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Description
        Chapter 1: The Dreamer’s Curse

       “Blast!” Yami retorted, as he once again reached the last page of the leather bound novel he’d been reading, as he turned the last crisp leaf page only to find the last page, telling what the dragon king’s key was, so yellow with age and stained it was beyond readability. No matter how many times he read his favorite of stories: The Dragon King, it frustrated him to no end the ending remained a well kept secret. With expert care, he closed the antique book extra careful with the antiquarian treasure. Gold claps and hinders lined the corner so the leather would not wear out to quickly. Jewels were embedded into the twists of each corner, while a gold clasp with a leather strap kept the book locked when it wasn’t being read. Gold patterns adorned the exquisite cover while faintly glowing letters spell out the title. The spine was equally studded with gold corners binging it together and studded with dully glowing jewels and alive with gold script. The pages were aged and yellowed, but worn in a way that made it clear the book was not only well-used but loved.
        Running a hand through his stray golden bangs, he gently place the book back in his bag, he hung on the branch of the tree and interlaced his hand behind his head before leaning back against the trunk of the tree, he currently occupied, in a laid back manner before gazing at the cerulean sky above him. Seventeen-year-old Yami Muto closed his eyes with a content sigh, before happily trying to drift off to sleep and escape the shackles of life outside the wide acres of land, forest and such, surrounding the small home he occupied with his beloved brothers. If only to escape for a moment.
         “YAMI!”
        “AHH!” The sudden noise bolted Yami from his serenity, and forgetting where he was maneuvered to see what it was, only to stumble and crash through a mass of weaker, leaf covered branches barely breaking his fall as he crashed the ground with a loud thud! Yami moaned in pain, his back screamed as he tried to push himself into a sitting position. He winced when he tried to move. The sound of giggling from above forced his eyed open, and he came face to face with the adorable face and sweet, innocent smile of his younger brother.
      “Good Morning.” Thirteen-year-old Yugi Muto smiled down at his older brother with a wide, bright smile and innocent eyes cutely shut. Sleep Well?”
     “I did,” Yami smirked with a tone of mock anger “Until a certain someone conspired to kill me by knocking me out of a tree.” He said with a mock glare, but his brother simply burst into laugher, before taking a step back. Recognizing the game, Yami smirked and took a step forward. Yugi took another step back, but Yami was quick to follow him until finally Yugi turned and sprinted; the chase began.
       Letting him have his fun Yami let Yugi win for a moment before releasing a sudden burst of speed and tackling his sibling to the ground. The two rolled around for a few minutes before finally collapsing in a field of dandelions in a heap of laughter. “You’ve been a very naughty boy, Yugi.” Yami mocked scolded, waving his finger in front of Yugi’s face as if punishing a small child. Yugi pouted, succeeding only in making himself look cuter, but Yami helped raise him and was immune to his little brother’s tricks to getting out of trouble. “Perhaps I should reconsider my promise and ask Temie if he’d prefer Brussels sprouts for dinner instead of pasta.”
        Yugi’s reaction changed in an instant.
       “No!” the younger squeaked in pure panic, and jumped to his feet. He tugged, harshly on Yami’s arms and ran around him to push him to his feet when that didn’t work. “Let’s go, please! We can go right now! I’ll even carry everything home, I promise.” It took all of Yami’s willpower not to fall to the ground laughing.
       “Alright, alright, little one we’ll go.” Yami chuckled, at Yugi’s relieved smile, while reaching to retrieve his bag that he lost during their play. “But you have to promise to behave.” Yugi groaned in defeat but nodded, regardless his love of seeing the town outweighing his pride. No matter how old Yugi grew, to Yami he’d always be his baby brother.
         The Moutos had moved to the sleepy town of Hawking Manor when Atem was 15, Yugi was 9 and Yami had just turned 13—and began seriously rebelling against the role society had dictated for him. The trio’s grandfather Solomon, the Mouto family patriarch and a retired gamer and archeologist had settled his family in the small town not long after the family lost their beloved matriarch to illness.
        When the Moutos first arrived in Hawkins Manner, Samira, the trio’s mother and a fantastic artist, and their father Aknankanon, a famous explorer and treasure hunter both shared alove of adventure. Though the continued their adventurous life well after they married, they’d settled down for a short time when they received the joyful news that Samira was pregnant. Once Yugi was old enough to travel, the family continued their adventurous life-style. Unfortunately, news of her mother’s illness sent Samira, Aky and the three boys rushing back to Domino, but sadly no medication was enough to save her. Sarah’s dying wish to her family was for them all to be happy and to never stop following their hearts. Shortly after, the Moutos accompanied Solomon to the sleepy, provincial little town of Hawkins Manner where the adults set up a small shop selling glass objects, paintings and sculptors and even some old antiques, even though they were richer compared to the rest of the small town.
