Endless Search

Lucien ran, his small feet kicking the soft ground beneath him, dashing through the royal garden.

The garden stretched endlessly, a sea of colors swirling in the gentle breeze. The sweet scent of lilies, roses, and all different kind of scents of colorful flowers filled the air, mingling with the crisp morning dew. Lucien ran barefoot, his laughter ringing out like chimes in the wind.

He wasn't alone—he never was.

Beside him, another boy ran too, his figure slightly ahead, his dark hair flowing with the wind, always leading. Lucien pushed himself to go faster, trying to catch up.

The boy turned his head, waiting for him, his blurred face unreadable, yet warm and familiar.

Lucien finally reached him, breathless but smiling, "how are you getting faster?!"

The boy chuckled softly, "You're just slow."

Lucien pouted but didn't argue. The other boy had always been stronger, always shielding him from the world.

A safety he had never questioned.

They stood together in the middle of the garden, surrounded by flowers that bloomed endlessly.

Then, Lucien reached out and grabbed the boy's sleeve, gripping it tightly. His small fingers curled into the fabric, refusing to let go.

"Promise me," he said softly. "Promise me you'll always stay with me. No matter what happens."

The boy didn't hesitate, he held out his pinky finger. "I promise. I'll always protect you."

Lucien locked his pinky finger around the other's, sealing the vow.

A childish gesture, maybe, but it felt real. Unbreakable.

But then—

The garden's colors began to fade.

The warmth that was there just seconds ago was filled with coldness, The blue sky twisted into an ominous gray, and a heavy mist curled around them, thick and suffocating.

Lucien blinked.

Something wasn't right.

The flowers that once swayed gently in the wind now titled, turning black and brittle.

The boy in front of him remained still, his figure flickering like a dying flame.

Then the memories crashed down on him like a tidal wave.

A dark room. The sharp scent of blood in the air.

Chains rattling. A cry—his own.

Hands grabbing him, holding him down.

Panic surging through his veins.

And then—him.

The boy had been there.

Standing between Lucien and his captors. Shielding him without hesitation.

Lucien tried to scream, to warn him, but his voice wouldn't come out. He could only watch in horror as the sharp glint of a blade slashed across the boy's eye.

Lucien gasped, stumbling backward. The mist thickened, swallowing everything whole, The boy's figure began to disappear into the darkness.

Lucien reached out, his heart pounding.

NO—!

Everything shattered.

Lucien woke up with a sharp inhale. his body tensed as if bracing for impact. His breaths came fast and shallow, his hands gripping the silk sheets beneath him.

For a moment, he just laid there, staring at the ceiling as his heart thundered in his chest.

That dream again.

That memory.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

How many times had he seen it? How many times had he relived the moment? It never changed.

The promise, the warmth, the pain—it was all still there.

A sharp knock at the door startled him.

"Young Master! Please wake up!"

Lucien groaned, rubbing his temples. Mei Mei Of course.

The frantic voice of his personal butler carried through the heavy door. "Young Master, I beg of you! You must get up! Your parents are waiting for you in the dining hall! If you don't come out, I will—I will have to resort to drastic measures!"

Pfft. He could picture Mei Mei pacing outside his room, wringing his hands in distress.

"Drastic measures? Sounds dangerous."

"You don't understand! Your father—His majesty—will not be pleased if you're late again! And her Majesty will—Oh, heavens, please just wake up!"

Lucien stretched lazily, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Mei Mei, you stress too much. Honestly, one day, that worry of yours will be the end of you."

"Young Master!"

Lucien chuckled as he finally sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He ran a hand through his tousled blonde hair and cracked his neck before standing.

"Fine, fine. I'm coming. Keep your tears in check, will you?"

"You say that as if I—" Mei Mei sniffled, "As if I wasn't truly worried!"

Lucien opened the door to find Mei Mei dabbing at his eyes with a silk handkerchief, his brows furrowed in distress. He looked up at Lucien with the expression of a man on the verge of a breakdown. "You know I age ten years every time you pull these antics, Young Master."

Lucien grinned, stepping past him, "And yet you still look as youthful as ever, Mei Mei. Maybe stress keeps you young?"

Mei Mei let out an exaggerated wail, trailing after him. "It does not! I am suffering, Young Master! You will be the death of me!"

Lucien laughed, heading down the hall toward the grand dining hall after getting dressed. The golden chandeliers gleamed in the morning light, and the air was filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and warm tea. His parents sat at the long table, elegant and regal, but they barely glanced up as he entered.

"You're late," his father remarked, sipping his tea.

Lucien slid into his seat with a charming smile, "And yet, I'm here. That counts, doesn't it?"

His mother sighed but said nothing. 'Who's he taking after?' Mei Mei, on the other hand, stood behind him, looking physically ill, from the stress.

Lucien leaned back, idly swirling his spoon in his tea, His mind, however, was elsewhere.

That dream, It had been more vivid than usual.

And then—just last night—he had finally found something.

A lead.

After years of searching, years of waiting, the pieces had fallen into place.

He finally knew where he was.

He found him.

His fingers tapped against the table, a slow, deliberate rhythm. He hid his smile behind his teacup, his heart racing with anticipation.

A promise, once made, becomes a bond that time and distance could never undo.