The Lesson

By the unvoiced whisper

Author’s foreword:

Hey readers and budding writers. Please forgive this amateurish work for any incorrect usage of English or illogical parts in the story. I recreated this from folklore I heard. I just started writing stories not long ago, so this would not be very professional. Still, I hope it can satisfy your reading desire. Enjoy.

The boy looked out from his window. The fluffy white magnolia clouds overwhelmed the expanse of the sky, leaving only patches of blue hue. He closed his eyes, silently feeling the western winds blowing on his face. He took a deep breath and sighed. This was the last time he could be at complete peace.

The boy is Nathan Andrew Rhodes, the crowned prince. His father had died a week ago due to an unexpected heart attack. At his funeral, the palace elders pronounced Nathan the next heir to the throne. They did not have much of a choice. The king had no siblings, therefore making Nathan, the eldest child of the king, the only one eligible for kingship. Nathan looked up into the heavens. In just a few hours, he was going to be lord over a country. Nathan stared at his hands, trembling with fear with the responsibilities he was about to hold. Everyone had pinned their hopes, their future and their dreams on him, a young 13-year-old boy, who had no idea how to reign over this country.

The fray old man with long grayish white hair stroked his beard. He paced up and down his dingy old room slowly. By this time, his poor student is probably trembling all over, by the thought of having to rule this country with zero experience. He sat down for a while, a frown clearly shown on his face. Then, he smiled.

“Your majesty, Sir Adolston wants to see you”, shouted an attendant. Nathan was elated. He immediately invited his teacher into posh study. Sir Adolston just grinned and shook his head. He meekly waved to his student and led him out of the white marble castle.

The teacher brought the young prince to one of the nearby hills, where there were thousands of acorn trees. Nathan bends his knees to observe the prickly fruits. He glanced at his teacher, who never spoke a word during the entire trip here. Then, Sir Adolston said in an emotionless, commanding voice, “Pick a hundred acorns.” Then, he threw an empty cotton money bag at the prince. Nathan froze. He was utterly shocked. His teacher was never so rude to him before. He unfroze and just picked the acorns as told. After all, the prince just wants to get his mind off his kingship for a while.

“Sir, I have picked a hundred acorns…”

 Without looking at Nathan, The old man shouted,

    “Eat!”

Nathan’s eyes widened “What?!?!... Sir..?”

“Eat until I say stop!!”Sir Adolston barked. The prince looked at the old man. His kingship must have got the teacher insane. Nathan reached for the cleanest looking acorn and ate it. And he grimaced. Then he saw his teacher eyeing him, which leave him no choice but to eat the bitter fruit.

  Suddenly, Sir Adolston asked, “Was it good?” The prince just shook his head, still disgusted by the bitter taste. Then the old man went to the edge of the hill and signaled the prince to come over. The prince came over. His eyes widened.

  He saw little children, all dressed in rags, dancing with a basket with a few acorns and eating acorns in delight. Just then, a few more kids that were also in rags came and tried to snatch acorns from them. Without hesitation, the young prince went downhill and gave his acorns to the snatching party of kids. They just gave the prince a cold stare and snatched the acorns from the prince. Nathan just stared in their direction. The old man patted on Nathan’s head and said, “Remember that bitter taste. A good king must listen to the people’s cry and provide for the people.”

Nathan smiled at his teacher, confidence gleaming in his eyes for the first time.

Reipakaz Sky

By CONtraDiction

Author’s foreword:

Hi, before you read this story, I want you to know that it’s not professional but I hope you like it. I spent a lot of time to complete it. Please enjoy. Thank you! Thanks for supporting my story:D

Chapter 1: A stranger’s appearance

TYINDALE

The glorious sun shone on the two majestic silvery-grey pillars, which were shaped like a flash of lightning, standing side to side with the magnificent white stone castle. Clusters of small stone huts surrounded it, as if the wealthy and the poor were one with the palace. Children clothed in white cotton frocks frolic on the sandy beaches, occasionally splashing the salty seawater at each other, laughing and giggling in delight. The grownups observe them at a reasonable distance, smiling, overwhelmed by the brisk and gay atmosphere.

Suddenly, the water bubbled vigorously. The children stared at its direction.

Alarmed, the adults shouted, “GET AWAY FROM THERE!!!”

At the same moment, a spear-shaped creature emerged from the swirling waters, its tentacles similar to an octopus. The children scrambled away in fear, screaming as they ran towards shore. Only one child stood rooted to the ground, paralyzed with fear.

The child screamed hysterically as the tentacles approach her at lightning speed

Just then, the tentacles got sliced. The creature howled in anger. The surprised child felt an arm lifting her up, placing her on the sandy shore. Tears welled up in the child’s eyes when she saw her mother. She immediately screamed, “Mommy!!” and ran towards her mother, whose fearful and anxious look turned into one of relief.