       It hadn’t been too difficult for the family to settle into small town life, after almost four years of traveling. Atem, a kindred spirit like his mother and grandmother, adored all forms of art around the world, but Atem found the antiquarian style of their Easter European home inspiring. Soon, his art flooded the shop; his preferred free-verse style of work, unbound by the limits and regulations of a people pleaser earned his family a modest sum. As long as Atem had his art, he was happy. Carefree and fun-loving, Yugi found a new adventure in everything he could find and delighted in the woods and the fields around his home and the town and the many buildings. The exuberated teen always found something to explore.
         Yami, unfortunately, hadn’t adjusted so easily. He missed those days, the traveling and seeing many exotic places and cultures, learning about the world and sailing the sea, ever since the morning they came to this provincial, backwater town. Already mid-morning and the streets were alive with bustling people, carrying out identical routines to the rest of the week. The smooth cobble stone streets lined the city identical massive stones corbelled together and weighed down on sods of earth. Identical white and gray houses on batched of dirt or elevates on dist hills lines each side of the streets with windows for houses on top and shops on the bottom, smudged close together while stone chimneys lined each triangular roof. An enormous wall surrounded the town, separating it from the lush woods and fields, already starting to change color in the late autumn.
         Every morning just the same, Yami noticed. The baker carried his tray like always, the aroma of baked goods and perfumes filled the crisp autumn air as people opened up shop and carried out their daily routines. Already people were gathering their goods and running errands, the same routine, saying good morning and asking how they were and how their families were doing.
         Even though the Moutos were different, they were no exception.
         “Good morning, Yugi. Good morning Yami.” The baker howled, carrying a tray of bread and rolls.
        “Good morning, sir!” Yugi chimed and rushed over with Yami behind him. Yugi bounced from shop to shop, delighting in his favorite past time while Yami tried in vain to strike up a conversation with the baker. “Where you off to?” The baker asked.
         “The library,” Yami answered. “I just finished the most amazing book, about a cursed family of spell casters and—“
         “That’s nice.” The baker replied, having clearly stopped listening after Yami said library and called to his assistant to finish making the croissants for the day.
         Yami rolled his eyes and called for Yugi. They continued their stroll to the only real place Yami felt at home in the dull, little town. Already, towns people began to gossip about them as he walked by.
          “That boy is strange, no question” A group of gossiping old bats spoke amongst themselves. “He’s always distracted.”
          “He’s never part of any crowd.” An aristocratic woman pointed out. “He’s always by him self reading books.”
         “His head’s in the clouds, all the time.” An old man grunted.
         “No denying he’s a funny boy that Yami.” A group of shoppers conversed amongst themselves, while men running shopped, bowed and tipped their hats respectively to any woman who came by.
        What it wrong with these people! Yami growled in annoyance as he heard the gossip. A caravan drove by ignoring the two boys after the driver said the ritual “Good day”, while three teenage girls giggled like school girls when Yami walked by. “The boy is so peculiar.”
          “I wonder if he’s feeling well?”
         “He’s too wild.”
           It took all of Yami’s will not to growl in frustration.
         “He always has a dreamy far-off look oh his face.”
         “If his nose isn’t in a book, he’s scribbling away in a notebook.”
         “He’s so strange, but special. It’s a pity he doesn’t fit in.”
         “Oh yes, he’s ravishing isn’t he?”
         “Quite. He is a funny boy though.”
         “A beauty, but a funny boy.”
        “Very different from the rest of us.”
        “Lord take me now, if I ever become part of this life!” Yami growled to the heavens, stomping his foot in frustration. His fists clenched when ever the words “odd”, “strange”, “Funny” or “peculiar” were mumbled over and over just like yesterday and the day before that.
       Every day was the same thing and he had half a mind to turn around and tell everyone in town to shut their mouths and mind their own business, but he forced his tongue in check. No, he cared nothing that such an outburst would only warrant more disrespect from the town and they’d treat him as even more of a pariah than he already was. It was solely out of respect for his family that he kept his calm. Yami adored and respected both his parents, as well as his aging grandfather. He, Atem and Yugi had been devastated when age robbed them of their last living relative, shortly after disease killed their mother and their father’s weak heart led him to follow her to death less than a year later. The town could say whatever they wished about him, but Yami’d never forgive himself if he accidentally tarnished his parents and grandparents’ good name because of his inability to control his temper. That and he knew the only thing loosing is temper would accomplish would be the residents marching up to his house and complaining to Atem about how his younger brother was “too wild” and “lacked discipline” etc. etc. Quite frankly, Yami loved Atem too much to let him put up with their nonsense simply because he was Yami’s guardian. It simply wasn’t worth it.
        Yami had never denied he was different from everyone else, even in his own bizarre family. But after years of traveling and witnessing so many different cultures and places, his own idiosyncrasy seemed miner in comparison. However, in this backwater town so pedestrian and old-fashioned it bordered medieval, those simple characteristics were all Hawkins Manner seemed to care about. Unlike most boys, he wanted to become a writer and travel rather than marry an heiress and inherit and run a vast estate. Yami abhorred the social manners than many considered norm, and as headstrong an outspoken as he was, wasn’t afraid voice it---and for that he was considered odd. Not that Yami cared, he’d long since ceased carrying about what others here thought of him. But despite that he truly wished someone would look beyond his “ravishing beauty” and accept him for who he was: an individual and not another handsome boy bound for a prosperous marriage and was simply just too headstrong for his own good.
