RINGS OF GLORY
By Ezeigbo Christian
Part one

Prologue
In the kingdom of Ecot, where magic lingered in the air
and secrets hid in every corner, a young man named
Wilmer found himself caught in the twists and turns of an
extraordinary adventure.
In this lively kingdom, where destinies were like stories
waiting to be told, Wilmer set out on a journey that would
change his life and the fate of Ecot forever. Little did he
know that his path would cross with others who held the
strings of power, love, and deception.
Princess Avara, longing for a love that went beyond royal
boundaries, discovered a new talent in crocheting.
Unbeknownst to her, the threads she wove would connect
with Wilmer's story and the destiny of Ecot.
In the shadows, a tale of deceit unfolded as Prince Kelvin
and Wilmer's brother, Max, navigated tricky waters.
Secrets were kept, alliances formed, and destiny's wheels
started turning, leading to a revelation that would
challenge love, loyalty, and reality itself.
As the kingdom prepared for the crowning of a new king,
an old prophecy resurfaced, demanding the discovery of
the mysterious "Ring of Glory." Wilmer's quest for the
rings turned into an adventure that revealed the magic of
Ecot and the destiny whispered by the wind.
With darkening clouds and a knowing smile from Princess
Avara, the stage was set for a story of magic, love, and the
courage of those who dared to challenge destiny. The
journey began, and the fate of Ecot hung in the balance,
waiting for the unraveling of the tale that bound them all
together.



Chapter One
In the Eastern part of Scotland, there existed a small
village named Ecot. This village, abundant in food,
clothing, and breathtaking beauty, played a crucial role in
supporting nearby villages. Notably, many princes from
prestigious kingdoms sought marriage with women from
Ecot due to their captivating charm.
Amidst this prosperity, Wilmer, a young orphan living
with his elder cousin Max at the village's edge, found
himself in solitude, deep in contemplation about his life.
Recently, he had a haunting nightmare about his late
father, Mateo, who met his demise while attempting to
unravel the mystery behind the "rings of glory."
In Wilmer's dream, Mateo departed Ecot, following a
peculiar map through a dense forest. Along his journey, he
encountered a talking stone that persuaded him to take a
specific route, promising a faster accomplishment of his
objective. Trusting the stone's counsel, Mateo reached the
heart of a dark cave, where a significant book surrounded
by the four rings of glory awaited him, each with
instructions inscribed within.
"Finally, my dreams have materialized into reality; I will
become a king!" Mateo exclaimed with a self-assured
smile. Intrigued, he approached the book with caution,
wondering about its contents. Suddenly, a mysterious
voice echoed, asking, "Mateo! What do you see?"
In response, Mateo revealed his quest for the rings of
glory to unlock the throne. However, the voice chuckled
and proclaimed, "Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, only a child born on
an eclipse is worthy of the rings!"
"But who are you to tell me that?" Mateo questioned.
"I'm Zuul, the guardian of the four rings of glory," the
strange voice answered.
"Really? Then where are you, and why can't I see you?"
Mateo asked in confusion.
The strange voice replied, "You ask too many questions. I
am everywhere, inside you, speaking through your heart."
In annoyance, Mateo declared, "I don't really care. I need
it, and I must get it no matter what!" He rushed towards
the book to grab it, but unfortunately, he was caught by
the power of the rings.
"Max, I want to ask you a question," Wilmer said.
"I'm listening, bro, go on," Max responded.
Curious, Wilmer asked Max about the reason for their
persistent poverty despite all their efforts. Max's response
wasn't straightforward; he suggested that the answer
should come from Wilmer's late father.
"Really?" Wilmer said in surprise. He then shared the
nightmare he had the previous night with Max.
"Wow, you had a nightmare?" Max smiled, drawing closer
to Wilmer. "But why didn't you ask your father about the
cause of your current situation?"
Out of anger, Wilmer grabbed a broken piece of wood
from the ground and hit Max on his head. Max, turning
red with anger, retaliated by dragging Wilmer and
delivering a punch to his stomach. Their heated exchange
turned into a full-blown fight.
The young boys continued their brawl until they heard a
soft knock on the door, which surprised them. "Wait,
Wilmer! Don't be hasty to open the door," Max cautioned.
Peering through the window, he tried to identify the
person outside through their shadow.
"Max, what's the problem? Who's that?" Wilmer asked
quietly.
Max instructed Wilmer to be silent while he confirmed the
stranger's identity. However, before Max could descend
from the window, Wilmer quietly opened the door,
revealing Mary, the stranger, standing patiently outside.
"Hi-i-i," he stuttered in response. Wilmer stood still,
smiling slightly at Mary, who seemed unperturbed.
"Aren't you happy to see me?" Mary said, looking directly
at him.
"I'm sorry about that, Mary. He's just a shy little boy,"
Max explained, ushering Mary into the house.
Sensing Wilmer's embarrassment, Mary changed the
subject to love. "Wilmer, how do I look today?" she asked.
Wilmer complimented her without looking. "Really? Am I
beautiful?" she inquired again.
"You know you're beautiful, in fact, you're the most
beautiful girl in this entire land," Wilmer replied.
"You're so beautiful that Prince Kelvin and his brother,
Prince Jack, are in conflict because of you," Wilmer
added.
"Please, stop mentioning those names," Mary said,
moving closer. "They are so proud and rude." After hours
of conversation, she stood up, gave Wilmer a hug, and the
atmosphere lightened.



