"Why does Sirius keep passing out like this ever since he fell off that cliff?" Aerglo sighed, his voice laced with worry as he gazed down at his youngest brother, once again lying unconscious in bed from yet another 'heart attack.'
Alceo slowly sat down beside the bed, his eyes scanning every inch of Sirius' sleeping form—his gaze heavy with concern. "He's not even in bad shape. No internal injuries, no serious wounds... So why does he keep losing consciousness?"
He turned to his older brother, seeking his thoughts. "Brother... Should we look for another doctor?"
Aerglo remained silent for a moment, the sorrow in his eyes deeper than words. "I don't think any ordinary doctor can heal him," he murmured, his voice almost a whisper.
Alceo froze. His face paled. He understood what Aerglo was trying to say—but some part of him clung to the hope that maybe it meant something else entirely. "You mean...?"
The young man lifted his face slowly, his crimson eyes dim as he looked into his brother's solemn expression. "His body may seem fine... but we have no idea what's happening to his soul. Especially now that Sirius' pure element is fading..."
Aerglo gently took Sirius' limp hand in his own, holding it with the kind of care that only a worried brother could give.
When he let go, something strange was revealed. Etched into Sirius' palm was a glowing red pattern—like a mandala. A small flickering flame pulsed in its center, dim and weakening, like a candle about to burn out.
Gazing into the dying fire within that mandala, Aerglo spoke in a quiet, broken voice. "I'm afraid... this might be related to that curse..."
Alceo's heart sank. The frightening suspicion he had tried to bury now stood in front of him in vivid, painful clarity. "He's turning seventeen soon," he whispered.
"But, Brother..." Alceo turned to him, desperate to push back against this harsh reality, still hoping for a loophole. "Deimos is gone! That dark sorcery inside Sirius should've vanished too, right? We even sealed it right away that time!"
Aerglo held Sirius' hand tighter this time, as if trying to ground himself—to fight back the fear gnawing at his chest.
"Don't worry... Father and Mother will be back soon. They'll have good news," he said softly, trying to comfort Alceo even while his own heart trembled in the same storm.
But that comfort was a thin veil. The anxiety and fear still lingered in Alceo's crimson eyes, clinging like a gray cloud refusing to be blown away no matter how strong the wind was.
Then, the tension hanging heavy in the air began to ease—like morning dew melting beneath sunlight—when a soldier came running toward them, carrying news that glimmered like a lantern in the pitch black.
"Your Majesties, King Orion de Archer Andromeda and Queen Arabella de Archer Andromeda have returned from their journey," the soldier announced, kneeling before the two princes.
Just like that, the sorrow that had coated the room began to lift. Smiles bloomed—genuine, warm, but also fragile. No one knew how long they would last.
"Call in a few attendants and doctors to watch over Sirius for now!" Alceo commanded, firm and decisive.
The soldier in his sleeveless brown uniform nodded and left the room in obedience, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist. "Yes, Your Highness…"
***
Night had taken its throne. The wind whistled through the carved windows of a wide, majestic chamber, moonlight filtering in like whispers from another world.
Gold and gemstones sparkled everywhere. Pillars lined the hall in perfect symmetry, carved with intricate reliefs that told stories of old.
At the far end of the chamber stood a grand throne, a sculpture of a dragon serpent and the sun entwined as its backrest—a symbol of rule and prosperity, the crest of the Andromeda Kingdom.
Two figures sat upon that throne, radiating a presence that was impossible to ignore. The one on the right was a king in every sense of the word—his sheer aura could make anyone bow without a word. This was Orion de Archer Andromeda.
His broad, muscular frame and warm brown skin were draped in royal robes and a crown befitting his stature. His eyes were sharp, ruby-red and intense, his short black hair dark as raven's feathers under moonless skies.
Beside him sat a queen as graceful as moonlight. Slender and elegant, with soft golden-brown skin wrapped in a pink gown adorned with delicate gems.
