Brotherly Time

After the emotional reunion, the boys were warmly received within the grandeur of the castle by the queen herself.

Asiris engaged in a meeting with Commander Just, a discussion held within the esteemed presence of the king and queen, conveying the gravity of the situation.

Asiris awoke, his eyes fixing upon the ceiling as he let out a weary sigh. The events that had transpired weighed heavily on his mind.

The moment they had all been waiting for had arrived—the boys had finally made it to the castle.

He weakly rose from his bed, his gaze fixed on his feet as he contemplated the path ahead.

His eyes shifted towards the floor, where his slippers lay invitingly.

"Maybe I could use these for my day off," he said with a faint smile.

He indulged in the warmth of the fuzzy fabric as he slid his feet into the slippers.

Finally standing upright, he stretched, feeling the tightness in his back slowly release.

He walked out the door, only to be confronted by an unexpected presence.

"Hey—Just!" he exclaimed, a note of sarcasm in his voice.

Commander Just was clearly unamused by the sudden startle.

"I wish I could've met with you under different circumstances, but the king has urgent matters to discuss."

"Urgent matters?"

"Yes, he's requesting your assistance. And don't worry about changing out of your slippers."

Commander Just promptly left, leaving Asiris to grapple with confusion.

Quickly, Asiris decided to follow, allowing his determination to propel him towards Commander Just.

"Why the rush?"

"Do you wish to keep the king waiting?" Commander Just hastily responded.

"No, sir," he assured. "I only wish for this matter to be resolved swiftly."

"Well, how about you wait until you meet the king?"

Commander Just increased his pace, compelling Asiris to walk faster.

"Well, how about you tell me now?" he inquired, halting Commander Just in his tracks.

Looking down, he noticed the commander was still in his war outfit. "Just," he exclaimed. "What happened to my outfit?"

He found himself staring at his pajamas in the commander's hands. The commander chuckled, "You think you're going to enter the castle in your pajamas? Let's be sensible."

He walked past Asiris, who turned his head in annoyance.

They proceeded into the castle, where they eventually encountered the king.

The king's throne gleamed in gold, and he wore a white robe, slouching in thought.

Eventually, he noticed Asiris and Just standing in his presence.

"Your Majesty," they both greeted, bowing. The king chuckled, "Forget about the bowing. Just, you can go now."

Commander Just nodded and quickly exited the palace.

Confused, Asiris looked up at the king and asked, "What can I do for you, Your Heatherness?"

"You wish to know what I'm asking of you?" the king said. "Well, here it is: I ask you, Asiris, the general of the army."

He waited, gulping nervously as he awaited the king's request. The king took a deep breath—and then let it out.

"I want you to train my son, Micah."

Preview:

Peter sighed deeply, nerves palpable as he looked upon the playground.

He knew he had to face it, despite the anxiety building within him.

His heart raced as he hesitantly approached the gathering.

Four men in red armored-suits and a girl in a puffy dress were seated at a table.

Perhaps he could make a friendly introduction; maybe he would find some allies.

After all, he was a prince.

He slowly approached the table, finding himself faced with men whose expressions were stern and bold. "Who are you?" one of them asked.

He had scruffy brown hair and dark brown eyes, a countenance that didn't seem to intimidate Peter. Another man chimed in, "He's the king's son, the one who returned yesterday."

"Is that so?" the man pondered, offering a sudden smile as he handed out cards. "I find that almost unbelievable." Peter shrugged dumbly, immediately regretting his response. "He's not even sure himself," the explainer added.

"It's not like he knew this his whole life," a girl chimed in. The man scoffed, "Well, he should remain that way."

Peter felt a deep discomfort, prompting him to slowly distance himself from the table.

He gazed at the swings, memories sparking within his mind. Memories of him and Micah swinging, chatting as if the swings were a part of their conversation. The memories evoked tears, causing Peter to quickly wipe them away, attempting to come to terms with reality. Before he could blink, a red-haired girl with freckles approached.

"Are you okay?"