Spring 12
My vision looked a little blurry as I blinked, regaining my focus, and looking around at my surroundings; I was in a long and fancy, but slightly gloomy looking corridor with very nice paintings! I walked up to one of the paintings of an industrialized looking castle. Where was I?
"Ah! There you are, Leonel!" I jumped slightly at the sound of a womanly voice. It was soft, and melodic; unfamiliar but at the same time familiar. I turned towards the voice to see the beautiful woman with whom I looked very similar to.
"G-grandma?" I asked as she giggled.
"Who else would it be?" she asked, turning around as if she were going to lead me, "Come now, my darling grandson! We mustn't be late!"
"Uh, late for what?" I asked as my great-grandmother looked at me with a shocked expression.
"Why, your father's coronation, of course!" I furrowed my brows.
"Uh, d-dad's coronation?" I asked in confusion as she giggled.
"Yes! That's today!" She exclaimed very gently as she walked towards me, placing her hand on my shoulder as she began to lead me down the corridor.
"Someday, your offspring will have their own coronation." She looked down in sadness, "However, I will not be there for their coronation. In fact, I will not be there for my grandson, your father's coronation."
"Uh, b-but you're here now, right?" I asked as she looked up at me with a gentle smile.
"I suppose so." She stopped me in front of a door, grabbing my face and kissing my forehead.
"The future lies here. Open the door." I inhaled deeply, pushing the door open.
The scenery beyond the balcony I was standing in was a bustling, technological looking city with confetti. I looked towards my dad with a crown on his head. He was making a speech.
"As your new king; I will follow my wife and late son's example!" Late son? I groaned.
"Dad!" I exclaimed annoyedly, "Sorry I'm late! I'm right here, now!" However he kept on going.
"Leonel would have made a wonderful king! If not for his death." Death? I reached for my father.
"D-Death? Dad? Wh-what are you talking about I'm right he-!" However, before I could finish my sentence, my hand went through my dad's shoulder.
"Why did you leave us, Leonel?" Dad asked with tears streaking down his face. I felt terrified, I looked at my hand and noticed I was transparent. Wh-when did I pass? The castle then crumbled as my parents and the city went up and I fell down into darkness.
"Daaaaaad!" I yelled, my voice echoed as I gasped for air, shooting up from my bed. I started to pant, looking at my surroundings. I was back in my room! I sighed in relief; it was just a horrible dream.
My head flopped back on my pillow before I gazed over at my clock. It was getting close to time for me to get up. I knew I had dad's class this afternoon, and as always I felt obligated to help him out, at least I'd be able to go back home for a few hours until it was time for his class. I looked over at grandma's chest that was sitting on my desk. I've been wanting to take it to Tanya to see if she knew what kind of metal it was made from. It was probably just some cheap metal! However, it seemed pretty durable, considering there wasn't any type of dent on the box. It made me wonder!
I stuffed the chest inside of my tote, surrounding it with fleece so it wouldn't make too much noise. I then quickly got ready to take on the day!
The noon clock chimed as dad began to scribble notes on the board.
"Today we'll be learning about defenses in attacking, and when I say we that means you, Leonel." I blushed slightly and groaned as I overheard Orland sniffing slightly in a mocking way. So much for being my friend and caring. I just really wish I could make my dad proud of me in some way! I don't care about the cost!
3 PM came by so quickly as dad announced that class was dismissed! I finished the last bit of my notes before packing my notebook. I looked over at Clara who seemed to be in deep thought as I gave her shoulder a shake. She looked up at me and smiled.
"Hi, Leonel!" she exclaimed, I became slightly nervous, however I wanted to ask her to the flower festival tomorrow and I wanted to make sure that she was okay!
"You okay, Clara?" I asked, as she sighed, looking down.
"I'm not sure. Several things have been running through my head, it's like...time's going by way too fast now." I smiled, it seemed like she was going through the same thing I was going through…being a teenager really was troublesome!
