Seeing Meu Through Marik’s Eyes

Mount Surt was once the heart of this planet. The most delightful flowers, all year round fruits and vegetables, attracted creatures of all shapes and forms. Brimming with life and abundant in resources, the scorpion nation of Solkari kingdom was first to settle. Making us top of the food chain.

The scorpion king then was a fair leader who didn’t discriminate between beings. Peace went on forever. Or so it seemed. Until Mount Surt was no more. What was once a center of peace, became a hotspot of disarray. Between the volcanic eruptions, the supernatural rituals, or trafficking of creatures, everyone had their own hell to deal with.

Other tribes were able to relocate and start anew in further islands. The scorpion race, who wasn't able to cope, faced severe famine and devastation. Then I was born. A mistaken born between a powerful couple leading a starved populace.

To those who don't know him well, my father appears as a stern and formidable figure, with a fierce gaze and a mighty stinger that is feared for its deadly venom. His kingly appearance and fearsome reputation make him seem heartless and unyielding.

However, beneath this mask of authority, my father harbors a compassionate heart, always seeking peace and valuing sentiment above all else. A gentle soul with a tender heart that craves connection and understanding. He devoted himself to ensure the tribe’s survival.

My mother, on the other hand, looks like a peaceful cloud. Kind, caring, compassionate, beautiful. Any positive words that one can use to describe an innocent maiden would fit her. Same as my father, that is, at first glance.

My mother, despite not being from any nobility, is renowned as the most influential queen in the kingdom’s history. I have never in my life met a person as conniving and contemptuous as my mother. She managed to make everyone acknowledge her as a queen candidate despite coming from an insignificant background.

I admire and abhor my parents at the same. 

Myself, disarray, fights between factions, backstabbing, in a literal and in a metaphorical sense have been the result of the union between such two opposite characters.

I have countless half-brothers and half-sisters whom I do not have any relationship with at all and my mother just keeps on sprouting more. Scorpions have such promiscuous lifestyles. As far as I am concerned, I am an only child.

Why do I yearn for a connection yet not wanting to make the effort at the same time? A question that always boggled me.

As a prince, I could have anything I ask for. Despite my family background, I’ve learned quickly that I still needed to put in the effort if I wanted a genuine connection.

Nobody is worth it though. I don’t want to become like father. A person broken by love. He claims his first love was his true love. Then why did he let her go? I am never going to be like him.

I read in one of my mother's forbidden books that some gems give the power of reading into other people’s hearts.

Maybe this is what I need. To hell with bonds. Women bonded to me will only use me. The way mother use men. If I can read other’s minds without bonding to them, then I can find out if they have pure intentions.

Since then, I've been collecting a variety of stones and gems of different colors and shapes, hoping that they might offer me insights into the hidden motivations and emotions of others.

Why should I care about understanding others if they don't even bother to try to understand me in return?

Unfortunately, my hobby hasn't been bringing me any luck lately. Rather than helping me connect with people, it has only pushed my mother's other children away. To be honest, I still don't fully understand why they distance themselves from me. 

Is it because I am the real prince? Or is it because I am odd?

Nonetheless, it has become the one thing that brings me joy and motivation, encouraging me to spend more time outdoors on my own.

Another thing I cannot forget from the old books are intimate movements called dances. Some can do it for fun, some for purposes like rituals, others for mating. I have imagined doing it over and over in my mind.

The book says: Hand to hand, chest to chest, swaying with the music. Twirling occasionally. Looking into each other’s eye deeply.

I wish I could do something like that once in my life with someone I can trust. Or someone I won’t meet again ever as it could be embarrassing. But, I do not trust anyone, not even my own parents. So it’s not just not going to happen for me, being a negative unlovable venomous scorpion prince.

I have collected all kinds of gems the Sand City yields. I even scavenged some from the nearby landscapes, though I haven’t gone further than the bull’s territory.

That will change once I find the gem that allows me to see into people’s hearts. Today is the day I will find a magical gem! Any power will do now!

I underestimated the distance. I thought it would be a day’s trip, it turned into almost three. I made my way through the remnants of Mount Surt, skirted the bull’s land, and crossed into the unguarded border between the bulls and the lions.

Whenever a bull sees me, it ignores me as if I were no threat. Truth be told, I’m not, I'm here for rocks. The reaction is a lot like how the scorpions treated me back home. Fine by me. I’m happy to mind my own business.

I haven’t reached the forest outskirts of Aelysium yet, but the air already feels cleaner, gentler. There’s something in this place that screams safety. I don’t understand why Mother could hate it.