       “Beauty,” The word rolled of his tongue simply and with no meaning.
       His sharp eyes barely caught his reflection in the glass of one of the shop windows, when he and Yugi stopped to gather the groceries on Atem’s list. He turned to meet the lovely boy staring back at him. “Beauty,” He mocked again, only darker and snorted. “Yeah, that’s a laugh.”
       People always said the three were lovely like their parents, but in Yami’s mind the only the thing the three had in common where their figures: petite and lean with slender muscles and broad chests, their mother’s tri-colored hair and their father’s exotic eyes that shifted from dark violet to purple to bright crimson depending on the light. Yami was full aware of his appearance and what others thought of him.
        It was no mystery why his parents named him Yamir or that his nickname meant darkness. Like the Moon he was named after, Yami was a ravishing dark beauty with no parallel save his brothers. His petite build was perfectly proportioned and his creamy caramel skin pulled over his lean figure and slender muscles, without an ounce of fat. His hair stood up naturally in graceful, silky spikes of ebony dipped in crimson, while a forelock of golden bangs streaked the black and gently framed his sharp, sculpted face; his features like chiseled marble, sharp and delicate but firm and confident. His perfectly pale caramel skin and chiseled features served as the perfect frame for his most striking feature of all: the exquisite jewels in his eyes. His eyes were the icing on the cake: sharp and narrowed and upturned at the corners as if coated in kohl, and colored a rich crimson, the perfect mesh of amethyst and ruby.
         But, in Yami’s mind and his normal standards, he wasn’t beautiful or even handsome. To be beautiful you had to be tall and willowy like his mother or Atem, and you had to have a perfect tan and look the part of a prince charming. With his height barely over five feet, creamy caramel skin, unusually shaped eyes somewhere between red or purple and spiked mass of tri-colored hair and sharp features: he couldn’t even be considered cute. Yugi was cute. With his height of exactly five feet, soft silky mass of amethyst tipped, locks of midnight black and forelock of gold, ivory, baby-soft skin, cherubic features, soft figure and slender build and unusually large eyes: he was adorable. His eyes especially, and sweet smile radiated fun an innocence, and his pale skin an bangs only made them radiate even more. Their color was equally captivating; they were a dark violet the perfect mesh between dark blue and purple. Compared to Yami, Atem was a handsome prince and Yugi was an angel, while Yami looked more like a damsel in distress masquerading as a boy.
          Yet while Yami didn’t see the beauty in his appearance, everyone else in Hawkins Manor saw nothing but his fair facade, while making no attempt to look behind it and considered him odd, peculiar, strange etc. Though he cared less what others thought of him, his saddened and frustrated the fiery teen to no end, not one in town could accept him for who he was.
         “Yami?” A sweet voice broke the older teen from his thoughts, and he diverted his attention from his reflection to his worried little brother, holding two large bags of already paid for food. “You okay?” Yugi asked.
        “I’m fine Yugi,” he smiled, “Just lost in my thoughts.” He replied following his reflection until the glass faded into wood, the continued on their way.
        Far off across the rolling hills and lush countryside, Yami caught sight of the woods, trees were a lit with leaves of red, brown, orange and gold, like blazing fire. The cliff side rumored to lead out of the valley and past and old castle that had been abandoned for little over a century, towered over the green hilly, and flaming wooden landscape like a white tower, beckoning the dreamer to join its life outside the sheltered ways of the valley. A smile played across Yami’s face, as he moved a stray blond bang behind is ear. One day. Yami promised himself. One day I’m getting out of this lame provincial life, and I’ll never look back.
                                                    *
       At last a large cathedral like building came into sight and both boys smiled as they strolled up the stone bath and through the large Oakwood doors. Despite all he’s seen in his youth, Yami found no place more magnificent than Hawkins Manner’s library. The building was circular in some places and cornered in others, but all the rooms tapered to a point like a small castle. Walls and shelves were lines with books form ceiling to floor, like an enormous labyrinth. Some were so high, tall ladders were placed on casters at different intervals. Though small, books were everywhere and these were no ordinary books; like Yami’s favorite, these books were bound in leather or velvet with strong locks and clasps of brass and silver. Their spines were studded with jewels while brilliant leather in elegant script vibrated in the pale light of dozens of candles hanging from the enormous iron-clad chandeliers hanging overhead. The floors were polished wood, interlined with chips of glass and marble. In the center of the room and the labyrinth of shelves set several desks carved from polished oak wood with matching chairs.
      At the head of the library, a much more ornament with vines engraved into the side of the wooden slab that rested on top two large trees of the same wood, who’s branches and vines seem to convolute and wrap around the slab they were holding while their roots claws at the ground. Sitting behind it, with an eccentric smile, a relatively young man rose to his feet, a waterfall of violet hair fell down his back in straight lines, while his rich blue eyes held a friendly smile. “I was wondering when you boys would arrive.” He greeted. “I’d almost given up waiting.”
