Have you ever read a story that you found so interesting, yet with an ending rushed just to say it had one? If you have, then you would know what our little prince was feeling at the moment.
He had been wandering for ages inside a place much bigger than him, searching for something that would satisfy his hungry mind, only to be let down.
The infinite library, a place where stories become reality, and the readers, the characters. No one knows when it appeared, nor does anyone care about its origin, but what everyone cares about is what it brought with it.
This world was like every other until the Codex appeared. It was said that everyone who saw it awakened their hidden powers.
It sounded childish, but proved to be the truth. And so it didn't take long for this world to turn into one you used to read about. Those wonderful fairytales where magic flows through the air.
Most people awaken their Codex-born powers around the age of ten, but those with royal blood can awaken from the moment they are born. The codex is not fair, that is known by everyone; it favors those fortunate.
Well, at least that was the case, as our little prince right here is completely powerless, even with being the heir to the throne of a great kingdom. Still, the scorching fire inside him is burning bright.
But without power, he can't enjoy books like everyone else around him. You see, to enter a book inside the infinite library you have to be strong enough to change its outcome, which is why the little prince was so down, he couldn't change the ending of his book, no matter how much he wished he could, and this was not the first time it happened.
But that never stopped him from coming here every single day, sitting under the shadow of a tree. This was because even without actually living the story by going inside it, he was still reliving the book, but in his own way.
For him, the words became reality, his reality, rather than entering the story's own.
If he had the option, he would choose to spend the rest of his life reading, and I'm sure he isn't the only one here who would. But a prince has his responsibilities.
The little prince sighed as his fingers rubbed against the book's cover before closing it and putting it back in its place. Before leaving, he took one last look at the last page, hoping, just for a moment, that the ending would have changed mysteriously.
But sadly for him, that is not how it works.
"The darkness will come back by devouring a weak light." That was the last line of the book. The hero had defeated the demon king, and a grand parade was thrown for him and his party.
Even though he'd only been there a week, he defeated an evil the people of that world had spent ages struggling to even touch. And he dared end it with such a line? The darkness will come again for what? To be defeated in a few days?
It was bittersweet; it seemed as if the author actually had a great story to tell, so ending it so soon... the little prince could only feel dissatisfied.
As his surroundings shattered and scattered into the air, he found himself back inside his room. Looking outside, he realized that it was already midnight, so with nothing else to do, he let himself fall into the wonderful world of dreams, where he found himself in a familiar place, the same place where the hero had eaten his last meal with his party.
Well, at least we know he slept well.
[...]
As the birds sang their lovely music in the midst of sunrise, the streets were filled with people. You see, it was the little prince's birthday today.
So the kingdom was rushing to prepare him for a party he would never forget.
In the kingdom, the little prince was considered a deity, but not for the reasons you think of, but because of his innocence. Some even go as far as to say he was sinless, but even he likes to cause mischief sometimes.
And unlike many others, the prince is allowed to wander the streets alone, without anyone to supervise him. Why? Because what could even happen? No one would dare to even touch such a pure soul, scared they would corrupt him with their dirty hands.
With the kingdom busy preparing for the party, you may be wondering what the little prince was doing while waiting for everything to be ready.
Well, if he had a choice, he would definitely have spent it inside the infinite library. But that wasn't the case today.
Inside one of the many gigantic rooms and halls of the castle. The little prince was having his hair styled by his lovely older sister.
It had become a tradition between them for him to have his hair done before his birthday. Why? I wish I could tell you, but even I am unsure of the origin of this tradition.
The princess moved her hands through his golden strands. Their color blinded the common eye, and only those who had adapted to its light had the honor of seeing his beauty. Below the sun, stood the sky, as the piercing blue color of the prince's eyes hypnotized anyone who dared look.
Their color was known inside the kingdom to represent royalty, fitting for the heir.
After getting his hair done, it was time they met the people of the kingdom, but before that, he couldn't resist the temptation and slipped away to his room, where he then entered the infinite library in search of a book to read that night.
But as time was ticking down, to his luck, he couldn't find anything that caught his eye on the infinite shelves. While wandering the library, he suddenly stumbled and fell, dust rising into the calm breeze.
As the little prince got back on his feet, he turned to see what had caused his fall. That was when he saw it, a book ready for him to read.
The little prince gently brushed the dust from its cover. "The Wandering Light", he whispered. "That's a nice name."
Little did he know… this story wouldn't be one he could read; he'd have to live it.