As I approached our tiny flat nestled in one of the poorer parts of the city, the stress of a day's work at the mill settled on my shoulders. I opened our rusty mailbox with a creak, and reached for a single letter inside, the familiar Royal crest catching the light of the fading evening.
Pushing open the door, I found my mother hunched over the table, her hands professionally kneading dough into loaves of bread. The comforting aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air.
"Mother? Do we have a letter opener?" I asked, my voice tinged with urgency.
Without looking up, she nodded towards the clutter drawer, where a glint of silver caught my eye. Retrieving the knife, I wasted no time in tearing open the envelope, its pristine surface a contrast to the worn surroundings of our home.
Eliana, who was sitting at the dining table, glanced up from her magazine, her eyes widening with excitement as she caught sight of the royal seal on the envelope. "What's that?" She excitedly asked. "It's from the Royal Family! Open it now!" She urged, her curiosity growing.
I unfolded the letter inside, my heart raced with anticipation, my eyes scanning the words with a mixture of misbelief and awe.
"Dear Louis Hillock," the letter began, its formal tone belying the weight of its contents. "Thank you for your enlistment to the Oryn Royal Army."
A surge of pride and disbelief rushed through me as I read on, the reality of the situation sinking in with each passing word. I had been selected for a special assignment, one that would see me working with Princess Odette herself.
"On May 13th, you will be summoned to the castle to discuss the fine details of your job." The letter concluded, leaving me with a mix of excitement and fear.
My mother's worried eyes met mine, her concern etched in the furrow of her brow. "Louis, is everything alright?" She asked, her voice filled with concern.
I looked at her and Eliana, a mixture of emotions swirling within me. "I'm going to be working with Princess Odette." I finally managed to say, the weight of the words sinking in as reality dawned upon me.
—-
The morning of May 13th came with a weighty significance, the air tinged with anticipation and uncertainty. Slowly, I got myself up from the comfort of my bed, the gravity of the day's events pulling me awake. With each step, I felt the pressure growing.
Descending into the kitchen, there was a man in a golden colored, royal uniform engaged in a conversation with my mother. Eliana sat nearby, her brow furrowed in confusion as she attempted to decipher the conversation going on in front of her.
"Ah there you are." The man greeted me, "I am General Manly, the King's right hand man. I am here to escort you to the palace."
He handed me a neatly folded royal uniform, its golden hue shimmering in the morning light. "Put this on." He instructed, his tone brooking no argument. "And don't forget to pack a small bag with your personal belongings."
I returned to my room, and selected a worn brown bag that had seen better days, yet had stayed sturdy and reliable. Carefully, I filled it with essentials; medical supplies, a few cherished possessions and my flute - the one part of my father that I have left.
Changing into the uniform, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as I buttoned the dark golden shirt, the royal crest gleaming just below my collarbone. With each adjustment, I felt a sense of purpose settling inside me, as if the uniform itself instilled in me a newfound strength.
Returning downstairs, I found General Manly waiting patiently, his steely gaze showing no hint of emotion. "Mr. Hillock," he began, his voice clipped with authority, "you will be entering the Land of the Lost."
The Land of the Lost, a name that I thought I had locked away in my memory. It was a place full of echoes of the past, a place I wanted to forget.
Not even my mother knew what happened that night.
I had pledged to myself to never return, to leave behind the shattered memories and start a new life far away from that place. But fate had other plans in store, taking me back to the place I never wanted to see again.
With those words, the gravity of the situation hit me like a physical blow, sending a shiver down my spine. Yet, I found strength in my mother, even with tears streaming down her face.
"Go out there and do great things," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm so proud of you, son."
Eliana stood beside her, in a light blue dress, her face covered with sadness from the coming separation. I pulled her into a tight hug.
"Yes of course," I reassured her, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll come back, I promise."
With a final embrace, I said goodbye to my family, the love propelling me out into the unknown.
—-
The carriage ride to the palace felt never-ending, each passing second, feeling like an hour as my stomach seemed to churn. The luxurious interior of the carriage crafted from marble with satin seats, provided little comfort to my uncertainty.
"You will use this carriage to travel to the border between Oryn and the Land of the Lost." General Manly explained, his voice cutting through the silence in the carriage. "From there you will continue on foot."
As we approached the gates of the Oryn palace, my heart quickened with awe. The grandness of the place, with its towering spires and intricate architecture, looked like something out of a fairytale.
Entering the throne room, I found myself struck dumb by its regality. The polished marble floors gleamed beneath my feet, depicting a sense of wonder. And there, at the center of it all, stood the Royal Family - King Jackson, Queen Lucille and Princess Odette.
Princess Odette, in particular, commanded attention with her presence. Her light brown hair, normally flowing in loose waves, was now pulled back into a tight bun, giving her an air of determination. Dressed in a uniform similar to mine but adorned with a small crown above the crest, symbolizing she is royalty.
As I stood before the Royal Family, I could feel Odette's gaze boring into me, assessing me with a mix of scrutiny but also nervousness. It was as if she was weighing my worthiness to accompany her on this journey, her eyes showing a flicker of fear that she quickly hid behind her steely gaze.
"Thank you, Mr. Hillock, for joining us today." King Jackson's voice boomed throughout the room, breaking the silence.
"It is an honor, your majesty." I replied, my voice filled with respect.
The King continued, outlining the reasons for my selection - my skill in swordsmanship and my upbringing in Pelionia, which he deemed similar to the Land of the Lost. With each word, the weight of responsibility settled on my shoulders like a mantle of duty.
"Kneel." King Jackson commanded, his voice brooking no argument.
I obeyed, sinking to one knee before the throne, the cool marble floor pressing through my pant leg and onto my skin.
"Do you, Louis Hillock, hereby decree that you will protect Princess Odette, the future Queen of Oryn, with your life? Even if it means sacrificing yourself for her and your kingdom?" The King spoke, I could even sense a bit of fear in his words.
"I do." I vowed, the words echoed throughout the throne room.
"Please rise," the King spoke, as General Manly stepped forward to present me with a sword and holder.
With a steady hand, I clasped the holder around my waist, its slight weight resting against my hip.
Princess Odette approached, standing beside me with a sense of vulnerability that clashed with her usual regal expression. In that moment, it felt as if a connection was formed between us - a recognition of what was to come and the unspoken trust that will help guide us.
"Now you must go and serve your kingdom." King Jackson declared, his voice resounding with authority as the weight of our mission hung heavily in the air.