There I was, surrounded by countless enemies alongside my friends, facing hordes of unimaginable size. Well, I don't want to give too much away—no spoilers, you know… What's my name? I am…
"Paltio! Paltio! Young Master Paltio, wake up! This is no time to be sleeping; you're in school!" said a deep, irritated voice that jolted him abruptly from his dream.
"Huh?" murmured Paltio as he rubbed his eyes and let out a loud yawn. "Sorry, Dad, just five more minutes…"
The classroom erupted in uncomfortable laughter.
"I'm not your father," the teacher retorted sternly. "I'm your instructor, and if you don't want to be here, the door is right there. Besides, I'll speak with your parents, the royals."
Paltio snapped back to reality, straightening up in his seat. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Hex! It won't happen again, I promise," he said, looking at the professor with an embarrassed expression.
The insults came quickly. "You're such an idiot!" some students shouted between snickers.
"Silence, everyone!" the teacher barked, raising his voice as the noise grew uncontrollable.
The bell rang just then, signaling the end of class. The students began filing out in a hurry, but Paltio remained seated, held back by Mr. Hex.
Mr. Hex was a man in his fifties, always impeccably dressed in elegant suits and sober ties. However, his most striking feature was the brown avocado seed embedded in his navel. His skin had a light green hue with yellow veins and scattered black spots. From the nape of his neck upward, his skin hardened and darkened, taking on the rough, dark texture of an avocado peel.
"Boy, what am I going to do with you? If you're not interested in learning about the history of our realm, that's your choice, but someday this knowledge will be useful to you," the teacher said with a resigned sigh.
"I know, and I'm really sorry, sir. But I'm sure they're waiting for me outside," Paltio replied nervously, trying to escape the lecture.
"At your age—thirteen, smack in the middle of adolescence—I understand that everything can feel overwhelming, but you need to focus on what's important," Mr. Hex continued, locking eyes with Paltio. "Soon, you'll have to become king of this realm and rule over the other five. If you're not prepared, how do you think you'll manage it?"
Paltio lowered his gaze, feeling the weight of the professor's words. "I understand, truly. Please, give me another chance."
Mr. Hex crossed his arms and studied him for a moment before responding. "Very well, but you'll need to write an essay for tomorrow on our source of power and the monarchy. You can ask your parents if you need help."
"Well…" Paltio hesitated, "they hardly ever pay attention to me. They're always busy with matters of protecting the realm."
"No excuses. I want that essay on my desk tomorrow, or you'll fail," the professor declared firmly.
"Yes, sir," Paltio replied, swallowing hard.
Paltio left the classroom with his head bowed, the weight of Mr. Hex's assignment is pressing heavily on his shoulders. He was a young man with golden skin that gleamed as if kissed by the sun itself. His tousled blond hair fell messily over his forehead, and his green eyes reflected a blend of innocence and dreamy enthusiasm. He wore the school's standard uniform: green shorts, a jacket adorned with golden trim, and an impeccable white shirt. In the center of the shirt, where his navel should have been, there was a unique, brilliant golden seed. His back was as hard as an avocado peel, but instead of being green or dark, it had a radiant golden hue that shimmered under the light.
"Paltio! Did you fall asleep in class again?" asked Alita, a girl with olive-toned skin, short pink hair, and red glasses that barely revealed her large brown eyes. She also wore the school uniform, though with a skirt instead of shorts, and on her abdomen was a brown seed identical to those of most inhabitants of the realm. Alita was known for her dedication to her studies; she always carried books under her arm and took meticulous notes.
"I know, Alita… It's just that I got so lost in a dream—it felt so real, like I was living it," Paltio responded, scratching the back of his neck shyly.
"Our Paltio, always so distracted and dreamy!" exclaimed Ron, a taller boy with spiky green hair and hazel eyes. He shared the same olive complexion as Alita and also had a brown seed embedded in his abdomen. With a mischievous grin, Ron ruffled Paltio's hair, adding, "And you're supposed to be the next king! You really need to step it up, buddy."
"Hey, stop it, Ron! You're messing up my hair," Paltio protested, brushing his friend's hand away with feigned annoyance.
Ron was known for projecting an image of confidence and strength, though everyone knew it didn't always align with reality. Once, he'd been so frightened by a spider that he'd jumped onto a table, screaming as if the world were ending. Still, he always managed to justify his moments of weakness with clever jokes. Despite their differences, the three friends had been inseparable since Paltio could remember, always watching each other's backs no matter what.
"So, what did the professor assign you, buddy?" Ron asked, crossing his arms and looking at Paltio curiously.
"An essay about the history of my family and their achievements… or at least, that's what I think I heard," Paltio replied with a shrug.
Alita shook her head in exasperation. "Seriously, you can't even pay attention to that? You're impossible, Paltio."
"Man, you're something else," Ron added with a laugh.
