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Magi and Soria

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Chapter One

Surprise!

“YOU WHAT!?” a boy yelled furiously. His absolutely perfect day had just been ruined.

He had gotten out of bed after a great night’s sleep, and his hair wasn’t even messy. Well, at least, not messier then usual. His clothes, also as usual, had been crisp and clean. Breakfast was his favorite; Pan’s Cakes, a remarkably tasty easy-to-make meal that a fellow named Pan had invented. After breakfast, he had soundly defeated fourteen opponents in a row during sword training without getting hit once. That was due to the fact that he practiced very hard. Immediately following that, he had eaten lunch, which was large, filling, and delicious. He had relaxed all afternoon by studying some handy spells.

And now this had happened.

“Rai, we’ve engaged you to a princess.” The boy’s mother said, starting to get exasperated.

“I-“

“You wouldn’t do it yourself when we asked you to find one you liked so you could court her, so your father and I decided to do this.” The mother continued.

“You-“

“Besides, from what her parents said, she’s a very nice girl, I’m sure you’ll like her.”

“But-“

“No buts.” The boy’s father said firmly. “This is going to happen whether you want it to or not.”

“Dal-“

“Dal can’t marry her because he’s not king material.” Rai’s mother replied. “He may be the eldest prince of our land, but his ego is far too large. You’ll rule much better.”

“If it’s one of the Triplets-“ Rai said, his tone dangerous.

“Even we aren’t that cruel.” Rai’s mother said, patting the boy on the shoulder. “No, it’s Princess Selene of Soria. And for goodness sake, relax. You have to go through with this, but you don’t need to make it hard for yourself.” She sighed deeply, then smiled.

“…When?” Rai finally managed to croak out.

“A week from now.” The boy’s mother replied, understanding that he wanted to know when the wedding was.

“WHAT!?” Rai yelled, flabbergasted. He had thought he would have had several years to plan a way out of it, not several days! This, most definitely, was bad.

“And as a matter of fact, the girl and her family happen to be downstairs right now, waiting to be properly fed.” Rai’s father said. “You will come with us to greet them, you will be polite, and you will at least try and make friends with your fiancée. Preferably, you will admirably succeed.”

“Why should I?” Rai asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Because if you don’t, your life will be as miserable as we can make it!” Rai’s father snapped. “You have five minutes! Make yourself presentable and come down to the dining hall!” With that, he and his wife left.

“This… Completely… Sucks.” Rai muttered. He walked over to a mirror and looked into it. His hair, a dark brown in color, was just untidy enough that it looked neither purposeful nor accidental. His piercing golden eyes were the same as always, as was his pale skin and casual black clothes. “Buggers.” The boy added, quickly changing into a somewhat elaborate set of clothes. They were also mostly black, and very convenient in the fact that they looked like they took hours to get just right, but were actually sewed so that you could just pull them on and look handsome.

After making sure he was presentable enough for his father’s tastes, Rai calmly strapped a sword to his back to spoil the effect and headed downstairs.

“What did I say about making yourself presentable?” the boy’s father hissed as the boy walked up to his parents.

“Er… Good question.” Rai said, feigning innocence. His father sighed and signaled to the guards. They grandly opened the doors, and both he and his wife strode in, looking to the entire world like the royalty they were. Rai shuffled in behind them, his hands in his pockets.

“Ah, welcome, welcome to our castle!” Rai’s father said, smiling in that perfected sincere way Kings learned to do. A man sitting at the table got up, strode over to Rai’s father, shook his hand solemnly, and exchanged greetings with him.

“This is worse then I thought.” Rai said, looking around the hall. It had been fully decorated for visiting royalty. “Why didn’t I hear anything about this?” Sighing, he went to his spot at the table and plopped down into his chair. It took him several long moments to notice that he was sitting next to somebody.

This somebody turned to look at the Prince of Magi, Rai, and blinked. Rai watched this figure carefully through the sides of his eyes, acting like he hadn’t noticed.

The figure, first off, was a girl. That was nothing special; about every other person or so Rai met was female. Her looks, however, were very unique. Her hair, which reached down to her waist, was a shocking bright pink in color. As for her eyes, the left was a fiery red, and the right was an icy blue. She seemed to be his own age, fourteen.

Having seen her, Rai now completely ignored her and instead unceremoniously took some food and started eating. Few noticed, and fewer cared, because most of them knew how he was. The relative peace in the hall was shattered into several dozen pieces a moment later.

“Behold! I, Prince Dal, have arrived!” a boy several years Rai’s elder called, striding impressively into the room. He was an incredibly handsome boy, with the usual princely blonde hair, blue eyes, and muscular build. Only the three guests actually turned to look at him; everybody else was used to his grand entrances. “Darn…”

“…And that’s my other son, Dal.” Rai’s father said conversationally. The King he was speaking to laughed, and soon the two were deep in conversation about things Rai could only make heads of, most of which involved the obscure customs of people who lived thousands of years ago halfway across the world. It was either that or a discussion of some popular sport; the boy wasn’t entirely sure which.

