12Whew! Finally edited all chapters to my liking now!
Nighttime, the time of day when the strong citizens of the poor and rugged city of Ariant usually made their move on the castle's riches. Many of them wondered why the royals were living a life of such luxury while the citizens were forced to live a life harsher than that of peasants. Many of them protested against the sultan and the queen for their negligence, but whether or not the calls were heard, none were acted upon. If anything, they only made the palace security even tighter. The sultan and his wife were just too concerned for themselves to think of their suffering people. The queen too focused on maintaining her so-called "beautiful self" and the sultan on living a comfortable life. Somewhere in time, it came to a point where citizens decided to do something about it. If they couldn't help their people by asking nicely, they'd have to take things into their own hands. The people had been suffering for so long, and none did anything to deserve such torment. Thus began the strategic raid of duty bandits on the palace at night. If you were lucky, you'd be able to steal a hug sack's worth of gold and use it to leave your homeland in search of a better life, or use it to raise your family and the rest of your people. If you were unlucky, you'd be either whipped, imprisoned, executed, or exiled. Many could survive being whipped and imprisoned, but being exiled was a fate worse than execution. As a kingdom built around the only oasis in Nihal desert, the harshest and driest desert of Maple World, they all understood that being exiled meant either a slow death by starvation or by falling prey to wandering monsters.
Such was true for this group of bandits that had just stolen three sacks worth of gold and were on their way out of the palace.
"Come on, what's taking you all so long? We only have so many hours of darkness!" one of the bandits said.
"Hey! Unlike you we're trying to be cautious! You never know what monsters are lurking in the palace!" the others said.
"Oh, don't be foolish! We all know all of the people in the palace hate monsters! Even their useless guards would turn tail and run the moment they see one! Now hurry up! We're almost at the exit!"
One by one, all four bandits rushed soundlessly over the palace's gates and hurried back to the hot city. Light was beginning to rise behind the mountains, so the bandits had to make haste toward home, otherwise there would be a high possibility that they would be caught by the palace guards, and who knew what would happen next if they were caught. As they got closer and closer to home, one of the bandits abruptly stopped in his run.
"Everyone, wait!" he whispered.
"Oh what is it now?! Can't you see we're in a hurry?" the others whispered.
"I think I heard something, or someone!"
"Oh, you think?! Is that why we were stopped?! Because you THINK you heard something?!"
"Shhh! Listen. It sounds like a cry."
And listen they did. It took them a while to focus, but sure enough, the rest heard it too.
"…ahhh…wa...aahh…ahh…wahh…"
"What is that?" they asked.
"It sounds like it's coming from near that little cactus." One of them said.
"I'll go check it out. You guys go on ahead without me."
"No. We're in this together. Nobody gets left behind. Let's all go toward the cactus, but with haste. Daylight is just a few moments away." Another bandit said.
Together they made their way to the cactus, and as they got closer they could hear the sound more clearly.
"Waaahhhhh…waaaaaahhhhhh…waaaaaahhhhh!"
"What is that? How could it make so much sound at night?" one of the bandits asked. When they arrived, what they saw shocked them to say the least.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh! Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"
"A…baby?" they all asked. There it was, a little baby boy with grayish-blonde hair snugly wrapped in cloth.
"That's strange," one of the bandits said, "it's only early spring is it not? Aren't children in this desert land usually born in late fall or winter? Spring is when the heat gets close to its harshest and usually no child would be born during this time because they'd usually overheat and die if they were born, but…where are its parents?"
"We don't know, we don't know." They all replied.
"We can't just leave a helpless child here all alone though." The bandit said, picking up the baby. "Poor child, to be left alone in the desert and unable to fend for itself. Who could be so cruel as to leave their own child in a harsh desert of all places?"
While the bandits pondered on what to do, they did not realize that they had totally forgotten about their mission of escape, and the appearance of the sun over the dunes served as a reminder.
"Quick! We must hurry back to the city! We'll decide on what to do with the child later, but for now, let's hurry back!" And then they left, this time, bringing more than just gold with them.
When they had arrived to their homes, the bandits were greeted with cheers and applause by the people. Very few were able to successfully steal from the palace, and those that were brought home riches, but not enough to support the entire residency of the city, which was very low in number, even for kingdom standards. This heist brought back three huge sacks of gold, enough to support more than just the meager population and help the people move out of the city. However, this time, they realized that the bandits had brought home something else, or someone else.
"Say, what do you have in the little in that sack of yours?" A citizen of Ariant, a weapon seller named Jasmin, asked one of the bandits.
"Oh this?" the bandit in question replied, "I found this child while on the way back. I felt so sorry for him that I decided to take him home."
All of Ariant was shocked.
"A child in Nihal Desert during this season?"
"Poor boy! What was he doing in the desert outside the city?!"
"What cruel parents would have done this to their child?!"
