Nothing made Alice happier than leaving the royal grounds.

She glanced through the window at the humongous structure painted in the evening sun's glow. The Riley Castle was referred to as a "castle" but it was more of a tower. A diamond-shaped skyscraper rising 1,265 feet into the sky. It was so incredibly tall it nearly touched the top of Sanctuary's ceiling. The well-crafted building held over a hundred rooms. Alice had lived in it since birth and even she'd yet to see every one. Even so, she favored its library above all. Surrounding herself with thousands upon thousands of books granted her an escape from her otherwise vexatious daily routine. Some of these texts even discussed the mysterious Old World.

Sadly, the depictions of it failed to satisfy the young noble. What made matters worse was she'd probably die before anything remotely as beautiful was birthed into this cursed realm. Outside Sanctuary there existed nothing. However, it was apparent that not everyone subscribed to this notion. In her lap sat a white book she'd stolen out her father's office. This book told the history of the Riley Family. Many people despised the very name. Seeing them as unfair and untrustworthy. She was a member of the family yet she agreed with the criticisms. Reading it, Alice discovered her family had a habit of twisting the truth and withholding secrets.

She believed the best way to run a kingdom was through trust and honesty. This book told her there wasn't anything trustworthy about the Rileys. In fact, she didn't entirely trust the book itself. Sighing, she stared out the window. Standing on the sidewalk, waving a cardboard sign in his hands, was a middle-aged man in torn clothing. The sign in his gloved hands read, "HUMANITY BELONGS IN EDEN!". 

Emerging nearly a century ago were texts written by an author, long since executed by the king of that generation, describing a land where humans truly belonged. He dubbed it Eden and claimed he'd seen it with his own eyes. In Eden, they'd be free to make their own choices and live their lives how they saw fit. It didn't catch much traction upon its initial publication. Nowadays, many viewed it as a prophecy. Alice only ever heard its name in poorer districts. All the rich folk didn't care if Eden existed as it didn't matter to them. They'd wealth and power. What more could they ask for?

"How odd," said James. Alice shuffled to the window on the opposite side of the hovering stallion. In the distance, she spotted a crowd of people who were, from the looks of it, encompassing an upheaval of sorts. Some had horrified expressions while others seemed entertained.

Lucas gazed observantly. "Probably another riot. Oh well, nothing to concern ourselves with-"

"James, stop the stallion!" Alice ordered.

Lucas wore a shocked expression when James pulled onto the side of the road. The princess opened her door and stormed out. The last her guardian saw was that of Alice's light blue dress zipping around the vehicle. "James!!"

"Sorry, boss. She's the princess," James replied with a sigh.

A series of angered groans filled the stallion as Lucas popped open his door and stormed after Princess Alice. The girl made for the crowd. As with any time she'd walk in public, civilians constructed a path for both herself and Lucas. "Princess, what are we doing? There's no reason for you to get involved," said Lucas in a desperate attempt for the girl to change her mind. "The last thing the king would want is for-

"I'm the future ruler of Sanctuary. These are just as much my people as they are my father's. If I simply ignore an obvious problem then I'll be no better than him. I refuse to be the kind of ruler he is." The girl's face fixed into a discernable frown. "No matter the issue I'll try my best to resolve it. I have to."

"But I thought you said you wanted to visit the walls? You even waited until his majesty began the meeting to disembark."

"The walls aren't going anywhere, are they?"

They entered the crowd. A handful didn't identify who she was until they recognized the iconic Riley Family hair. Wrestling on the ground at the front of the crowd were two boys, bloodied and covered in dirt. Her eyes were instantly drawn to him. His messy brown hair. The sequence of numbers on his shoulder. An archaic necklace tucked into his shirt. Pinning the other boy down was the outsider himself. Rex Hunt. Nearby an alley entrance, Alice noticed Chase. He looked as if he was preparing to enter the fray himself. 

 Raising her voice, the princess shouted, "That's quite enough!" She was relieved to see the squall stop. A line of blood trailed over Rex's eye as he projected a startled gaze. She could tell he, like everyone else, was shocked at her sudden appearance. "I know not why you're fighting but I demand that you stop. Showing such a violent and primitive display to the public of Cordra isn't something I condone!" They slowly returned to their feet, decorated with bruises and blood. They'd been fighting for so long neither registered how injured they actually were.

"Your majesty." Chase stepped in front of his brother bowing his head. "I apologize on my brother's behalf. He's my responsibility. So please, I ask that you bestow any punishments to me alone."

Lucas smirked. Leave it to him to put on a good act.

"You two are coming with me. The other boy is free to go." decided Alice. "We'll discuss more of your punishment in my personal stallion."

They followed without another word. Rex couldn't help but get angry when he saw Caiden's smug smile. He probably thought he'd won today. What Rex wouldn't give to be able to smack him where it hurts. Biting onto his pride, Rex limped away. Lucas guided them, the group of four heading to the stallion parked on the side of the road. 

