The West side of Sphiel, City of Golden river

West side of Sphiel, also known as City of Golden River. Unlike the East side, this part was not... very pretty. The earth was golden, but dirty. The people were wearing the same clothes for days (probably), and many others that weren't so lucky. I heard there were many thieves here in the west. But I think it's reasonable looking from their sad economic state.

"It was such a depressing view," my brother Damon once told me when I asked about the West-side.

Why would we begin our search in this devastating city?
That's because brother Albatross earlier said, "according to my knights repot, the one and only theater performing epic tragedy story such as 'The Curse of Velofea' is Lady Ahti's Theater at the West Side"

The West Sphiel

Under the influence of the white moon, the city appeared golden bright. People were working so early in the morning, searching for gold sands in the bottom of the river...

"Brother" I opened my black hat's veil a bit and turned my head to him. He suddenly panicked.

*What are you doing? Everybody going to spot on us!* He whispered quite loud.

"I just want to ask a question." I gave him a sign to get closer to me. I whispered to his ears. *Why are the citizen still poor? Aren't they supposed to be rich with all the golden sands they had?*

"Well... As you can see the sands must be submitted first to the council of Aurux. Then the council uses the gold to import needs of life such as foods and other stuff from different country including east side of Sphiel, almost 50% of them. The other 50% divided into two, 30% are for the workers both for the council and the sand diggers... The other 20% are for the Royal kingdom"

"20%?!! That's quite large! Aren't we getting some money from another country as well? For the protection for their country using our knight?! Also there is a lot of merchant trading for Sphiel Stone that cost an arm and leg, aren't that enough?!"

"Ssssshhhh!! Yes... But father and our late grandfather thought that if we let people work extra hard for their money, they'll lead the country to a better future for longer prospect. Sadly, the one that's missed calculated is that people are not so prospered... They are not so poor either, a few of these people who opened business are actually rich because the put high price on everything making the sand diggers fall further into misery."

I'm speechless...

Is this how the great kingdom of Sphiel is? Then what's so great about all of this misery?!

I should have come down here a lot more... If only I'm not this weak maybe father will let me...

"Ah, we're here Aia"

We stopped in front of a bit run down Theater Company. On the sign is...

Lady Ahti's theater company

Makes your every dreams come true

And under it was a piece of wide paper, written there are...

Showing 'The Curse of Velofea'

"I guess it's a jackpot, Aia" Albatross blood was boiling full of excitement. He was never a patient person. Even as a knight, he always searched for new experience and always found a crazier way to end a mission.

"Remember! We are not here! We can't reveal ourselves to anybody," my brother added upon entering the theater. I nodded.

He pushed my wheelchair into the ehem... Quite filthy place. Not a very theater material, actually more like a pub with drunk men laying around on the floor and alcohol's reek surrounding the place. It was very different from theater which usually performed in the castle (the ones that got me to fell in love with play); But usually we hired East side Theater company so I now I knew why the west side theater were never performed on my castle. We arrived at one of the tables where sat a looking-almost-tidy woman with her curly orange hair in an oval heavy makeup face (almost like a clown). Her sexy golden dress was so tight that it accentuated her curves (if you can call that a curve, she was so large I didn't know what I had to call that anymore).

With a shrill voice she said as she looked at my brother arrogantly, "What do you want? I'm not selling tickets to beggar and crippled"

*UGHMP!!* My brother chocked. This is the first time anybody ever said that to us.

"Ehem... I believe your theater was the first to show The Curse of Velovea?" I said gently, ignoring her insult.

"Yeah, since the day we opened until now. That was makes us rich. The best play ever from the Golden city!!" She shouted to air, wakening up the drunks. "But now we've closed. I'm dizzy, you beggar better get out now!" 

"Do you know Dark Phantom?" I suddenly asked. "It's one of the character in the story, I wonder if you know anything about..."

Before I can finish my sentences, she turned her huge body to me and bring her round face so close to me.

"Don't you hear me saying that I'm dizzy?! Why is everyone asking me about Dark phantom this Dark phantom that?! He was just a character!! " Her breath was punching my nose, and I saw very well how gross her teeth was when he shouted at my face. "You are simply a crippled and you suddenly interested in Dark Phantom like everyone else why? Are you trying to be an actress?! Coz hell no I'm paying a crippled like you!!"

All the drunken man were now woken up from all the voices.

I looked up to my brother only to find that he smirk, vilely... I don't know what lies beyond that smirk, was it anger? Holding back laughter because of the irony? or itching because he was resisting the temptation to shoot the brash woman with his Albatross V1?

"We were searching for a... man. Maybe the one posing as the dark phantom," he suddenly revealed our goal so fast.

Suddenly everybody fell silent. They are all giving us the look of hatred. The lady brought her face to him,

"What... Did you just said?!"

