THE CHOSEN ONE (Reunion)

THE WATERFALL

The two royal princes took a bath, the warm water washing away the tension of the night, and changed into fresh clothes. They descended the stairs and entered the sitting room, where Benjamin and Ryn were seated, talking quietly to some guards who stood silently in front of them.

Benjamin noticed the princes and immediately discarded the conversation he had been having with the guards, his gaze fully on them.

“Now you both are looking good,” Benjamin said with a smile, his eyes warm and welcoming as he regarded Ramsay and Noah.

“Thanks to your great hospitality,” Ramsay replied, smiling in return.

Noah’s eyes roamed the room, taking in the high ceilings, polished wooden floor, and the grand furniture. 

“You have a big house,” he said, a note of admiration in his voice.

“If you say so. It belongs to my forefather,” Benjamin said calmly, his expression proud but relaxed.

“It must be old,” Noah commented, his tone a mix of curiosity and amazement.

Benjamin replied, “Way older than you could ever imagine. Well, I want you both to come with me to the town so I can show you around.”

Ramsay’s eyes widened slightly. He asked, “Are you saying you want to take us on a tour around your town?”.

Benjamin’s smile did not waver. He said, “Yes. There’s much to see, and I want you both to experience it firsthand.”

Noah and Ramsay exchanged glances, a mixture of curiosity and excitement passing between them. The room felt warm and inviting, yet the promise of the unknown town beyond these walls carried a quiet tension that made their hearts race with anticipation. 

“No, we would love to see your town,” Noah said, his eyes shining with curiosity.

Benjamin walked to the princes and placed a hand gently on each of the princes’ shoulders. Then he said to them, “I promise you, you won’t want to go back home after touring around my town.”

Ramsay and Noah exchanged smiles, their excitement growing.

“You flatter too much, big brother,” Ryn said lightly, shooting Benjamin a playful look.

Benjamin’s gaze shifted to her. He said, “Why don’t you come with us, Ryn?”.

Ryn stood and said with a grin, “I’m going into town; why don’t you tag along?”.

Benjamin turned back to the princes. He said, “Let’s go, guys.”

Benjamin and Ryn, along with the four guards, led Noah and Ramsay through the town. The streets were filled with people moving about, the chatter of townsfolk blending with the distant sounds of merchants calling out their wares. 

The houses and shops were neatly aligned, with windows open to let in the fresh air, and small paths and alleys created a sense of depth and life to the town. They continued walking and exploring, the tour lasting until the day ended. Eventually, they returned home to have dinner.

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Dinner was warm and lively, filled with laughter and stories. Afterwards, they lingered over a conversation that stretched into the evening, voices soft against the quiet of the house. When it was finally time for bed, everyone retired to their rooms.

Noah lay in bed, trying to sleep, but rest would not come. Frustrated, he rose quietly and stepped outside. The night air was cool against his skin as he found a place to sit, gazing up at the stars that blanketed the sky.

As he sat in silence, a faint sound drifted from somewhere around the house. Noah tried to ignore it, but the noise persisted, growing more deliberate. Curiosity pulled him toward the source.

He crept closer and soon spotted Ryn attempting to slip out of the house through a window.

“Do you need help?” Noah asked, a playful smile forming on his lips as Ryn noticed him.

“Yes. If you care to help,” Ryn replied, and they both laughed, the sound mingling with the calm night air, carrying the promise of adventure yet to come.

Noah helped Ryn out of the house through the window, and they both stood facing each other.

“Can I ask why you tried to get out of the house through the window instead of the front door?” Noah asked.

“Because the guards at my door won’t let me out,” said Ryn.

“Why won’t they?” asked Noah, curiosity lighting his eyes.

“Long story, which I’m not interested in sharing,” Ryn replied, her expression unreadable.

“Okay. I guess you’re heading somewhere if you sneaked out through the window?” Noah pressed.

“Follow me if you want to know,” said Ryn, already starting to walk away.

“Are you sure?” Noah asked, hesitating.

“Stay then,” Ryn said without looking back, and Noah followed her.

Ryn led him through winding paths and over small bridges until they reached a waterfall. Noah stopped in his tracks, eyes wide. The water cascaded down with a thunderous roar, mist rising and catching the light in sparkling droplets.

