Chapter Text
This is the story of how I died a painful, horrible death, which was told for generations to generations. For all the naughty boys and girls all over the world as a cautionary tale.
Ruggie..
Alright, it's not exactly true, but I did die, but we have to go way back, even before I was born. You can tell how long this story is if someone as young as me has to retell it.
☀️
One very few centuries ago, the sun and moon dropped a magical raindrop during the day and night cycle, which led to certain things from happening. One was the Sunflower, a magical flower that had an odd power for those who found it. The Moonflower was a different story, it would lead to healing but also destroy, which is reflected in the moon cycle.
But this story is about the Sunflower.
As I mentioned, it has the power to heal anyone who comes in contact with it, but only a special few know about how to activate its power.
☀️
An old man managed to rummage through the forest and looked at the flower, looking back at his notes with a small laugh as he looked back at the flower, starting a small hum.
(See this man, yeah, remember him, he's very important. His name is Divus Crewel, and he's a harsh man who values something unattainable, like beauty, and an awesome flower, but I'm getting ahead of myself.)
"Flower petals are glowing gold with soft purple highlights, glows the brightest when the sun sets," Divus notes, "This flower is the first of its kind, but the possibility of various isn't unlikely." As he takes his notes, he slowly begins to hum.
A light glowed and he felt a small energy throughout his body. He gasps as he stares at his hands. No sagged skin, no wrinkles, nothing. He stared at the flower and began to hum again, and the flower reacted again.
And soon, lyrics came to his mind, and he sang:
Flower,
Gleam and Glow,
Let your power shine~
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine,
What once was mine~
(Are you freaked out? Yeah, so healing also means de-aging, so this crazed scientist decided on what he wanted to do with this newly discovered flower.)
Divus took note, "Has some anti-aging properties, and alerted by song, whether song or humming. It could be used for healing?" He swiftly took out his dagger and slashed his hand, only for him to heal and flower healed it.
"Amazing," he muttered and looked around. With all around, he slowly mustered a wicker basket and created a makeshift bush to hide the flower. "No one should know about this," he concluded when he walked away, leaving the flower, hidden and alone, hoping for sunlight to peak through.
☀️
Creepy, huh?
Ok, so you've met our villain, one with so much vanity, that he hid the flower for his uses only. Now let's focus on the king, who was around the area at the same time but for an entirely different reason.
That man was King Lilia of the Sol Kingdom.
He became king after his queen gave him the title for she foresaw she was to die during an expanding war between Sol and an unnamed kingdom.
With his leadership, he was able to win the war of all, and this led to the kingdom being covered with walls to prevent wars and show peace instead. That was how good Lilia was as a king, and now today was the day that would change his life.
☀️
Rumors were heard of a wailing spirit stuck in the woods, which caught the attention of King Lilia. He looked around the woods, along with the knights of the kingdom. Lilia didn't believe the rumours but since they scared the villagers, he had to look around for the ampty named spirit.
"What has the emergency?" Lilia asked the head guard.
"Well, one of the women in our village has said that she heard a cry in the woods, but she couldn't identify the location. She was sure it was a ghost." A Guard explained.
Lilia nodded held the lantern high and kept walking around the forest, before the cry was heard again, causing an alert to everyone before Lilia began to walk towards the sound, only to see a basket with a baby covered in a blanket.
"Well," Lilia chuckled and carefully picked up the basket, "You caused many a fright, little child." The baby squeaked and cried again. "Oh, my," Lilia whispered, "Let's get you to somewhere warmer." Lilia alerted the guards and walked towards the castle.
After what seemed forever, the baby was now healthy and happy. Lilia grew fond of the child and named the baby Silver, due to his mysterious hair color that reminded Lilia of a silver blade. Silver was crowned prince as soon as he would. Lilia loved Silver with all his being and adored his son with every waking moment, and so did many of the townsfolk who met the boy. He was the pride prince of Sol, everyone loved and adored him, even at his young age. It was such a momentous occasion that a tradition began on the boy's birthday.
On the special day, golden lanterns will rise into the night sky, but Lilia made one for his son and it was so special, that if the prince touches it himself, it would glow a beautiful purple, like his eyes, which makes it more exciting when he grows up. Legends have spoken about how that lantern will never crumble, and he kept it inside a special vault.
It was strange having a child around the castle, but it made Lilia's day. Especially when the child began to dream about becoming a knight, inspired by King Lilia. He even got a small horse, an old birthday present.
But soon, after his 5th birthday, he got a bad illness, an illness that made the young boy bedridden, coughing every single moment. It worried everyone in the kingdom, horrified that their darling prince was going to die because of this horrible illness.
It was one of those days when King Lilia was dealing with massive dread of fear because of the situation until an alchemist came in with an incredible discovery. He told Lilia of a rare golden flower, which caught King Lilia's attention, and asked for the location.
The Pharmacist agreed and soon, both they and Lilia planned a search party, despite Lilia having doubts, it was approved by Lilia and as soon as dusk approached, the search party began.
"What do you know of the golden flower?"
This caught the attention of Divus, who continued to use the flower to provide for his youth. He heard horses scatter and neigh around. He managed to hear more of the conversation.
"It could heal anything, including illnesses," The Alchemist explained. "It is from the sun,"
(Yeah, yeah, hey! I already told everyone where it came from, and I don't need a re-explanation. How about we go back to Crewel? Please?)
"What in the heavens?" He muttered, before covering the flower and departing, unaware that the cover completely flipped over by his foot.