The bandits hushed the crowd and then brought up an important question to their people.
"The question that stands now isn't how or why he ended up here," they said, "the more important question is what we're going to do with him now that we have found him. Should we send him somewhere else in hopes that somebody else will pick him up, or should we raise him as one of our own?"
The decision was unanimous among the people.
"KEEP HIM HERE AND RAISE HIM!"
"KEEP HIM HERE AND RAISE HIM!"
"KEEP HIM HERE AND RAISE HIM!"
"Well, what other choice do we have?" the bandits asked nobody in particular.
And raise him they did.
Soon after the decision was made, the people decided to name the baby boy Phantom, for he had just suddenly appeared them like a ghost, like what he was named after, and integrated himself into the daily lives of the people. All of the citizens took turns raising him. Men, women, children, Phantom grew up being loved by the people around him. Come late fall and early winter, the people started to struggle in raising the boy for these seasons were the seasons safest for childbirth, and the people took advantage of that knowledge. With so many children born, how could a little baby boy survive when his caretakers had children of their own to raise?
Yet he persevered, much to the surprise of the people, and grew up to be a healthy, smart, and kind-hearted boy.
"How did a boy with such a kind heart end up in such a cruel place like this?" Many of the people would wonder. To them, he was like a blessing bestowed on the people by the goddess. He was full of smiles, courage, love, and always gave comfort to those who needed it whether or not it was intentional. Their pain was his own, and his pain was their own. They were one big family; that was what the people made clear to him, and that was what he lived by.
And when he was 8, he began to wonder, "I live like everyone else, and I talk like everyone else. I was also found here…yet why do I feel so different?" He would sometimes ask the people he knew that raised him. He knew that they were not his parents or related to him in any way, but he wanted to know what set him apart.
"Why do you ask dear? Are you troubled by something?" Jasmin, one of the many who raised him, asked.
"Well, no. Not troubled Ms. Jasmin, but just curious. While I may not look like everyone else, I've lived like everyone else, but even then I've always felt like...I don't belong here...why is that?" he asked.
Jasmin laid down her wares and bent down a little to meet Phantom's height.
"Dear, I'm sure you know that you were not born, but you were found in this harsh desert, right?"
She asked.
"Found?"
"Oh yes," she replied, "Eight years ago, when one of the sand bandits came home with his group, he brought you here. All of us were so shocked because he said he found you in the desert behind a cactus. Now do you know how dangerous that is, even for a baby boy? It was nothing short of a miracle, the fact that you had not been found by meerkats yet. Anyway, since we did not know who your parents were, we then decided to take it upon ourselves to raise you."
"Oh…I see…" Phantom said. It was clear to him now; he wasn't one of them, despite how much he wished to be, and he was one of the reasons why their lives were so tough. He would forever be different.
Jasmin saw his sullen face and couldn't help but be sad herself, "Oh Phantom dear, don't let these facts put you down. Related to you or not, you're still family to us."
"But we share no blood ties among each other Ms. Jasmin, how am I family to everybody?" he asked.
"Now don't you go around with that mentality dear, you'll make all those around you worry. Listen to me, although you may not be related to any of us, that doesn't separate you from us and won't stop us from calling you family. We are family because we all share love, happiness and sadness amongst each other. Understand?"
Phantom's smile immediately returned. Ms. Jasmin was right, he figured, nobody treated him differently from the others, so what was there to be sad about. He was still Phantom of Ariant and nothing was going to change that.
Or so many people thought.
Life continued as usual until one day a young man with blue hair and fancy white clothing appeared in the kingdom. It wasn't difficult to tell he didn't belong in Ariant. He had a sweaty face, uncommon for a citizen of Ariant, and his skin color matched that of Phantom's. For some reason, the people had the strange feeling that he was going to take something or someone for them. His serious look made it all too obvious.
He made himself more suspicious when he asked Jasmin for a certain someone's whereabouts.
"Excuse me miss I'm looking for a boy with grayish hair, and amethyst colored eyes and was told that I could find him here. Do you know where he might be?" He asked.
"You must be talking about Phantom," Jasmin replied, "And what business do you have with him?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot say yet. I just need to talk to him."
Before Jasmin could retort, she had the unfortunate luck of Phantom appearing right then.
"How now, who calls?" he asked.
The mysterious man immediately approached Phantom, "Little boy, what is your name?"
Upon looking at the man's apparel, Phantom could tell that this man was one of royal origins, or at least it seemed so. Contrary to Ariantian royalty, however, the man seemed to carry himself in a more mature fashion. He wasn't sure if this man could be trusted or not, but he decided to at least answer a simple question, otherwise it would seem rude.
"Phantom." He replied.
"Phantom, will it be alright if I ask for a few minutes of your time? Ah but before that, let me introduce myself. My name is Neinheart, an ambassador and tactician from Ereve."