       “Sorry Mahad.” Yami smiled, “Just here to return the books I borrowed.” Yami explained digging through his bag while Yugi scurried off to find something to read.
      “Finished already?” Mahad feigned surprise.
      “I couldn’t put it down.” Yami replied, handing him the two books, before strolling over and scanning the shelves. “I don’t suppose you have anything new do you?”
        Mahad chuckled. “Not since yesterday, I’m afraid.”
        “Alright, than I’ll just renew this one.” Yami requested picking up the leather bound book.
       “This one?” Mahad repeated, his fingers dancing over the gold lettering. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’ve checked this one out at least once a month since you were 14.”
         Yami blushed. “Can’t help it, it’s my favorite. No matter how many times I read it, it leaves me on the edge of my seat, the ending makes my heart race and I continue getting frustrated when I turn to the last page and I can never read the end. I really wanna know what the Dragon King’s key is.” Yami voiced, unknowingly expressing his obsession. Mahad’s smile couldn’t get any wider. The librarian placed a comforting hand on the teens shoulder before placed his favorite book in his hands. Yami blinked in confusion but before he could voice his question, Mahad answered.
       “If you like it all that much, its yours.” Yami’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. He opened his mouth to protest but the words died in this throat. “I insist.” Mahad answered with a wink, before the boy could protest. “My job is to make sure each one of these lovely books finds the right person, and if you’re not the one for The Dragon King, I’m a blind old fool.”
        Unsure what else to say, Yami said the only thing that came to mind. “Thank you, Thank you so much!”
       Mahad smiled, before jumping in remembrance and diving behind his desk. “I almost forgot.” He pulled out a large leather folder tied with a red cord from beneath the mess of his desk, before holding the familiar object out to the young writer. “You left this here yesterday. I couldn’t put them down.”
        Yami’s eyes lit up in recognition, and he snatched his portfolio away and hugged it to his chest. “Sorry!” the flustered writer mumbled in apology. “They’re not very good, most of them are just drafts and such—”
     “Yami,” A single word form the librarian silenced him, and he looked up to meet impressed and encouraging sapphire eyes. “They’re brilliant, even for ‘drafts’. I’ve read so many books and I’ve never seen anything half as good as some of the things your imagination has conjured up.”
      “Uh, thanks.” Yami rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
      “Honestly, Yami, what the hell are you and your brothers still doing in this backwards regency?” The question was rhetorical, but no one could mistakes the seriousness in Mahad’s question. “You and your brothers Yami, you three have so much talent and so much potential it’s such a shame you can’t exercise your talents at a more credential location.”
      Yami blinked than nodded at the compliment. “We’re working on it. Atem’s hoping to win the Art Contest this year, this pulls through we might finally have enough to move.”
       “I’m surprised it’s taken you so long.” Mahad smiled. “You’re parents and Solomon left you everything.”
      “Yeah, but that’s our savings, it more than enough to live but not move away and continue living in a new place.” Yugi chimed in carrying a small stack of books of his own, and placed them on the table.
       “Aye, I tell you boys this place has changed since Arthur passed; Lord bless his soul. I knew it was only a matter of time, since none of those Hawkins seems to take after him, and then Becca rolls in—” Yami growled under his breath at the girls’ name, and Mahad decided not to press the issue.
       It was true though, for the past year after their grandfather passed away, the three boys had put away their parent’s inheritance and started saving their earnings until they could afford to leave, but the shop hadn’t been doing as well as it did when Arthur was Duke. But Atem, being the every ambitious and determined older sibling was dead-set on winning the Art Fair this year and moving the three boys to a place where they could finally pursue their dreams.
       “All set.” Mahad finished checking Yugi’s books and placed them all in a bag for the little one to carry. Yugi quickly followed Yami who paused in the doorway to let his little brother pass. Only when he was sure Yugi was safely out of hearing range did he ask his most beloved friend, “Mahad?” Yami didn’t both to turn around. “Do you think I’m odd?”
        librarian froze and looked at the boy as if he’d grown an extra head. “Is this because of what those idiots in town keep saying?” He marched over and turned Yami around to meet his saddened eyes.
       “It’s not that,” Yami replied looking away. “It’s just… I don’t know, I obviously don’t fit in, but sometimes I wish I did. Then maybe I could find someone who actually understands me aside from you and my brothers.” Yami suddenly found himself wrapped in a warm hug by the librarian, before he was released. Mahad’s gaze rested on him with a look of firm affection. “Yami, you’re an artist like you mother, and Atem, just with words. That means you see the world in ways other people can’t or simply don’t. It’s your gift, to see the beauty and the horror in ordinary things. It doesn’t make you odd, or strange, despite what the idiots in this town seem to think. Just different, and there’s nothing wrong with being different.” Yami wasn’t sure whether to smile or laugh for his silliness so he did both. “Thanks Mahad.”
       “Anytime,” the librarian laughed. “Now you better go find your brother before he gets himself in more trouble.” Yami just laughed before quickly existing the library and following his impatience sibling down the street.

