Chapter Text
Long ago, it wasn't uncommon for people to rely on God's to help them through life, praying every day for them to bless them, forgive them for their sins.. and so on and so forward. But thousands of years ago, there were two goddesses that built their kingdoms tall and wide to let their kingdom thrive with commoners. The sun goddess and the night goddess, both believed by the commoners that they controlled the sun and moon, able to change the time of day. The commoners from both kingdoms worshipped their 'leader'. But as time went on, it seemed the goddesses became bored, wanting more than listening to commoners pleading for their attention. So as both the goddesses became closer by time, being able to discuss future plans for their kingdoms. Suddenly, they had discovered a new mysterious area. Not just any new area, a simple looking town, that was underground.. this was not only intriguing for both the goddesses, but they both could feel an uncontrollable feeling from the town. A strange aura of power that made them feel stronger, feeling their senses rise to the max. Seeing the potential of this town being theirs, their outcome was arguing.
Arguing about who would be able to control such a town, which led to an uncontrollable war that lasted years. Years of commoners having to train how to fight in war, having to put themselves out on the front lines, knowing they wouldn't be able to make it back home to their families. Years of innocent people dying, doing it for their goddesses because they knew they knew best. After years of war, the people that lived underground emerged suddenly, covering themselves with cloaks, hiding their identity. It was quite sudden, even to the goddesses that weren't prepared to fight them. One, casted out a sword that shined brightly, casting a powerful and slashing towards the goddesses. The goddesses life tragically died, turning to dust and disappearing into thin air. This had made both kingdoms retaliate. Finally, being able to return home after this brutal war that ended many people life's, including the gods they worshipped dearly. The majority had stopped believing in them, now realising that the days and nights have carried on without the goddesses' help. But, they were all still greedy, brave people tried to capture the sword from the underground town, seeing great value in it. Seeing that it killed two goddesses, there were many uses to it now. Both kingdoms now bore hatred for each other, leading to many fights against each other over the sword.
A year later, the underground town took action to this situation, using their power to pull a large stone wall from underground. Lengthening miles, separating both kingdoms, the tall wall impossible to climb over. This firm wall had stood the same after the next thousands of years, through every King and Queen. There was a created treaty between them, no communication whatsoever between the kingdoms, and people who tried would be convicted for treason. And that had calmed many things, life continuing as normal, building anew and expanding their kingdom. Luxaria is a radiant kingdom basking in golden light, with the sky that always holds the soft hues of sunrise. Nestled between mountains and crystal clear lakes, Luxaria is covered in white stone towers and luminous spires. Valoria is a shadowed kingdom shrouded in eternal twilight. Surrowed by dense, ancient forests. Valeria instead towers with their dark stone castle. Although having to deal with eternal twilight, their streets are covered in many lanterns and festive lights that brighten up not only the streets but the people. With these two shriving kingdoms packed with loyal servants of the King and Queen, they can continue to shrive with no worry of another war from happening.
Now, present time in the Valoria Kingdom. Where the same ominous, twinkled sky littered with stars made Toya Aoyagi wonder. Sitting cramped on the wooden chair for what felt like hours, doing paperwork after paperwork. The Duke would be doing this, not him, but of course, the infamous Duke was convicted of fraud and put to prison. The most trusted Duke, the Kings friend, was dealt with a long prison sentence, and with that... The Duke had many unfinished paperwork that not only was all useless to him but time-consuming. His father had insisted for him to do them, knowing that there was definitely something important through all that paperwork. Toya was caught off guard staring into space by a knock on his door. "Come in." His low, groggy voice echoed the room. He cleared his throat, feeling how his throat itched from not drinking any water. He knew he had too, but he was practically glued to this seat, and even if he did get up, his legs felt numb.
