14 : 30 PM

  I just had lunch, time to turn 16 in Universe 2.0.

  [Mind Blanket Universe 2.0]

  I sat in the grand hall of our palace, surrounded by the opulent tapestries and the warm glow of the stained glass windows. My teacher, Lord Thomas, stood before me, his wise eyes sparkling with a deep understanding of the world.

  Today's lesson was one I had been eagerly anticipating - a discussion on the art of rulership and the intricacies of our great nation, Waltonia. I leaned forward, my hands clasped together, as Lord Thomas began to speak.

  "The Leo family has a rich and storied past, Prince Sun," he said, his voice low and soothing. "Your ancestors were brave warriors who fought alongside the great King Arin to unite the warring provinces of Waltonia under one rule."

  I listened intently, my mind racing with questions. I had always known that our family's history was marked by bravery and strength, but I had never heard the full story.

  As Lord Thomas continued to speak, I found myself becoming increasingly fascinated by the complexities of our nation. I learned about the five provinces that made up Waltonia, each with its unique culture and challenges. I learned about the delicate balance of power between the provinces and the importance of fostering cooperation and mutual respect.

  But what struck me most was the emphasis Lord Thomas placed on compassion. "A ruler who is compassionate is able to understand the needs and struggles of his people," he said, his eyes locking onto mine. "And to make decisions that are just and fair."

  I felt a surge of determination run through me. I knew that I had a long way to go before I could claim to be a truly compassionate ruler, but I was eager to learn.

  As the lesson drew to a close, I turned to Lord Thomas with a thoughtful expression. "Lord Thomas, may I ask you something?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

  Lord Thomas nodded, his eyes encouraging. "Of course, Prince Sun. What is it that you wish to ask?"

  I hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Lord Thomas, what is the most important quality for a ruler to possess?"

  Lord Thomas's expression turned serious, his eyes sparkling with a deep wisdom. "Ah, Prince Sun, that is a question that has been debated by scholars and philosophers for centuries. But in my opinion, the most important quality for a ruler to possess is compassion."

  I nodded thoughtfully, my mind racing with the implications of Lord Thomas's words. I knew that I had a lot to learn, but I was determined to become the best ruler I could be.

  As I stood up, signaling the end of the lesson, Lord Thomas placed a hand on my shoulder. "Remember, Prince Sun, a true leader must always be willing to learn and grow. Never stop seeking wisdom and guidance, and always remember to compassionately serve your people."

  This has been my routine in the grand palace of the Leo Royal family. I am 15 years old, tommorow I shall be turning 16. I will go through my coming of age ceremony.

  As I walk through the hallway, I hear my footsteps echoing in the distance. Tap-tap-tap. I wonder where mom is, I decide to head into the royal library.

  As I step into the royal library, I'm immediately enveloped in a world of ancient wisdom and timeless knowledge. The air is thick with the scent of old parchment and the flickering light of candelabras casts a warm, golden glow over the rows of towering bookshelves.

  I walk along the polished stone floor, my footsteps echoing off the high, vaulted ceiling. The walls are lined with shelves that stretch all the way up to the ceiling, packed tightly with leather-bound tomes, their gilt-edged pages glinting in the soft light.

  As I run my fingers over the spines of the books, I feel a thrill of excitement. These aren't just any books – they're rare, ancient texts that hold the secrets of the past. I see volumes on alchemy, astrology, and the arcane arts, their covers adorned with strange symbols and markings.

  The room is silent, except for the occasional crackle of the candles or the soft rustle of pages turning. I feel like I'm the only person in the world, surrounded by the collective knowledge of centuries.

  I sat in the grand library of our palace, surrounded by the musty scent of old parchment and the flickering light of candelabras. My eyes wandered over the shelves, scanning the titles of the various tomes that lined the walls. As I delved deeper into the stacks, I stumbled upon a worn leather-bound book.

  The cover was embossed with a golden phoenix, and the pages were yellowed with age. I carefully opened the book, and a piece of parchment slipped out, carrying the title: "The Travels of Alessandro Calvi"

  I settled into a nearby chair, fascinated by the stories of this medieval explorer. As I read on, I felt as though I was transported to the distant lands that Calvi described.

  Calvi's journey took him from the sun-kissed hills of Azura to the bustling markets of Valtania. He traveled along the Golden Road, marveling at the towering mountain ranges and treacherous deserts that stretched out before him.

  As I turned the pages, I found myself enthralled by Calvi's tales of the exotic East. He wrote of the majestic cities of Eldrida and Kyrial, with their soaring spires and glittering palaces. He described the vibrant markets, where merchants hawked their wares and traders bargained over the price of precious spices.

  But Calvi's journey was not without its challenges. He faced treacherous mountain passes, raging sandstorms, and even a run-in with a group of ruthless bandits.

  Despite these dangers, Calvi persevered, driven by a sense of wonder and curiosity. His travels took him to the court of the great Horde King, where he was received with honor and hospitality.

