Night fell, and thousands of torches and crystal chandeliers illuminated the grand banquet hall. The hall was like a palace from dreams, with its white marble walls adorned with golden carvings, and its polished floor reflecting the chandeliers' lights like a mirror. On both sides, long tables were laid out, covered with blue silk fabrics, topped with golden and silver dishes filled with the most delicious cuisine from all the continents.
In a corner of the hall, a musical band played quiet melodies on string instruments, and the mingling sounds filled the place with elegant laughter and whispers.
Everyone began to shine in their luxurious attire.
The princes looked handsome in their formal wear.
But the lights were focused on the princesses.
Diana entered the hall in a captivating traditional Indian dress. The dress was of heavy crimson silk, embroidered with golden threads, and a long shawl wrapped around her shoulders with the charisma of an Earth princess. Her gleaming golden jewelry adorned her wrists and neck, and her golden anklets rang with every step she took.
Agnes stood nearby, watching Diana with obvious admiration. Agnes wore a black-blue dress, tight on top and wide at the bottom.
Agnes approached Diana with a smile and said in her soft, gentle voice:
«Diana! It seems tonight has dawned with a second moon.»
Diana stopped and looked at Agnes in bewilderment, then realized she meant her, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Diana said with feigned shyness:
«Oh, Agnes... you exaggerate with praise.»
Agnes smiled and gestured towards Diana's dress:
«Exaggerate? I never exaggerate. This dress deserves all words of admiration. Who designed it?»
Diana stroked her hair proudly:
«It's my mother's design. She's skilled in this type of attire.»
Agnes looked admiringly:
«Really? I must meet her someday. I also love traditional clothing.»
Diana smiled, then said sincerely:
«And you too are very beautiful tonight, Agnes. Blue suits you more than any other color.»
Agnes laughed lightly:
«Blue is my favorite color. Because it's the color of the sky.»
While Agnes was talking with Diana, someone else caught her attention. She looked towards the far corner of the hall, where Selena was sitting alone on a luxurious chair, wearing a complete elegant masculine suit, white with blue stripes. She held a glass of wine in her hand and looked at the attendees with extreme coldness, as if watching a play that didn't concern her.
Agnes headed towards Selena with quiet steps. She stood before her and said with a smile:
«Good evening, Ice Princess... or should I say Ice Prince?»
Selena looked at Agnes with her cold glances, then said quietly:
«Agnes. Do you want something?»
Agnes laughed gently and sat on the opposite chair:
«I just wanted to ask... why are you wearing a masculine suit at a banquet like this?»
Selena looked at her formal suit for a moment, then returned her gaze to Agnes:
«I don't like dresses. They restrict my movement.»
Agnes smiled:
«Even at banquets?»
Selena shrugged indifferently:
«Especially at banquets. I don't like being the center of attention.»
Agnes looked at her with hidden admiration:
«You're very different, Selena.»
Selena raised an eyebrow in bewilderment.
Agnes laughed and continued:
«But... are you at least enjoying yourself?»
Selena looked around for a moment, then returned her gaze to Agnes and said seriously:
«No.»
Agnes couldn't help but laugh. She said, shaking her head:
«At least you're honest.»
As for Diana, after leaving Agnes, she hurried towards her father, Emperor Arkan, who was standing in another corner of the hall, speaking seriously with some nobles.
Diana ran towards him and shouted enthusiastically:
«Father! Father! Look at my dress!»
Arkan turned towards her, a calm smile on his face despite being in the middle of a serious conversation. He looked at her dress thoughtfully, then said in his deep, calm voice:
«Very beautiful, my daughter. It resembles the gardens of Earth in spring.»
Diana was delighted by his words and spun around to show the dress from all sides:
«Isn't it wonderful? Mother designed it especially for me!»
Arkan smiled a tender paternal smile, though his eyes were watching something behind Diana. Diana said happily:
«I'll go show it to my friends!»
But she didn't notice that her father was busy with something else. He was looking behind her, towards the massive pillars in the hall.
