4500 Years Ago

  Kingdom of Aetheria

  Arion darted through the bustling market streets of Aetheria, his heart pounding in sync with his hurried footsteps. The midday sun cast a golden hue over the marketplace, where merchants shouted their wares, and the rich aroma of spiced meats and fresh fruits filled the air. The vibrant fabrics of the vendors' stalls fluttered in the warm breeze, a kaleidoscope of colors that reflected the wealth and diversity of the kingdom.

  As he weaved through the throngs of people in the market, “Ah yes Come! Two lanterns for only three coins!” merchants yelling at distance, Arion couldn’t help but steal glances at the towering King's Palace at distance, its marble walls and golden dome gleaming atop the hill like a beacon of power and opulence.

  The palace loomed high above the market in the distance, a constant reminder of the divide between the royals and the common folk below. Perched on elevated ground, a place where only the nobility dared to tread.

  Arion quickened his pace toward the Temple Tower of Aether, a pristine white marble spire rising among the commoners’ quarters, nearly as tall as the palace. While the palace symbolized power, the Tower was the kingdom’s heart of faith, magic, and knowledge.

  At its core rested the Aether, a sacred crystal, called the Breath of the Heavens in scripture, believed to be God’s first light shaping the world. To the Custodians, it was a sacred duty to protect its divine glow. The Temple also housed the Institute, where Custodians trained, scholars studied, and gifted students mastered the Aether’s mysteries.

  Arion’s urgency grew as he ran past the Temple and approached the Great Library, nestled between the palace and the tower. The library was the kingdom’s reservoir of wisdom, its vast halls filled with scrolls and books chronicling everything from history and wars to religion and the nature of Aether itself.

  I’m so late… too late, perhaps, The thought gnawed at him as he pushed forward through the thinning streets. The lively din of the market faded behind him, replaced by the murmured discussions of scholars and scribes.

  His heart pounded, not just from the run, but from the thought of her, waiting, perhaps already anxious about his unpunctuality. With one last burst of speed, Arion pushed through the heavy doors, the cool air of the library washing over him as he stepped inside, his eyes scanning the dimly lit corridors, rushing up towards the great hall, at the end of which a balcony.

  And there she was, standing at the balcony that overlooked the bustling city below. The wind played with the strands of her long black hair, loosely tied into a braid with a delicate golden thread, a simple yet elegant detail that accentuated her royal heritage. She seemed lost in thought, her eyes scanning the city, maybe searching for him.

  Arion’s heart skipped a beat, as it always did when he saw her. Her beauty was aethereal, as if the very essence of Aether itself had blessed her. Though they had known each other since Luminara festival seven years ago, the sight of her still took his breath away.

  As he got closer, he could smell of mint, lavender, and sandalwood, a fragrance that was both comforting and intoxicating, drawing him closer even before she noticed his presence. Arion stepped forward, his footsteps soft on the ancient stone floor, but she turned before he could utter a word. She didn’t need to see him to know he was there. She always recognized his approach.

  "You are an hour late Arion," she said, her tone light but laced with playful reproach. "I was starting to think the dangers of secretly courting a princess finally scared you off," she said, her tone light but teasing.

  Arion grinned; his confidence unshaken. "Scare me off? Not a chance. I just thought I’d give you enough time to realize how unbearable life would be without me. Clearly, it worked."

  She raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smirk. "Is that so? Or were you too busy admiring your reflection to keep track of time? I’ve heard mirrors can be dangerously captivating for some."

  Arion chuckled, stepping closer until he stood beside her. His gaze flickered from her radiant face to the sprawling city below. "Guilty as charged. I had to make sure I looked good enough to stand next to you. A man has his pride, you know."

  Her laughter was soft, melodic, a sound that made the tension of the day fade away. "You’ve always had a way with words, Arion. One might think you were a poet in a past life."

  "Perhaps I was," he said, leaning on the balcony's edge, his tone suddenly softer, more sincere. "But if that were true, then you must have been the muse."

  She blushed, a slight flush of color on her light brown skin, but she didn’t let it show for long. "And here I thought you’d come up with a better excuse for your tardiness... Flattery will only get you so far."

  “You caught me. I did get held up by an old man in the market trying to sell enchanted trinkets. He claimed one could summon the moon in daylight. Tempting, but I figured it still wouldn’t outshine you.”

  Before she could respond, he reached into his pocket and produced a small, golden trinket with a full moon intricately carved in it. He held it out to her, his expression softening. “But I did pick this up for you.”