Chapter Two
Two decades later, a talent competition unfolded in the
kingdom of Ecot. Wilmer and his brother, Max,
meticulously prepared their musical instruments, viewing
it as a chance to secure a better life if they emerged
victorious. As the gentle wind blew and the sun dimmed, a
well-arranged carpet adorned the beautifully designed
floor. Mary eagerly awaited Wilmer's arrival, unaware that
he was already present. Perceiving his absence, she
decided to explore behind the palace.
"Wilmer!" Mary called out. "I've been looking for you."
"This is the most challenging day of my life; I must not
miss this opportunity," Wilmer responded.
Gracefully, Mary, reminiscent of a princess, approached
Wilmer and embraced him gently. "I know you will make
me proud," she assured.
"Of course, I will," Wilmer affirmed.
Meanwhile, Prince Kelvin and his brother Jack, consumed
by anger and jealousy, secretly observed the scene.
"She looks exactly like a princess," remarked Prince
Kelvin.
"Oh yes, and I must have her for myself," added Prince
Jack.
"How dare you! How many times have I told you to stay
away from her?" Prince Kelvin exclaimed angrily.
The two princes quarreled until Prince Kelvin stormed off
to Princess Avara's chamber. Knocking on the door
yielded no response, and upon entering, he discovered his
little sister in tears.
"Princess, what's the problem?" he inquired.
Turning from her seat, Princess Avara stood up, holding
Prince Kelvin's hand firmly. He sensed her intense
emotions and emotional trauma.
"Who did this to you?" Prince Kelvin asked.
"Nobody," she replied in a low tone. "There's this young
boy named Wilmer. I've loved him since he first entered
the palace, but because of my status, I'm not free to go
wherever I want to see him."
Prince Kelvin realized his sister's love for a poor boy and
reluctantly said, "Go get him. I saw him hugging a girl."
"Could she be his girlfriend?" Princess Avara questioned.
"I doubt it," Prince Kelvin replied, revealing that the girl
was Mary, the one he loved.
The talent show's first round commenced, and Wilmer
and Max's musical performance captivated the audience.
Birds in the air, initially silent, now echoed the sounds,
and the earth seemed to come alive. As the clouds
darkened, the brothers received applause and praise.
When the judges announced the results, the crowd
expected Wilmer to win. However, to everyone's surprise,
a contestant named James was declared the winner.
Confused and angered, Wilmer stood up, disappointed
and filled with regret, mumbling, "If I knew it would turn
out this way, I wouldn't have performed."
He journeyed home, passing by Princess Avara standing
in front of his house. Filled with fear, he managed a forced
smile, but as he approached her, he began to stutter,
uneasy about potential trouble with the princess.



