1 The Notorious Prince Neebo

Ironfort is a little kingdom, subsidiary to the great kingdom of Ethos. It stood east of Ethos, in the midst of its rolling hills. The land was peaceful, and the wind carried a harmonious song of the townsfolk tight-knit community. The smiles and joy depicted upon their faces shines through a sweet flavorful sunny day.

Until a scream ruined the harmonious melody of the land.

"Kyaaaaah, heeeelp me!!"

From afar, a scream of a young maiden, Lila, could be heard. It then delivered a massive reversal on the expression of the townsfolk; a look of annoyance and displeasure, disgust and pain. The young maiden ran and screamed in aggravation. Chasing the young maiden, was a teenage boy with a wavy chestnut hair, wearing an ash blue tunic and black leather pants.

Her fearful disposition was a complete contrast of the young boy's playful and creepy smile. He followed her around, playfully poking her at her sensitive body parts. Watching the scene, the townsfolk moved away as they might be involved to unwanted trouble. They have known this young boy as the troublemaker of the kingdom. He is 16 years old this year, the youngest son of the kingdom's ruler; King Greyson and Queen Naja. The 7th Prince of Ironfort, Prince Neebo.

As the young maiden, named Lila, sprinted through the streets of Ironfort, her heart raced with fear and frustration. She desperately sought refuge from the relentless pursuit of Prince Neebo. Lila was a kind-hearted girl, known for her gentle nature and helpfulness in the community. She had caught the prince's attention with her genuine warmth and compassion, but unfortunately, it had turned into an unwanted obsession.

Neebo, on the other hand, was mischievous and impulsive, always seeking ways to entertain himself without considering the consequences. Being the youngest son of the ruler, he had grown up with a sense of entitlement, indulging in his whims and desires without much regard for others. His actions often resulted in chaos and calamity, earning him the reputation of being the kingdom's distress.

As Lila darted into a nearby alleyway, she leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. Her chest heaved as she desperately tried to calm herself, her mind racing with thoughts of how to evade the prince's relentless pursuit. She had to find a way to end this torment once and for all.

Unbeknownst to Lila, Easton, one of the King's Guard assigned to look over the 7th Prince had been observing the commotion from afar. Easton was known as one of the kingdom's veteran elite soldiers, and he had been keeping an eye out before Prince Neebo crosses the line of no return, and cause an even greater mess and shame towards the kingdom.

He had seen firsthand the troubles caused by Prince Neebo and understood the weight of his actions on the townspeople. With a determined look on his weathered face, Easton stepped out of his hiding and approached Lila, who regarded him with a mixture of fear and hope.

"Are you alright, young miss?" Easton asked, his voice filled with genuine concern. Lila nodded, still catching her breath, and managed a weak smile.

"Sir! Help me! pl.. please!" the young maiden Lila pleaded, as she grasp for breathe and gathered her voice trembling with fear.

Not long after, Prince Neebo arrived and reacted with a mixture of surprise and satisfaction. he never thought that one of the King's Guard would be helping him in his pursuit of Lila, the enchanting lady that had caught his attention.

"Impressive Sir Easton! haha your assistance in holding back Lady Lila has truly proven how great and convenient it is to have someone as cunning, and as quick as you, a veteran King's Guard! HAHAHA!" Neebo joyfully celebrated.

Easton pulled the young miss aside and stood firm against the advancing Prince and pleaded, " Seventh Prince, you've done enough. The young miss is already tired of playing. Please let her go."

Startled, Prince Neebo's boils with discontentment, "Easton, move aside! The lady has caught my great interest, and the lady shall serve as a great entertainment, all for the glory of our great kingdom!"

Aggrieved by the circumstance she was in, Lila ran away while the Prince is being held back by Sir Easton. "oh shit! now look at what you've done Easton! you don't know how far I have been chasing for that young miss!" the Prince circled around and run after her.

But before the young Prince could continue chasing, his vision blurred and his body fell stiff, falling into the embrace of the veteran King's guard.

