Artificial

I let him finish, then I ran to hang on one last time. I hid my face in his chest.

"- Father, we can still save ourselves, after you activate the bomb.

- Yes, I know, but I can't. I will never let anyone exploit this rare material that is Keilon to use it for such monstrous purposes. That's why I will go down with what I have created. That is my choice.

Myzon shook his head, still remembering that discussion. That goodbye.

- It was so hard for me to go on.

- I'm not going to convince you, am I?

- No, not this time. And I guess you won't have to again... my treasure.

At these words, Myzon laughed a hoarse, clear, sincere laugh.

- And to think, we're back here, at the same point of collapse, after you and Mother went to so much trouble to allow me to get this second chance to live my life again. I feel that in the end, neither you nor I ever had a choice.

The prince closed his eyes for a moment.

- Our blood is sometimes too heavy to bear.