Chapter 2: All Hail the Prince!
Nowhere to go… Nowhere to go… “Espilious!” Espilious looked up startled and tired. Erol Murdock, Espilious’ best friend, had been trying to wake Espilious up from his daydreaming. “Espilious, we have nowhere to go, we need you downstairs to talk about the next location to go to,” he said as Espilious finally made his way back to reality. “I’m sorry, I was just…” “Dreaming again?” “Yeah, that’s it,” he said as he looked up at the sky then down at the crashing water hitting the hull of their boat. “I’ll meet you downstairs in a minute, just give me a bit to think,” he said as Erol shrugged his shoulders and headed down. Espilious started to think about his father. He began to question the reality of his dream and think about seeing if what he was seeing was really the trials of the Serine Knights. He could not tell Erol or Mri that he was seeing the Serine Knights still alive in Riteath. They do not even know he is the prince of Vivica and the next in line the Vivica’s throne. He dismissed everything he thought about and headed downstairs in the meeting room to talk about his next plan.
In the meeting room, Erol stood at the table waiting for Espilious. Mri Nekomiru, a friend that Espilious and Erol had rescued a year ago, sat down staring at a map of Ghaelivon. As Espilious made his way down Erol cracked off, “That was more than a minute, you know that, right?” Espilious brushed it off and took the map from Mri and set it on the table. “We will travel to Ilrian, a desolate island. There a civilization use to live until an attack that sent a majority of it to sink. There are still some useful resources there that we can harvest to continue onto Aetheria,” planned out Espilious as he began to mark down the map. Erol nodded and Mri did likewise. Mri took another look at the map and noticed that a Horan fleet was securing the coast towards Aetheria in the direction that Espilious had wrote down. “Wait, Espy, if we go down that path, won’t we be spotted?” asked Mri pointing out the fleet. “No, I have redone the sails of the ship to match theirs. The Wooden Mallet was once their ship so it will blend in with the others and we will have no problem passing by as a cargo ship,” explained Espilious. Erol looked at the map again and then at Mri. “Nice catch, kitty cat,” he said and both gave each other a smile. Espilious rolled his eyes and headed to walk off. “Wait, where do you think you’re going?” asked Erol. “I need to go out and think,” replied Espilious. “Take a break, you are constantly thinking about everything. Listen, I know you have problems but we do too. And don’t use the whole ‘I’m 13, you are 19’ crap.” Mri tugged on Erol’s shirt, “That was a little harsh.” Espilious looked down at the floor then looked up at Erol. “There is a lot about me you don’t know, friend. If you only knew what I really had to go through, why I really am a fugitive searching for scraps left behind in the war. Sadly, you might never find out until Sorian falls from his tyrannical rule.” Erol stood quiet and Mri looked dumbfounded. “I’m sorry,” apologized Espilious and he went back up the deck.
Espilious looked out at the see and saw the Ilrian approaching. He closed his eyes and felt the sea breeze brush his face. He only felt relaxed when he was alone. Alone. A word that was almost a taboo to him. He could hear his mother screaming. The smoke from the fire, the sound of the canons. He opened his eyes quickly. How much he hated recollecting those memories of the day he would be separated from his family. Only Oliver Wingblade was the person Espilious knew was alive, after all, he did help him escape. There were also good chances that Oliver would be in Aetheria to help bring news from Kryo, the last continent to hold a defense on Hora. Espilious yawned and looked back. He heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Sure enough, Erol and Mri had come up and looked outward. “We’re about five minutes away,” said Mri as she swished her tail in excitement. Espilious smiled and looked over again. “So much for being lazy,” he said then walked over to Erol. “Well, let’s get ready for some lootin’” The two looked at each other and laughed. All three of them began to prepare to land aboard the island.
