Previously on Hakuna, we discovered that the prince is bonded with a powerful demon that grants him immense power, and so he is compelled to train to master this volatile gift. But now, it is time for a moment of peace, a breath before the next storm.
Hakuna walked along the sun-baked pavement, the late afternoon light painting long shadows behind him. He was on his way to the taxi rank, the usual end to a day of scheduled classes and relentless mental training. The air was thick and humid, carrying the distant murmur of traffic and the lively chatter of students released from school. His thoughts were a labyrinth of new routines and the looming shadow of his demonic power. He was so lost in his own mind that he moved with a practiced, almost automatic grace, oblivious to his surroundings as he passed by Nolitha's school.
He had never been this way before, his path to the taxi rank usually taking a different route, a subtle, unconscious redirection that led him straight into her orbit.
Suddenly, without warning, he stopped. His feet simply froze in place, a stillness that had nothing to do with conscious choice. A ripple of energy, so subtle it was almost imperceptible, shimmered across his senses. It was a presence, familiar in a way that defied explanation, a signature in the air he had never encountered before but felt as though he had known his entire life.
Just then, Nolitha stepped out through the grand, wrought-iron gates of the school.
He remained utterly still, rooted to the spot. The world around him seemed to slow, the vibrant colours of the afternoon fading into a hazy background as his focus narrowed, consumed by the vision before him.
Was it possible for someone to possess such grace? Such poise? He watched, mesmerized, as she moved, her form not just beautiful but imbued with a kind of ethereal elegance. It was a beauty that transcended physical form, a light that seemed to emanate from within her very soul. She wasn't simply walking; she was gliding, a living work of art that captured all the light and warmth of the sun and radiated it back out into the world. He had seen many people in his life—princes and princesses from other kingdoms, powerful warriors, even members of the royal family—but none had ever stirred such a profound reaction within him. She was a different standard of being entirely.
Unintentionally, almost as a quiet thought escaping his lips, Hakuna voiced the raw truth of his observation. "I have never seen anyone like you..." The words were a quiet exhalation, a genuine whisper of awe, not a practiced line. They were meant for himself, a simple truth he had to acknowledge, yet they carried across the small space between them.
Nolitha, lost in her own thoughts, turned her head slightly. She looked around, her eyes passing over the other students and teachers until they landed on him, a stranger. She was oblivious to the quiet intensity of his gaze, mistaking his words for a casual question or a remark meant for someone else.
"Did you say something?" she asked, her voice like the soft chime of a bell.
Her question broke the spell. Hakuna's focus shattered, and he was jolted back to the reality of the bustling street. His cheeks flushed with heat, the realization of what he had said hitting him with a jolt. He stammered, the practiced composure of a prince completely abandoning him.
"Uh, uhm, I, uhh, can I walk with you?" he asked, his voice clumsy and unsure.
A gentle smile touched her lips. "Sure..." she said, a subtle giggle hidden just beneath the surface of her tone, finding his awkwardness endearing rather than off-putting.
They began to walk together, side by side, the silence between them for the first few moments feeling entirely natural. To fill the quiet, Hakuna asked for Nolitha to tell him about herself. And she did. She spoke of her classes, her family, her dreams for the future. As she spoke, she noticed something extraordinary. He wasn't just hearing her words; he was listening. He was truly listening. The usual vacant, half-interested looks she received from other boys were replaced by a genuine, undivided focus. His eyes, usually guarded and filled with a certain knowing caution, had transformed. They blossomed with an unguarded curiosity and a profound connection. They were alive in a way they had never been before.
This was a significant moment for both of them, an event that triggered the formation of a sacred bond between two royal entities, a bond known as the Royal Tie. This connection is not a physical one, but a spiritual and emotional cord that links two royal beings together for life. It is sacred among them, a bond that is never meant to be broken. It is a gift passed down through generations, created long ago by a benevolent, fallen God to ensure that royal entities would never be alone in their power and purpose. The God's intention was to forge a perfect union, a partnership built on a foundation of absolute truth and understanding, a safe haven in a world of deception and conflict.
