KANİTA - Wingless princess-Shattered I

chapter 9

Aris's face hardened, but Artis spoke with determination. He was determined to protect his daughter at all costs. Aris, however, thought he was more of a threat. This argument had only exacerbated the tension between the two cousins.

Setis, caught between them, threw his hands up and shouted: "We're not going to get anywhere by hurting each other like this! You all talk about family, but family isn't about destroying each other. There must be a way to reconcile!"

But both sides were so fixated on their own truths that Setis's words hung in the air. Artis was willing to do anything to protect his daughter, while Aris believed he could trigger a catastrophe.

Setis turned to the knights, seeking to defuse the tension and find a solution. "Bring the ancient rule book," he said. Then, turning to the advisors, he added, "Please explain our rules to everyone once again. I see some have forgotten them."

The knights brought a heavy, ornate book to the table. Every page was meticulously crafted, the cover filled with detail, a dazzling display of craftsmanship. The text inside was meticulously written, each line meticulously and meticulously. The book contained the ancient rules adhered to by the Onir lineage for centuries.

The counselor opened the book and began to read aloud:

Ancient Rules:

1. You cannot marry or form relationships with people who are not of your lineage, blood, or talent.

2. You cannot attempt to kill anyone of your own blood, race or ancestry.

3. You cannot declare war on the king of another race.

4. You cannot bind a princess from another kingdom to your own kingdom.

5. You should always be respectful to those who are older than you.

6. Women and children, regardless of their race, shall be executed unless they commit a real crime.

you can't.

7. You cannot subjugate anyone except the wingless (humans).

8. If the elemental power of the newborn has not yet manifested or the wedding has not taken place, you cannot enter another kingdom.

9. The firstborn child of the king, whether male or female, is considered the heir apparent.

10. A member of a banished race cannot be captured or executed unless he has committed a heinous crime.

When the reading was complete, Setis took a deep breath and turned to the room, saying, "These rules have protected us for thousands of years. It is imperative that everyone follow these rules. No prophecy or curse is above these rules."

Artis nodded in agreement with Setis's words, believing these rules had once again proven his right to protect his daughter. Aris, however, frowned in disbelief. He couldn't shake the dangers of the prophecy, but breaking the rules meant a heavy price.

Silence fell for a moment. Everyone was lost in thought; Silitsia's future, these rules, and the potential implications of the prophecy were now at the center of the discussion.

Aris pounded the table, his eyes filled with determination and anger. “Whatever the rules are, whether he’s our descendant or not, he’s committed a grave crime. Or he will if we don’t stop him. Understand me, if we don’t act now, he’ll cause even greater disasters in the future. And then it will be harder to stop him, perhaps even too late!”

Setis, trying Aris's patience, responded, "Are you going against the ancient rules? The rules say what they say! He hasn't committed a crime yet. His mother has already exiled him, we cannot touch him. If something happens in the future, then we will be prepared. But we cannot condemn our nephew to death for an evil he may never have committed. This is unacceptable."

Despite Setis's calm yet firm demeanor, Aris remained unwavering in his anger. In his eyes, the prophecy was very real, and he believed that if this disaster wasn't prevented, the consequences would be dire. However, Setis believed in the power of ancient laws and argued that judging the future now was wrong. Whatever his nephews' futures, he believed it unfair to punish anyone for a crime they hadn't committed. After Aris angrily left the room, Setis and Artis were left alone in silence. Setis, gazing at his cousin, took a deep breath and asked his question: "Tell me, my dear cousin Artis, where do you think the princess is going?"

Artis sighed and shrugged. “I don’t know, Setis.”

Setis continued thoughtfully, leaning on the table. “We should go to the Onir Temple and ask our elders for help.”

Artis shook his head anxiously. "This will take months, Setis. And think of what could happen to Silitsia in that time."

Setis turned his gaze to Artis and asked, his voice a little softer: "What do you want me to do, Artis?"

Artis approached him with determination. “Help me, cousin, help me protect my daughter. If we can find her, we can fix everything.”

Setis paused for a moment, then tilted his head in thought. “If we can reach him, I can help, but maybe we don’t need to. Think about it. If the prophecy is true, finding him could cause even bigger problems.”

Artis frowned in disappointment. “You believe in that ridiculous prophecy too?”

Setis took a deep breath and replied in a calmer tone, "I'm just stating possible theories, Artis. It's not a threat yet, but we can't know what fate holds in store. If the prophecy is true and Silitsia could trigger a catastrophe, approaching it could hasten that fate."

Artis was filled with unease, but Setis's words held some logic. They both pondered silently. Protect Silitsia or heed the prophecy's dark hints? The decision had never been more difficult.

Under Setis's stern and determined gaze, the commander began to speak. "Sir, we detected a very powerful electromagnetic shock wave deep in the forest last night. The waves uprooted surrounding trees, carried off animals, and even caused damage to a small settlement. This is not an ordinary occurrence."