I felt safe enough to sleep beneath a tree, and when I woke it was late into the night. I was about to leave when it began, debris raining from the sky, striking the ground around me.

‘Someone help me,’ I whispered. Even in moments like this, I can’t bring myself to shout for help. How pitiful.

Nobody ever comes to my rescue unless ordered. No one will help me now.

How lame. Living for rocks and getting killed by rocks.

I tripped in a crater made by a tiny falling pebble and landed face-first. It took me a long time to wake properly. A green pebble lay half-buried at my hand.

This is what’s going to end me?

A little farther off, another green rock caught my eye. The pebble in my palm had broken off a larger stone. Around me, other falling gems had shattered on impact into dust; the moonlight turned that dust into something like glittering ground. I picked up every shard I could find.

Then I looked up and saw debris hurtling straight for me. I couldn’t outrun it. I froze and braced for the blow. It never came.

When I opened my eyes, the oncoming rock had evaporated before it reached me, sending the bright dust scattering into the air like a riot of snow and color. I stood there, wordless, staring as the dust drifted around me.

I bent to pick up a huge red rock lying in the center of it all and watched the shimmering air with the rest of my breath caught in my chest.

‘What is your name?’

An unexpected presence almost made me squeal. A little girl appeared in front of me. I was very bewildered, scared even.

Someone other than myself was out tonight, let alone a child? Did I hide my fear and surprise well just now?

All three moons are strategically aligned behind her, highlighting her and giving her a mysterious glow at the same time. I couldn’t see her face clearly.

’Are you from around here?’ She said in between laboured breaths.

How lame. I almost pissed myself from shock.

’So you’re not going to answer me.’ She added.

First of all, who are you too? What is a small girl even doing here? Pfft as if I will talk to the likes of nobody… See? This mentality is why I am a loner.

I wonder how long she was running for. I was concerned she will pass out from trying to talk while also catching her breath, but she sat down so that’s good.

After paying attention, I noticed that she looked like she’s someone important. Her clothes have been snagged by plants but still looks like something only spoiled kids would wear. I would know, having a lot of half-siblings who only cared for material things.

Who am I to say anything? I am also spoiled to a degree.

‘Well?’ She pressed me for a reaction, while I tried to hide my grimace.

If this is my way of thinking, no wonder I do not have any friends. Here is a perfectly good chance to start a friendship with someone who doesn't have any hidden motives on me or my status.

‘Whatever. You’re wasting precious time I can use to play under these glitter rain.’ She said as she flicked her head to one side, but looked like she was still waiting for a response.

‘Cute,’ I whispered.

Did I just think a strange girl attractive?

This strange phenomenon must have gotten me confused and disoriented. I looked away and she started to walk, rather, skipping away from me. As I started leaving, I heard her starting to hum and move to her own rhythm. I just wasn't able to resist looking back.

Is she jumping? Is she… trying to dance?

The unknown girl started twirling round and round, as if she was the only person who matters. Who exists.

I hope she can’t hear how fast and hard my heart is beating. But it’s definitely from being hit in the head and being scared by her.

This is nothing. This heart is beating wildly for perfectly valid reasons.

I watched as the strange girl did a set of movements that reminded me of swans. Her graceful movements gave me a sense of safety and healing. The sudden influx of relief after running for my life just moments ago caught up to me and I slowly fell to the ground.

‘Whew! Just caught you in time!’ She said as she smoothly caught my fall and helped me sit.

What in the! How did she get beside me so fast!

‘Oh no! You’re bleeding!’ She reached out to touch my face and started wiping the moisture I felt on my head away.

I wondered why I just accepted it all. Her sudden appearance, her quick closing of the distance between us, and her kindness. I did not realize my head was in pain until she made it go away with her touch.

’Have you seen enough of me? Are you going to talk to me now?’ She pressed on.

The moons behind her continue to give her a mysterious silhouette. I did not realize I had been staring at her for long.

Why are you trying so hard to connect with me when I had been very rude? I can’t understand.

’Who are you?’ I accidentally responded even when I had no intention of engaging with her.

’So you can speak!’ She beamed, pleased with her efforts of getting a word out of me.

The trace of her shadowy smile made my rapid overworking heart skip a beat.

Will she still talk to me if she finds out we are from opposing kingdoms?

‘I am Marik, a prince. From the north.’

I felt confident enough to show her the real me. I felt that I could just be myself and that she will take me as I am. I felt that I could do anything for her. I did not need any stone to identify the feelings brewing within me. It was love at first sight.