"How is Pyramus? Why haven't I seen him or been welcomed by him? Are you poisoning my grandson's mind so that he no longer pays attention to me?" Pyramia's voice was sharp, a mixture of reproach and genuine concern. Her gaze was as fierce as a hawk's, scrutinizing Xerxez.
"Queen Pyramia, I admit I have been negligent, but to poison his mind is a grave accusation!" Xerxez responded, his voice calm but with an underlying weariness. "Why would I ever do such a thing?"
The queen fell silent, a subtle shift in her demeanor as the initial fury subsided. "Then where is he now?" she asked, a sudden change in tone, like a gust of wind shifting its direction.
"As far as I know, both of my sons are in the study hall," Xerxez replied, his voice firm and direct.
The queen's tense shoulders relaxed. "That's good to hear!"
Suddenly, a guard rushed in, breathless and frantic. "Your Majesty, the princes are missing! We have no idea how it happened, but we were just informed they have been gone since this morning. We thought they were still in the study hall."
"SINCE THIS MORNING!?" Pyramia's eyes widened in disbelief, and she slapped the guard across the face. "The princes have been missing for that long, and you're only telling us now, so casually?"
Haring Driother, who had been a silent observer, now spoke up, his voice tinged with concern. "Did I hear that right? The princes are missing?"
"Xerxez, where is my grandson?" he asked, his tone now grave.
"Answer us, Xerxez!" Pyramia demanded, her voice rising in a panicked shriek.
"I don't know," Xerxez replied, the truth etched on his face. The fear for his sons was palpable.
"You admit you've been a negligent father!" the queen accused, her voice boiling with contempt. "How would you know, since you've never been obligated to your son! It would be better if I just took Pyramus away from this household. I will take him, even if it means breaking Perlend's decree!"
Pyramia's haughty words struck a nerve. "That is something you can NEVER do to my family!" Xerxez's voice was filled with a fiery passion. "You can berate me all you want, but to take and separate my son from me—that is what I strictly forbid, and I will loathe you for it!"
"What if your own son wants to leave? What can you do then?" Pyramia challenged, her eyes twinkling with a cruel amusement. Xerxez fell silent. "See? You're silent because you know you neglected Pyramus in the past."
"No! That was just a coincidence, and I know Pyramus doesn't think that way," Xerxez muttered to himself, trying to believe his own words. "He won't leave us."
"Guards, search the entire district of Thallerion! Find my sons!" Xerxez commanded.
"Xerxez, you know what happened to Maviel," said Haring Driother, his voice heavy with sadness. "Is Thallerion's security still so lax?"
"Haring Driother, I know the tragic fate of your son, but I am doing everything in my power to prevent that tragedy from happening again," Xerxez said, his voice softer now.
"Maximus is the only memory I have left of my son. So, for goodness' sake, make sure my grandson is safe!"
Having been prepped for this, Maximus immediately agreed. "It's true, Father... I was truly captivated by the scenery there."
"It seems Maximus is telling the truth," said Driother.
But Xerxez looked at Maximus, noticing a faint shadow of something amiss in his eyes—as if it were all an act. "That's good to hear. Maximus and Pyramus, we will talk later."
"Listen, both of you!" Pyramia commanded. "From this day on, do not attempt to leave the palace. There is a growing threat against the Ossibian people. Is that clear? Especially you, Pyramus. You are the elder brother, so you must be a good example of proper conduct."
"Yes, Grandma," Pyramus replied, his voice laced with disappointment.
"Alright, I must go now. I am returning to the country of Peronica," Pyramia said, and she kissed Pyramus on the forehead. "Xerxez, please do not forget Perlend's decree."
"I understand," Xerxez replied.
"I am also leaving, Xerxez," said Driother. "Maximus, don't forget the gifts from your aunts. I've placed them in your room."
"Really? Please tell them I said thank you!" Maximus said excitedly.
"Just be careful always, and eat well," Driother advised.
"I always follow your advice, and I've even played music for Father," Maximus said cheerfully.
"Is that so? You learn so quickly, you must take after me," Driother said with a laugh. "Next time, I'll teach you something new. I promise, just be a good boy."
"What will you teach me next?" Maximus asked, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"Next time," Driother said, ruffling Maximus's hair.
"Maximus, that's enough. I'm sure Haring Driother has important things to do."
"Please be careful on your journey, Grandpa!" Maximus said with great enthusiasm. Xerxez noticed the fear that had been in Maximus's eyes was now gone.
Xerxez began to wonder if he truly had been a negligent father. He could understand all of Pyramia's accusations, but if she were to make him seem like a weak father who had no right to his children, the story would be different. He knew that one day, his sons were destined for their own paths of leadership. Haring Driother had also reminded him that Maximus would one day be the king of Thartherus, as there was no other male heir to the throne.
He went to his sons' room and spoke to them. "Tell me the truth, what really happened?"
"Father, we already told you where we went. Why are you so doubtful?" Pyramus asked.
"Answer me properly, Pyramus. I know something bad happened," Xerxez said. "What happened in the place you went to? Do you think I don't feel the heavy thoughts weighing on Maximus's mind?"
"Okay, we did sneak out of the study hall, and we went to the border near Wendlock," Pyramus confessed. "But we didn't cross the border, Father."
"Even so, the mountains are dangerous, especially with the current threats to Thallerion against the Ossibians. But that's not what I want to hear from you. Tell me, did something happen in that place you went to?"
"Maximus is the one who can answer that," Pyramus said. "Go ahead, Maximus."
"Father, I was scared in that place... There—there was a monster!"
"He says he saw a monster, but the truth is, I saw him lying on the ground having a nightmare... I even thought he was bitten by a snake," Pyramus said, laughing.
"That's not a joke, Pyramus... If your brother had been harmed because of your negligence, you would be in serious trouble with me."
"Father, I know that place like the back of my hand," Pyramus argued. "Why would we go there if I didn't know the place?"
"But Father, the face of that monster was truly terrifying!" Maximus insisted.
"You've just been too fascinated with the stories of your Thartherian grandfather," Xerxez said. "That's why you're seeing things."
"Don't you believe in the stories handed down from our ancestors? Monsters often appear to people who want to connect with the living to be a part of their aspirations," Maximus explained.
"Just like Peronica, it's said they have the blood of the Phoenix," Xerxez said. "What about you, Pyramus, have you experienced any signs of a strange energy being felt by you?"
"Father, why should we believe in things that are just products of imagination? They're not real!"
"Listen, according to legend, Queen Pyramia's lineage comes from the line that has the blood of the Phoenix. That's why you are special in Peronica."
"Is it the red hair like mine? Or is it Grandma Pyramia, who even at an old age looks like a young lady?"
"Yes, that is a trait only those with the blood of the Phoenix possess. So, son, the world is facing many supernatural things, and every story of our ancestors is connected to the present. So, please, don't think that monsters or strange creatures don't live among us. They are what we call the eyes in the darkness; we can't see them, but they can show themselves to us in the way they want to."
While the father and sons were talking, a monster suddenly appeared before them. It had a long tail and glowing eyes.
"You were right," the monster said. "We are the eyes watching you. And I think it's time for me to take what is mine."
The monster's voice was terrifying, and it suddenly transformed into a tall, muscular, bearded man with red eyes.
"This is my temporary body!" he said with a smirk.
"Get behind me!" Xerxez said.
"Father, isn't that man the monster from before?!" Pyramus said, his voice trembling with fear. "Monsters really do exist in this world."