The Reborn Magus and His Prince

Chapter 1.1: The Magus Second Life

After the plague took away Yulian's parents, Mr. Wallice took the initiative to take care of him. Though the young him at his insistence still lived alone at his parents house.

The chief's good at handling the town after the plague, if it wouldn't for him their town would have long ago turned into a ghost town.

After the chief's almost scary speech, people began to dispersed, some stayed for talks with acquaintances including Yulian and his group of friends. They planned to enjoy the morning festival as for tonight will be Yulian's dance for the gods and they were all required to assist. It will be a busy night for them to enjoy the fest anymore.

The group of youths strolled along the busy streets, people from nearby towns would also come to enjoy the festivities though there's nothing remarkable about their fest, people would still grab the chance to have fun and stretch their legs.

Yulian noticed certain new stalls set up by faces that he doesn't usually see every festival of theirs.

"Woah!"

His attention went away when he heard his friend, Chris' loud voice overlapping the crowd's.

"What's the matter?" he asked and they all came over to him. Chris was over at another stall.

"Check these out!"

Dangling from his hand, he showed them a bright red necklace.

"So cool!" one after another, the rest of Yulian's friends including Arthur flocked towards the jewelry stall.

If it weren't for their voices, he would almost believe these friends of his were a bunch of young maidens. -__-

Why do they have to get excited for an obvious counterfeit jewels aimed for young girls?

He shooked his head in resignation and follow the energetic young men.

"What do you think Yul?" Arthur asked in a serious tone the moment he came beside him. He was examining a piece of ruby in concentration.

"......" Yulian almost got speechless by his friend's taste in accessory. "It...'ll look good on you. The red perfectly match your hair-"

"What?! No!" Arthur with a horrified expression immediately shut down him down."This! Is! for mom! Not for me!" He emphasizes every word.

"Okay okay... I was kidding!"

Actually he knew Arthur's looking for a gift for Mrs. Wallice upcoming birthday. He just finds little pleasure in teasing someone.

"Ehem!"

The merchant behind the stall cleared his throat.

"Young men, if you're not planning to buy anything, please let the beautiful ladies through!"

They heard giggles from their back. They all turned around and a long line of girls were there.

Yulian's friends stiffened and in unison put back the jewels where they originally were. They walked in the middle of the giggling girls in looking like a wooden puppets.

Yulian was seen laughing at his friends embarassment and wanted to follow them, however.

"Yul, stay with us!" One of the girls grabbed him.

"Ah?"

"We'll buy you ornaments. You can wear them for tonight ceremony's."

They began to dragged him back to the jewelry stall

"No need! Those are for girls only! Not men!"

He began to panic. His so called friends had quickly began to disappeared even when they noticed his situation. Arthur even had the gal to mouthed a 'deserve' at him before running away.

"What nonsense! Your skin is so white and soft. Any jewels will looked good on you!"

The girls started to surround him. Trying to decorate him anything they'll get their hands on.

These always happens.They think of him as their own kind, young and old alike. His appearance now looked so delicate and pretty. His eyes were big and had the innocent looked coupled with a small straight nose and thin pink lips. This was the look that could evoke protectiveness among the masses especially the girls.

But fortunately, over the years he redeemed himself as a tough young man. He would show them his strength by doing manual work including farming, fixing houses, hunting and all other things that a muscle man can do. But! It still did not deter the girls perception of him. He was still chosen to be the 'belle' of the ceremony and would sometime be invited to a tea party. -_-

Really girls.

With an excuse that Mrs. Wallice would be expecting him this noon for the final rehearsal, the girls finally let him go but not before stuffing him all kinds of ornaments and jewelries at him.

He didn't dared to look back while walking away, afraid that they'll will remember that Mrs. Wallice was actually busy catering some guests. He turned in a small corner that have few people for a short cut.

But he collided with someone else. The jewels in his hands fell off due to impact. He saw a chest dressed in black clothes.

" Sorry..." Yulian muttered. He crouched down to pick up the scattered jewels and did not dared to look up, lest his self esteem would be shattered. The freaking boy was tall, the top of his head could only reach the boy's chin.

Why do he have to be reborn as small and weak looking? 'They' must have been toying with him.

"No, actually it was my fault." The boy also crouched and began to help him pick up his belongings.

Well, that's kind of unexpected. He was expecting he bumped into a jerk and would try to intimidate him. On the contrary the boy had a nice gentle voice. So Yulian took a peek at him.

