"The gravest crime of a prince is being late to a noble council," King Radia raged as Andreas entered through the door. "Why are you only arriving now?"
"I am so sorry, Father," Andreas bowed deeply in apology. "I take full blame for my actions and will willingly accept any punishment you deem fit."
"You know, Andreas, I have just realized that you care nothing about saving our world from this abyss. Instead, you focus your mind and will solely on the useless people of Triven! You hardly spend time here with your own people, nor do you consult with our star specialists to pinpoint our location in the galaxy and set us free. In fact, it irritates you to help build our cosmic lumens to revive our dead core. What kind of prince are you?!"
"I deeply repent my actions, Father, and I shall surely dedicate my enthusiasm to bringing our world out of this void," Andreas replied.
"Your apology changes nothing, Andreas," Radia thundered again, rising from his seat. His anger made him comb his pink mustaches to control himself—especially since he was before other council members, not just his son. "I am beginning to believe you care more for the people of Triven than for your own. What is it those worthless aging beings have enticed you with, making you turn against us—your true people?"
"I apologize deeply again, Father, and I promise to devote more time to setting us free and bringing us back to Omania," Andreas said, already growing tired of his father's scolding but forced to maintain the act of a dutiful prince. *A prince indeed,* he scoffed internally. *How can he see me as a prince when no one else does? If only he had listened when my words could have helped, we wouldn't be trapped in this regrettable situation—living in a place undetectable in the galaxy, invisible to the humans on Omania. Lurking in shadows behind those very people, blamed for their misfortunes as if we were their curse, pouring out their sorrow for being mapped out of the universe.*
"Remain steadfast in your words, Prince Andreas," Lord Gerrant, a council member, advised calmly, as if offering fatherly counsel. "Always keep your priorities straight and true." He exhaled deeply before turning to the king. "Please, King Radia, let us proceed with the council. There are matters of greater importance than scolding the prince."
His words seemed to extinguish the burning fire in King Radia. He sat back down, still adjusting his mustaches. Silence lingered for long seconds before he spoke again.
"I suppose your being late today, Andreas, means you have found the one we seek?" The king asked, all eyes turning toward his son.
*Oh great!* Andreas thought. *How could I have forgotten the task given to me years ago, after so many innocent lives were lost? THE ONE—the one who possesses the special ability to revive the light of lost worlds like ours. The one my father has killed many Triven rangers searching for, believing he must be a mutant—no normal human on Omania could have such power. I've been sure it must be among the mutated Triven rangers, and so I've hunted them down, killing all I suspected, only to be disappointed. Just like Phil, Lilith's father. And truth be told, I enjoyed every kill—it was a point for me and a loss for Triven.*
But after Phil's death, Andreas had vowed to himself that the task might be his alone, fed up with the unnecessary deaths his father caused.
Unfortunately, he had not found the one. That was exactly why he had been restless since the day before.
He had his suspicions… something inside him strongly believed it was Lilith he had been searching for, but he had to wait four more years—until she mutated at eighteen. Triven mutated their rangers at eighteen. Sadly, he was sure his father could not wait four years for news, so he had to think fast and find something to say now.
His heart sank, fists clenched, and his mind went blank—void of ideas. He always felt this way near constellation day, not only because of painful memories but because he was running out of words to cover himself, just like now.
"Eh… Em," he stammered, clearing his throat. "I have not found the mutant who wields the light ability in Triven. Perhaps the mutant we seek is not from Triven but from other worlds in Omania."
"That's nonsense, Prince Andreas," Lord Varnaak objected sharply. A troublesome council member. "The people of Triven were the ones who used their powerful convergence against us last time. Since then, our core has refused to bring forth its light to redeem us from this darkness or help find our way out. I strongly believe the light mutant is among their silly rangers—and you've just failed to find him!"
"Calm down, Lord Varnaak," Radia intervened, trying to restore order. "I agree—the people of Triven do harbor the light-powered mutant, but we haven't found him because someone has been negligent lately." He glared at Andreas, clearly disappointed.
"Hmmm," King Radia breathed deeply, supporting his forehead with his left palm, elbow resting on his chair's arm. "Leave my sight." His declaration shocked the entire council.
It had never been heard of that the prince of Gorgor was sent out of the noble council. In fact, he was supposed to lead it—not be cast out. But Andreas did not argue. He knew better than to waste words on what would be meaningless chatter to his father. The other council members knew how stubborn he was and made no effort to speak. He bowed to the king's honor and turned to leave—only to stop at his father's words.
"And never return until you have found the mutant. I will only allow you here if you bring him to me alive and well, ready to do my bidding. Now leave before I make you lost too!" Radia yelled, furious and raging.
Andreas did not reply or plead. He exited the council chamber and returned to Omania—straight to Triven. He understood his father's anger and felt he had failed not only him but their entire world. Yet, he hoped to restore their world, and if anyone could, it was here—where Triven's mutated rangers were trained and forged into the heroes they claimed to be.
He must not fail. He must discover the light mutant and bring him to his father, whoever it might be, no matter the cost!