  As I finished reading Calvi's account, I felt a sense of awe and reverence for this explorer. His bravery, wit, and cunning had carried him to the farthest reaches of the known world, and his stories had inspired me to consider my own place in the world.

  I closed the book, feeling grateful for the opportunity to experience Calvi's travels vicariously. As I sat there, surrounded by the silence of the library, I knew that I would never forget the tales of Alessandro Calvi.

  I hear light footsteps in the library-tap-tap-tap. "Young Master Sun, your mother is calling you." I heard the maid Julie's call.

  I went out of the library, to be met with the maid's visage.

  As she stood in the palace hallway, the maid's visage was a picture of quiet diligence. Her eyes, a deep shade of brown, were cast downward, fixed on the intricate patterns of the marble floor. Her eyelids, fringed with thick lashes, seemed to veil a depth of emotion, a sense of inner life that belied her outward stillness.

  Her skin, smooth and unlined, glowed with a soft, golden light, a testament to her youth and vitality. A few stray strands of dark hair escaped her cap, framing her heart-shaped face with a soft, wispy tenderness.

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  Her lips, pressed together in a firm line, seemed to suggest a sense of determination, of resolve. Yet, as she stood there, motionless and silent, there was something about her that seemed to whisper a deeper story, a tale of secrets kept and dreams deferred.

  Julie is 30 years old, she is like a mother to me. She is my mother's personal help. As we walk, Julie's refined movements echo along, she doesn't speak much. But she suddenly asks "Young Master Sun, what have you been reading? "

  I tell her the book about the explorer, she laughs and smiles. "Wow the royal library has real treasure, it's good you love reading." She said.

  As I entered the Grand Dining Hall with Maid Julie by my side, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the grandeur before me. The room was ablaze with candlelight, casting a warm glow over the assembled guests.

  The long, formal dining table sparkled with fine china and crystal glasses, while the walls were lined with the imposing figures of the Royal Guard, the Red Lions.

  Their masks, fashioned to resemble the majestic creatures, seemed to gaze out with an unblinking intensity, inspiring a mix of awe and reverence within me. I felt a surge of pride knowing that these elite warriors were sworn to protect our kingdom and our family.

  As I approached the head of the table, my mother's warm smile greeted me. Queen Lana Leo's eyes sparkled with a mixture of love and expectation, and I knew that she was thinking about tomorrow's ceremony.

  Beside her, my little sister Lumina looked up at me with her piercing red eyes, identical to mine, and a mischievous grin that always seemed to make me smile.

  "Ah, Sun, dear son, I trust you're prepared for tomorrow's ceremony?" Mother's voice was like music, with a hint of warmth and authority.

  I bowed my head respectfully, trying to hide the butterflies in my stomach. "Yes, Mother. I'm ready to accept my responsibilities as Prince of Waltonia."

  My voice sounded firm, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of nervousness that had been building up inside me.

  Mother's smile broadened, and she reached out to gently ruffle Lumina's hair.

  "And with your coming of age, Sun, you'll be crowned with the sacred Red Crown, adorned with the symbols of our noble lineage – the shining lions that have watched over our kingdom for generations."

  After I was done, I felt tired and went to my room.

  When I entered my room to sleep, I heard noises in my room. I said "come out"

  A head suddenly popped out of the chests that were laying next to the walls. It's Xeona, she has brown hair that flows down her shoulders, blue soft watery eyes, she has this ruffled up apearance.

  "What are you doing hiding in my room, Xeona! " I chastised her.

  "Oh Sun, I don't want to sleep in the servants courtyards, someone keeps peeping at me, I am scared." She said.

  Immediately my expression softened, someone has been harassing this girl, as a prince I really would like to catch them. Mother has advised I shouldn't interfere in such things.

  "Alright you can sleep in here, by the way, where were you the whole day?" I asked.

  "I was washing clothes by the castle river, I am part of the laundresses" she said.

  "You sure work hard right?" I asked.

  "Yes! It's nice being you , all you do is have fun" she said as she made an impression of me walking.

  We both looked at each other and laughed, we both got in bed. Xeona and I are childhood friends, we grew up doing everything together.

  I love her dearly. Mother and Julie have been oppossing our friendship, Xeona often gets grounded for secretly visiting me.

  As we sleep looking towards the roof, I told Xeona about the explorer.

  She kept saying, "wow, really Sun?, where is that? Is that real? what is that, and amazing!" She was so excited her face turned a shade of red.

  "They are going to crown me tommorow!" I suddenly said.

  Xeona paused,

  "Hey Sun, when you become crown prince, can you help me look for my mother?" She said softly.

  "I promise to look for her using all the royal family's power." I said.

  "Also I promise to give you a job in the palace, I'll have you as my personal maid. We can read books together." I added.

  She smiled, "I know you would do it for me." She said, "I am tired Sun, washing all those clothes, goodnight!" She turned and slept.

  I stayed a bit thinking about my ceremony tommorow, slowly I drifted asleep.

  ........

  Next morning

  I abruptly wake up, since I hear someone screaming, "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

  -One of the maids.

