Alexei

The Sunbeam Ruins, a land where darkness can not be found and only the light of day can be seen, old ruins of once high standing monuments were scattered across the land, a once thriving kingdom now fallen to shatters. Even if the buildings were now nothing but old rocks, the life in the lands still thrived luxuriously and the light still shone brightly, making all look heavenly, welcoming. Life still lived in the Hewn City, an once languishing town, and hidden throughout its depth was a small kingdom of dragons, led by a family of royal blood, with under them living a small civilisation. Words always spread quickly around the little kingdom, no secrets could be hidden, and no people could shrivel away, so it wasn’t a surprise when the word spread around about the queen sitting on a batch of three eggs, all soon to be hatched under the beaming light of the Sunbeam Ruins. It didn’t take long for the eggs to start cracking, as the sun slowly awakened in the distance as morning rolled over, the pipping of the eggs was loud and clear, each hatching one by one, and soon, there in the nest were three Skydancer hatchlings, reflecting the physics of their parents with being pure black and cold coiling around their bodies. The mother smiled softly at the batch who squirmed under her wing, she took care of them all, as the father admired the little ones, commenting with how magnificent they look, like true royalty should. They named them Alexei, Augustus, and Helena. As much as they loved each dearly, admittedly all that hung on their minds was the bloodline of royalty, and especially, mentally both picking their favourite, as in which one would take the throne just upon looks, without the knowledge of the hatchlings below.

Each of them grew up quite quickly, Alexei held a good relationship with his siblings, they would play quite often and get up to all kind of activities. He was close to his parents, they’d always spoil him, always put him before his siblings, always making sure he got what he wanted and was cared for, and especially constantly complimenting him, making sure that he knew that he’d become king, govern the kingdom after they fell into their death beds. He never realized the jealousy his brother felt towards this, as he was always put last, it made him much bitter as they grow up, always being put last. Alexei wasn’t very happy all the times with how he got spoilt, he always made sure his siblings too would be noticed, treated such as he, but his siblings never saw it that way and his parents brushed it off whenever he talked about it. They were cared for by many workers, taught how to fly, the history of the kingdom and how it worked through professional teachers, Augustus was taught how to fight as they expected him to become a knight to protect the king, his brother, as Helena was taught how to be lady like, and less boyish, like her brothers, whilst Alexei was taught how to be a king, like his father. Never were any taught to hunt, as it was the civilisation below who brought everything for them and cared for the siblings. Alexei had always wanted to hunt but was always told it was not a royalty’s job to do so. They were taught about the sins, the bad, and the goods of the kingdom, alongside the punishment which would be ensued for doing such acts. One thing which Alexei was always reminded of, Is the fact that someday, once he became truly prince, he was going to have to choose a woman to become the queen along his sides once he became king, and continue the royal bloodline, for their family.

Months flew by, they were finally allowed to explore the town down below, and so Alexei did. He loved mingling with the population, not isolated in the castle and see the outside world around him, seeing how they worked and did things. He was quite gleeful down there, sometimes he’d sit down and admire the surroundings, especially the males who were working. He never battered an eye for the girls, only the boys who roamed around the town, no one really noticed his admiration, until it was his sister who brought it up to him one day as he was staring across the town, commenting on the fact he ogled at the guys who passed by. She asked him if he was gay, and hearing that word felt like an arrow to the head, as that was seen a huge sin amongst the kingdom, so he tried his best to deny it and when she simply hummed back, he got mad and snapped at her before storming off, back into his room. She let him be, she had never been judgemental and guessed for a while he was as such, but now she awaited him to realize that, come to terms with himself and settle upon it. Alexei found himself in his room, calmer then before, but with the thought’s swirling around like a turmoil in his mind, pacing about, not being able to relax. He tried to convince himself he wasn’t as such, he knew he wasn’t, but without no answer, he headed to bed, mad at himself. As weeks moved on, he wouldn’t go down to the village anymore, he stayed isolated in his room, not accepting the facts of reality. His sister became concerned, and soon they just sat down, talked things out. It took Helena some time, but soon she convinced him to go back out as he looks depressed being stuck in his room all day, and that’s when he found himself sitting in his usual place, watching the population thrive. He tried to force himself to watch the girls, but found his eyes staring back at the guys, feeling a bit happier to see them, even if they never noticed him. At that moment, he finally came to terms with himself, his sister made him realize who he truly was and that he couldn’t change that, only embrace it. He soon told his sister, she proudly proclaimed back at him, glad he finally saw the truth. She left him to e in peace after they had talked, and Alexei felt happy, discovering himself.

