing, but he also likes to dabble in woodcarving
Occupation: Hanako's Personal Guard
Personality Traits: Valiant, polite, elegant, fatherly, nurturing
Motto/quote: "You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both." - Brene Brown
Free Reign Writing wrote: xxxxNishiki bit his lip out of nervousness. It was his first time ever being summoned by the Koi Kingdom's royalty, and that premise made him fearful. He reminded himself of how humble and gentle the Koi family members are, but a hint of uncertainty loomed in the back of his mind. It was always possible for someone to put on a guise to trick the public into lowering their defenses. Most powerful nobles opted for this anyways, fearing that their public image would be ruin and their iron grip would decay on those who were tricked.
xxxxAs he walked up the steps of the kingdom's palace, he could feel his nervousness consume him from the inside out. Still, the man did his best to keep his wits about him. He brushed his sea colored hair away from his face, attempting to do his best to look presentable. A guard, another viscet, greeted him before requesting Nishiki to state his purpose for being there. Once answered, the guard waved for Nishiki to follow him into the palace, as the guard promptly led the man to the throne room.
xxxxInside the room sat two proud looking individuals; Tancho Koi and Ochiba Koi rested on the large, golden chairs in front of the throne room's doors. The couple was having a pleasant conversation as they delightfully drank tea and ate sweets together, all of which was prepared by their own personal kitchen staff. As Nishiki entered, Tancho noticed his presence immediately and smiled widely.
xxxx"Perfect timing," the male viscet said warmly. "Please, sit down and enjoy a drink or two with us." Tancho motioned to a smaller chair nearby them.
xxxxNishiki did what the emperor requested him to do. His nervousness made him hyper aware of every action that he made, but still he did his best to keep a calm and collected demeanor about him. He didn't even dare to speak before they allowed him to do so, holding his tongue as he palmed his freshly poured cup of tea. The warmth helped him settle down a little more.
xxxx"You must be wondering why we requested you, correct?" Ochiba spoke up, setting down her cup onto a side table. She gave Nishiki an even closer inspection, noticing that he was acting awfully skittish. "I apologize if we made you anxious; I had forgotten to request the runner tell you the reason behind the occasion."
xxxxHe nodded to answer Ochiba's question, but quickly followed it with a head shake to say no. "It is fine, there's no need for apologies, Empress; it is my fault for being as anxious as I am. I filled my head with doubts about our meeting." He bowed his head slightly to show his respects.
xxxxHe heard her raise, which caused him to flinch. He kept his eyes low, expecting the worst to come out of what he had said. Instead, a gentle hand reached under his chin and lifted his head up. Nishiki raised his gaze upwards, surprised by how light her touch was. "There's no need for formalities here, Nishiki," she cooed. "There's also no need to be afraid; we only bring good news to you and your family."
xxxxOchiba retracted her hand before leaving to the back of the room. She motioned to someone to come out before making her way back to both Nishiki and Tancho. "But first, I wanted to introduce to you my youngest son, Hanako," Ochiba said with a polite smile.
xxxxWithout much hesitation, a young adult male walked out from the hallway and into the room. He looked to be a tad shy for this occasion, but, similarly to his parents, he wore a warm and welcoming smile. "Greetings," the Prince said, albeit a little quiet. "You must be Nishiki?" He extended out his hand.
xxxxNishiki met him halfway, grasping at his hand with a firm grip before they shook once. "I'm honored to be in your presence," he stated, bowing his head slightly. While Ochiba had invited him in without formalities, he was used to it as it had felt rude to act casual with those who had a higher status than he did. Besides, even if the family was a sham in terms of their public appearance, he still needed to respect that they are the ones that had built their kingdom from the ground up. Without their leadership, they would be in utter chaos like the majority of Silda thanks to the magic ban. At the very least, the Koi empire held no biases.
