“Once upon a time, in the gorgeous lands of Daltonia, the Royal family was leading the kingdom in a time of peace. But the king and queen were given a prophecy. Their firstborn would be the hero of legend, the Chosen One, the user of the All Power, the one to save us all from an unseen threat. As a result, when prince Cooper was born, the festivities were lavish, but there was also a feeling of apprehension. What threat would loom over Daltonia?

On Cooper’s tenth birthday, that became clear. The evil sorcerer known as the Pink Dagger, had been secretly planting seeds of disarray around the kingdom. Seeds that would manipulate time. The Pink Dagger tried to manipulate the past in order to alter the present and change a possible future. The young Cooper knew what he had to do, so when he was only ten years old, he and his friends from the Knight Academy set out on a quest to stop the Pink Dagger-”

“And meanwhile, the new queen gave birth to a second son!” Wes yells happily.

David groans as he looks up from his electronic parchment.

“Damnit, Wes, I was getting to that!” he says towards his friend.

“Well, hurry up then! We’re all waiting for Blaine to make an entrance.”

“Guys-” Blaine tries to cut in, but all his friends cheer in agreement with Wes.

“Hush,” David says, “I haven’t even gotten around to the death of the first queen and the king remarrying. I am nowhere near Blaine’s birth. That happens after Cooper’s quest! It would fit better in the intro of the second book.”

“Second book?” Trent bemoans.

“Cooper’s had eight big quests. I cannot put them all in one! That would be idiocy.”

“It’s idiocy to write down Cooper’s adventures in the first place,” Nick argues, “As in, who would read them? Everyone in the kingdom already knows of them.”

Nick is right, of course. Cooper is Daltonia’s biggest hero. His eight year long battle with the Pink Dagger has led to Cooper’s victory, and to the safety of Daltonia. Cooper’s spent most of his childhood honing the All Power. Every member of the Royal family has powers, including Blaine, but the prophecy was right: Cooper truly is the most powerful royal that Daltonia’s ever known.

And Cooper also makes sure that everyone knows it.

“Did Cooper ask you to write a book series about him?” Blaine asks. It’s something Cooper would do.

But David shakes his head.

“Oh David,” Jeff whines, “Why?”

“I am a historian!” David says passionately, “But I must also think of the future. Writing this all down in a simple languages is a way for children to learn about their past.”

“Yes. You’re a historian, definitely not a writer,” Wes jokes, which leads to a playful pat on the back from David.

Although Blaine thinks David has a point. Honestly, Cooper’s his brother, and even Blaine’s had to learn about his brother’s adventures through stories, since he was too young to comprehend them when they were happening. Blaine definitely remembers the darker times, when the Pink Dagger was growing stronger, but his mother has always tried to shield him from most of the destruction and the dangers Cooper and his friends were facing.

Besides, if David needs a story, then Cooper’s life is perfect. It’s not as if Blaine has anything interesting to share. He’s always been the younger brother, the second prince, and what not, and Blaine likes it that way. No one’s ever needed him for something big, and he’s glad. Cooper loves all the attention, and he can have it.

“Okay, quit interrupting me,” David says.

David keeps talking about his story, and Blaine’s friends keep adding comments. Blaine turns back to his potions. He scans his digital potion book and listens along with the others, and also occasionally chimes in.

But the sun goes down early in the colder months, and it’s time for Blaine’s friends to leave. They all put on their winter cloaks and say their goodbyes.

“I will send a bird with a draft!” David says as he closes the door behind him.

And just like that, Blaine’s alone, and he’s glad. He loves his friends, truly, but they can be a bit much. Not only that, but everyone’s turned twenty, which is the age that people in Daltonia start thinking about their Passion, and it’s all everyone talks about. The Passion decides what you do for the kingdom. Some have already found it, like David, but others, like Blaine, are lost.

Blaine stirs his big pot with potion. He’s been enjoying alchemy, so maybe that is his Passion? He can become the royal alchemist. It’s not as if he’s becoming the future king, since that’s Cooper’s calling.

Blaine is Royal, though. He has the magical powers, but he hasn’t figure out how to mix (ha!) those with his alchemy.

He keeps stirring in his pot, and he thinks the potion is done. Great. He wanted to finish this before dinner. He and his parents try to have dinner together every evening, and Blaine likes it. Cooper joins when he’s in Castle Town, but most of his time is spent elsewhere in the kingdom. He’s doing all sorts of heroic stuff.

Blaine pours the potion in a glass and smells it. It’s a calming potion. He’s eager to try it.

But then, a maid barges through the door, making Blaine drop his glass in shock.

“Where is your brother?” she yells.

“I don’t know,” Blaine answers, “He started another quest this morning. Something about a mystical cave up north?”

Blaine’s not entirely sure. He tries to keep track of his brother’s heroics, but there are just too many of them.

He crouches down to pick up the shards of glass that’s lying in the spilled potion.

“Then, we need you.”

Blaine drops the shard he had just picked up.

“Me?” Blaine asks. He’s the only one in this tower room, but he still asks to be sure. No one’s ever needed him for anything significant. What could possibly be happening?

“Someone’s been brought in. He’s hurt. You can heal, right?”

Blaine doesn’t have Cooper’s healing powers, but he is interested in alchemy. He’s made some healing potions with success. He can try.

“Okay,” Blaine says.

He takes some of his healing potions from the shelves and he follows the maid out of the door, leaving the shards behind.