This came out a little early! That is because I'm also updating Destiny Calls today! Yay!

I did this weird thing this morning, I had this random inspiration to write a scene, but that scene won't even happen until 'book 3' so uh...I can't post it lol. Anyways, enjoy!

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Grasping Fate

Chapter 4

"Nothing is permanent in this wicked world, not even our troubles"

~~Day after arrival in Duhita~~

"The Prince? Quentin don't lie like that, there is no way you saw the prince of Duh--"

"But I did!" Quentin fussed as he dressed a wound on his sister's shoulder. He hated violence, but his sister would not stop throwing herself into danger. Constantly throwing other people into danger for the goal their parents wished to see. He wished he could tell her there were other ways, but he himself did not know them, "I saw him, and not just that, Jerome was there!"

She snorted, "Jerome got captured by some outsiders a couple months ago."

"It's true, he was there! And he was talking with the prince like they were friends!"

"Take me there! If it is really true, then I need to see it for myself," She stood up and Quentin fell backwards.

"Wait, I'm still checking your injur--"

"I'm fine," She waved him off and started to run into the woods. Quentin jumped up and tripped and stumbled after her.

"W-Wait!"

~~~~~

"Are you sure about this?" Adam asked Mitch as he wrapped his hoodie around his waist and slung a bag over his back.

"Of course Adam. We both know eventually I have to head home, plus it is the only way to ensure I can keep this area hidden from my people," Mitch grinned.

"But."

"It's fine, just keep an eye out for everyone here, especially Jerome. He'll probably cause trouble," He snickered.

"I do not!" Jerome's head popped out from the leaves of the trees that towered over Mitch and Adam.

"What the heck! Why are you always following me!"

"Idiot! You wandered here to where I was resting, so I couldn't help but listen!"

"Whatever, anyways, I'm leaving. See you hopefully in a couple days!" Mitch waved before heading into the forests.

"Jerome, will you--"

"Don't sweat it Adam, I'll follow him.." Jerome's head popped back into the trees.

Adam sighed. It felt like to him that everyone was dispersing. Seto was Notch knows where. There has been no information on Ty, Mitch and Jerome are heading to the castle. Ian was with him, but just not next to him. Jason, who was now very busy because he was appointed to be the new head engineer should probably not be bothered.

Adam sighed once more, maybe he was just overthinking things, but ever since he gave Ian his amulet for safekeeping, he's felt vulnerable without it. Adam unconsciously moved his hand over his chest, though yes it was blocked by a chest plate, the area still felt empty.

"Uncle Adam!" Adam looked behind him, away from where Mitch and Jerome had disappeared. He saw Jason's little brother Venir come running up to him and tackling his legs. Adam did not budge, but he laughed.

"Whoa! Venir, you're getting strong, just a little more power and I'm sure I would've toppled over!" Adam laughed and crouched down to Venir's height. He grinned.

"Really?!"

"You bet kiddo." Adam ruffled his hair, "Say, where are your sisters, or Jason?"

"Well," He shifted around, "Glen and Ava are shadowing people today, and Jason is busy, so I have no one to play with..." He glanced up at Adam hopefully.

"Really? Well, I'll play with you, come here and climb on my back," Adam turned around to allow for Venir to climb onto his back. Venir gladly did so and Adam stood up carefully grabbing onto Venir's legs.

"Where to first?"

"That way!" Venir giggled and pointed, Adam laughed and started to lightly run in that direction. This felt nice. Adam had a moment to think, to think about what has been happening lately. With Seto, his kingdom... his father. Adam's hands shook for only a split second.

Had he really been that oblivious, that stupid? How had he not seen the monster his father really was.

Growing up, he'd always saw his father as this brave and powerful leader. One who carried strength and justice in his hands. Adam remembered when his mother died, the only ones there for him was his father and brother. And similarly, when his brother was killed, his father was there.

His father was the one that encouraged him to pull himself together. As the kingdom's last remaining prince, it was his responsibility to become a fitting ruler for the kingdom. After those words, he soon met Ian.

His father while strict and there were plenty of rules to follow, he always seemed understanding. His father allowed for Ian to stay, and then later trusted Adam with picking up after his brother and becoming the general of the kingdom's army. His father had always listened to him. So...why?

Why was it that the man he saw the day Seto almost died was nothing like the man he remembered.

Why was it he felt completely humiliated. He felt like he should've seen it, he should've seen it when his father no longer became his father.

"Hey, uh, Uncle Adam, are you crying mister?" Venir's hands were resting on top of Adam's head and his face leaned out to look Adam in the eyes, behind his sunglasses.

Adam snapped back to reality and he realized, that tears had indeed fallen. He sniffled and wiped them away with one hand, and used the other hand to continue holding onto Venir, "No, no, I'm fine. Just dust."

"But you have glass--"

"Hey! Look at that view, isn't the ocean pretty today?" Adam jumped causing Venir to squeal, "Let's get a closer look!" He ran and laughed with Venir on his shoulders. Shortly afterwards he realized Venir had stopped laughing, "What wrong?"

"Why did Jason say to not bother you?"

"What? He said that?"

"Yea, he said you'd be really busy, but Jason did not look at me like he always does when he's talking to me."

"I don't know Venir, maybe he's just really busy with the huge responsibility he has now."

"I guess...Heya Uncle Adam, can you put me down?"

"Sure!" Adam grinned and crouched down so Venir could slide off his back, "Hey Venir, do you still want to--"

"Lani, please stop!" Adam looked up to see a girl run into the clearing and it looked to be some blue guy following her. A morvic?

"Stay here Venir, I'll go investigate."

"Ok!"

Adam ran to intercept the people, so much for keeping outsider out, he thought. "Excuse me! Miss? Sir? May I help you?"

"Who are you?" The girl asked, her name was Lani according to the...Adam looked to see and out of breath fish?

"Oh, nevermind, my brother here told me that there was a prince here."

Adam flinched, then relaxed, "Sorry what?"

"A prince!" She shouted.

"Lani, please quiet down." The fish man huffed.

"Quentin leave me alone, where is he, he should be a snobby prick with little care for people," she looked around as she said that hoping to see the one she was talking about.

Adam couldn't help but snort and laugh, "What's so funny?" She said.

"S-sorry," he wiped a tear from his eye, "I don't know what or who you're talking about, but it was really funny. I couldn't help it." Adam was laughing to find how accurate yet not accurate that description was. Mitch could be snobby and a prick, but having no care for people was false. Sure he had a lot to learn about care and compassion, but he could see Jerome was opening his eyes.

"Fine...then how about a stubborn, aggressive morvic with brown fur and who always jumps to conclu--"

Adam interrupted her with laughter and kneeled over, soon he was on his back laughing, "What the hell man! I'm trying to speak!"

Adam himself could no longer hear or respond through his laughter. Why were these so accurate, oh my Notch! Adam was shaking, he completely forgot about his previous troubles and instead was obsessed with laughter.

"Why are you still laughing! Jezz," she growled and turned away, "Come on Quentin, I knew this was a waste of time..." Lani walked away and Quentin started to move but stopped and looked back at Adam. He crouched down and watched the man, his head tilted.

"Sorry, I should've know my sister would be rash like this," Quentin said.

Adam stopped laughing and looked at Quentin from an upside-down perspective since he was lying on his back, "No it's fine, I think Jerome told me about you. He had quite a mouthful to say."

"I knew it couldn't have been a dream, but where is he, and the...prince for that matter..."

"Mitch is heading home and I asked Jerome to follow and make sure Mitch is fine."

"I see...why is the prince here anyways, especially around these morvics and even that halfie."

"Well, it is a looong story, one that would take to long to tell. Let's just say I know Mitch due to connections and he ended up traveling with us until recently. I know that morvics here may not generally like him, or the royals for that matter, but Mitch is just like everyone else.

"I can't believe that," Quentin said bitterly, "Someone like him--"

"Someone like him who has his own troubles. I can't speak what troubles, because that is his own story to tell, but believe me that everyone has their own pain and suffering, even Mitch."

Quentin sighed and stood up, Adam rose and faced him, "Come back anytime if you like, I'm sure when Jerome returns he'll like that," Adam grinned.

Quentin laughed, "Yeah right, but sure I'll be back. I'm curious and if you all are staying here maybe I can even help," Quentin turned away, "Oh wait!" He looked back at Adam.

"I just remembered something, you said the prince is returning home, right, well, I should tell you he probably won't be home anytime soon, or at least not in a few days. Only because so many things are going on in the capital, a large funeral and a celebration that will be complete with the prince's return."

He waved and ran off just as his sister yelled, "Quentin, hurry up!"

"Sorry Lani!"

Adam watched them go, and wondered what he meant. He could tell there was no malice, so he figured it was not some threat to Mitch, but still, he was curious. The shadows around him grew and Adam looked back to the sun to see it setting over the ocean.

The view made him smile.