Description
        Chapter 1: The Dreamer’s Curse

       “Blast!” Yami retorted, as he once again reached the last page of the leather bound novel he’d been reading, as he turned the last crisp leaf page only to find the last page, telling what the dragon king’s key was, so yellow with age and stained it was beyond readability. No matter how many times he read his favorite of stories: The Dragon King, it frustrated him to no end the ending remained a well kept secret. With expert care, he closed the antique book extra careful with the antiquarian treasure. Gold claps and hinders lined the corner so the leather would not wear out to quickly. Jewels were embedded into the twists of each corner, while a gold clasp with a leather strap kept the book locked when it wasn’t being read. Gold patterns adorned the exquisite cover while faintly glowing letters spell out the title. The spine was equally studded with gold corners binging it together and studded with dully glowing jewels and alive with gold script. The pages were aged and yellowed, but worn in a way that made it clear the book was not only well-used but loved.
        Running a hand through his stray golden bangs, he gently place the book back in his bag, he hung on the branch of the tree and interlaced his hand behind his head before leaning back against the trunk of the tree, he currently occupied, in a laid back manner before gazing at the cerulean sky above him. Seventeen-year-old Yami Muto closed his eyes with a content sigh, before happily trying to drift off to sleep and escape the shackles of life outside the wide acres of land, forest and such, surrounding the small home he occupied with his beloved brothers. If only to escape for a moment.
         “YAMI!”
        “AHH!” The sudden noise bolted Yami from his serenity, and forgetting where he was maneuvered to see what it was, only to stumble and crash through a mass of weaker, leaf covered branches barely breaking his fall as he crashed the ground with a loud thud! Yami moaned in pain, his back screamed as he tried to push himself into a sitting position. He winced when he tried to move. The sound of giggling from above forced his eyed open, and he came face to face with the adorable face and sweet, innocent smile of his younger brother.
      “Good Morning.” Thirteen-year-old Yugi Muto smiled down at his older brother with a wide, bright smile and innocent eyes cutely shut. Sleep Well?”
     “I did,” Yami smirked with a tone of mock anger “Until a certain someone conspired to kill me by knocking me out of a tree.” He said with a mock glare, but his brother simply burst into laugher, before taking a step back. Recognizing the game, Yami smirked and took a step forward. Yugi took another step back, but Yami was quick to follow him until finally Yugi turned and sprinted; the chase began.
       Letting him have his fun Yami let Yugi win for a moment before releasing a sudden burst of speed and tackling his sibling to the ground. The two rolled around for a few minutes before finally collapsing in a field of dandelions in a heap of laughter. “You’ve been a very naughty boy, Yugi.” Yami mocked scolded, waving his finger in front of Yugi’s face as if punishing a small child. Yugi pouted, succeeding only in making himself look cuter, but Yami helped raise him and was immune to his little brother’s tricks to getting out of trouble. “Perhaps I should reconsider my promise and ask Temie if he’d prefer Brussels sprouts for dinner instead of pasta.”
        Yugi’s reaction changed in an instant.
       “No!” the younger squeaked in pure panic, and jumped to his feet. He tugged, harshly on Yami’s arms and ran around him to push him to his feet when that didn’t work. “Let’s go, please! We can go right now! I’ll even carry everything home, I promise.” It took all of Yami’s willpower not to fall to the ground laughing.
       “Alright, alright, little one we’ll go.” Yami chuckled, at Yugi’s relieved smile, while reaching to retrieve his bag that he lost during their play. “But you have to promise to behave.” Yugi groaned in defeat but nodded, regardless his love of seeing the town outweighing his pride. No matter how old Yugi grew, to Yami he’d always be his baby brother.
         The Moutos had moved to the sleepy town of Hawking Manor when Atem was 15, Yugi was 9 and Yami had just turned 13—and began seriously rebelling against the role society had dictated for him. The trio’s grandfather Solomon, the Mouto family patriarch and a retired gamer and archeologist had settled his family in the small town not long after the family lost their beloved matriarch to illness.
        When the Moutos first arrived in Hawkins Manner, Samira, the trio’s mother and a fantastic artist, and their father Aknankanon, a famous explorer and treasure hunter both shared alove of adventure. Though the continued their adventurous life well after they married, they’d settled down for a short time when they received the joyful news that Samira was pregnant. Once Yugi was old enough to travel, the family continued their adventurous life-style. Unfortunately, news of her mother’s illness sent Samira, Aky and the three boys rushing back to Domino, but sadly no medication was enough to save her. Sarah’s dying wish to her family was for them all to be happy and to never stop following their hearts. Shortly after, the Moutos accompanied Solomon to the sleepy, provincial little town of Hawkins Manner where the adults set up a small shop selling glass objects, paintings and sculptors and even some old antiques, even though they were richer compared to the rest of the small town.
