The throne room of the Dragon Empire was heavy with silence. The air itself seemed to resist the movement of sound, as though it knew that whatever was about to be spoken would not be easily forgotten.
Finally, Zavrok broke the suffocating stillness. His voice was steady, but beneath it ran a deep undercurrent of grief and restrained fury.
"Queen Astrid," he said, his gaze unwavering. "I need your permission to search your land for my son. Zhavrik has been missing for nearly fifty days. We scoured every corner of our domain, but found nothing. As you know, our families have never been on good terms. To be frank, I do not trust the elders of your council. I believe they may have played some part in his disappearance. With your permission and your support, I wish to conduct a thorough search of your domain."
The words landed like stones tossed into still water, ripples of unease spreading across the chamber.
Astrid's eyes widened. She had not expected this. For a Thalorien heir to vanish—and for nearly two months without a whisper reaching her ears—was unthinkable. Her surprise quickly melted into a sharper emotion. Anger.
Zhavrik… missing? And at this very moment?
Astrid clenched her hands around the armrests of her throne. She had been carefully weaving threads of alliance, planning a marriage between Zhavrik and her daughter. That union would have cemented ties between the Dragon Empire and the Thaloriens. And now, to hear that the boy had vanished without a trace—it was as though someone had cut the threads of her careful tapestry.
Her mind raced. Where could he be? Who would dare? This… this could also be an opportunity, she realized. An opportunity to stand beside the Thaloriens in their moment of vulnerability, to prove her loyalty and perhaps push forward her plans of marriage once Zhavrik was found.
She drew in a deep breath, smoothing her expression, though a storm still raged in her eyes.
"So, let me be certain I understand," Astrid said slowly. Her voice was neutral, but her words cut sharp. "Your son, a Thalorien, vanished nearly two months ago. You—with all your resources, all your spies, all your information networks—could not locate him. And now you have come here, to my lands, suggesting he is within our borders? Do you accuse us of kidnapping him?"
Her tone rose slightly, carrying the edge of restrained anger. She had no intention of letting Zavrok think he could walk into her halls and throw accusations without resistance.
Zavrok's jaw tightened, his fists clenching, but before he could respond, Aelina, his wife, touched his arm lightly. Her expression was calm, but her eyes held desperation.
"Your Highness," Aelina said, stepping forward with a graceful bow. "I apologize if our words have sounded harsh. We do not mean to accuse you, nor to insult the Dragon Empire. Please understand, we are parents in despair. For fifty days, we have searched across every border. We even dispatched men to the Elvian Empire. Yet we have found no trace of our son. Our spies are scattered across the other realms, working tirelessly. But you know as well as I do… the relations between our people are strained. Many of your elders still bear grudges against us, more than you yourself do. If something has happened to Zhavrik, and if by chance he is within your lands, we cannot afford to ignore the possibility."
Her voice faltered slightly, but she pushed forward, her hands clasped tightly before her.
"We just want to be certain," Aelina pleaded. "We want to leave no stone unturned, lest we regret it forever. Elva assured me that I could place my trust in you. So I beg of you, Queen Astrid… help us search your territory. Help us find our son."
For a long moment, the chamber was silent again. Astrid studied Aelina's trembling hands, then Zavrok's fiery eyes. The queen's anger eased, replaced by something more solemn.
Finally, she exhaled, leaning back in her throne.
"Forgive me, Aelina," Astrid said softly. "I spoke harshly in the heat of the moment. Your husband's tone stung, but I should have remembered your pain first. Do not worry—I will help you. I will personally assist in searching for your son within my lands. And I will keep this from the elders. They must not know."
Relief flickered across Aelina's face, though Zavrok remained rigid, as though unwilling to trust too easily.
Astrid continued, her voice lowering to a more cautious tone.
"But understand this. We cannot afford to split and search recklessly. The people of my empire already know of your arrival. If they were to see you wandering alone in the streets, it would not end peacefully. The elders and their supporters wait for any excuse to stir old grudges. If they see a Thalorien prowling alone through the city, it will ignite flames I cannot put out. I will not let this land fall into chaos."
She paused, her golden eyes narrowing.
"My daughter Elva will return in two days. Once she is here, we can divide into groups and search discreetly. Until then, I must ask you to wait."
---
Zavrok said nothing for a long while, his silence heavy as stone. His gaze bored into Astrid's, as though searching for deceit. Finally, he gave a short nod, though his lips were pressed into a hard line.
"Two days," he said. "We will wait. But know this, Your highness… if any trace of harm befalls my son within your lands, the Thalorien clan will not rest until the truth is carved from stone and blood alike."
The queen's lips curved into the faintest of smiles—cold, unreadable.
"I would expect nothing less from a father."