BoI VII

The Island of Jussey back in the reign of the king that had been dubbed as the greatest king, King Python, had been the gateway to having the best and most competitive beginning of the island ever in the history of existing for more than a hundred years already.

King Python had opened a lot of things that the people thought were impossible in the first place or those things hadn't even crossed their minds. He had a lot of ideas with him that he managed to materialize and eventually improved a lot of things, almost everything, in the Island of Jussey. He was also good at fights and battles, and his very smart and strategic strategies had made him as the scariest leader of all time before.

He named the soldiers in the sea as Naval Armies, he created soldiers not only for the sea but also for the land and named it Land Forces. He thought and designed the things that the armies now were using, he had fixed everything and made things more organized than before. The Island of Jussey had really became the most famous island in his time, and no neighboring island had tried to get and attack them because they would only end up with wrecked ships and hurt egos because the usual Island of Jussey which was known as one of the weakest island became the strongest, and they were not ready for it.

King Phantom's father was his main influencer. He wanted to be like him, and everyone could see how he was trying hard and how he was making the most of his leadership, and as early as possible would be better. There should be no year that should be wasted because that was how his father was.

Every day was another chance to think of new ideas for the island. Another day to prove to the people that they chose a worthy leader to lead them and would not let them down, and that was what he wanted to happen. He also wanted to be written in the book where he was listed as one of the most influential and greatest leaders of all time in the history of Island of Jussey that everyone would remember.

If King Python didn't just died suddenly because of his health, though Phantom believed that something more had happened because he was just healthy the day before and even drank tea with him that night and advised him of leading the Naval Armies for the better, his passing was so sudden that he was so shocked and couldn't help but feel rather skeptical.

But he had no time to think over all of that because of the fact that the day after, he had already reigned as the king while at the same time, mourning for his father. His mother was already gone when he was fifteen years old which left him with his father and his father being lonely which he put his attention to the Island of Jussey which lead him now to the best leader, probably because he had an inspiration inside his heart.

Even now, King Python's impact even when he was already dead was still there, and Phantom was using it while it lasted. The other neighboring islands had the idea that if the greatest leader had a son, he would be the one to take over the island, and another strong leader would lead the already strong island, and that meant, they couldn't attack them yet. Unless, they would have their weapons that could be of equivalent to the kind of weapons the Island of Jussey's Naval Armies had and their strategic way of fighting, but if they had none of that, then they were rather causing their own deaths and approaching their death themselves.

While no enemies had come to them, King Phantom was using it as a chance to improve more of the island. He already had a lot of ideas in mind even when he was a kid and a teen, and now that he was most capable of everything, he was materializing them and making it happen not for himself but also for the people of the Island of Jussey.

Everything that he was doing was for them, and even when he was neglecting his duty of being a father and a husband, he was still proud to say that he had done something for the island and he was not just a simple, weak leader just for the sake of the island to have a so-called king. He didn't want to be there just for design, he wanted to be known as a king who had done things worth remembering, and he was already starting to create the name for himself. As much as possible, not as the son of the greatest leader, but as himself, the person who could surpass his father's record.

But with that greed, he knew that he had been sacrificing his family. This was what General Erico was talking about and the reason why he had been telling him to stop working and focus and give time to his family first before anything else or along the process of making his plans and ideas come true.

Maybe he was just really so focused on it that he forgot that he had other responsibilities, too. And now that he realized it, he felt guilty. Seeing his only son, the son that he longed for giving birth to by the woman that he loved, ran away from him broke his heart and instantly made him realize his lacking being a father.

"Can you handle the whole plan, General Erico with only half of my guidance?" He asked carefully as he looked from the lighthouse the side-to-side buildings that were now materializing from his mind to the paper, and then now right in front of him. He was actually elated, but he couldn't fully celebrate knowing that he had an issue with his family.

"Yes, of course, son. I told you to manage your time fully with your family first before anything else. They are your first supporter. You shouldn't fail them and give them importance. Because people might turn their backs on you, your family will always stay. You should remember that always," General Erico replied, patting his shoulder and nodding at the castle. "Your kid is obviously upset. He's glaring at the whole island, maybe he is thinking that they are stealing you away from him. He will be the next king of the Island of Jussey so teach him how to love the island more than himself."