As the ship had finally made shore, the crew had gotten off and tied the ship down. Espilious looked around and gave the orders, “Remember, essentials first then valuables. We don’t want to have a lot of things we really don’t need.” The three scattered and began to search the entire island. After an hour Erol shouted to Espilious, “Yo, Espy, come here!” Espilious made his way to where he was. Erol pointed down at a strange blue plant that resembled ivy. “What is it?” he said. Espilious took a quick glance at it and picked it. “Its Cilura, a rare plant that cures poisons and reduces hunger. This is actually quite useful. Use to be a war ration but its rarity made it difficult to give to everyone,” said Espilious bagging the plant. “Great find,” he added. “Thanks,” said Erol. They returned to the ship and loaded up the cargo. “Is that everything?” asked Erol. Espilious looked around and found a house standing untouched. “Did either of you search in there?” Mri and Erol shook their heads and climbed back down. Espilious lead them into the house and searched around. Inside, there were a few bottles of anti-poisons and alchemy books. There was a stairwell that led downstairs but was blocked by a large boulder. Espilious grabbed a small dagger from his pouch and told Erol and Mri to stand back. The dagger transformed into a lance and Espilious rammed it hard into the bolder shattering it to nothing. “I love it when he does that,” said Mri in glee. The lance had reverted back to the way it was and Espilious put it away. The three decided to go down the stairs together. Each had broken a light crystal and searched the basement. The place was not dirty and seemed to be in recent use. Espilious took a few steps when he realized that there was a difference in the tone of his steps as he walked. He knelt down and knocked at the floor. He took out a knife and preyed a trap door open. “Looks like there is more to this place than meets the eye,” said Mri heading over to where Erol and Espilious where. Espilious went down first and gave the command to follow.
As they made their way even deeper Espilious asked them to keep quiet and still. “Do you hear that?” he asked the both of them. “Yeah, barely,” said Mri as she twitched her ears, “Its rather deep, but in that direction.” The three decided to keep advancing. The place was swarming with rats and poisonous animals. Espilious gave it thought and realized someone has to be living in the depths of the cave. The Cilura had to be no coincidence. Someone was using it in the even of an attack by these creatures and reduce hunger during a famine. Without realizing it, the three had made their way to the end of the cave. All of them were awestruck at the sight of a city on top of an underwater lake. The houses were running on what seemed to be steam power and the condensation created clouds on the roof of the cave. The smell was fresh and relaxing unlike the salty air of the ocean. Espilious gave them order to continue further and enter the city. As they walked they came upon a bridge that led to the mainland of the city. Once they crossed it a group of children came out of hiding from behind tall boulders and readied as if they were going to attack. The eldest of the group came forward and held his staff in front of the trio. “In order to enter our city, you must pay a toll!” demanded the child with a stern look on his face. Espilious and Erol only looked puzzled while Mri was adored the cuteness of the child. Espilious looked down and moved the child’s staff out of the way. “Cute, but we need to - ” “Quiet! No toll, no access!” The child put his staff back up at him. Espilious was now getting annoyed. The oldest girl in children’s group leaned over and said something to the eldest. He looked at her and yelled, “I know that, but trust me.” Espilious had had enough and moved forward. The kid was angered and whistled with a whining pitch. Three monsters emerged from the ground and commenced an attack on Espilious. Without much movement, Espilious took out the three instantly with his spear in hand. It reverted back to the dagger her had and put it away.
The child fell to his knees in shock. “Damn it! I will never be better than him if I can’t beat this guy.” The other kids gathered around him. The smallest ne got in front of him and said, “Don’t wo-wy, Jessie, I dink you aw the gweatest pawson.” Jessie only began to cry and got up, “Its not fair. He is always showing me up and everybody praises him.” A man appeared from behind as Jessie continued to shout. “‘Why can’t you be more like your brother?’ they always say. I am sick of it! I am going to be better one way or another. I wish he was never my brother!” The man from behind spoke, “I’m sorry you feel like that, Jessie…” Jessie turned around in great shock to find his brother standing before him. The man moved his head to tell the kids to get back to the city. They listened and went home quietly. “Quite sorry about that,” said the man, “my name is Logan Aretos. I am he guardian of this city.” Espilious shook his hand, as did Mri and Erol. “I am Erol Murdock, from west Vivica.” “I am Mri Nekomiru, from the city of Oneth.” “I am Espilious Seas, from northern Vivica.” Logan looked at him and paused. He looked at him again then smiled. “So the rumors are true. You really are alive!” He got on one knee quickly and bowed his head. “All hail, the true heir to the throne, Prince Espilious Vandari!” Erol and Mri looked at each other and then at Espilious who had turned around with a look of shock on his face. “Well, guys, now you know…”
