(Past)

LANCE EYED Adarmus with a weary expression. The rain had started when Lance ran for dear life away from the man. Facing the great general, he swallowed the thought that he'd willingly go with him. No. He couldn't. 'Nevermind being a social outcast. I'm not going.'


What he didn't expect is that the man would decidedly follow him with a smile. "Why are you running? It's okay, kid. Stop it already. I'm not in the mood."

"Oh, yeah? Bad for you because I'm on it!" Lance swirled on the left and successfully left the palace through the gate. "Stop following me! Guards!"

A guard adjusted his cap and smiled brightly to Adarmus. "Sir, would you like us to take him for you? I think the prince is confused."


Lance felt his face go blue. He screeched. "You fucktards! You're going to give me to him? What prince! You treat me like I'm poultry! I'm out!"

"Hey, kid!" Adarmus tried catching his wrist but he dodge and ran again. "…he's really petty."


A nearby guard sighed. "His brother will be his own doom. He's an insecure kid. I know you won't mind me saying this, sir. But that kid has always been our headache since day one."

"Why is that?" Adarmus patted his head. He went under the rain for nothing. The kid was too agile that he couldn't catch him. "I think he has the potential."

"Everyone says that. Especially with his face like that, he's indeed an 'heir' material. But he lacks the character for it. I hope the baby will be more useful than him."

Adarmus pursed his lips. When he got Joaquin, he never thought about using the kid for his own gain. His pride won't allow it. He knew the king's intention and he doesn't like even one bit of it.

'I can't stop him.'

"The west is in their worst time of the year now. We send them enough essentials per month but don't you think it's getting too much?" Leaning on the brick wall, a man crosses his arms. "They're still sending letters about how the drought affected them and the fields had no water left for the crops to grow. It's still a huge mystery for me."

"Ah. Yes. They even implied about an uproar if their needs aren't met. Isn't that an insult to the royal family?"

"You know the west side of this kingdom. It's hard to go there and going back will only be a dream."

"An uproar?" Adarmus shook his head. In this frantic times, the king can just send people to inspect the problem of the west. 'Why does it have to border on an uproar?'

"How long has this been going on?" he inquired.

"Ten years. Eleven after this year passed."

'This problem is long overdue. Why does the king continue to ignore this? Is he not worried?' Adarmus blinked slowly. "Why is the kid afraid of me anyway? I don't know him. This is the first time that I happened to meet him."

"Huh?" The guard laughed gently. "Of course he'd run! You're here to escort him, right?"

Most elves doesn't know his identity as the blue wolf. They knew him as a general who once fought alongside with them once. "Escort him to what?"

'The king didn't tell me anything about this.'

"The king said he's going to send the first prince to you! Saying you'll cultivate him to something more beneficial to the palace."

Adarmus choked. Now he realized what the kid has got to experience everyday. The prince was being viewed as someone inept and lacking. He expected his father, the king, to throw him someday in favor for another kid. And now that Adarmus has come, he misinterpreted it.

A harried looking man rushed to the gate. He wore an exceptional looking uniform for the servants. He gushed, "Have you seen the prince? He needs to go back. I lost him."

"He was left alone on the garden earlier. Where were you?" Adarmus reprimanded him, "Isn't it your task to make sure he's never left alone by himself?"

To his surprise, the man defended the insolent prince. "He's old enough to be left alone whenever he wants to be."

As if remembering Adarmus' seniority, he avoided his eyes and said, "Sir."

He smiled wanly. "He ran when he saw me. This is not how a respectable royal should act. Seems like the king was not wrong. He needs to be cultivated."

The servant pursed his lips. He's refraining himself from talking back. Adarmus found his reaction funny. He inquired, "Do you know where is he right now? You're his servant. You must know where he normally goes to?"

"How could I possibly know, sir? He hates me. He hates everyone in this palace. I'm no exception from his attitude."

This is a roundabout way of saying 'no' without actually saying it. In this way, Adarmus would not scent his lie. He commended the young man in his mind. He protects that young prince as if the kid was worth it. In Adarmus' opinion, the prince is not capable enough. Especially when he's surrounded by elves like this. Not even a little bit.

"I'M NOT GOING anywhere." Adarmus grinned to the king. "You know me. I don't like going that far from home. How about you let me stay here for a while?"

The mortal world has no wards from evil. He could not protect Joaquin by staying with humans. That's the reason why he spent his magic opening up a portal leading the way to the parallel country called Lyre.

"How long is it going to be?" The king's beard moved slightly as he spoke. "Talk to me directly, Adarmus. You are not as veiled before. Looks like it really affects you."

Adarmus laughed. His expression turning sour. "Who would stay indifferent when this happens? Rourke, I lost everything!"

"You gained yourself a son." The king nodded. "They are the most beautiful. You're blessed to have your kid growing next to you."

He crossed his legs. Leaning to the couch, Adarmus commented, "Your son's a big oaf, you know."

"He's still my son even if we don't talk everyday."

Adarmus look to his eyes. "He doesn't want to be your son."

The king acquissed. "I know. But he had no choice. It was already done. The ink dried. No one can change it."

He suddenly felt anxious for the kid. "What do you want to do with him? What's your real intention, Rourke?"

"What?" Sipping from his tea, the king frowned. "Your perception of me is quite disheartening."

"Don't count me along with the thousands of people you were able to fool, Rourke." Adarmus clicked his tongue. "He's not your son. Not by your appearance and never in blood. What do you want from him?"

It has been bothering him since the moment the kid was introduced to him as a prince.