The three of us stood still, my eyes refusing to look away from the suspicious bush that rustled back and forth. I swear I couldn't hear either of us breathing, I could barely hear anything with how loudly my heartbeat started rhythmically thumping in my ears, muffling the sounds of the environment around me. After what felt like hours of us not moving a muscle, Gino on my right attempted to make the first few steps towards the bush. He reached his hand out to push the foliage out of the way, but was unable to do so as a blurry figure jumped right out at us.
"AAAAAHHHHHH?!" We screamed.
"OW!" All of a sudden, a man makes an ungraceful tumble out of the bush and lands face first onto the grass. Once we realize the person isn't a big scary monster, we all let out a sigh of relief. Gino, Amice, and I exchange confused glances to each other before we all stare at the man in confusion.
"Oh my... I am on the floor... A-Arne! I AM ON THE FLOOR! WHERE ARE YOU ARNE RETRIEVE ME AT ONCE?!" He screeches out, stretching his arm backwards. A second hooded figure rushes out from the bush, making Gino and I jump in shock. The hooded person without a word quickly helps the man on the floor to his feet.
"Has that damned horse lost its mind??? Arne, I thought I told you to bring the brightest one along with us, so why would you instead bring along that poor excuse of an animal?! Explain this instant!" The man says to the hooded figure. They respond with:
"My prince, I promise you there is nothing wrong with the horse. It simply threw you off because you scared it with how frantic and unhinged you were being. You know they can sense nervousness."
'Prince?' I think to myself. I carefully take a peek at the man who had fallen down earlier. Taking a once-over at his outfit, the dots start to connect. The pale skinned prince wears a dark red velvet tunic paired with now dirtied white trousers. He has on under the knee black leather boots, and wears a large velvet cape on his back with a fur collar. His black hair is now messy, and when I'm stuck staring at how golden his eye color glints in the natural light, it takes me a few seconds before I realize he's staring back at me.
"Oh good! We can ask these commoners for directions, since you got us lost!" He not so subtly directs at the hooded figure. The prince walks over to our little group while we still try to process the situation in front of us. I'm the first one to snap back to attention when I hear him "Ahem?"
"Y-Yes?" I ask him. He doesn't say anything else, instead choosing to keep staring at me. He starts tapping his foot impatiently, so I glance at Amice for help and see her mouth two words at me. "Yes... Your Highness?" I say unsurely.
His impatient glare quickly shifts into a charming smile. "Hello, my name is Prince Vasun of the Kingdom of Vulcan. Though I suppose you already knew that."
Amice dips into a curtsy, prompting Gino and I to quickly follow her lead. She steps in front of me, taking on the job of talking to the prince. "Yes, we are well aware Your Highness. I am Lady Amice, this is... Sera, and her friend Gino." When they begin their conversation, I walk back over to Gino to fill him in.
"So what's their deal?" He whispers to me.
"The guy in the cape is some kinda prince I guess."
"Huh..." He says, giving the prince a once-over before turning back to me. "And the guy in the hood?"
"I don't know. Wait, so... can you really not understand anything they're saying?"
Gino shakes his head. "Nope. It's all gibberish to me. Weird how you can understand them though, right?"
"Yeah... right..."
Amice quickly walks back to us and places her hands on both of our backs. She then forcefully pushes us down into a bow, making Gino and I wince.
YOU ARE READING
The Gems of Element
FantasyI lived a simple life. I'd wake up every morning and eat breakfast with my Dad before heading to school. I'd arrive there, do my work, walk back with my best friend, then come back and sleep all of my worries for tomorrow away. It was my routine, it...
