“Take me to where my oldest brother is.”
“What?”
“I don’t know how to ride a Cockatoo, so I’m asking you to take me with you.”
Deyanin shook his head at Kyle’s request.
“There’s no way I’ll do that. I can’t take care of you when we have no time to lose.”
“Think about it, Deyanin. I’m not just speaking nonsense.”
Kyle looked up at Deyanin with pleading eyes.
‘Is he saying that he can threaten me since I was the one who let Prince Vasen go while Night Sky is targeting Prince Vasen? And so I should just listen to him?’
Deyanin furrowed his eyebrows.
‘No, that’s not it.’
Deyanin eventually took a deep breath and said, “Alright.”
“So what do you think the reason is?” asked Kyle.
“If Night Sky really is targeting the first prince, it’ll be to make someone else crown prince.”
Miracles from Night Sky had been rare recently. However, it was clear that the power of Night Sky was involved in matters of Black Scale’s royal family.
“If I’m not mistaken, perhaps Night Sky thinks that you should be the crown prince instead of the first prince.”
“Oh, it seems that you also think so.”
Deyanin was caught off guard, but Kyle quickly continued.
“Anyways, no matter how well Night Sky lures Manun, it would be difficult to hurt my brother if I stick close. Manun isn’t accurate with his front feet and snout. Night Sky may lose both my brother and me if he isn’t careful.”
“Yes, I agree.”
Deyanin wondered if it was okay to go against Night Sky’s will, but decided that it wasn’t the time to dwell on it.
‘No, Night Sky may be pleased since there’s a prince that reads God’s will so well. Besides, this wouldn’t be the only chance to make someone else crown prince, would it? God wouldn’t blame people for trying to survive.’
Deyanin then said, “I’ll quickly go to the hunting department and bring a Cockatoo.”
“I’ll wait here. We should be able to catch up with Vasen, he left not long ago.”
Deyanin hoped that was true.
***
“Your Highness, it is likely this way.”
“Likely? Then I might as well chase after him with my eyes closed.”
The first prince, Vasen, smirked.
Manun was 25 meters long, but the trees in the mountains were much taller than the height of Manun’s shoulders. Although it was a family’s burial site, the mountain ranges were connected and reached all the way to the center of the continent, beyond Automation.
If Manun stayed still deep in the mountains, it would be difficult to find him. However, Manun went around making a mess everywhere and left behind obvious traces, which made one wonder where he had been hiding all this energy until now. One would have to be blind to not know he had been to a place with all the broken trees and the marks that his tail left in the ground. .
Vasen could understand Manun.
‘It’s obvious why he would have so much energy, he’s lived in a garden for more than a hundred years. Your body must have been so stiff, buddy.’
The garden Manun lived in was very large, but it was pretty clear that it was too cramped for Manun since he could get from one side to another with only a few steps.
‘It’s commendable that he held it in until now.’
Crack…!
Birds flew up at the sound of something breaking, which was followed by a thundering thud of something hitting the ground.
Thump!
As Vasen looked up at the sky, a cloud of dust rose in the air.
“I guess we’re almost there. It seems he hasn’t gotten as far as I thought.”
Just as Vasen predicted, he soon spotted Manun, and he went up the hill to get a good look at the Drake. Manun seemed to be sleeping curled up. He glanced at the tree that he had broken with his tail while sleeping, made a big yawn, and fell back asleep.
“Ha, I underestimated his beastly nature. It does seem like he has the spirit of the Thunder Dragon King.”
Other than Vasen, however, the people in his hunting party gulped and became nervous just from looking at Manun from afar. They had followed Vasen out of curiosity, as they were tipsy, but they soon understood the reality when they saw Manun’s gigantic form.
“So…what do we do now, prince?”
“Shouldn’t we wake him up and drive him back to the palace?”
His hunting friends’ faces stiffened. Since they were children of prestigious families, there was a quick-witted one among them.
“I have another idea.”
“What is it?”
“It seems that he fell asleep because he was exhausted from excitedly running around, but I don’t think he noticed the animals he could hunt on the way. So what do you say we catch a deer or a wild boar to lure him?”
“Hm, that seems like a good idea.”
Vasen turned to his hunting friends and said, “I should keep watch in case Manun wakes up and goes somewhere else. You guys go catch something that would be appetizing for Manun.”
Even those who usually wouldn’t have liked doing errands were pleased with Vasen’s words, and they went down the hill riding their Cockatoos. Looking at their backs, Vasen snorted.
‘Talk about faces full of fear. I’ll consider it fortunate if they don’t run away making excuses. They’ll probably just wait around until the hunting department or palace guards get here.”