       It hadn’t been too difficult for the family to settle into small town life, after almost four years of traveling. Atem, a kindred spirit like his mother and grandmother, adored all forms of art around the world, but Atem found the antiquarian style of their Easter European home inspiring. Soon, his art flooded the shop; his preferred free-verse style of work, unbound by the limits and regulations of a people pleaser earned his family a modest sum. As long as Atem had his art, he was happy. Carefree and fun-loving, Yugi found a new adventure in everything he could find and delighted in the woods and the fields around his home and the town and the many buildings. The exuberated teen always found something to explore.
         Yami, unfortunately, hadn’t adjusted so easily. He missed those days, the traveling and seeing many exotic places and cultures, learning about the world and sailing the sea, ever since the morning they came to this provincial, backwater town. Already mid-morning and the streets were alive with bustling people, carrying out identical routines to the rest of the week. The smooth cobble stone streets lined the city identical massive stones corbelled together and weighed down on sods of earth. Identical white and gray houses on batched of dirt or elevates on dist hills lines each side of the streets with windows for houses on top and shops on the bottom, smudged close together while stone chimneys lined each triangular roof. An enormous wall surrounded the town, separating it from the lush woods and fields, already starting to change color in the late autumn.
         Every morning just the same, Yami noticed. The baker carried his tray like always, the aroma of baked goods and perfumes filled the crisp autumn air as people opened up shop and carried out their daily routines. Already people were gathering their goods and running errands, the same routine, saying good morning and asking how they were and how their families were doing.
         Even though the Moutos were different, they were no exception.
         “Good morning, Yugi. Good morning Yami.” The baker howled, carrying a tray of bread and rolls.
        “Good morning, sir!” Yugi chimed and rushed over with Yami behind him. Yugi bounced from shop to shop, delighting in his favorite past time while Yami tried in vain to strike up a conversation with the baker. “Where you off to?” The baker asked.
         “The library,” Yami answered. “I just finished the most amazing book, about a cursed family of spell casters and—“
         “That’s nice.” The baker replied, having clearly stopped listening after Yami said library and called to his assistant to finish making the croissants for the day.
         Yami rolled his eyes and called for Yugi. They continued their stroll to the only real place Yami felt at home in the dull, little town. Already, towns people began to gossip about them as he walked by.
          “That boy is strange, no question” A group of gossiping old bats spoke amongst themselves. “He’s always distracted.”
          “He’s never part of any crowd.” An aristocratic woman pointed out. “He’s always by him self reading books.”
         “His head’s in the clouds, all the time.” An old man grunted.
         “No denying he’s a funny boy that Yami.” A group of shoppers conversed amongst themselves, while men running shopped, bowed and tipped their hats respectively to any woman who came by.
        What it wrong with these people! Yami growled in annoyance as he heard the gossip. A caravan drove by ignoring the two boys after the driver said the ritual “Good day”, while three teenage girls giggled like school girls when Yami walked by. “The boy is so peculiar.”
          “I wonder if he’s feeling well?”
         “He’s too wild.”
           It took all of Yami’s will not to growl in frustration.
         “He always has a dreamy far-off look oh his face.”
         “If his nose isn’t in a book, he’s scribbling away in a notebook.”
         “He’s so strange, but special. It’s a pity he doesn’t fit in.”
         “Oh yes, he’s ravishing isn’t he?”
         “Quite. He is a funny boy though.”
         “A beauty, but a funny boy.”
        “Very different from the rest of us.”
        “Lord take me now, if I ever become part of this life!” Yami growled to the heavens, stomping his foot in frustration. His fists clenched when ever the words “odd”, “strange”, “Funny” or “peculiar” were mumbled over and over just like yesterday and the day before that.
       Every day was the same thing and he had half a mind to turn around and tell everyone in town to shut their mouths and mind their own business, but he forced his tongue in check. No, he cared nothing that such an outburst would only warrant more disrespect from the town and they’d treat him as even more of a pariah than he already was. It was solely out of respect for his family that he kept his calm. Yami adored and respected both his parents, as well as his aging grandfather. He, Atem and Yugi had been devastated when age robbed them of their last living relative, shortly after disease killed their mother and their father’s weak heart led him to follow her to death less than a year later. The town could say whatever they wished about him, but Yami’d never forgive himself if he accidentally tarnished his parents and grandparents’ good name because of his inability to control his temper. That and he knew the only thing loosing is temper would accomplish would be the residents marching up to his house and complaining to Atem about how his younger brother was “too wild” and “lacked discipline” etc. etc. Quite frankly, Yami loved Atem too much to let him put up with their nonsense simply because he was Yami’s guardian. It simply wasn’t worth it.
        Yami had never denied he was different from everyone else, even in his own bizarre family. But after years of traveling and witnessing so many different cultures and places, his own idiosyncrasy seemed miner in comparison. However, in this backwater town so pedestrian and old-fashioned it bordered medieval, those simple characteristics were all Hawkins Manner seemed to care about. Unlike most boys, he wanted to become a writer and travel rather than marry an heiress and inherit and run a vast estate. Yami abhorred the social manners than many considered norm, and as headstrong an outspoken as he was, wasn’t afraid voice it---and for that he was considered odd. Not that Yami cared, he’d long since ceased carrying about what others here thought of him. But despite that he truly wished someone would look beyond his “ravishing beauty” and accept him for who he was: an individual and not another handsome boy bound for a prosperous marriage and was simply just too headstrong for his own good.
