Chapter 1: The Silent Speaker

"44"

"45"

"UGHHH"

"Don't give up, you'll never get anywhere like that!"

Clank "oof" Clank " Easy for you to say Gladiolus!" CLANK

The sword came crashing down against another, this one unskilled and off balance. Although, in my defense, it wasn't for lack of trying.

" If you put as much energy into practicing you could anticipate this!", He said turning about face suddenly causing me to fall forward and flat on my face for the 46th time.

I stayed on the ground defeated and utterly exhausted.

"Had enough Seren?", Gladiolus asked laughing at me who didn't move a muscle.

I sighed and looked up at him and grimaced blowing my bangs off of my face.

"What're you getting at? I was done at 10 but YOU made me continue", I said.

"Ha, wasn't it you who said you wanted to be able to "school" Noctis?", He said knowing the answer already.

I sighed and contemplated how I looked right now. I mean, of course, I now looked a wreck, not that I ever didn't in the eyes of some people.
My hair hung in two braids that reached to my middle. Some of the dark brown strands had come undone in the fray. I took a deep breath and heaved the sword into its' sheath set on my hip. Which, mind you, wasn't very heavy, to begin with, but now felt like a thousand bricks weighing my right side down.

I faltered in my step and swayed a little bit which caused Gladiolus to laugh once again either at my discomfort or appearance, probably both.

Dark eyes clashed with golden as I snorted at him.

" Thanks for showing up for your lesson for once. You won't get into the Kingsglave by sitting on your ass and weighting on the Prince your whole life.", Gladiolus scolded, " Try not to get nocked on your ass next time! and show up! same time next week! SEREN!" He shouted after my retreating form.

"That girl. She was given a second chance by some miracle and she's wasting it.", Gladiolus grumbled.

I live with the oh holy Prince Noctis. By some dumb stroke of luck, but I should amend my previous statement. I don't live WITH him exactly more like I'm his personal assistant or one of his personal assistants.

Yes, that's plural.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't hate the Prince, I don't even really dislike him. I do feel he's a little spoiled. Not that I've known much else since my "incident." Prince Noctis's incident happened around the same time so it's got some scholars thinking they're related events. And somehow or another I ended up here.

I walked up to my living quarters and reached for the door when another servant came up to me and started speaking really fast about how his royal highness won't get up or something. Nothing new."Woah", I said blinking rapidly,"slow down, slow down. Prince Noctis what?"

"He won't get up. it's two hours until the meeting with the King and he's still asleep Seren!", the maid said urgently.

I sighed and looked down at my sword in my sheath then back at her

"Alright. I'm on it." I say slightly annoyed, making sure that I secure my strap.

I start off toward Noctis's room with mild urgency, lord knows that even if a train went through his room he would only roll over if that.

Long gone are the days where I would knock seventeen times before going in. Recently I've settled for barging in, just short of banging pots and pans or yelling about some emergency. Even if I did have the guts, I doubt the later would do much good.

It's a decent walk to his highness's room since I have to go through some guards and the stairs. Do I nod or bow? Smile or wave? still can't get the hang of it.

I arrive at his room and for politeness's sake, I nock solidly once. When it was met with no answer I announced myself as I opened the door.

" Your highness. It's Seren, I'm coming in.", I sigh at the image I'm met with.

He was still in his bed with the curtains drawn, dead to the world.
If only he knew of the announcement that waited for him, that would forever change his life. Then, I doubt he would be able to sleep so soundly.

"Prince Noctis, you'll be late for your invitation with the King", I say speaking louder.

He just grunted but didn't make any movement.

I sigh and move over to his blinds and pull them open, allowing the bright morning light to shine through.

"Argh…ugghh" Noctis groaned and rolled over, now pretending to be asleep.

" Sometimes I think you take great pleasure in making my day to day jobs difficult", I say exasperated as I round to the other side and all but yell, "GET UP! YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE PRINCE NOCTIS LUCIS CAELUM!"

"Arrrgghh, man, so loud!" He grumbled sitting bold upright wiping his eyes sleepily.

"If you'd just get up then I wouldn't have to be "so loud" highness", I grumble and flick his forehead for good measure. I had to make sure his eyes were open otherwise he'd go right back to sleep.

"Ah! Seren, I'm up, I'm up jeez" He grimaced and attempted to flick me back but almost fell out of his bed.

" Tch. And since when have you called me "Your Highness" or "Prince"?", He asked sarcastically after regaining his balance.

" It is protocol. I am a servant. You are the Prince." I stated matter of factly.

" Call me Noct like you used too. Gladio and Ignis do too so I don't see the problem." He said looking up at me. Then his blue eyes met my gold ones and I could see the sincerity there.

I snort softly, " You should really get ready, looks like you've already wasted a good hour already and I don't think you want to great your father looking, well."

"Looking like what?" Noctis asked confused.

" Well, frankly looking like a disheveled… Chocobo" I respond cracking a small smile.

He frowned and yawned again, making like he was going to go back to sleep.

"Oh no, don't go back to sleep Pri-" I started but stopped short when he frowned. "Noct" I sigh.

He smiled a little and rolled out of bed, finally and made his way over to his closet and reached for a suitable change of clothes.

Satisfied that he was indeed awake I turned to leave the room, but stopped short when I heard him ask, " Hey, you're learning to fight?"

" Yeah, for awhile now.", I say staring at the door.

" You're learning from Gladio, right? maybe he'll let us spar together. Bet I'd knock you down.", He said taking a more interested tone.

"Yeah, maybe but don't be sure you'd knock me down Prince", I say opening the door and stepping through.

"Don't be late or it'll be my hid that's in trouble," I call over my shoulder closing the door before he could retort.

I start to feel dizzy and lean against the door for a minute and close my eyes and take a deep breath.

I touch my necklace lightly, " It's going to get interesting around here." I whisper then continue on into the throne room.