Wistful Destiny

The feet crushed dry leaves as a pair of men stepped through the forest of the kingdom.
"Would that wood work?" Elric asked, pointing at a tree that is 12 feet tall with long branches.
Aaron shook his head. "We need light-weighted wood for your sword."
"But our kingdom has real swords. Like real!" Elric says this while stepping into the deep forest.
Aaron sighed. "Real swords can harm easily. You may hurt yourself, your highness."
Elric widened his eyes and nodded. "Hm, would you make one for me?"
Aaron nodded, looking around the forest.
"Am I not a good companion?" Elric asked, looking at his steps.
He always wanted a real friend. However, he doesn't know how to be a friend. What're the boundaries? What kind of conversation should be had? How would he be a good companion?
"No, your highness. It's just..." Aaron looks at the young prince. He couldn't help but smile at the innocent face. "We are still unknown to each other." He pointed it out. He was hoping the prince would get it.
"Oh," the prince's face lit with realization. "I seek pardon. I did not realize it."
"There is no need to apologize, your highness. You are the prince, and I'm just-"
"My friend," Elric says with a soft smile, stopping his steps. "Can I get the honor to be your friend, Aaron?"
Aaron smiled and looked at the right branch, which would be perfect to be craved and held by the prince as a bokken.
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The second prince of Amorite paced around his royal room. The pale green curtains flutter with wind through the second floor's window.
He heard a knock and glanced over his shoulder.
"Your highness," his spy whispered while having his forehead pressed on the ground.
"State your words." Emerson said, turning around in swift motion, that his long cloak was fluttering in the wind.
"Your highness. The crown prince is-"a foot pressed on the back head of the spy, who closes his eyes, bearing the pain.
If it weren't for his family's safety, he would have long left the second prince's side and bowed his life to the crown prince. At least the crown prince never belittled the people. A perfect king for this nation. He hopes for the day to arrive soon.
"He is not the crown prince. I'm the one who is going to wear the crown. I'm the one ruling on each one of you."
"Please pardon me, cr-crown prince." He felt the foot moving from his back.
"Say it."
"Your highness, prince, is in a small kingdom named Elysia. He has claimed himself as a merchant."
"Where is he now?"
"I would need more days to inform you, your highness."
Emerson turns to the wide sky with gritted teeth. "Where are you, brother? I wish you die there and never return, for I shall take over the kingdom."
The spy closed his eyes and prayed for the good health of the crown prince.
Nobody knows the real face of the second prince. Everybody knows his good side and presumes him to be the same as the crown prince. However, some do know about the cruel and dark side. Yet, nobody could say anything to their king because of royalty.
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"Is it done?" Elric asked, having his eyes locked on Aaron's hand, which was skinning the wood using the dagger provided by the prince.
"Not yet, your highness." Aaron's sole focus is on the to-be Bokken.
Elric looks ahead at the setting sun and hugs himself while moving his rear to have a better sitting position, as it's aching now while sitting on the branch for a long time.
Sitting on a tree is Elric's idea, which Aaron couldn't object to, knowing he's a prince.
"What is your favorite food, Aaron?" The young prince asked while his leg swung in the air.
Aaron's focus didn't waver, and he continued to craft the wood. "Anything eligible."
Elric nodded his head and remembered the meeting behind the curtains. He wants to talk about meeting up. However, the odd side didn't agree to disclose that he's the same. Now, how shall he subtly discuss this matter?
"What should I crave on this?" Aaron said, looking at the width and height of the bokken.
Noticing the confused gaze. Aaron explained. "This will be your temporary sword. Then, it must have a symbol that says, This is yours alone."
Elric nodded his eyes, looked at the vast sky, and asked, "What does your sword have as a unique symbol?"
Aaron smiled and remembered his precious sword wrapped in a cloth. It has the emblem of the Amorite crest at the base of the double-edged sword.