       “Beauty,” The word rolled of his tongue simply and with no meaning.
       His sharp eyes barely caught his reflection in the glass of one of the shop windows, when he and Yugi stopped to gather the groceries on Atem’s list. He turned to meet the lovely boy staring back at him. “Beauty,” He mocked again, only darker and snorted. “Yeah, that’s a laugh.”
       People always said the three were lovely like their parents, but in Yami’s mind the only the thing the three had in common where their figures: petite and lean with slender muscles and broad chests, their mother’s tri-colored hair and their father’s exotic eyes that shifted from dark violet to purple to bright crimson depending on the light. Yami was full aware of his appearance and what others thought of him.
        It was no mystery why his parents named him Yamir or that his nickname meant darkness. Like the Moon he was named after, Yami was a ravishing dark beauty with no parallel save his brothers. His petite build was perfectly proportioned and his creamy caramel skin pulled over his lean figure and slender muscles, without an ounce of fat. His hair stood up naturally in graceful, silky spikes of ebony dipped in crimson, while a forelock of golden bangs streaked the black and gently framed his sharp, sculpted face; his features like chiseled marble, sharp and delicate but firm and confident. His perfectly pale caramel skin and chiseled features served as the perfect frame for his most striking feature of all: the exquisite jewels in his eyes. His eyes were the icing on the cake: sharp and narrowed and upturned at the corners as if coated in kohl, and colored a rich crimson, the perfect mesh of amethyst and ruby.
         But, in Yami’s mind and his normal standards, he wasn’t beautiful or even handsome. To be beautiful you had to be tall and willowy like his mother or Atem, and you had to have a perfect tan and look the part of a prince charming. With his height barely over five feet, creamy caramel skin, unusually shaped eyes somewhere between red or purple and spiked mass of tri-colored hair and sharp features: he couldn’t even be considered cute. Yugi was cute. With his height of exactly five feet, soft silky mass of amethyst tipped, locks of midnight black and forelock of gold, ivory, baby-soft skin, cherubic features, soft figure and slender build and unusually large eyes: he was adorable. His eyes especially, and sweet smile radiated fun an innocence, and his pale skin an bangs only made them radiate even more. Their color was equally captivating; they were a dark violet the perfect mesh between dark blue and purple. Compared to Yami, Atem was a handsome prince and Yugi was an angel, while Yami looked more like a damsel in distress masquerading as a boy.
          Yet while Yami didn’t see the beauty in his appearance, everyone else in Hawkins Manor saw nothing but his fair facade, while making no attempt to look behind it and considered him odd, peculiar, strange etc. Though he cared less what others thought of him, his saddened and frustrated the fiery teen to no end, not one in town could accept him for who he was.
         “Yami?” A sweet voice broke the older teen from his thoughts, and he diverted his attention from his reflection to his worried little brother, holding two large bags of already paid for food. “You okay?” Yugi asked.
        “I’m fine Yugi,” he smiled, “Just lost in my thoughts.” He replied following his reflection until the glass faded into wood, the continued on their way.
        Far off across the rolling hills and lush countryside, Yami caught sight of the woods, trees were a lit with leaves of red, brown, orange and gold, like blazing fire. The cliff side rumored to lead out of the valley and past and old castle that had been abandoned for little over a century, towered over the green hilly, and flaming wooden landscape like a white tower, beckoning the dreamer to join its life outside the sheltered ways of the valley. A smile played across Yami’s face, as he moved a stray blond bang behind is ear. One day. Yami promised himself. One day I’m getting out of this lame provincial life, and I’ll never look back.
                                                    *
       At last a large cathedral like building came into sight and both boys smiled as they strolled up the stone bath and through the large Oakwood doors. Despite all he’s seen in his youth, Yami found no place more magnificent than Hawkins Manner’s library. The building was circular in some places and cornered in others, but all the rooms tapered to a point like a small castle. Walls and shelves were lines with books form ceiling to floor, like an enormous labyrinth. Some were so high, tall ladders were placed on casters at different intervals. Though small, books were everywhere and these were no ordinary books; like Yami’s favorite, these books were bound in leather or velvet with strong locks and clasps of brass and silver. Their spines were studded with jewels while brilliant leather in elegant script vibrated in the pale light of dozens of candles hanging from the enormous iron-clad chandeliers hanging overhead. The floors were polished wood, interlined with chips of glass and marble. In the center of the room and the labyrinth of shelves set several desks carved from polished oak wood with matching chairs.
      At the head of the library, a much more ornament with vines engraved into the side of the wooden slab that rested on top two large trees of the same wood, who’s branches and vines seem to convolute and wrap around the slab they were holding while their roots claws at the ground. Sitting behind it, with an eccentric smile, a relatively young man rose to his feet, a waterfall of violet hair fell down his back in straight lines, while his rich blue eyes held a friendly smile. “I was wondering when you boys would arrive.” He greeted. “I’d almost given up waiting.”
