mind over matter

Nico was struggling. He had reached an artist’s block and didn’t have any muse for any of his paintings. Without getting his creative juices flowing, he was a lot grumpier than usual. It wasn’t that there wasn’t anything beautiful around to use as a model, it was just that he had seen it all before. He didn’t want to draw from the same source as one of his old paintings. He wanted something new. Something dynamic. Somehow that brought him to a library, someone that he very seldom found himself. Art and trade weren’t necessarily focused on how well one did in academia so he tended to stay away from here.  Though in an act of desperation, he was flipping through a book that he stumbled across, hoping for a spark of an idea after reading a scene. The only problem was that books didn’t hold his interests and he was looking around for something or someone to distract him. 

“Hey, excuse me. Do you know of anything that’s inspiring around here? This stupid book isn’t helping me.”

Rajakavi’s favorite place in the entire kingdom was the library in the royal palace. It was filled to the brim with stories of all kinds, and documentation of their land’s great history. He tried to make time to go and read, even at his busiest, it was what calmed him the most. When he read he could take himself out of his body and go on someone else’s adventure, even for a few hours. 

He was currently nose deep in a romance novel when he heard his brother talking to him. He rolled his eyes, sighing softly at the disappointment of having his book time disrupted. 

“It seems you’re always looking for inspiration, brother of mine, the woes of an artist, I presume?” He stood up, setting his book down, making sure to mark the page with a feather so he wouldn’t lose his place. 

“The book isn’t stupid, mother, and I, would not allow such things to exist in the library. It just isn’t your taste,” he said, narrowing his eyes slightly and taking the book away from Nico, almost protective over it. 

“You need to find something that you like, if inspiration is what you’re searching for, I think one of the books about our great kingdom would be good.” Rajakavi stood up and pulled a few from a nearby shelf, and placed them in front of Nico. 

“Or if fictitious stories are what you’re looking for, I would recommend the series of mage stories by KJ Crowling, they’re a bit far fetched, but wildly entertaining. I’m sure you could paint something based off of that. If not then, I would say you’re rather doomed.”

They days had been melding together in his time of recovery, though the second born prince knew his time in captivity would be over soon. Either by the will of his body completing his healing or he was going to ignore the healers and proceed with his life before the Tourney.

In fact, that didnt seem like such a terrible idea. The prince smiled to the sea as he made his decision to partake in the evening festivities on the beach. He turned on his feet stepping from the veranda back into his room to come face to face with his dreams.

“Ahh! My prince! I mean, your highness! Rajakavi!” He laughed nervously, startled by his own shock of seeing the other in the flesh and in his room. Khiari hurried further into the room, giving a bow to the crown prince.

“Of course I’m glad to see you. I’ve been thinking of you….did you get my note?” He asked timidly. “You didn’t have to bring me anything….literally your presence here. I’m just…my heart just soared the moment I saw you.”

Rajakavi couldn’t help but smile, Khiari’s enthusiasm was very endearing. It was genuine in a way he didn’t experience often. “Hello, Khiari,” he answered, laughing softly, offering his own bow back to the prince. 

He nodded, remembering the note Khiari had written him, it was the reason he had decided to present the gifts to him in person. Things had been so rough lately, but that had been a high point, something good in all the darkness. he was just glad that he had been able to have such an effect on the prince, despite everything he was going through. 

“No, it’s my pleasure to bring you these gifts, I picked them out myself,” Rajakavi replied, handing Khiari the wrapped box holding the silk robe, and the bouquet of flowers. “I hope you’ll enjoy it. I would like to see you open it, if that’s okay.” 

The note brought to him by dove had come unexpectedly. It was a nice surprise, reading it had been the first time Rajakavi had smiled in days. The disaster of the tourney had left a lingering sense of unease. There were so many questions in the air surrounding the circumstance of the attack, not to mention those left injured and traumatized.

Thinking of a good gift for Khiari gave him something else to focus on. He went with his helpers, and chose the gifts himself. Eventually he landed on a luxurious green silk robe and a bouquet of flowers from the best garden in Casther, something that looked as if Terran himself had picked them from the ground.

He prepared himself for the visit, dressing in his best garb, and using his best hair product. Once he was ready, he went with his guards by portal to the Medesi palace. He greeted everyone he needed to, until he got to Khiari’s chambers.