Alice and Lucas sat in their same spots prior to their departure as Rex and Chase sat in the seats facing them. Rex seated opposite Alice, much to his digression. He felt like she'd rip him apart bit by bit for his actions. Neither he nor Chase knew what to say. However, they were both somewhat caught off guard when Alice released a huge breath of air.

Rex cocked his head. Had she been holding that in this entire time?!

"Lucas, be honest, how did I do?"

"In my humble opinion, your majesty, you did an excellent job in subsiding the situation. If Sanctuary's citizens have any semblance of intelligence then they're sure to acknowledge your efforts." Rex softly chuckled at how stoic Lucas remained in the presence of his clearly flustered princess.

When Alice shot a tempered glare Rex felt his entire body stiffen. "My job is difficult enough as it is, Rex! Is staying out of trouble really so much to ask?!"

"It's not my fault!" he retorted. "That jerk Caiden started it! Back me up, Chase!"

"I'm afraid Rex has a point, princess."

Alice frowned. "I have a name, you know? When you're out there call me "princess" but when it's just us call me "Alice". We've been over this, Chase." The perturbed Hunt didn't respond, instead pretending to stare out the window. "Honestly, I haven't seen you two in nearly five months and here you are getting yourselves in the same kind of trouble as when we were kids."

Truth be told, all three of them were extremely close friends. In fact, Alice was the first friend Rex made in Sanctuary. She'd often sneak out when nobody monitored her and play with the brothers. Sadly, as time passed, they saw each other less and less. To Rex, she looked the same. That beautiful silk white hair accompanied by two bangs hanging over her shoulders. The Riley Family was known for its white hair unique to their lineage alone. Then there was the matter of her clear blue eyes, his pathetic face reflecting in those pair of azure irises. In this day and age, such beauty was a rare sight to behold. She was a diamond in a sea of mediocrity.

"Rex. Chase. You've grown well. Its been just over a year since I saw you last." Lucas started with a smile. "Chase, I still remember when you pouted for your dad to buy you the jacket you've got on now."

"Great," Chase muttered embarrassingly.

"As for Rex, I've heard quite a few stories from the enforcers." Rex gulped in fear, unliking the direction of the conversation. "They're giving you a hard time, aren't they?"

"That's one way of putting it. It's been nine years and they still treat me like I'm some kind of foreign disease."

"It can't be helped, I'm afraid." He scratched the bottom of his chin uncomfortably. "Every year more enforcers are recruited, most of them coming from high-end districts filled with nobles. Their disdain towards you is to be expected considering their background. Not only are you an outsider but you used to live in Haren."

Haren was a lower classed district located in the outer ring. It was where his adoptive family originated. It held a bad reputation because it was the final resting place for the seventh king of Sanctuary, King Harris. To this day, Rex noticed the subjugation towards his family and it wasn't entirely because of him. Nobles' line of thinking made absolutely no sense to him whatsoever. His nerves spiked when Alice sat next to him. She moved in close enough for him to smell her wonderful scenting perfume. The girl pulled a napkin out of her pocket and started to damp it against the bruise marks on his face.

"Hold still. Don't be such a baby."

"Pfft. It doesn't even hurt- OUCH!!" he blurted, capturing her wrist. "Do you have to do this while we're in a moving stallion?! You might poke my eye out!!"

"I'm trying to help and yet you scream at me?! You really are a child, aren't you?!"

"I'd prefer being a child than losing my eyesight, thank you very much!"

Lucas and Chase released defeated breaths as the shouting of the princess and the outsider erupted.

* * *

James delivered them to the Hunt household. Luckily for Lucas and Chase, the arguing hadn't lasted for very long. Rex now sat slumped in his seat as the princess tended to a nasty scrape on his arm. The stallion came to a halt outside the gates of their white-colored house.

"Thanks for the lift," said Chase.

"Our pleasure," replied Lucas, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder. "By the way, is your father home? I know this is kind of sudden but I wish to speak with him."

"With Dad? What for?"

"It's something concerning his line of work. I wasn't planning on talking to him about this until tomorrow. I might as well speak with him now seeing as how we're already here."

"You, a former commander of the enforcers, want to speak with my father?"

"Yes, I'm aware of how outlandish this sounds," Lucas grinned. "He truly is a gifted man. His research regarding whether phenomenons outside Sanctuary are impressive. You should be proud."

"I am," It warmed his heart knowing his father was receiving such high praise. At first, Chase feared for his old man. However, since transferring to Cordra, his father continued to succeed while simultaneously taking care of his two sons. Chase couldn't have been more honored to have him as a father. "I'm not sure if he's home. We can check if you want."

"Why not," Lucas nodded at James, the driver uninterestingly reading a news tabloid. "I suppose I don't have to tell you to get comfortable."

James chuckled. "You know me too well."

