PROLOGUE | Chester

"Faster, Chester! Hold the sword steady!" Theodore said as his sword clashed with his eldest son's own. Beads of sweat littered his brow and the bridge of his nose.

Chester tried to defend himself sloppily, gripping onto the sword's handle tighter than before. He blocked all of his father's attacks and tried his hardest to avoid a fatal injury, as they rallied and sparred across the training grounds.

Unfortunately when he was younger, as a result of his carelessness, Chester had gained a fatal injury while fighting his father. The incident had him stuck in the alchemist's house for weeks on end. He had healed but never wanted to experience the pain again - meaning he had to work harder, move faster and last longer if he wanted to stand any chance.

Strike after strike, Chester kept his balance but his aging father was still always one step ahead. Theodore swiped his weapon down low and Chester hopped over his father's blade in a desperate attempt to keep his legs attached to his body. Another swing came to his head and he ducked out the way.

Chester smirked to himself. Although he was safe for the fraction of the second it took for his father to recover, he couldn't let his guard down. Before Chester could process how to attack, a final strike came from Theodore's blade and headed for the middle of the Prince's body.

Chester faltered, not knowing whether to jump or duck and he fell to the ground. Chester's heart sped up and he cringed at the thought of another fortnight at the alchemist's house.

He clamped his eyes shut, tightened his jaw and waited for the surge of pain to engulf him, but it didn't come. He risked opening one of his eyes to see his father's blade inches away from plunging into his heart.

"Get up, son," Theodore sheathed his sword and held out a hand to Chester and Chester gladly took it. Once he was standing he dusted his clothes off and also sheathed his sword.

"You are getting better, Chester. But you still have much work to do," said Theodore as he walked with his son away from the training grounds of the castle.

"I trust my spell casting is taken into consideration, Father," Chester reminded his father. He was assuming that his father would agree that his spell casting would compensate where he lacked in armed combat. Even though the Prince didn't want to believe that his skills were insufficient.

Theodore projected a deep, hearty chuckle. He placed a hand on his son's shoulder and gripped it. "Chester, son, you are only eighteen years of age and the oldest of four. You will soon be nineteen and may have much to teach, but also much to learn."

Chester sighed, but nodded in understanding. The King regarded his son's countenance of disappointment and gripped Chester's shoulder once more before releasing his hold on him. "You are a worthy warrior now, but remember: being King is not always about battle. It is about making tough decisions for the good of the kingdom. Chester, soon I will not be around and you will take the throne-"

"Don't talk like that, Father! You will still be on the throne for many more years to come," Chester assured him. He tried to stop images of his father's lifeless body from invading his mind. His father was too loved to die. Chester would never allow it.

"It is a fact of life, Chester. You must get ready for the throne. That also means finding an appropriate suitor to rule alongside you," the King smiled at the thought of a daughter-in-law for himself and his Queen and grandchildren soon after.

"That is another thing I do not wish to speak of yet. Maybe when I am older, and a female catches my attention, we shall speak of a royal wedding," Chester said dismissively. His mood had brightened, but he was still down about the thought of his impending responsibilities. He just felt that he wasn't ready.

"I understand, son. Come, it is not too early anymore and everyone should be awake. I believe breakfast awaits us."

Theodore led his son back into the armoury through the large thick wooden doors, where they put their sheathed swords to rest. They passed through another large doorway, sending their polite 'good morning' to the guards. The doorway took them down a corridor and into a large hall where a long table stretched across the middle of the room.

Two of the three Princes of Verinia were seated and already tucking in to their breakfast. The only Princess was seated with them and eating her breakfast with a significant improvement in etiquette than her two brothers. She didn't bother to hide her look of disdain towards her brothers as they scoffed down their meal. Unlike her courteous self, they didn't think to address His Royal Highness when he entered the room.

Princess Hariette laughed and continued her meal. She chewed silently and swallowed a mouthful of food before standing bowing her head, "Good morning, Father. I trust Chester has given you a morsel of a challenge today."