  Elara took the trinket, turning it over in her hands, her lips curving into a smile. The delicate craftsmanship caught the light, glinting faintly. “Always an excuse with you, Arion. But I suppose I can forgive you, this time.”

  He looked at her, his expression softening. "I appreciate your mercy, Your Highness."

  She rolled her eyes, but her smile never wavered. "You’re impossible."

  They both laughed, the sound echoing off the walls of the ancient library. Usually, Elara is always in a rush, scared of getting spotted by a royal guard assigned to her for safety whenever she goes outside the palace. Arion felt a sense of relief in her today.

  “What happened to your iron-clad shadow?” Arion teased, his tone light and mischievous.

  The princess rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "Akeem? My ever-vigilant guardian who thinks I need a watchdog every second of the day?"

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  Arion chuckled, taking a step closer. "You have to admit, he’s pretty good at his job. I bet it was quite the challenge to slip away from him."

  The princess smirked, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. "You have no idea. I had to blend into the crowd at the market. Took a while to get him off my tail.”

  Elara gave a mischievous smile as she continued, “Poor Akeem was probably losing his mind, thinking I’d been lost or worse. But here I am, waiting for a certain someone who took his sweet time getting here."

  Arion raised his hands in mock surrender. "In my defense, the view from up here at this hour is worth the wait." He gave her a charming smile, knowing full well she’d see right through him.

  The princess shook her head, laughing softly.

  Arion grinned, leaning casually against the balcony rail. "You have to admit the good influence I’ve had on you Elara, the thought of you losing Akeem in the market, I wish I was there to see it."

  “Positive?” Elara raised a brow, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “If anything, you’ve been a terrible influence. But I’ll admit, I have gotten better at it,” she said with a chuckle, “Although it wasn’t easy slipping past him.”

  She leaned against the rail beside him as she continued, "But I’m quite resourceful when I need to be. Even the best of the royal guards can’t keep up with me when I’m determined."

  Arion shook his head, laughing. "Remind me never to challenge you to a duel of wits or agility. I wouldn’t stand a chance."

  "I’ll hold you to that," she replied with a soft smile, "But next time, try not to keep me waiting so long. I can only sneak out of the palace so many times before they lock all the doors."

  “If they do” Arion raised his eyebrow. “Locks won’t suffice. They will need a dragon atop the palace to stop me from rescuing you.” Arion and Elara looked at one another for a moment before both started laughing.

  For a moment, it was just the two of them, together in their own world. Arion felt a sense of belonging, a feeling that this was exactly where he was meant to be. And for Elara, despite the constant challenges and pressures of being a princess, being with him made everything feel right, as if nothing else mattered.

  Arion, standing beside her, was captivated by the view but even more so by her presence. His medium-length black hair framed his face, and his dark eyes were fixed on Elara. The calmness of the evening was disrupted by the distant, rhythmic pounding of heavy footsteps approaching the balcony.

  The footsteps grew louder. Closer.

  Elara visibly shaken, reached for Arion’s hand and Arion instinctively holding her hand, a touch of reassurance and protectiveness.

  A shadow stretched across the floor, long and heavy.

  Arion’s breath caught.

  Then a wheezing gasp, followed by a clumsy stumble, and loud complaint, “Why... why are there so many stairs in this cursed library?”

  The figure was clad in a hooded white temple students robe and the customary leather armor. His body was large and chubby, the result of a life of less rigorous training, and he huffed and puffed, clearly out of breath. As the shadow stepped into the moonlight, the familiar face of Kaelen came into view.

  Both Elara and Arion released a collective sigh of relief, the tension melting from their postures. Elara’s shoulders relaxed, and a smile played on her lips.

  “Kaelen!” Elara exclaimed, her voice a mixture of exasperation and amusement. “What in the God’s name are you doing here?”

  Kaelen stumbled into view, his cheeks flushed and his breathing ragged. He held up a hand, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.

  “Princess, forgive me! I… uh, overheard you two talking from the corridor. I was looking for Arion, and, well…” He gestured vaguely, still trying to catch his breath.

  Arion crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. “Kaelen, not only have you managed to scare the life out of us, but you also sound like you’ve just climbed Mount Kouhur.”

  Kaelen glared, his words tumbling out in a rush. “I didn’t mean to interrupt! But we had a training class with Master Rezar, remember? At dusk? You disappeared, and I’ve been looking everywhere!”

  “Training?” Arion repeated with a tone of realization, rubbing his chin. “Ah, yes… training. That thing I was absolutely planning to attend. I simply—how do I put this… lost track of time.”