Vasen didn’t expect much from his hunting friends anyway.
‘It would be more difficult for me to get properly acknowledged if I bring back Manun with the help of others.’
Vasen briefly thought about acknowledgement. When Vasen was younger, he hadn’t paid much attention to being acknowledged. His mother and father, left ministers, and the ministers who studied a lot all used to compliment him whenever he achieved something. However, he wasn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, and after his younger brothers were born, he realized that he got praised only because of the bloodline he was born into. In particular, the existence of his third brother showed Vasen what real acknowledgement looked like in comparison to meaningless compliments.
‘When people really acknowledge something, they don’t make a fuss, openly admire it, or let out an exclamation. And they don’t say nice things. That’s not what real acknowledgement is like.’
Vasen had come to this realization as he was taking lessons from Ravwin with his brothers.
After they all read Sairan Muel’s theology book Night Sky together, Ravwin asked the princes questions and expected answers.
At the time, his third brother Kyle said after silently staring down at the book, “Teacher Ravwin, is Night Sky good-natured?”
“What?”
“And is Night Sky also almighty?”
“Yes, that is so. Your Highness, is there a problem…”
“I just have a simple question,” Kyle said. “If Night Sky truly is almighty and good-natured at the same time, why do they let war, suffering, sadness, and unhappiness be?”
“Oh, well… That’s…”
Ravwin hesitated. And even Vasen understood what that hesitation meant: Ravwin didn’t know the answer either.
Ravwin then honestly replied, “Prince Kyle, I’m sorry. I’m not a priest of Night Sky and thus do not know much about theology. I will bring you the answer next time.”
That day, Ravwin had the princes read on their own while he looked out of the window with a troubled expression. The lesson ended early that day. That was what real acknowledgement looked like. But the more painful fact was that, in that case, Vasen had never received real acknowledgement so far. Therefore, Vasen lost interest in studying and began to take part in dangerous and reckless acts.
When Vasen did something crazy despite his status as the crown prince, people did show their real emotions from time to time instead of giving him empty compliments. It wasn’t acknowledgement, but it was at least real.
‘I know it’s not right. But…’
People of the palace said that Vasen was not clever, but that was not entirely true. Vasen had the quality of a hunter, which was a keen sense. So he was able to catch the eyes of those who gave him subtle looks of criticism better than anyone else. Criticism that he wasn’t worthy of being crown prince, and that he wouldn’t be the kind of king who did great things.
‘What am I supposed to do when I was born this way?’
Vasen did act mean toward those who looked at him with such gazes, but he didn’t hate them. The ones he truly hated were the others. The ones who said he deserved to be crown prince since he was the first child and gave him false acknowledgement for their own benefit.
If he became king, he was going to distinguish them from those who truly meant well and give official recognition to the latter for their distinguished service. Whenever he looked in the mirror, however, he was reminded that he wasn’t worthy of being crown prince, and that he wouldn’t be the kind of king who did great things. He looked at himself with the same kind of gaze as well.
‘I’m not confident. But that’s fine.’
Vasen intended to bring back Manun by himself. Since anyone would throw a fit when they were woken up, he planned to wake Manun up and lure him back to the palace. Although Manun was big, Vasen’s Cockatoo was especially fast, and Vasen was confident in handling Cockatoos. And if that wasn’t enough, he believed in Night Sky.
Let’s see if I’m the one to really become king.’
Vasen pulled at the reins to urge his Cockatoo to approach Manun. Vasen’s Cockatoo looked back at Vasen as if it were asking if that was really the way he intended for it to go, but as Vasen slightly kicked its side, it went down the hill in resignation.
“Vasen!”
Until he heard Kyle’s voice.
***
“Vasen, stop!”
Kyle immediately jumped off Deynin’s Cockatoo when it stopped. However, it seemed that he had landed wrong, and he crouched down, grabbing his ankle immediately.
“Oh, darn.”
“Prince Kyle! Are you okay?”
“Kyle!”
“I’m okay. I must have sprained my ankle.”
Vasen looked back and forth between Manun and Kyle. With a sigh, he got off his Cockatoo and ran to Kyle.
Vasen said to Deyanin, “Hunting Minister, why have you brought him here?”
“Oh, well…”
“Whatever. Do you know there’s a mountain rangers’ hut over there on the mountain ridge?”
“Yes, I know about it. I’ll be right back.”
The hut was always filled with supplies needed for people traveling to and from the mountain, and among the supplies was medicine to reduce swelling, as well as clean fabric to put on or wrap around injury. Vasen frequented the mountains because he liked to hunt, and Deyanin was the Hunting Minister; there was no way he wouldn’t know about the hut.
