The Boy

Chapter 1 (Zen) [March 3041]

The night breeze felt wonderful against my sweaty skin as I ran along the path. I could hear the owl’s howling and the crickets chirping. The number of fireflies kept growing as I got closer to the pond. Trying not to make a sound, I slowly walked towards the water. The midnight blue color of the pond complimented the bright shadow of the moon. One was red, while the other was blue.

I quickly sat down at the edge of the pond, waiting for my companion to get there. If you are all thinking that I’m waiting for a person, you are dead wrong. I am waiting for a beautiful unicorn. He has a beautiful light blue, almost silver mane, sea-blue eyes, and golden hooves.

His name is Alice, and he told me that he turned 218 years old this year. Well, I don’t mind having a 218-year-old friend, because I have seen many weird things in the last 18 years of my life. I have seen mermaids, mermen, shark folk, angels, demons, Demi-gods, dwarfs, elves - both light & dark - and many I have forgotten. Well, this was all possible because of my father and my status in high society.

I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Zen Wistalia Clarines, but my friends call me Zen. I am the prince of Wistalia Kingdom, and my dad is the king, as you may have figured. Alice and I met 5 years ago when I was trying to run away from assassins. I owe Alice my life. If we had not met, I would be dead.

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch.

I turned around only to find my face in between Alice’s front legs, and man, they were soft. I felt my ears heat up as I pulled my face away and started getting up.

“Alice, you should have told me if you were there,” I whined to him while pulling up from the ground.

“Yeah, yeah. Why nice to see you too Zen...” he replied in a deep and sarcastic voice.

“Well, what can I say? These days the whole castle has been busy with the preparations for the ceremony. My dad gave me a bunch of work, saying that when I become ‘Crown Prince’ this pile of work will be doubled.” I sighed, showing how much work was left to me. “You know, everyone at the castle always said that being a prince was good, but when you become Crown Prince it’s even better! I would love to find the source of those rumors and make them the Crown Prince. We’ll see how they feel.” I tried to pout, but the thought just made me angry.

"What? Did you tell them that being a prince is better because you can laze around and no one can tell you to do something except for your father?” Alice cut in between, laughing away with his beautiful voice. I felt my cheeks growing hotter, but ignoring it, I retorted back at him.

"Oh before I forget! You said that when I became a Crown Prince you would come to the castle yourself and congratulate me? How are you going to do that? Do I need to prepare something extra? Can you even eat human food?” I spoke quickly as my curiosity was getting the best of me.

About one year ago, Alice had promised me that when I turned 18, he would be there with me, inside the castle, celebrating my birthday and the “Crowning Ceremony”. You see, this is something amazing because, as far as I know, Alice has never set foot on the castle grounds. The only person who knows about Alice is my father and our butler.

"Wow, slow down there buddy! Yes, I will come to the castle for your coronation, and no, you don’t have to prepare anything special for me. It will be a surprise when you see me. I do hope you will recognize my handsome self in the crowd!” he said with a smug look on his face which made me laugh.

"There is no way I will not recognize you. If I can't spot a beautiful light blue-silver unicorn, then I am the stupidest prince alive!” I said while laughing.

"Let's say you don’t recognize me. Could you do me a favor?”

"Sure! But if I do recognize you, it will be the other way around.” I told him, as we nodded in agreement.

After chatting for a while, we both headed our separate ways. I walked along the path I had taken before and reached a huge wall, covered in Ivy’s, just a few minutes before midnight. This was the castle wall that separated the Dark Forest and the castle garden.

There was a breach in the wall only a select few knew of, which helped me sneak out of the castle from time to time. Father did not tell me of this path until I became a 6th level mage with 6 magic circles in my heart. There are 13 mage levels and magic circles among all the races. Father is a 12th level mage and has 12 magic circles, while the royal guards (there are about 7 of them) are 11th level in both. Father said that breaking into the 11th and 12th levels was very difficult and sometimes impossible. The other races also fall within the levels. Some of the races have only magic circles instead of mage levels. Alice is a 10th level mage and has 12 magic circles. He thinks that he hides it well, but nothing can be hidden from me. I can see everyone's mage levels and magic circles. Father calls it God’s Eye, but all I can see are levels. By the way, right now I am an 8th level mage and have 9 magic circles.

Well enough of the explaining, first we need to head back to my room. I sneak past the guards with invisibility magic and wind magic. I walked past the sleeping maids in front of my room and started changing. I picked up a new pair of pajamas and put them on, but it was getting very late so I pushed aside all the papers on my bed. Waking up tomorrow would be a challenge.

The maids would probably wake me up. . .

With those thoughts in my mind, I soon fell asleep.