Waves of water roll and pound against the the shoreline of the Namibia, southern Africa.
But despite it's empty appearance, there is life within these barren landscape.
Not far from Namibia's coast in the north region, a kingdom stood in such greatness. And the kingdom's people is ruled by a great king and queen, and recently an heir to the throne arrived as they recently had a son. Happiness for the entire kingdom.
But...
1 individual wasn't.
At a section of the castle, a mouse skitters around looking for anything to eat. It then stopped momentarily and grooms itself, and crawls and nears a doorway leading to a dark room.
Caution rose in the mouse as it crawls in, and sniffs around. It then it climbs up a stool and found a bowl of seeds as if someone left it there, and the mouse soon started feeding.
Then, movement stirred in the shadows as then a match was lit and a candle lights up.
"Life's not far... is it, my little friend?" A man in his 30's stepped from the shadows with brown eyes, a scar running down his left eye, olive skin and black hair, and look dark and cold as night.
The mouse saw him, and then quickly down down to the floor and skitters off to hide.
"While some are born to feast..." He said.
The mouse hid behind a book.
"Others spend their lives in the dark, begging for scrapes." He said.
He moves the book aside as the mouse rushed off.
"The way I see it... you and I are exactly the same." He said.
The mouse climbed up onto a table and behind a jar, but the man suddenly knocks the jar aside and the mouse rushed off. But then the man slammed his hand on top of the mouse catching it as it squeaked.
"We both want to find a way out." The man said.
The mouse started to squeeze it's head through his fingers.
"The king approaches!" A man in council clothing said entering the room as the man turns to him. "This is not a drill. His Majesty has requested an audience. Upon his entrance, you will rise and genuflect."
The man then lifted his hand off the table seeing that the mouse has gotten away.
"Semmi... you've made me lose my subject." He said.
"You will answer to Malik for missing the ceremony this morning." Semmi said.
"I answer to no one." He said.
"Nyoka!" A deep royal voice said as a shadow appeared.
Nyoka then turns to the doorway. "Well, look who's come down to mingle with the commoners."
Stepping in the room was the king has he had light blue eyes, short hair, wears a royal garrison cap bearing the symbol of a lion, and 6'1 in his mid 30s.
"Sabari and I didn't see you at the presentation of Leo." He said.
Semmi joins next to him as Nyoka grabs the book off the floor.
"Was that today?" Nyoka inquired and placed the book on the shelf. "Must've slipped my mind. Of course I meant no disrespect towards His Majesty or Sabari. As you know, I have tremendous respect for the queen."
"As the king's brother, you should've been first in line." Semmi said.
"I was first in line." Nyoka coldly said as Semmi yelped stepping back. "Or don't you remember? That is, until the precious prince arrived." He then walks off to leave the room.
"Don't turn your back on me, Nyoka." Malik said.
"Oh, no, Malik, perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me." Nyoka retorted.
Malik then rushed in front of him.
"Is that a challenge?" Malik growled.
"I wouldn't dream of challenging you.. again." Nyoka said referring his scar.
"A wise decision." Semmi said. "You are no match for His Royalness."
"Well, as far as brains go, I got the lion's share." Nyoka said. "But when it comes to brute strength, I'm afraid my big brother... will always rule."
"Not always, Nyoka." Malik said. "One day, it'll be my son who rules. Leo will be your king."
"Then long live the king." Nyoka dryly said.
He then walks off.
"What am I gonna do with him?" Malik said.
"Oh, come on." Semmi said. "We both know he should've been expelled from the land long ago."
"He's my brother, Semmi." Malik said. "This is his home. As long as I am king, that will never change."
"Well, there's one in every family, sire." Semmi said. "I had a cousin who thought- Oh, you've gone." He saw Malik leaving. "Uh, sire, coming back!" He quickly followed him.
Author's Note:
In Swahili, 'nyoka' means snake.
And to those who are curious of the title, 'Secrets of the Castle'. Let's just say it's based on a certain film that came out in 2002, and it will be for it's 20th anniversary that's coming in November.
In some cases you could say the Namibia Royal family is a version from The Lion King.
And happy World Ocean Day.
