...our relationship's with different people vary on how they benefit you in your life. ...

"oh, i dislike people very much" he groans moving fast and steadily

in the crowd. Yet still managing to bump into every fellow in the

way. The market is usually this crowded when a holiday or festival

is near.

"And i surely detest chickens" his face grows worse when he is

surrounded by stalls of big fat roosters.

"What to do, sir kayreus? It is only but a gambling festival " galahad follows

him fast. Taking quick steps with his short legs. Almost getting lost

every second.

"Over chickens? Such dire creatures" he says but then is quickly

distracted by an equipment stall.

"They are but only small helpless animals. And i would think you'd

know any better that they are roosters, sir" he speaks politely yet

Kayraeus laughs.

"You are an exceptional fellow, don't you think so too?" He leers

Picking up a shiv "why don't you teach me how to use my tongue

instead?" He holds the shiv near galahad's chin but barely touching

it."My apologies, sir" he droops and Kayraeus beams up putting his

hand around his shoulder.

"Oh my, you old man. 19 years you've seem me from boy to man yet

you judge me as one of them. I am very much hurt by this, i must

say" he teases making Galahad smile daringly. Soon it crowds up

around them too wheh the roosters are placed beside the

equipment stall.

He frowns and searches through arrows and spears.

"Say, shall we go hunting?" He grabs a well built arrow admiring it's

architecture.

"l am sorry to say but that is to be strictly declined by the orders of

your noble mother, sir" he states.

Kayraeus examines the arrow in satisfaction "what a pity i really

like this arrow.it would be a depressing waste if not i be the one to

get my hands on it first" as he would have guessed like always.

Galahad has fallen into his trap. He proudly smiles, He's been

spoiled by him too much.

"Why don't i roast for you a fat rooster, one might call it as such.

What do you say we celebrate like mere civillians" he walks off in

the direction of the forest in a jolly mood. Galahad sighs, he

couldn't disagree if he wanted to.

"One day, you will die for me" Kayraeus would always say when

galahad failed to turn him down. Even though he had allowed him

to do so.

"Well, this is amusing" he sits in great disappointment. Caught in a cave. As one would fear, an unexpected strong storm came by the

foresthours after they entered deep into the forest and now the

path back to the market was flooded by a broken river streaming

through it.

"Your mother will have me beheaded the moment i accompany you

back. And then with your clothes looking like that" he worries.

He had suggested he lay his dress for Kayraeus to sit on, who

refused, is now soaked in mud.

"Worry less, we will figure something out" and just as he says a

close roaring sound of thunder is heard.

"We can only wait in vain and hurt our heads. Let us rest instead of

useless worry. Shut your eyes gal" he says and even though

Galahad tries to insist he is very much awake he ends up sleeping

like a log.

He himself dozes off while admiring the rain. Something his very

kind despises and are scared of. Is it so hard to spare this beauty

some shelter time and admire from afar.When he wakes up it is mid night.

Galahad is removing broken branches to clear the path back to the market. He joins too to fasten the process

When they reach back they had expected it to be pitch silence but

instead it's quite the opposite kids are running around with fireworks, getting their faces painted.

The elders are preparing bbq. lt's crowded and hot. In the center of

the market circled by a crowd, two roosters are set free to brawl to

death, sharp blades fitted into thier legs.

"1 smell roasted chicken, hm, those must be the losers" he points at the bbq stall where some kids are standing crying. On the other

side of the market Prostitutes are dancing and singing for the men.

Noble men who admire the same gender are being served in

tavern's. While in the innocent world, Jesters and jokers making

the kids laugh or cry. He wishes he could stay. But such place is not fit for a noble like him.Galahad makes way through the people and they finally exist the market heading to the family tree

"Could it be the funny feeling in my stomach because i have not

eaten for hours, or is it really something different?" Kayraeus

stands confused. Galahad agrees.

"l overheard the house maidens whispers this morning to

eachother about some auburn sail. I wonder if.." He thinks hard but

nothing comes to mind.

"Auburn sail, you say?" He is too tired to give it a thought.

On the othet side of the map...

"My lord, there's a storm ahead!" One of the sailors warn him but

he just smiles instead.