  I wake up with the Golden sheets weighing on me, as I run my eyes, I hear fierce marching and running footsteps.

  When I look up, a group of people have gathered at my room's door; some of the maids, Red Lions, and butlers. The maid Julie comes rushing with my mother Queen Lana.

  As they arrive, Mother is as angry as she could get.

  "Sun! You! You!Son of Leo what are you doing with the maid in your bed!" She yells. "No one is to speak about this, anyone who dares...., Red Lions! protect the young prince's reputation! " Immediately the Red Lions acted, they started, guiding the servants away, evidently anyone who leaks this information will be killed.

  "Lions take this girl to the stocks! Now ! " mother yells. What I dread occurs, how can mother be so harsh!. I immediately stood on top of the bed and yelled "A Leo speaks, lions stand down!" As I yell with authority, the Red lion guard, seven in total immediately prostrate themselves.

  Although mother has authority given to her by my father, she doesn't have more power than I do, since I am a son of the Leo.

  Xeona is covering her face with the sheets, crying her eyes out. "Sister Julie, Queen Lana, someone is harassing me in the servants courtyards. So when sister gave me the chore of arranging Sun's sleeping gowns I hid here." She said sobbing.

  "Julie, Xeona has overstepped her boundaries!" My mother warned her maid Julie, Xeona's elder sister.

  "Have mercy Sister, the child does not know any better. Please I'll watch over her, in-fact I'll send her off to the Western province!" Julie cried out in grief.

  "Not this time, as I am Queen she will surely repay me for her offence." Queen Lana yelled, breathing heavily.

  Mother walked out of my room, and yelled; "The might is hers!"

  Immediately I despaired, the situation was deteriorating, the maid Julie is kneeling with a blank face. I stand on my bed, immediately I yell "Red Lions get up, block all approach to me, remove the maid Julie from my presence. Summon the Pride, all its might let it round the palace, expel the Queen from the palace! "

  "Sun! she is your mother!" Yelled Julie

  "You dare call me by name, how dare you!" I yelled at Julie. The Red Lions immediately unsheathed their swords ready to strike, immediately one of them took out the lions roar, blew into it, a sound of a roaring lion echoed through the palace.

  I commanded "Expel my mother from the palace, off you go into the servants courts and investigate the person who dared peep and harass Xeona! Bring them to me! I want them, how dare they do such a thing!" My anger was set ablaze, I was so annoyed with my mother.

  Little Lumina is crying at the door, "Brother what is wrong, why are you fighting?" she asked with her hands clasped together.

  "Maids, care for my sister, make sure she is well" I commanded as the maids obeyed. "Also who dares enter my room unannounced, execute them!" I commanded again.

  Immediately, the maid Kasina with blonde hair bowed low, "My lord I beg for your mercy, the Queen said I should check on you!" She cried out.

  Immediately Lord Thomas' words echoed in my mind; "the greatest quality a leader can have is compassion." I reprimand her and dismiss everyone. My mother has summoned her family's guards, how dare sh? in the house of Leo.

  After I gave a command, the palace became silent. Xeona is taking a bath, she has been crying and saying sorry, I simply told her to calm down I'll handle everything.

  I spent my day checking the palace, the Red Lions have expelled my mother and her entourage. It feels empty without her, the servants are all shook by all that happened.

  .......

  Next Day -

  As I stepped out into the sun-drenched courtyard, the roar of the crowd was like a wave crashing over me. I stood tall, my heart pounding in my chest, as I gazed out at the sea of faces before me. The commoners and nobles alike had gathered to witness my coronation as Crown Prince of Waltonia.

  I felt a surge of pride as I caught sight of my mother, Queen Lana, beaming with pride in the front row. Beside her, my grandmother, the Duchess, nodded her head in approval, her eyes shining with a deep affection.

  The Red Lion Guard, resplendent in their steel armor and menacing red lion masks, stood at attention before me. Their eyes gleamed with a fierce intensity as they shouted in unison, "Hoo!" The sound sent shivers down my spine, and I felt a sense of awe at the tradition and pageantry of the ceremony.

  As I took my oath, promising to uphold the laws and traditions of Waltonia, I felt the weight of my responsibilities settle upon my shoulders. But I was ready. I had been prepared for this moment my entire life.

  The Queen's voice rang out across the courtyard as she presented me with the symbol of my office: a golden circlet adorned with a ruby-encrusted lion. I felt a surge of pride as I accepted the crown, its weight settling upon my brow like a mantle of destiny.

  As the Queen declared me Crown Prince of Waltonia, with absolute power second only to my father, the King, the crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause. The Red Lion Guard shouted once more, "Hoo!" their voices hoarse from their exertions.

  I stood tall, my eyes blazing with a fierce inner light, as I gazed out upon the sea of faces.

  I knew that this moment marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life, one that would bring great challenges, but also unparalleled opportunities, as I was thinking of all this, I felt a rush and sudden headache, suddenly I collapsed. As I was going down I hear the people gasp, and many screams.