Note that I do not live in an English speaking country and I may or may not have some troubles with the language.

This was practically made only on request. There are maybe five people or so reading Skies of Ahleris (a webcomic of mine), and those five are probably the only ones being able to understand a little about what's going on here (at least about the characters and such), but I decided to post it here anyways.

Let me know if you liked it, even though you may not understand.

This is just an introduction to Roots of our lives, which I hope will contain more than just the war between Naril and Deliris. Yeah. More of Kreuz, Liifa and the other side characters as well.

The character called Taricha belongs solely to Maki, a good friend of mine, but she has granted me permission to use her in the series as well as in this fiction.

A Skies of Ahleris fiction

THE ROOTS OF OUR LIVES

PROLOGUE
Remorse and Resolve

Had the sun set but a minute earlier, Cyril might even had been able to close his eyes and relax. But the light was mocking him, and it was too late - for his thoughts, the thoughts Cyril alone knew and would never tell, had started spinning into action again. Regrettably, he let them, as always.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, his right hand resting on his forehead, trying to push away the night's embrace. As always, futile. He didn't welcome it, but darkness would always reside in him.

As Cyril was the prince of Ahleris and therefore the whole world, he had many important things to uphold, though he would never lose his character. He was known as the kind, charming prince who ruled the world strictly but fairly. But behind closed doors, he would look himself in the mirrow and despise what he saw. Yes, prince Cyril of Ahleris held utter contempt for all that he was. But no one really knew why, and he would refuse to share those thoughts with anyone. Some would call him strong. Some would call him weak. Some would notice those eyes, and that same darkness residing in them. But none would ask, for a reply would never be given them.

Cyril's bright, green eyes opened at the sound of someone knocking on his door, letting him flee from his thoughts.

"... It's open", Cyril said after a short pause.

Silence. Whoever was on the other side of the door hesitated. Cyril smiled lightly, warmth returning to his eyes.

"Don't worry, Kreuz, I'm decent."

"Oh, I'm not worrying, Your Highness!!" the other person exclaimed while entering. As always, his temper was unpredictable.

Cyril held back a laughter. He knew about his friend's short fuse since way back.

"Forgive me, Kreuz", said Cyril, not an ounce of guilt in that smile.

Kreuz rolled his eyes and sighed slightly. After a long, hard day of work, he was exhausted.

"... Well, I'm sorry for disturbing you, Your Highness."

"Oh, no no, please", Cyril said while raising one of his hands. "Tell me, what's so important at this hour?"

Kreuz' eyes strayed a little from the prince as he tried to figure out a way to phrase what he had come to say in the first place.

"I... I'm sorry, Sire... Could you come with me for a minute?"

Cyril didn't see any harm in doing so, but Kreuz' obvious anxiety that rarely was even shown on other occasions made the prince slightly shaken up. Without a word, he stood up and followed his friend down the quiet hall, Kreuz' anxiety rubbing off on him.

As the two of them entered the chambers where wounder were being tended to, Cyril was struck by an unpleasant sight. On the sheets closest to them layed a severely wounded man, none other than the messenger who had been sent to inform Naril, the dark dragon clan, of clan Deliris' wish to form an alliance. Apparently, this was how the offer had been met.

Rage filled the sorrowful prince. He turned around and faced Kreuz, in his concern oblivious of how much he raised his voice.

"Who is responsible for this? Why was I not informed until now!?"

Kreuz didn't as much as flinch at his reaction. He sighed with a bitter expression on his face, with a bit of regret in his amethyst eyes.

"I apologize... I thought it best to... tend to the wounded as quickly as possible, Majesty..."

Cyril sighed too, rubbing his temple with his fingers. This was indeed utterly tiresome.

"... Of course you did, my friend. That was the most important choice. You did the right thing."

"Thank you, Sire."

Cyril quitely removed some of his emanating, white hair from his face, yet another sigh following. Kreuz watched him with friendly concern.

"... What will you do, Sire?"

"I dare not send another messenger. I will wait for Naril's intentions, if this is their response." Cyril slightly gestured towards the injured messenger. "If you would, Kreuz, tighten security and keep the palace staff on alert. Just bare in mind that the non-involved must not know of the circumstances until Naril's intentions are clear."

"I hear and obey, Sire."

"I'm counting on you."

Cyril smiled, the smile only reaching his eyes because he had a gift of pretending his feeling alright. As a leader of millions and billions of people, it sure came in handy when other people were feeling hopeless.

"... Will you go back to your chambers now, Your Highness?" Kreuz asked.

"I'll... be out in the garden for a while. I need some time to... not think", said Cyril with a gentle laugh.

Kreuz felt more relieved to hear that. It was seldom good to leave the prince to his thoughts for too long.

"Just don't fall asleep out there."

"Don't mind if I do", Cyril said, more to himself, while heading out.

The palace garden always felt so serene and calming at night. Sounds from many different animals usually prevented Cyril from doing much other than to listen quietly. But as he sat down in the grass under one of the cherry trees, the thought came crawling back to him.

The clan leader of Naril had been a good friend of Cyril's a long time ago. He couldn't mean to agitate the most powerful clan in Ahleris, where the leader of the whole world ruled? He couldn't be so foolish as to provoke the silver dragon people when peace was so close, sacrificing his own men?

The thoughts kept running, on and on and...

If there is war, innocent lives will be lost.

Nevermind that. Lives in general will be lost.

If there is war, I must go for the head of my best friend.

I might not be able to protect those I love.

If there is victory on our side, I will have to lay siege to other people's homeland.

If there is loss on our side, a person not fit to rule this world might take hold of my position.

Where will Aniki stand? On which side? Will we end up fighting?

Lonesome as it felt, Cyril buried his face in his hands.

"Ahhh... No more... What should I do...? What is the right thing?"

Suddenly, a hand on his shoulder made Cyril sit straight up again, while turning around trying to hide the despair he had just felt. Out from the ivies came Taricha, a most trusted friend of his, whom he had known since his early childhood. He let out a sigh of relief when seeing her face.

"... You surprised me", Cyril told her with a slight smile.

Taricha sat down next to him. They were both quiet for awhile, when finally Taricha uttered:

"... Whatever's the matter, you probably won't tell me, right?"

Cyril laughed, and added a sad smile to that.

"I'm sorry, no. Everything's fine now."

Taricha fiddled a little with her wavy, blueish, short hair while watching her friend in his thoughts. Taricha's face was scarred, but the was a beautiful woman - and a very good friend. But Cyril wouldn't even tell her what was going on.

"Now that I'm here, you mean?" she asked him with a teasing smile.

"Now now, that's overreacting a bit, don't you think?"

"What?"

They both laughed a little, and then the moment of silence returned.

"... Listen", Taricha said. "I don't know what's the right thing to do either, sometimes. But..." She smiled and put one hand on Cyril's shoulder. "I know that whatever you do, it'll be the right thing."

Cyril silently watched her. His expression didn't change, and it was impossible to figure out what he was thinking.

"... I know it!" Taricha added confidently. "And besides, whatever happens, we'll be here for you."

Cyril smiled, this time with warmth.

"Thank you..."

And just then, a thought crossed his mind in an instant.

In order to protect my loved ones... this warmth... I will do absolutely anything. Even kill a thousand men in cold blood if I so must.

END OF PROLOGUE - REMORSE AND RESOLVE

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