“It’s beautiful, right?” Ryn asked, smiling at him.

“It’s more than beautiful… it’s… magnificent,” Noah said, a smile spreading across his face.

“Come with me,” Ryn said, and Noah followed.

She guided him to a cave nestled beside the waterfall. They stepped inside, the cool, damp air brushing against their skin, and emerged at the cave’s other exit, which opened near the edge of the waterfall, not far from the river that glimmered under the moonlight.

Noah and Ryn sat at the edge of the cave, taking in the view—the rushing water, the river below, and the moonlight reflecting off the surface, making the whole scene glow with a serene, silver light.

“Do you like the sight?” Ryn asked softly.

“I love it. The way the moon shines on the water… it makes everything look so lovely,” Noah said, smiling, his voice almost a whisper.

“Yes… um… I noticed the way you looked at the waterfall when you first saw it. You looked…” Ryn began, trailing off, her eyes fixed on his expression.

 

Ryn was cut short of words as Noah spoke, “This is my first time seeing a waterfall. I’ve only heard about it in books, and when I saw it, its beauty is more than what I read in the books.”

Ryn smiled, the corners of her lips lifting as she watched him take in the sight.

“Why did you smile?” asked Noah, curiosity softening his tone.

“Nothing. Where are you from?” asked Ryn, her eyes scanning the cascading water.

“I’m from Axrax. I’m sure you’ve heard about it,” Noah said.

“You’re wrong. I don’t know Axrax and have never heard about it,” Ryn replied, shaking her head slightly.

“That’s new,” said Noah, a small grin forming on his face.

“I’ve never left my hometown ever. My big brother never let me go anywhere and always had guards follow me around, saying he has to protect me from what killed our parents,” Ryn said, her voice quiet, almost carrying the weight of her past.

“I’m sorry about your parents,” Noah said gently.

“It’s okay,” Ryn replied, her gaze drifting back to the waterfall.

“I guess this waterfall explains why you were trying to sneak out of the house through the window,” Noah said with a smile, his eyes glinting in the moonlight reflecting off the water.

“Maybe,” said Ryn, a playful hint in her voice.

“Why is it still a maybe? Or are you some kind of village villain?” Noah teased, laughter in his voice.

Ryn smiled again, shaking her head. She said, “Still not interested in telling you.”

“Okay,” Noah said, chuckling softly.

“So, what does Axrax, where you are from, look like?” asked Ryn, leaning slightly forward, curious.

“Axrax is the biggest and largest kingdom of all the other kingdoms,” Noah said, his eyes lighting up as he spoke of his home.

“There are other kingdoms too?” Ryn asked, surprise evident in her voice.

“Yes, four others apart from Axrax. They are Lythridite, Samuzia, Micapus, and Domitrus. But Axrax is the most beautiful kingdom. Its palace is so big you could get lost if you don’t know your way around it, and it’s very lovely. I wish you could see it for yourself,” Noah said, gesturing vaguely toward the horizon as if to show her the distant lands in his imagination.

“Maybe one day,” said Ryn, a soft hope in her voice.

Just then, a melody drifted across the river, carried by the gentle flow of water. Both of them turned their heads toward the sound, their eyes widening as singing—clear and hauntingly beautiful—echoed softly over the waterfall.

“Does that happen often?” Noah asked.

“No… this is the first time I’m also hearing this,” Ryn said.

“So what’s happening now?” Noah asked as they both rose to their feet, confused and alert.

“I don’t know, but we should get out of here. Now.” Ryn said.

They turned to leave and froze.

A vast surge of water was rushing through the cave toward them. Ryn and Noah stared, fear tightening their chests as the roaring water filled the passage.

“What should we do now?” Noah asked, voice shaking.

“I don’t know… but I suggest we jump into the river. Can you swim?” Ryn asked quickly.

“Yes, I can", replied Noah.

“Then jump!” Ryn said, and leapt into the river. Noah followed immediately.

They hit the water hard.

They tried to swim upward, to break the surface — but the river dragged them down with terrifying force. Ryn and Noah struggled, fighting against the pull, but the current only pulled them deeper and deeper.

The world above faded. The sky disappeared. The moon vanished from sight. They sank, swallowed by the darkness beneath the river.