The sun had not yet risen, and fog blanketed the training grounds of Acadia. The sound of wood striking wood was the only thing breaking the silence. Ortynos attacked with ferocity, his wooden sword repeatedly crashing against the calm defenses of his mentor, Romilius.
Romilius suddenly halted, blocking one of Ortynos's strikes with a force that sent the young man stumbling two steps backward.
"Stop. You fight as if you're trying to break a wall, not duel an opponent," Romilius said, wiping sweat from his brow.
Ortynos replied, panting, "I want to be ready, my teacher. Strength is what protects kingdoms."
Romilius set his sword aside and sat on a wooden bench, motioning for Ortynos to do the same. "Strength is only part of the story. Look at the stars we observed last night. Do they move randomly? Every planet follows a precise path. Astronomy teaches us order, and philosophy teaches you why we follow that order. If you understand how the universe is governed, you'll understand how human minds are governed."
Ortynos grabbed a cloth and began cleaning his sword. "I understand that, but four years here in Acadia have made me feel disconnected from reality. I have only one year left, and I still feel like I know nothing about actual rule."
Romilius smiled. "Four years of study are not wasted time. Haste is what kills ambition. Remember that joke about the philosopher who was watching the heavens and fell into a hole? He knew everything about the sky, but didn't know where to place his feet."
Ortynos laughed. "You mean Paros? He fell into a well just last week because he was chasing a shooting star with his eyes closed."
In the Alleys of Acadia
The two began walking through the city streets as life slowly awakened. Shopkeepers opened their stalls, and greetings were called out to them.
"Good morning, Prince Ortynos! Did you defeat the master today?" shouted a local baker.
Ortynos laughed in reply. "He still has a few tricks left, but I'm getting close!"
When they reached the harbor district, they found old Nikos sitting in an odd position, gripping his fishing rod as if it were a treasure. He was trying to catch the rare Pilon fish, a swift creature that only appeared at this time of year.
"Don't come any closer," Nikos whispered sharply. "This fish is smarter than half the merchants in this city."
Suddenly, Darius—Nikos's son—burst onto the scene, running clumsily and nearly falling into the water. Behind him was his massive friend Pikos, holding a bag of pastries and devouring them greedily.
Darius: "Father! Mother says if you don't come back with a fish today, you'll be eating dry bread only!"
Pikos (mouth full): "Ortynos, have you tried these cheese pastries? They're the greatest invention in Acadia."
Nikos (grumbling): "Look what you've done… the fish got away! Darius, you and your stupidity will be the cause of my starvation one day."
Darius: "Father, fish are for the weak. Pikos is planning to open a meat restaurant, right?"
Pikos: "I'm only planning on eating. Opening and working—those are complicated matters."
Ortynos laughed at their familiar quarrel. He felt safe among these people, as if the world would remain peaceful forever.
Ortynos and Romilius moved on to the grand market to buy some supplies. Voices rose in bargaining and laughter—until all of it was cut short by a heavy metallic sound.
Dong… Dong… Dong!
Everyone froze. A suffocating silence fell over the market. In Acadia, the third strike meant the death of a king or the outbreak of war. The crowd surged toward the main platform in the city square. A man wearing a black sash climbed up, visibly trembling.
"People of Acadia… listen to me. The news has just arrived by carrier pigeon from the capital." He paused to catch his breath, then cried out, "King Selius has been assassinated in his bedchamber!"
The items fell from Ortynos's hands. A cold swept through his body. He saw people staring at him—some began to weep, others covered their faces in shock.
"Liar…" Ortynos whispered, then shouted, "You're lying!"
He lunged like lightning toward the platform, shoving past the guards in their surprise, grabbed the man by his clothes, and shook him violently. "Who sent you? My father is too strong for anyone to kill! Say you're joking, or I'll cut out your tongue!"
The man tried to speak through his fear. "My prince… I'm only delivering the message…"
Ortynos punched him hard, knocking him to the ground, and raised his fist to strike again, screaming hysterically, "Impossible! He's waiting for my return! I had only one year left!"
Romilius rushed in and grabbed Ortynos from behind with all his strength. "Ortynos! Stop! This is not the way!"
"Let me go, Romilius! He's lying—everyone is lying!"
Ortynos tore himself free with a strength Romilius had never seen in him before. Instead of fighting, he ran. He ran through the crowd, past people trying to console him, ran away from the square, away from Acadia—blind with shock and tears flooding his eyes.