Her every movement was poetry, and her presence gentle yet dignified—Arabella de Archer Andromeda, the kingdom's radiant queen. Her golden hair flowed like sunlit silk, her eyes just as luminous.
Their smiles grew the moment the heavy wooden doors opened and a guard announced the arrival of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.
Joy returned to Aerglo and Alceo's faces too, now that they could finally see their parents again after being apart for some time.
Both young men knelt before the throne, bowing deeply with synchronized voices. "Father King, Mother Queen, we've come to greet you."
The king nodded, his voice full of calm authority. "Rise, my sons," he said, smiling warmly.
As instructed, the two rose quickly and stood tall before their parents.
Then came a voice as soft as velvet. "How have you been, my children?" Queen Arabella asked gently.
"We're doing well, Mother…" they answered in unison.
A brief silence fell afterward. Aerglo and Alceo exchanged uncertain looks—shadows of unease swimming in their eyes. The stillness cracked when the elder brother finally spoke.
"But... something terrible has happened to Sirius…"
"You both received my message too, didn't you?" he added quietly.
A long sigh followed. The king's shoulders, once upright and commanding, slumped ever so slightly at the mention of that name. "Yes, my son. We received it. How is your brother now?"
Aerglo bowed his head slowly, his expression hidden as sorrow crept across his features. "Sirius' curse... We don't know if it's connected to the fall from the cliff, but ever since that day, he's been passing out... and doesn't remember anything afterward. Yet his body is completely fine…"
"What's even stranger... His pure element—it's weakening, Father. It's almost completely gone now..." Aerglo looked up, his face carved with worry, each word heavier than the last.
"I'm sorry, Father, Mother... It's our fault. Because we weren't able to protect him, Sirius ended up like this," Alceo said with trembling fists, bowing deeply. Regret rippled in his voice.
Aerglo, standing beside him, also lowered his head and placed a comforting hand on his younger brother's shoulder, patting it softly. His own guilt weighed just as heavily, but he couldn't bear to let Alceo carry it alone.
Seeing the sorrow wrapped around her sons broke Queen Arabella's heart. She spoke, her voice gentle and low, "Lift your heads, my sons…"
Aerglo and Alceo slowly lifted their faces, gazing at their parents with the same sorrow mirrored in their eyes.
Their mother continued, a faint smile tugging at her lips—one that seemed forced, as though it had to fight its way through the sadness on her face. "This isn't your fault. What happened to your little brother… it was written in fate."
King Orion gave a slight nod, his wise smile following. "She's right, sons. Don't burden yourselves with guilt or let this weigh on your hearts. Besides, you both know—your mother and I didn't leave a few days ago without reason. I've already spoken to your uncle, the Spring Warrior, Caldwell Whittaker."
A spark of hope flickered in the dim eyes of Aerglo and Alceo, a light igniting in their once-weary expressions. "Can Uncle help Sirius, Father?" Alceo asked.
"You know full well," Orion replied, his smile warm and steady, "your father's old friend isn't just anyone… He's sure to find a way to help your brother—just like he did before."
Queen Arabella's gentle voice flowed like a soft stream, calm and composed. "That's why, soon… your father and I plan to send your youngest brother to Chidambar Island."
"Please allow me to accompany him, Father, Mother," Alceo said at once, his face serious and resolute.
Aerglo also stepped forward without hesitation, his voice firm with heartfelt conviction. "I'd like to go too, Father. Please allow me to accompany both of my brothers," he said, bowing his head respectfully before their parents.
A low, proud chuckle escaped the king's lips, warmed by the loyalty and love his sons showed for their youngest sibling. "Of course, my sons," he said, nodding. "I grant you both permission to go with your brother."
Relief and gratitude immediately lit up the brothers' faces. They bowed together and spoke in unison, "Thank you, Father, Mother."
"We'll take good care of him. Please don't worry about us," Aerglo added.
The king and queen simply responded with a warm smile and nod—completely trusting their sons' promise. There was not a single doubt in their hearts.
That warmth continued to flow gently between them, filling the chamber with quiet hope—
Until suddenly—
"What are you all talking about?"