JOURNEY TO THE HEAVEN TO HELL

The Forgotten Past: The Prince's Destiny - Chapter 7

Ren sat in his room, practicing his magic and reflecting on the previous day's events.

"So, I was told that the girl was actually the genius Dad wanted me to meet," Ren murmured to himself. "Her name's Rin. I didn't know she was a princess. Anyway, she was incredibly strong. I never thought she'd be so talented, or that I'd get to meet someone so gifted. I'd hoped that when I met such a talented person, I might learn something from them. But after our fight, I have a feeling she's really mad at me. Can I even be friends with her? I doubt I can be friends with her, let alone defeat her. Should I apologize?"

"Wait," Ren scoffed, shaking his head. "But what would I apologize for? That girl is too arrogant. What am I supposed to do? She started the fight! I don't care! Even if she doesn't teach me anything, I'll learn it myself. Besides, I've apologized way too much in my life. I don't need to apologize to anyone anymore. It wasn't my fault."

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, followed by a voice.

Ren opened the door. "Who is it?"

Standing before him was his older sister, Luna. "You're so strong!" Luna exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I watched your fight! I had no idea you were so powerful! Come with me!"

"Where?" Ren asked, "Where are we going?"

Luna said nothing more, simply tugging him along.

Ren soon realized he was being taken shopping. They settled into a carriage and set off towards the market.

Ren thought to himself, Wait, what? I thought something special would happen, some grand vision, but they're just taking me shopping?

"Luna, big sister, why are we going shopping?" Ren inquired.

"Because of Dad," Luna replied simply.

"Wait, what? Because of Dad? I don't understand. How is it because of Dad?"

"Because Dad didn't tell us why we were coming here when he brought us," Luna explained. "We only knew we were coming for a party. Dad didn't tell us it was someone's birthday, and we're coming to a birthday party. Wouldn't it look bad if we went to a birthday party empty-handed? We should take something, right? That's why I'm going shopping, to buy a gift."

"What? It's someone's birthday? Whose birthday is it, do you know?" Ren asked, surprised.

"It's the youngest princess's birthday, whose name is Rin," Luna said. "Oh, and she's the same girl you fought with this morning."

Ren's eyes widened in shock. "What? It's her birthday? I had no idea!"

Ren thought to himself, Wait, what? It's her birthday? I already had a fight with her. I don't even think she'll accept a gift from my hands. I guess I'll have to find a really good gift now that she'll like, or else she might humiliate me in front of everyone. If she's already upset, maybe I really should get her a good gift.

Ren then turned to Arisa. "By the way, Arisa, you're with us too, so what gift are you going to give?"

Arisa's eyes widened. "What? Do I have to give a gift too? I'm your bodyguard, Prince, to protect you. Why would I give a gift?"

Ren teased, "No, no! If you stand with us, you'll have to give a gift too. It wouldn't look good, would it? Think, what will people think of you if you're a Prince's bodyguard and don't bring a gift? You have to give a gift. Isn't that right, big sister Luna?"

Luna also chimed in with a teasing smile, "Yes, that's right! Since you're with us, you'll have to give a very expensive gift! An expensive enough gift for a princess to like!"

Arisa nervously glanced at her purse, trying to figure out how much money she had. She quickly realized she had none and began to panic. What do I do now?

Both siblings burst into laughter. "Oh, we were just kidding!" they said. "You got so scared!"

"Luna," Ren added, "don't worry, I'll get you an expensive gift that you can give her."

And so, joking and laughing along the way, they arrived at the market.

The three began to wander through the market, looking for a suitable gift.

Ren thought, A gift? Ugh, what kind of gift should I get? I have no idea. In my previous life, I never gave anyone a gift because no one ever invited me to any parties. So I don't know what kind of gift girls like, or what she'd prefer. Should I ask Luna? Oh no, she'll just tease me again and do something. I should pick a gift myself. Wait, if I ask Arisa, she's a girl, she might know what a girl likes. She should know.

"Listen, Arisa, I need to ask you something. Do you know what kind of gift a girl would like?"

Arisa, "What, Prince? You're asking me? Wait, I'll tell you what a girl would like. Look, Prince, you should give her lots of food to eat, that would make her happy. Or perhaps you should give her fancy new clothes. Or maybe a really good suit of armor to wear. No, I tell you, give her lots of gold! Or even better, give her a very good sword to fight with!"

Ren made a strange face, thinking, I know I never went to anyone's birthday party in my previous life, never gave any girl a gift, but even I know that none of these things would be appreciated. After all, she's a princess; she wouldn't be short on clothes. And I don't think she eats that much food. And as for swords, I doubt she lacks any. As for perfect armor, I don't think she'd need it; she's strong enough herself. I'll just ask Luna directly.

Ren said, "Listen, Luna, I'm going to wander around. I'll buy something if I find it."

Luna, "Alright, but don't go too far. We won't be together."

Arisa, "Come, Prince, I'll come with you too."

"No, absolutely not!" Ren said. "You're not coming with me. Stay right here."

In my mind, If I take her with me, she'll just show me weird things to buy. So it's better if I buy it alone.

And with that, he left.

Ren checked many shops, wandering here and there, looking for what he should get. Nothing particularly caught his eye, nothing seemed special or appealing. And some things he did like, he wasn't sure if he should get them or not.

As he wandered, he spotted a red diamond stone in a very large shop.

He began to look at it, and he liked it. He thought to himself:

Wow! This is a beautiful red diamond locket. It would look good around her neck. Her eyes are red too, and she has long red hair. It would suit her personality perfectly. I haven't liked anything else.