  Kaelen groaned, throwing his hands in the air. “Lost track of time? Arion, we’re on the brink of the ascension ceremony and you lost track of time before the most important class of the year?” Kaelen said as he threw his hands up in the air.

  “Master Rezar’s going to flay us alive, and not even the Grand Overseer will save you this time. He might even double your punishment to set an example!” Kaelen added.

  Elara stifled a laugh behind her hand, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “It sounds like you’ve got your hands full, Arion. Perhaps Kaelen should be your guardian instead of your accomplice.”

  Kaelen blushed furiously, straightening up as he remembered he was in the presence of royalty.

  “Princess, I didn’t mean to intrude on your time, truly,” he said, his voice laden with guilt.

  Elara waved off his apology with a reassuring smile. “You’re forgiven, Kaelen. Your dedication to Arion is admirable, even if your timing could use some work.”

  “See?” Arion smirked, clapping Kaelen on the back. “Elara understands. You, on the other hand, need to relax. I’m sure Master Rezar didn’t even notice we weren’t there. You think too much.”

  Kaelen rolled his eyes. “And you don’t think at all! Master Rezar notices everything, and when he does, I’ll make sure to remind him whose bright idea it was to skip training.”

  Arion chuckled, unperturbed. “That’s the spirit, Kaelen. Loyalty through shared misery.”

  As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, painting the kingdom in hues of gold and crimson, Elara glanced toward the distant palace. Her smile softened, tinged with regret.

  “It’s almost nightfall,” she murmured. “I need to get back before the entire royal guard comes looking for me.”

  Arion raised a hand in mock salute. “You’ll be missed, Princess. Your presence truly lightens the burden of impending doom.”

  Elara laughed, shaking her head as she stepped away. “Good luck with Master Rezar, both of you. I’m sure he’ll have plenty to say. Try not to get yourselves banished.” She flashed Arion a playful grin before disappearing into the twilight.

  As Elara disappeared down the stairs, Arion remained at the balcony, his gaze still fixed on the spot where she had just been. The scent of mint, lavender, and sandalwood still hung in the air, teasing his senses. He sighed, lost in thought, a soft smile playing on his lips.

  Kaelen, however, was less than amused. He stood beside Arion, his arms crossed over his chest. "You’re hopeless, you know that?" he finally blurted out, breaking the silence.

  Arion snapped out of his daze, turning to look at his friend with raised eyebrows. "What’s bothering you now?"

  Kaelen sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "You and Elara," he began, his tone a mix of concern and exasperation. "This… thing between you two. It’s not practical, Arion. She’s a royal princess, and you’re—"

  "A Sacred Custodian?" Arion interrupted, raising an eyebrow, “In training?” he added in lowered voice.

  "Besides, I am also the son of the Grand Overseer, planning to be the future Grand Overseer… possibly. Sounds like a decent match to me."

  Kaelen groaned, shaking his head. “Imagine a future Grand Overseer skipping training sessions.” he continued with a more serious tone this time, "And It’s not just about status. It’s about the complexity of it all. Do you really think her father, King Eldrion or her half-brother, the Crown Prince, would agree to a union with temple in marriage?”

  “And what about the temple? Your father, Grand Overseer Omid… what would be his reaction to this? You know this is a pipe dream." Kaelen concluded.

  "You’re right," Arion replied, his tone suddenly light and teasing. "It is impossible... Just as impossible as you walking five minutes without losing your breath.” Arion sidestepped the seriousness of the conversation as he laughed, but the sound felt hollow even to his own ears.

  Kaelen blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in tone. "What?"

  "You heard me, let’s race to the temple tower,” Arion grinned, already moving towards the stairs. "Unless you admit your conditioning is as bad as your combat and magic skills,” Before Kaelen could form a sentence, Arion quickly added, “in which case I’ll give you a tip, at least keep hope, it costs nothing."

  Kaelen rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. "You’re insufferable."

  "Only because you love me," Arion shot back, already halfway down the stairs.

  Kaelen let out a resigned sigh, his concerns momentarily forgotten in the face of Arion’s infectious energy. "Fine, fine," he muttered, starting after him. "But you’re still going to hear it from me once we get there!"

  Arion laughed, his voice echoing through the stairwell. "If you can catch me, that is!"

  And with that, the two friends raced through the kingdom’s winding streets, the tension of the moment left behind as they embraced the thrill of the challenge ahead.

  ***