Unexpected Destiny: The Half Dragon and The Nine Masks

Chapter 8

Andres and Anthoni walked leisurely past the residents who were buying and selling and also some traders who were tidying up their wares, because in the evening, the market would be closed. Little children run from their mothers who tell them to go home. Andres smiled seeing how happy the children were, he was surprised, when a boy fell in front of him.

"Are you okay?" Andres reflexively helped the boy who looked like he wanted to cry. Andres saw a little blood coming out of the wound on the boy's knee. "Anthon, did you bring water?" He looked up, Anthoni without asking immediately gave him a bottle of mineral water. "Hold on a minute. I want to clean the sand that's stuck to the your wound. Okay?" Andres looked at the boy. The boy nodded slowly. Andres spilled water on the boy's knee who was wincing in pain. "You are great." He pinched the blushing boy.

"Thank you," said the boy.

"Try to get up. I want to know if your feet hurt when you walk." Andres watched the boy who seemed to be struggling to stand up.

"Where is your house?" Anthoni asked, then glanced at the boy's left leg which was slightly shaking. The blood that came out was a little, but the boy had fallen with his knees hitting the ground quite hard.

"Not far from the market."

"I will carry pickaback you." Anthoni crouched down, letting the boy climb onto his back. "Come here." The boy wearing the green shirt hesitated. "That's okay."

"Come on up." Andres nodded, reassuring the boy. "We'll take you."

"But...."  The boy's eyes flashed fear mixed with doubt.

"We're not bad people." Andres patted the boy's shoulder. "Are you here with your mother or father? Or are you here alone?"

The boy nodded. "I came here myself. I wanted to buy that chocolate candy over there," he pointed at the row of closed shops, "but they're closed." He's sad.

Andres nodded in understanding, no wonder the boy fell for running in a hurry to buy chocolate, but it was too late, the shop was closed. "Come tomorrow at noon, so you can buy it."

The boy nodded.

"Let Big Brother Anthoni carry you. Soon the sun will set."  Andres smiled. The boy finally complied.

Anthoni was without any difficulty and objected, for the boy was very light, like a pillow. Anthoni offered the boy a free carrier first, because he was afraid that Andres would carry the boy. Because he really knows the crown prince's personality.

Andres looked to the right and left. Is he wearing a mask? No, he wears a mask only when he's in the palace and meeting your Quiver members. Even Anthoni and Almeta also wore masks at the palace. Of course he has reasons, one of which is securing his position as crown prince.

"Leo?" A woman who was picking up clothes that had dried on the clothesline, was surprised to see her child being carried by a man who seemed to be a swordsman or adventurer. "What happened, Leo?"

After getting off the sling, the boy named Leo bowed respectfully to Anthoni and Andres. "Thank you very much." He smiled widely.

Leo's mother also thanked him, even though she didn't know what had happened to her son.

Anthoni and Andres smiled, then resumed their journey to the palace before the sun set.

"You know what, Meta?" Anthoni looked at Almeta who was sitting in front of him with a serious face.

"Know what?" Almeta is curious. The two of them were sitting in the living room in the palace where Andres lived. The owner of the palace was sitting leaning against a wall made of wood while reading a book.

"Belanca advised us to always be with the Crown Prince. Don't leave him alone so that nothing untoward happens." Anthoni said with eyes that glanced at the Andres.

"Why did Belanca say that?" Almeta propped her chin. "Has she seen anything extraordinary happen in the future?" She leaned in so that his face was an inch away from Anthoni's. "Doesn't the Crown Prince dislike predicted?"

Anthoni shrugged his shoulders. "Belanca also reminds the Crown Prince to be better at controlling himself."

Almeta's eyes widened. She understood what Belanca's words meant which was a warning. She nodded. "Keeping the Crown Prince from getting out of hand. Yes, it is indeed dangerous."

"You mean I'm scary?" Andres' deep voice made the two friends as well as his personal bodyguards startled, then fell silent. Silence fell upon them, Anthoni glared at Almeta whose words had made the crown prince sad.  Andres brown eyes fell on the two people whose bodies both stiffened.

Almeta closed her eyes, took a deep breath before turning to Andres. "That's not what I meant. Sorry, I mis-spoke and make you misunderstand."

Andres tilted his head, a glimpse of sadness in his eyes. "So what do you really mean?"

Concern was clearly visible on Almeta's tired face. "If you lose control, your identity will be exposed. It's very dangerous."

Andres closed the book he was reading.  "This secret, can't be hidden forever."

"You can. Remember, until now Aunt Brionna and Veloxa are trying to make a potion. Don't be pessimistic, Crown Prince." Anthoni looked deeply at Andres.

"Maybe  can, but it this will continue to pass on to my children and descendants." Andres' words made Anthoni and Almeta speechless. "If the potion works, surely my children and descendants will have to drink it."

Anthoni and Almeta looked down, felt the sadness that Andres felt.

"Crown Prince."

 "Mm?"

 "Like Belanca said, I or Almeta will always accompany you wherever you go. Don't go alone anymore." Anthoni gave Andres a serious look.

Andres looked up, seeing the shining stars lighting up the dark night sky. "Yes." He nodded. Anthoni and Almeta looked at each other, slightly disbelieving hearing the crown prince who immediately agreed. Because Andres doesn't like being followed.

His eyes are indeed looking at the billions of stars in the sky, but his brain thinks very complicated. Andres wants to be free from this fate that binds him. If he complains, why is he different? It was as if he was blaming his parents who were happy in heaven.