A bandaged Rex and patient Alice waited by the stallion. "How are things?" the princess inquired, her hands tied behind her back. "Hopefully better than some of the others living in this district."

Rex swung his hands over his head. "Same old. Annoying enforcers. The king raising taxes and imposing more needless laws. Things are going great." He stopped himself upon detecting Alice's downturned head. Dammit! I'm so oblivious! Alice wanted to change Sanctuary for the better and here he was complaining. What kind of friend was he? "It's fine Alice! No need to get all teary-eyed! I was merely speaking without thinking as usual! You know me! Typical stupid Rex!" He'd no clue if he was making things better or if he was only adding fuel to an inferno. It wasn't until she grinned into her hand did Rex's flourishing perturbation dissolve.

"You say the weirdest things when you get nervous!" Alice laughed.

" . . . Heh, not sure if that's an insult or a compliment."

"Contrary to popular belief, not every noble is blind," she said, staring at the ground. "My people are starving and losing their homes. I can sense their anguish, exhaustion, and despondency whenever I leave my royal domain." Alice's frown returned, the girl grabbing the ends of her dress. "No matter how hard I try to dismantle it there will always be a power vacuum. For now, I've accepted this fact. It's childish to think I can help every single person."

"But . . . ?"

". . . But, I can't completely ignore it either. I won't lead my people astray like my father. I want to save as many lives as I can."

"Your father, huh?" Rex glanced at the colossal castle. It served as a reminder of his insignificance. Compared to someone like Alice he was nothing. A blank identity in the ocean that was humankind. He longed to terminate his friend's strife yet he couldn't discern how a mere insect was expected to assist a goddess. "You may not agree with his principles but I can tell he's had an influence on you. The way you acted back there was different from the soft-spoken girl I'm used to."

"Really?! This is bad! I don't want everyone to be afraid of me!" she cried, burying her face in her hands.

"It's fine! It'll show you don't condone violence and aren't afraid to stop it. If it was your dad then he'd have enforcers handle it."

" . . Yeah," she smirked. "Enough about me. How have you been?"

"As I said, everything's fine."

"Really?" Her irresolute tone broadcasted her doubt. "Rex, I know something's bothering you. Something other than getting beaten up."

"Beaten up? I only got slightly inconvenienced!"

"Rex," The girl groaned. His pause told her everything. She stared at the sequence of numbers on his shoulder. 516728. To this day no-one, not even Rex knew what they signified. She'd heard from Lucas some speculated the mark to be a code or password of sorts. Although, these were just wild theories. Her friend was someone constantly haunted by a past he couldn't remember. She believed the archaic code in addition to his golden necklace held the key to unlocking his past. If they uncovered the truth of his origin perhaps Rex's constant internal frustrations would cease. His reluctance as well as his concealed frown displayed to the princess Rex's distress. "Are you still having nightmares?"

He gave a nod. They started manifesting around a year after his discovery. At first, he didn't think much of them. Eventually, they became increasingly difficult to deal with to the point where he barely got any sleep. Doctors assured he'd no identifiable illness so why did these nightmares persist? What was the root of his suffering? "I've looked into it," said Alice as if she somehow heard his inner thoughts. "They stem from central conflicts and fears. Regarding yours, what exactly do you see?"

"I . . . It doesn't make sense," he sighed. "I see . . . Sand. I feel like my body is on fire. Before I can form a concrete image I wake up. It's so infuriating!"

"Do you think this has something to do with where you came from?"

"Who knows?" He stared at the fiery evening sky. "I keep trying to forget whatever life I had and focus solely on what I have. Sanctuary's my home, imperfections and all. My nightmares won't ever change that fact."

Alice, puzzled by his response, put on a smile. She grabbed his hand, willingly ignoring his immediate blush. Rex's heart raced as their shoulders touched. "I'm sure they'll vanish inevitably. Nothing can keep you down for long."

"Princess Alice!" someone shouted, shattering the moment the two were having. Running towards them from across the empty street a pair of enforcers arrived. Rex scowled. He'd hoped he wouldn't have to see any more of these annoying imbeciles for the day. What's worse, they were interrupting his time with his best friend! "Princess Alice, you're to come with us right this second." the soldier on the right instructed.

Alice stood her ground. Her sweet and compassionate side Rex was so fond of was replaced by a countenance of iron. Her eyes contained not a sliver of doubt or fear. It was as if she was a completely different person altogether. It spooked Rex how quickly she'd altered her demeanor.

"And why should I? My business here has yet to conclude."

"I'm afraid it's irrelevant, your majesty. We were given strict orders to return you to the castle."

"Under whose authority?" Lucas marched across the grassy yard as Chase monitored the situation at the front door. Both soldiers raised their hands in salute, the royal sentinel sighing in response. "At ease, enforcers. Now, why don't you explain yourselves?"

"It's the king," the other soldier informed. "He wishes to speak with the princess, immediately."