The rain gathered strength falling hard and pulling soils from the earth, washing away in a frenzy
Deep in the woods forbidden for all except the royals, a tall figure stood, unwavering beneath the downpour.
Despite the heavy rain, the fog thickened, swirling around like a living thing, enhancing the eerieness of the already gloomy forest.
The glowing blue barrier, a shimmering wall that seperated the palace from the rest of the world, rippled continuously as the rain pelted it, a soft hum vibrating through the air.
Caspian stood in front of the barrier, hands behind his back. His gaze unfocused —lost in the vastness of the space before him. He had to be patient. If the timing was right, Aurelius would know the whereabouts of the unclean spirits by now.
His brother had never once failed to surprise him with his unpredictable moves, Sometimes silent, like a shadow slipping through the cracks of the palace, sometimes loud and brash.
But Caspian knew him well enough to understand the silence was just a waiting game.
Aurelius was always watching, always calculating.
His father had kept spies around the palace for a reason.
A flicker of movement caught Caspian's eye, and he turned slowly, The rain seemed to avoid his face, as if the air itself knew to avoid him.
He knew without a doubt it was his brother.
Both just stood unmoving, without a word—apart from the rain, the silence was loud.
The sudden clap of thunder further enhanced the unwelcoming atmosphere.
The two stood at an impossible distance yet again, separated not by space but by years of unspoken words, harsh glances, and a silence that cut deeper than any sword.
A decade had passed since they last stood in the same place, close enough to touch , close enough to feel the weight of each other's presence. Yet , here they were, just as distant as they had been when they were children.
" Has the second prince finally come to visit his older brother? " Caspian's voice was smooth, light, but there was something in the way the words lingered, a hint of something deeper.
Aurelius didn't flinch. His tone was as cold and unforgiving as the rain that fell.
" We are not brothers. "
The words stung, but Caspian didn't let it show instead, he tilted his head, a small knowing smile playing at the corner of his lips.
" No? " His voice was deceptively light, though his eyes glinted with something far darker.
" I wonder if you're lying to yourself, then. "
Aurelius didn't respond, but his eyes flickered briefly towards the tree behind Caspian, a sign of recognition.
' The unclean spirit ! ' He thought to himself.
" What is the crown prince doing here in the woods? " Aurelius' words were short and clipped, though his posture betrayed a hint of impatience.
Caspian didn't move, his gaze never leaving his brother.
" I think you already know, " he replied, his voice lowering to a near whisper.
Aurelius jaw tightened, he didn't reply, his eyes just bored into Caspian's.
The air between them was thick with tension, both unspoken words and unshed feelings pulsing beneath the surface.
After a long pause, Aurelius turned to leave, his movement sharp and akin to a predator's stalking off after a kill.
Caspian stood there, unmoving, watching him retreat into the rain. His fingers twitched slightly behind his back, but he made no move to stop him.
He couldn't.
There was nothing he could do or say to change the course of their lives...
Everything had gone wrong since the incident that very day and it had changed them both forever.
Another presence broke him out of his reverie and he adjusted his posture before turning around to meet his right hand man's piercing gaze.
Malcolm wondered if this was the reason his highness had sent him on an errand earlier.
' To meet the second prince?Or was it just a coincidence? '
But he knew nothing was ever a coincidence when the crown prince was involved.
Finally lowering his gaze he bowed.
" Your highness, I couldn't trace back the unclean spirit to where it came from. The trails are heavily laced in sorcery, the same energy that coated the small village by the red river. "
Caspian's ears straightened, his eyes swirling with deep thoughts.
" It's likely possible this spirit is the one behind the repeated killing in the small town " Malcolm continued.
" No, these things don't have a mind of their own. There's definitely a witch controlling it, and it wants something. "
Caspian pieced the puzzles, already calculating possibilities.
" Release it " He commanded and Malcolm glanced at the crown prince for a moment.
" If it wants something, then it will definitely go to find it. I'm sure what it wants is in the palace, it will lead us to it. " And indeed the crown prince was right. He already had an idea but he wanted to confirm it.
That night he caught that girl—the defiant slave he had ordered to be locked up, sneaking out of the dungeon, he had seen something blurry—something his eyes wasn't supposed to see.
Unclean spirits were not meant to be seen by mortals but the crown prince had a rare gift. Something only he knew about and that night he had caught it following the girl, but was she the one it was after ?
He stepped aside, watching Malcolm draw his sword, slashing through the air.
That one simple move released a wave so powerful it sliced the tree in half.
He sheated his sword back watching the dark swirl of shadow seep out like gas been released from it's contained space.
It moved like little clouds, floating and pouring out of the tree and onto the floor before gathering together and taking on a blobbery form.
As soon as its red eyes opened, it immediately zapped out of the woods taking another direction.
Malcolm didn't lose sight of it, he immediately followed , his footsteps a muddy splash in the rain before he evaporated.
Caspian had just one destination in mind.
The slave quarters.
He turned around before vanishing into thin air...