"And there we shall drift, forget not you sail auburn. Auburn does

not betray it's owner" he sits atop on the edge of his sail. A helm

no one knows how to control. How it's made. And how it is able to

sail. They admire it and wish to be a part of it. He is pleased with

himself for that. "Provide shelter for my people. Nourish them with

nuts and beer. We will have reached our desired location tomorrow

morning" he orders.

"But my lord"

"Full sail. What i have to say, you serve me boy! Do not twist my

tongue for yourself in the cold sea" he orders, the crew obeys and

runs towards the noble's tents making the announcement

He closes his eyes and feels the wind hitting his soul. His chiton

ruffles and flows due to the whizzling of the storm. The cold rain

showering him down. He shivers but feels good. When he opens his eyes he can see the giant waves of the water reaching above his head, looking down on him. Even though he is high above in the

sky, higher than the rest of the crew, on the edge of his sail, the

ocean judges him of hos bravely.

"Claudian paradise, the place where happiness is born, because

treasure is found" he whispers

"You will die, xen" adonis looks at him with concerned expression.

He is wet and frozen, ruffling his hair taking off his chiton, getting

into his warm bathe prepared for him.

"I don't remember i ever gave you permission to address me with

that name. Know your limits adonis" he murmers barely able to

breath.

lcarus stares at his lean pale body. Soaked in the scent of cinnamon wood,mixed in his bathe "What is it with you and rain. Some sensual pressure, i say" icarus and adonis both chuckle

"Why laugh? The rain is a magnificent blessing, says the gods

otherwise" he claims and shuts his eyes close. Maybe there is a

sensual feeling between him and rain.

"If you say so" adonis eyes icarus and they both snort.

It's not that he really obtains any sort of pleasure from the rain. Surprisingly he fears it. Has he always fought his fears in such a debilitated manner? Enduring it, embracing it and maybe endearing it too.

"Brother?" A young voice from outside speaks.

"Do come in, hero" xenaisca laughingly invites him and geroisca

walks in silently. He stands in the middle without saying a word

"What? Have you more nightmares?" Adonis chuckles, icarus yanks

him on the shoulder. Xenaisca's temper carries the weight of sand

dust.

"Come closer " he calls and the brother obeys. Xenaisca gives him a look and then frowns. "Out" he mutters

icarus and adonis eue eachother and then leave the tent.

"Excellent behavior, you should be promoted" icarus whispers to

adonis.

The brothers stay silent for a moment. Xenaisca is not one of those

who comforts."You are frightened" he politely says moving his gaze to geraisca.

"I had a dream, no a nightmare" as he wants to continue xenaisca

gets out of the bath and dresses himself.

He is also not one to know excuses or ill reasons behind such mere acts.

"Sleep here if you wish " he ruffles geraisca's hair and sits beside

him. "Your hair has gotten darker" he tries to make conversation but gives up immediately "as you are aware, tomorrow morning we are to be in claudian paradise, paradise indeed it will be" he lays hero down, his head on xenaisca's lap. "You will make friends soon, i hope. Say, what food is your favorite?"

"Well, I am not certain but i hear dried mangos are prefered by kids

of that land. Do you think they are good?" He speaks, alas.

"| rather much prefer meat over fruits " he replies and they fall

silent. He thinks geroisca has fallen asleep.

"Brother, are you sad?"

"My, where did you get such a thing in your head? I am not sad at all"

"I cannot seem to believe you, you always stay out late in the night staring at the emtpy ocean. Miserable fellows do that" he speaks and xenaisca looks at him with beaming eyes and then finally laughs out loud falling back on the carpet floor. Geraisca flinches sitting up right.

"What an absurd thing to say. You really- " he giggles "child, i am so

happy i cannot even explain it to you. My way of showing it is odd, i

agree. I am sorry you think i am miserable, i am not. I am only too

bad at expressing and you have to care less for it, do you hear me"

he finishes a thin braid in geraisca's hair "Hero?"

"Yes, i hear you" he drifts off.

"l greatly wish we weren't so alike" he puts a blanket on him and examines his body. He has fallen asleep. Xenaisca blows out the candles and goes out and into lcarus's tent.

"That was unexpected" icarus chuckles. "We we're thrown out

because the lord had a nightmare?"

"He is only but a little boy" xenaisca says strictly. lcarus laughs

again,

"Come, dine with me you have not eaten yet" he points at the large

tray full of nourishing fruits.

