Chapter 416: The Other Side
Chapter 416: The Other Side
(Shortly after Rael left Aurenthia, in the royal palace.)
[Theo’s POV]
A chilly gust of wind entered the palace through the broken windows and brushed past Theo’s neck, causing him to suddenly jolt awake.
“What just happened…?” Theo mumbled, his eyes bloodshot as he glanced around, spotting several lifeless soldiers, as well as his father beside the altar.
He seemed unharmed for the most part, but just in case, Theo approached and crouched down beside his father.
He’s breathing… Theo heaved a relieved sigh and nudged him a couple of times.
After the tenth time, his father’s eyes opened as he summoned a sword out of nowhere and aimed it at Theo. But once he realized who it was, he put the sword aside, then clutched his head.
“That bastard demon tricked us…” Tyrion mumbled. “I thought I could get rid of him if I fed him the Midnight potion, but it turns out he was one of those types of demons who were immune to curses and instant death…”
Theo took a moment to process those words before nodding. “Are you sure he was a demon… not that I’m questioning your judgment, Father, but while I was with him, I didn’t…”
On the contrary, that man had acted like a demon since they first met. He even went as far as killing him before reviving him.
The sensation of his body heating up and exploding still lingered in his mind, and he was sure he would not forget it for many years to come. But even so, that just meant the being was far above their level, and clearly, even Father had no way of dealing with him.
Or so he thought…
“The crimson moon will vanish very soon,” Tyrion said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “It’s happened once, and we can make it happen again.”
Theo’s brows twitched. “Father… what are you talking about?”
“Have you heard of the silver willow tree?” Tyrion asked, his expression unreadable.
Noticing Theo’s confusion, Tyrion soon continued.
“It is the silver willow tree that represents the Hollow Kingdom. It is also the tree that provides power for everyone in the Hollow Kingdom,” he explained, his smile widening. “The tree is ancient, and no one truly knows when it came into being. However, there are countless stories regarding the tree, and there is one in particular that has caught my eye.”
Is he serious? Theo’s brows twitched, and before he could speak, his father once again continued.
“There was once a simple tale that deviated into three paths.”
He raised a single finger. “The path where the willow tree was left untouched, which currently is the path we are on. It is the path that lets us live as we used to, while the monsters from above control our every move.”
Tyrion’s hands trembled. “But there is also a second path, something that brought about change. The path where our ancestors retaliated against the monsters’ control and approached the silver willow tree. No one detailed what had happened, but the outcome of their retaliation was the crimson moon vanishing temporarily, allowing clean water to flow and revitalizing the soil.”
“Our ancestors began growing crops, just like they had in their worlds before they were transported to the Depths.” Tyrion smiled. “They had the right conditions to restart civilization on this continent, and even raise offspring, such as us.”
With that, he fell silent, yet Theo knew it wasn’t over. After all, there was one more path his father had not mentioned yet.
And from the hints Theo had picked up, he knew what the last path would be.
“Now… if a little pressure is enough to make the monsters give in to our demands, what would happen if we destroy the silver willow tree?” Tyrion said, his gaze sharpening. “Why must we continue on as rats when we could do so much more?”
Theo froze. “Father… why? Is this just because of the encounter earlier? I’m sure we can get back on our feet without—”
“Silence…” Tyrion interjected. “Why else do you think I’ve allowed you to go on these foolish envoy quests? I want you to establish a connection between the Hollow Kingdom and Aurenthia. Use your sister as a bargaining chip if you must, but make sure they allow our army to enter their city.”
“…”
Tyrion’s grin widened. “After that, we shall approach the silver willow tree and destroy it. We will free ourselves from the clutches of the monsters, and we will no longer be controlled.”
“And what if we can’t destroy the tree?” Theo lashed out. “You’re just going to get us killed. Our lives are just fine, so what’s gotten into you?”
His father was always the calm type, and he would never do something so irrational.
It was almost like someone was controlling him.
But even if they were controlled by the monster calling himself the Hollow King, their lives weren’t bad in the slightest.
They were rich, and they were respected. What more could one person want?
However, his father was clearly not seeing reason.
“Negotiate peace and free our soldiers who are trapped in the Hollow Kingdom. In the meantime, I am going to continue with the rituals in order to build up loyalty so there are no hiccups in the future.”
His father turned toward him, a slight smile on his face.
“My son, will you join me?”
“I…” Theo stammered, lowering his gaze. “I need some time to think, Father.”
“Time…” Tyrion repeated, trembling. “Make your decision within a week. Any longer, and I’ll have no choice but to proceed without you.”
A look of gratitude appeared on Theo’s face as he stood up, preparing to leave the altar room.
However, there was a figure leaning against the door frame. It was a tall man with long red hair and blue eyes that resembled stars. He gave off a powerful presence that made it seem like Theo would be crushed if he were to even take a single step forward.
And once the man realized he had been spotted, he fixed his posture and approached, each of his steps causing a shiver to run down Theo’s spine.
Yet the man seemed uninterested in Theo as he walked past, only giving him a side glance as he approached Theo’s father, who had a horrified look on his face.
“P-Prince?”
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