Sorry for the delay in posting this!
Here is some art I made for chapter one: .com/gallery/31330080#/d426oq5
Chapter 02
'Bird in a Cage''
{a few weeks later}
Rolan stood nervously inside the castle, facing the front door. His hands were shaky and he couldn't help but glance nervously at the clock every few moments. The anticipation was killing him.
He knew that the heroes were going to visit him today, for last time they had spoken Yunita planned a date to visit. Although it was only Yunita who had spoken of the visit, he assumed that the rest of the group was going as well. At least, that's what he told himself.
The past few weeks had only gotten progressively worse. The lavender fields no longer enchanted him, the waterfall no longer soothed him, and the breeze felt cold and lonely rather than refreshing. He was inconsolable as ever, and the only thing this place did to him was make him antsy. It was always too quiet now, and with each passing day the safety that it offered felt more like a cage than a shelter.
What was most frustrating about the whole situation was that he didn't know what he was missing. He had friends, solitude, and his old self back-yet nothing could fill the void that was growing in his heart. Each morning he woke up expecting things to be as they once were, for this place he called his home to be as fulfilling as it had once been. But at the end of each day he had to face the realization that it wasn't-nothing had changed, nothing had magically returned to it's old self, and he was still alone.
A sudden knock on the door shook him out of his thoughts. Despite being right in front of the door, he hesitated to open it. What if he was with them...
He could hear the sounds of voices, although they were muffled through the door, and it sounded like a girl. It was a light voice, most likely Aire. If the princess is here, then I am sure that the rest of the group is with her...but I suppose it could be just Yunita...
With one final swallow Rolan reached for the doorknob and pulled it open.
But it was not who he had expected.
It was Rekoteh.
But oddly enough she wasn't alone, for there was someone standing behind her...it looked like...
Rolan felt his face grow a deep shade of red when he realized who it was.
"Hello, brother!" Rekoteh smiled and pulled Rolan into a warm embrace. Rolan slowly put his arms around his sister in return, but he gaze was fixated on the boy standing behind her.
"Ha, hey Rolan!" Brandt waved briefly at him, but his greeting was cut off by Rekoteh's conversation.
"How have you been, brother? I have missed you, I wish you would come back to Invidia to live with me.." She pulled away from the hug so she could make eye contact with him. Rekoteh was a very passionate girl, and her eyes became glossy just by mentioning their separation.
"I-" Rolan began, but was cut off by Brandt.
"Oh Reko, just let him be-we just got here! Save the tears for later." Brandt walked up to stand next to Rekoteh, and smiled at Rolan.
"Besides, we should enjoy our time here-this place is awesome!"
Rekoteh sighed. "Yes, I suppose we should..."
Brandt seemed to remember something, for his eyes lit up and then he grinned.
He moved to Rolan's side and nudged him.
"Still got those monkey butlers?"
Rolan wasn't listening. He's standing so close to me...
"Uh, Rolan? You there?" Brandt looked impatient with his spacey friend.
"O-Oh, I'm sorry, what did you ask?" Rolan stammered.
Rekoteh sighed. "It was nothing brother, just ignore Brandt. He's always asking such silly questions..." By the end of her sentence she had begun walking into the building. Brandt followed after her, and they both stood in the first room.
Rolan quietly followed after and closed the door behind them.
"I-I have prepared rooms for you both, as I am sure you've had a long journey..." Rolan had his hands clasped in one another in front of his body, and nervously waited for their response. He had never really been a people person, but he was never this nervous...
"Sure, a nap sounds lovely, brother." Rekoteh smiled.
"Great, don't mind if I do! Where's the nearest bed?" Brandt exclaimed, and started walking around.
"W-well, that robot will show you to your rooms. It will also fetch you when it is time for dinner, so please, get some rest..." He hand gestured towards a red, monkey looking object.
Brandt blinked. "Well, ok!" And with that the robot led the two travelers to their separate rooms.
::...:: ::...:: ::...::
Rolan sat at the head of a long white dining table, patiently waiting for his friends to show.
After a few more minutes of sitting alone, a familiar robot entered the room, Rekoteh following closely behind.
Rolan and his sister exchanged smiles as she sat down to his left, but his happiness faded when he realized that she was alone.
"Do you know where Brandt went, sister?" he asked quietly.
Rekoteh shook her head. "No, I'm afraid not-I've been in my room this whole time." She paused a moment. "The room is very nice, by the way. Thank you for being so hospitable."
Rolan was too worried about Brandt to fully appreciate the compliment. He turned his face to look at the same robot, which was still stationed by the room's entrance.
"Why did you not fetch Brandt?" He asked it.
"THE BOY WAS NOT IN HIS ROOM MASTER." It's voice was very eerie and monotone, which gave everything it said a negative connotation.
"What?" Rolan gasped. "Do you know where he went?"
The robot took a moment to respond.
"YES MASTER. THE BOY LEFT THE CASTLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON."
"B-but he doesn't know Spelvia very well, he could get lost!"
The robot offered no words of reassurance.
Rolan stood up.
"I have to find him. Rekoteh, please stay here."
Rekoteh didn't know what to say, so she just nodded-but the concerned look on her face said enough.
Rolan rushed outside, but the moment he got out the front doors he stopped.
It was raining.
But this was very curious, for Rolan couldn't remember the last time it had rained. It was often cloudy in Spelvia, but the weather rarely got any worse than that...
With a brave exhale, Rolan dispelled those disconcerting thoughts and ran into the rain.