       “Sorry Mahad.” Yami smiled, “Just here to return the books I borrowed.” Yami explained digging through his bag while Yugi scurried off to find something to read.
      “Finished already?” Mahad feigned surprise.
      “I couldn’t put it down.” Yami replied, handing him the two books, before strolling over and scanning the shelves. “I don’t suppose you have anything new do you?”
        Mahad chuckled. “Not since yesterday, I’m afraid.”
        “Alright, than I’ll just renew this one.” Yami requested picking up the leather bound book.
       “This one?” Mahad repeated, his fingers dancing over the gold lettering. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’ve checked this one out at least once a month since you were 14.”
         Yami blushed. “Can’t help it, it’s my favorite. No matter how many times I read it, it leaves me on the edge of my seat, the ending makes my heart race and I continue getting frustrated when I turn to the last page and I can never read the end. I really wanna know what the Dragon King’s key is.” Yami voiced, unknowingly expressing his obsession. Mahad’s smile couldn’t get any wider. The librarian placed a comforting hand on the teens shoulder before placed his favorite book in his hands. Yami blinked in confusion but before he could voice his question, Mahad answered.
       “If you like it all that much, its yours.” Yami’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. He opened his mouth to protest but the words died in this throat. “I insist.” Mahad answered with a wink, before the boy could protest. “My job is to make sure each one of these lovely books finds the right person, and if you’re not the one for The Dragon King, I’m a blind old fool.”
        Unsure what else to say, Yami said the only thing that came to mind. “Thank you, Thank you so much!”
       Mahad smiled, before jumping in remembrance and diving behind his desk. “I almost forgot.” He pulled out a large leather folder tied with a red cord from beneath the mess of his desk, before holding the familiar object out to the young writer. “You left this here yesterday. I couldn’t put them down.”
        Yami’s eyes lit up in recognition, and he snatched his portfolio away and hugged it to his chest. “Sorry!” the flustered writer mumbled in apology. “They’re not very good, most of them are just drafts and such—”
     “Yami,” A single word form the librarian silenced him, and he looked up to meet impressed and encouraging sapphire eyes. “They’re brilliant, even for ‘drafts’. I’ve read so many books and I’ve never seen anything half as good as some of the things your imagination has conjured up.”
      “Uh, thanks.” Yami rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
      “Honestly, Yami, what the hell are you and your brothers still doing in this backwards regency?” The question was rhetorical, but no one could mistakes the seriousness in Mahad’s question. “You and your brothers Yami, you three have so much talent and so much potential it’s such a shame you can’t exercise your talents at a more credential location.”
      Yami blinked than nodded at the compliment. “We’re working on it. Atem’s hoping to win the Art Contest this year, this pulls through we might finally have enough to move.”
       “I’m surprised it’s taken you so long.” Mahad smiled. “You’re parents and Solomon left you everything.”
      “Yeah, but that’s our savings, it more than enough to live but not move away and continue living in a new place.” Yugi chimed in carrying a small stack of books of his own, and placed them on the table.
       “Aye, I tell you boys this place has changed since Arthur passed; Lord bless his soul. I knew it was only a matter of time, since none of those Hawkins seems to take after him, and then Becca rolls in—” Yami growled under his breath at the girls’ name, and Mahad decided not to press the issue.
       It was true though, for the past year after their grandfather passed away, the three boys had put away their parent’s inheritance and started saving their earnings until they could afford to leave, but the shop hadn’t been doing as well as it did when Arthur was Duke. But Atem, being the every ambitious and determined older sibling was dead-set on winning the Art Fair this year and moving the three boys to a place where they could finally pursue their dreams.
       “All set.” Mahad finished checking Yugi’s books and placed them all in a bag for the little one to carry. Yugi quickly followed Yami who paused in the doorway to let his little brother pass. Only when he was sure Yugi was safely out of hearing range did he ask his most beloved friend, “Mahad?” Yami didn’t both to turn around. “Do you think I’m odd?”
        librarian froze and looked at the boy as if he’d grown an extra head. “Is this because of what those idiots in town keep saying?” He marched over and turned Yami around to meet his saddened eyes.
       “It’s not that,” Yami replied looking away. “It’s just… I don’t know, I obviously don’t fit in, but sometimes I wish I did. Then maybe I could find someone who actually understands me aside from you and my brothers.” Yami suddenly found himself wrapped in a warm hug by the librarian, before he was released. Mahad’s gaze rested on him with a look of firm affection. “Yami, you’re an artist like you mother, and Atem, just with words. That means you see the world in ways other people can’t or simply don’t. It’s your gift, to see the beauty and the horror in ordinary things. It doesn’t make you odd, or strange, despite what the idiots in this town seem to think. Just different, and there’s nothing wrong with being different.” Yami wasn’t sure whether to smile or laugh for his silliness so he did both. “Thanks Mahad.”
       “Anytime,” the librarian laughed. “Now you better go find your brother before he gets himself in more trouble.” Yami just laughed before quickly existing the library and following his impatience sibling down the street.