The days passed quietly, yet Jade could feel the undercurrents stirring beneath the surface. The market, the town square, even the simple streets he wandered down—it all felt like a quiet hum before the storm. Something was building, and Jade's instincts, honed from his previous life, told him that it wasn't just about surviving his childhood anymore. It was about positioning himself in a world full of forces far more complex than he had imagined.
On a crisp afternoon, as Jade was walking home, the sound of hooves echoed through the streets. He looked up to see a royal carriage passing by, its ornate design gleaming in the sunlight. The guards on horseback were dressed in the insignia of the royal family, the insignia of The Lord's kingdom.
As the carriage slowed to a stop near the town square, Jade's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the prince, the heir to the throne, sitting inside. His posture was perfect, but there was something different about him. His gaze wasn't just casual; it was calculating.
Jade's heart skipped a beat. The prince's eyes locked with his for a brief moment, and for the first time, Jade felt a prickle of unease. Did the prince sense something in him?
He couldn't quite tell, but the prince's piercing gaze lingered a little too long. Jade's instinct screamed that the prince wasn't here by chance. There was something more going on.
Before Jade could process it further, the prince's entourage began to move. The royal carriage, with its gleaming wheels and finely dressed attendants, rolled away, but not before Jade noticed something odd. One of the royal guards seemed to be watching him, too.
Jade paused for a moment, watching the retreating figures. What does this mean?
Later that night, as Jade sat by the fireplace in the modest home he had come to know as his own, his older brother, Kael, stumbled in with a bottle in hand, his face flushed from alcohol. The noise of his entrance was enough to snap Jade out of his thoughts.
"Oi, kid. What's a brat like you doin' up this late?" Kael slurred, clearly drunk. His face was pained, and the bitter scent of wine filled the air. "Get to bed, you ain't no use to me awake."
Jade didn't respond. His mind was elsewhere, replaying the brief encounter with the prince and his guard.
Kael plopped down beside him on the floor, taking a long gulp from the bottle. "Ya know, I've been hearing things." He gave a low chuckle. "The prince's entourage was seen in the market today, but it's more than that. Word around town is that the royal family's interest is growing. And not just for the usual things. People are talking about power. Not your ordinary power, though. Something… different."
Jade tilted his head slightly, but his gaze never wavered from the fire. Kael continued, oblivious to Jade's silent focus.
"Yeah, yeah, the rumors go that the prince is looking for people with special skills. Special talents, they say." Kael took another swig. "A kid like you? He wouldn't be interested in you, though. You're just a runt."
But Jade knew better. There was something more to this.
The next day, as Jade wandered the town, his senses sharp and alert, he once again saw the prince's guards passing through, this time with more purpose. It wasn't just a casual visit—they were on the move, heading toward the outskirts of town, near the woods where no one usually ventured.
Jade's heart began to race. Was this the prince's doing? Was he seeking something? Or someone?
Curiosity gnawed at him, and he felt an undeniable pull to follow.
He moved swiftly through the crowd, his small frame unnoticed as he slipped between larger people. The guards, too focused on their task, didn't even spare him a second glance as he silently shadowed their path. Jade followed them to the woods, staying far enough back that he wouldn't be seen, but close enough to observe.
As the prince dismounted from his carriage, Jade watched, hidden behind a tree. The prince's eyes scanned the surrounding area as if looking for something—or someone.
Jade's breath caught in his chest. Could this be the beginning of something bigger?
The prince paused for a moment, as though sensing Jade's presence. He looked toward the trees, his gaze sharp and searching. For a moment, Jade thought the prince would spot him, but then the prince turned and walked deeper into the forest, his guards trailing behind him.
Jade's thoughts raced. What is the prince doing here? What does he want?
He knew this was a moment of reckoning. A moment where the decisions he made would shape his future.
And he wasn't about to miss it.