My brother's smile broaden. "An actor playing as the Dark Phantom, I demand to meet him"

"Demand? DEMAND?! Oh, why suddenly being so forceful, beggar? What has that boy done that everybody looks for him today, anyway?"

BRUK!!

Her huge hand banged the table. "He's being punished now though. Now if you don’t have any other business, SCRAM!!” she swings her arm back and forth, leaving us no choice but to back down until we hit the door. She suddenly pushed me, unable to control my chair's balance, we both fall into dirty puddle.

“HAHAHAHA!! Taste that you over-formal beggar!! AHAHAHA Wha—wait….”

Our hats are off and our faces were visible. All those who were interested in this chaos began to gather as they saw a soft pink colored hair mixed with soil and also my brother's dark red hair.

“Is that pink hair? Could it be Princess Aia?!” said one of citizen.

“That man’s face, I know him and that red hair… It must be the genius prince”

My brother quickly hugged my head so nobody can saw any further. His hair were mostly covered by mud so he didn't care if they saw him but my hair was too obvious.

A skinny man then came out of the theater and looking on the commotion just to be frightened to see who’s in the mud puddle in front of his building.

“What the hell are you doing Ahti?! He is Prince Albatross!!” He whispered at the woman angrily.

“How should I know, dear?! Look on how they dressed!!”

The man quickly ran into the crowd of people and shouted, “It’s only a practice. They’re our new crew for our new play, hehehe… I’m very sorry for all the commotion. My wife is extremely good at acting.”

“But… Isn't that the Prince?” asked one of the woman.

“Ah of course not… He is just using a wig that’s all. So I’m very sorry… Please watch our next show!” He shouted. The man gave a hand sign to his wife to quickly let us in, and so the wife did so. My brother had to carry me since the wheelchair was covered in mud.

“I’m very sorry your highness, if only I knew it was you I wouldn't do such a thing,” She begged for forgiveness as my brother sat me on a chair.

“Huuufft… are you okay, Aia?” Albatross ignored her. I just nodded. No harm had been done but our hair and our clothes. We were prepared for everything on this search so this was nothing.

“I’m sorry Princess.” She tried to clean my skirt with her filthy handkerchief. 

Albatross warded her hand and stood in front of me, "Do not touch my sister!" he threatened.

The woman stepped back and quickly went away, mumbled something loudly, and with her heavy steps proceeded to go up to second floor. The husband who probably has done lying to the citizen entered and looked to the right and the left, but cannot find his wife's anywhere.

“So umm… I’m sorry for my wife’s misbehavior. She was so upset this past three days, since our lead actor for the part of ‘Dark Phantom’ on the White Moon Celebration was drunk and had to be replaced by a property boy but he vanished in the middle of the play, and the next morning the knights been going round and round asking about the Dark Phantom, makes her remembered about the play, and then she’s been having a bad mood…”

“Umm… I hope you can teach some manners to your wife, dear sir. She’s been insulting us, her guest, since we arrived, nicely if I may I emphasize,” said my brother in his prince tone.

While my brother was so busy protesting on the husband, I heard a sound of steps from upstairs. It was different from the fat woman’s step, this one was lighter but longer term, and it caught my attention. I quickly turned my head to the stairs. 

It was the step of a handsome young man, a tall man with long legs; he is medium-build, a bit skinny perhaps; his hair was beautiful glittering silver white in classic short cut hairstyles. We froze as our eyes met each other…

I can feel... a connection...

Is it him?

The Dark Phantom…

He hurriedly turned around and ran back.

"Ah, wait!" I stood up and was about to chase him.

BRUAAK!!

I fell ... my legs were so weak it trembled as I tried to walk.

“AIA!!” my brother ran towards me and sat me back to my chair.

“The man… the boy… The dark phantom!!” I stammered, I could only manage to point the second floor.

“Leave it to me!” and he pursued it as fast as lightning.

Albatross hop out of the second floor window following the silver white haired man.

“Hey you… Wait!!” 

But he won’t wait; he kept on running like being chased by a dog. Albatross kept pursuing. He continued to run and even jumped over some resident’s rooftops. He had shouted dozens of times but he ignored it all.

* Damn! He is shrewd like rats * thought Albatross as he catch his breath. *How could there be any man that’s faster in speed than me?!*

The distance between himself and the man widened. They had spent about 30 minutes chasing each other but the Dark Phantom didn't slow down one bit.

Albatross stopped. he had been defeated. He couldn't do anymore running. The Dark Phantom was gone already and Albatross didn't think that he would come back soon.

The Theater Company

CRIEEEEK!!

Albatross opened the door weakly, he had ran out of stamina. He saw a huge figure that he's familiar with next to his sister.

"Brother, how is it? Where's the Dark Phantom?" I was about to stood up and approached my tired brother Albatross but Brother Damon stopped me.

