It was the middle of the night when a shriek filled the manor.
"Prince Magnom! What is it? Are you safe?" a guard shouted as he and his platoon burst through the door.
The prince, drenched in sweat and with terror in his eyes, sat at the edge of his bed. "No... No, it's just the same nightmare again," Prince Magnom said, his voice so quiet it could barely be heard.
"Again? This is your thirty-seventh time, Your Highness. Shouldn't we alert the psychiatrist?" the guard sighed softly.
"No! Just... just leave me alone, Sir Frank. That goes for all of you!" he shouted as he waved his hand toward Sir Frank and his platoon.
***
It was the first thing in the morning when I got the news of the prince's nightmare.
"Poor child, his symptoms just keep getting worse by the day. I'll contact the psychiatrist first thing in the afternoon," I informed the head guard of the manor, Sir Frank, while I was watering the plants outside the manor.
"He still refuses to tell us about his nightmares; the first time we asked, he punished us by taking away our food rations..." he shivered. "Why don't you try talking to him, Petuem?" Sir Frank continued.
"I'll try; I just hope he doesn't punish me as harshly as last time..." I said.
I began making my way when I saw the housekeeper, Mrs. Tera, running in my direction.
"Sir Petuem! Hurry! The prince is in danger!" she screamed out of breath.
We ran to the prince's room. Mrs. Tera explained that when she was cleaning the room next to the prince's room, she suddenly heard a loud boom, and she saw a bright flashing light.
I burst through the door, but to my surprise the prince seemed perfectly fine.
"Prince Magnom, are you alright?!" I managed to get it out of my throat.
"Prince Magnom... wait, who?" he said.
"Prince, are you playing a prank on us?" I said astonishingly angry. Thankfully he didn't look hurt.
"What are you talking about? Who are y—" He suddenly stopped talking mid-sentence when he saw his reflection in the mirror near his bed.
"Prince, snap out of it this is a serious matter!" I shouted in frustration.
"Did you just say prince?" Magnom finally said.