~~~~~

Mitch rarely stopped on his travels, the sooner he returned home the better. It was early the next morning, when the sun had not yet risen and the stars were still shining. Mitch walked the quiet streets of the capital, when he arrived at the castle he was met by two guards. They glanced at him and spoke.

"Prince?"

"Prince Mitch! You've returned! Inform her majesty!" A guard further in the castle grounds rushed away to tell his mother, the guards let him in and Mitch continued to walk up to the large castle doors. Two guards were already there waiting to open the doors.

The doors opened and Mitch stepped in, into his home that he'd not been in for over a month. It shocked how much nothing had changed, yet how foriegn his surroundings felt. There was a tense feeling in the air.

"Mitch!" Mitch turned around and smiled he dropped his bag and rushed to hug his mother.

"Mom!" Mitch smiled as his mother returned the hug. It has felt like forever since he saw her. Since his father fell ill many months ago she's done nothing but been by his side.

"Mitch, how have you been. You look well, how were your travels, did you get new clothes?"

"C-calm down," he laughed, "I'm fine, my travels were...interesting, and yes these are different clothes."

"I'm so glad to hear, and you've returned just in time."

"Hmm?"

"Mitch...your father has passed away a few days ago."

Awww, poor Mitch, poor Adam, poor everyone. Anyways I had to post this sooner for ^^^^ that line. Because essentially the upcoming even is spoiled in Destiny Calls for those of you who read that. So that line  hints at what is coming up, I'm sure you guys can imagine what happens after a king dies and only the prince is left.

Look out for the Destiny Calls chapter that'll come out later today!

~WrittenDarkness