"I am not here to dine" he pushes away the tray staring into lcarus's

big dark eyes. For his dark skin, and eastern background his eyes are small.

When he smiles, the skin on his right cheek gets pulled inside. It's

somehow beautiful for a deceased face.

"You will burn holes in my face, my beautiful lord"

"You say such shameless words"

"And what about you? When you are-"

"That is enough now" he frowns, icarus laughs pulling him closer

and then blows out the candle.

" Xenaica phelis, prince of phelaesia. King to be, god of nature. Let us introduce our history into your world. This shall be talked about for centuries! Or not...why is it so cliche? I feel like an illiterate announcing this" kayreus throws the page to the table and scoffs. "This is absolutely unacceptable, it's atrocoius i feel belittled. Why am i to give the speech of that bastard of phelis," he pushes back into his chair.

"Phelaesia," she says, and he gives her a look as if begging her to stop torturing him. "You clearly hold no clue of who you're getting involved with. You have no respect,"

"Good, i don't want to be a part of this,"

"Brother, please. if the grand lady finds about your stale behavior, she will have you with the pigs"

"I rather be a pig than a speech servant" he shrugs and she squints.

"Ugh!" She growls in annoying. "you are such a coward, you're so full of yourself! Oh i can't do this" she leaves stomping and bangs the door.

"Who do you think i am to be giving a speech? He's the coward, not me. We're the same age. He's the one who's full of himself to be introduced with such luxury." He hears himself and sinks into his chair with shame "I just have a very weird feelings about this,"

"Lower the feathers, hold the wheel. Land is at sight we have reached, troops. Hero, my boy, why not you be a good lad and go serve your brother breakfast. Tell him we've arrived" adonis snickers as he ruffles geroisca's hair.

"The lord is still sleeping?" A daka speaks.

"Lord? Isn't that such a godly name for a boy who has not yet been deflowered?" Adnois laughs and kicks off geroisca "go my boy! We've a bright day ahead of us!" He then turns around to the daka "your lord had a rough night, do you judge him for when he rises and lays? You are not so loyal, perhaps i shall have you beheaded"

"Apologies my lord, my intentions were not to disobey, i believe my words delivered in the wrong sense. Oh please show mercy"

"Oh, please. Run along" he waves his hand and the daka sighs, running for a task to get busy in.

Adonis scoffs "what's so special about this land anyway. I barely see any houses. It's like a forest"

"They're feather hybrids!" A gentle yet loud voic3 speaks. Startling adonis

"May hera be loved, what in the world happened to you?" He laughs out loud as icarus walks with a half tired skirt and no top. His body seems to be bruised

"Was the pallet too small for both of you? Too passionate ay?"

"You are too up my arse" he smacks him on the head. Then holds his hair and pulls his head down making him face the sky "See those?"

"Brilliant , magnificent clouds, yes. You smell like a lady's- argh" adonis speaks when icarus pulls his head more, and he lets out a painful scream. He keeps pushing back, but icarus has a strong hold.

"That's our target. Claudain paradise. In the sky. They're bird people" he lets go when adonis gets too fussy. "See that land below? That's treasure. Our location."

"Gold?"

"Oh you have no idea" he smiles as he rolls his shoulder around adonis's neck. "Lies there the history of the godswhen they lived here"

He tells adonis about how this world was much larger and infinite when the demi-god lived here. But as they faced more power, this world became weaker. Their greed chased them away, and they were all executed by the gods of the string. The string that controls the universe. While fleeing, they left thier belongings. Rituals. And claudian paradise.

"Look! My lord! A monster!" Suddenly it gets crowded and fussy when one of the daka spots a large flying creature. In a quarrel with a raq (a large bird, bigger than the average human)

"Its a curse"

"It looks like a human! Lord have mercy!"

"A two headed beast"

"That's a raq! In the west?"

Xenaisca comes out of his chamber with a limped leg. "Whats all the fuss?? Have we not reached yet?"

Adonis eues every move of xen and slaps his forehead turning to icarus.

" i need details on what happened last night"

And yet again he gets smacked by icarus.

"I'll cut of your tongue it runs too fast, you forgotten how to talk" he walks towards xen at the edge of the sail. The villagers and the daka people have come out of thier chambers. Everyone on sight of the two creatures in the sky.

Xen eyes them, scanning thier moves and intentions. A few heavy minites pass.