There, behind one of the pillars, four small children were hiding, trying to conceal themselves, but their small heads were clearly visible.
Arkan smiled a rare, wide smile and opened his arms tenderly.
The four children shot like arrows from behind the pillar and ran towards Arkan quickly. Little Sophie clung to her father's leg, shouting:
«Father! Father! We've finally come!»
Arkan lifted Noor with his right hand, and little Haz with his left hand, while Kori clung from behind. Arkan laughed a warm paternal laugh and said:
«Welcome, my children. You're a little late.»
Kori said enthusiastically, jumping:
«We were playing in the garden! There's a big fountain!»
Noor added joyfully:
«And there are golden fish! I caught one!»
Arkan looked at her in surprise:
«You caught a fish? How?»
Noor laughed and said:
«With my hands, of course!»
Diana stopped spinning and turned towards the children. She said in bewilderment:
«Sophie! Noor! Haz! Kori! Where were you all day? I looked for you!»
Sophie looked at her older sister and said innocently:
«We were playing! And we didn't notice the time!»
Diana sighed and said:
«It's okay. The important thing is that you're here now.»
Suddenly...
Sophie looked around, and her eyes stopped on a man sitting on a luxurious chair at the other end of the hall. It was Emperor Raymond, sitting with all his vanity and softness, smiling his usual sly smile, quietly sipping a glass of wine.
Sophie approached Diana and whispered in a trembling voice:
«Diana... look... who is that handsome man sitting there? He looks scary!»
Diana looked in that direction, then said quietly:
«That's Emperor Raymond, Emperor of Plants. He's... a bit strange, but not scary.»
Kori whispered fearfully:
«I heard they eat human flesh!»
Diana's eyes widened in shock. She looked at her father, who was also listening to the conversation with astonishment.
Noor continued, trembling:
«And also... I heard they hate children who eat vegetables! Maybe... maybe they'll eat us if they see us!»
Arkan looked at Diana in shock, then at the children. He didn't know whether to laugh or be annoyed.
Suddenly...
They heard a small, sly laugh from behind them. They quickly turned to find Raymond standing there suddenly, and behind him his daughter Sylvia, who was quietly eating a piece of meat with no interest in what was happening.
Raymond was holding a lock of Sylvia's hair and playing with it, his green eyes gleaming with mischief. He said in a soft, cunning voice:
«Mmm... the scent of children... how I love it! I suddenly felt hungry!»
Sylvia smiled while chewing the meat and said coldly:
«I want the intestines, Father. I love them.»
Raymond and Sylvia laughed together, their evil voices filling the place.
The four children screamed in extreme fear and hid behind Arkan and Diana.
Sophie shouted:
«Save us, Father! They'll eat us!»
Haz cried in fear:
«I don't want anyone to eat me!»
Diana looked at her father angrily, then shouted:
«Stop! They're just joking! Don't be stupid!»
She turned to the children and tried to calm them:
«Look! They're laughing! It's just a joke!»
But the children were terrified.
Arkan knelt before his children, patted their heads tenderly, and said in his calm voice:
«Don't be afraid, my little ones. No one will eat you. He's just... joking in his own way.»
The children looked at their father with wide eyes.
Noor said in a faint voice:
«Are you sure?»
Arkan smiled:
«Very sure. Go now and play. But stay close to me.»
The children looked at Raymond and Sylvia warily, then ran away quickly.
Arkan stood up and looked at Raymond, who was still laughing quietly. Arkan said in a quiet but slightly reproachful voice:
«Raymond... you need to stop making children think you eat human flesh.»
Raymond smiled his sly smile and said:
«But it's fun! Look at their faces! Don't tell me you didn't laugh!»
Arkan shook his head tolerantly:
«They're just children. Don't joke with them like that.»
Sylvia said coldly while chewing:
«I wasn't joking. I really do love intestines.»
Raymond looked at her proudly:
«That's my daughter!»