xxxxOchiba spoke up once more. "Nishiki," she began, "I would like to request that you act as my son's personal guardian. You see, he's reached the age that I'm sure he can accomplish many of his noble duties without my help. With Tancho being ever increasingly absent due to a surge in monsters approaching our kingdom's walls, we fear that we cannot keep up with our diplomacy without the help of all of our children. I cannot leave my place here in the Koi Kingdom since the citizens look up to me for guidance, especially during these trying times." Her gaze wavered as a slight frown formed upon her lips.
xxxx"Hanako will be required to travel across Silda to complete his duties. We have no more personal retainers to spare, as all of them are with me, Tancho, or the rest of my older children. I never wanted this day to come, but I know Hanako has grown so much over these years; I trust in him, and I know I can trust in you to keep him safe." Ochiba approached her son, patting him lightly on his back.
xxxxNishiki was taken completely aback by the proposal. While he had trained hard to become a warrior, he had never thought he would ever be chosen. There were many other skilled viscets in the Koi Kingdom who had more training and a wider skill set than he had then, so why him? "Thank you for offering me such an important position," he began, still a little starstruck. "But I fear that you might have the wrong person? I am not as skilled as my allies though, nor do I have enough knowledge of the world to be firm in my confidence of keeping us both out of trouble... Not that I'm doubting your decisions, of course, Ochiba."
xxxxTancho spoke up instead. "Sometimes experience cannot make up for a person's spirit." The older, fox-like viscet raised from his chair. He tucked his hands behind his back. "Nishiki, you have the bravest soul out of all of our warriors in training today. All of the experience and training in the world cannot make up for that if they cannot realize what courage actually is. You know and understand fear for you have lived with it, and for that you can realize what true bravery is. Even though you doubted us, doubted who we might actually be as people, you still arrived when we called."
xxxxNishiki was taken aback even more at Tancho's last statement; how could he have known? While he wasn't too sure if he obscured the look of nervousness plastered across his face when he entered, he wouldn't have thought that anyone could have read his mind from it. He thought of it to be normal to be anxious meeting up with nobility, especially when he was summoned for unknown reasons. "Huh... how?"
xxxx"The Goddess Tsukuyumi is my guide; her blood flows through my veins, blessing me with the ability to protect this kingdom. Do you know of her?" Tancho asked.
xxxxNishiki nodded once, his eyes still wide opened. "I've heard of legends surrounding her, but I always thought she was a cruel spirit who gave her victims viscous nightmares."
xxxx"Tsukuyumi is the Goddess of Guidance. Many have forgotten this over the years as many began to fear her because of the sudden shift in Silda's atmosphere. She is the one who foretold the Lovell Kingdom's incident in which corrupted Angels cursed their land, and was the sole reason why we have been so protected from outside kingdoms. However, many of those who viewed her dream perceived it to be a punishing nightmare, which is why so many are afraid of her now." Tancho said. "She is also the one who told me about you and how you would likely feel."
xxxxNishiki was a little uncertain about the whole event unfolding before him. While he believed in deities and spirits, he didn't believe Tancho's dreams were that of a spirit attempting to contact him. And even if he did, why should Tancho still select him? Even though Nishiki carried a brave heart, he wasn't as strong as other warriors and he lacked common knowledge regarding Silda. He had grown up in the Koi Kingdom for all of his life, after all.
xxxxOchiba noticed the confused expression on the man's face. With her tender words, she tried to patch up Nishiki's feelings once more. "I understand why you're hesitant; in fact, it's okay to be. Decisions like these are important, and they should take time before they are decided upon. I just wanted to add that I believe you're one of the strongest warriors out there and that you'd make an excellent guardian for my son. You see, Hanako means a lot to me, and I wouldn't allow any individual who was training to be a guard to protect my son, even should Tancho's connection with Tsukuyumi encourage it. You remind me a lot of Hanako, and that's why I believe that you're the best choice."
xxxxNishiki tilted his head, somewhat grasping onto Ochiba's words. At least they were easier to swallow as they made more sense, logically. "What do you mean by that?" He asked sincerely.