And who came in was none other than the Elf prince. "Ah, why hello, your royal highness." The Prince said cheerfully, bowing respectively and then catching each others gaze. It seems to Toya that Rui couldn't understand how tired he was. Not only by the tone of voice when he called him in, but also by the stack of paperwork on each side of the desk, having to separate the stacks to not let it topple over him. Rui, The Elf Prince, was his childhood friend that he had encountered when both of their fathers had a meeting. They had grown very close, close enough for the cold Toya to break through and warm up to Rui. And be able to tell his personal thoughts and feelings. He finally had a shoulder to cry on. The Elf kingdom, Lunareth, was situated farther away from Valoria. It was smaller populated, that would be the same for the other towns that were situated onto their side of the wall. Valoria was the main kingdom, many people came here for opportunities, such as jobs, being able to sell their products, and even joining the royal army, it wasn't ever uncommon for people to do so.
Rui smirked as he looked at Toya, who was staring into the distance again. It wasn't an uncommon thing to catch him in deep thought. Rui cleared his throat to catch the tired man's attention. "Hm.. Mafuyu has kept a good job with dealing with the knights." He noted. Mafuyu was the general of the army. She is a brutal swordswoman who has trained since her teens. Her mother is well known for getting her not only tutored at home but also privately trained on the training grounds they have outside their mansion. Although her name carries heavy history, she had fought through the expectations of her mother and has taken her own path. Becoming a knight and not only that, climbing the ranks to becoming a commander that commands the most important army in the kingdom. The Valorian Army, the knights themselves, have received the most highest training they could receive from the new commander. Toya once again snapped out of his trance and took notice of Rui's iconic cheeky smile. He sighed, placing his fountain pen down beside the small glass of ink, some of the ink from the pen dropping onto the parchment.
Toya fixed his attention to the conversation at hand. Although it was a sudden topic, he knew he had to clear his head from this paperwork by talking with someone.
"Yes, I agree. Since her new position in the ranks as the general, I am glad she is wearing the title with pride." Toya responded flatly. Rui gave a small smile to the response, nodding that he understood. "Ah.. and here I thought you were going to say something rude about her..." Rui giggled, covering his mouth. Toya's forehead furrowed in annoyance. Gazing away to the side for a slight moment. "There is nothing bad to say about her." and then focused his gaze back onto Rui's smile twitching, he could easily see him trying not to frown in disappointment. Toya knew Rui was the type of person who wanted to learn any information on people that he could joke around. His sense of humour, being that he would learn new information about them, which then he could use when he talks with them. A way of toying with people, if you will, Toya isn't saying anything about it. He doesn't want to be involved with what he considers jokes. His sense of humour wasn't the best either.
It's useful for when he's in need of assistance, but with Mafuyu, he's gotten to a close friendship with her. Toya knew he wouldn't try to break her trust by saying anything misleading about her. Especially to Rui who was wanting any information anywhere, easily bribing people for information. This led to Toya already having to fix his mistakes, which he knows some can be intentional to just mess around with him. Rui had always acted careless, and Toya couldn't think of any way he could change in the future. With Rui still standing contently by the table with much stacked paperwork, Toya had to focus closely on Rui, on why he was here in the first place. "Since you are here.. is there anything you need?" Toya asked, folding his arms, and caught sight of the way Rui's smile had been fixed by such a question. Rui extends an arm from his back and holds out an envelope to him. A brown envelope, with a ruff material that felt like soil from the ground. Toya had recognised this envelope very well. He unfolded his arms and quietly took it, Rui returning his arm to his back. "I took this letter from your servant, wanted to deliver this letter to myself you see.."
Toya couldn't help but feel the familiar envelope in his hand, slightly feeling the texture before ripping the top of the letter with his metal, hand crafted letter opener. Sliding it open like a knife cutting a clean cut to the skin. And inside was not only the familiar smell of grass, but the bright colour of yellow illuminating his face. He took it out, the head of a sunflower layed upon the palm of his hand. Rui observed the flower, his fingers landing onto his chin in a thinking motion. "Is that..?" "Yes. A sunflower." Rui continued to suspiciously view the head of the sunflower in Toya's hand. Focusing on the bright coloured petals that stood out from the dark coloured theme of the room. Rui gazed up to Toya's eyes, seeing the calm demeanour as his eyes had slightly lit up from seeing such a flower. "How is this possible..? Sunflowers only grow in... Luxaria." Toya had looked up at Rui knowingly. Rui scoffed, leaning towards the bright flower. "Even then, how could someone send such a stupid thing from Luxaria? That's physically impossible." Toya had then returned the sunflower back into the opened envelope, leaving it on the table.