“Hello, Khiari,” he called out, “I was told you were here. I hope you’ll allow me to see you. It would give me great pleasure to personally give you the gifts I have brought for you.”

So this has to be my confession in that you have been on my mind as of recently. I don’t normally do this ever since that night we sat up and conversed, I’ve been thinking of when I’ll ever have the opportunity to see you again.

I used to daydream and to come up with all sorts of fantasies in my head and sometimes wish they were real. They were an escape from the memories of war that twisted my dreams into night terrors. But the night I met you, Rajakavi, that’s when I realized that I no longer needed my daydreams and I knew that reality had become so much better with you around.

While I know we’re all recovering from the trauma of the Tourney in Valtolia and as I lay here in rest to heal…I know that in the moments I remember your smile, not even a nastiest of Maren’s storms could spoil my mood when the very thought of you lights everything around and warms my chest. 

May you and your folk be blessed by the Gods and remain well. Until we’re able to meet again.

the sight of such a dirtied, ragged man shoving his way through the castle was a sure sign of alarm for the refugees inside it. the man looked like a barbarian, just a bit more facial hair away from looking much like a haggard beast. a couple of guards tried to stop him on his way into the deep crooks of the castle, but the witcher easily tore his way through, tossing fully-grown men this way and that with just brute force alone. “git outta my way, ya bloody bastards!” he shouted, bulldozing his way through the crowd with his voice long before his brutish body followed.

his heightened sense of smell led him straight to the castherian prince, not before he’d shoved some servant into the wall to make room for himself. this witcher was definitely not one to exercise much manners, nor make some winded small talk about how much peril they were in right now. his only imperative was to keep the princes safe; the crown prince being his first priority. maddox gripped the prince by his arm and tugged him down the stairs, shoving past panicked people with his other hand.

“this fuckin’ event’s bawbag deep in manticore shite now, yer highness gotta git on ta low groond,” maddox grunted out. “where are yer brothers?”

Being tugged away was not something Rajakavi had been expecting, his body easily being moved to wherever Maddox wanted it to. The witcher was very strong, naturally, so he had no choice but to follow suit. 

His accent was hard to understand at times, but Raj was pretty sure he hadn’t misheard what Maddox said. Manticores? He knew that they existed near Argia, but he had never heard of such an attack occurring in Valtolia. Surely, Maddox had to be mistaken. 

“Excuse me?” He asked, his eyes widening, “Did you say manticores? Are you sure?”

He raised an eyebrow, pulling away from Maddox, but failing, a small sigh falling from his lips. “I don’t know where my brothers are, I was alone when I came here.”

He was worried about the possibility of what Maddox was saying being true, but he knew that it would look bad if he cowered. He needed to show that he was capable, especially after the day’s events. 

“I’ll help you find them. And my mother, we have to make sure she’s okay.” 

Rajakavi was transported into the past, re-experiencing the fear that his younger self felt everyday during the war. The feeling that he could perish by another man’s sword at any moment. He behaved as if he were ready to die, as if it would’ve been an honor, but he was deeply, deeply terrified. He had come close enough times, the scars on his body constant reminders of his own mortality. 

Congratulating the winner of his match, and walking away had all been a blur of motions. He was on autopilot, smiling emptily until he could get away. Everything was a haze, too trapped in his own worries, and anger. 

He knew what it meant to be a crown prince and lose to a knight, they would think he was weak. That he wasn’t capable enough. Perhaps they were right, the haunting nightmares of the war still plagued him, how could he be fit to someday rule? He would never live up to the expectations set before him.

The crown prince was hidden away in some corner of the castle, hoping to quietly dispel himself of his emotions away from peering eyes. He just wanted to somehow regain his composure alone. He didn’t want anyone to see him gasping for breath, or worst of all, crying. 

Just as he was finally starting to calm down, he saw someone rush toward him, his stomach dropping to his feet. Rajakavi hastily rubbed at his eyes and cleared his throat, standing up taller. 

“Are you alright?” He asked, speaking carefully to make sure his voice didn’t crack, “You look shaken.” 

The other person looked frightened, which was concerning. At least he wouldn’t have to explain what he was doing hiding alone, surely whatever they had experienced was far more interesting. 

