The New Prince
Halidom, Ylisse
Alexander

A boy of tender years sprinted through the hallway. His small body maneuvered through each and every adult slowly moving through the pathway. He spotted every corner he needed to take and turned at them with the stable speed he sprinted at. He cared not if his footsteps echoed through the hollow halls. The energetic youth finally had his sights on a big door at the far end of the main hall, which was his destination. He slowed down his legs enough to halt right before the towering gate. He placed his little hand on one side of the door and pushed with all his strength. It slowly creeked open enough so that the boy can stick his head out. His face just went alive with excitement over what he saw.

Within was the Throne Room, a lovely black and white tiled floor stretched throughout the entire ground. It was topped with an elegant dark blue carpet which created a straight path from the door Alexander just opened all the way across toward the two decorative thrones where the Exalt and Queen would sit on. Behind the thrones were two colossal statues of Chrom and Naga standing side by side. At the center of the ceiling hung an elegant chandelier, which was a giant web of steel and candles lighting up the entire room. But the young boy wasn't in awe of the scenery, but of the single person within. A noble woman stood alone observing the two statues, as if lost in her own mind.

"GRANDMA?! GRANDMA LUCINA?!" cried out the youth rushing through the door and toward the distracted woman.

The sweet madam snapped out of her trance and turned to reveal a beautiful lady in her 60s with the same color features of blue but with the mark of the Exalt within her left eye. She smiled at the child and responded in a sweet voice, "Prince Alexander, I thought you were supposed to be in the Library studying."

The little prince put on a sour frown and answered, "Yeah. But it's so boring!"

The loving grandmother leaned forward to level her eyes with the Prince's and spoke in a gentle tone "You're gonna have to do better than that dearie."

Alexander's eyes turned to the carpet before his feet and his lips spoke in a low tone "I know, I'm sorry."

Lucina extended her hand with the fingertips right under her grandson's chin and slowly lifted it up so he's looking at her face-to-face "Is 'sorry' going to put all that knowledge in your pretty little head?"

The young prince gently pushed his grandmother's hand off from his chin "Not unless it's already in my head and I'm just reading through the same lines over and over again."

Lucina tilted her head in disbelief and asked the boy "Do you remember what your Great Grandfather Chrom said? 'The less you know about your history…"

Alexander interrupted "'The more likely you are to repeat it.' I know."

Lucina then asked her grandson with a straight face "Then promise me you'll take your studies as serious as your sword training."

Alexander sighed and then looked in Lucina's way with an innocent smile "Okay Grandma. I promise."

She gently kissed the boy in the forehead "Thank you my dear."

At an instant, a soft bell rang in a beautiful arrangement of song within the many halls of the castle. It's soothing chime raced through the inner shell of the prestigious rooms.

Lucina's head turned to the direction from which the source of sound came from, and her expression turned to excitement turned back to Alexander "The Khan is arriving soon, you need to make yourself look presentable."

Alexander started to feel jumpy in excitement as well as his body started bouncing up and down at a fast pacing speed in repeat and he asked in anticipation "That means Lenoura's coming too right?"

"We'll see. But let's get you dressed." The Grandmother said as she took Alexander's hand and guided him through the hallway.

The two of them strolled through a circular room. On one side there was a great window with a grand view of the Kingdom, a vast range of green grass and a heavy canopy of forest trees bordering between the grasslands and the mountainous range under the light blue sky and white puffy clouds. The main attraction of the room was a mural engraved on the ceiling which depicted the tale of Exalt Chrom during his rise to becoming the Exalt of the Halidom.

Prince Alexander always lost himself in the spirit of the room, since he heavily idolized his Great Grandfather. He always told himself that he wanted to be just like Chrom when he grows up. He attempted to slow his Grandmother down to look at the entire painting which wrapped around the ceiling of the dome shaped room. He turned to is Grandmother and asked "Can you tell me the story of Chrom again?"

Lucina looked down at Alexander and responded in confusion "But Darling you've heard it so many times. Surely you must be bored with them by now."

Alexander leaped in place while they strolled out of the room "Never. Besides what did my Great Grandfather always say?"

To avoid repeating the saying, Lucina decided to give the story as asked "Very well. At least until we reach your quarters."

Alexander jumped in excitement and yelled "Yes!" in anticipation.

"50 years ago, Chrom was a prince to the Ylissean throne who lived with his sisters, Lissa the youngest and Emmeryn the oldest who was the Exalt. One day Chrom met a stranger who was asleep on a field. This stranger revealed to be named Robyn and gifted with a talent for tactics and strategies. Chrom recognized his gift and made him part of the Shepards. Robyn quickly became not just a keen ally but also a good friend. As they made their way back to the Halidom, these creatures known as Risen attacked them. That was also when Chrom met the enigmatic swordsman who called himself Marth. Chrom and Robyn left Ylisse to request help from Regna Ferox. Not only the Risen were a threat but also the Neighboring nation of Plegia under the rule of the Mad King Gangrel waged war against Ylisse. Chrom and Robyn were victorious against the invading Plegian forces until they attacked the Halidom and kidnapped Emmeryn. When they attempted to rescue Emmeryn at her execution, she sacrificed herself for the sake of her loved ones. Both Chrom and Valiant were forced to retreat back to Regna Ferox. After an eternal hour of mourning, they decided to retaliate for one last fire on Plegian territory. They succeeded and defeated the Mad King."

The excited child waited for his Grandmother to resume until she said "Oh! Here we are."

Before them was the decorated door leading into Alexander's sleeping quarters. In the castle, bedrooms that belonged to royal family members are always unique from the rest of the other doors. It's doorframe engraved the same pattern design of vertical strips which streak down, only with a simplified depiction of the Falchion centered on both doors.

The smile on the Prince's face turned sour in disappointment "Oh come on!" He slouched his arms to hang to express more of his unmoving response to the interruption.

Lucina requested the assistance of two maids for her Grandson to change to his dressed form of clothes.