"Just a random drawing," Aaron replied, looking back at the prince with a smile.
Elric looked down and gave a thought. "For now, I do not want any cravings." Soft smile lingering on his face. "I would let you know when I get something important."
Aaron nodded and looked ahead. His eyes noticed two figures walking down the forest. They were so into their own world that they didn't notice the two sitting on top of a tree.
Elric smiled at the couple, noticing the red strings attached to their ring fingers.
"They do not look as if they are here for wood." Aaron muttered, which got Elric's attention.
"Oh, you are not aware of their action, right?" Elric whispered and gestured for Aaron to get closer.
"They are like...how to say," Elric frowns to say in simpler words. "They have accepted each other's soul."
Watching the narrowed eyes of Aaron, he further added. "On the festival day, The boy confessed his love to the lady."
"What festival?" Aaron asked, still not getting the point.
Elric tsks and inhales. "The day we worship Mother Earth That day, many people confessed their love to one another."
"On such occasions, their love is accepted by taking the red string from the person or rejected by tearing the red string."
Aaron nodded and whispered, "Rejecting and tearing the string sounds painful." He looks at the tiny figures, fading away from their sight. "But what are they doing here?"
"Ah, when love is accepted and thoughts are mutual, They need to tie that red string to the sacred tree of our kingdom." Elric's eyes lit up with excitement.
Watching the eyes, which look awfully familiar to Aaron. The gentleness of these eyes is familiar to those of the maiden. Then, again. They're very different. She is a servant girl. This man is a prince.
Aaron shook the thoughts away and talked before Elric could say anything. "Yes, I would love to see your sacred tree."
Elric smiled wide, his teeth shining in the sun.
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"Father, I do not think it is correct to let my brother have acquaintance with a merchant." Elric's brother said, keeping the tea cup in the tray after taking a sip.
The king raised his right eyebrow and continued to drink his tea. Looking at the open garden with birds chirping around.
"For the very first time, he has requested something, or, I would say, someone's presence." The father placed the cup on the wooden table. "I've been busy with the kingdom and you, my son." Holding a soft smile. "The time you spent with him was helping in reading scriptures and writing, in archery, about wars."
The king rested his chin on his fist and continued. "You rarely played with him."
The crown prince widened his eyes. Lips parted to object to his father. However, he pursed them when a hand was raised in the air.
"Let me finish my words." The king firmly added "Whatever you have done is correct. Very correct. What you have done has turned him into a kind prince. A prince, which our kingdom adores. A prince who respects others regardless of their position. A prince who sees things differently from the rest."
The king picks up his clay cup again and takes a sip. "However, he has the trait of his mother, which you do not own. You are more like me, son. But Elric is a copy of his mother. She was kind and pure. She would never bother others with her wishes. She would rather bury it inside than let others know. This is something that Elric has."
Emptying the cup, the king placed it in the tray and sat upright. "Elric has done the same. He told me his wish when he understood that he would lose his new friend. When he realized that he must take a step for himself, for his will."
The king smiled. "He showed me his wish with tears too." Watching the frown form on his son's face. He clarifies. "Because of my hurtful words. I was very insensitive toward him. I should apologize to him soon."
"That young man is smart. He found the solution, and do you remember the way he spoke and pointed out those different things? I wish Elric gained some knowledge from his acquaintance." The king further added with a smile.
The crown prince gulped his temper with the tea, letting it flow through his throat to force down the words that would anger his father too.
"I wish your wish to come true, father."
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"This is our tree." Elric spoke, looking at the giant tree whose branches are hugging the sky and roots peeking at the newcomers from the earth. The leaves are greener than the rest. The wind was humming a soothing melody.
"Oh," Aaron's mouth turned a cave of amusement.
"This is so beautiful." Aaron said and glanced at Elric, who was removing his jute shoes.
"Wait, I need to remove my shoes." Aaron quickly pulls the shoes off without untangling the aglet.
