• Chapter two- An invitation
    The start of an unbreakable bond

    It was morning, I could feel the rays of sun on my face, but my eyelids were too heavy to open so I decided to sleep a little more. “Wake up, wake up” a familiar voice said as I was being shook. “Nggghh…” I realized it was that girl and pushed her away. “Don’t disturb me when Im asleep” I mumbled and tried to sleep again. “Its only now I realized that I didn’t know your name...” “E...r...nggh...i...dn” she was puzzled,”eringdn??” she started laughing again, I opened my eyes “ its Eriden” I looked at her furiously, she smiled “mine is Annaline” she continued to look at me, I was feeling uncomfortable “where do you live? Surely you live somewhere, why sleep on grass?” I looked away “I have no home to go to; I go anywhere to sleep, be it grass or cold wet stones.” My stomach rumbled. “Ughh... Now if you’ll excuse me, Im getting something to eat...” I stood up, and then headed to the plaza; she stood up as well and tried to keep up with me. “Im coming too.. I told you, Im your responsibility” “I never agreed on anything...” I placed my hood on my head.

    ---plaza---

    “Wow, so many flowers!” her eyes sparkled “well it’s the flower festival, (a.k.a. Valentines day)” she tugged on my arm “can we check the flowers first? Please??” she seemed eager, so I nodded. Many flowers were displayed, roses, tulips, carnations, sunflowers, irises, and many more varieties. Then one caught my attention, it was a black rose. I picked it up and smelled it, the fragrance was mild. “You have interests in flowers, too?” Annaline said, I simply ignored her, puffed out her cheeks “That suits you, it’s just as dark as your heart” I took it as a harmless taunt and continued ignoring her. “ ohh..” she held my hand and tugged it “ C’mon lover boy, time to go!”

    “Ohh look a bakery!” she pulled my hand then ran towards it. “What can I do for you child?” a bald man spoke to us in a gentle voice “we need two loaves of bread” he placed two loaves of bread in the counter. “Payment?” I took the bread and Annaline started inspecting herself, then unclasped her necklace and showed it to the baker. “Will this cover it?” he gasped, my eyes widened. “Annaline no” I pulled her. “Hey! The payment boy!” he pulled my hood off, he stared at me then a few seconds of silence followed,”H-hey... You’re that boy…wanted for thefts!” I smacked his hand off then started running along with Annaline.

    ---Back at the outskirts of the kingdom---- (night)

    “You’re wanted for thefts?!” her eyes were fixed on me. “Yes...” I answered. “I can’t believe it, and you acted so clumsily when you tried to rob me…Kind of hard to believe a kid-” “would be capable of evil deeds? Why do you think I have no home? No adult to stay with me, to protect me like you rich people who spend their time being pampered by slaves and peasants…” I looked at her “With that diamond necklace, fluffed up dress and properly fixed hair I can tell you’re from a rich family. You should go back” then I laid down on the grass. Nothing else was said for the rest of the night.

    --Morning--

    Drops of rain touched my face thus waking me up, I looked around my surroundings. She was nowhere to be found, she may have went home… I wore my hood and walked around the plaza, carefully avoiding the bakery from yesterday. The rain really poured down hard, I was already soaked to the bone. “hey you, boy!” a guard shouted to me...”Yes...” I answered. “where are your parents? Its pouring down hard now, Ill take you home.” My eyes twitched as he held my hand. “Let go of me!” I shouted furiously. “Come on, I’ll take you to your parents” he tugged on my hand; I was ready to bring out my dagger. “Wait Mr. Guard!” a familiar voice said. “Lady Annaline!” he unclasped his cloak and covered her, “why are you out in the rain? You know this person?” “Yes, he’s a friend of my mother, Im taking him back home.” She pulled me towards a carriage “Im very sorry” she said before closing the door.


    “why did you come back..” “Aren’t you going to say thank you? I saved you from that guard.” I rolled my eyes “I could have easily gotten out of that situation myself.” She smirked “yeah yeah, all talk and no actions right Eriden? Anyway... Im sorry for leaving you… I went home to ask my mom if...” I looked at her “ if?” she smiled at me “ you could stay at our home, she said yes” “go to a home filled with girls?” I started laughing, she puffed out her cheeks “ well, there’s raiden” “whose raiden?” I asked, “my neighbor and best friend, we’ll see him later.”

    --House---

    “This isn’t a house… it’s a castle Annaline...” I whispered, “Sorry, I didn’t tell you… Im-“
    “The princess...” I said for her.. But what was she doing outside of the castle? As we walked around guards started looking at me, “don’t mind them Eriden” Annaline said then she hugged my arm, I rolled my eyes. “Lady Annaline!” a boy came running towards her, and then before he could bow to her she ran and hugged him. “Raiden! Your back!” she said cheerfully, “yes, im done with my training and now im able rest here for awhile.” He noticed me and his eyes widened. “You’re… No... it cannot be...” he looked away then smiled, Annaline was puzzled,” he is the what?” “Have you not heard about the master thief of this kingdom, Evianna? His physical characteristics are same as how they described that man, but.. ” He looked at me in a strange way. “He is too young to be him” my eyes twitched, even this guy thought I could not be capable of such acts?

    Annaline started laughing, “Well you better believe it... that’s him right there, the master thief. Otherwise known as the thief who gets weak cuz of a girl.” She laughed even more, my mouth opened. “Is that so... Why is he here inside the castle premises?” he raised his sword at me, I closed my mouth and simply looked at him calmly, “I was invited by lady Annaline’s mother to stay here” he looked at me as if I were insane. “The queen? What blasphemy are you uttering against the queen? That’s impossible.” Annaline placed her hand on Raiden’s shoulder and showed the saddest face she could make; Raiden simply sighed and sheathed his sword.” I hope you know what you’re doing lady Annaline...”