"Once a prince shall arise—half moon, half night—he will suffice. Writhing in pain, leaving calamity in his wake, a true exception from the land of Light. On a winter night, he shall be born amidst the destruction of Light."

  Chapter One

  A gilded carriage rattled along the road, drawing closer to the Royal Palace. Inside, Ether sat slumped against the seat, his body aching with pain. His attire torn, battered with dirt.

  A thick fog clouded his mind, his memories scattered like shattered glass. Why was he outside the palace? And this pain…?

  He tried to move his arm. White-hot pain shot through him, forcing a sharp gasp past his lips.

  "You shouldn't move." A familiar voice cut through the haze. "You'll only make the injuries worse."

  Ether turned toward the source of the voice—his uncle, Glint, seated across from him. Worry lined his sharp features, his sunken eyes betraying exhaustion. The white suit he wore, adorned with intricate gold patterns, made his military status unmistakable.

  "What happened to me? Why am I in the city square?"

  Glint closed his eyes, pausing as if choosing his words carefully. "I'll tell you, but only after your injuries are treated."

  But that’ll take too long.Ether hesitated. How did I end up in this sorry state? Did someone try to assassinate me?

  Reluctantly, he muttered, "Okay." A brief pause followed before he added, more urgently, "But you have to promise."

  For a split second, Glint's expression shifted—too fast for Ether to read. He glanced out from the carriage, seemingly lost in thought.

  "Alright, I promise."

  Temporarily satisfied with Glint’s response, Ether followed his uncle’s gaze, taking in the hustle and bustle of the City of Light.

  Shops lined the bustling streets, merchants from all over calling out to passersby, their voices weaving into an endless hum.

  “Fish! Fresh from the Frost Sea!”

  “Get your wares at unbeatable prices! Come, come!”

  “Specialties from the towns—original yet delicious!”

  The air was thick with mingling aromas—salted fish, spiced bread, ripe fruit—blending into an unpleasant, almost stifling mix.

  A beam of warm sunlight struck Ether’s face, forcing him to shut his eyes. Too bright. Too harsh. He had always hated the sun.

  When he opened them again, he was met with a sight he wasn't expecting. A red blob was hurtling towards him, falling just short of hitting the carriage.

  Ah. A tomato and a rotten one no less… Ether’s still eyes surveyed the intense gazes of the people who had stopped to watch the third prince go by, a fleeting smirk on some of their faces.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Ether attempted a smile before turning back to Glint, unsurprised by their reaction. He cared not, who was responsible for trying to hit him with that filthy thing.

  Attempting to shift his focus, his thoughts wandered back to his uncle.

  Why did he look out? Yet, without any clear explanation, he found the attempt pointless.

  As the road smoothed out, the clatter of the carriage and the distant murmur of voices began to fade, signaling that the palace was near. A bitter smile tugged at Ether’s lips at the realization—but the sudden halt of the carriage jolted him out of his reverie.

  Immediately, Glint reached out once more to help carry him. At the sight, Ether's cheeks, still pale from blood loss, flushed pink. 'Thank you, but I can walk,' he insisted.

  Glint eyed him with suspicion, a wry smile forming. “Really?”

  "Mm-hm”, Ether tersely acknowledged before trying to step out of the carriage.

  I’m not a princess — so I don't wanna be carried like one!

  The moment his foot hit the ground, a bolt of pain shot through him like lightning, sending him stumbling. As he fell headfirst, one thought flashed through his mind—should’ve listened to uncle, huh?—before everything went dark.

  ___

  Royal Palace,

  In a grand, dimly lit room adorned with rich tapestries and ancient relics, the air hung heavy with the thick, almost suffocating scent of incense. The first prince stood by a towering window, his gaze distant and pensive. His exceptionally pale skin seemed almost luminous in the low light, while his long silver hair swayed gently in the breeze.

  “Why would Glint bring back that cursed creature?”

  The second prince leaned forward, smiling before saying. "Don’t fret, dear brother. Next time, fate won’t be so kind—he won’t survive.”

  The first prince’s voice wavered—not from fear of Ether, but from the heavy burden of prophecy.

  “What makes you so sure?”

  The second prince sipped his wine slowly, his eyes tracing the rim of the chalice. Rising gracefully, he strolled to the door, pausing only briefly to meet the first prince’s gaze.

  “You’ll see.”

  With that, he pushed open the dark wooden door, a creak resounding in the room as he left without looking back.

  ___

  A few nights later Ether awoke in a room of the Royal Palace, finding himself gazing up at a ceiling adorned with gold and white gems that scattered crimson light as delicate reflections across the walls.

  Ether’s eyes drifted to the window. The sky was filled with stars, a scarlet moon painting the land below in a cardinal hue.

  “A blood night…” he muttered absentmindedly before his gaze drifted again.

  As he surveyed the opulent surroundings, memories of past confinements mingled with fleeting moments of freedom—a bitter smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

  “So I’m in the Royal Palace again,”

  A maid with white hair—though lacking the pristine glow of nobility—approached him. She maintained a careful distance, as if fearful of being touched by the ‘plague’ that was the prince. Her face bore a strained, almost pitiful smile as she murmured,

  ‘May I help you in any way?’

  "I'm fine now; you can go," Ether replied in a harsh tone, dismissing her as she left to inform the family of his awakening.

  Ether sighed, pushing himself from the lavish bedding. Though the pain still lingered, it was less severe. He shuffled over to the golden cabinet at the far side of the room.

  Suddenly, a strange sensation clawed at the back of his mind, followed by a voice, “I’m back, darling.”

  After a brief pause, he asked softly, “Did you enjoy abandoning me?”

  The voice clicked its tongue. “Oh you know it isn’t like that, I was just resting.”

  Ether recognized that familiar tone—the voice of Holo, the spirit who had clung to him since childhood.

  He shook his head, focusing on the matter at hand Ether looked forward at the cabinet.

  “Whoever wronged me, will pay the price.”