CHAPTER 3 - NORTHEAST

Bears, deers, lions, and other dangerous creatures they know are my pets. I have been dwelling with the so-called wild animals since I was three years old. Yeah, three years old. I am Prince Tosh Lewis of the Northeast, more of a fighter and hunter than those shitty primitive royal princes idea. It was my Mom, Queen Annabella, who told my Dad, King Paul, to let me sleep in the wild when I was three. My dad was not in favor of the idea but since it was Mom who was the part of the royal family, my dad can't do anything about it. Before I was born, our navigators told the Queen that there was a suspicious island that was rising and will soon be above the water level. It was believed that it is the Mythical Island. The land that will start feud or peace among the eight countries. Who knows what it will bring? From that day onwards, when I was born, everything they feed me has something to do to make me stronger than anyone in our land. In short, I have been a living monster. They let me drink snakes' blood. They let me eat raw meat because they believe that I will be able to absorb all of its instinct and strength. I can't even imagine surviving out in the wild. I lived there for almost four years. Because they need me on my seventh birthday, for the announcement as the Crowned Prince. I never wanted to celebrate my birthdays. It feels like hell. It feels like I was born for someone else. I don't own even myself. My life is dedicated to my country.

"Tosh? Tosh? It is already late. Why aren't you up?" Its the Queen.

"I'm already up. I will go down as soon as I finish fixing myself, My Queen."

"Make it faster! No King is as slow as you! They will take advantage of you!"

"Sorry, My Queen."

I never called her Mom since I got back from the wild. Whose mom will let her three-year-old son suffer in the wild for four years without any guarantee that it will survive? Can a three-year-old boy survive in the wild alone when it is the critical years for him to develop? I'm an animal for them because I do kill. They don't know that the Prince they were all cherishing died years ago along with the care and love of its parents.

"What took you so long, Tosh? You still look like a beggar with your torn clothes!" The queen is mad.

"I'm sorry, but I don't get the idea of wearing nice clothes when I will be going to the forest to hunt. I don't use any weapons," they trained me not to use weapons when hunting. I fight those animals hand on hand, kill them with my bare hands, "it means that I will get dirty and my dress will get torn even I don't want to." I put my hands down on my lap and clenched it. "I don't know why you trained we to use those swords, arrows, guns, and everything if you won't let me use it even for once!" I shouted.

"Tosh, calm down." That was the King.

"Are you questioning the way we trained you? Can't you see that it was all for your sake? You are the greatest Swordsman, the most efficient fighter with arrows, the best man to use different kinds of guns. No one can beat you in this country!" she is fuming mad. "We have to keep our country safe. And one way to make it happen is to make the Crowned Prince as deadly as it can be!"

"You always think of the land's safety, but have you ever thought of mine? When you left me in the wild?" My eyes are getting wet, "I am the best in this country, but did you ever asked me if I wanted it? Do you think that you made the Crowned Prince deadly face? Your wrong! Because the Prince way back there is dead! You killed me since you left me in that place alone!" And I left the dining room.

I heard her scream in disgust. Finally, after fifteen years of being silent, I was able to let some of my grudges out. But to think that I already set myself free? It was a total joke. Because I am still the Crowned Prince that they will toy.

I am playing with my sword right now. It can slice away some of my sadness. My sword has my initials. It was said that this sword of mine is the strongest. Strongest my ass! It depends on the person who uses it. Even if you have a magical sword, you will not be able to use it and win if you don't know how to. What a funny joke.

"Our Prince is smiling, I guess he is now alright."

"Oh, Dad! Why are you here?"

"I decided to follow my brave son. I am jealous of your bravery against your Mom."

"You should also learn how to express yourself to the Queen, Dad. You are not just her husband, but you are the King."

"Yes, I am the King. But you already know that your Mom just married me to save their family line right?"

"Exactly! Without you, she won't be the Queen! Thanks to your kindness the two of us survived." I hugged him.

I owe my life to my Dad. Without his guidance, I wouldn't survive in that place. As a kid, we don't usually know how to protect ourselves with the harm that was just around us. The first night I was left alone, I can clearly remember that snake that I thought was a black rope. It will bite me but Dad hit it. From that day, I felt that he was just there somewhere near me, watching. But the hatred that I have against my Mom will never be erased.

"And thanks to me, you will be the strongest King this country will ever have," that was the Queen, "Make yourself ready for more hard pieces of training you will do. You will go to Dwindle and Burgeon to represent our country. That will be your first assignment outside the country."

"Annabella!" It was the first time I heard Dad shouted at her, "I told you that he's still young to enter the Mythical Island! Are you repeating what you have done, huh?"

"Dwindle and Burgeon? Mythical Island?" I asked.

"Yes! You heard it right, Tosh. You will go and train there to save our country," the Queen answered.

"Save our country?"

"They need you there as a sign of peace offering. If you'll not go there, they together with the seven countries attack us if we will not participate."

"I thought it was for unity. Why would they attack us if we will not participate?" Dad asked.

"You bird brain, idiot! It as an act of opposition if we will not participate!"

"But they said that even the highest ranks will do. Why not just send them instead of your son!"

"The more precious the offer will be, the more chances of trust we can earn!" And the Queen turned her back.

"Annabella!" Dad called.

"Dad, it's alright. I'll do it."

"Great decision my son," she replied.

"I am not your son anymore. I am doing this for the country."

"Tosh, no, please? I can't afford to lose you again," he cried.

"I'll be fine, Dad. It's for the unity of all the countries. It will be my biggest success if that will happen."

I don't know what will happen to me there. But I doubt that it was an act for unity. Training? We all have our training. How will it differ from the training that Mythical Island will offer? Whatever happens, I have to protect the country that has been the reason for my Mom to abandon me again and again.