If I could have chosen my life from the very beginning, I would have chosen to be a tree. A big one... in the forest. Because trees provide a lot of useful things without ever doing anything, they just stand there and do nothing at all. And they're the most useful type of all living things.

They hear and they feel too, of course. They see how the earth changes through time and they see themselves changing with the earth. Are they ever sad? Could they fear death? Do they even know what death is?

Probably not... because trees are cool.

"I AM YOUR KING NOW... AND IN THE NAME OF HERA, I PROCLAIM MYSELF THE 35th RULER of Dzieci Hery!".

They definitely don't need to fight in the name of their death father. Somehow, they get to chill all they want.

Damn trees...

"PEOPLE OF DEZIERYA! LISTEN TO ME! I FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR DEMANDS AND I GUARANTEE YOU THAT I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THE WILL OF MY LATE FATHER... FURTHERMORE I'LL HAVE YOU MEETING ME RIGHT HERE AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH TO DISCUSS THE DESTINY OF DEZIERYA, AND THEN, I WILL ALSO REPORT ALL OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO PUT YOU AT EASE... HOW DOES THAT SOUND?!!"

The trees would be laughing at me right now, because I am dying of embarrassment inside. I'm anxious about the possibility of them declining everything I've said so far. I'm terrified.

Even if they've already bowed their heads, doesn't mean they like me. It means they don't have any other option.

Then, everything went suddenly quiet. No one dared to say a word.

I looked at Evan, he didn't move nor looked back at me. I tried to get a glimpse of Ezio and Hatria, but they both were out of my vision range.

However, out of nowhere...

"Dzieci Hery!", one shouted.

"Dzieci Hery!", a second one.

"Dzieci Hery!Dzieci Hery!Dzieci Hery!Dzieci Hery!", they all started to sing in syntony.

My cheeks blushed, but my face was that of a determined man. And I noticed how a smile wanted to escape from my lips, but that simply wasn't the right timing, so I would just smile like an idiot by myself later on in my room.

Ezio appeared in front of me when I opened my eyes. I wonder what he's thinking, is it a: congratulations I knew you could do it? or a: congratulations on accepting your destiny, my king?... I really wonder wich is it.

But, well, I'm satisfied with either one.

"Cyrus, I think it's time we go greet our other guests", he says. "Emm, sir, would you mind accompanying us?", he turns his head and kindly glances at Evan.

He was obviously throwing a formality, because both of their eyes didn't seem to be welcoming each other enough.

I wonder if they had met before.

"It's my duty after all", answered Evan.

"Very well, let us part then", finished Ezio.

Ezio made a sign to the people still shouting and screaming, they didn't stop as we walked towards the inside of the castle. Evan just kept pushing my back while Ezio quickly reached Hatria and the others.

There they were... This was going to be the first time I would confront them.

The ones that I really needed to convince were in front of me:

                  "The sacred order of Hera"

"Well then your majesties, how about you take a deep look at our new king? He's the one that has the blood of Hera on his own system, the only one left". Said Ezio.

One of them stared at the other next to him, they were saying something between lines to each other.

"Don't be nervous", Evan said to me all of a sudden. "This much is normal, but they surely will be pressuring more from now on".

"I wish I was as open minded as you".  He was indeed trying to say something nice to me, but no matter what, I wouldn't be able to relax.

"Are you sure he is a legitimate child of Hera?", finally the elder talk to Ezio.

"What are you trying to imply your majesty? Of course he is a child of Hera, with him here, we will be protected by the goddess as it has been so far".

They looked at me. No. They tried to pierce my eyes and then find more faults in my soul. As it has been so far.

Their eye color changed and my body felt as if it was getting pressured by some unknown force. It was them. Ezio explained this to me before; he told me that whenever the order wants to judge a new candidate, they seek into their souls with the powers they were granted by Hera.

They were the judges of this kingdom, and the only ones that could tell if someone was being sincere and not hiding any secret in their hearts.

"So answer us, child of Hera... what is it that you desire by becoming the next king?"

That hit me hard.

What do I desire? Do I even have any desire? I desire the return of the princess certainly...

I desire to meet my father once more.

I desire to know a cure to stupidity.

I desire to be stronger.

I... I desire...

"I desire to protect Dezierya and everything the 34th king once loved".

That is my final answer.

How would they take it?

Huuh?

My body... I feel lighter... I feel... happy.

I'm glad I said that.

"My king, are you alright?".

"Yes, it's fine Ezio, I'm fine".

"That must have been hard, right?", Hatria spoke.

"not... not at all".

The four elders found themselves getting flustered for my disconcerned, they seemed... dumbfounded...

"Ezio... wha-what is it? What does that mean?"

"Well little prince, seems like something interesting just happened", Hatria inquired.

"..." , Ezio bit his lip.

He went ahead to the Elders. They turned around to look at him all at once. One of them glanced at me. Our eyes met, but it didn't last for long.

"What-what do you think Hatria? Do you think they're going to exonerate me? Or do you think... it's going to happen... again?".

"I don't... I don't know Cyrus".

"You Shall fear nothing, my king", interrupted Evan.

"You think so?... in all, my thirteen years, I never even once dreamed that I could become a worthy king, but now... that I am here, in real time, I... I just want to continue doing this, until my knees give up and my breath dies out".

"And I'm sure you will keep doing this, just have more faith in yourself".

"yeah, thanks Hatria".

"Dropping the formalities, I see".

"Pff, haha".

"LET THE CHILD GET CLOSER", said one elder.

"My king..."

"Wh-ah, I mean, ah of course".

"WHEN THE TIME COMES, WE WILL ORDER YOU TO COME VISIT US ONCE MORE. WE ALL AGREE THAT YOU ARE INDEED A GOOD CANDIDATE, BUT DON'T GET AHEAD OF YOURSELF, WE WILL STILL BE WATCHING OVER YOU".

I... nailed it.

"Don't worry your majesties, I still have a long way to go, but I swear, in the name of Hera, that I will honour the memory of my father".

"Very well, child of Hera, we will be looking forward for it".

My heart... is racing like crazy...

I feel... alright now...

"Let us go to next event that is the meeting with the other nobles, but don't worry my king it's like any other party you've attended so far. Shall your majesties accompany us as well?".

"Indeed we will be attending the celebration". Ezio went ahead with the Elders. As they entered the hall, we could hear loud voices and glamorous music. 

"Aren't you glad Cyrus? You have they consent now".

"Yeah, I guess, I'm glad".

"What's wrong my king?", asked Evan.

"Well, it's just that, something feels off. They accepted me, but with a... warning? And the way they looked at me, felt like a murderous intend, but it's just me, right?, I mean, Ezio would have pannicked by now if something bad was going on, haha, right?".

But as I turned my eyes to meet theirs, I felt an uneasiness... they were also thinking the same as me.

"Yeah, you're right, don't worry too much".

"Yes, my king, it's completely fine".

Something didn't feel right. The -out of the blue- emergence of Evan, or even the knife that was aimed at me. They were not normal events. It was no coincidence. I have the feeling that something horrible is going to happen.

Should I trust my guts?

"Haha, shall we go in too?"

Only time can tell if I'm wrong... and I hope I'm wrong.