The glow caught one of the Head Knight's attention, and he walked over to it. He gasped at it, watching the golden flower glow, illuminating everything around it. He turned back and yelled, "I found it!"
"Alright men, King Lilia said we should be careful with it," one guard reminded, "it's for the prince,"
"Yes, sir."
Divus watched in horror, seeing the flower he tried to keep hidden taken from the ground and being carefully carried away. "King Lilia..." He hissed to himself as he slowly followed the guards back to the village. But what stopped him was when they reached the castle, and the gates were shut.
☀️
"It'll be ok," Lilia whispered to Silver, "We've gotten something for you." Silver looked up but remained silent as his throat hurt horribly. Silver watched as an unknown man walked inside, holding a bowl of glowing liquid and within it a flower. He watched how the bowl slowly went towards him.
Silver gulped and sipped the water.
"What a strange flower," Silver yawns, "..it tastes amazing. What is it, Father? It felt like magic."
"That's our secret, dear boy," Lilia laughed, kissing his forehead. "But do sleep and you'll feel better in the morning. Please enter a beautiful dreamland."
Silver smiles and yawns again, his eyes drooping until he fell asleep.
Lilia sighs, gets up, and leaves the room. He looked down at the flower water in his hands, not knowing what to do with it. But he did have an idea when he saw seeds swim around the water.
"What if I.." Lilia pondered.
"Your highness?"
"Oh, Shroud," Lilia gasped, "I do thank you for finding this. Though I do fear of what would happen if this would to be found by others. I may have an idea."
"What do you have in mind?" Shroud spoke up.
Lilia looked and made Shroud follow him, to a secret room.
"I plan to create a small room, where I can keep this flower inside and maybe create more if things happen to our people. I understand why it may be a bad idea, but I have so much fear that I will lose Silver once again. I was entrusted to keep this kingdom safe and I intend to keep it that way."
"Then let me join you," Shroud offered, "we should start a small garden and create notes."
"Perfect. I thank you once again."
☀️
Knights surround the castle, but none can see a dark-figured man go around the castle and pass everyone. The dark figure entered the window, into the young prince's room.
Divus stared at the sleeping boy, as peaceful as he could be, with a raging hatred because if it wasn't for him falling ill, he would still be young and beautiful. But it was not his concern right now but to find the flower to replant for himself.
Now to start the search.
Flower,
Gleam and Glow,
Let your power shine~
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine,
What once was mine~
He was about to continue until a glow fetched his eyes.
The glow belongs to the sleeping boy in front of him, unaware that his hair begins to glow when Divus sings. He walks over and begins to sing again, and his hair glows once again and Divus felt his body getting younger and younger when it did.
It was strange that his hair was glowing, but it did create some new notes, still humming to see more of the result.
He watched and a wicked smirk appeared on his face, and he gently pulled out scissors, and slowly began to reach for a strand but as soon as he cut it, it became dull and fell back down on his face, no more power overflowing of it.
"I saw him go through here..." said a guard outside the door, as he heard two footsteps.
Crewel looks at the door and back at the child.
Divus had to make a choice. He didn't care about the consequences, all he cared about was his beauty and his research about the one thing the king stole from him.
As he heard the door begin to open, Divus looked at the child with a grin.
"You've taken what's mine...so," He picked up Silver and held it close as soon as the door opened, "I've taken what's yours!" And with that he disappeared into the winds, leaving the guards confused as his laughter echoed in the air.
The door broke open but it was too late for the knights. The figure was already gone, only leaving an old notebook on the floor.
☀️
The guards searched everywhere, so wide even the outskirts of the kingdom, the forests were searched but an area they didn't expect was a house, a small cottage within it all. The house belonged to Divus Crewel, the one confirmed by the knights to have kidnapped the prince, and the house was empty, saw for a few items such as mirrors and potions.
But Lilia found something that could help them understand the kidnapper, just enough to save his son one day.
☀️
Beyond the border of Solm and into the dark forest, if you see a moss-filled rock, best to double-check if it's really a rock. Behind is a cavern, which leads to the other side, to reveal a tower filled with moss around it and no entrances to be seen, so one would think it would be abandoned.
That's where the prince was hidden, singing for someone he now thought was a father. Yes, Crewel took the kid and raised him as his own, with the help of a magic spell that distorts memory.
He had found his magic flower, and now, more than ever, he was determined to keep him hidden, even if he were not to leave the tower ever.
☀
Silver was only 5 years old when he was aware of his odd home. He didn't have many complaints, mainly because his memories were so fuzzy, but he was a kid. Shouldn't he be outside, playing with the grass and birds up in the sky?
So, when he has the opportunity to ask his father about it.
Silver hummed as Crewel brushed his hair, unaware of its cause to him in particular, but he only saw it as helping his father relax after a rough day. "...Father," He asked, "Why can't I go outside?"
"The world is a dangerous place, full of nasty people," Crewel lied, "It's only to protect you, my dear. I hope you understand." Silver nodded while looking back at the fireplace.
But inside, he was giddy, for he knew today was his birthday and that meant those special stars would appear high above where he was. So as the night continued to fall, Silver sneaked past and opened the window, watching as the lights began to float above the forest, just enough for him to stare. He watched increasingly and wondered where they came from, and why on his birthday no less.
His father spoke of them once but only claimed them as nasty stars that don't belong in the sky and would never let Silver watch them at night, but that never stopped him, and he'll continue until the day he finally leaves the tower and onto the world below.