"Shoot them both" he says and mumbles syarts across the sail. "May i repeat myself, with all due respect?" He doesnt complete his sentence when both of the creatures are shot and loud groans are heard before they fall into the water.

"Capture them, make sure there's no blood. We should welcome ourselves warmly, no?" He gives a stare at his daka and the villagers. "Hold no grudges. We were blind, You will say" he ordered and they had nothing further to concen themselves with.

"Bit odd, why would they attack a raq?" Icarus asks in offense.

"It's a sign of power, dominance. I've seen it alot. They warn you of thier skills and powers. We have to act like we did not see it"

"But we did, we killed them"

"We did not see it" xenaisca says strictly and icarus makes a face before leaving. Xen walks over to the highest point of his sail. The most elegant yet dangerous spot. He sits. His feet dangling like bells. Calling for the ocean. Its awfully quite after such a bad storm. He knew it was a warning. And then the feathered human threatened his sail. It was all to familiar to him now. It ran in him. He could read the smallest detail, there wasn't a thing he didn't hold knowledge of. It was all too easy.

The water which was probably 50 foot below him still sprinkled on him. He was being scolded. He felt calm.

Loud trumpets and musical instruments were being played loudly in the streets of claudia.

"The path! Where is the path!" The lady yelled as her daka surrounded her with with jewels and accesories.

"Mother! Kayraeus is missing from the crew!"

The lady squints then calmly says

"You give the speech then" completely offended and shocked the daughter is not satisfied.

"Me? Im a lady i have some pride!"

"Well where is it?"

"Where is what?" She gulps.

"This pride you speak of, show me then" she has the dark look in her eyes.

"You will give that speech" she places her hand on the shoulder of a little girl who holds no importance other than to serve her beauty

"You, do not have pride" tears fill up deleris's eyes(i forgot her name)

"I shall give the speakings. May it be against my will, i will hold no pride. Because i am a lady" she struggles to speak holding back her cry.

Then walks to the door with confidence and calls for the speech.

"Will someone call the king, that coward! We need the path!" She yells but mid sentence all the servant halt and she looks confused.

"My dear nora, my queen. Am i a coward now?" A man walks into the room. Supported by kayreus. He looks dishevelled. He has history written over his body. His right leg slides on the floor as he enters the room.

"Mighty the king! We bow in your presence! Long linve king agremon" the servants call out as they bow

"My king" the lady swallows her pride and tilts her head. She blushes but rubs it off and acts like the kigns presence does not suprise her.

"The path we-"

"Yes my dear, i have settled it. Will you not walk with me?" He walks towards her.

"Father has been on about baby breaths. And love making. Mother will you please accompany him to the garden?" Kayraeus adds and she stiffens up. Something inside her.

"How novel. But im sorry i must decline we habe a very important guest coming in i cannot bother myself in silly meetups. Please lay the path" she tries to look lile she's pleading. Abd runs along yelling at a daka who spilled honey.

"She is as feisty as ever, she woke the man isnide me" the king speaks as he is seated near a window from where you can view both the island and the paradise. "I was a novle man once"

"Father you still are-" he kneels infront of his father. But the king looks far into the ocean.

"No, once you lose a part of yourself you are no longer useful to your country. You cannot serve. I was blessed to have her. She does it so well i am ashamed"

"But you started this. Its the beginning that is the hardest. If anyone you should be the one to know that best"kayreus pleads. But who was he kidding. He has been through this alot. It's the same conversation.

"How are things in the island? I heard you sneaked off and got caught in the rain" kayreus's heart opened. He could breath now. This is why he bonded more with the king. They shared the same blood after all.

"You met a gurl"

"Oh please, father. Its not like that"

"Ahah so it is a girl. My, i played you" he laughs in a jolly manner. "I had doubts you might be serving the men in bed. I am relieved. So what's she like"

"She's an assasin. Or so my theories say" he looks puzzled "anyhow, she's not important. This lord everyone talks about. The lord of the eastern sea. What's his deal?" He asks. The king wanders through his thoguhts. He looks disturbed

"Maybe he will bring peace? Change, perhaps. But Kayraeus let me tell you this and i swear on it. The folks of the east. When they are born. Their hearts are taken out of thier chests. Filled with greed and dirt." His eyes darken. He remembers something.

"But who knows. It is a different world now"