xxxx"You're young still, and you want to explore the world despite your situation making it nearly impossible to grant you that wish. You're humble to a point where you will make others feel praised, but you still recognize your own achievements that you feel proud with acknowledging. You both want to make Silda a better place too." Ochiba listed off from the top of her head. "... Am I wrong? Have I misspoken?"
xxxx"No, you're not wrong at all," Nishiki responded. "Or, at least, I don't believe you to be wrong." He began to fiddle with his hands, running his clawed thumbs over one another.
xxxxNow, it was Hanako's turn to speak. The boy spoke up more than before. "I also helped select you as my personal guardian," he mentions. "My parents trust me as much as they trust each other, and they equally trust you the same amount as well."
xxxx"Just know that you don't have to make your decision right now, alright?" Tancho added. "I must depart for now; I apologize. There is something that I must take care of. It was nice meeting you, Nishiki; I'm sorry that our time together was cut so short." And with that, he walked to the entrance of the room to leave.
xxxxNishiki sat there, staring at the doors. He didn't want to keep them waiting despite being reassured it would be okay. He darted up straight. "I'll take up the offer!" He found his mouth moving faster than his own train of thought. He was surprised that his body worked up the courage to accept the offer; he was actually fearful that he would have accidentally said no.
xxxxBoth Ochiba's and Hanako's eyes lit up with happiness as the two embraced Nishiki in a tight hug. The man was shocked by the sudden sign of affection, but he wasn't against it by all means. He slowly rested his arms on their backs, feeling much more at ease now that he had made a decision. They pulled themselves away from him after a few moments before graciously thanking him.
xxxx"I do believe I should be thanking the Koi family for this opportunity, not the other way around," he chuckled, bowing his head slightly once more.
xxxx"Nonsense, you deserve as much thanks as well. You're helping bestow my son a privelege he should have been granted a long time ago. I was much too blind by my care for him to allow him to grow naturally as a prince. Now that he's twenty... I believe it's time for me to stop treating him like a child. He's shown that he's fully capable of housing such responsibilities multiple times now; he deserves someone like you to be his guardian and mentor," she said.
xxxxOchiba continued on. "Tomorrow, please come back to the palace. I want you two to spend some time together before you both head out on a short trip next month. Since Tancho said that you were unsure about our family, I don't want you to have any doubts about my son. Think all of the terrible thoughts you may of both me and my husband; I do not mind, as it comes with my position. Just please give my son a chance, at the very least, especially if you're going to dedicate yourself to his life. I don't want you to feel forced when it comes to Hanako."
xxxxNishiki nodded. He made a vow to come back tomorrow, as well as to learn more about Hanako.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
xxxxTomorrow wasted no time rolling around; Nishiki was surprised at how quickly time passed him by now days. As today would be a simple day to meet and greet with the youngest Koi Prince, he figured that he wouldn't need much on him. Still, he opted to grab his "lucky" wooden training sword, which was one that he had personally carved for himself to practice at home. He fastened the wooden sheath to his belt with a makeshift tie out of some rope. It wasn't the prettiest looking setup, not by a long shot, but it worked for him with what he had to spare.
xxxxHe quickly made his way to the palace's steps, wanting to make sure that he could arrive at least ten minutes earlier. He didn't want to be rude and arrive late, as he didn't want to accidentally make the royal child wait. As he followed the path, he noticed that today was a pleasant day; the winds were light and airy, mixing well with the gentle heat of the sun. Clouds did loom overhead, but they did not look threatening and gray. If he wasn't to meet with the Prince, he would have surely headed the other way to sit by his favorite creek, whittling away at a piece of wood to create sculptures of the animals he would come across.
xxxxAs he approached the palace, Nishiki could make out Hanako standing next to the same guard that had greeted him inside. The younger man was joyous in his behavior, allowing the guard to lighten up and relax. Nearing the location, Nishiki could pick up on what they were discussing. However, a pang of regret echoed through his body when he realized that the Prince was talking about insects.