"Brother, are you okay?" brother Damon helped him walk to a chair. Albatross still breathing heavily from all the running, and judging from his appearance now I think the man escaped. But nobody had escaped from brother Albatross before...

"I'm very sorry, Aia... He's very... extremely fast" he said.

I was more concerned to Brother Albatross than him until he mentioned it. I'm a bit disappointed but my brother had done it's best. 


Sphiel Castle

After the incident, Brother Damon forced us to come straight back home and had Mother yelled at both of us. I was sent straight to my room with Brother Damon supervision, leaving me no chance to escaped. Well of course, I can't escaped to town without the help of Brother Albatross's wheelchair, I even had my brother Damon carried me all the way to the castle because the chair was broken. So I had to face my fate to stay at my room for this whole white moon week, until my power restored.

"Now Aia... Will you promise me to not escaped to the town again? You are the Princess of Sphiel... Not many people know what you looked like so it's dangerous for you to be out in town moreover with disguise..." lectured brother Damon.

"Yes, I'll promise. I'm very sorry brother.. I'm just so curious..."

He paused. He gave me a bright smile and suddenly kissed my pink cheek.
"B-- Brother!!" I covered my cheek, blushed of the sudden act. "Why suddenly..."

"You are still my little sister... now go to your room"

"Yes brother..."

Klek!

The door had closed, I leaned on it for a moment. I was recalling his face... The Dark Phantom...
I'm sure the man in the theater was him... no doubt about it...
He was quite handsome actually.... even though I just took a glance of him... Thinking of him alone make me blush...
I walked across the room into the balcony...
Look far into the semi transparent sky I sighed... Missing him...

"Huuuuff..."

Eh?? What's that??

I caught a glimpse of something black in the front garden, supposedly human...
Maybe Elena? No... No... it's not even that late.
It walked slowly inside the maze garden... I can barely see it since it's covered by the tall maze wall...
Until it reached the center of the maze, the flower garden I planted...

"Dark Phantom??!!"

He's wearing a black cape and under it was a black coats, black vest, white shirt and blood red cravats also the one who made me certain that he's the phantom were his half-faced white Venetian mask with golden craft, just like in my father's story. 

I ran towards the door where suddenly my legs getting numb and causing me to fell...
"No... Not now..." I wanted to cry so bad.
Why? Why am I so weak?

"You are not weak princess..." a voice of a male. I turned my head instantly to the balcony. The Dark Phantom, with a yellow Adonis in his hand was just landing on my room's balcony. I cannot believe he jumped from the ground to the 4th floor. "On the contrary, you are the most powerful of all human being..."

He said... while staring me with both of his Blood Red Eyes...

White Moon

Chatter - chatter - chatter

Everyone were chattering with each other

They are bunch of royal blood from all over Eden archipelago, guests of my father scattered in my castle's huge ball, shimmering with golds and jewels on their hands and neck, their dress, their hair and even on their shoes...

It was the 7th week of Blue Moon, the night before the rare White Moon that only comes for a week...

And it was also Father's birthday...

The entire Kingdom of Sphiel was celebrating tonight, celebrating their most precious King, King Percival XII's birthday...

There will be fireworks, parades, and a chanting music and of course my favorite , a play...

Though I love the play performed at the castle, for once I wasn't paying attention at all to the story..

I was outside...

I smiled...

While looking far into the woods that separate us from the city...

It was dark... The only thing I can see was a surround of light over the dark woods...

And I rely on my ears to take me to my imagination of what's beyond there...

"Aia..."

The heavy voice I'm familiar with called my name. I thenI turned my head to my second brother with a bright smile as he walked to my side.

"This is the first time you've ever walked out from a play... Are you okay?", he placed his hand on the balustrade and rotate the glass of champagne on his hand.

"Yes my brother, I'm fine" I paused. I take a look back at the glimmering light on the other side of the woods, suddenly a wonder come into my thought, "have you ever been to their party, brother?"

"The citizen? Well yes of course, Aia. I went there last year don't you remember? It was my troops time of duty to secure the celebration"

"Ou.." I remembered the time he mentioned, "how was it like?"

He took a sip of his champagne, "well...it sure is livelier than here" he turned his body, leaning on the balustrade and looked inside the ball. "I was never amused by father's party. This is bad you see, the thought of wanting to go there, the citizen party and leaving this royal suckers behind. It's so not what a prince should have felt. So thank God that I am not the first son, not that I agreed on Brother Damon becoming a king." He gulped down his drink. "It's not that I hate father's birthday or anything but I prefer to be with all of our citizen than here with those old ladies that keeps staring at us"

I giggled. Well, I feel the same way since I too kept getting stared.

"No..."

