How Seravi and Dorothy became Friends

Chapter 1: The Green-eyed Boy

King Genus stared down at the child. What was it about him that was so special. Was it his eyes? No green eyes are pretty common. Perhaps it was the matching colour of his hair and eyes. They were both green. Maybe it was his name, Seravi. Not wanting to ponder over the issue any longer, he quickly decreed an approval for the latest group of orphans to start schooling at Principal Urara’s School of Magic. He chose the school because Urara was a family friend.

He congratulated himself on his brilliant plan, training orphans to work for the palace. He could get his soldiers and servants while the orphans could get food, training, a roof over their heads, and maybe a start at their own lives. It was a much more economical system. Good help was often hard to find, and to think of the price you have to pay for help these days. He had saved a lot of money by making his own help.

His mind drifted, and again he thought of that green-eyed boy. Something about the boy made him sense that the child was special. Maybe Seravi’s chubby face reminded him so much of his own brunette brown-eyed son, Prince Carlo, when he was little. Speaking of which, where was the Prince?

He questioned the nearest guard. The guard told him that Prince Carlo had gone on a picnic with Princess Bessy from the neighbouring kingdom. Ah, young love, he knew what it was like. If only his queen, Isthia, was still alive, she had died during childbirth. Carlo grew up with his nanny, Rachel, who had left the palace and probably started her own family elsewhere already. He still missed Isthia, unfortunately, he could never show his feelings since he was King. Sigh. The disadvantages of being royalty. He left his throne and strode off for his royal nap.

Seravi followed his group of newly made friends. He knew that they were all like him, children without parents. Their friendship made life easier. He never knew what happened to his parents. All he was told was that something very bad happen to them when he was very, very small.

Seravi felt very happy to start school, he enjoyed learning very much. Moreover he was given a nice outfit to wear to school, a bright yellow T-shirt and a blue jump-suit. The days passed and Seravi excelled better at the things he learnt. His teacher was all praised for him, he liked that.

One evening, King Genus asked to meet him. Seravi appeared before him, he had lived in the castle for about two years now and was coming to his fifth birthday. "Seravi," said the King, "I’ve been told a lot about you. Apparently, you’re exceptionally smart. I’m very proud of you boy. You’ve yet to complete your basics. But your teacher has told me that Basics have proven to be too easy for you. So I’m promoting you to Higher Magic, you’ll start studying that beginning tomorrow. You’ll also start working as my message-boy. I’ll rely on you to deliver important messages to all the earls, dukes and lords under me. Can I trust you to carry out such an important task for me Seravi?" "Yes, sir!" answered Seravi. He tried to sound as brave as he looked but inside he was shaking.

"Wow, am I so great?" thought Seravi. He felt very happy, imagine getting your first promotion when you’re not even five. "King Genus had handed me an envelope, to be passed to a lord….what was his name? Hey, King Genus never told me his name! All he said was the lord down the street."

Seravi had seen the lord’s mansion before. It was a spectacular place, he had never seen a house quite so big before. How he wished he could just go in and have a look around.

"I deliver this message first after school tomorrow!" thought Seravi. He felt very excited and started to wonder about all the things that could possibly happen. Will he get in? Perhaps he could get to see how the lord looked like. "Ummm, but first I must sleep," yawned Seravi. With that he promptly turned off the light, closed his eyes and fell asleep.