xxxxWithout hesitation, Hanako spun on his heel, quickly facing the approaching Nishiki. Clasped in the young man's hands was a large beetle; its little legs squirmed around as it tried to release itself from Hanako's grip. "I caught this little fellow today; he's a bit shy, but I can tell right away that he's a sweetheart! Isn't he cute?"
xxxxNishiki held his tongue, not wanting to blatantly insult the Prince. "Hrmm... Ye-yeah. I guess you can say that."
xxxxThe Prince looked up at the older man before looking back down at the beetle. He placed the large insect into a silk pouch before tucking them away into his garb. "Not a fan of bugs?" He asked, sincerely.
xxxx"I don't wish to come off as rude to you, Prince Hanako... But unfortunately insects and I don't necessarily get along." Nishiki rubbed his arm sheepishly.
xxxxHanako shook his head. "Don't worry about it; I'm not upset by it at all! I'm sorry for spooking you if I did; I'd hate to make you uncomfortable with our first day out together. It's just that collecting beetles and beetle fighting are two of my favorite hobbies; I thought bringing one today to show you would be a good way to start a conversation or two."
xxxxNishiki chuckled; he was happy that he didn't immediately offend the Prince. He was surprised at how well mannered and kindhearted Hanako was. He was expecting someone of a more bratty nature to be the youngest royal member, especially with how spoon-fed Hanako grew up to be by Empress Ochiba. Even though the boy didn't get the chance to really grow up with his father, Nishiki knew of how protective and supportive Ochiba was of her children.
xxxx"Well, if you just wanted to talk hobbies, you just needed to ask," Nishiki replied, patting the Prince's shoulder. "Before we do any serious talking though, could we possibly put that beetle away somewhere safe? I trust you with it, but I don't necessarily want it to accidentally crawl on me, should it be able to sneak out."
xxxxHanako laughed innocently before waving Nishiki to follow him inside. The two had a peaceful walk as the Prince made his way to his room. He turned the opposite way to the throne room, leading Nishiki into an unfamiliar section of the palace. They passed by a handful of guards, all curious about the new face following the Prince around.
xxxxWhen they had arrived to Hanako's private quarters, Nishiki could feel himself becoming amazed at how large the castle truly was on the inside. On the outside, it had appeared to look quaint and humble for a royal family their size. Whoever built the Koi's giant abode had ensured that every nook and cranny could be used without wasting a single inch of space. Because of how tight the palace was in term of size, it allowed a large castle town and even larger farmlands. Most of the Koi Kingdom was left pristine and untouched though, thanks to the Koi's regulations, allowing everyone to experience the serene landscape their area had to offer.
xxxxAs he was ogling, the Prince had entered and placed the beetle inside a glass container to keep it safe. Nishiki did not dare to step into Hanako's room, both out of respect and out of fear. Despite him officially becoming the young man's personal retainer, he wasn't certain about boundaries yet. He wanted to learn more about the person who he was assigned to protect first, so that way they could attempt to see each other as one another. While they would never be equals due to their different statuses, Nishiki knew that having a deep, truthful connection was valuable for those who swore to protect someone or something. And besides, he already knew that the boy loved insects, something that he would have to learn to conquer. Right now was not quite the time though, and instead of making him feel queasy before their conversation, Nishiki waited outside for the time being.
xxxxThe Prince exited, closing the door behind him. "Alright, he's situated now; you won't need to worry about him escaping now." Hanako walked forward, turning his head left and right quickly, as if he was checking to see if the coast was clear. "Alright, let me take you somewhere so we can chat among ourselves, okay? I promise there won't be large bugs where we're going," he joked.
xxxxHanako took Nishiki's hand, tugging him once towards the direction they were leaving before promptly letting go. Nishiki stumbled before stopping in his place, not too sure what Hanako was trying to instigate. Without hesitation though, the younger viscet took off, sprinting across the palace's garden. Scared that he was going to lose him, Nishiki took off after him, barely catching glimpses of the boy's cool blue tail mist. The Prince was like a snake, slithering to and fro in the abundant greenery present in the garden, making it difficult to truly keep track of where he was and where he was going.