After dinner, Rai got up to go. But when he was approximately three feet away from the table, he felt a tug on his sleeve. The boy turned to see who was doing it. It was the pink-haired princess, Selene, unless Rai was much mistaken.

“Yes?” the boy asked.

“Um… I-I w-was wondering i-if w-we could… G-get to k-know each other a l-little.” The girl stammered out, looking embarrassed. “W-we’re engaged now, s-so—“ her words were cut off as the sound of a slap echoed throughout the hall. There was a stunned silence throughout the hall. Almost everybody knew that Rai was a selfish, spoiled brat most of the time, but he was also a very fair person and tended not to hit people. He had just hit the one person he especially shouldn’t have.

“I don’t know you, and I don’t really want to.” Rai said coldly. “This whole thing was definitely not my idea. We may be engaged, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like you.”

“RAI!!” the boy’s dad thundered, standing up angrily. “What is the meaning of this!?”

“Go back to your diplomacy, old man.” Rai said, tugging his sleeve out of Selene’s grasp. The girl could only stare, her eyes brimming with tears that were more of internal hurt then actual physical pain. Rai calmly walked to one of the doors, then looked back over his shoulder. “I’m going to go visit Drake, at least he doesn’t abandon me.” With that, the boy smiled, and vanished in a puff of smoke.

“I should never have let him learn how to teleport…” Rai’s father said, looking annoyed. There were shallow laughs from a few of the people in the hall.

Deep in the absurdly large backyard of Magi Castle, Rai’s home, there was a cave. But this was no ordinary cave. For besides the fact that there were more rooms inside of it (accessible via special passages) then inside the normal castle, it was home to Drake. Drake was not a small creature. He was an adult silver dragon, fully capable of annihilating an entire army. This may have been why he was still there; nobody wanted to try and get him out.

Rai was the only one he didn’t attack on sight, though that might have to change soon because of the boy’s week-away wedding that he was working hard to get out of.

“Hey, Drake.” Rai said as he entered the cave. The dragon reached forward and nuzzled the boy. Rai smiled and pat the dragon on the muzzle; about the only part he could actually reach.

“Whuff?” Drake inquired. That was about the only sound he ever made, though Rai seemed to understand it perfectly.

“Oh, know about that, do you?” Rai asked, climbing up a rock to reach his favorite sitting place. After he did so, he continued talking. “I don’t know… I just got really mad all of a sudden.”

“Whuff?” Drake asked. Rai blinked.

“No, I don’t think it was some sort of spell.” The boy said, sighing. Drake let loose a long stream of whuff’s, and Rai sighed again. “Maybe…” he muttered. He spent about two hours talking to Drake, then headed back to the castle, looking slightly depressed.

After ten minutes or so of walking around, the boy found the girl Selene curled up on a chair in the library, crying softly. The boy felt a few pangs of guilt, but did his best to ignore them. Then he muttered something, sighed deeply, and walked over to Selene. The girl looked up, her eyes red.

“I… I’m sorry.” Rai muttered, looking distinctly uncomfortable. “I don’t know what came over me, but I had no right to hit you like that.” He looked at the girl’s face. A bruise had formed by now. The boy gently reached out a hand. Selene flinched, but didn’t move. After a few moments, the wound was healed as Rai used his magic to eliminate all traces of it.

“…………………………………….Thank you…” Selene whispered.

“It was nothing.” Rai replied, pulling his hand back. He began to turn around and leave, but stopped dead in his tracks as Selene gave him a light hug before hurrying off, her face red. “Uh…” the boy said, not entirely sure what had happened. “That… Was different.”

Half an hour passed while Rai read.

He then sighed and headed up to his room.

Several minutes after that, he was under the covers of his bed, with his lights turned off. He suddenly realized that he was indeed very lonely. In all his life, Rai had never had a real friend besides Drake. Nobody to laugh with, or have fun with, or even just talk with. He had nobody to cry on, but that was okay, because he simply didn’t cry. He had decided not to a number of years before.

“I want a friend…” Rai said quietly. “But I don’t want my parents to choose that friend for me. Nobody dictates my life except for me.” There was a knock on his door. “Come in!” the boy called. The door creaked open, and Selene quietly padded in. Rai waved a hand at a light, and it flickered up. “Oh. You. What’s up?”

“I… Um…” Selene began nervously. “I just wanted to say that I really don’t want you to hate me. I’ve never really had a friend, so I was hoping you could be one.”

‘She’s just like me.’ Rai thought, slightly taken aback. “Well, um… We’ll see.” The boy said, turning over. He heard something be set on the table, and then Selene left. “Maybe we can get along… I hope so.” The boy said, turning over. He found a small parcel lying on a stand, and it definitely hadn’t been there earlier. He summoned it over and opened it. Inside was a rose quartz. “…Interesting.” Rai said quietly, turning over.

The next morning, Rai calmly woke up, stretched, and put on some clean clothes. After a quick morning run, the boy headed towards the Breakfast Hall. He then paused, and listened through the door.

“Princess, he rejected you. He obviously has no eye for beauty. Come with me, we’ll talk your parents out of it. I actually care about you, you know.” A male voice was saying, rather elegantly. Rai frowned.

