Chapter Text
The kingdom of the East and the kingdom of the West are enemies. They have been for many years now; generation after generation of feud.
The East holds tradition with a tight grip; spending day and night training its next generation of knights.
The people of the East live relatively peaceful lives. The capital, home to the royal family, also houses hundreds of aspiring youngsters, dreaming of bettering their skills.
Meanwhile the West, while bigger, has a slightly lower population. Even so, the land prospers and the citizens are grateful for their living conditions. The economy prospers and long winters do not hinder their crops. This is mostly due to the advancements the kingdom experienced since implementing strict rules.
However, a prosperous land is not easy to maintain. And so the royal family of the West is highly regarded all across the land as one of the coldest and harshest.
Akito learnt this fact as soon as he messed up.
A month ago, the East dispatched half of its best knights to complete an important assignment. Gathering intel.
Undercover, the small group infiltrated the ranks of guards and palace staff; blending in with the servants and the cooks. Once enough information had been noted, they would discreetly retreat, delivering it safe and sound back home.
However, almost a week ago, a promising knight had blown his cover and now sat in a prison cell; having compromised their entire mission. Panic raged through the palace as the guards sought out which ones were enemy spies.
The only reason so many made it out was because of this young man.
Akito Shinonome, not as famous as the commander Tsukasa Tenma or the lieutenant Mizuki Akiyama, but still a well known guy, was incarcerated in the catacombs of the kingdom of the west. His mind replaying the moment they got caught over and over again.
His left cheek ached from the blow he’d taken while aiding his teammates’ escape. After his slip-up, trying to fend off the unbearable guilt, he’d preoccupied himself with making sure no one would bear the consequences he’d brought onto them.
It was the least he could have done after all.
From the look of things, he’d been successful on that front. The desolate, stone cell only housed him; and he was pretty sure no one else had been brought into another.
The guards standing by made no conversation and all the other prisoners were silent, almost not existent.
His fate was uncertain; but the fact that they had not yet declared a sentence for him, proved that their mission had caused a mess in the palace.
Blowing the dust bunnies away from his feet, he made a mental bet of how much time he would have left until his inevitable end.
The kingdom of the West was not forgiving.
The grey walls of the cell stared back at him as he counted the minutes. Surely by now, the East would be aware of his imprisonment. Akito pondered the possibilities of escape. The probability of someone from the East coming to save him was low – if not nonexistent.
Regardless, depending on others would not save him. Right now, Akito needed to work this out by himself.
How could he call himself a knight if he failed to serve his kingdom?
Determination flooded through his body as he stood; approaching the cell door. A couple of guards stood watch from the stairs which presumably led to the palace.
Inspecting the surrounding area, nothing seemed of use. If he was planning to get out of this one, he was going to have to be smart. Incredibly smart . Either that, or he was going to need a miracle…
+++
It was five days in when it happened.
Not even a full week since he was captured had passed when a guard appeared to unlock his cell door. Akito got up from his spot as they barked at him to get moving. The knight let himself be guided up the stairs and out into the labyrinth of hallways.
Alert, he forced himself to take in every detail, to memorise the path they were taking and the people they crossed. He would need to know the layout of the palace if he was to escape; and it distracted him from the fear of whatever awaited him wherever they were going.
Finally, after what seemed like the hundredth doorway they’d entered, the guard stopped and Akito found himself before a grand hall. Decorations on decorations lined the walls in just the right amount to present itself as elegant. Huge clear windows showered the room with cold lighting and Akito shivered upon laying eyes on the matching thrones the King and Queen shared.
Intricately detailed to perfectly convey the message of superiority the royal family wanted to portray. And atop them, the King and Queen; in the flesh. Their eyes, grey and cold stared down at the redhead as the guard urged him into the centre of the room.
The hall seemed empty except for them and a few other guards dressed in that same uniform. Strange , Akito thought, trials like this were normally open to the public as a sign of authority. Maybe the fact that, barely a week ago, they’d been unknowingly hosting a group of enemy knights had something to do with it.
Still, the atmosphere in the room felt oppressive. Like Akito was a bug moments away from getting squashed.
The King cleared his throat and the room stilled. Akito instinctively tensed as he spoke. A simple question directed at him, “where are the rest?”
Akito reacted quickly. “ Gone ,” he answered, silently thanking his vocal chords for not letting him down.
The King turned to his wife to discuss something. Akito realised his presence had suddenly become trivial to them as they spoke in hushed tones.
Taking this small opening to investigate, he took in the surroundings. The redhead almost jumped as he spotted another figure by the thrones. He couldn’t tell if the boy standing in the corner had been there before or if he’d appeared out of the blue.
Akito realised immediately who he was.
The prince .
Back home, they’d had to study the royal family to prepare for the mission. He distinctly remembered reading about him. Mostly because of the lack of information.
Toya Aoyagi . Youngest in the family.
That was it. All it read. Not even a picture had been provided in the file.
However, looking at him now, Akito couldn’t fathom how he could look so different from his parents. Regal, with his two toned hair and straight posture; the only feature that gave away his parentage were his grey, dull eyes. Same lifeless shade the knight had spotted on everything.
He was starting to despise the colour.
Turning his attention back to the ruler who’d apparently finished discussing with his wife, Akito stared back in defiance.
“The crimes you have committed are punishable to the farthest extent,” the King began, Akito tensed again. “However, after discussion, a new suggestion has been brought to the table.”
“What? Locking me up again ?” The knight tried to not flinch while delivering the risky comeback.
The man’s glare turned harsh. Or well… harsher ; annoyance clearly responsible for this change.
Akito was always told his pride would be his downfall someday.
“Seeing as you have yet to serve as a valuable asset,” he continued, “I have decided you will remain alive for the time being.”
The redhead felt his body relax.
Turning to a guard on his left, the King ordered the following, “send out a ransom note as soon as possible.”
Akito bit his tongue.
Not daring to confess the lack of hope he had for that note to be treated seriously. The knight had fallen during that mission; nothing more. There was no reason to spend resources on him.
Especially not when the fall had been his fault.
Ignorant to Akito’s inner thoughts however, the King delivered the final piece of his punishment.
“Your fate now, and until further notice, rests in the hands of the head alchemist.”
Akito tried not to let his relief show on his face. He didn’t know the person he’d been entrusted to but… any fate was better than death.
Once finished, the royal family got up to leave. It was then when Akito realised the prince was nowhere to be found.
The guards began walking him out of the room and back the way they came. The assembly had gone a little different than he’d expected. Although, once again, he’d made it out alive.
Now all that was left was to escape these cold walls.
+++
Back inside his cell, the knight attempted to rest. Maybe during his prolonged stay he could fish out some more information.
Maybe , he could find something out about the elusive character he’d seen in the throne room. That would surely earn him a pardon if he somehow made it back.
Maybe this arrangement would serve a purpose after all.
As the night progressed, Akito’s tired thoughts shifted to his home on the outskirts of the Capital. A plate of food had been brought in a while ago and finished.
The knight was exhausted. And yet, memories of his city flooded in. Where he’d spent his life with his sister and her few friends. Where he’d grown up and slowly climbed the ranks of the knights. He vaguely wondered if he’d ever see his land again.
Then a sudden bout of sleep hit and the events from today were suddenly too heavy to carry. He dreamt of his home’s warm rain and colourful, blooming flowers.