The mother wept as she embraced the child. Beads of tears flowed continuously from their eyes. The mother looked up towards her child’s saviours, tearing as she said, “How can I ever thank you?”

The masked man replied coolly, “Don’t mention it. It’s our job.” Beside him was Nami, who merely smiled at her brother’s comment.

Nami stared at her brother, Rao, a boy with willow black hair tied up in a long ponytail, and a pair of small emerald green eyes that commanded attention and order in the country. His long bronze pole with curvy tips that support a blue pointed gemstone was his companion in every battle.

Unlike her brother, Nami has short, wavy hazelnut brown hair. Her eyes are like her brother’s, but they gave a vibrant and lively vibe instead of an authoritative one. Her eyes also show a tint of determination, which shows her, will to protect her people and loved ones as the only daughter of the king. Her huge boomerang evidently showed her prowess in long range battle.

Nami dashed towards the weapon, which had fallen on the ground when she helped her brother sliced the creature’s tentacles. The creature was getting angrier by the second, splashing the water using its remaining tentacles, getting closer and closer to shore.

Nami swiftly lift up her weapon and glanced at her brother, shouting, “You ready for action?”

Her brother smiled and said, “I’m always ready.”

The entire city began to notice the creature’s presence. Everyone, young and old, ran further into the heart of the city, away from the beaches. They were caught by surprise. Never had the city experienced the attack of the Carafores in the summer season of the year.

“TAKE THAT!!” shouted Nami as she swung her weapon across the air, hitting the Carafore at full force. Almost immediately, Rao took up his pole and flipped it towards the Carafore, causing it to fall into the sea.

“Is it dead?” Nami exclaimed, looking into the sea.

Rao glanced at Nami and replied, “I’m not sure. Keep your eyes open for any sign of it”

In a split second, another Carafore jumped out of the sea and pulled Nami into the crashing waves. Neither of them had time to react.

“NAMI!” Rao shouted, his eyes widened with terror. Just then, several Carafores emerged from the raging waves, howling loudly. Rao clenched his teeth at the abnormal sight, his eyes burning with rage and the fear of losing his only sister. “Hang on Nami! I’m coming!” He muttered under his breath as he fought with the creatures obstructing his way.

Nami felt herself getting pulled deeper and deeper into the sea. She was zapping in and out of consciousness. She felt weak, feeling her body slowly giving up on her. Suddenly, someone grabbed her hand. Nami opened her eyes and saw a boy clothed in white armor, with an intricate crest of the sun etched on the side. The boy lifts his sword and slashed the Carafore holding onto Nami. He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the open air.

Nami felt a sudden jerk.

She turned around and gasped. A Carafore had pierced its tentacle through the boy’s back. The boy was slowly sinking into the sea. Nami took a quick glance at his sword. She swam up into the open air for a gasp of open air, before swiftly swimming into the water and grabbing the fallen sword. She tossed the sword to the surprised boy, who grabbed by instinct. A sign of relief is evidently seen on the boy’s face. He lifted the sword weakly, pointing it upwards. In a split second, he wields his sword down. A bright shining white light spilled from the sword, engulfing the several Carafores which were approaching the boy. Nami stared in awe. It was a magnificent sight, so beautiful and powerful that it seems to resemble the sun. She had never seen such a strange light in her life. When the light slowly eases away, not a single living Carafore was seen. She glanced at the strange boy, whose armor had mysteriously vanished. The boy winced in pain and sunk deeper into the water. Alarmed, she quickly swam to the injured boy and grabbed his hand, supporting and pulling him towards shore.

Both panted heavily on the sandy beach. Out of the water, Nami could see the boy’s features carefully. He has hair the colour of burnt umber, and a pair of cold, burnt sienna eyes, the kind of eyes that had grown hard and emotionless from life.

“Are you…. Alright?” the boy questioned weakly, his eyes glancing at Nami.

“Yea, I’m fine.”Nami gave him an incredulous look. The boy could still worry for her despite his condition.

The boy smiled vaguely. All of a sudden, he lost consciousness and fell on the sand. He was still bleeding profusely from the Carafore’s attack. Just then, Nami saw a group of soldiers escorting her brother on the beach.

“Brother!” Nami shouted, “Someone is badly injured!”  Rao’s look of slight anxiety changed to one of surprise and relief when he saw his sister. He immediately dashed over. “Nami! How did you… What happened?” Rao paused when he saw the injured boy with Nami.

Nami looked towards her brother with a look of anxiety and guilt. “He saved me and got injured by a Carafore…” Rao observed the boy’s wound and commented, “This is serious. We better carry him back to the palace.” He heaved the young boy on his back despite the soldiers’ pleas, staring suspiciously at the boy’s pendant, which was shaped like a sun.

“Stop dazing and hurry up! His life is in danger!” urged Nami, as she dashed ahead of her brother.

Rao muttered softly, “I know” before rushing to catch up with her sister with his load. He glanced back to the boy and frown, wondering about this stranger’s identity.