Amalane smiled as she kept hugging the one on the right. “Yeah these are my personal guards.”
     

He nodded. “Looks like you're in good hands then.”
     

One of the two still standing moved over to him and kneeled down to get to eye level. “How did you find her?”
     

Tadrinus shrugged. “I heard some crying, so I followed it and found her in a back alleyway.”
     

The person talking to him nodded. “Thanks for that.”
     

They then stood up and turned to leave when Tadrinus spoke up, “how did you get that job?”
     

“Why?” the person still holding Amalane asked: they hadn’t moved.
     

“Well…I want to be as strong as you. So how do I do that?” Tadrinus watched as the only guard he hadn’t talked to yet put their head in their hands.
     

Tadrinus frowned, but the one who had kneeled in front of him pulled his attention back by turning to face him again. "I think if you work hard, you will be able to do just that.”
   

Tadrinus frowned, “That isn’t much of a tip.”
     

The guard chuckled, “I suppose not.” He looked at the one who still had his head in his hands. “I think what you should do is learn to use your magic in a way that helps you.”
     

Tadrinus looked at his hands. While he didn’t need them to perform his illusions, they always helped him. “That’s going to be hard.”
     

The guard patted him on his shoulder. “But I feel like you can do it.” He looked up at the guard. “I can’t wait to see it in a few years.” Tadrinus nodded then watched as the three walked back to the castle. The princess was carried by the guard that hugged her the entire time they were talking. She looked over his shoulder, smiled, and waved at Tadrinus. The guard who had kneeled in front of him moved over to the last guard and pulled them along.
     

Tadrinus looked at his hands again before turning back towards home, planning to do just as suggested. He was more determined than ever to become a royal guard. To stand next to them once again, this time working with them.

     

Tadrinus sighed as he looked up at the painting; he would never get the chance to work with them even though he had completed his goal. They disappeared soon after that day, and no one knows what had happened. The king seemed more guarded than ever. The only reason anyone knew anything was the announcement that was spread around town along with the news of the queen’s funeral.
     

The twins were sent to the countryside for a few years to keep them safe. Along with a servant that everyone thought would be the next commander. She was mostly sent as their guard, though she also knew how to cook and clean. But the twins couldn’t stay hidden forever, so they were brought back when they were twelve to start their lessons. For the prince, it was how to be the next ruler; for the princess, how to be a lady. 
     

Tadrinus lightly touched the mural “I did it.” he whispered. “I did what you said and beat the test the first year I could.” He took a step back to give the mural one more look over since he wouldn’t be able to again for a while. Then he went home to tell his parents and pack, knowing he was expected to be at the castle in two days.

~*~

Tadrinus looked at the castle gates as he approached them. He was in the middle of the group of the new recruits as they made their way to the center area to get a speech from Verisdon. He was still too young to rule without an advisor currently, though his father had died a few years back, so he had to take over young. He had been selected between the two twins because he wanted to, while the princess wanted to learn about other things.
     

Tadrinus spent the time walking looking around. The place was rather silent, but he assumed everyone was staying silent for the princess. Rumor was that she had locked herself up in her room for a week now since some kind of accident that had taken down part of the castle.