The SkyDancer got more anxious as the days went on, as soon was to be the choosing of a woman. It took him some time, but he finally convinced himself to tell his brother, and so when he did, he was only meet with a smile and some words of support, which was enough for him. Happily, he went back to his room, finding peace in the birds which sung outside, but he never expected in how in a few his life would turn for the worst, when his brother told their parents about what he had said, and even exaggerated it, and he heard his name be called. Alexei thought nothing off it, trotting down to meet his father inside the main room of the castle. He stood with a normal stare, no expression stayed upon it, but he asked one simple question, wanting to know if Alexei was gay or not. He contemplated telling the truth but remembering how they’d spoiled him over the years and cared for him, he thought this would be no different, and so with confidence answered truthfully yes, but regretted it when his father’s expression turned to one of plain fury. He yelled about how no son of his was going to marry another man, how it was a sin in the community and a disgrace in the family lines, Alexei argued back in return, but that just made his father even more mad, yelling slurs and such at him, making him cripple up inside as tears peaked up in his eyes. As he furiously yelled, Alexei did the only thing he could think of at that time, not wanting to be there, he turned around, ran towards the window, which was open before jumping out of it, opening his wings, and flying as fast as he could, away from the castle. The civilisation below looked bewildered as he flew out, gasping at the scene, while his father instantly sent out the guards after him, to drag him back into the castle. By the time they had gotten out, he was too far gone, and his father, who didn’t see him as a son but as a sin, brought them back, with the reasoning he’d die out there, as bad things come to bad people, and he had never been taught to live outside. During the whole time his brother watched with a smile, he knew this would happen, all the jealousy which had piled up inside of him over the years from the amount of attention Alexei got compared to him was close to none, so finally his whole plan came into good hands, and he knew, he’d become the next king. His sister heard all the commotion, she had heard what happened, and was angered by her brother and parents, but for she hoped more than anything, that her beloved brother would be alright. He never knew thought, that his sister had sent out her Veiled Vision, to protect him from other things out there.

Alexei flew as far away as he could, not thinking logically, not knowing where, only wanting to get away from them. They never loved him, they never actually cared, all they cared about what his looks, and the bloodline, not his actual self or feelings. As his wings were sore, he flew down to land, before continuing to run, running until he couldn’t breathe, and he was forced to stop. When he did, he looked around to see nothing but broken ruins and no castle, no nothing, only himself in unknown territory. Exhaustion took the best of him, he found a small broken old house, slipped inside of it, and slept soundfully, as the word fell turned dark around him. He woke up hours later, seemingly forgetting about what happened, before it all came crashing down on him. He had left his home, ran away to who knows where and now as lost. His stomach growled with hunger, but he didn’t know how to hunt, so he continued forwards, walking towards nothing as his stomach growled. Days, passed by, as he went with no food, walking mindlessly, many days bashing himself for what happened, wishing he never came out and everything would be okay, wishing he never ran away, but it was too late. He suddenly realized he had met the border when he felt the soft touch of sand on his feet and the crackling of Thunder in the distance, he had come upon the Shifting Expanse. He was amazed by its huge deserts and beautiful lands, watching the lightning in the distance as Thunder rumbled. Days of continuous walking, he was convinced he would die, but the time came where the famish caught up to him, and he collapsed, breathing heavily as his whole body hurt from the pain of lack of food and water, his world span around him, weak and feeble, the last thing he saw was the sand he laid upon before his world plunged into darkness. He never realized a small Veiled Vision had been following him the whole time, and when he saw Alexei fall to the ground close to death, he seeked help from the closest dragon he could find.

Alexei woke up with food in front of him, as his stomach grumbled, he ate it all up, being the best thing, he has had in ages. He also drank up every bit of water which was set beside him. He stood up to find himself in a comfy nest, with a small fire crackling beside him, he saw the walls of a castle, scared that they had taken him back to his old home, but was surprised to hear the strong voice of a guardian, happy to see him awake. He panicked before she calmed him down, introducing herself as Mireille, and explaining that a Veiled Vision got the help of Quilo to bring him to the castle as he was close to death, then he was put here to be healed by herself, she also introduced the purple skydancer who sat beside her as Alesteir. The Veiled Vision which she talked about came from behind them, he immediate recognized the familiar, it used to be his sisters, but she must’ve ordered it to follow him, to protect him. He was happy to see Koby, the Veiled Vision, safe and happy, alongside appreciating that he had saved him. He stayed quiet for a few minutes before introducing himself as Alexei, he explained why he had run away from his home, why he starved as he was never taught to hunt and introduced the familiar. Mireille was saddened by his story, so was Alesiter, but before she could speak, Aleister started talking, introducing him to the Widlings Kingdom, he was offered a room in the castle itself and was free to live here, no one would judge him or hate him, and he’d be fed and such. With joy he accepted, thanking them both dearly.

Alexei soon settled himself in, loving the room he was giving. He was fed until he was back to normal, and when he felt better, it was Alesteir who taught him how to hunt just how he was taught by Khaadgrim, it brought Alexei great joy and he soon mastered it, loving the feeling of slipping in and out the thrush to then catch his prey finally. He was nominated as one of the Wildlings and was happy to be so. He was taught about the land he lived in, and about how the kingdom itself was formed. His familiar constantly stayed by his side and he adored him. His personality also developed majorly, he flaunted his beauty and found himself to be quite sassy, he grew more confident and strode with pride. He was also quite caring, he loved to talk, help around and meet all the people, it especially made him happy that no one brushed him off to the side for who he is.

Alexei was happy in his new home, where he is loved for truly who he is and not for his beauty.