There once was a kingdom that lived in prosperity, shadowed by towers of silver and mauve. Laying at the top of a hill, it gazed upon its subjects adorned in moonlight.

Residents of this mystic tower were often spoken of. Stories spread like weeds amongst the townspeople. A legacy was carved into the very walls of their kingdom, and it is evidently shown through the finest violet robes and a sense of frivolity laying on the residents' shoulders.

The Tsukishima bloodline, however intimidating in tales, prides itself in their people and their history. They reach their kindness towards others, and no one ever questioned this. It has always been the case.

It was the case when Kei watched his mother round up all the castle's crops and offer cartfuls of wheat, potatoes and cabbage to everyone in the land. It was the case when Kei watched his brother succeed in his studies and venture forth from village to village sharing what he had learned.

He recalled running down hallways, archways speeding past as he focused on his echoing footsteps. He was accompanied by another set of footsteps right behind him, a boy who is awfully shorter and donned in simple robes.

"Come on! Catch up!" Kei called out behind him. He sharply turned to the left, causing dents on the rug as he sped past more doors.

In a hallway situated in the South Wing, pillars lined the entrance to the garden. During the afternoons, when the sun reaches its highest peak, the rays bend down just right, illuminating the castle's greenery. In the middle of wild trees and grass, lay a table and 4 chairs. Kei would often see his brother there, back from one of his trips. Akiteru was studious, but even at the young age of 10, he knew it wasn't for a passion of learning. Kei can see it in the way his brother's eyebrows knit together, or how he impatiently taps his foot.

Still, he kept silent about whatever has been troubling him. Upon catching a glimpse of blurry blonde hair, Akiteru peeked from his spot in the garden. "Kei!"

Kei skidded to a stop. He hid behind one of the pillars and made no noise. Thankfully, he has the body of a beanpole, so he had no trouble blending in with the thinly carved column.

It wasn't his appearance that gave him away. It was the little boy from earlier who ran up to him in heavy breathes, tugging at his shirt.

"I had to- inhale- fix the rugs you messed up earlier! You were going- sigh - so fast.."

Kei could only narrow his eyes and pout. Seeing as there was no point in pretending, he stepped out from behind the pillar, greeted by Akiteru's amused smile.

"Choosing playtime over greeting now huh? Not a nice way to treat your tired brother after all his trips."

"It's not like you left anyway. Your cloak is still hung, and Gibbous is still in his stables." Kei muttered, kicking the grass as he sat on the chair next to Akiteru. His eyes scanned the table, covered in parchment and ink. He could hear his companion struggling to sit on the high chair next to him.

Akiteru fumbled with his quill, clearing up the clutter in Kei's side of the table. "Mom told me to stand by. I was scheduled for a trip downtown, but she had a meeting." Kei's first thought was a scraggly beard and disapproving glare. It must be a meeting with the elders, no one else could have that much freedom to speak with their mother.

Akiteru gave Kei a side glance. "Mom also told me not to cause any more mess in the hallways. Since you're here anyway, might as well join me in my studies." he chuckled to himself seeing Kei's expression. The little boy next to him laughed along.

Kei pouted as his brother slid a History book at him. He scooched closer. "Your studies are lame." Kei's actions seem contradictory as he started scanning through the table of contents, his eyes sparkling upon seeing a topic he liked.

Akiteru smiled. "I guess." he merely mused, returning to his jumble of notes. All three of them remained in the garden till nighttime.

It was the last fondest memory Kei had of his brother. What once was his brother anyway.

The castle is an entirely different view at night. The windows seemed to illuminate the halls, the moon being the only lightsource. Kei had few memories of the night, because young ones like him are quickly put to bed.

Only tonight, he refused to go back to his room. Waiting patiently, he paced back and forth in the Main Hall. Servants would plead for him to sleep, since the queen instructed Kei has a strict schedule. With his mother and brother both absent at that moment, Kei figured he had more authority than supposed tonight. He was lucky enough to have not been pushed by his bestfriend either, because he definitely won't be able to reject any of his requests.

As the two boys sat on the floor, waiting, Kei could make out the sound of banging doors. His brother returned home.

But what was usually a hearty chatter about his travels, is now replaced by a deafening silence. Footsteps grew louder and louder, as if someone was stabbing their heels on the floor.

The Main Hall doors were pushed open, and Kei rose to his feet. The man before him looked like Akiteru. Goody two shoes haircut, hunched back, and the finest pair of boots Kei begged his mother to give to him but insisted it was Akiteru's. That was his brother all right, leaning against the Hall's doors.

But his brother never broke down in front of anyone. His brother never took heavy breathes, as if the air itself is suffocating him. His brother never pushed anyone aside, and completely forgot how to address people as he stormed to his room. He never made noise as he slammed the door, the sound echoing from the West Wing. He never left his younger brother on the floor, confused at the sight.

Kei assured himself that this was Akiteru. Maybe he had arrived home at a later hour than usual. Not everyday is perfect, and this may just be Akiteru's not so perfect day. Kei thought back to all of his brother's travels, but none have gotten as close as to what he encountered that night. No one brought up the matter. It was like it never happened.

