THE PRINCE'S SERVANT

Haru prepares a small bag with some of his simple clothes. He finds himself deep in thought. On one hand, he feels excited to live in the castle, where he will be with his father, but on the other, he is saddened by the thought of leaving behind the last memories of his deceased mother in the house, which would remain uninhabited until one day the prince orders his personal servant to build a family so that his descendants may serve his own, just as Haru's father had.

The handsome young man with green hair feels sorrowful knowing that his father only built a family by the king's command. He fears the day Kota might ask for the same, despite the prince seeming like a good man. That day would inevitably come. Remembering that his mother was once joyful and smiling, Haru clings to the hope that it is still possible to find happiness while living as a servant.

It is already night. The boy, who had been worried about finishing the move before dusk, now finds himself captivated by the portrait of his beloved mother. Her long green hair touches the frame, her sweet smile radiating warmth as she holds little Haru, a sleepy and delicate baby, in her arms. A bit farther from them, stands the image of Hayato, who looks serious in his military uniform, adorned with Solarion medals on his chest.

The room is simple, with a light blue ceiling symbolizing the sky and rosy walls. His wardrobe and desk are already covered with white sheets. Haru thinks about how much he wishes he could hug his mother just one more time. As he continues admiring the portrait, he hears two light knocks on his small round window.

A black raven with green-tipped feathers lands on the window. Without hesitation, Haru opens it to let his father in. In an astonishingly swift transformation, his father takes human form. Haru notices his father's sad gaze as he looks at his mother's portrait, and before Haru can say anything, he interrupts:

"It's already night. We have a lot of work tomorrow with your training and studies. We've found a healer from the Kingdom of Water to assist with your training. I know the powers are different, but it's the best we could find."

He tries to sound confident, but Haru knows the portrait of his mother has deeply saddened him. His father grabs Haru's bag with a few belongings and adds:

"Let's go."

He speaks as he leaves the room, and Haru, holding the portrait, takes one last look at it. He places the picture into a small feathered bag with a brown strap, where he keeps some smaller items. Haru descends the stairs of the small house, following his father, who carries a second bag in his left hand. As they reach the outdoors, Haru takes one last look at the home where he grew up and says:

"I think I'm ready to move forward, Father."

Turning around, Haru sees that his father has transformed into a massive bird, at least five meters tall. The creature resembles a blend of an eagle and a stork, with green feathers. It holds Haru's bag in its beak and extends one of its wings like a ramp for Haru to climb. Carefully, Haru scales the feathered ramp, reaching the top and holding onto his father's neck, almost as if embracing him. The wings soar into the sky, lifting them to great heights. It had been a long time since Haru had received a ride like this from his father, and he's glad to know that he will spend more time with him.

His father's ability to transform is incredibly useful for travel. He can change into all kinds of animals, though he often chooses snakes or birds—reflecting, in Haru's opinion, his father's cunning nature.

From the height, the view of the kingdom is breathtaking. Lights shine all over the city, and the cold night wind carries the sounds of children playing. In Solaria, most people have blonde hair because they are descendants of the great Goddess Solaria, though there are always exceptions. Haru's family, for example, has green hair.

His father, now a bird, flies so swiftly that Haru barely has time to admire the city below. Soon, he spots the grand castle in the center of the kingdom. Ironically, he had always dreamed of crossing the barrier between Niray and the outside world, and now he was about to enter two magical domes.

As they near their destination, Haru clutches his father more tightly, unsure of what to expect when crossing the barrier for the first time. Upon passing through the dome, the temperature feels slightly warmer on this side. Looking down, he sees a large garden, with white roses arranged in a circle around a grand fountain. Water flows from a pitcher held by a marble statue of a winged child, as is customary in Solarion architecture.

Haru feels enchanted as he takes in the castle, so close and so magnificent under the pleasant night sky. Soon, Hayato lands in front of the castle's wide gates. The gates are guarded by four tall soldiers in heavy armor, who open the gates to allow the prince to approach and greet the newcomers warmly:

"Welcome, Haru. My father is eager to meet you, but let me first show you to your quarters."

The young monarch is dressed in an elegant gray armor with golden details, and the royal Solarion crest is emblazoned in the center of his chest. What stands out most is the crown on his head, glowing in pure gold, leaving no doubt about its authenticity.

The advisor transforms back into his human form after Haru slides down the bird's feathers. Kota takes the bag Hayato was carrying with his left arm and holds Haru by the right arm. Together, they enter the castle, leaving the beautiful white rose garden behind. As the prince guides the small boy, Haru can't stop admiring his new home. The reception hall of the castle is adorned with massive paintings of warriors, beautiful ladies with wings, and the six ancient gods, with a special emphasis on Solaria, whose likeness appears in both the paintings and the floor tiles. Above, a grand chandelier of monumental size, adorned with golden lights, mimics the sun itself.

The boy climbs long staircases, with the gallant prince always pulling him along gently. Haru feels a strange warmth whenever the prince touches him. It's impossible not to feel affection for someone so kind and attentive. They pass through much of the castle, with the older man recounting details of the ancient palace, which still feels new.

The heir takes Haru to the grand Solarion royal library, where they will share many studies. Kota explains the story behind one of the paintings on the wall:

"They say Solaria herself painted this one."

The young prince gestures to a painting of a beautiful rose with blood-red petals burning. Though stunning, the image of such a beautiful flower being destroyed makes Haru feel uneasy. Kota leads Haru to a white corridor with golden details, pointing to two doors and opening them:

"This is my room. Please don't mind the mess. The one on the right is yours. As you can see, it's a little smaller than mine, but—"

Kota notices an odd expression on Haru's face and asks:

"Is the room not to your liking? I can arrange for a better one."

The young healer never imagined having such a large and luxurious room. The room was nearly the size of his old house, with a large, plush bed in one corner, surrounded by a delicate, pale curtain with small sparkling details. A white wardrobe with golden trim stands beside a white vanity with a large mirror, its circular border adorned with the royal crest. Embarrassed, Haru turns to the prince beside him:

"Sorry, sir. I've just never seen such large rooms. This one is almost the size of my old house. I'm more than satisfied, my lord."

Uncomfortable with the formality, the older man responds:

"Haru, just call me Kota, okay?"

Surprised by the prince's request, Haru feels his cheeks burn and responds softly:

"T-t-thank you, Kota."

The prince's humility is truly unparalleled. He carries Haru's bag into the room and places it on a white table with a vase of red roses and a tray of ripe, fresh fruit. As Haru enters, he marvels at the beautiful ceiling, depicting the goddess Solaria. Looking around, the innocent boy exclaims:

"Wow."

His awe at the luxury of the room makes the prince laugh as he moves toward the door to leave:

"I'm glad you like it. I'll give you some privacy to unpack your things, but don't be late for dinner. It will be soon, and my father will be present."

The prince speaks of his father with a hint of sadness, as if reluctant to introduce Haru to the man. Haru, however, doesn't seem to notice this. He feels nervous about the upcoming dinner with the royal family. Stammering, he replies:

"Yes, sir—I mean, yes, Kota. I'll try not to be late."

Haru says awkwardly as he watches the prince leave. After closing the door, the young prince recalls the cruel words his father had spoken earlier that day:

"Congratulations. Today you finally get a slave to do whatever you want—torture, abuse, beat them. Just don't forget that this is their duty. Don't pity them. Hayato got used to it. If you need help training his son, I'll assist you."