It was the new dawn... I could sense a dread and good of it. It was a strange mixed feeling of sorts, I just hope father was able to resolve the problem below. I get up, no Sharen to wake me today. Another strange occurance in retrospect. But who cares? It's Christmas! I get up and put on my cloth, then heading outside. I see outside a soldier gaurding the gate to the third floor. I ask why to get the vague response, "Business matters." I don't think such is true, but I chose to trust him. I head into the training room across the hall from my room, but inside was no one. A sudden tap on my shoulder sends me into shock! "Calm down, Isahia! It's me Cecil... just Cecil." I am sent into calm due to his soft words. "Sorry, Cecil. I thought you might have been-" "Black Frost?" Erk! Just the name scares me now. "Yes..." I wanted to ask the status of the situation but I didn't have it in me, but Cecil is a pretty good mind reader and he could sense my question. "Black Frost is yet to leave the sewers. They have a 20 soldier garrison down there on floor B1 keeping track of him." I feel a sudden distress at the remembrance of my new friend. "What about Mekkenial?" I feared the response as a welch in my stomach. "She is fine, due to you. That is." He puts his hand on my head and scruffs my hair. "Info please?" "Oh! Earlier this morning she returned to Itropolice with her mother and father. She said she wanted to see someone named Isah the Jouste before she left but I told her we had no such soldier." No... "I never even said goodbye." "I am sorry Isahia." "Couldn't you tell she was looking for me?!" "But she wasn't. Yes, I knew but you lied to her. I sent her off to teach you." "But! Cecil, I wanted to be friends with her as a normal person! Not a prince!" "You shouldn't be ashamed of your title. You know how many would kill for it? No buts. You will see her again, when you read your part of the speech." "What?!" "At the front yard ledge that seperates the castle from the capital, you, her majesty, and his honorableness will all be there staring at the crowd, speaking the speech for all of Itropolice. Something tells me she will be there." Crowds... equal no. "No way! I can barely handle the castle residence, let alone Councilor Sharen!" "Calm down. I know you can do it. You are no ordinary boy." "That is precisely the problem!" "Please calm down... Its a good thing to be different." I know I wont get anywhere with this. I submit, I guess. "When?" "What?" "I said when?!" "Well... in a little bit. But first, you have a meeting in the throne room with your father." "Now? Today of all days?" "Yes. I actually came to get you for it, because his majesty knows that I am a good friend of yours." "I'm legitimately surprised." "He knows more than you think. Now come on. Lets go." "Wait, I have a question. Where has everybody gone? Even Jayce!" "Jayce has the day off for veterancy and a special favor from Lord Isaiah. He is spending the day with his family." "Thats nice." "As for the others? There are patrol units near the sewer drains in Itropolice. Others are preparing for the festival. Today is the Mages book club, which takes place in the royal library. Then lastly, there is the search unit in the sewers. We had a busy night." "Don't you think I should have helped?" "No. You did as you were told and went to bed as asked. In which I thank you." "Okay... I'm ready to go." "Very well." That was the last word I heard for a while. Cecil spoke with the third floor gaurd so we had access. We went through the usual winding halls, but it was more crowded this time. Steel soldiers of every class were running about to prepare for the festival in different ways. Cecil had to ask people to move a few times. It was usually more awkward than it had to be. We eventually reached the throne room gate, ruby in color. "Go on in. Don't worry too much about it." "I wasn't until you said that." I open the door. "Wait, Isahia!" I turn my head back. "What is it, Cecil?" He goes to whisper into my ear. (You know how this third floors been? Floor B1 is like this too.) "Great..." I walk in and shut the door. The sound of the slam echoes through the large room, leaving silence as its gift. I look across the room to see father on the other side standing in front of his throne, cape over his normally visible armor, leaving him to look like a Pure Mage instead of a Paladin. The atmosphere suddenly feels a lot more tense. The room feels more like Soul Sanctuary than it did the public king visiting area. I walk down the wide corridor on the red carpet alone, until I reach the one-step. I then bow before my king. "If I may ask, your majesty. Why have you called me here." "Rise... then you will have your answers." And thusly I do so, now staring face to face, him way taller than I. "Good. I have called you here over yesterdays events, which led to our troubles. Now I ask, how did Azekial retrieve the mask?" "He was a fire adept, father. He unceiled it out of fear for his own life, for he was being cornered by a Grok." "Are you sure that is how it went?" "No... no sir. For I was not there for all of it." "Your honesty is inspiring. Not many at