Chapter 477 - A Young And Angry Prince Named Ardreth

Allias had experienced horrors, sorrows but also joy in his long life but nothing could amount to the joy he had felt when he held Ardreth in his arms together with Theseus, the excitement he felt when he watched him laugh or when he heard him call his name for the first time. It was a different kind of joy, engraved in his heart, vivid forever. The pain he felt when he watched his son call him a liar, yes that too was a different kind of pain, deeper, like an open wound that wouldn't close. 

He spent days awake, thinking, wondering what he had done so wrong. Could he have possibly said something, had Theseus acted in a way that he shouldn't? Why did his own son seem to despise him? 

There was a deadly silence in the room, the air almost felt cold while none of the students dared to speak. Ardreth was looking at his parents, shameless, his green eyes, identical to Allias' going side to side from Theseus to the king and the white haired elf sighed.

"What kind of nonsense are you talking about now?" Theseus asked him.

"Nonsense? I am simply stating that I don't understand why so many people would worship you too. It's kind of…weird" he stated.

"Ardreth, do you really have to cause a scene?" The general asked him.

"You asked if we had any questions. I raised my hand, and my father allowed me to speak. I don't understand where the problem is. So I want to ask, let me make it a bit clearer. Why everyone loves you and keep saying these stupid stories again and again when all you actually do is bicker about taxes. I am waiting. Is this some kind of facade to keep the people interested so they won't overthrone you? Because all I have been seeing is two men who lock themselves in their offices day in and day out and…"

"Enough." Allias said, stopping him. His hands were in fists on his sides, his eyes meeting with his son's in complete anger and the hairs in the back of Ardreth's neck rose, unwillingly. "This whole rebellion of yours has gone way too far. Think about your classmates, your friends, is this how you want to be known?"

"Better than being a liar." 

"Ardreth." Mark interrupted them, stepping forward. "Gather your stuff and get the fuck out of my class. Enough is enough. Get your ass into my office and don't dare to step out even if the building gets on fire. Am I clear?" Mark asked him strictly.

"Uncle don't try…" 

"I am not your uncle here!" The red haired man shouted, making the students flinch. He rarely shouted and only when it was something concerning their safety. As it seemed Ardreth had taken things too far today. "Get out. I can't stand to see you right now." he told him and the young elf stood up, rushing angrily outside the room. 

"Can you…" Allias said and Theseus shook his head in agreement. The king followed his son, waiting for him to get into Mark's room before he entered too. Ardreth was seated in Mark's armchair, looking at his father with an annoyed expression when he stepped inside.

"What do you want?" he asked him.

"Ardreth. What is going on?" Allias asked him, concerned. "You know you can talk to us. We are your parents. You can come to us with whatever you want. Why would you call us liars? We never intended to lie to you, we have never…"   

"Stop. Let me stop you right there. First of all, no, I can't come to you when you are always locked in your offices. I can't even see you let alone speak to you. Second of all, all I have been hearing are stories about battles and epic adventures from others. I know nothing about you, about the things that you've done, you and I are complete strangers and third of all, you are my father and that's it…Theseus is just your partner." Ardreth said and Allias' eyes widened. 

"What did you just say?" he asked him, his voice void of all emotion.

"You heard me…Theseus, he is nothing to me." Ardreth repeated. He didn't know how fast Allias was, he couldn't even see him before he stood right in front of him, it was as if he had disappeared in the blink of an eye and then he was there again. His son took a step back startled when he felt Allias slap him. His eyes widened, seeing such a reaction from his father for the first time and he stood frozen. 

"I did not go through a war, I did not lose everyone I've ever loved just so I can bring you into this world so you could be a prick do you hear me? Get your shit together. Theseus is not your father? Are we boring? We are liars? I am sorry that you didn't get to go through the war, that you didn't get to see me die just so you could feel the excitement. I am sorry your father and I worked our asses off so you could be raised in a peaceful kingdom. Theseus…he…you have no idea how much he loves you…" 

"It's fine Allias." The voice of the general was heard. He stood quietly, supporting himself on the doorframe. "It's fine." he repeated and the king knew how hurt he was from the sound of his voice. 

Ardreth looked at the general, his heart speeding up as his words replayed in his mind. He had said something horrible and he knew it. His blood was boiling from embarrassment and he wished he could simply just disappear. The prince couldn't stop looking at the white haired elf, the expression of pain on his face, the disappointment in his eyes. He wanted to leave, he wanted to leave. He screamed in his head and it happened. 

Without realizing it, Ardreth for the first time had teleported himself away, in a place he had never been before.