Change swept through the castle since sunrise approached. It may as well be through the entire kingdom, but Kei wasn't let out so he couldn't find the answers himself. The questions were left buzzing in his head, as he passed by a group of elders, scraggly beards and disapproving glares scanning the castle walls. Confusion grew like a heavy pain in his stomach, watching the servants drag Akiteru's belongings out of his room. He watched his mother, what once was a woman brimmed with life, now a ghost as she paced the halls. She looked about as sullen as the Tsukishima portraits, Kei thought as he looked up at paintings of his ancestors.

Just as he thought he was gonna live the rest of his life without any answers, his mother called for him in the Meeting Room. Of course she didn't summon Kei herself, she had to order one of the servants to do it. Irritation swelled in his gut as he trudged down an unfamiliar hallway.

Upon entering the room, he saw his mother and the elders. Kei did as he was told, sit next to his mother and listen. One of the old men looked at him judgingly before speaking.

His brother had killed innocents during his trip to the village. A widely known prophet foretold that an unlucky heir from the Tsukishima bloodline shall bear a curse, and it may have been given to Akiteru as a form of punishment.

There was ringing in Kei's ears. He blocked out every other noise. The voice in his head was loud enough for him to comprehend.

The voice in his head was enough.

The prophecy bustled around the kingdom. The Tsukishima bloodline prides itself in its history and their people. Now their legacy is left on the bitter tongues of townspeople, and the graves of innocents.

There was no greater woe than that of the entire kingdom, to hear that from now on, Akiteru's reign shall bring nothing but desolation in his path, as foretold by the fates. What was once shrouded in the castle's shadows, is now buried under by the curse of a powerful bloodline.

Kei watched it all unravel before him, his brother leaning against his supposed throne, as if it was the one thread keeping him from snapping. While his brother mourned for a promising future, Kei turned away from the painful sight, his heavy feet dragging him to the castle garden.

He sat down, fingers laced. The high chair next to him was empty. No one struggling to sit on it, no brother teaching him the laws of physics or talking about his adventures.

Just the sounds of nighttime.

Bustling noises ensued across the marketplace. You can hear the dragging of wooden wheels across stone, traders pulling their carts. Children were either holding on to their parents' hands, or causing havoc in the streets. In a way that children usually do of course. Scare the chickens and knock over boxes.

One of them roughly jabbed Tadashi in the side. The kid ran off, as if fleeing from a crime scene, followed by his companions who at least had the right mind to watch where they're going.

Tadashi winced as he gripped the area he'd been hit. Even with all of the necessary training, he still couldn't toughen himself up for surprise attacks. He can't believe that he lives in a world where children can be surprise attacks.

The thought was silly to him, so he quickly brushed aside the pain of being elbowed and continued on his way. Stopping in the middle of a marketplace isn't very wise, he's bound to be knocked aside by a crowd soon if he doesn't keep moving.

Passing by the last few row of stalls, Tadashi made it to the foot of a tall bridge. He could make out the castle's gates from there. Not a lot of people roamed this area, except for a few vendors who decided to camp out.

"Um- excuse me?" One of them tapped his shoulder. "You're on your way to that castle there?"

Tadashi faced one of the vendors and bowed his head. "Good afternoon! Yes actually.. I came from out of town?"

The man surveyed his attire for a moment before continuing. ".. You're from Ukai's Order. I'd recognize that emblem anywhere." He gestured at the wing emblem carved in Tadashi's chestplate. He unconciously looked down as the vendor kept talking. "My brother served a few years there. Well the Tsukishimas will need all the help they can get, especially now. I don't understand why they only sent you though."

Tadashi pursed his lips. "It is surprising of Ukai to assign only me.. But I'm sure that they trust me in being capab-" Tadashi didn't finish his sentence as he saw the vendor walk down the bridge and run to one of the marketplace stalls. He blinked, embarrassed for being left in the dust like that, but there is no use in trying to persuade people anyway. Clutching his satchel, he crossed the bridge, making his way up the empty, cobblestone path.

He was immediately granted entrance by the guards upon seeing his emblem. As Tadashi set foot inside the castle, he kept thinking that the Main Hall was nearby. However, the more he walked, the more lost he got.

Tadashi couldn't tell if he already passed this stained glass window seconds ago. Every one of them looked the same. Scowls and eyes that seem to follow him. Shades of blue, gray and violet. The walls felt cold under his skin.

After glaring at the same boring flowerpot from two hallways south, he was just about to question the castle's interior designer when the sound of a door opening echoed in the hall. Tadashi sharply looked behind him.

Baggy eyes stared at him from inside the Main Hall. 'Finally!' was Tadashi's first thought, after awkwardly trekking through the castle.

But a sense of dread slowly filled him when his eyes landed on the man's head. Sitting atop his sandy blonde hair was a crown of pure silver.

Akiteru looked at him with a forced smile. "You must be the knight sent by Ukai's Order."