"They are under the curse of Eltanin, King of Draco. At this time, they are in a dimension where they think they have real power and abilities. But it's all just a nightmare."

"It's not a sickness!?" Xerxez exclaimed, bewildered. "I saw a dragon!" he said, practically spilling his guts to explain his long-held belief about the dragon, but since no one believed him, he looked like a madman to others.

"Actually, that's not the dragon's true form. That's Eltanin in the form of an animal's flesh. He found a way so he wouldn't just be a constellar soul that can only connect with people in their dreams."

"What?!"

"As you saw it flying, it's the most monstrous of all the monsters that live in the entire galaxy. But if you saw him in that form, it means he is weak and has no power to take your son, Pyramus. That's proof that your children are special and will have unusual powers."

"But don't be afraid, because his reign and torment of the people will not last forever."

And then Xerxez woke up. He was shocked to feel a change in his body.

Chapter XIII

The Awakening of the Phoenix

Inside the curse, they saw themselves. They were in a place that looked chaotic, like the end of the world. The people there were enslaved by the evil constellar kings. The dragon reigned there—a monster with many horns and a terrifying appearance. People worshipped it. An ancient prophecy spoke of a king who would come, but he would bring evil; he was the one chosen by Draco, and the reigning dragon would give him power to destroy the world. The King of Draco built a kingdom, and all the people he conquered would bow to the dragon monster, Eltanin. These people were marked with the brand of Eltanin the dragon. And from the sea, a many-headed Hydra emerged and devoured those who refused to worship the dragon and its king.

The sea spewed forth a monster called the many-headed Hydra. Each head would devour those who refused to worship it, and those who still wouldn't obey would be beheaded and offered to the Hydra. And it sowed terror across the land.

After they saw what was happening in the future, a flaming bird appeared to Pyramus, flying inside the dimension. It was a sun-like landscape surrounded by bubbling mud. Yet, to his surprise, he felt no heat or burn. The bird flew up and then swooped down toward him, but to his shock, it transformed into a beautiful maiden.

"Do not be afraid, child. For at this moment, the curse that envelops you will end," the maiden said softly. "From the moment you were born, you were chosen as the King of the Phoenix." The dimension was no longer a magma-filled landscape but a paradise-like place.

"I thought that was a legend of Peronica that Grandma Pyramia told me, but I think this is just a dream." Pyramus had no idea how many months he had been asleep, because inside the curse, it was as if he was traveling through his dream.

"Awaken from your sleep, for it is time for you to end this curse. The war of your father against their enemies is approaching, and it will greatly endanger the entire Thallerion alliance and its other territories."

"I know my father's enemies are from Ossibian. But what's so terrifying about them? I know they are not a very rich country and, above all, they can't defeat my father!"

"If that's how you think about the war, then you'll probably be easily defeated by your enemies."

"Thallerion and my father, I can say, can overcome any enemy that comes to fight them. It is known as Orion!"

"Yes. But remember that the country of Ossibus is also known as Corvus."

The fiery Phoenix appeared in his dimension. And it circled around him. "Yes, and you need to wake up from your sleep."

From there, he suddenly felt as if he was being sucked in. He took a deep breath and woke up. He found himself in a bed next to Maximus. But he had no idea why. The last thing he remembered was when something strange happened to them, as if they had been hit by an unknown spell.

A nurse saw him and was shocked to see him sitting up in bed, looking a bit confused. She screamed in extreme surprise, as if she didn't know what to think, whether to be shocked that he miraculously woke up or to be afraid that it was just her imagination. She screamed and immediately ran to a crowd of people to report what she had witnessed. "What did that woman see? She looked like she saw a ghost."

When he saw Maximus, he tried to wake him but couldn't, so he got out of bed, almost stumbling because his knees felt strange at that moment.

He slowly walked toward the door to go to his father. As he opened the door, he was shocked to see people rushing toward him. He could clearly hear the woman explaining to his father.

"Son!" Xerxez ran, almost like he was in a race and wanted to be the first one to arrive. "Thank goodness you're awake." He suddenly hugged him.

"Father, what's going on?" Pyramus also wondered.

"Oh, Pyramus, my grandson!" Pyramia also came forward to hug him with anticipation.

"It's true, your grandson, Pyramia, is awake." Driother arrived. "What about Maximus?" he also asked.

"Son, I'm glad you're awake... Do you know that you were under a spell of darkness, so... you fell asleep for a month."

"What?!"

"That doesn't matter now that you're awake, grandson. It would be good for you to go to Peronica with me." Pyramia said. "It will be good for him," she suggested to everyone, but her point was directed at Xerxez.

"Maximus, where is Maximus? Did he also wake up?" Driother repeated. Driother looked around but couldn't find Maximus.

"Son, you and your brother both fell asleep, so tell me. Is Maximus also awake?" Xerxez asked.

"I tried to wake him, but he didn't."

"What!!" Driother gasped. "Impossible!" he added. "Maximus! I know you're awake too." He opened the door, and as he opened it, his cheerful face disappeared. "What kind of joke is this?"