Elric chuckled and stood under the tree while closing his eyes. Aaron swiftly stood next to him and peered at Elric, noticing the closed eyes. He does the same with a hum.
"What are we doing?" Aaron asked, peeking through one eye.
"Wishing for guidance in life and our kingdom to prosper as the leaves." Elric whispered and kissed the tree trunk.
Aaron awkwardly follows the same
"Did you make a wish?" Elric asked, circling around the tree.
"Uh, I do not wish for anything." Aaron replied and followed in his footsteps. Unknowingly, he stepped on Elric's footprint, creating a bigger one.
Elric smiled. "It's good to be happy with what we have now."
He stopped and looked up at the branches, which had many red strings fluttering with the wind.
"The pair wears the red string on their ring fingers, which is said to connect with our hearts as they step towards Mool. Then, the lady ties it to the branch and takes blessings."
"Mool?"
"We call our sacred tree Mool."
Aaron nods and notices the height of the branch. He would have difficulty reaching the branch. How did a lady manage?
"They are held in their lover's arms as they tie the string. It is said to tighten their love and bond with each other while the man is holding the lady." Elric said this and smiled at Aaron, hoping the man understood this tradition.
Aaron looks closely and notices many knots on some strings till the very end and some not.
Aaron steps forward to have a closer look. However, he was pushed back by Elric.
"You would have stepped on this." Elric said he picked up a red string, which was buried under the soil, and a dry leaf.
"Someone's love dropped on the ground." Aaron whispered, looking at the fluttering leaves of the tree.
"Mostly the strong wind caused this." Elric whispered, dusting the string with a frown. He looked up and noticed the height. He won't reach there.
"Can we tie it again?" Aaron asked, resting his hands on his waist.
Elric looks at Aaron. "I do not know. I have never heard of tying string again."
"There is no harm in trying." Aaron whispered, watching Elric take his time with his decision as the man nodded.
"Alright, will you climb the tree or should I?" Aaron asked, rolling his sleeves and keeping the Bokken on the ground.
"No, no." Elric shook his head. "We cannot climb on Mool. We respect Mool as we respect our parents. We do not show our feet to them. While climbing, we need to step on Mool."
"Ok, ok, I understood." Aaron looks at the ground for some time and at Mool.
"Can you tie the string?" Aaron asked as Elric gave a confused nod.
Elric yelps in shock as Aaron picks him up from the ground. His legs are dangling while his arms wrap around Aaron's neck in surprise.
"It's just me." Aaron whispered as his warm breath sent shivers down Elric's spine.
Goosebumps swarm across his skin with each heartbeat. With wide eyes, looking down at the man holding him in his arms.
"Holy!" A voice exclaimed while tapping on his colleague's shoulder.
"Hush, we should not get caught." The other one replied, his eyes focusing on the pair where the prince was being held by the merchant.
"We should stop them." The first one held his spear and stood up straight. Yet he was pulled down by another.
"We can not do that." The second one replied as his armor pressed against a tall tree.
"Why?" The first one asked, watching Elric tie the string to a branch. "They are doing the ritual!" He further exclaimed, gaining an eye roll from his partner.
"Our prince is the kindest." The second was stated while watching the prince held in the air by the merchant. Surely, the man is strong enough to hold another man for so long. Because their prince is not weak.
"He does not wish for anyone to hold a fruitless love." He further added while his eyes focused on the braid of knots on the string. "Whomever it belongs, their love will always be stronger than before."
The first solider tilts his head in confusion yet nods his head. "Yes. I wish everyone to get their love, just as a prince tying the knot. With each knot being stronger."
Elric's grin widening with each knot. He tied it to the very end and smiled at the braided string fluttering with the wind. He tucks his blowing hairs behind his ear and looks down at Aaron.
"I wish their love to be immortal." Elric whispered and watches Aaron looking at him with parted lips.
"Your eyes are very similar to her." Aaron muttered.
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