"Oh Mighty Mortius.."
[!] It was at the darkest hour of the night that Maximilian suddenly awoke from his slumber, sweating, breathing heavily, and looking around as if he had seen a ghost. As he peered into the darkness of his room there was nothing to be seen but flickering candles in the corner that provided a faint light. All seemed well, however, Max's body was still firmly in a fight or flight modus as if it could not be fooled by the unseen... It was after some time that his senses calmed and he scrambled out of bed to collect the candle in the dark room, taking it and moving to exit the room.
As he opened the door of his room the door squeaked softly, putting Max further on edge as he did not want anyone to wake up. Thankfully for him, the halls of the palace remained calm and he could peer around the corner of the door where a sign was still placed against the wall beside it. Two names, crossed out on the wood while a new sign was nailed to the door bearing his name instead. A sight that produced a small frown before he tip-toed out and away from the palace itself in the dead of night, making his way along the dark halls of the city walls until he reached the tower that led him to the Adelsburg Grand Cathedral. A route he had taken before if he felt unwell at night for only the sight of He who he had already chosen as patron sentinel brought his young mind peace.
He slid into the cathedral, following the walls as faint candles light the prayer corners while pacing in rhythm with soft humming from priests reciting prayers above on the upper levels of the cathedral. As he reached the shrine he was looking for he found himself seated in the center of the front bench where a dark shadow was cast over the seats. The Sentinel of Death itself looked down on the young Prinz as if he was waiting for him to speak his mind, the shadow he cast acting as a shield of comfort for the child. Maximilian would after some time fold his hands together, closing his eyes and began to whisper..
"Oh Mighty Mortius... I had another dream... I dreamt of death again, the calm of your plains, the long road to Alder's gates in the dark mist..."
"Someone I hold dearly was there, waiting, smiling at me as a small wave was offered. I tried to reach them but.. I could not... For every step I made put myself further and further away from them.. I.. need to know how to protect them. I do not want anyone to die.. Teach me how to protect.."
[!] The rest of the prayer was spoken in the silence of the mind. No one could hear him. The Cathedral fell silent once more to all but faint humms. No one could hear him now but himself and Mortius.