He then told the shopkeeper, "Give me that red diamond locket."

Just then, another boy next to him said he also wanted that locket.

Ren looked to see who else wanted the locket.

The boy said, "Hey kid, I want this locket. You can leave now."

Ren thought, What? Should I leave? I want this, because I can't find anything else.

"Listen, shopkeeper," Ren said, "give me that locket. I'll pay you a higher price."

"Hey, kid!" the other boy shouted. "Didn't you understand? I said I want this! I want that red locket!"

The shopkeeper interjected, "Hey, don't fight! I'll give it to whoever pays me more. And this is very expensive and rare. It's found in very few places, so think carefully. You won't find a piece like this anywhere else! It's very rare, found in very few places!"

Ren thought, What? It's rare? Now I definitely need it. Maybe she'll like it.

"Tell me the price of the locket!" the boy demanded. "I'll give you the money!"

"1000 gold coins!" the shopkeeper declared.

"What? 1000 gold coins?" the boy exclaimed. "Isn't that too expensive?"

In his mind, Anyway, I don't think this kid can pay that much, so this locket will probably be mine.

"Here are 2000 gold coins," Ren said, "now give me that locket."

The boy was completely astonished. He thought, What? He just gave 2000 like that, without any bargaining? So what? I'll give more than him too! I'm a rich person too!

"Here are 3000 gold coins!" he declared.

"Here are 5000 gold coins," Ren said, "and give it to me."

Ren thought, How dare he? I'm a prince now. I'll give as much as it takes, but I have to have this.

The boy started to get angry, and he said, "Here are 10,000 gold coins! Now give it to me!" he said, fuming.

The shopkeeper was overjoyed. "Alright, master!" he said, about to hand it to him.

"Here are 15,000 gold coins!" Ren announced.

The boy was utterly shocked, and his anger flared even more. In a fit of rage, he exclaimed,

"Here are 20,000 gold coins, and give it to me!"

The boy's bodyguard said, "Stop, master! This is too much for one locket!"

The boy retorted, "You shut up! I can't lose to a kid!"

Just then, someone suddenly placed 30,000 gold coins on the counter and said, "Quietly hand the locket to us!"

Everyone was astonished, and they realized...

Everyone then realized it was Luna, the eldest princess of the Moon Kingdom.

Everyone began to tremble, as she was clearly angry.

The shopkeeper said, "Alright, alright, you can have this locket."

He handed over the locket and took the money.

"Listen, boy," Luna said, "I don't know who you are, but this locket is mine! Do you have a problem with that?"

The boy stammered, "Oh, no, no, Princess! Why would I have a problem? You can keep it!"

And she said to Ren, teasingly, "Look, it's yours now, no, it's mine!"

Then Luna picked up the locket and handed it to Ren. "Oh, how much time you waste! You should have just taken it quickly! After all, you're a Prince! If you have any problem like this next time, just tell me!"

Ren thought to himself, I didn't know my big sister was so famous. The people here were so scared of her. Well, why not? After all, she's a genius!

Everyone took their purchases and returned to the palace.

Ren was walking towards his room, wandering through the palace, when he noticed...

Sounds coming from one of the rooms.

He peeped in and saw...

Someone was scolding Rin, saying,

"How many times have I taught you the same dance step, and you still can't learn it! You're such a foolish girl! You can't even do this much! Your birthday is coming up, so what will you perform at the party? You have to learn this dance quickly!" Then, with an angry hand, she slapped Rin.

Ren was utterly shocked. He thought, Wait, what? Such a strong girl, yet she's getting hit? Who is it?

Then, flashbacks of his past life flashed through his mind.

Actually, this happened to me too. When I was little, I was told I had to learn to dance, even though I hated dancing. But I was forced to learn it. I was scolded a lot. I learned it with great difficulty.

So maybe I can understand how she must be feeling.

Then he saw who was scolding and hitting her.

It was actually the Princess's own mother, who was scolding her and slapping her.

Rin stood there silently, her head bowed, tears in her eyes.

The Queen angrily left.

Just then, Rin came out of the room.

As soon as Ren realized it, he quickly moved away. He pretended he was just walking by quietly.

When Rin came out of the room, she saw Ren and began to stare intently at him.

Ren thought to himself, Wait, what? How did she know I heard everything?

Rin said nothing, simply walked past him silently.

Ren thought, Wow, she was so quiet.

But still, I noticed something strange in her eyes. I wonder what it was.

Wandering around, he reached the palace rooftop.

He then saw someone sitting in a corner.

He walked towards them to see who it was, and found Rin sitting there in the corner.

In my mind, Wait, what? Is she crying, or just sitting?

Then, she looked up, her gaze suddenly angry.

"Rin, why are you following me?"

Ren stammered, "Oh, no, no! I wasn't following you. I was just wandering around and ended up here. I didn't know you were here."

Rin quietly began to leave.

Just then, Ren said, "Listen, Princess, I've noticed that you're having a lot of difficulty with your dance practice."

Rin turned around, completely surprised, and drew her sword. "How do you know?" she demanded.

"Oh, I accidentally overheard," Ren said. "But I can teach you how to dance. I know it very well. But in return, you'll have to teach me magic, specifically Earth magic."

In my mind, Anyway, I learned to dance with great effort. It's a different matter that it never came in handy in my previous life. Maybe it'll be useful here.

Rin glared at him and then walked away silently.