When King Heracles fell in love with a woman of another race, he wanted to marry her. But even though she was in love with him too, she wanted proof of his love. At that time, Azlek Kingdom did not have any palaces. Even the royal family lived in a mansion. To prove his love for her, Hercules devised a plan.

First, he gathered all types of rocks from every part of the kingdom. 

With the stones from the mountains of Tyras city, he made the Palace’s Walls to show that her beauty is too precious for an ordinary mortal to behold.

From the beaches of Amphissa city, he gathered white sand. He turned it into the Palace’s Windows to show her that she is always free to explore and is not bound by the palace.

Using the dark iron from the mines of Argos city, he made the Palace’s Gates to show that she held absolute power in the palace.

From the deep caves of Lapithos city, He gathered powerful magic stones. With their help, he put powerful protection spells all around the palace so that no one could harm her.

He completed all of this without someone’s help. It all went to show his love for her. When she came and saw his dedication to their love. Tears fell from her eyes, and she instantly hugged him. 

At this moment, Heracles proposed to her. She immediately accepted his proposal and married him. After that, the Royal Capital of Thiva was born.

Because of the majesty of this palace, Azlek went from a Duchy to a Kingdom. After this, All the next descendants who were born. They ruled from here. Thus, it began to be called The Royal Palace of the Elders.

Since this palace was made for love, it never had a time of sorrow. But when Brianus Winstone died, it started the Era of Sorrow and Rebellion.

Before this incident, The Royal Palace was always full of laughter and joy. But now it either was silence or the sounds of cries.

Many nobles saw this and starting to see that the times are changing. This will be the cause of all the rebellions in the later future.

Feran, Phiteus, Hector, and Perseus, after hearing the death of Brianus Winstone, becomes filled with mixed emotions. Just some moments ago, they were just laughing.

Tears were falling from everyone’s eyes after they understood the situation clearly. Feran, while trying to maintain a dignified manner, asked the guards.

“Where is Father?”

The guards were hesitant for a second, but one of them replied.

“Your Highness! King Winstone is right now in the throne room.”

Hearing this, Phiteus realized something, so he immediately asked.

“and Mother?”

“Your Highness! Queen Eunomia is also in the throne room with the King right now.”

Feran starts to move forwards towards the entrance of the palace. The guards hesitantly ask.

“Your Highnesses! Should I announce your return?”

Feran smiles towards them while replies without slight hesitation.

“That won’t be needed. We wish to surprise them, after all.”

The guards can already see the pain and anger in Feran eyes, so they dare not try to question him more. They quickly lowered their head before them to show respect, and then they left at the sides towards the sides of the royal gates.

Now Feran, with his companions, stands in front of the imperial gate.

This gate is not as simple as it was since its creation. Not only the gate, but everything else has also changed since Heracles built it.

Many improvements have been made to it over time by many rulers. It was merely a gate when it was built, but now it shows the might of the royal family to those who dare try to infiltrate.

The gates were first simply made of dark iron bars. But now it has the two huge House of Odysseus’s lightning symbols crests on both sides. It symbolizes the House of Odysseus being the Children of Zeus. The crests are made of pure gold to show that the Azlek Kingdom is not weak but a prosperous kingdom.

Feran, with his authority, orders the guards in a loud voice.

“OPEN THE GATES!!!”

Hearing this, the guards immediately undo the magic on the gates and opens them, letting the children enter.

 Again the guards lower their heads towards the children while speaking together.

“WE WELCOME HIS HIGHNESS FERAN, HIS HIGHNESS PHITEUS, HIS GRACE HECTOR and HIS GRACE PERSEUS TO THE ROYAL PALACE.”

Feran and his companions immediately enter the gates and enter from the front door of the Palace Hall.

Palace Hall has turned into a very beautiful place over time. The ground of the hall is made of diamond white marble. In the middle of the hall is a massive chandelier that the late Queen brought as a gift for late King Hercules.

The chandelier is made of magical white rubies and gave very bright light most of the time. But right now, its light was dim, and its shine had faded away for some reason.

Before the incident, This hall was always full of life and sounds of laughter. But now, when they entered, all they heard was the servants’ whispers and nothing more.

Because, when the servants had seen them, they started to whisper with each other.

“Oh, My Zeus! The Princes. They really have come back safely.”

“What will happen now that the princes are back?”

“Will the King announce Prince Feran Winstone as the new crown prince after his elder brother’s death?.”

Feran heard all of this, but he did not care about what others said until one of them said something about him becoming the new crown prince.

So, he immediately glares with murderous intent at the servents who were whispering to each other.

Seeing this, all of the servants fell on their feet. They were so scared that they would piss their pants, but because it was the royal palace, so they dare not do it.

Even though Phiteus did not have ancestorial powers, he knew his brother. So he knew that his brother could kill someone who dares anger him right now.

So, he immediately tried to cut off his brother’s focus from the servants.

“Brother, We should go to the Throne room immediately.”

Feran knew what his brother meant by this. He understood that his brother wanted him to control his anger. So he agreed to let this go.

“Sorry, brother, I was a little………. Distracted.”

After this, all of them started to move towards the throne room.

While the servants felt relaxed that their lives had been spared, they felt a deep glare again. But this time, it was not the glare of Prince Feran, but it was the glare of his younger brother Prince Phiteus.

This second glare made them so scared that they ran away immediately after the prince turned back his head, causing them to fall along the way as they ran. All Phiteus’s companions saw this, but they said nothing because they all knew that what he did was right.

After some walking, they finally reach the Throne room doors.

The guards saw them coming from afar, but they did nothing because of the anger they felt from Prince Feran.

When the children were in front of the doors, The guards lowered their heads to show respect.

“Welcome! Your Graces.”

 Immediately Feran asked the guards without hesitation.

“Are Mother and Father inside?”

One of the guards answered with slight hesitation.

“Yes, My Prince! They are right now discussing something with the Royal Adviser Judas. So I hope that you could *sweat* wait for a few minutes before going in.”

Hearing this made Feran extremely angry. He had just suffered the loss of a brother, and now these guards were trying to stop him from meeting his father after three months of parting.

He pushed the door with his hands in this rage, destroying the close spell on the door and opening it immediately.

After entering the throne room, they see King Winstone and Queen arguing with the Royal Adviser Judas in front of them.

But those in the throne room had stopped arguing when they heard the sound of the throne room door opening. When the King and Queen saw their children, they were really surprised, not knowing how to react.

At this moment, Feran shouts in a loud voice in the throne room.

“Father! Mother! Your sons, We have come back. NOW, COULD YOU TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BIG BROTHER???”

 - To Be Continued