This can't be, Peter thought to himself. It had been far too easy, he had only been gone a short while, also, where was he?

At first when he left the palace, he was wandering around aimlessly. Balfour, his horse, was leading the way, south from the palace, past the Elven Wall. Not many men had passed the wall willingly. Peter didn't have a choice. He had just turned eighteen. He had to go, it was part of his father's plan, his destiny.

Peter looked up at this luminous creature high up the ancient tower. His father would finally stop calling him useless, he thought to himself. Peter just wanted to make sure his inheritance stayed intact, his father was a little angry with him when he decided to throw a masquerade ball with a string quartet last week. There was glitter everywhere. It was his eighteenth birthday, it was ridiculous he felt he had to defend himself for throwing it.

So, he started his quest two days earlier than planned, to get away from his father's wrath but also a few girls hadn't left the palace gates for days after the ball. One of them was sobbing when he and Balfour started out. Peter couldn't seem to remember any of their names, but he remembered dancing with them, maybe he kissed one of them. He also might've told one of the girls he loved them. Clearly that was the wine talking at that point but who really knew, Peter had a habit of telling people what they wanted to hear.

Balfour had led them to a stream after passing the wall. After a while, Peter had been lost in thought, it was quite nice actually. He thought about what he could do now that he was expected to be on his quest for two weeks in the Southern Woods. His father didn't even say goodbye, Peter never took it personal with his father though. There was a lot they didn't talk about.

It happened slowly, even in his daze he noticed after a while the sunshine trickled through the forest differently from before, as if the sun was pointing out a specific path for them. He and Balfour followed the sunlit path, until he heard the voice.

It was high pitched but not in an uncomfortable way, it was clear but deep as well. He had never heard a voice so lovely. It was as if he wasn't even thinking as he and Balfour wandered toward it.

Then he found the castle.

But was she it? Was she was the last light bearer? He never believed his father before but it was part of his family's burden to be able to detect them. Haverville was a pseudonym, he and his father were the last of the Veril. It was their duty to fight in secret against the dark forces on earth, the many creatures that roam in shadow. Peter had no problem believing in the soul ravaging bundles of hate constantly gnawing on humanity. Not at all, it was opposite. Peter had a hard time believing there was any good.

"Rapunzel, huh? That is unique." Peter laughed nervously.

She had a faint glow around her, it resonated honey yellow and sparkled at the edges. She was a light bearer. She was the key. He knew it.

"What are you doing up there, Rapunzel?" Keep her talking, he thought. How was he going to get her to come down? And then bring her back to Akrenon?

"What do you mean?" She asked so innocently, for a second he felt she was being mischievous, playing games, but he knew

"Well, are you all alone? Where is your family? What are you doing all the way out here?" He already knew her family was dead, he just had to think quickly.

"They will be back soon. They just went out to get milk." Interesting, Peter thought, she was lying.

"Right, getting milk, that makes sense." Peter looked at his feet. "Do you want to go for a walk?" He almost wanted to kick the ground for how stupid he sounded. He never thought past the part of finding her. First of all he never thought he would actually find her! No one else ever could. He had no idea how to get her to come down and go to Akrenon with him.

"No, I should go, my mother wanted me to do some chores... Maybe another time. Thanks." She was about to turn away.

"Hey! No that's ok! We don't have to go for a walk!" Peter never felt more awkward. Why couldn't he just talk to her? She was just a girl, he talked to them all the time.