They both laughed again, while Arkan and Diana sighed in resignation.
Diana said in a low voice:
«This family... they're all crazy.»
Arkan smiled and said:
«Don't say that out loud. They might hear you.»
Then suddenly, the rhythm of the music in the hall changed. It shifted from quiet melodies to a fast, exciting dance tune. Everyone paused for a moment, then couples began heading towards the center of the dance floor.
At that moment, without warning, Lloyd put down the glass he was drinking from on the nearest table and headed with quick steps towards Diana, who was standing talking with some ladies. Before she realized what was happening, he grabbed her hand and pulled her forcefully towards the center of the dance floor.
Diana shouted in annoyance:
«What in Earth's name are you doing?!»
Lloyd smiled his arrogant smile, placed his hand on her waist confidently, and began moving with the music:
«Dancing, of course. Or does the Princess of Earth not know how to dance?»
Diana tried to break free, but he held her firmly. She said angrily:
«I didn't ask you! I don't want to dance with you!»
Lloyd looked upwards with a clear challenging gaze, as if challenging someone. He continued:
«Don't resist. You'll attract more attention to us.»
Diana followed Lloyd's gaze and saw Lacis standing in the other corner, looking at them with anger and coldness. Diana knew that Lloyd was doing this only to irritate Lacis.
Diana said in a low voice:
«You're really annoying, you arrogant one.»
Lloyd smiled sarcastically:
«I know. But I'm also good at dancing, aren't I?»
Diana couldn't deny that. Lloyd moved smoothly with the music, leading her lightly. Despite her anger, she found herself following his steps.
In the other corner, Lacis was watching the scene with great annoyance. He saw Lloyd's challenging look and felt anger filling his chest. He looked right and left searching for something to do, and suddenly his eyes fell on Agnes.
Agnes was standing alone, watching the dancers with a slight smile. Lacis didn't hesitate for a moment. He headed towards her with quick steps, and before she realized what was happening, he grabbed her hand and said:
«Come on, Agnes! Let's dance!»
Agnes's eyes widened in shock, and her face flushed with embarrassment:
«What... what? Me?!»
But Lacis had already pulled her onto the dance floor. He began moving with the music impulsively and enthusiastically, as if fighting rather than dancing. Agnes collided with him at every step, trying to keep up with his random movements.
Agnes said in a faint voice, looking at Lacis's face close to hers:
«Lacis... you don't know how to dance!»
Lacis replied impulsively, trying to imitate others' movements:
«It doesn't matter! The important thing is that we dance!»
Agnes looked at his face burning with enthusiasm and felt a strange shyness. Her thoughts were flying through her head. Suddenly...
Her eyes fell on a person standing in the opposite corner. It was Rizev, her older brother, standing with all his coldness, his sharp, steady features as usual. He was looking at her with a strange, hard-to-interpret gaze.
Agnes felt extreme confusion. Why was he looking at her like that?
Suddenly, without preamble, Rizev moved from his place. He headed towards Mischa, who was standing watching Agnes with obvious anger, her lips pressed together in displeasure.
Rizev grabbed Mischa's hand firmly and pulled her onto the dance floor.
Mischa shouted in shock:
«What in heaven's name are you doing?!»
But Rizev didn't answer. He began dancing with her coldly, with precise mechanical movements, as if performing a task rather than dancing. His glances kept turning towards Agnes and Lacis from time to time.
Mischa said angrily, trying to break free:
«You fool! You suddenly pull me to dance and then watch your sister?!»
Rizev replied coldly without looking at her:
«I see you. I'm just observing the surroundings.»
Mischa's face reddened with anger:
«You... you're unbearable!»
Rizev continued dancing coldly, while Agnes watched the scene in bewilderment. She knew her brother well. This strange behavior meant something. But what?
The dance suddenly ended, and the music stopped for a few minutes.
Suddenly, Rizev grabbed Mischa's hand and pushed her forcefully aside, then advanced towards Agnes and Lacis. He grabbed Agnes's hand from Lacis's hand firmly and said in a sharp voice:
«Playtime is over. Come with me.»
