As the birthday celebration came to an end, a sense of sadness loomed over the siblings. They missed their parents dearly, and even though they had each other, there was a hole in their hearts that only their parents' presence could fill.
Illyanna's anger was palpable, and she slammed her fists on the table. "Why can't they just be here with us on your birthday, Max? It's not fair!"
Max tried to calm her down. "I know it's hard, Illy. But we can't blame them for doing their duty to the king and the kingdom. They're out there, protecting us and everyone else."
Illyanna shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I don't care! I just want them here, with us. We're their children, and we should be their priority."
Agnes, who had been quiet all along, spoke up softly. "I miss them too, Illy. But we can't change the fact that they're not here right now. All we can do is wait and hope that they come back soon."
Illyanna looked up at Agnes, her anger subsiding. "You're right, Agnes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lashed out like that."
Max put a comforting arm around Illyanna, "It's okay, Illy. We all miss them. But we have to be strong and keep going, for ourselves and for them."
They sat in silence for a few moments, their thoughts and feelings swirling around in their heads. Despite the sadness, they knew that their parents loved them and were doing their best to keep them safe. And even though they weren't physically present, their love and support still surrounded them.
As they hugged each other tightly, the warmth and comfort of being together filled their hearts, even in the absence of their parents. They knew that they had each other, and that was enough to get through the tough times.