He almost whistled. The other was something else! He saw neat silver hair on a handsome tace if the girls would evaluate him, he would be in the drop dead gorgeous category and a 'gentleman but wanted to be r****h by him' category.

Of course that were just something he heard from them, not his own thoughts.

"I'm kind of lost and was wandering around when I bumped to you." The man noticed his gaze and gave him a kind smile.

Golden eyes, warm golden eyes stared back at him.

"I apologise, here's your...umm jewelries."

Yulian retracted his eyes and took his things from the man's hand.

"Thanks! They're not mine by the way," he tried explaining but felt he sounded guilty, so he tried diversion. " Did you say you're lost? I'm from here, where you heading to?"

"Really? That's a relief! I think I've been circling here for an hour. If it's not incovenient, could you show me the way to an inn but... I forgot what's its name..." He looked sheepish while rubbing his snape.

Yulian smiled finding himself comfortable with this stranger.

"No worries, there's only one inn in this town. I'll take you there."

He motioned the man to follow him. Together they exited the small alley with Yulian's guidance.

"I'm Yulian Albertine by the way, a local here."

"Alex, I'm Alex Lockewood, just a lost tourist. It's nice meeting you, Yulian."

The smaller boy stole a quick glance at the other beside him. The boy named Alex will be causing mayhem in this small town of theirs. Even now, they're just walking calmly but it seems everyone's eyes were on them. Or rather only on Alex.

Well he could not blame them, not everyday this town would be grace by a god like beauty.

They reached the inn with this guy being oblivious to his surroundings. Alex throughout had maintained his small polite smile, making everyone drawn towards his face. Though no one tried to approach them especially when Yulian's would dragged him away everytime someone's nearing.

"Does this happen to you always?" He asked him when he had the chance.

But Alex gave him a questioning glance.

He could see a question mark popping from his head.

"Never mind. We're here! The shaking duck inn!"

Alex looked at him in confusion."The entrance says, it's High Mountain Inn."

Yulian laughed."Yeah, just a little joke around the locals here."

He reached out his hand and dragged Alex's head towards look at the other side. "See that logo, doesn't it looked like a shaking butt of a duck?"

The logo of the inn was supposed to be a drawing of a mountain however due to the passing of time the colors and ink slowly fade away. Leaving only the carvings of the shape of mountain but if a person looked at it first, the first thing they will be reminded of was the butt of a duck.

" Pft..." He saw how Alex covered his face shoulders shook in suppressed laughter.

Well, seem someone's has a love for jokes. Sure, the inn's nickname was a little funny but not to the point of laughter.

He waited for him to stop laughing.

"Sorry... This just reminded me of something." Alex composed himself and turned towards him. His face was red and tears visible on the corner of his eyes.

"Right... Well since I delivered you safely here, I should go now."

"Okay... Thank you for your help, Yulian."

"No worries there, and next time just call me Yul. See you around!"

Yulian saluted in farewell before turning away from the other boy. While Alex smiled, watching the other getting farther. When he couldn't see Yul anymore he walked inside the inn.

Alex saw how the boss of the building fretted the moment he saw his figure entered.

"Goodness, young sir! You're finally here, the other esteemed guests were anxiously waiting for you! Please follow me, sir."

The owner led him to a hall.

"I just went for a little exploration of the town, I found it interesting."

" Yes sir, our town though small it's... full of wonderful things!" The owner wiped his sweat in secret, personally even he found his own town a little quiet and just a your average countryside. Nothing much to see except wide range of fields and nothing major ever happened here except the plague ten years ago. The bigwigs from the capital must be bored of the hustle life of city to come here.

The owner led Alex to a room in which he considers his most elegant and expensive room however, one of the esteemed young guests had a momentary look of disgust when he showed them the rooms. He shrugged his shoulders, his guests were young and clearly came from prestigious families. It had baffled him why they had to come here at first but it's no longer concern of his, as long as they pay.

"Alex!" The door opened before he could knock. A young man had emerged from the other side of the door. "Can't believe you went out without us!"

The owner bid his excuse to them after seeing the youths reunited in which had been met by a simple nod from him.

"I went for a small walk." He took off his coat and hanged it on the rack. "You guys were sleeping still."

His friend, Leo rolled his eyes. "It's been an hour."

"Bet he's lost again," Luke chimed in. Alex other companion, while Leo fretting about their friend disappearance, Luke took the chance to eat his breakfast. Not giving a damn for his friend's talkativeness. As for Alex, they all know the guy likes to disappear from here to there and would eventually return. Its is his habit. Leo was just a worrywart. "So how'd you return?"