Agnes couldn't resist his iron grip. Rizev dragged her off the dance floor, leaving Lacis standing in his place dumbfounded.
Mischa whispered angrily, adjusting her clothes:
«You fool! You suddenly pull me to dance, then push me and leave?! What in heaven's name is this?!»
But Rizev didn't look back. He continued dragging Agnes until they were out of sight.
At that moment, Emperor Arkan ascended the main platform in the hall. He raised his hand, asking for silence. The music gradually stopped, and silence prevailed.
Arkan said in his deep, majestic voice:
«Emperors, princes, distinguished guests... I ask you all to listen for a moment.»
All eyes turned towards the platform.
Arkan continued seriously:
«Today's challenge was a prelude to something greater. Something concerning the future of the seven continents.»
Whispers began spreading among the attendees.
Arkan looked at the young princes one by one, then continued:
«The time has come for the heirs to the thrones... to begin their real training.»
A suspicious silence prevailed.
Arkan announced loudly:
«The heirs of the Emperors will be sent to the lands of Savge!»
The hall exploded with shock.
One noble shouted:
«The lands of Savge?! That dangerous region?!»
A lady said fearfully:
«It's full of monsters and threats!»
The princes looked at each other in shock. Elias's face darkened, Oscar's eyes widened slightly, Nain took a deep breath, Lloyd opened her mouth unable to speak, Tarkan looked seriously, while Rizev remained standing as if it were unimportant.
As for Lacis...
Lacis's eyes blazed with fiery enthusiasm. He jumped from his place and shouted joyfully:
«Yes! Finally! A real adventure!»
Everyone looked at him in bewilderment. Lloyd whispered in a low voice:
«Lacis... have you lost your mind? It's the lands of Savge!»
But Lacis was in another world. He kept jumping and shouting:
«Monsters! Dangers! Fighting! This is what I want!»
Oscar said in a serious voice:
«This isn't a picnic, Lacis. It's a dangerous area.»
Lacis replied enthusiastically:
«That's why it's perfect!»
On the other side, Tarkan was looking at his father Arkan in shock:
«Father... is this real?»
Arkan looked at him and said in a steady voice:
«This decision was made by all of us. It's time to test you.»
Raymond looked at his son Lloyd with a sly smile, as if wanting to annoy Lloyd:
«I hope you return... or not return, it doesn't matter much.»
Lloyd looked at his father angrily but said nothing.
As for Agnes, who was watching from a distance beside Rizev, she whispered in a low voice:
«The lands of Savge... so this is the real test.»
In another corner, Selena was standing with her usual coldness, holding her glass and watching the scene indifferently. She whispered to herself:
«Savge... sounds boring.»
As for the children...
Sophie shouted:
«Tarkan! Don't go! I'll miss you!»
Tarkan bent down and hugged them, saying in a warm, happy voice:
«I'll return soon, children. Don't cry.»
Arkan raised his hand again and said loudly:
«Preparations will begin immediately. In three months, you will leave for the lands of Savge. Prepare well, for this is a journey from which you may not all return.»
Silence prevailed in the hall.
The princes' gazes were different. Between fear, anticipation, enthusiasm, and worry. But one thing was certain.
The real adventure was about to begin.
---
In a place far from the palace lights and the bustle of celebrations, a dark forest stretched endlessly. Tall trees, their intertwined branches completely blocking the moonlight. No sound was heard except the rustling of dry leaves underfoot, and the occasional cry of a distant owl.
In the heart of this forest, Rodrik and Ev stood facing each other under the shade of a giant tree. Their features were clear despite the darkness, thanks to the faint light emitted by some glowing insects scattered here and there.
Rodrik was clearly annoyed. His eyes, covered with a white cloth, were staring angrily into the void, and his hands were thrust into his pockets in tight fists. He was breathing deeply, as if suppressing great anger.
