*Hi, this my first fan-fiction, I don't read a lot of it and I'm not good at writing, so feel free to tell me what you think about the story and any grammatical mistakes. I don't really contribute to fandoms, so I thought why not.
This is meant to be about Arslan's childhood and it's kind of vague in the anime/manga/books. I'm not sure whether he thought his caretaker was his parents, because he didn't know he was a prince , so I'm going to assume he lived his childhood thinking that his caretakers were his real parents.
I haven't really planned out the story and it's not finished, so I guess there would be sequel chapters when I have time.
And um I don't own the Heroic Legend of Arslan.
Happy reading and stay safe.*
"Did you hear? The King has nearly returned from yet another successful campaign! His Majesty is about to return to the capital!" Arslan heard a woman whisper excitedly to another.
Arslan was on his way back home from school, he stopped walking and paused to listen.
"Was the King really back? It would be so exciting to witness his return. Everyone will be talking about it in school," Arslan thought eagerly to himself.
Without thinking Arslan looked up to the woman and asked, "Is it true that his Majesty has returned?"
Arslan was relieved when the woman didn't shoo him away and instead smiled and replied, "I was near the gates of Ecbatanna just now and there were soldiers coming back from patrol saying that the King will be returning shortly!"
Arslan uttered a grateful thanks and he immediately dashed towards the direction of the walls of Ecbatanna.
By the time he reached near it, there was already a large crowd of people excitedly waiting for the return of the King.
The enormous crowd worried him. He was without his parents who allowed him to roam the streets Ecbatanna as long he didn't venture too far. As a boy of almost ten years of age, he was quite small for his age and was afraid of being swallowed up the horde of people.
He looked around for a solution when he glimpsed the rooftops. But they were too hopelessly tall for him to dare climb.
He then noticed a stair path that lead to higher ground which were sandwiched between two buildings. From the middle section of the stairs, there's a perfect intercept from where he could leap up to the windows of one of the buildings, then he could pull himself up into the ledge and successfully get himself up the rooftops.
It was definitely risky, Arslan was doubtful whether his small build could handle the physical exertion of this plan.
Arslan took a deep breath, if he did it quickly then it would go by more easily.
He treaded up the steps of the staircase and when he got to the center of the staircase, he ran a few paces across it and leaped onto the window ledge.
He felt his toes land on something solid, did he make it? Yes, he did!
However, the ledge was threatening to push him off as the soles of his boots desperately clung on tip-toed. He shakily grasped the ledge of the rooftop, he felt bits of plaster crumbling as his quivering fingers dug in.
He struggled to push himself up before his left arm gave in and slipped.
Hanging precariously on one arm, he panicked as he flailed his left arm, desperately trying to regain grip of the ledge.
Suddenly, a hand reached out from above and clutched Arslan's left hand. A second hand reached out and tugged his arm and with both hands hoisted him up to the rooftop.
Arslan was out of breath and shaky, he looked upon the face of the person who's hands saved him.
It was a boy around the same age as him, but was much bigger, he had black hair that was so messy that it was practically spiky, he had equally dark eyes that seem to be bursting with energy.
The boy examined Arslan carefully before a flicker of recognition flashed.
"Oh hey, you're Arslan, you're in the same class as me!" the boy exclaimed.
Arslan managed regained his composure and looked up. He tried to search through his memory for this boy who was allegedly in his class who saved him from the rooftop ledge. Arslan then remembered, he was boy named Darius who often sat at the back of the class and played with the older boys. Arslan strayed from the older boys who teased him for his effeminate looks, so he he never got to get near enough to talk to Darius.
"Are you Darius?" Arslan asked in a shaky voice.
"I am Darius." Darius confirmed.
There was a silence before Arslan said solemnly," Thank you Darius, I would have broken my leg if it wasn't for you."
"No problem, I live downstairs. I heard someone climb up and went up to check. And I just so happen to see you dangling from the ledge. I'm glad you're not hurt," Darius answered. "Why did you come up here anyways?"
In the confusion, Arslan has forgotten why he even attempted to get up to the rooftops. He suddenly remembered," Oh, apparently his Majesty is returning and I wanted to watch from the rooftops."
Darius looked enthusiastic, "His Majesty is returning today! Wow! I'm going to watch!"
Arslan anxiously asked," So may I stay here?"
Darius without hesitation replied," Of course! The more the merrier!"
Arslan looked relieved and scooched over to the ledge facing the crowd and dangled his legs across of it. Darius followed suit.
Darius turned and asked," So what do you want to do when you're older? Do you want to serve the King?"
Arslan didn't answer right away. He thought hard, he never thought about it much, turning into an adult seemed so far away. His parents didn't have a particular reputation that he has to uphold, and they could support him through school, so he had a wide career range. He wasn't sure if he should sign up for military service, since he was still rather small in size and not very strong. He didn't think of himself suitable to be brave and protect the country. He did like animals. The stray cats and dogs that roam the area liked his company and occasionally they'd jump into his arms. Maybe he can do something about that.