“I know that voice…” he muttered. “Don’t remember from where, but it was as annoying then as it is now.” Shrugging, the boy kicked the doors open and strode in. Selene looked at him, seeming rather nervous. Standing a bit too close to her was a prince handsome even by princely standards, which were obscenely high.

“Well, well, Rai has finally elected to join us.” The prince said, putting an arm around Selene’s shoulders. The girl pulled away. Rai watched, not entirely sure what was going on. “Princess--“

“I’m sorry, but despite what you may think, I like Rai.” Selene said, bowing politely.

“The brat struck you! He has no right to so much as be in your presence! I understand from your parents that you are something of a romantic, but imagine how much better off you’d be with somebody that actually cares!”

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk about me like I’m not here.” Rai said, wishing he had his sword. Looking embarrassed, Selene moved over to him. “Now, Prince Charming, why don’t you leave? As in leave before you’re late.”

“First of all, have we met before? I don’t recall telling you my name.” Prince Charming said. Rai covered his mouth to hide the sniggers.

“I was right about that?” he managed to gasp out.

“Oh, shut up! And second, late for what!?”

“Late as in ‘the late Prince Charming’…” Rai began. “And… well… your name…” he had to clamp both hands over his mouth.

“It’s not that funny!” Charming roared. Selene smiled. After he could control his laughs again, Rai let his hands fall. “Humph. You are a spoiled, rude little pest.”

“And you’re a lecherous idiot who doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘no’.” Rai replied smoothly. “Not to mention that your name is enough to make almost anybody burst out laughing.” He held out a hand to Selene. “Anyways, there was something I wanted to show you. Want to see it?”

“Sure.” Selene said. She followed Rai out of the doors.

“What… What just happened here?” Charming asked, flabbergasted. “H-he just…”

Up on the ramparts, Rai calmly showed the girl the dawn view of the lands around his parent’s castle.

“This is really nice…” Selene said, actually meaning it. “Do you watch this every day?”

“Hm? Oh, no, not really.” Rai said. “I’ve got other stuff to do, you know?” The boy plopped down to a sitting position. After a moment, Selene mimicked his movements, albeit in a princessly manner.

“So, um…” the princess said shyly. Rai looked over to her. “I… Um… Thank you.” She finally said.

“…For what?” Rai asked.

“For helping me get away from Prince Charming.” Selene explained. “I’ve never been very good at telling people what I want… All of those skills went to my brother.”

“You have a brother? What’s he like?” Rai asked curiously. Selene sighed.

“He’s… Um… Not a very good person.” The girl explained. “He likes ordering people around… And taking things that don’t belong to him… Oh, and insulting anybody he doesn’t like…”

“Hmm… I think I know the type.” Rai said. “Well, I’ll be sure to ask my dad to make a restriction against him coming here, then.” Selene looked up.

“Really?” the girl asked.

“Sure! It’s not like it’s anything particularly hard… And this has got to be bad enough for you and all. Why should your life have to get any more complicated then it already is?” Rai asked. Selene smiled slightly. The girl turned to look at him, but he had vanished.

“…Um… Rai?” the girl asked. There was no response.

Up in his room, the boy was slamming his fists into his bed, scowling.

“What’s wrong with me!? I don’t even know her!” the boy said furiously. He increased the speed of his punches. “That girl is just another person! Why the heck is she making me act so out of character!?” snarling in frustration, the boy slammed his fist down as hard as he could. “Stupid, stupid, stupid!”

“You know, Rai, maybe you like her and just don’t realize it.” A voice suggested.

“…Go away.” Rai replied. The voice snickered.

“To where? Believe me, I’ve watched a lot of Princes live in this room and talk about their princess’. It’s obvious, kid. You like her.”

“…Do not.”

“Do too.”

“Do not.”

“Yes, you do. Trying to insist that you don’t only makes you look childish. I’ve been here for over four hundred years; I think I’ve seen enough to know what I’m talking about. Besides, I can look around the rest of the castle, too.” The voice explained. Rai glared at the large mirror across the room from him. “Don’t look at me like that! I’m only trying to help!”

“Suuuuure.” Rai replied, rolling his eyes. “I don’t like her, okay? She’s a little more interesting then most people are, but I do not like her.”

“Liar.”

“Do I have to break you to get you to shut up?” the prince asked irritably.

“You could try. But I’m indestructible.” The voice replied smugly. “You can’t do a thing to me. I still know what you’re feeling, though. So many Princes have talked to me, and made sure they’re dressed just right for the girl in front of me… Yuck. I’m glad I’m only a mirror. Bur regardless, you need to lighten up and kiss her or something.”

“No. No, no, no. Never. Not a chance.” Rai replied. “If you even think about saying that again, I’ll have you taken to the dwarves. They don’t know the meaning of the word ‘Indestructible’, when it’s used for things not made by them.” The boy sighed and flopped onto his bed. “I just wish she didn’t like me so much. That makes it a lot harder for me to blow her off.”

“Indeed. Why not talk to your father? He went through almost the same thing when he was somewhat older then you…” the voice advised. Rai glared at the mirror again, then sighed.

“I’m going to be civil, but that’s about it. Because I am not marrying her, and that is final.”

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