As for Ev, he was jumping acrobatically in place as usual, but this time he was less cheerful. He was fiddling with his clown hat and turning it in his hands nervously.
Ev said in a sarcastic voice but with a tone of annoyance:
«Aren't you going to speak? You'll rust, my friend.»
Rodrik didn't answer. He continued staring into the void.
Ev continued:
«Well... I'm also annoyed. But not like you. Your plan was perfect on paper... but the execution was a disaster!»
Rodrik turned to him angrily and said sharply:
«My plan was perfect! The sleeping gas I prepared works on any living creature! I didn't expect that fiery boy to have immunity!»
Ev laughed sarcastically:
«Of course he has immunity, he's a fire elemental! Fire elementals are resistant to gases! You should have been aware of that.»
Rodrik retorted:
«I knew that! But I thought the gas would be strong enough to sedate even a fire elemental!»
Ev shook his head:
«It wasn't enough. Then that Plant Emperor and his strange servant came... I almost became food for plants there!»
Rodrik growled angrily:
«Don't remind me. Raymond... that man is dangerous. I didn't expect him to be that strong.»
Rodrik looked at him angrily:
«Have you finished complaining?»
Ev laughed:
«No! I haven't finished! We almost died there! If I hadn't prepared the concealment gas quickly, we'd be in their cages now!»
Rodrik sighed deeply and said in a calmer voice:
«I know... I know. I miscalculated. I didn't expect all the Emperors to be pretending to sleep. I should have made sure first.»
Ev came down from the branch and stood before Rodrik:
«The important thing is that we survived. Now what do we do? How do we face him after this failure?»
Rodrik looked at him seriously:
«I don't know. But we must tell him the truth. All of it.»
Ev looked at him calmly:
«All of it?»
Rodrik smiled sarcastically:
«He'll kill us if we lie. The difference is that dying from lying would be slower and more painful.»
Suddenly...
The rustling of trees stopped, and a strange silence prevailed. Both felt a tingle at the back of their necks. Someone was watching them.
They quickly turned towards the source of the sensation.
From among the tree shadows, a girl emerged with quiet, confident steps. She was wearing a short black dress, revealing her slender, soft shoulders. Her short black hair gently touched her cheeks, and her deep purple eyes gleamed in the darkness like those of a wild cat. Her features were very cold, almost frozen, showing no emotion.
The girl stood before them, placing her hands on her waist with a superior look.
Ev's eyes widened for a moment, then his sarcastic smile returned. He jumped towards her acrobatically and said:
«Finally you've arrived! You're very late! We almost became food for worms there!»
The girl looked at him coldly and said in a quiet, cold voice, like falling snow:
«Late? I arrived exactly on time. You two failed in your mission.»
Ev stopped in place and raised an eyebrow sarcastically.
Rodrik stepped forward and said in a serious voice:
«Rachel... you're late...»
The girl interrupted him with her hand:
«Don't continue, Rodrik.»
Rodrik looked at her seriously:
«I know.»
Rachel approached them closer and looked at them with her cold purple eyes. She said in a quiet but decisive voice:
«Come on. Father is waiting for you.»
Ev looked at Rodrik with unusual coldness, then at Rachel.
He said sharply:
«Does he have a plan?»
Rachel looked at him for a moment, then her lips curved slightly in what resembled a smile, but it was a cold, frightening smile:
«What do you think?»
Ev didn't answer, just smiled an evil smile.
Rachel turned and began walking towards the depths of the forest, her steps confident like someone who knows the way well. She said without turning around:
«Come. Don't make Father wait longer.»
Rodrik looked at Ev, then sighed deeply and followed them.
As for Ev, he remained standing in place for a moment, looking at the swaying tree shadows. He whispered in a low voice with a strange smile:
«Oh god... what is the devil planning now?»
Then he jumped acrobatically to catch up with them, leaving the forest to return to its frightening silence.
Suddenly, a cold wind blew, and the tree shadows transformed into strange shapes, then returned to normal.