"How is it that only he woke up when they were both under the curse?" some people whispered.

"No." Driother cried. "He is the only remaining memory of my son, Maviel, and now this is happening to my grandson?" Maximus was Driother's favorite grandson because most of his other grandchildren were girls.

"Don't worry, King Driother, your grandson will also wake up."

"Maximus will be the King of Thartherus." Driother said. He suggested. The people there were surprised, and even Xerxez couldn't believe it.

"But he is a Thallerian. And everyone knows that Pyramus is the next king in Peronica because no one else will continue the bloodline of the Phoenix," Harios explained. "And I heard the Phoenix has appeared again and the ash is proof of that. Isn't that right?"

"Yes, that's why I'm taking Pyramus to the place where he belongs—Peronica!" Pyramia said.

"Perlend said that when he is of the right age, that's the only time I will allow you to take him," Xerxez answered.

"The Phoenix blood will only be in danger in this country."

"I saw the Phoenix!" Pyramus said. "It spoke to me."

"Really?" Pyramia said.

"If so, my dream is true. The Phoenix is why you woke up," Xerxez said. "That's why I believe the symbol of Thartherus is what will wake Maximus. Whatever that creature is, only you, Driother, know about it."

Driother fell silent because he had also dreamed once, and there were a dozen creatures standing there.

"Look at the country of Ossibus, that is the land of the crow. So it's likely that Matar or his future child will be named the King of Corvus," Harios said.

"Tell me, Xerxez, if the Orion still remains in the Thallerion lineage," Vhalthimoos said. "Has it spoken to you?"

"I know that when you are chosen by the Orion, you will be great in war. That's according to the story I heard," Harios added.

"In our country, many are skilled with tools, weapons, and travel. That's why Vhorlandrus is famous as the tools specialist or Warrior's tools," Vhalthimoos said.

While they were talking, Pyramia secretly talked to Pyramus and asked a few things about the Phoenix.

"If so, you need to go home to the country of Peronica so the sages and experts can help you control the power of the Phoenix."

"Power?"

"Yes, grandson, but never tell anyone about this. This is a secret of Peronica. Whoever is chosen by it will become king. People will rush to you like angels to serve you."

"Aren't those just legendary stories of Peronica?"

"That legend comes from our bloodline. That's why it's important for us to keep the Phoenix blood in Peronica. You, Pyramus, are the next one chosen by the Phoenix."

"I'm not the Orion, so I won't be the king of Thallerion," Pyramus said.

"Don't worry, because in Peronica, they already consider you the next king," Pyramia said. "I know it's been a long time since there was a new Orion here in Thallerion; maybe your brother Maximus is the next Orion king—but grandson, do you know that the Phoenix is more powerful, so why would you dream of something else when it's not meant for you?"

"Grandma, what's the reason for being chosen?" Pyramus wondered.

"The truth is, its meaning is vast, but so you can understand it better, it's a sign of a great war to come... Not a human war but, a war of—" Xerxez approached, so Pyramia stopped.

"Son, are you hungry?"

"Father, I think—" Pyramus's face became a bit sad when he looked at Xerxez. "I'll go with Grandma to Peronica."

"Son, you know what my answer is, but if you want to, I won't stop you," Xerxez said. "But if your grandma is just forcing you—"

"Is it bad if Pyramus comes with me?" Pyramia said sharply.

Xerxez felt that Pyramia was planning something. It was an ability he was just now sensing. "You want to hone the power of the Phoenix with the help of the great sages in your country?"

"What?!!" Pyramia was shocked. But she calmed down. "But you know the reason why I also want to bring Pyramus home to Peronica, it's for his safety."

"Why are you rushing everything?"

"Because that's what's right. The country has been waiting a long time for the Phoenix to return, and now that the Phoenix has awakened in Pyramus's body. Why should we waste time?"

"But we have a war coming. We need to make sure we're not deceived by other kings. If they find out about the Phoenix, they might target it first."

"That's why it's good that he is in Peronica, because the coming war is focused here in Thallerion."

"Don't you have faith in my leadership here in Thallerion? If you're asking about the security of my son, I never take that for granted."

"Pyramus is coming with me tomorrow whether you like it or not. And that's what Pyramus wants too. He wants to go to Peronica, so there's nothing you can do."

"Is that really your decision, Pyramus?" Xerxez said gently.

"Father, Grandma Pyramia told me about the Phoenix, and I think I need to leave for a while to..." Pyramus reasoned.

"Son, if this goes against your will, maybe you can refuse your grandma."

"Are you thinking that I'm forcing your son to come with me?" Pyramia insisted.

"You know he just woke up... so as a father, I also want to experience the times when I was always with them."

"Father, my decision is final... I'm going with Grandma," Pyramus concluded to stop the argument between the two.

Xerxez just fell silent and left the room, feeling a bit upset, but he ran into Driother, who also looked sad.

"Driother, don't think about what's happening right now, just have faith that Maximus will also wake up."