"Ereve?" Phantom asked.
"Yes, Ereve. A floating island that ever flies around Maple World."
"I see…" A floating island that moved? Now he had heard everything. This man was definitely suspicious, but before he could shoo the man away, Phantom then looked at the man's face and saw the sweat drenching the man's face. He couldn't just send the man away looking like that. "You still have much to say, it seems, but before that, how about stopping at my place? You seem to be in dire need to shade and refreshments."
"Ah, yes. That would be quite delightful, thank you very much. I had no idea that the Ariant heat could be so intense."
Phantom gave a light laugh. "Well, we are in the middle of the season of summer, when the sun is at its fiercest after all. Can't take the heat?"
Phantom then lead Neinheart to a little house with a bed and several jars. He then grabbed a clay cup and poured some water into the cup and gave it to Neinheart. Neinheart greedily gulped down the water.
"Thank you very much. It's amazing… how do you all get such refreshing water during hot seasons?" he asked.
"Well, as you can see my people and I are not really living in favorable conditions. This also takes into account money and everyday necessities. If you look at the Ariant royalty, you'll see something completely different. The palace is located near an oasis, and in the palace, the sultan and his fairy wife are living lives of luxury, but that is only because they reap profits from huge taxes placed on trade, while us people are left to suffer with the meager profits we earn. Because of this, many of us do what we can to keep ourselves alive, especially stealing. I don't steal anything, though. Although I don't approve of the royalty's actions, I also do not approve of stealing from them, so I usually get nothing. However, the people who steal still give me this water and everything I need because I am one of them and that is something that I'll forever be grateful for."
"I see…that's amazing." Neinheart said.
"Is it not?" Phantom asked. "I am related to nobody here, but yet I'm treated as family. I want to do the best I can to repay them all in the future. However, I fear I may never get the chance given my situation."
"Oh, but I wasn't talking about that, I was talking about you."
"Me?" Phantom asked.
"Yes. You are the one who is truly amazing here. To possess such a kind and loving heart while living in harsh conditions; not many people are like you. In fact, I don't think anybody is. Shinsoo was correct, such traits that you possess resemble that of Emperor Raven. You really are blood related, no matter how distant the relation."
Emperor? Raven? Shinsoo? This man was going too fast with his words. There were too many things Phantom wanted to ask. Who were these people and how did they relate to him?
"What are you talking about?" Phantom couldn't help but ask.
Neinheart then bent down to match Phantom's height.
"Phantom, this may be a little hard to take in, but I ask you to bear with me. I had trouble believing it myself, but after having this talk I am now certain that you are related to Maple World's former emperor, Emperor Raven. Shinsoo has chosen you to become Ereve's new emperor. You are destined to be the new ruler of this world and are destined to be burdened with the responsibilities of keeping it safe."
...
"Pardon?!" Phantom cried out. "Me? An emperor? That's impossible! I'm just Phantom of Ariant!"
Neinheart remained in his calm state of mind. "I know that this is hard to take in all at once, but I assure you that it's true. For you to possess such traits...it can be the only explanation."
"But…if I become emperor I'll have to go away from here. I'm sorry, but I don't think I can accept. I do not want to become separated from my family and don't know if I'm ready for these burdens of being an emperor."
"You won't have to carry these burdens alone, Phantom. You have me and many other faithful knights to help you. And who said anything about being separated from your family? You'll have many opportunities to visit them."
"But Ariant royalty never leaves the palace…"
"Ah yes… but this is different. Not all royalty is corrupt, and there are many who are generous and loving towards their people. You are going to be similar to this kind of royalty, only greater."
"I…see." Phantom pondered for a moment. Here he was, just a little boy tasked with huge burdens and suddenly forced to face the fact that he had the blood of a royal in him. He was also given the chance to escape from a difficult life, but didn't want to leave his family behind. Yet…perhaps this was a way for him to pay them back. Although he led a harsh life, he still loved people. His family taught him this, and it would stick with him forever in his heart. If he didn't do this now, the world would have nobody to turn to in their time of need and this beautiful world disappear. At last, he came to a decision.
"Ill give you a moment to-" Before Neinheart could continue, Phantom declared his decision.
"Okay…I'll do it. I will be the emperor of this world."
"A wise decision, and masterfully executed. An emperor never stalls when a decision weighs heavily upon the world. Now that you have made your decision, let us leave soon, as early as today in fact. I wouldn't want to keep Shinsoo worrying and certainly do not want all of Ereve to worry either."
"I understand…"
"Is there anything you would like to do before you leave?" Neinheart asked.
"Yes. If it's okay, I would...like to say goodbye to my family."
"Of course. Take your time. I would like to stay in here, if you don't mind."
Phantom then proceeded out his door to be met with the curious and worried stares from those all around him. Immediately, the questions piled up.