xxxxIt felt like it was a complete miracle that Nishiki escaped the confusing maze, let alone to be able to locate the boy. His chest heaved as his hot breath escaped his lungs; while he was in fine shape, he wasn't prepared for what had unfolded. He stumbled over to tree, resting his back onto it as he slowly slid down.
xxxx"Sorry," the Prince's voice peeped. "It's kind of a necessary thing to get here; the guards keep watch, you know? I didn't want to take any risks, should they still try to stop me from coming up here." Hanako sat down next to his guardian. "The first time I tried to leave for this hill, the guards picked me up and rushed me back to my mother. I was fueled by my curiosity; I was never granted permission to leave the kingdom when I was a viscling. I wanted to be like my older brothers and sisters; wanting to travel and to see the world. And since this location was right in our garden, I assumed it would be the safest and easiest place to explore."
xxxxHanako began to raise himself up. "We should probably get going, just to be safe. I want to be able to show you my favorite hiding spot at the very least today." He extended his hand out towards Nishiki, helping up the older man.
xxxxThe duo made their way down the rocky hill, heading down towards a creek. The slim creek was surprisingly only two feet deep, allowing it to make for a relaxing and cool trek. The muggy humid air was considerably quite cooler nearby the flowing water. The two followed the creek for about fifteen minutes before Hanako led them away from the natural trail.
xxxxIt wasn't before long that they stumbled upon the Prince's secret hiding spot; Nishiki had determined that they were outside of the Koi Kingdom's man-made boundaries. There were no walls surrounding the location they were in, and the only walls that they could faintly see were located behind them. In front of them though was land that was gorgeous; it had looked like a picture perfect setting from a painting. A golden white beach shore expanded before their eyes; teal waters lapped at the land. Nishiki expected a simple lake and forest, if anything, so the change in scenery moved him.
xxxx"This... this is the ocean?" He found himself asking.
xxxx"Yes... and no. This is a landlocked beach; there's only a few in existence here in Silda, and our kingdom is lucky enough to be nearby one." The Prince pointed towards the mountainous rocks that outlined the waters. "There's no way for us to get to the ocean from here, at least not safely."
xxxxWhen they reached the shoreline, the two rested themselves on the soft sands.
xxxx"So you come here often, right?" The older viscet asked. "I don't blame you... it's quite a wonderful sight. I could see myself coming here often too, if I were you; I've always had a love for water, so I often visit a creek nearby my home."
xxxxThe Prince nodded. "I come here to escape the harsh realities of life. My mother, Ochiba, she does whatever she can to make life's truths disappear for me and many of my other siblings, but she knows it's something she can't keep up with. She knows that there's a war going on in Silda, one that we cannot truly understand. People fear people like us; we're capable of using magic and we believe in spirits. They've been hurt by something that they once believed in too, and it's causing them to lash out to others unfairly. Mother says that it's a never ending spiral, which is why we haven't done anything yet to get involved..."
xxxxNishiki frowned. "It sounds like your mother needs help in finding the perfect time to enter. I know she commented on my bravery; is this also another reason why she recruited me? So that I could possibly inspire her as well?"
xxxxHanako was unsure of how to answer his question. "If you think that your bravery will inspire her to act, you'll likely be right. I know we barely even know each other, but I will say that I'm more confident than ever in helping out my friend, Princess Krystal of the Lovell Kingdom. But... I don't want to go against my mother's wishes, not until we all know that the Koi Kingdom can go unscathed. I- we want to help, but we can't risk the lives of our innocents either. It's our duty to protect them after all."
xxxxHanako twiddled his thumbs. It was clear that he was troubled by the ongoing war. He looked out to the saltwater in front of him, hoping that the scenery would provide him a clear mind to ease him of his worries.