King Phantom looked to the side and saw his son really looking at the whole island from the balcony of his room with a frown on his face. He was still holding his favorite toy that he had gifted him, though he looked lonelier than happy while playing with his toy. The king realized then that he had been lacking as a father greatly upon seeing the unhappiness in his son's eyes.

He went down from the lighthouse and went to the castle. He trusted General Erico enough to finish all of what was supposed to be done. They were already in progress of his plans, there was just in need of a little tweak and guidance to have it perfectly done and since he explained everything to the general, he could manage even when he was out for a few days. For now, his son needed his attention, and his family who he was told not to leave out in everything by his parents and General Erico should be the sole focus to get back from all of his absence.

It was already lunchtime, and his hands-on wife was in the kitchen helping the servants to prepare their food. Even when they had all the servants and she could just rest in her room, she wouldn't want that as she had nothing else to do but serve her family. She was a devoted wife and mother. Phantom was always thankful that she decided to stop chasing their dreams of being in the Naval Armies to be with her. That added to the guilt that he was born because of realizing the way he was treating them because of being occupied with being the king of the whole island and the goal of being added to the best leaders in the history of the whole island.

"Phantom," Andromeda called when she saw him. He met her eyes shortly, but she went back to putting the food on the table. Phantom also noted how there were only two plates on the table and the space where he usually sat was empty with utensils. "What are you doing here? Are you done with what you are doing?"

Phantom walked to where their plates were placed and took one for himself as he answered, "There's nothing much to do there now but guidance, General Erico could do that by himself for now and there's not much need of my input since I have already given the instruction about everything. I can spend my day freely."

Andromeda looked at him with a dubious look. The look actually pained the king. He could feel the disappointment of his family as if they had been careful of his presence instead of being excited like before. Usually, Andromeda would kiss him on the cheek and Pyro would run to him for a tight hug whenever he would come by at lunch. But since the time that he had become so busy with planning the betterment of the island, he had become so busy and had neglected his family.

"Alright. Sit down and I'll call Pyro," she just replied while drying her hand.

She was about to go out of the kitchen but he was quick to hold her wrist and stop her. She looked at him with confusion on her face, but he had already planned what he was going to do. He wanted to get his family back again. Like what General Erico said, they were his first supporters that even when the world would want to kill him, they were going to stay with him no matter what happened.

"I'll get Pyro," he said, looking at her in the eye that should be enough for him to tell that he was also going to talk to him and redeem himself to their son. Andromeda stared at her first as if studying him before she nodded with a small smile on her face. By this, Phantom could breathe a sigh of relief. Even with a small smile told him enough that they were already fine. Of course, anything for Pyro made her happy.

He walked toward his son's room where he saw him at the veranda earlier. When he opened his room, he was still there, with his chin on his arms while still looking over the view of the ocean in front of his room. Pyro was just about four feet high, and he was still cute, but he knew he was sad and it was because of him.

"Pyro, son," he called him softly, earning him a shocked turn of head. "It's lunchtime, we're waiting for you to come down."

Pyro looked at him with those sad eyes and pouty lips. "Would you eat with us or you're going to work still? You don't even give us time now with mother. You have a promise to me to teach me but you are always out."

He beckoned his son to come to him to which he did as he sat on his bed. "The people needs us. We give what is best for them even when we forget about ourselves. You will understand it when you grow older and when you become a king. You will be a great king, I know. But for now, I am everything so you can have a smooth reign when you become a king. I will explain to you when you are fit to be the king already, okay?"

Pyro still pouted. "But that is not what I want. I want to be like this." He raised the Naval Army toy near to his face. "Teach me how to be a good army, father."

Phantom smiled. He knew what his son's future was, but he would stay as a king as long as he could so he could serve the naval army as long as he could as well. "Alright, fine. I will teach you. After we eat, okay? You have to eat a lot."

Pyro's smile became bigger as he beamed. "Yes! Thank you, father!"

Anything for his family. Anything for the island.