I'll be waiting for you | Nomin

Chapter 2

"Then I'll leave the spot and you will be stepping forward."
Jeno was busy playing with the peas on his plate, pushing them from one side to the other, wishing he could just block out his mother speaking. He didn't want to make a speech in front of the villagers, he just wanted to wander through the crowd and meet new people, maybe even dance a little.

"Lee Jeno, I'm speaking to you right now!" His mother shouted, slamming her hands on the table, hoping that will make her son look at her. And it worked, Jeno looked up to his mother with an unamused look on his face, almost annoyed.

"I know, mother. When the royal family arrives Mark will open the ceremony, which lost its meaning to be honest, then you will welcome the people at the square and you will begin your speech. After approximately 15 minutes you will be done and step aside, then I will speak and tell them to enjoy themselves. Correct?" Jeno's parents were absolutely baffled by how their son managed to tell them every little detail they told him about tomorrow without any signs of interest on his face.

"This is a common event, mom, not much changes each time, except the announcements."

"Yes, but there's no need to talk to me like that son." She wondered where her son learned to talk like that, expecting him to treat his parents with respect, like a prince should.

"Your mother and I have been talking, and we've decided that in a few days, we'll send you to the Dragon's Pond. I think it's time you finally get a dragon."

Jeno's eyes widened in surprise at his father. He knew that since he was the prince and soon to be king within the next year, he would have a dragon one day or another, but he didn't expect it to happen so soon. He always dreamed of this moment to come and it was finally going to happen.

"Should I ask Renjun to teach me more about dragons so I'm completely prepared?" Renjun is one of Jeno's greatest friends, and probably his only real friend. He was always here to care for him when he had no one else. He is a simple servant, but he knows so much about the world they live in. He is a brilliant boy.

The king nods. "Have the boy help you go over what you've already learned, and the ritual, so you will be ready when the time arrives."

Jeno nodded at his father and excused himself from the table. He went to the workplace where he would most likely find Renjun behind an easel painting a canvas or doing pottery. When Jeno arrived at the workplace, it was completely empty, he checked the painting on the easel. Jeno always wanted to see Renjun painting but he wouldn't allow that, telling Jeno he breathes too loudly for him to concentrate on painting.

When Jeno saw the painting, he was stunned, but also terrified. It was a painting without much light, it contained many different shades of grey, red and black. At first Jeno couldn't recognize what it was supposed to be, after he had leaned closer and looked at it more carefully, he managed to distinguish a dark forest and a creature lurking within the shadows. It was slim and tall, most of its body was coloured black, allowing it to blend in with the darkness around it. The only colour on the canvas was a bright red, which Renjun used for its eyes, helping to indicate where the creature was.

Jeno had been to the forest many times before, even though he didn't like it at first, his father insisted on him possessing basic knowledge of the flora and fauna living in his kingdom, but he has never seen a creature like the one on the canvas. He remembered seeing one in a book of some sort that looked rather similar though. His parents didn't want him to go in the forest at night until he's a king and has a dragon to protect himself, saying that it was dangerous at night.

He knew Renjun was a great artist, but he didn't expect him to be this talented.

After remembering why he was here, he noticed that the pallet was filled with colours, and they were still wet. Jeno assumed Renjun had taken a short break and so he headed over to the lake, which was connected to the palace's garden. But it was still far from the actual castle.