xxxx"Prince Hanako," Nishiki began to talk. "Whatever choice you make, it is my duty to support you. I will follow you into battle, and I will protect you with my life. But for now... Chin up, alright? Silda is stronger than it might seem right now; while the current turmoil is dreadful, Silda can take care of itself. While I've not been granted time to explore Silda itself, I've heard stories from travelers that prove those who are suffering will preserver and rebuild."
xxxxThe Koi Prince's trouble looked soon smoothed over thanks to Nishiki's words. Nishiki was glad about it; the worried, sickly appearance didn't fit on the Prince's youthful face. The guardian extended his arm around Hanako's shoulder, pulling him in close in an attempt to reassure the boy.
xxxx"If you could travel to any part of Silda, where would you want to go?" Hanako spoke up after a period of silence.
xxxx"Why ask me?" Nishiki asked, chuckling quietly. "I told you that I'll follow you wherever you go."
xxxx"Because I think you should have a say too; while you're assigned to be my guardian, I still want to consider you as a close friend."
xxxx"Well... If you really want to know, I suppos-" Nishiki was instantly cut off by a tremor that shook the landlock beach's shorelines viciously. It was a shake that was not of a typical earthquake.
xxxxWhen the tremors stopped, he jumped to his feet. "Prince Hanako, please stay down!" He grabbed his sword by his hilt and readied his stance. He shifted his feet, looking around for the source of the quakes.Uneasy silence blanketed them.
xxxxNishiki was surprised that Hanako wasn't shaking; he expected the boy to be physically afraid. The boy was crouching, bracing himself for another tremor to hit them. He stayed dead silent, his bright blue eyes darting back and forth.
xxxxSuddenly, a gigantic beast emerged from behind the rocky mountains that lined the landlocked beach. It let out a terrifying roar, causing the land to once again shake and shiver with great ferocity. Nishiki whipped out his sword from its hilt, clasping it with both hands. Being wooden, he feared that the sword wouldn't do much to the monster.
xxxxOn closer inspection, it was even worse than Nishiki thought; the creature was a giant insect-like creature, resembling that of a mutated praying mantis. "R-run, Hanako! Get back home right away; I'll distract it!"
xxxxBut Hanako would not run. A combination of unwillingness and fear overtook the young viscet; Hanako did not want to leave Nishiki to possibly to die, but even if he was willing to listen to his guardian's commands, he couldn't move his body. He had never seen a creature like this, especially not one so close to the Koi Kingdom. Cruel thoughts plagued the Prince's mind; if the creature was not stopped, what would prevent it from attacking his kingdom?
xxxxThe beast flew towards them both, landing straight into the deep waters. Strong splashes of water hit the two men, successfully knocking down Hanako, sending him back towards the direction of the creek. Nishiki stumbled backwards, but found enough strength to keep himself firmly on his feet. "Flee, Prince Koi!"
xxxxThe monster swung for Nishiki's head, but the viscet was nimble enough to dodge it. Another swing went for him, this time for his torso, but Nishiki used this to his advantage. He attached himself to the flailing arm, gripping on as tightly as he possibly could. He climbed his way up its arm, swung onto its back, and attempted to bludgeon it from behind. Despite all of the thrashing, its exoskeleton could not be easily pierced with the wooden sword. At the very least, it distracted the monstrous being away from the Prince.
xxxxWhen the older viscet went to try to check on the Prince's status, he noticed that Hanako was now standing. A bow made of mist and water sat comfortably in the boy's hands, being aimed and drawn back directly towards the monster's middle, low enough so Nishiki would not be scathed by the arrow that it fired. The water arrow punctured the beast with very little difficulty, causing it to collapse, and ultimately allowing Nishiki to leap off to safety.
xxxxHe ran towards the Prince, grabbing his arm with his right hand, and began to try to lead them both away from the creature. "We need to get back, now; the guards can help us, alright?"
xxxxHanako timidly nodded his head as he ran alongside his guardian. The monster was clearly far from defeated, but there wasn't much for the two of them to do other than to seek help. The Prince did his best to trust Nishiki's wits, and he truly hoped that no one else would be harmed because of it.
