Kaden tried to look at the cloaked figure as his heart pounded. He tilted his head and though his sight was blurry, his other hand outstretched itself but before he could recover, the figure In the cloak had fled.
Kaden inhaled sharply and tried to rise from his bed but his legs were weak and stiff and he fell to the ground, hitting his knee against the hard floor.
Kaden grunted in pain as he looked at his hands. His left hand had blood dripping from an open wound in the middle of his palm. He took another deep breath and proceeded to rise to his feet.
The first attempt failed and he found his forehead kissing the ground and the second, he gritted his teeth hard and gripped the white sheets covering his large bed.
He eventually got on his feet and staggered for a moment. The wall became his support as he walked out of the room slowly, smearing the wall with his blood.
Kaden stared point blankly at the empty hallway before taking another step. He placed a hand on the side of his forehead, a throbbing pain overwhelming him.
"W-What is happening to me?" Kaden whispered as he shook his head repeatedly, trying to get his composure.
He then started to walk a little faster as his eyes began to twitch. His legs swiftly turned to stare at the blue moon through the window and he shut his eyes briefly.
He then heard a sharp yell and he turned slowly, his eyes arched in confusion at the servant who was staring at him as if he had encountered a demon.
"M-My Prince… " he stuttered and before Kaden could speak, he had picked up his shoes and ran without looking back.
Kaden could not bear the discomfort in his legs anymore and eventually, his knees gave way and landed on the floor as his breath came in short gasps as his only source of light came from the window behind him.
He lifted his head when he heard footsteps approaching him with a lit fire on a wood on each hand. He tilted his head and positioned his hands around his eyes, trying to block out the light but it was to no avail.
"Kaden." He recognized that voice as he turned around, his eyes landing on his father. He shook his head in disbelief as he noticed how much his father had changed. His beard was longer, whiter and the circles around his eyes were more prominent.
He blinked when his father touched him by his cheek and then pulled him into an embrace.
"My son, you have finally returned after all this years. " His father cried.
Kaden wondered what his father was referring to and he disentangled from his father's embrace and asked, "What are you talking about, Father?"
He watched as tears streamed down his father's eyes as he watched him with his lips half parted in surprise.
"You have been asleep for the past three years. " His father responded.
Kaden shook his head and then proceeded to rise to his feet, watching the men who surrounded him shake with fear. He didn't know who they were and certainly there weren't the servants he knew.
The servants he had never looked at him in that way and something was definitely amiss.
And then he remembered his mother who called him to her chambers, the day before the Navar colony invasion to talk with him. He talked less with his mother but he listened to every word she spoke.
Kaden was unable to comprehend how he had been asleep for three years. He could still remember wearing his armour and riding his horse alongside his men but that was all he could remember.
Another throbbing pain hit him in the head and he doubled down in pain as he bent his head. He didn't want to show his weakness to anyone. He was stronger than that.
"Where is my mother?" he asked his father as he straightened his back.
He observed as his father sighed heavily while adjusting his red tunic.
"Kaden, we must speak. " His father finally spoke but he was uninterested in hearing what his father had to say. He needed to get rid of the pain he felt in his head and in his hand.
Maybe his mother might help him.
He took another step and another as he advanced towards the men who surrounded the path.
"Where are you going?" he heard his father bellow at him.
"To see my mother."
Kaden had a frown etching on his face as the servants who had lit flames on a wood, did not allow him to pass but he could sense their fear and how scared they were.
"You are still weak. Go back to your chambers, Kaden. " He heard his father say.
Kaden clicked his tongue as he decided not to pay attention to his father. He stood upright at the servant whom was blocking his way and he breathed in and out deeply. His hands pushed the servant roughly on the floor and before he could take another step, he heard his father scream once more and he turned.
He noticed that his father was breathing heavily as his chest heaved and his eyes travelled to the floor that had the shards of the broken golden scepter.
"Do not take another step. " His father ordered.
Kaden shot a glare at his father as he was tired of the games he was playing.
"Watch me, Father."
He then proceeded to turn around. His eyes were lucky enough to catch the head of a female servant among the multitude, holding a large bowl of water and his legs began to walk on their own accord. He pushed anyone out of his way as his heart raced.
A female servant might know where his mother was. He heard her scream in trepidation as she sensed him moving closer to her. The bowl fell off her hands with the water splashing all over his torso. He watched as she made to run but before she could try, Kaden had gripped her by the arm.
"Where is my… " he was unable to finish as he watched in horror as blood pooled from her eyes and mouth as she fell to the ground in an instant.
Kaden's eyes widened in shock as he lifted his bloodied hands and turned around. The servants had moved away from him and closer to their King as they all shone their lit flames at him In unison, blinding him completely.
Kaden stared at his hands and then he looked at his father who had a saddened expression written on his face and then he whispered to himself;
"What have I done?"