The Reborn Magus and His Prince

Chapter 2: The Magus Dance

Alex took a seat opposite to Luke, he offered him tea which he accepted. "A local helped," he briefly told them his encounter with Yulian. Their curt response and bored looks gave way that they don't actually care.

"So what now?" Luke asked.

He pondered for a moment while enjoying his tea. This tea unexpectedly can be comparable to those used by nobles but with an unusual aftertaste which he liked. He better ask the owner of the inn for these to bring back home. "Sight seeing?" he answered after a sip of his tea.

"You serious?!" Leo had been feeling frustrated at Alex ever since the other day when he had announced he will be going in a long distance vacation. And he, the fool had dragged Luke to accompany their good friend. Believing that they'll probably be spending their summer vacation in a private island or in a neighboring kingdom. But all he got was small town that he never even heard the name of throughout his life.

"You tricked us! I'm supposed to be at the summer ball in the palace dancing with beautiful ladies!" Leo wiped his imaginary tears and envisioned himself being back at the capital.

"Don't you get tired attending those boring dances? We've been at them since we know the fact that we're twins." Luke had an itch to smack away the foolish looked of his brother.

"It's the girls,Luke not the dances that matters."

"Still the same. Boring and ugly."

Alex crossed his legs and made himself comfortable while the twins banter. They couldn't be more opposite, though they bore the same face. Leo had the outgoing attitude and had the hobby to chase every skirt he saw. The other twin, Luke preferred to stay put at one place and had a blunt personality. The two clashed in little things they can think of.

"The sun is still up. I'm sure you won't be having any problem going back." Alex said as a matter of fact to his friend just to interrupt their stupid arguments about girls.

Leo who seconds away from getting up to pound his pretty thoughts about the opposite s*x to his wooden brother stopped himself and looked at the other guy with an incredulous eyes. "Alex, not twenty four hours had passed since we got here and you already gone MIA."

"And we are unwilling to present our heads to your brother who happened to be the king, knowing your ability for directions." Luke added. The twins finally had something to agreed on.

"Why do you have to follow Professor William here? Sure that guy had the most sought healing magic in the kingdom but we could still see him once we're back at the academy."

Leo was talking about their talented professor in the academy. They only learned last night he's the reason why Alex had to go all the way here. And the palace had been dying to recruit the professor as their exclusive royal healer but he was elusive. He gave a statement that his heart was only for the academy and teaching young talents was his passion.

"No time, had to one way or another make him set foot in the palace. Someone told me that this was actually his home town and he's here for a special admission student he had recommended to the academy."

"And? It's just a transfer student. Nothing new," Leo gasped. "You feel threatened by a bumpkin?"

Alex raises his lips while Luke openly scoffed at his brother.

"Don't be a moron. The new guy must have the same ability as the professor for him to go back here. The new student could be the key in persuading that sly man and-" Luke looked over at their friend who began to tidy up after finishing his tea.

"..Alex just wanted to escape from his brother's clutches. Bet he had arrange another match making," he added.

Alex on the other hand smiled in confirmation and headed to his own room."I'm gonna sleep, wake me up at dusk." He waved goodbye to the twins without turning back.

"Don't you think the king is being too meddlesome to his own brother's love life?" Leo asked in genuine tone when Alex was gone.

"It's not like the whole kingdom doesn't know his majesty has a brother complex."

"Yeah... well, girls are nice but Alex's still young! We're all just eighteen, we should be out here enjoying life!"

"Yeah yeah, genius."

They did not know if Alex was lucky to have brother who not only did not want to get rid of him but loves him. Their king, King Edrick was relatively young, only a few years older than them. He ascended the throne after a bloody battle between the royal bloods who had a claim to the crown.

He and Alex were sibling with the same mother and he practically raised his little brother after their mother the queen died. The former king had long ago indulged in debauchery with his mistresses even bore many sons and daughters, forgetting the two princes. So when he died, those illegitimate offsprings fought nail and tooth to grab if not the crown then even a fraction of authority inside the palace causing mayhem to their kingdom, Caereus.

However, the current king was born for the throne. He easily oppressed his other siblings, making them submit to him and those who refused were killed off. Alex was young then and an easy target so, his brother hid him within the walls of the academy where the chaos of the palace could not reach.

King Edrick ascended the throne and he put everything in order but not for Alex. He would often put royal knights to monitor his younger brother, it was then the whole kingdom knew a new side of their ruthless king, a loving and overprotective brother. Very different how he treated his other siblings.

The monitoring only stopped after Alex came on top in the academy as per the brothers agreement. But the king's attention turned towards his lack of relationships. He would often find a chance to introduce every eligible maidens to his brother and somehow Alex became an expert in invading the king's antics.

"I'm gonna go ahead and sleep too. The exciting part of this town will be tonight." Luke patted his brother's shoulder before going to his own room too.

Leo sighed in defeat as his companions left him alone in the middle of the day when most people should be the most active.

"Well, good night!" he said sarcastically into the empty room before going to his own room.

On the night of the night ceremony, people had gathered on the open square, the townsmen and tourists alike were densely packed. A round platform that can accomodate ten to fifteen people was erected at the center. Lit candles infused with spells so that the flame won't die out decorated the round platform.

The ceremony had started not long ago, lively music filled the entire square while a group of people dressed with colorful clothes danced and swayed in rhythm. It made the crowd joyous and clapped along the beat, all feeling lighthearted. The music went on for several minutes, with beats changing from time to time but still made the crowd lively.

Alex and his friends was seated on the first row on the audience, they had a full and close up view of the platform.

He had a pensive looked on his face quite different from those live faces around him. As if he was awaiting something to appear on the round stage.

After the group of three explored the festive streets, they finally settled down after paying a high price for their current place.

"I must admitted I'm beginning to like this whatitsname festival," Leo said in between bites of an unidentified food with the color of a chocolate.

Luke glanced at him in disgust, "How much food are you gonna gobbled up?" His brother had a stack of foods in his hands which he had bought from every girls that had offered him. Even he had been given despite he showed them his most sullen face.

Alex on the other hand had been gracious and accepted them all. But the moment the girls were gone, he would pushed all those goods to Leo.

The festive air continued around them and as the moon had risen to it's highest, the bright lit candles had dimmed, the beatings of drum stopped rendering the crowd silent. The townsmen knew what this meant and began to move forward in anticipation. Those new in town had heard of this tradition and the moment they noticed the sudden changed around them they mimicked the locals, creating a solemn atmosphere.

"What? What's happening?" Leo asked in bewilderment.

Alex heard him but his eyes was focused on the platform. Several white clothed figures started to appear and in the middle of them was a boy dressed also in pure white contrasting his black hair. But what made him stood out among the others was his breastplate that had a carving of flames. On his shoulders were metal leaves put together to look like a folded wings.

As a melodious music started to play along with a controlled beating of drums, the boy raised his chin and started to move.

Alex's eyes widened as he recognized him. It was the boy from this morning, Yul.