Chapter 2: Timothy

The wind was blowing past me. Birds were chirping in the background, and somewhere close a waterfall was slapping against rocks. The sound faded for a second, then I heard a splash, like someone had fallen in.

It was me. I was sinking slowly in the lake.

I looked up at the surface. 'The night sky looks peaceful in the early morning... I wonder why,' I thought.

I swam deeper.

'Why does the moon look so peaceful knowing that the sun will take over its place for a longer time,' I thought.

Ahead of me, something glowed. A red crystal, and around it other crystals in different colours, pulsing softly in the dark water.

'In a world full of magic and colour there are those that shine the brightest and longest, they give a lot of peace of mind to the people in this land,' I thought.

Then I turned and saw it - a crystal that glowed in a fading grey, barely holding its light.

'As for those that barely give out a glow, I wonder how other people see them. Is it a temporary jump of joy, or an eternal loathing of that colour?' I thought.

My chest tightened. I let out a bit of air in panic and kicked hard, swimming up fast. I burst out of the water hyperventilating, coughing and panting to stay afloat.

I looked up at the silver moon.

'If I were able to make a choice then it would be to love the fading colours... to me they bring a sense of persistence like they are not ready to give up their lives,' I thought.

I swam to the shore and pulled myself out, covering my shoulders trying to warm up. I was shivering.

A twig cracked behind me.

I went alert and reached for my wand next to me, aiming it at the darkness.

"Who's there?! Show yourself! Hear my wish queen of light, please guide me on the path to righteousness and may your light shine upon my enemies!"

A flicker of light sparked on my wand and then went off.

'Hm? Hmmmmm... stupid magic affinity,' I thought, irritated.

A man in knight's armour stepped out of the shadows.

"Is that really all the young prince has to offer?"

I sighed. "Get outta my hair, geezer!"

"My my, what a foul mouth you have," he said, stepping into the light.

It was Captain Martin. Well built, dark brown complexion, bald.

"Captain Martin?!!" I stepped back.

"Oh you didn't realise? Oh well, that brings trouble. I cannot be recognised because I look like a mere commoner to you."

I chuckled nervously. "You know these things, it's hard to get the right appearance in the dark."

"Ooooh now I see, you are implying that I can't be seen."

"No no no I would never ever say that to you..." 'Well anyway the way I look at it now I don't have to say it since you realised it,' I thought.

"What's with the smug look?"

"Oh nothing nothing..." I turned around to leave but Martin held my shoulder, preventing me from moving.

"Hey now, what is the meaning of this?" I said with a nervous smile.

"Oh you know, the meaning is quite simple." He raised his hand. "Oh great flame of the earth answer my call..." Flames appeared in his hand. "Now then..."

I chuckled nervously. He chuckled too.

I paused and looked up. 'I am doomed,' I thought.

"It's good you know..."

Then an explosion rang out.

A slight pause. After that, birds chirping again. The scene in my head faded into a dark and quiet room. I was panting.

I was balancing on my toes while squatting, trembling.

'Come on come on... balance up,' I thought. An orange glow surrounded my legs. 'Come on come on... hold hold hold a bit more.'

I jumped and reached the ceiling, tapping it with my palm.

'Now don't get me wrong I did say that there are strong and weak mages out there but when I say that, it only applies to mages who can use flashy spells such as fire, wind, water, earth magic and maybe even light,' I thought.

I braced myself for another jump, my legs glowing orange again.

'Then we have the knights who can use less flashy spells but a whole lot of combat magic techniques... between me and my brother Kyle, I stand in the army and he would be those important mages that dad has always wished for him. I mean we both agree to it and love each other but...' I thought.

I jumped in the air and tapped the ceiling with my leg.

'No matter what we are to each other... the world will see us as rivals and people in two different worlds... hm, pathetic,' I thought.

A knock on the door.

'Huh? Who is that? I made sure to be not around when Mercy the head maid passes through here...' I thought.

The knock sounded again but louder.

'The way I see things this would be my chance to leave again,' I thought.

A female voice came from the door.

"Oh no you don't dear Timothy..."

"What? Mother?!!"

"Yes that's right and you are not going anywhere," Queen Emily said as the door shook.

No time to think. I turned to the window and ran toward it.

The doors burst open and my mother came through.

I opened the window and looked back at her. "See you when you get back mother," I said, bracing myself to jump.

"Capture??!!" A whip made of light wrapped itself around me.

I gasped. "How dare you treat your insolent son like an animal!"

"That's because my insolent son doesn't know how important this expedition is..." She struggled but pulled me back.

"That expedition you speak of is just an excuse for you to get perfume."

"Of course it is you insolent child, I am a woman aren't I? Am I not allowed to look pretty and glamorous?"

"For crying out loud, you are a mother and a queen. You have two sons and a husband who acknowledge your presence."

"Oh my boy now you are breaking mommy's heart, stop struggling and get over here..."

The magical whip yanked me back into her arms.

"Mom you are going to break me..."

"Oh does this mean you will follow your mother?"

'Like I have a choice, she will just bind me to that whip of hers...' I thought. I started to say "Oka-"

She bound me to her magical whip. "Never mind you don't have a say these days..."

"Ohhh but I don't want to go."

"Hehehe... you have no choice my son."

The next thing I knew, I was inside the chariot.

'Well now you know how I got here on this sorry excuse for an expedition,' I thought.

Queen Emily cuddled me. "Awww my baby boy..."

I groaned. 'To put it simply my mother loves me and Kyle but she has taken an interest to me because I don't train with my dad,' I thought.

King David sat opposite us, middle-aged, slim fit, serious expression.

"Now now Emily, you can squirm with your son once we have reached the capital."

"Hmmm," she pouted, "it's not squirming..."

'Someone needs to tell her,' I thought.

King David looked irritated. "Well at least stop moving about... there is only so much space in here."

"Ooo ooh now you want to blame me for your greedy set up."

"I don't know what you mean..." he said, facing away.

"I will just play with my son here... you can continue brooding there with Kyle."

"Mom?!! I don't brood!" Kyle said.

"Well you don't do it like your father but... you are a big meanie."

"Whaaat? How?"

"You refuse to play with your mother... too focused on magic."

"But I..."

"Hmph!"

'She won't listen will she?' Kyle thought, but I could see it on his face.

"Well brace yourself my boy... it will take us two days to get to the capital..." my mother said.

"Huh?" I said.

She tickled me and chuckled.

"Come on mom, I am 15 years old."

"All the more reason to deal with you in your rebellious stage."

I laughed. 'Looking at the moment now, I wish our family can be like this forever. But forever is a big wish for reality to answer,' I thought.