Rui was questioning a lot of things. How could something from Luxaria get here? Where not only the stone wall had been standing for thousands of years, which had been blocking both sides from communication. But there was no way someone could possibly get that here, there was a signed rule that was in the treaty that no one could send anything over the wall. Not even a single letter, which is now the reason he couldn't keep his gaze off the stupid envelope. Rui looked at Toya, seeing his colder expression that he always weared now gone softer. "Do you perhaps know the person that is sending you this letter? or.. " Rui leaned closer to Toya, leaning his hands on the table, with his head cocked to the side, viewing the prince clearer. "Is this a secret admirer?" That had caught Toya's attention for sure, focusing his sight to Rui, seeing his ear softly point out from his hair. His frown that had now turned the sides of his lips into a small smirk. He in fact didn't know who was sending the letter...
With Toya's expression turning back cold, his hand pulled open a drawer that was connected to the desk, reaching for something and placing it onto the brown letter. It was other letters, the exact same brown letter that had the texture of soil. "You're kidding.." The elf had leaned back, crossing his arms across his chest as he now observed the bunch of letters that stacked on top of each other neatly. He took the one on top, putting his hand in the opened letter and getting out the same exact head of a sunflower. Still bright and not rotting, none of its petals turning brown and fading in colour. "I've been receiving the same letter every week. The head of a sunflower always in there." The man who was sitting down answered. Rui couldn't help but rub the petals of the sunflower with his thumb. "How is this still intact? It should've been rotting by now. It's like as if this was..." His eyes widened, when he felt an electric spark from the petals of the sunflower when he rubbed it. He glanced back at Toya. Uneasy as he placed the sunflower back in the letter and placed it on the table.
"It's magic." Magic, one of the driving factors for kingdoms from either side of the wall. Magic was always a common thing to see, as there were two main powers that was said manifested after the goddesses death. Dark and Light magic. It manifests from themselves when wielding a weapon, reason why the army had stocked up on so much. But Rui could easily sense something wrong, it not only felt like it was light magic, which was bound as it came from Luxaria.. But the fact that there was something very off about it. Toya glared at him, his forehead slightly furrowing. "So?" He questioned, crossing his arms across his chest. "This isn't just light magic.." Rui noted. "This is magic I've never encountered before.. its stronger.. electrifying.. almost too powerful." The prince's eyes widened. "What?"
In Luxaria, where the sun warmly shined against the buildings, illuminating the white and cream buildings that were everywhere, towering over each other. Especially in one area, where the flowers dances in the warm wind, the smell wafting around the shop. The soft gingered haired man flipped the sign around by the glass door, quietly observing outside the shop before going outside to fix the flowers that bloomed neatly in pots. "Opening up?" A soft voice suddenly rang out, startling Akito from his spot, turning to the side to see soft chestnut eyes looking at him. "Hey Ena.. startled me." Ena chuckled in response, having both of her hands on her hips as she walked closer to her younger brother. She observed the flowers he was fixing. "Need any help?" She asked, seeing how slowly he was making the flowers look presentable. "Uhm.. sure." She happily nodded, walking to the other side of the door, and helping organise them. "You know.."
Ena started, picking a certain flower out of Akito's view. "You take care of these sunflower's really well." Akito turned his head to the side, seeing how she slowly twirled the sunflowers' stem between her fingers. He gave a small smile, observing the sunflower's condition from a distance. "Yeah.. I'm thankful grandma was able to teach me to do so."