The Prince Returned Home

Our gazes clasped. We clung to each other with the Solaris leader in front of me. I wasn't blinking. The soldier who had just held me tightly stopped attacking me. Suddenly, I saw the leader in front of me turn his gaze to the soldier behind me and make an approving sign. This is probably "Yes, that's who he said he was." I thought it meant. This was relieving, I had gotten through the situation. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in and out.

"...!"

The sound of a cut, first the sound of something suddenly hitting and sinking into something that cuts through the air with its speed... Then the sound of the cut thing rolling slowly on the ground.

When I opened my eyes, I saw blood staining the ground and Mori's head, where blood was still gushing at the end of the place he had gone. I couldn't even hear the crying sounds coming from behind me. I stared at it.

"Take the prince."

With this sentence I came to my senses for a moment. If they believed I was the prince... Why did they kill Mori?

"Let me go! I told you not to kill him! If you recognized me, then...!"

"We didn't know you, Prince Aki... But we knew you were here. Why do you think you were brought here?"

Suddenly, with the surprise I experienced, I turned to Mori's uncle behind me. I stopped resisting the Solaris soldier who was dragging me.

"You used Mori's death to avoid hurting yourself. And me..."

He looked away. He didn't say a word. They dragged me and lifted me onto Pegasus. Then they tied it. My hand, my arm, my leg, my mouth. What would happen if I had my mouth open in the sky? I shouldn't have been in a position to question this right now, but I didn't really feel anything for this public anymore.

Using my teeth, I opened the gap between these thick ropes a little and created an opening where I could speak, even if it was with difficulty. Before I left, I had words to say... no, words to express my hatred.

I always thought this place was a dream, not a nightmare. I was wrong, this was the biggest nightmare to live in, just like Mori said.

"To hell with all of you! Can you sacrifice your family member, even your own nephew, child, cousin... so easily?!"

I was looking directly at Mori's parents as I said this. They were both crying, but would that change anything? They didn't do anything while he was dying. Even I, who had never liked Mori in my 5 years of history, tried to protect him more.

"The reason you will remain a slave for the rest of your life is not because you were an Ochre when you were born... It is because you accepted this life. As long as you continue to live happily in this life... Anyway, who am I talking to?"

Pegasus rose. We rose into the sky with the three Solaris soldiers and their leader. We were going, to the highest Celestial floor of the Shadow of the High Throne... to Aethra. To the place where I was born, to the place where I was banished, to the place where I killed.

"Why did you come looking for me?"

Not satisfied with my mouth still open, the leader first became a little grumpy and made a sign.

"Shut your mouth now!"

Naturally, they closed my mouth, I moved a little and made annoying sounds. He was obviously disturbed by this. That's probably why he chose to answer.

"The Queen has given strict orders."

I stopped at that moment. Did my mother call me? There's no way... Even my father could have done this if he were alive, but there was no way my mother would want to meet me again. Maybe... Did my brother force him to do this? I was wondering what was happening in Aethra right now. War, crisis, disaster. It could have been all. The Solaris were one of Aethra's most unpopular lineages. Especially our archenemy, the Lunaris, have hated us for centuries. I thought there was probably a war.

After a long journey, we reached the sky. When we broke through the clouds, huge sky cities stood before me. I was looking at my own hometown, the current owner of the Aethra's central Supreme Throne. The huge palaces that split the sky were even more magnificent than before. Stairs, gardens and pools that resemble a paradise... Countless statues and places of worship. The statues of the Sun Gods were the same as before, probably just undergoing regular maintenance. Hyperion, Helios and Uranus... These were believed to represent members of my family. It was beyond belief. My brother Mizu took his power from Helios, while my brother Jared took his power from Hyperion. My brother used the power of dawn so skillfully even when we were children... The strongest of them was my father, Solarion Solaris, who used the power of the god Uranus, the father of both of them. He wasn't alive now. The reason... I know the reason. I know but I don't want to remember.

Pegasus slowly landed us. The soldier grabbed me and pulled me quickly. He continued to take it away as he brought it, dragging it. This place was not like the earth. The ground was soft. They probably used this place as a bed where the Ochres lived.

We headed straight to the palace and I was watching my surroundings. I had no idea if people knew me. I avoided eye contact. They all wore golden-focused clothing befitting a magnificent Solarion. I was dressed like a miner who obviously came from the earth.

I blinked for a second, and when I opened my eyes, I was no longer tied up. All the ropes were cut.

"Leave him, he's my responsibility now."

I still hadn't seen the person who said this when I stood up. The Solaris leader who brought me here bowed and said, "Yes, Commander Mizu." he said.

"Mizu?"

"Go and report to my mother ahead of time, Barathon. If she asks why I'm not with you, you can give my name."

The person he said Barathon and his soldiers left there. Then we made eye contact with him. With my brother... After five long years... We were face to face.

He probably wanted to say the first thing, I thought he still had his old ego. That's why I jumped in before he spoke.

"Are you still working as my mother's maid instead of being her child?"

I couldn't hold myself back for a moment. In five years, I think I was filled with so much anger and hatred. Oh, I forgot that you came here as an exiled brother. I think he'll put me in jail soon... -?

He ran towards me and hugged me. He grabbed my head and pressed it to his chest, not caring that my dirty and dusty clothes were dirtying his shining clothes. He kissed my long hair, ignoring my messy and dirty hair.

"You've grown so much. You've gotten so thin. You look listless. I'm sure you're very tired. Don't worry, I won't let you go from now on. I don't know what you went through, but it was probably for you..."

"What does that have to do with me? You, who never opened your mouth five years ago, are now thinking about me?!"

"Aki, I was little five years ago. I was afraid to say anything. I was afraid after that incident..."

"I'm smaller than I was five years ago. But I can talk."

I pushed his chest and slipped out of his arms. Even if this place had changed, I knew the way to the palace, so I moved towards it, I didn't look back because I knew he was watching me. I shouldn't have looked.

"Aki, go to the campsite east of the city at night."

When I heard these words, I paused for a moment. I understood what was there and what was waiting for me there. I realized that there was someone I could trust, still in this city. I turned around and said, "Is he still in Aethra?" I wanted to ask, but... I made a decision. Talking to my brother right now would be the biggest stupidity I could do.

I continued on my way and managed to find the palace, hiding myself from the public as much as possible.

When I arrived at the palace, the guards refused to let me in. However...

"Make way, guards!"

My mother's maid, Ronava. That was it.

"Prince, Aki. Your mother is waiting for you."

"We both know that my mother didn't wait for me."

"Don't say that, sir. Your mother really misses you, let me show you the way."

He pointed with his hand and followed me as I walked. This was literally a joke. It was to show that I still knew the way.

I went in and just walked forward, not specifically examining the palace's huge chandeliers, paintings, windows and the most magnificent furniture possible. I came there. To the room where the High Throne is located...

When I entered, there were a lot of guards, Barathon who had just brought me here, and my mother, Seraphis Solarion, sitting on the throne. He had his leg over his leg and was looking at me coldly with his red eyes.

"Welcome home, son."

Even though I wanted to give a harsh answer, just as I was about to open my mouth, Ronava pressed my head hard and made me and her kneel in front of my mother.

"I hope you like the position we have brought Aethra's headquarters in five years. There are no revolutionary developments made by your father. You must know why, Akihiro Solarion." said my mother.