"Well...I hope you'll be fine by tomorrow, because I was going to ask you to the flower festival!" I exclaimed. Hopefully I'll be able to tell her how I feel by then!
"Aw, Leo! You know I'll always accept your invites! You're much more fun to talk to than Orland and Roy." She said as I blushed. Did that mean that she likes me?
"Aw, you're just saying that!" I exclaimed, I felt my face heat up as I heard Clara giggle.
"I mean it!" She exclaimed before standing up from her desk.
"I'll see you later!" she exclaimed, running out of the academy. I smiled, rushing merrily out of the classroom and out the school building! I made my way to the west end, turning left to head home. I stopped before I could take the next step. The chest! I almost forgot that I wanted to ask Tanya about the chest! I turned around, quickly heading towards the blacksmith.
I pushed the door of the blacksmith open as the little bell jingled. Jake looked up from his forging, acknowledging me by nodding his head.
"Hello, young human man. I hope you and Orland are getting along well?"
"Yeah, we're, we're getting along. Uh, hey, Jake? I-is Tanya here?" I asked as Jake crossed his arms.
"Hm, yes, she is. Ah, however…" he turned around as I heard Tanya and a man whose voice I didn't recognize yelling profanities at each other behind a closed door.
"She's a bit busy with her ex-husband. But, maybe I can help you?" Jake asked as I shrugged.
"I have this family heirloom…" I began, taking the locked chest out of my tote bag. "I was just curious if you knew what kind of metal it was made from?" Jake took the chest from my hands as his eyes widened.
"Oh. My. God!" Jake exclaimed in shock. "No, no. This can't be right!"
"What?" I asked as Jake looked at me with wide eyes.
"Where…did you say you got this again?" Jake asked as I blinked in confusion.
"It belonged to my great-grandmother." I said as I saw Jake trembling.
"C-can you uh, wait for a moment? I-I don't know for sure b-but Tanya-might-know. TANYA!" I noticed Jake's voice was very shaky and fast as if he was nervous! What the hell was that chest made from?
The door to the room swung open as an angry looking man who looked similar to Roy stepped out, Tanya was following him, yelling at him.
"And don't you dare show your assface here again!" Tanya exclaimed, slamming the shop door on the man. She turned her attention towards us, and noticed the nervous look in Jake's eyes.
"Uh, sorry you had to see that, Jake? Oh! And Leonel! I really am sorry you had to see that, Leonel! But Jake? You know I have beef with my ex-husband! Why were you looking at our fighting with such nervousness?"
"I-I wasn't nervous about your fighting…" He handed Tanya the chest, "I was nervous about this."
Tanya's eyes widened as she gasped in delight.
"Oh. My. God!"
"What? Oh my God, what?!" I asked, what was my grandma's chest made from?!
"Jake, where did you get this?!" Tanya asked in awe as her eyes sparkled.
"It's actually Leonel's." Jake said as Tanya grabbed one of my hands, her other hand gripped the bottom of the chest as she gave me a pleading look with her eyes.
"Oh my God! Leonel, can I have this?! This would make an amazing sword! Why, I would be able to cut Derek into two!"
"What? No! You can't have that!" I exclaimed, my voice slightly cracking as I cleared my throat, trying to hide the fact my voice did that.
"I just wanted to know what kind of metal it is! What is it made of that's got you two acting like lunatics?!"
"Rhodium!" Tanya exclaimed, "This amazing, precious metal is made of rhodium!" She began to pet the box as if it were a pedigree pet.
"S-so, what does that even mean?" I asked as Jake sighed, snatching the box from Tanya, giving it back to me; causing Tanya's face to stream with tears.
"Rhodium is a very precious metal. No one, not even the de Sainte-Coquilles can afford it. The only people who can afford it are…" Jake looked around nervously before he whispered something in my ear that sent shivers down my spine.
"Royalty."