Chapter Three
"Hello," Princess Avara greeted.
"Hi-i-i," Wilmer responded. "What a surprise visit. What
brings you here?"
"Didn't you observe that the result was changed? And you
know you were the rightful owner of the reward," the
princess asked.
"Yes, that was why I stood up angrily and took my leave,"
Wilmer answered.
"The results were changed by the other judges who sat
close to the Princes," said Wilmer.
"It's not the end, Wilmer," said Princess Avara. She then
presented another gift to Wilmer.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Wilmer asked.
"Nothing, I just felt you were being cheated, that's all,"
Princess Avara said. "I'd like you to play your instrument
for me alone tomorrow evening."
Wilmer stood there speechless, unable to believe what was
happening. He hurried inside and waited for Max to
return so he could share the news. Two hours passed, and
Max wasn't home yet. Wilmer, tempted to open Princess
Avara's gift, discovered it was twice the value given to
James, the acclaimed winner. Inside a short letter
attached, he read:
"I wondered what made you sad
I wondered who made you sad
Who is as handsome as Wilmer?
He has forever been a Wilmer.
I'd love to see him always smiling
His music always gladdens my heart."
For the first time in two nights, Wilmer slept peacefully.
The next morning, a loud knock woke him.
"Who's that?" Wilmer said angrily.
"Open the door."
"Max?" Wilmer said, opening the door to find his brother
and Mary.
"What's going on, Max?" Wilmer asked. "I've waited for
you all day."
"Nothing is going on, dear," Mary said. "I just wanted to
break the good news to you."
"What good news?" Wilmer asked.
"I've been employed as the personal assistant to Prince
Kelvin," Mary replied.
Wilmer was shocked and disappointed. He shut the door
and sat, tapping his feet in confusion.
"Wilmer, you have to calm down. This is a life-changing
opportunity for her," Max said.
"What do you mean by that?" Wilmer shouted.
Max invited Mary into their discussion. She entered the
house, visibly sad. Wilmer looked at her, unsatisfied with
the news.
Wilmer stood up, drew closer, and held her firmly. "Mary,
I love you, and I don't want you to leave me."
"I understand, Wilmer, but this is a life-changing
opportunity for me. I've always wished to work at the
palace and be paid handsomely," Mary said.
Wilmer's face reflected disappointment. He stood still, not
knowing what to say, as Mary had made up her mind to
accept the job offer. Eventually, he uttered, "The things
that happen these days are just strange."
"What happened?" Max asked.
"Did you know that Princess Avara was here yesterday?"
Wilmer said. Mary and Max were shocked.
"She said she loves our music and would love me to play
for her at the palace soon," Wilmer added.
"This is good, but you ought to ask her why she chose you
alone," Mary suggested.
Max sighed. "How do you expect him to question the
princess?"
"Let's leave that aside and celebrate our new royal
employee," Wilmer said. He went to the kitchen, bringing
out fresh wine to celebrate Mary.
The next day, the people of Ecot assembled for their usual
activities, and Wilmer and Max practiced new tunes at
home. A sound at the door caught their attention.
Wilmer opened the door to a stranger. "Hello, how may I
help you?"
"Good day," said the messenger. "Prince Kelvin gave me
this to give you."
Wilmer thanked the messenger, opened the letter, and
screamed in pain. He handed the paper to Max, tearing
his clothes and weeping.
"He dare not, what's the meaning of this?" Max said.
A knock interrupted their distress. "Who's there?" Wilmer
thundered, opening the door, only to be shocked and left
stuttering.

To be continued.....