2. Altair of the world

Before Altair departed, he pondered aloud, “So, a war between five countries over this land will most likely break out.”

“You’re the first of five guests. I can only truly affirm your assumptions after meeting the others.”

“Well, count me out.” Seeing Regulus’ eyebrows shoot up, he explained himself further, “I’ll be damned before I turn lives a ruin, even if that means my dearest wishes will never come true.”

“Hold onto that resolve, little prince.” His surprise turned into genuine anticipation, not that you could read it off his face, “I am eager to see how you approach the next starless night.”

Without saying another word, Altair crossed the bridge back to his own home.

Upon his arrival, his bedridden father sat upright.

“Son, did you figure out the cause of the explosion? Are our people safe? Do they need me? Have they asked for my aid?” Increasing his intensity with each question had him coughing for air.

“Take it easy, Father. I told Sir Alshain to spread the word that the issue has been resolved.”

“Good. Putting the people at ease is a great choice of priorities. Son, well done. Now tell me the truth, what happened?”

Knowing all too well that lying to his father was futile, he told him the entire story.

“—I understand that it’s hard to believe unless you’ve witnessed it with your own eyes, but…”

His father shook his head, “I believe you. This is a great opportunity to restore our country as the most powerful across the entire Silver River. Tomorrow morning we’ll hold a council meeting. Notify everyone that we need to strategize the siege of that star land.”

Altair allowed silence to fill the room before he made his attempt at defying his father.

“Father, we cannot afford to start another war over this.”

Alas, no matter how many times he tried, he couldn’t convince his father to let the idea rest that night. For all he knew, his father might fly atop his eagle and meet the Prince of Stars himself.

Returning to his bedroom’s balcony, where the bridge had appeared earlier, he could no longer see the land in the distance. His eyes sprung the tiniest bit of hope to life that everything he experienced was merely a dream.

“A nightmare…”

On the other side of where the land appeared lied Lyra, the country in which he grew up. Lately, he found himself spending every night staring in its direction, thinking about Vega.

“It’s your life that is a nightmare, isn’t it, Vega?”

“Dear Altair”

Every night, as he stared far off into the distance, he would recall the sudden letter—the last letter—he received from her.

“Remember my cousin Nebula? Her parents are planning to get rid of her and replace her with a more fitting crown princess.”

Nebula wasn’t the brightest, nor the prettiest. When the three of them played as kids, she would often bite Altair, so perhaps she wasn’t the kindest either.

“What should I do, Altair? Should I tell her? Should I shelter her in secret? Should I tell your mother?”

Vega had always counted on Altair, but ever since he moved back to Aquilla, she’s often at a loss for what to do.

Shortly after she had sent the letter, Altair departed to Lyra on his father’s Eagle. What he didn’t know was that he was already too late when he first opened the letter.

Flying over Lyra, he saw people all over the country marching towards the capital to witness the beheading of the crown princess.

She had long come to terms with her inability to properly learn; she became numb to people calling her dumb. Her appearance was another thing she had accepted. Because of her deformed jaw and lazy eye, she was dubbed the ugliest Lyra royalty in history.

The first time she couldn’t come to accept rejection was when she learned her parents wanted to get rid of her forever.

Feeling deeply betrayed, she snuck into their bedroom late at night. Kneeling down at the edge of the bed, she gently rocked her mother’s shoulders.

“…Nebula?”

Only when her mother’s eyes were open and she was consciously awake, Nebula sliced her throat with the sharpest knife she could find in the kitchen.

She didn’t spare her father an unconscious death either.

Altair found it hard to sleep at night knowing he would’ve prevented everything had he not left Lyra, but not returning to Aquilla during its war with Great Canis would’ve certainly meant his father’s death.

“I won’t ever allow any deaths in vain again,” he uttered to the night sky. Tomorrow, I will convince the other kings and queens to peacefully settle this.

***

The day before the starless night, the king had summoned his son for a chat on the balcony. He knew that Altair still hadn’t quit his efforts to prevent the war.

“Stretch your arms out, Son. Now, turn your palms upward.”

Altair quizzingly gazed at both of his hands.

“How much of the world has been written on it, Son?”

“Not much… I think?”

The king showed his palms to the prince. They appeared rugged, scarred and coated with calluses.

“I won’t rest any longer. If my eagle flies, why shouldn’t I? Our people need us, Son. Putting your life on the line so theirs are kept safe; that’s what it means to be a king.”

“I know, Father. That’s why I’m trying to prevent the war. I want to keep our people safe—and the people of Lyra. Even after that, I can’t sit on the sidelines and watch the innocent people of any other country be slain in pointless battle.”

“Lift your head up, Son.” He spread his arm over the balcony, “Gaze upon all your eyes can see. Aquilla. That’s who you live to protect. You’re not the king of the world, Son. Once we’ve settled this war, you’ll be crowned our new king. And my son will be the greatest king in our history.”

His father returned to his room as Altair got the preparations started to evacuate all of his people. There remained but a single thing to do.

“Could you please fly away. Far, far away,” he brushed her feathers. “Until the starless night, please, fly away.”

The dragon-sized eagle closed her eyes. Altair couldn’t speak any animal languages, but he understood that she wouldn’t betray the king. The only way to stop this war, was—

“Vultur, I’m sorry,” he wept. “I’m so sorry.”

As he pierced her through the heart with his sword, he hugged her tightly, not letting go until the sun rose again.