The Sorcerers of Infinity/0

Prologue
"In the Land of Elvinia

All over the kingdom of Elvinia, people had been warned and were anticipating it. King Szyrami had known for quite some time and even Roczorhod the gardener—probably the dullest in the land—knew.

King Szyrami and his wife, Queen Alzersy had announced to all of Elvinia the coming of their princess child.

This princess would be the first born to the Royal family in years, and Queen Alzersy was of course proud of this. She was surrounded by boys, and even though she loved her sons dearly, she always wanted to have a daughter. She wanted a princess that she could finally relate to.

King Szyrami also wanted to princess to bring out a calmer side in their family. He had been the proud father of three boys. He loved them all, but it was hard to keep track of them. Syrregain was always getting into all sorts of trouble, and he always caused it with his brother Terronen. Letorry was the oldest and never bothered to try and stop them. He was always wrapped up in his books and his writing.

Letorry was set to become a writer one day. He would spin tales of fantastic beasts and gods and knights. He would create fantastic imagery through his words. Even his parents were stunned by what he could write.

Yet being a knight was not a thing King Szyrami could get Letorry to even try. So he simply let his son do what he wanted to with his life, despite the King’s disappointment.

“Why don’t you want to be a knight Letorry?” Terronen had asked him.

“I just don’t,” was the reply.

“But why don’t you?” Terronen kept asking.

“Terronen,” Letorry warned in a moody tone.

“Leave him alone Terronen,” Syrregain interrupted. “Let the woman-boy stay with his books. We’re going to be real men and become knights.”

Letorry, being the reserved person he was, said nothing while Syrregain stood there smirking. It was at least a minute before he finally walked away, chanting “woman-boy”. And Terronen followed—blindly like a sheep.

They were to name their daughter Lorina, although King Szyrami wanted to name her Tarja. Queen Alzersy was against the name Tarja; it reminded her too much of her cousin Tarja that died in a fire the year before. “I don’t want to care for a ghost, Szyrami,” she had stated with a tear in her eye. Being a Tulla Elvin, she believed in the myth that ghosts would occupy a child that has the same name as it within a year. Tarja had died only ten months before their princess was to be born and she did not want a demonic baby. So, they decided on Lorina, after Szyrami’s sister. She had died four months ago, but he never told Alzersy. And by her birth when they were to announce the child’s name to the nation, Alzersy would definitely faint.

A month had passed, and spring was coming about. Queen Alzesry loved to watch the breeze bring in the delicate leaves of the suomatti tree. They were white and looked almost like blossoms. She believed that if she could catch them, her baby would be a healthy and happy child.

Sitting on the balcony, she stood against the breeze with her hands out. She smiled as she felt one become caught in her arms, and the fact that her daughter would be born in spring.

Syrregain walked past the balcony.

“What are you doing mother?” he asked skeptically.

Her Tulla ways always confused Syrregain but he never questioned her.

“Catching the goddess-hair,” she replied.

Suomatti meant “hair of the goddess” in Elvin, and that was what the natives referred to it as.

“I never really get what that does,” Syrregain snorted.

“Well…” she started, and then gasped.

She doubled over in pain, clutching her enormous belly.

“It’s the baby!” she gasped, short of breath. “Syrregain, it’s the baby!”

Syrregain started to panic. He took his mother’s hand and tired to lift her. He struggled and watched her cry in pain as Letorry came rushing by.

“Syrregain, what are you doing!” Letorry cried angrily.

He rushed to his mother and lifted her, with ease.

“I-she…I d—I don’t know!?” Syrregain babbled, and watched as Letorry effortlessly lifted his mother back into the castle.

Her puffy red face was swollen with tears as she struggled against the baby trying to push out.

Within moments, Letorry, Syrregain and Queen Alzersy were all in the upper tower where the whole of Elvinia can be seen. Queen Alzsersy had started to calm down but was still obviously in pain.

“What in Hell’s name are you waiting for you idiot!” Letorry shouted at his brother. “Get father and Luna here!”

Syrregain obeyed him, despite previously insulting him.

Queen Alzersy lay on her bed, barely moving. Her breathing was becoming sharper and shorter.

“Alzersy?” King Szyrami called into the room, dragging the midwife Luna by the arm.

“Now, your Highness…” Luna said in an assuring tone, and walked over to her.

Letorry decided he did not need to see anything, and left the room, taking Syrregain who was still gawking in disbelief.

Letorry closed the door behind him, and left Luna to her business.

By the time Syrregain was awake, it was nearly eleven at night. When he looked out the window, he could see a massive amount of people waiting outside the tower. They all held torches that illuminated the night sky and a section of the tower.

Letorry and Terronen were still asleep beside him. He shook them both awake.

“Letorry, there’s no more sounds in the room,” he whispered as if he treaded thin ice.

“They must be done,” he mumbled, opening the door.

Queen Alzersy slept on the bed, with a happy, assured smile on her face. The fatigued King Szyrami sat in his chair, barely awake. Beside him was the midwife Luna, holding a bundle in her arms. The three princes walked into the room, eager to see their new sister.

“What does she look like?” Terronen asked the midwife.

Luna’s face looked clouded and downcast.

“Your father will be so disappointed,” she mumbled.

Letorry and Syrregain looked at each other awkwardly, and then looked at their barely-conscious father. His eyelids were heavy and partially hidden beneath his gray-blond hair.

“Why would he be disappointed?” Syrregain asked the midwife.

Luna sighed once more.

“Say hello to your new brother,” Luna sighed dejectedly, holding the child out to them.

They gasped in awe as they first laid eyes on the sleeping child. His hair was blond and slightly tangled. Syrregain sighed. He believed his new brother looked like the embodiment of new life. He was beautiful.

“All of Elvinia is waiting,” Luna whispered to them. “Tell them the baby’s name.”

“They wanted to name her Lorina…” Letorry sighed as he took his new brother in his arms, walking over to the balcony of the tower.

Letorry gazed at the kingdom’s people, all gathered together in front of him. They expected their princess eagerly—they expected the newborn babe that would grow into their future queen. Letorry sighed once again, and took a deep breath.

“People of Elvinia!” he shouted, his deep voice booming like thunder across the fields. “You have all been expecting your princess Lorina for months now! This night, she has been born!

“You expected the child that would become your princess, and one day, your queen!”

Letorry could have swallowed his own words, as he said next:

“Your princess will not arrive.”

A wave of gasping made its way across the people. Confused gasping and concerned mumbles rippled throughout the people.

“I present to you your prince!”

He held the sleeping babe up to the clear black sky. Letorry realized then he needed to give the child a name. He stared up at his brother whom he held to the sky and presented to the people of Elvinia.

“Prince Themarrien!”

The gasping vanished and was soon replaced by vigorous cheering. There was the massive, thunderous sound of thousands clapping. Letorry clutched Themirren closer to himself.

He suddenly felt very invigorated. These people—his people—were cheering for a little babe not even a day old he held close to himself. This child was his brother—the child who would become king after Terronen, Syrregain and he has passed.

Letorry heard stirring behind him.

“Prince Themarrien?” King Szymari asked in an almost hurt tone, and Letorry knew his father would be let down again.