your age can say such things." "Thank you, my lordship." "I do not go by that title." "I am sorry, your majesty. But why?" "There is only one Lord." "I am sorry, father." "Second. Did you meet Mekkenial at a previous stage in the search?" "Yes. They went in together but were seperated by the Grok. I then later saved Mekkenial from the current of the sewer water." "Thank you for your Candor. Lastly. How did you escape Black Frost after he was undone?" "We pulled the rope and Sharen began to pull. It wouldn't have been anough if it wasn't for a mysterious entity that pulled the rope faster. Might you know what it was?" "Yes. Among the dead, sometimes they choose to stay behind in a soul dew state to continue thier endeavors. They are officially considered a monster species known as Wisps. As for that specific one. It was very likely that it was the worker that was changed into Black Frost many years ago. He was very loyal before he died, and never gave my orders a second thought. Apparently, he even remained loyal in death." "Wow... He saved me for you?" "That is most likely. Wisps never forget thier core goal. When it is complete, then they fade away in peace. But his true goal is likely for Black Frosts demise. So he may never leave these sewers." "Sad..." "Indeed." "Is that what you needed to talk to me about?" "One more thing that I wouldn't tell you unless you were involved... My brother, king James has grown aware of Black Frosts escape from one of his spys. He has gaurds at the border between Steelwater and Goldstone. That means trouble if Black Frost leaves the sewers. So be aware of your surroundings, alright?" "Yes father." "Good. Than take this." Father hands me a tattered slate with writing on it. It is subtitled in the ancients language. "Father? Is this my part of the speech?" "Indeed it is. You speak after mother, alright?" "Yes father." "Then come." "What?!" "The time draws near! We must go." He grabs my my arm and goes back to the ruby door. Now the noise of my struggle envelopes the room, until the door is opened, that is. I stop struggling and begin to walk at his pace. "Why are the halls empty now?" "Were a bit late." "Father! We were not in there that long!" "You would be surprised." We go down the usual stairs, leading to the deck known as floor two. We go down those stairs and through the main gate, breaching the outside world. I see the square plain I visit so rarely, garden rimming the castle, fountain centering the plain, beast foundations to my right, distant veiw to my left and just a little farther, and the capital will be below us, just down the two stair cases of stone that seperate the capital from this stone wall that places our castle above the city. At the bottom of the stairs, which I now see from the stone fencing of the large wall, have Steel gaurds keeping the large crowd of the main square at peace. If I look forward, I see the wall that is the same hight as this one just a few miles away, and beyond that is a large plain that leads to a hillside, and on that hillside is a line of trees. And beyond the trees I only see Sol rising in the morning dawn, leaving the sky in an orange canvas. It was truly good weather for this day, for the snow is gone. I couldn't tell if it was an omen or a new hope. The croud below rumbles as my father lifts his other hand, which holds his slate. He finally releases my arm, beginning to speak to the Pepal below... "Hello, good men! Rejoice in silence as I speak if you will! Thank you... On this day be Christmas Pepal! Rejoice in praise... I have been told to remain silent about the reason of todays events and to remain silent of such speakers name! So I lay still without known perpose! But ye may rest easy, my equals! For there is perpose for this day! Just trust in me as you trust my kingdom every day! I plead this to you to halt your thirsts for curiosity! But now I let my queen speak in place of me!" He hands the slate to mother on the right. I look nervously at the crowd, loathing my turn to come, looking for Mekkenial. "Hello, Pepal of Steelwater! I hope you know to-todays events were heavily p-planned for you! Our events today con-consist of the parade, a play write made new at Org Theator! The carnival has a special today where the entrance fee is only a copper pound! And lastly, we have a snowfall tourney in the arena! It will be sword due-duels! Free to watch today! And... ummm... Have a happy holiday!" Mother clumsily gives the slate back to father, crowd roaring in a surprising gesture to my mothers nerves. Which is what probably gave me the courage to speak when father gave me the slate... I hate crowds. "Hello Pepal..." "Speak up, son." Father said to me, not showing the emotion he used for the crowd. I took a hidden deep breath and begin to speak. "Hello Pepal! How has your day been so far?!" "Aaaaah!!!" Oh my... they actually responded. I dont think I can take this much longer. "Well, thats g-great to hear! I w-wou-would like to pr-praise..." My mind goes blank as I see a familiar set of eyes staring back at me the same way. I begin to feel woozy and collapse, leaving my father to finish the speech... Sorry!