Chapter 8 - The Prophecy

KADOS, the Queen, and a stunning woman were in the grand throne hall. The woman was dressed modestly, yet her elemental power and aura were undeniable. Her looks had a bit of resemblance with the Queen.

"Your Majesty, everything is proceeding as planned," Kados reported.

"Mother, wouldn't it be easier if you directly helped my sister and her family?" the stunning woman inquired. Her tone was serious.

"Princess Mellisa, it's not that Her Majesty refuses to intervene directly. However, certain limitations must be taken into account," Kados interjected with a warm smile.

Kados, not only acted as the messenger for the Queen but he had been a trusted guardian for Princess Mellisa and the youngest princess for a long time, ever since they saw the world.

Even though he did not fully agree with the Queen's decision, he understood the importance of the prophecy that the Queen held in high regard.

According to the seers, their world was on the brink of destruction, which influenced the decisions made by the royal court.

The prophecy stated that the firstborn son of the youngest princess must be left on the lowest-level planet.

The child was destined to undergo trials and tribulations to make him the mightiest person in the universe.

By the counsel of all the seers, the Queen decided to erase the youngest princess's memories and send her to Solara to live among the humans of the lowest-level world.

Besides, Solara has a status that not many know about. However, this prophecy was what Princess Mellisa considered nonsense.

Although the youngest princess was her daughter, the Queen was unwavering in enforcing her decree. She believed that the well-being of her subjects and the stability of her kingdom outweighed personal considerations. 

Kados was initially against this, but the Queen allowed him to visit the youngest princess and her children regularly, albeit without the authority to intervene in their affairs.

However, her instructions seemed harsh, as she directed Kados to make things as challenging as possible for her grandchildren. She aimed to test their resilience and determination.

"I can't understand why Mother has such unwavering faith in these prophecies. It's not just my sister suffering; my nephew and niece are also going through a tough time," Mellisa protested. She could only get an update about her youngest sister from Kados.

"You should be grateful that I don't have the power to intervene directly. Otherwise, I would have rescued them myself," she added firmly. Her tone was more like a threat toward the Queen.

The Queen's voice sounded intimidating and authoritative as she addressed Mellisa. "Do you really think you can break the curse I have cast upon you?"

Everyone who knew about the situation was under the influence of the curse casted by the Queen. This ensured compliance and prevented attempts to rescue the youngest princess and her family.

Despite respecting the Queen, Mellisa stood firm in her dissent and replied, "That's why I said you should be grateful, Mother."

The Queen believed her achievements were solely due to her rigid adherence to the prophecies. In her mind, this conviction justified the separation of the youngest princess from them.

Kados understood how deeply the youngest princess's absence affected Mellisa and wanted to urge her to stay calm and composed despite her emotions. He glared at Mellisa. She saw a subtle but meaningful warning in his expression.

Although Mellisa still had her other siblings, both princes and princesses, none of them compared to the youngest. She was a shining example of humility and compassion. She did not care about the entitlement that her siblings seemed to possess.

Her power-hungry brothers and sisters had been groomed for rulership from a young age and were driven by the pursuit of power, wealth, and fame. Unlike them, the youngest princess was content to live a simpler life.

Kados attempted to shift the conversation to a different topic by asking, "Your Majesty, if I may ask, what is the box's content with the Phoenix engraving?" 

He hoped this would help alleviate the tension between the Queen and the princess. Although he accomplished his mission of taking and concealing the object in the bandits' warehouse without the use of force, Kados was perplexed by the strange energy that prevented him from opening the box. This air of secrecy only piqued his curiosity.

"I am only following the seer's advice," the Queen replied in response to Kados' question. 

Mellisa, however, interrupted with a sharp retort, "Why do we always rely on prophecies? Can't we take control of our own destiny? And what if these prophecies fail? Will you bear the consequences?"

Despite Mellisa's confrontational tone, the Queen remained calm. She knew Mellisa was still young and inexperienced, and she understood the gravity of the situation.

Protecting everything they held dear in a world full of uncertainties was crucial. Their existence was at stake, and they couldn't afford to be careless. Their lives were too valuable to be wasted. 

Kados sighed quietly, unsure how to repair the growing rift between the Queen and Princess Mellisa. It had been over twenty years since the youngest princess's memories were erased.

Since then, their relationship has become distant and cold. 

Despite this, the Queen attempted to reassure Mellisa by saying, "You'll understand in time, Mellisa," gently.

"I just hope Mother sees things differently someday," Mellisa muttered before swiftly departing, eager to leave the tense atmosphere behind.

After Mellisa's departure, the Queen slumped back onto her throne, visibly exhausted.

She turned to Kados with a hint of frustration, "Look at that, Kados. How can I continue to be patient with her when she behaves like this?"

"I ask for your patience, Your Majesty. Our world is on the brink of chaos, and if you and Princess Mellisa were to engage in conflict, the consequences could be dire," Kados said with a soft chuckle.

The Queen couldn't help but laugh at Kados's remark. It was remarkable to some, if they could see this, that a mere Baron could share such banter with the monarch.

However, in Mystara, the world where they lived in, Kados's low status as a noble didn't stop him from having a friendly relationship with the Queen.

"Enough of the formalities. Nobody's here. There's no need for such deference," the Queen said, her tone warm.

"Why do you choose to remain here and with the title of a Baron, Kados? You could easily dethrone me," she inquired.

"Catherine, I've explained this so many times. I am here to witness the prophecy unfolding and to wait for the youngest princess's return. I miss her so much," Kados replied, a genuine smile on his face.

"Is that really the reason? Or do you want to test your power against the prophesied boy?" Catherine speculated.

"Ah, you see right through me, as always," Kados admitted with a chuckle, nodding.

"Lucas has been gone for a long time now. He ascended to greater heights, maybe a much powerful planet than ours," Catherine remarked, acknowledging the immense power of their former King. "Compared to him, you are even stronger. Don't you think it's a waste to stay here?"

Lucas, the previous King of Mystara, had left the planet over a century ago, hoping to achieve a higher elemental rank.

However, the details of his whereabouts remained a mystery, known only to him. On the other hand, Kados, the King's best friend, had chosen to stay behind and honor his promise to protect the royal family.

Despite the temptation to seek power, Kados found contentment in his present state. He took comfort in fulfilling his pledge and didn't feel the need to relentlessly pursue strength.

Nevertheless, he was still considered one of the strongest individuals if not the strongest, but his motivations differed from those who sought power.

Kados gazed steadily at Catherine and spoke, "Our world is fraught with danger: internal strife, external conflicts, and the looming threat of demons. I have never considered it a waste to stand by your side. If not me, then who will?"

Catherine smiled in appreciation of Kados's steadfastness. Amidst the chaos, she valued his stabilizing influence.

Even her decision to erase the youngest princess's memory, deemed extreme by some, found acceptance with Kados, who could safeguard her from afar in Solara.

Now tasked with guiding the youngest princess's son by prophecy, Kados recognized his role as a mere facilitator in the grand tapestry of fate.

Bound by unseen forces, he navigated each challenge with patience, unable to intervene as he desired.

Whether it was the enigmatic Phoenix-carved box or moments of peril faced by the royal lineage, Kados found himself restrained, unable to act beyond the confines of destiny.

Accepting his limitations, he resolved to trust in the unfolding of events, guided by the immutable decree of fate.