[center][img][/img][h1]♚ [color=silver]P R O M E T H E U S[/color] ♚[/h1][img]http://66.media.tumblr.com/51fc61ac770a524e9468f174afa94d7f/tumblr_inline_n1xc79Kcic1rb3m8r.png[/img]
Accompanied by his maid/bodyguard [color=mediumslateblue]Kara[/color][/center]

[center][color=black]♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ [/color][/center]


[b][center] — Royal Stables, The Skyheart Keep —
— Late Night, 1st Day of Summer —[/center][/b]

[color=mediumslateblue] "My Prince, I can't let you go alone like this!" [/color]

Prometheus appeared to ignore her as he continued to adjust the bags on his horse. In them, he had packed enough clothes, money and supplies for the 5 day ride to the Imperial Heartlands, along with his personal bow. Adorned with a featureless black hood and cloak over his preferred outfit and his sword at his hip, he intended to leave in the dead of night and escape the oppressive environment he called home. The only problem was...

[color=mediumslateblue] "Prometheus, please!" [/color]

The prince sighed through his nose and looked at his personal maid and bodyguard, Kara, over his shoulder. Dressed in her normal style of riding trousers, boots and a simple tunic under light armour with two twin sabres at her sides, her expression was one of concern and upset. The fact that she dropped his honorific was enough of a sign that she was worried. Without a word, he pulled the last strap tight on his horse and walked around it to the other side. When he came back, he tossed a large brown bundle to her. She caught it and unwrapped the brown cloth from it, revealing two saddle-bags already packed with supplies wrapped within a brown cloak similar to his own.

[color=silver] "I'm not going alone. Saddle up, we leave in 10 minutes." [/color]

His voice was cold, but only those most familiar with him could hear the slight warmth reserved for those closest to him. Kara's body was moving before her mind even caught up and, true to his words, the pair were galloping out of the Keep 10 minutes later. Prometheus riding his personal horse Vaylin, a black stallion, and Kara riding a beautiful palomino mare named Othia, stolen from the King in a last act of defiance, rode until the sun came up. They continued on in the same rhythm: ride as far as the daylight allows, rest at the next tavern and continue again at first light.

5 days later, they arrived at the Conclave with the barest of margins left before the Grand Keeper's speech began.


[b][center]~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ 
— The Imperial Grand Hall, The Conclave —
— 6th Day of Summer —[/center][/b]

[color=orange]"...and remember if you need me do come find me."

"E Pluribus Unum."[/color]

As the Grand Keeper ended his speech and left the room, the white-haired prince extracted himself from his musings to scan the room, his senses re-focussing on the vast hall filled with people. His eyes settled on a particular girl as another young boy approached her. Prince Seldo Forletus, he believed he was called, struck up a conversation with his cousin Princess Anareliea Hulevia, the supposed 'Saint' in line for becoming Matriarch. He recalled what he could of her infamous beliefs on Gaea and briefly laughed softly though his nose. It wouldn't do him much good if she were to find out about his own thoughts on the subject... Nevertheless, he dismissed the thought and continued to scan the room until his settled on another familiar face.

Prince Brendan Tromvara, who appeared to be trying to start a conversation with a grim-looking black haired boy, was someone Prometheus recognised from personal experience. As young children, Brendan had happened to stumble onto him at a diplomatic function and the two had kept in touch, one might have even called them friends, until they fell out of contact following the attack that scarred Prometheus and the trauma completely changed him. Brendan might even think he was dead... despite this, Prometheus had no desire to regain that bond and instead turned way from the group.

He looked over to Kara, who was waiting at the edge of the hall with the other servants, and walked over to an empty spot on the wall. Leaning against the wall when he stopped, she quickly joined him.

[color=mediumslateblue] "Do you not wish to speak with the other students, my Prince?" [/color]

[color=silver] "I'd rather tend my horse. He's better company anyway..." [/color]

She frowned at that.

[color=mediumslateblue] "Prince Prometheus, These are the students you will spend the next few years of your life with. You should at least try to get to know them." [/color]

The response she recieved was a sharp glance sideways. His lips curled a tiny amount in a miniscule scowl before he relaxed again.

[color=silver] "If they want to talk to the scarred white-haired boy with cold eyes they can feel free to do so, but I'm not looking for friends. If they want to talk, they come to me." [/color]

With that, he closed his eyes and leant back further against the wall, arms crossed against his chest. He stayed like this, listening to the conversations around him, until he felt someone gently tap his arm...