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Owen used to imagine himself as the damsel in distress who would be rescued by a brave, handsome knight, just like in the storybook he read. He's thought that if he waited patiently, that knight was going to sweep him off the floor and take him to the kingdom on horseback. He doesn't know how many days have passed. A month, a year, ten years, it all felt the same. It's hard to tell when there are no means to tell time in such a confined space. But it didn't matter, because his knight would save him soon. And so he waited even longer.
Eventually, he had realized that he wouldn't be saved. The storybook had lied. Or had it? You see, another character had appeared; the villain. An evil wizard who was ridiculed for using magic and cast out of the kingdom. The wizard confined the princess to the tower, and the knight beheaded the villain in means to save the damsel. A villain. Is that who Owen was? He had been a good boy, what reason was there to trap him? Why? Why him? What did he do wrong?
Owen would often ask himself these questions. He came to a conclusion that he wanted to avoid; he too, was a wizard. Owen had never hurt anyone, had he? But the storybook told otherwise. He was shunned as well, for reasons unbeknownst himself. Just like the evil wizard. That had to be proof enough.
And so Owen was faced with harsh reality. He was not meant to be the princess who would be saved, but the evil who would be slain. A bad boy. Someone that people would never show concern for. Someone who could never be capable of good. And so he cried.
-
Owen woke up feeling... off. The sunlight brighter than he remembered, birds chirping louder than yesterday, and overall feeling incredibly pissed at everything. He needed a breather, or else the place might end up in pieces by the end of the day. Maybe a walk in the forest would do me some good.
And to the forest he went. He mindlessly wandered for seemingly on end, not really thinking about anything. It's been a while since he last wound down like this because of the taxing work that is being a Sage's Wizard, as well as personal affairs.
It had become dark by now, and the moon was as plentiful in size as ever. Owen stared in no particular direction, as a weird feeling bubbled in his stomach. Fear? No... that doesn't feel right. Sadness? Also not that.
"Owen? Are you somewhere here?" A familiar voice called out. The aforementioned wizard's mood had now soured by tenfold, a scowl appearing on his face. So much for his solitude.
"Sir Knight."
Cain exclaimed, "Owen? Where have you been? All of the wizards have been worried sick about you!" Cain appeared on a brown horse. It reminded him of something from a storybook he had read a long time ago.
"What if I told you that I was coming up with a plan to blow everyone up?" A sick grin appeared on Owen's face. Cain deadpanned him, knowing what he said was a lie. Owen groaned.
"Ugh, you're no fun. What's wrong with a wizard wanting to have some peace and quiet for once?"
"Are you implying that the mansion is hectic? Anyways, I think you're the last person who thinks about being anywhere near peaceful. Hurry up, I'll take you back. It's dangerous." The red hair danced in the air, moon illuminating Cain's face. Just like the knight from before.
"Who do you take me for? A damsel in distress?" Owen snorted.
"Well yes, yes I do. C'mon princess, I'll be your knight." Cain lightheartedly laughed.
Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't the villain after all. He was the princess.