The three friends headed toward the school exit. The school building was immense, designed to accommodate all the children of Avocadolia, including the royal family. It had been a decree by Paltio's great-great-grandfather, Maggus the First, who firmly believed that education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their status. The school was located in the heart of the city and boasted all the necessary facilities: spacious classrooms, sports fields, swimming pools, and modern laboratories. The main entrance was so large that a truck could easily fit through it without any trouble.
As they stepped outside, the friends were greeted by a majestic carriage drawn by six gleaming white horses. Also, it stood a man dressed elegantly, waiting patiently. He wore an impeccable black suit, a crisp white shirt, and carried a monocle tucked into the chest pocket of his jacket. His hair, half black and half white, was tied back in a small ponytail at the nape of his neck. His dark eyes observed everything with quiet attentiveness, and he maintained a formal posture. He appeared to be about forty years old.
"Young Master Paltio, it's time to return to the palace," the man announced in a calm and professional tone.
"Mok! Hello, always so punctual," Paltio greeted him with a smile as he approached the carriage.
"That's correct, Young Master Paltio, though you did take your time," the butler replied, pulling out a pocket watch and glancing at it with a serious expression.
"It's because he had a little trouble in class," Ron interjected with a mischievous grin, earning a death glare from Paltio.
"Ron, don't be such a gossip! No one asked you," Paltio snapped, clenching his fists as if he wanted to strangle his friend for sticking his nose where it didn't belong.
Ignoring the interruption, the butler addressed Paltio respectfully: "If there was any issue, sir, I'll gladly speak with your teacher to ensure they show you proper respect."
"No, nothing like that!" Alita quickly cut in, shooting a stern look at Ron. "They just assigned him an essay due tomorrow."
Mok nodded in understanding. "I see. Then, young master, please board the carriage. We must hurry to lunch; your parents are waiting for you."
"Really, Mok? Then let's go!" Paltio responded, climbing into the carriage without hesitation.
"Hey, aren't you going to take us home?" Ron asked innocently.
Alita shot him a sharp look and elbowed him in the stomach. Leaning closer, she whispered through gritted teeth, "Leave him alone. He hardly ever sees his parents. He needs to leave quickly."
"Fine, alright… We'll walk," Ron muttered, shrugging.
"You heard him. See you later, guys! Hurry up, Mok!" Paltio called out from inside the carriage.
The butler nodded and signaled to the coachman: "At full speed, immediately!"
The horses whinnied and surged forward at a rapid pace, leaving Ron and Alita behind in a cloud of dust.
"Well, that fool didn't even say goodbye!" Ron exclaimed, rubbing his stomach where Alita had elbowed him. "It's not a big deal, but he's so absent-minded."
"Drop it already, you know how he is," Alita replied with a sigh. "Come on, what are you waiting for? Let's go."
"Walking… I hate walking," Ron grumbled, dragging his feet as they began to make their way home.
Inside the carriage, Mok spoke with Paltio as they made their way toward the palace. "Your parents organized this lunch especially for you, young master. They've set aside time from their duties to be with you, just like before."
"I hope so, Mok… But it wouldn't be the first time I've been lied to," Paltio replied, his voice tinged with distrust.
Upon arriving at the palace—a majestic structure visible even from afar—Paltio couldn't help but feel awestruck. The building boasted four towering spires, an entrance guarded by sentries behind golden gates, a central fountain, and a large golden statue dedicated to Avocios, the founder of the realm. The servants awaited anxiously to greet him and escorted him to his room so he could change. They handed him an elegant green silk suit, fit for royalty, and invited him to descend to the dining hall.
The young prince obeyed, descending the stairs and entering the grand hall where an extravagant banquet lay spread across a long, elegant table. However, time passed slowly, and neither of his parents appeared.
"Young master, aren't you going to eat?" Mok asked, noticing that Paltio hadn't touched a single bite.
"Mok, you told me they were coming… And here I am, waiting. It's been such a long time. You lied to me, just like they always do," Paltio responded, bitterness lacing his words. "But honestly, I already knew they'd be busy with matters of the realm."
Without another word, the young prince rose from the table and retreated to his room, closing the door firmly behind him.
Meanwhile, in a chamber illuminated by candelabras, the king and queen sat in council with their advisors. They were observing a viewer that displayed images of the other realms, all shrouded in dark shadows.
"What's going on?" asked the king, a robust, golden-skinned man like Paltio, dressed in a royal blue suit.
"Why are the five realms engulfed in darkness?" added the queen, a radiant golden woman in a regal red gown that accentuated her noble bearing.
General Rex, a burly, grizzled man with an eyepatch over his right eye—a relic of an ancient battle—responded gravely: "My lieges, there is a grave issue. Darkness has taken hold of the other realms for quite some time now. We've tried to reach out to them, but we've received no response. Now, it seems they've grown stronger… and they're heading this way."
Suddenly, the lights in the chamber flickered and went out, plunging the entire space into darkness. Not only the chamber, but the entire realm was enveloped in shadow.
"I believe they're already here, my lord," General Rex said solemnly.
"What do you mean, general?" the king asked, rising to his feet in alarm.
"Our greatest fear has come true… The shadows have reached Avocadolia."