I didn’t expect to see him when I open the door. At first I didn’t recognize him, with his cloak covering his stronger build, height taller, and the air around him more intimidating. But then his eyes meet mine under my hoodie, the green orbs glowing as a predator under his own hood, piercing through me. A shiver spider-walks down my spine.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx7LhlGdOx
Although his looks have changed after all these years, the aspects of those eyes stay the same, and I will always recognize those eyes anytime and anywhere. Indeed, they glow even more dangerously.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6ECw2RrrO
And the realization hits.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EYVeZzgKO
He was my brother’s wind user best friend, also known as Prince Zequiel of Avaldias Kingdom—this kingdom.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVGmoODqSj
I stand behind the doorway with my jaw slightly open, my eyes wide a fraction and my feet frozen in their spot. Most people may not be able to identify him with just seeing his eyes, but he was close to my brother, and—not in any creepy way—I liked observing the people around my siblings.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zyDpUU6rB
He stands composed in front of me with a fair distance under the shelter of the doorstep, keeping away from the too bright sun overhead. I can feel my heart pounding from panic and worry.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpSjKHjeZP
As a small smile tugs on his lips, I close my mouth while my eyes contract to their original size. When they make a move to speak, without thinking twice, my hand that is holding the doorknob immediately slams the door shut in his face, leaving the room only with light streaming through the few windows.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIec5rW9WME
The hammering in my chest starts to calm down and I breathe out a sigh, leaning against the door with my eyes close, pondering.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiNewqTddr
What is he doing here? Back when I was still a royal in Amethyst Kingdom he never really paid attention to me. I don’t even think he knows me, past and present, regardless of the fact that he was one of my brother’s friends and I was always beside my brother. Moreover, I changed my identity and appearance the second I in misery stepped out of Amethyst. And I have the security of my hood as well. So, surely, he isn’t here because of my identity whatsoever, right?642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDCUmURieS
No, definitely not.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVGaHYEwSN
Wanting to seek some possible answers, I attempt on digging into my memories when the door is knocked the second time, the taps resonating through the wood behind my neck startling me.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkJv8FBsPT
I bite my lip, my heart accelerating again. It should be nothing deterring, I try assuring myself.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqHc538oq3
Tugging at the top of my hood, hesitatingly I reach out to the cold metal doorknob. Slowly, I twist it and pull the door open as it creaks a little. My heart skips a beat when I see him towering over me, just a few inches away, with an arm settling on the doorframe beside his head. The proximity makes me feel the warmth emanating from him, causing my breathing to hitch and my heart pounding even faster as I, too, catch a waft of his minty scent.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTaJ51SwFM
Sometimes I don’t like how my senses are stronger than other people.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxnYYK4H1B
When he sees me he brings his hand down to his side and stands casually. From the shadows obscuring his face, I see his eyes glint with amusement, though it soon disappears in a blink of an eye as though it wasn’t there at all to begin with. Instead of pointing out my acts like I was expecting, from beneath his cloak he hands me a white envelope.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDQkWemrTC
“From the king,” the prince simply says.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpgMbXkkP6
I look at him baffled, but he doesn’t give any further explanation and keeps his hand extended out with the envelope. So, reluctantly, I take the piece, feeling his warm, bare hand on my skin for a second—before he draws his hand back.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLk0ONtn1I
I carry the envelope in a brittle way, as if it was some kind of a nuclear bomb. The fact that it feels a little thicker than it looks doesn’t help my befuddled situation with it. The prince comes a long way here just to give me a letter from the king? The messenger usually does that.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWssDFwhfQ
“Um—” I start to say, but he has already turned his back to me, his cloak fluttering behind him as a breeze passed by. Then, without prior warning, the breeze becomes a huge gust of wind, twirling and twirling around him, sending my clothes flapping and the grass around the area holding onto the soil as it gets pulled, the leaves from the trees flying away in a flurry. As the wind continues slapping on me, I clutch the envelope tighter and with my other hand grab onto my hood to keep it in place. The wind around him gets thicker and gray until his form disappears in it, before it slams in every direction. Instinctively I release my grip on my hood and cross my arms above me and dip my face, closing my eyes tight as the force pushes me back slightly, leaving my hair flying in haywire. When all dies down and nothing sounds, I open my eyes deliberately. In all his glory nothing stands on his spot. My arms fall to my sides.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3mIaYCyV1
He disappeared.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1pFRGImuA
Everything’s calm as though nothing happened: the grass is still, swaying calmly with the morning breeze, along with the trees surrounding the wooden cottage I’m under; the sky is shining brighter than before with the sun, birds chirping here and there, dancing in the sky; chipmunks are casually carrying their nuts to their trees.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLKFYG8Tns
I stare at his previous spot before blinking. He merely gave me the letter and left, just like that? Why wasn’t it the messenger, anyway? He doesn’t have to travel as far as to the corner of Avaldias just for this, whether it be with magic or not.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkFEkT3dzA
Shaking my thoughts away, I tuck a strand of red hair behind my ear as a light breeze passes by. My keen eyes zero in beyond the thick forest ahead, the buildings, and to the tiny figure of the palace. I nibble on my bottom lip. And what does the king want from me?642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLYjXcb2RL
Ah, whatever, I gotta attend to my hair, I think as I close the door and walk up to my room with the white equivocal envelope in hand.
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