Chapter Text
^Chapter 1: a strange meeting^
^2 years before the events of the cruel prince^
-Valerian-
*I get home after training and go to my room. The manor is quiet as usual since the servants are trained to stay quiet, and my parents are usually away for business*
*but when I open the door to my room I am surprised to see prince Balekin sitting in the armchair in front of the fireplace. I immediately drop to one knee* "Wtf is Balekin doing here!?" *I keep my face and my tone calm while I speak* ‘Your highness, may I ask why you came here?’
*I feel Balekin's gaze go over me as if assessing me before he lets out a deep sigh and starts speaking* 'You are Valerian I assume?'
"Why is Balekin even here and how does he know my name or who I am? My parents aren't THAT influential" *I stop my thoughts for a second and answer* 'Yes, your highness.’
*Balekin continues still in a cold and calculated tone* 'Well I can guess that you want to know why I am here and the reason is simple. I want you to do something for me.'
*i carefully ask* 'And why am I your chosen person for this task?'
'It's simple. I saw you training with Cardan's class and you're the person with the right qualities.'
*I stay quiet to consider it for a bit* " depending on the task I can turn this in my favor this should be interesting" 'Just what might this task be that I'm the person best fit to do it?'
*Balekin stays quiet for a second and then sighs as if he's regretting ever starting this* 'I want you to befriend my daughter and report to me on her situation once a month'
*I freeze*"WHAT?! Since when does BALEKIN have a daughter? And why do I need to befriend her and check on her if he can do so himself? It's HIS daughter! But this COULD also be very beneficial to me and my parents if I twist this right." *I look up and then ask him in a tone that's confident but not TOO confident*'And what do I get out of this?'
*Balekin drums his fingers on the armrests of the chair before answering* 'I have a lot of influence as you know, so how about this. I get your parents many good business deals in one week and I'll make sure you and Cardan become friends which will probably only give a better reputation and better business offers with it. I will do all these things if you go to my daughter once a month and tell me of her situation and health.'
*I'm still a bit suspicious* 'It sounds enticing but... why can't YOU do it yourself if she's YOUR daughter?'
*I see Balekin tense the slightest bit before he sighs*'I'm a busy person without much time and doing it myself takes time' *he mutters something under his breath*'mainly because her stupid witch friends and she herself all hate me because of the whole ordeal with her mother but this kid doesn't need to know'
*I get confused, I was sure I heard him say something extra* 'What was that second part?'
*Balekin just ignores me.*
*I look at him with slight suspicion*'Alright then…I visit your daughter once a month and report back to you on her situation starting next week and you ensure I become friends with Cardan and my parents get better business offers'
^after setting the bargain with magic they continue to discuss a few details for another hour^
*Balekin is preparing to leave* 'I do advise you to he on your best behavior since she doesn't like disrespectful people' *he mutters something under his breath again*'And it would be such a hassle to find someone else'
*I thought I heard something. But I decided to ignore it*
*Right before balekin left he stopped for a second*'I'll send you my uniform wear it when you visit'
*I roll my eyes*"As if" 'I'll take it with me.'
*Then Balekin leaves*
^The next morning Valerian wakes up early, the sun is just going down. He doesn't have school today since it's the weekend so today is perfect^
*I just took a shower and I'm currently packing all the stuff I'll take with me. I put Balekin's uniform in my bag along with food, water and an extra coat. I take my map and head downstairs when I get to the dinner table to have breakfast my mother is already sitting there* ‘Good morning mother.’
*My mother looks up from her stack of papers and gives me a warm smile before looking at the bag on my back* ‘Oh? Are you going somewhere?’
*I smile at her reassuring her that it's nothing dangerous which it is but I don't want my mother to worry* ‘I'm just going to meet someone.’
*my mother narrows her eyes in worry for a second before sighing* ‘Kids these days. Oh well you're old enough.’
*after breakfast my mother stops me* ‘Valerian, me and your father will be away for a business trip and we'll be back in a week okay?’
*I smile internally* “Perfect” ‘Alright mother see you in a week.’
*outside I take a ragwort stalk and make a ragwort horse before mounting it and heading towards the witch lands in the sky above the sea off the western coast of Elfhame to meet Balekin's daughter, Layla*