The Royal Tie allows one individual to feel what the other is feeling, to know in their heart of hearts whether the other is happy, sad, angry, scared, overwhelmed, or at peace. The emotions don't flood them in a chaotic rush but rather arrive as a subtle resonance, a clear, empathetic hum that tells them the state of the other's heart. This bond also allows one to know where the other is, providing an innate, almost magnetic sense of direction that guides them toward their partner. It alerts them if the other is in danger, a sudden spike of fear or an urgent call for help that bypasses spoken words entirely. In its most profound form, the Royal Tie allows royal entities to communicate telepathically, their thoughts and feelings flowing between them in a silent, seamless exchange. There is no filter, no pretence, no room for lies or deception, for they are linked on a fundamental, truthful level. It is said that this is why couples' quarrels always ended peacefully for those with the bond, because there was never a doubt, never a misunderstanding, only perfect clarity and empathy.
This was a deeply special moment for both of them. Nolitha had always been cautious, rejecting the advances of many boys because she felt they all wanted the same thing—a trophy, a possession, a fleeting attraction. She never expected Hakuna to be so attentive, so caring. He didn't try to impress her or talk about himself. All he wanted to do was listen, his silence a sign of profound respect and interest. It was in that moment that Nolitha learned that not everyone is as they seem, that first impressions, so often based on bravado and ego, could be completely wrong. Hakuna, too, was experiencing a revelation. He had never felt this way about anyone the first time they met. His life was one of constant vigilance. He always felt as though he was under attack, his guard up against a world that saw him as a threat or an oddity. And now, walking beside this girl, he felt... safe. He felt protected, not because she was a shield for him, but because her presence was a balm to his perpetually on-edge spirit. He trusted her, and in her openness and quiet vulnerability, he felt that she trusted him in return.
Nolitha, realizing she had been talking non-stop, suddenly stopped her narrative and looked at him. "You haven't said a word since. Is something wrong?" she asked, a touch of concern in her voice.
Hakuna, still slightly stunned by her radiant presence, broke out of his reverie. "No, it's just... I'm glad I got to meet you today..." he replied, the words a simple, honest truth. His feelings were too complex to be put into words, a whirlwind of new emotions that left him a little breathless.
This was the day Hakuna fell in love. It was a silent, unacknowledged moment, but in his heart, he knew.
Nolitha stopped next to a waiting taxi. "I guess this is where I go," she said, her smile gentle. "It was nice to have someone listen for a change. But talk to me next time, alright?"
Hakuna looked at her, his face a mix of surprise and hopeful disbelief. Her words, so casual yet so profound, echoed in his mind. As Nolitha turned to open the taxi door, a quiet, elated thought bloomed in his mind.
"Next time? So, there is a next time, huh..." he thought to himself, the words like a warm promise.
A subtle, genuine smile, one he hadn't worn in years, touched his lips. He watched as she got into the taxi, then turned and began to walk to his own.
Hakuna arrived home, his face still holding that soft, unguarded expression. His mother, who had been waiting for him, recognized the look on his face instantly. She had seen it in her own youth, and she saw it now in her son. Her heart swelled with a mix of pride and a quiet understanding. Her little boy was growing, taking his first steps into a life that would be more complex and beautiful than he could ever imagine.
Hakuna silently walked past her and into his room, the image of Nolitha still vivid in his mind. He sat on the edge of his bed, the familiar walls of his room feeling foreign and distant. "I guess this day was a day of impressions," he thought to himself. "Maybe hiding my true self, keeping my guard up, isn't the right way to live." The thought of Nolitha had challenged a core part of his being. "Nolitha... this might be the most significant of my dumbest decisions, but this girl... she makes me feel at home. It's... unnatural." He knew, with an uncanny certainty, that this feeling was an anomaly, a breach in the carefully constructed walls of his self-preservation. It was a risk, a vulnerability he had never intended to allow, but a risk he somehow knew was worth taking.
Fade out
End of Episode 10