"What did that man want?"
"Did he do anything to you?"
"Has he been telling you lies? He's royalty! Never trust him."
"What is going on, little Phantom? Please tell us."
Slowly, raising his arms up in the air and lowering them, he shushed the crowd and walked a few steps forward before addressing the crowd.
Phantom didn't want to leave, but he had to make this quick. He now had duties to uphold.
"Everyone…" he started. As soon as he spoke, all of Ariant was silenced. "I-I would like to make an announcement."
"Oh of course! Everyone! Our little Phantom has to make an announcement! Bring him on the highest stand!"
When led to the highest makeshift pedestal in Ariant. Phantom himself jumped onto the tall pedestal and tried to speak. For some reason when he tried to speak, he felt his throat being clogged, and his eyes becoming moist.
"E-Everyone…" he managed to say to the still crowd.
"I had…found out not to long ago… that I was not born here, but found in Nihal desert by our strong hearted bandits. I want to say that I am forever thankful to our Sand Bandits…for having such kind hearts…and taking me into Ariant into the loving arms of all of you…for if not for you all…I would cease to exist," at this point, Phantom couldn't help but sniffle. But he had to continue.
"I also want to say…how thankful I am…to have been raised…*sniff"…by all of you. Despite being different…you all still raised me…despite the harsh realities you all had to face…and I am sorry for making your lives more miserable…than they already were…you all had given me so much…and I often questioned how I was going to repay your love…but-but I have found an answer. The kind man that I had just talked to…he revealed something to me…I am next in line to be the emperor of this world. He has revealed that I contain the blood of the former emperor, Emperor Raven…and it is my duty…to continue the line…and uphold the burden of protecting this world. I will become the emperor…and make sure that you all…and all the people beyond…will be safe and live comfortable lives. It…"
At this point, Phantom could no longer stop the flow of tears flowing down his face. He desperately wanted to stay, but knew that he couldn't anymore. He was an emperor now; he had to be strong. He used his rugged clothes to wipe away his tears and mustered all of his strength to say one more thing.
"It…It is as of now that I must bid you all farewell."
And then everyone erupted in a fit of tears.
"NO! YOU CAN'T LEAVE!"
"NOBODY CAN TAKE AWAY OUR LITTLE PHANTOM! WHERE IS THAT MAN! WE WON'T LET HIM TAKE YOU AWAY!"
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING BACK TO US! JUST STAY!"
The men, women, and children all cried. They were losing a loved one. The pain was hard to keep in, but Phantom had already made his decision. As soon as he had finished his speech, he ran into his house and grabbed whatever he needed to bring. Clothing, his worn out toothbrush, and water. It was all he had. He dried up the last of his tears before meeting Neinheart.
"Let us go. I am now ready." He said, wiping away the last of his tears.
Neinheart simply nodded, and together they left the house and headed out of the town and toward the carriage that Neinheart had used to arrive. Before they had reached the carriage, they heard a voice.
"Wait!" it called. Upon looking behind, Phantom saw Jasmin running frantically toward them with something in her hand. When she had reached Phantom, she opened his palm and put the object in his hand.
"I…I wanted to give this to you during your birthday, but now that you are leaving, I figured it's best to give it now."
"Miss Jasmin, what is this?" Phantom asked, looking at the object, which was a purple jewel attached to a gold chain with a gold embroidery near the top of the jewel.
"We call it the Skaia. While you grew up, all of us had used the palace's most beautiful crystals to make this jewel. We felt it had represented you best. Beautiful, valuable, and irreplaceable."
"Miss Jasmin I…I will keep this safe. I will never let it go!" Phantom said.
"I know you won't," Jasmin then gave a warm-hearted smile to Neinheart. "Please take care of our little Phantom. He is very young and inexperienced. I dearly hope you will help him turn into a benevolent emperor who is loved and respected by all the people around him."
"Do not worry miss, I will make sure he comes to no harm and becomes the best emperor there is." Neinheart bowed.
Jasmin smiled for one last time. "Now you go along now. I'm sure wherever you are going cannot wait."
With that, Phantom and Neinheart entered the carriage and headed towards Ereve. Surprisingly, the carriage was actually a little boat.
Phantom looked one last time back at the city he loved so much and heard farewells of all of the people.
"I WILL COME BACK! I PROMISE!" he yelled.
Nainheart smiled and ushered the creature operating the boat to go.
"Please bring our new Emperor to Ereve." He said. And soon the creature started to paddle, and the boat began to rise and fly into the sky.
Soon they had reached the floating island, and Phantom was astonished. So many people in armor, and so many creatures with feathers, and so much wind.
"What is this place?" he asked.
"This here, is where you will be residing from now on," Neinheart replied.
As soon as they saw him, all of Ereve knew and bowed down to their new Emperor.
"Welcome to Ereve, Emperor Phantom."