“Let’s see, little man. You should have been more careful.”
Kyle held his ankle and laughed when he saw Deyanin riding up to the hut with his Cockatoo.
“I’m okay, Vasen.”
“Huh?”
“I didn’t sprain my ankle. I acted like I did because I didn’t want Deyanin to hear our conversation.”
“What?”
Vasen squinted at Kyle, and Kyle lightly jumped on both of his feet to show that he was okay.
“Our conversation? Before that, why have you come up here? It’s not like you didn’t know it was dangerous with Manun close by.”
“I came because of that.”
“Explain.”
Kyle explained the signs of sabotage he had told Deyanin about. He explained that parts of the wooden bars had been chewed through by bugs, and that if not for the bugs, the collapse of the wooden fence would have made a lot of noise when Manun escaped. Someone had done it on purpose, but it would take a miracle for the deed to be done unnoticed. Thus, it was the will of Night Sky to lure Manun to the mountains.
After Vasen heard all that, he hesitated.
“…So are you saying that Night Sky is trying to kill me?”
“I’m saying that things could be interpreted that way. At least Deyanin seems to think I’m right.”
“And that’s why you think you should stay next to me.”
“Yes. That way you would be safe.”
Vasen felt bitter but also proud of his brother at the same time. Kyle was a brother that one could not help but acknowledge.
“…However, if that’s what you think, why did you do such a thing?”
“What?”
“If what you said is true, you would have become king if you didn’t do anything. The first prince would have died, the second prince has become a priest of the Night Sky, so you would naturally become the crown prince in that case. Little man, do you not want to become king?”
Kyle shyly smiled and said, “I do want to become king.”
“Yes. Others won’t blame you even if you have that desire. It’s a valid wish. So why have you come here?”
Kyle turned to Manun, who was sleeping below.
“Do you know?”
“Know what?”
“If you look at the old books, Night Sky does not fail. They succeed in anything they wish for.”
“Well, that’s…”
“It’s not because they are a god. Look at the gods of the other countries. They are busy deceiving others with clever words and covering up their defeat. And that’s especially clear with Shaiven the Demon Queen.”
“What is it you’re trying to say?”
“Seeing that there are gods who fail in their plans, I think Night Sky could also do the same. However, Night Sky would be more prepared. Using Manun to target you is just one of the methods out of many.”
Vasen’s eyes widened.
Kyle continued. “Other than that, they could also arrange a situation for only us two to be present, like now. When I grabbed my ankle and acted, you hurriedly ran over to me. Even though I’m young, if I had prepared a sword coated with poison, you would have been defeated right on the spot.
“And would Night Sky only have two scenarios planned? There is no success in catching Manun. It’s already gotten to the point that the palace guards who should be guarding the palace have been mobilized to catch Manun, and the price needs to be paid. Those who are sacrificed in the process of catching Manun could become your price to pay, which would be another way for your position as crown prince to be abolished.
“This is as far as I’ve gotten, and more chances would likely come. However, I plan to tell you every time I identify a chance.”
Vasen then said with a trembling voice, “…You’re going to go against all three of the chances that Night Sky will give you?”
“Yes. I will do so.”
“Why? Even if you leave aside your desire to become king, are you not afraid of Night Sky?”
Kyle looked at Vasen with his black eyes.
“Yes. I know of Night Sky’s will, so I am not afraid. The paths that Night Sky has laid for me to become king all go against my will and will hurt you. Therefore, I’m abandoning those paths to find a better way to protect you, while also pleasing Night Sky.”
“And what is that?”
“Go against all of Night Sky’s plans and dare to ask this of you.”
“Say it.”
“Vasen, give me the seat of crown prince.”
“…!”
Vasen began to laugh. He grabbed his stomach and sat on the ground laughing.
As if he found Vasen’s reaction unexpected, Kyle reluctantly asked, “Vasen?”
“Oh, sorry. It’s just so funny.”
“What’s so funny?”
Vasen shook his head and didn’t answer. It wasn’t that he had nothing to say.
‘I’m just glad that you’re wiser than anyone else and never give up on finding the right way. That’s why I laughed.’
However, in order to keep his reputation as an older brother, Vasen didn’t tell Kyle that. Vasen wiped away the tears he had shed from laughing.
“Little ma…no, Kyle.”
“Yes.”
“I will do as you said.”
Vasen thought that the brother he acknowledged would be a worthy crown prince.
𝑖.𝘤ℴ𝘮