Theodore's laugh echoed throughout the large room, "Yes, Hariette. You must not underestimate your eldest brother."

"Yes, Hariette, Do not underestimate me," Chester said, which received a glare from his youngest sibling.

"Do you two feeble minded Neanderthals have no respect at all or have you not noticed that your father is here?" Hariette interrupted her other brothers. They looked up, frowns clouding their faces.

"There is no need to be rude, Hariette. I am sure our father can understand that a growing man has to eat to survive," Prince Casper looked up from his feast and rubbed his stomach.

Prince Gordon nodded in agreement, "Yes, breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day," Gordon mimicked his brother's action and they laughed together at their humorous remarks.

"Good morning, Gordon and Casper. I believe you slept well?" Theodore said to his sons as he settled down at the head of the long table to eat.

"Yes, father," the two Princes said automatically and returned back to their plates.

Soon, Hariette, Casper and Gordon had finished their meals and excused themselves from the dining table. A small server ran in after them and conveyed a message to Theodore, who also excused himself on royal business.

Chester sat on his own at the table, eating his food and wondering how his life would change when he was King.

He didn't want to think so, but he knew that his father's reign would come to an end and he would have to take over. He shoved that thought to the back of his head and tried to focus on the present. He would focus on his combat, his spell casting and protecting his father with his very own life.

He stared at his hands; he could feel the power coursing through his veins, but it wasn't abnormal. It was like second-nature to him. He had felt this power since he was a little boy and was used to it.

He stretched his palm out and muttered, "Feverus Flare."

A small flame ignited in his palm and he watched as the flame burned brightly, a small glow illuminating the area around him more.

"I suggest you put that out before you burn down the whole castle, Chester," Queen Lillian entered the dining hall and smoothed the skirt of her gown before she sat with her son.

Chester closed his palm into a fist and the flame diminished into nothing. He studied his warm palm unaffected by the fire spell. "Do you think I will ever be enough?"

"Whatever do you mean?" Lillian asked Chester with a countenance of confusion although she had a certain intuition of what he meant. He looked as his young face twisted in confusion.

"Do you believe that I can protect father on my own? Will I ever be ready?" Chester looked to his mother and the surpressed look on her face; he could tell that she felt some sort of sympathy - that was the last thing he wanted.

"You will never be on your own. You have, and your brothers and Hariette." the Queen answered calmly, her motherly tone working to soften her son's face. "You won't have to protect your father either."

"But the trouble with Colegrave... father is having trouble, is he not?"

"I can see, son, that the only way you will be at peace with yourself is if you realise that you cannot help your father. What he truly wants is to protect you and his methods are too complex for you to understand," Lillian endeavoured to explain it to Chester, but what was meant to calm him down only seemed to make him even more aggrevated.

"Then elaborate, mother! It won't be complex if you can explain it to me! How is he trying to protect me and what is he protecting me from?!" said Chester, more out of confusion and frustration than anger.

Lillian sighed. She had discussed with Theodore when they would tell Chester, and it was unexpected of the moment arising... but the time had come.

"There is a necklace, Chester - Your father has been planning to steal the necklace from Colegrave."

"What necklace? Why would Father want a necklace?"

"It acquires the ability to enhance the power of an entire kingdom, but significantly so the one who wears it," Lillian explained.

"That is what father wants? More power?" Chester asked, eager for more information on this somewhat powerful object.

"It's the key, Chester. It tips the balance. Colegrave have overpowered Verinia and treated us like inferiors for decades. He just wants us to be equal," Lillian said.

"Okay. So he's doing it on his own? Is that where he is now?"

"Most likely, I do not know. He doesn't tell me everything."

Chester nodded. He had made his decision.

He was going to try with all his might to help his father. He wasn't going to give up until his father was safe and most of all, content. That meant he had to retrieve this mystery necklace and bring it home, if it was the last thing he did.