Darius sensed his hesitation and started," When I'm older I want to be a wood carver." He reached into the inside of his maroon tunic and pulled out a small wooden figure. A wooden elephant the size of an apple sat on his palm with its surface full of immaculate wooden carvings.
Arslan examined the wooden elephant in admiration, not taking his eyes of the beautiful, swirling patterns of the wooden elephant, asked in awe," Darius, did you make this?"
"Yep, I made the elephant and did all the carvings on my own!" Darius grinned delightedly.
Arslan finally broke out of a trance of following the endless pattern and looked into Darius's gleeful expression. "You're so talented, you probably can be a wood carver!"
Darius reddened and stroked the carvings with his other hand. He beamed," Thanks, I'm glad you liked it."
Darius placed the wooden elephant onto the floor of the rooftop. His expression darkened and sighed," But I'm not sure if I'd ever be one. My parents own the grocery downstairs, I'd most likely be working there," He looked sadly into Arslan's dark blue eyes, "And Caspar the wood carver's son is loads better than me. He's been giving me advice, but I don't seem to improve."
Darius was sure of it, he wasn't being modest. He has been practicing daily, but his pathetic carvings looked unfinished and rough. Caspar, the wood carver's son was only three years older, but he can carve more beautifully than he could ever dream of.
Arslan did not like the sight of his new-found companion so… hopeless. He positioned his right hand onto Darius's drooping shoulder and gripped hard.
In a serious, determined tone, he said," Don't give up on your dream. Otherwise, what else is there to live for? I think you're truly talented, keep on working hard and improving. You could get an apprenticeship. I have confidence that you'll become the best wood carver ever and I'll help you along the way."
Darius blinked hard and then chuckled," Alright, I'll continue trying, I won't give up on my dream." He draped his arm around Arslan's shoulders," Thanks, I feel better. You're a good friend."
Arslan was pleased to hear to have another friend and that he was going to pursue his dream because of this help. He felt warm and happy inside.
Darius then asked," Wait, you never told me what you wanted to be when you're older."
Arslan let out a long "hmmmmmm", he still wasn't sure. He finally admitted, "I don't know."
Darius replied cheerfully," I'll help you think then, what do you like?"
"Um, I suppose I like animals, I like reading, I like travelling…" Arslan mumbled, "I'm not really good at a lot of things."
"Maybe you could be a traveling merchant or be with those travelling circuses if you're so good with animals," Darius suggested.
"Maybe…" Arslan whispered wistfully.
"You know Arslan, you're the nicest boy I met so far, so maybe you could help people and the country," Darius proposed.
"Help the country, as a soldier?" Arslan replied doubtfully. Arslan always knew he was a polite and considerate person which people said was his best trait. He still didn't think he was cut out to be a soldier.
"Sure, but you could be a leader…." Darius struggled to think of more examples.
"Could I really be a leader? I'm so soft-spoken, no one would pay attention to someone like me," Arslan stammered.
"You just need to build up some confidence and people would put their faith in you. And you're very respectful which is an important quality of being a leader," Darius assured.
Arslan wasn't sure, he often had to muster up all his courage just to raise his and in class and people often looked down his small size.
"Perhaps, but it'd be a bit hard to get people to take me seriously, I mean I'm smaller than most people." Arslan replied, feeling deflated.
"Size doesn't matter, it's what you do that matters. Your actions determine who you are," Darius stated firmly. "Besides, I'm bigger than you and I'm certainly taking you seriously."
Arslan felt much better with Darius's assurances when confronting his own insecurities. He didn't say anything and glanced up at Darius's stern expression and nodded determinedly.
They played around Darius's wooden elephant and chatting idly as friends when suddenly a fan fare blurted out.
They snapped to attention as the city gates slowly opened to reveal the Parsian Army back from battle. King Andragoras was at the front, decked with golden armor, sitting resolutely on his equally styled stallion. Calvary and Infantry and Prisoners of War trickled in, looking exhausted.
Captivated by the celebration that ensued with the return of the king, Arslan glanced at Darius and asked puzzled," Why must we have Prisoners of War when we can send them back from where they belong?"
Darius thought for a while," I think it's because they are sent here to be re-educated for trying to harm us. They are converted into slaves as a message for enemy to leave us alone as we're better."
Arslan frowned," But they don't live here and they'd much rather go back to their own country, can't we allow them. We're all human after all, they should at least have that freedom"
Darius shrugged and replied," I suppose that's true, but slavery shows how prosperous our country is and we don't want our enemies trying to invade us."
Arslan sighed," That makes sense, but isn't it wrong to control others against their will?"
"You do have a point," Darius agreed. He turned and chuckled," Maybe when you become a leader, you could do something about it."
"Maybe I can…" Arslan replied wistfully, his mind a million miles away. Maybe he could when he was older.
And since that day Arslan and Darius became best friends.