xxxxBut things didn't go exactly as planned. Enraged, the beast flew over them, cutting them off from their own sanctuary. It began to swing at them, slicing away the trees that protected the creek. Both of them stayed low, not wanting to tempt their fate while the creature was in a state of fury.
xxxxHanako readied another water arrow on his bow, but he was too afraid to take aim again. His hands began to tremble. It was impossible to take aim at the creature; he didn't want to risk revealing their position, should he have missed.
xxxxNishiki noticed the Prince's uncertainty. As they hid away in the shrubbery, he placed his palm on Hanako's shoulder. "You can do it; you did it before, and you can do it again. Even if you miss, you have me, right? We'll make it out alive, together." Nishiki whispered.
xxxxBefore Hanako could fire though, a familiar blur of white, black, and red darted across the beast's frame. Tancho was alerted by the guttural roars. With his sword, he made short work of the large beast, causing it to dissipate into an ominious black cloud of smoke. They both popped out of their hiding spot; Hanako ran towards his father to embrace him.
xxxx"You two alright?" Tancho asked, expressing deep concern. "I can't believe they're getting closer each day..."
xxxx"These are the creatures you fight? This is why you're not home as often, Emperor Tancho?" Nishiki asked, sheathing his wooden sword as well. "What are they...?"
xxxxTancho nodded as he patted his son on the back. "I have no words for what they are. They've never existed until the corrupted Angel incident happened in the Lovell Kingdom. As far as I can tell, they're bad spirits capable of destruction. They tend to take the forms of common fears."
xxxxHanako released himself from Tancho. "I... How? I don't understand, father; I thought this part of Silda was safe?"
xxxxA disappointed shake of the head told plenty to all of them. "No part of Silda is safe, at least not now." Tancho turned to face the Koi Kingdom. "Head back, both of you, alright? Get some rest; Nishiki, since you've proven that you have the ability to truly protect my son, you may stay the night in the palace."
xxxx"What are you going to do, father?"
xxxx"I... I will discuss some topics with your mother. It appears we're going to have to enter the war now, whether we like it or not. The Lovett family will provide us safety when we enter, at the very least. I am certain that we can keep our civilians protected though, even with what's going on currently; the sooner we put a stop to this, the better." Tancho's face expressed determination and confidence.
xxxxThe sun was beginning to set when the duo made their way back. They were entering the garden when their desire for a conversation returned.
xxxx"So... Prince, how long have you had that ability?" Nishiki asked, referring to the bow and arrow Hanako could summon.
xxxx"I recently acquired it, actually," Hanako stated. "Tsukuyumi visited me in a dream and had instructed me on how I could access my true potential within myself. Like my father, I apparently have the blood of her running through me too, but... If I'm honest, it doesn't really feel like it. As far as being able to use a bow, though, I had a friend instruct me on how to do so."
xxxx"You're not too bad with one, y'know?"
xxxxHanako blushed at the comment. "Thanks... You're the first person to see me use my power, I think. I've never summoned anything until now, but it's because I usually have a bow at hand when I need it."
xxxxAfter a period of small talk, the two male viscets had made it back to Hanako's resting quarters. Waiting for them was a hot meal prepped for them as soon as the palace's staff heard from Tancho what had happened. And all of Hanako's pet beetles of course, which continued to cause Nishiki's skin to crawl. Thankfully, though, they weren't as horrifying as the mutated beast that attacked them earlier.
xxxxAfter the two washed up, freeing themselves from the caked mud and dirt that latched onto their fur, they took time to relax. Nishiki was already slightly wounded, but he still was fine to leave to guard Hanako should it be requested. As they both climbed into their own separate beds to rest, Nishiki heard Hanako speak up once again.
xxxx"Thank you for today," the Prince said. "Even with that freak attack, I still enjoyed today. And thank you for giving it your all to protect me, despite not being properly armed. You gave me the courage to fight back."
xxxx"Like I said, Prince, it's my duty to protect you after all. Thanks for trusting me to do just that."(5,783 words)
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