Every other day, this kind of incident would torment Ironfort and its inhabitants. The name of the notorious young Prince and his escapades would wreck the peaceful kingdom. It all started when he was just 14 years old, when King Greyson declared that his son's and daughter's should fight for the throne. It is an Ironfort royal tradition of ascension to the crown.

At the beginning, The Prince was shunned by his brothers and sisters. In his loneliness, he found great joy in the company of other people. But it came to a point where he was used by others for their own personal gains, and at that point, he was truly disgusted.

From then on, the young and innocent Neebo turned into a careless prick that roamed around the kingdom, unenthusiastic. He had become irresponsible and negligent of his own status. And every time the Prince goes too far, the benevolent Sir Easton of the King's guard would bring an end to his antics.

As Prince Neebo regained his consciousness, he found himself back at his own room. as he woke up from his drunkenness, he was assaulted with a massive hang-over that gave him a major headache. "That old jerk Easton hit me a little bit too much this time.. aaaaahhh my head hurts."

He made his way towards the opulent halls of the palace, and arrived at a dimly lit room full of ancient scrolls and text that adorned the shelves. Prince Neebo stood in daze as he recalled his memories from the past, followed by a sense of remorse and guilt.

Knocking off his muddiness, Prince Neebo put on a change of face and went on to find the nearest liquor he could find in the kingdom. he set forth outside the palace and into his favorite inn where he could forget all this muddy and grim memories he had been carrying.

After some time, the moonless night arrived and it hummed a chilling breeze. the townsfolk had a sense of foreboding, and closed off their homes and stalls early. Along an obscure alley inside Ironfort, a drunk Prince Neebo who was soak in his own vomit was leaning against a wall.

And just before Prince Neebo could faint, he faintly heard murmurs somewhere near him. And just then, a gentleman approached Neebo and helped him up to his feet, carrying him someplace.

The gentleman who came to Prince Neebo's aid was none other than Sir Easton, the same King's guard who had always held him accountable for his actions. Despite the prince's previous behavior, Sir Easton couldn't ignore the sight of him in such a vulnerable state.

With strength and care, Sir Easton lifted the intoxicated prince and guided him through the labyrinthine streets of Ironfort. His steps were slow and deliberate, ensuring that Neebo didn't stumble or fall.

As they walked, Neebo's blurred vision began to clear a little bit, allowing him to catch glimpses of the people retreating into their homes, their faces masked with worry. The prince's muddled mind grasped at the realization that his actions had not only affected himself but also the lives of those around him.

They arrived at a small cottage on the outskirts of Ironfort, where Sir Easton gently settled Prince Neebo on a comfortable cot. The room was warm and inviting, adorned with simple furnishings and a crackling fire in the hearth. It was a stark contrast to the opulence of the palace, but Neebo found solace in its simplicity.

Sir Easton, ever watchful, sat by the prince's side, offering a glass of water to soothe his parched throat. The taste of regret lingered on Neebo's tongue, mingling with the bitter aftertaste of the alcohol he had consumed.

"Young Prince, you have the power to change your path," Sir Easton spoke with a gentle firmness. "I have watched over you since you were just a young boy, you are mischievous yet a curious one, bright and diligent. I know how this circumstance you and your brothers and sisters have affected you. and it saddens me to watch that you are on a path of downfall."

Sir Easton then grab hold of the dazed young Prince's shoulder and with all seriousness he advised him with great caution. "Prince Neebo, from here on out, Don't go back into the palace. This place is safe, you can rest here...."

And before Sir Easton could finish, the young Prince doze off to his sleep.

Sir Easton took one last look at the young boy he had protected all this time. A hint of concern and determination etched onto his weathered face. "You will be fine Young Prince."

And with a heavy sigh, Sir Easton carefully covered the sleeping prince with a warm blanket, ensuring his comfort. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, reflecting on the young and cheerful boy this Prince was once was.

He had dedicated his life to protecting the kingdom and its rulers, and he couldn't afford to let Neebo's potential go to waste.

He left the room and closed it tight, before returning back to the burning fortress, that was Ironfort.