"Heem? Did you say something Aia"

"I'm saying that it's alright for you to feel that way, brother. Because I do feel it too. For once I was hoping that I'm not a princess or at least...strong enough to stroll... Anywhere I want...", I really want to cry but not a single tears come out from my eyes. I admit it is sad, the fact that I can't walk far and that my body was so weak. But it's also has a good impact, especially for the kingdom. It seems that My brothers and I were actually one of the reasons of our kingdom chosen to be the capital (something to do with marital agreement of course), part from being geographical and its natural resources,etc. 

No words came out from my brother after, he just froze. He seems to feel empathy for me and yet he don't know how it really feels, to be weak like me, so he made a good choice by remain silent. Because unlike me, both of my brother are perfectly strong in physical. They are both the head knight of their troops.

My first brother for example, Prince Damon, the successor of the King. He is huge and strong like our father (and most of the other late emperor). Brilliant in term of close combat using the famous giant sword my great grandfather had passed to him, the Varadim. Its rumored that he actually the best Crusader ever since my great grandfather. Not to mention he is a real gentlemen, kind to a lady and respect the other gentlemen, a very king material as my second brother said.

On the other hand my second brother, Prince Albatross aren't so huge and strong. Although his brain seems to be having more gyrus than any other human being, meaning he is a pure Genius. He leads the lowest rank battalion called Blue Alces instead of Arctos (The Royal knight chevalier, that most of the prince was sign into like my first brother) by his own demand. I find it quite funny actually the fact that he uses a Tonfa-Gun as his weapon, his own design, made by him, and my brother even named it after himself, The Albatross V.1. I admit that his Albatross is cool but it's not so... knight material.

"Aia..."

"Ha?!" I flinched, woken up from my day dream by the sudden appearance of my first brother. "Yes, brother Damon?"

"It's late... the moon is going to change soon, shouldn't you take a rest?", my first brother gently stroked my pink hair, his pair of  pale green eyes looked at me attentively.

"No, I'm fine brother. I can handle it"

"My dear Aia...", My brother took my hand, kiss it gently while rubbing it with both of his hand. I looked at them, full of scars... battle scars. My first brother might be the royal prince but he refuses to just sit down and watch his men handle the enemy alone, he fought so many monsters from a weak gulp to the mighty dragon, and every single epic battle lies on the scars on his hand. "Aia...what's wrong?"

"Your scars brother, are they hurt?"

"This? It's an old wound Aia, don't worry...", he held my arm right on my arm ring. He then looked at me with his usual stare (usual by the meaning he used to stare at me like that), a stare so different from other people, deeper connection. "I'm very happy that you worried about me... but I'm worried about you more, so please take a rest at your room. The moon is going to change soon"

He pleaded me, how can I refuse it?

"Here, let me take you to your room", he was ready to lead my hand, when suddenly...

"Brother!" brother Albatross suddenly patted brother Damon's shoulder. His face was fierce like an angry wolf, but quickly changed back to my brother I knew. "I'll take Aia to her room, you should accompany father and the other guests. Isn't also your celebration of being the head knight of Arctos?"

We walked into the ball and then proceed to go into one of the door lead to east wing of the castle.
I don't know what's with the fierce face my brother Albatross made to my brother Damon, but it was full of hatred. Like a wolf stare to its Hunter. It might not be a good idea to go further into the matter, so I just let it slide.


Hallway - in front of my room...

"I thank you brother Albatross for accompanying me to my room," I gave him a bow with both of my hands gently lift my glittering white dress's skirt.

"Aia..." he look serious.

"Yes?"

"....." nothing came up. "Nevermind, please have a good rest and sweat dream"

"Why thank you my brother, I'll dream of us watching a play in the citizens party"

He smiled, then I slowly closed the door.

The large empty dark room of mine...
Without turning the lights on, I twirled around like a ballet dancer... as the quarter blue - three quarters white moon shone over my dress, letting it's bits of light shine all over the room.
I'm too excited to go to sleep right now...
I walked to my balcony and saw... The near end of the blue moon is coming...
The week of full powered Sphiel is coming...
Shouting of the guests' counting down to the end of the month can be heard from here...
5 more second...
4...
3...

"AAAAGGGHHH!!"

What?

"HELP ME!"

What is that?! Where is that image come from?!

"Please... No... Don't do it... SHIVA!!--"

NOOOO!!!


"1!!!"

DOR!

"Happy White Week everybody!!". All the Royal blood were shouting and rose their glass.

"AAAAAAAAAGGGGHHH!!" one of the maid shriek in terror as the princess body fell, passes the ball's balcony in a horrible short glimpse that took everybody's attention. The King, the Queen, the Princes were all shocked as if seeing a ghost.
The three of them ran as fast as they can to the balcony.

"AIA!!!" the king shouted, reaching his hand out even though he knew it was too late.
As all of them thought that they'll see the princess's reaching in the death's arm, her body stopped, right before reaching the ground, in the arm of Dark Phantom.