@princerajakavi

“Ah, ha! I thought I’d recognized that smile.” Khiari grinned, sauntering over to the other prince. Reaching for Raja’s hands, he knelt in a half bow while kissing his knuckles before relinquishing his hold.

The Medesi prince stood upright again, adorned in his garments of seafoam green and gold. “So will you be a competitor or spectator in this event? Do know that you already have my support if you enter.” He could cheer on Raja AND Jabari, right? He surely would be doing so. “I’d be joining you but jousting has never been quite my thing. I’ve never had the will to try it.”

Originally posted by soapoperaworld

He was caught off guard by the sudden voice, but glad to realize that it was Khiari. The two princes had shared a nice moment alone when the other had visited his kingdom of Casther. It was an exchange that had lingered with him for days afterward. 

He smiled softly at the kiss pressed to his knuckles, his cheeks warming slightly. Usually he was the one doing such things. 

“I’m planning on doing both actually,” he answered, “I thoroughly enjoy a good competition, but I want to show my support to the other men as well. They’re all putting in their best effort.” 

Rajakavi bowed his head slightly, showing his gratitude for the support. “Well, thank you, I appreciate that very much, Khiari.” 

Knowing that people were rooting him on made him feel confident, and that’s what he needed to win his duel. He just needed to feel sure of himself and keep focused.

Jousting wasn’t for everyone, that was understandable. He wouldn’t hold that against Khiari. 

“It isn’t for everyone, but I’m sure you would do well, you certainly have the build for it.” 

The tourney was the perfect opportunity for everyone to actually relax and have fun. That’s what Rajakavi hoped it would be, an opportunity for he and the people in the court to unwind, and also hopefully make more connections in other kingdoms. The possibility of establishing more connections is what made it most enticing, if he was being entirely honest.

The crown prince was dressed in his armor, all except his helmet, his meticulously styled hair on full display. He was making the rounds, when he came across Cato, the master of coin. Rajakavi moved swiftly, standing proudly before him and offering him a bright smile. 

“Hello, Lord Branwell,” he greeted, “I hope you’ll be watching my match later on.” 

He studied him for a second, his eyes landing back on his. “Are you going to be partaking in any of the events? I would love to be there to cheer on one of our own.” 

@princerajakavi

While the royal family of Casther had been more than generous to ensure Khiari’s comfort during his stay, there were just things luxury couldn’t help shake off. He’d hoped a new change of space would have helped shake off those ‘demons’ that plagued his mind in slumber but they’d traveled with him. In the night, the Medesi prince woke up in a cold sweat layered on his glistened torso and beads to be rubbed away from his forehead with a brush of his fingers. Those silk linens were thrown aside as he climbed out of bed, slipping on his slippers and a robe to fasten around his torso before stepping out into the halls of the castle’s guest wing.

He sauntered quietly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and inevitably wandered out onto one of the castle’s veranda’s. He was drawn by the stars…even in another land the way they shined did bring a calm to the turbulence in his head. Those memories of when he’d lost himself in blind anger in the war. Those memories that stung in his heart when he thought of what exactly could have been if things had turned out differently in the war.

“I hope you’re resting well,” he spoke softly with a solemn expression looking to the star dusted heavens, moving to sit upon the balcony railing. “I don’t know if I ever truly can again…” 

A long night of restful sleep was something that Rajakavi had long learned to not expect. His thoughts worked too quickly for him to actually rest, either he was planning his day out in his head, or he was being thrust out of sleep by a nightmare; memories of the war that still plagued him.

The war had taken many things from, his sleep being one of them. 

He tried to take advantage of the quiet time in the company of the moon to read, or write. Very often he would go out into the veranda and read his favorite books, aided by the light of night sky and the candles.

Rajakavi walked to one of the nearby verandas with a book in his arm, ready to be lost within its world. 

He was mildly surprised to see one of their guests there, so accustomed to being along at this hour. 

A few careful steps was all it took to be stood beside the man. He looked at him with a smile, realizing that it was one of the princes of Medes. “Hello,” he greeted softly, not wanting to startle him. “I hope I’m not intruding on anything. I came out here to read, but I saw you by your lonesome and I thought you might enjoy the company.” 

“Are you enjoying your visit so far?”