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"B-But how can this be possible? It's just a kids' story!". Second exclaimed, his voice laced with confusion and angry shock as he lifted the book.

Purple, surprisingly unperturbed by Second's outburst, merely raised a skeptical eyebrow. He didn't seem as annoyed as he usually was when Second flew off the handle. Even he seemed to doubt the connection. It was a bedtime story, yet it held an unsettling resemblance to their killer.

He shrugged, walking towards Second. He bent down, picking up the tarnished crown from the dusty ground that Second had dropped, wiped it with his sleeve and held it next to the book.

"I know, it sounds crazy. Even I thought it was absurd at first. But... have you ever seen a children's book featuring the Nameless One? Ever...?". He asked, his brow furrowed. Second raised an eyebrow, his anger momentarily subdued by curiosity. He looked at the book in his hand then at the crown, now realizing it wasn't a kids' book, he pointed,

"Then what am I supposed to be holding now?".

"Well, I searched the royal library, scoured the kingdom for ancient artifacts... nothing. No books, no scrolls, no one with even a whisper of knowledge about this crown".

Second was taken aback. If what Purple said is somehow true, how come his brothers, let alone the royal families, know about something so completely undocumented? Did the nobles hold some secret knowledge? He pondered this, a knot of suspicion tightening in his stomach. But then Purple turned away, his sapphire eyes, visible to Second, clouded with a sudden, unexpected... shame?

"I tried looking for more, but soon realized it was pointless. So, when I hit a dead end... I went to... A Witch".

"You did WHAT?!". Second practically screamed, his glare sharp. Asking help from a Witch, aside from it being forbidden, is like asking to be killed in the most horrible way. And to know that the Prince of Artemis kingdom himself went to look for one...?

"I had no other option". He rolled his eyes, brushing it off with a dismissive flick of his wrist.

"Witches are banished from all kingdoms for a reason!". Second protested, his voice laced with urgency,

"Getting near one, asking for their help… it's treason! Do you realize what'd happen if King Orange discovered you broke one of the forbidden rules?!". He said without thinking, and that's when he saw how, and for a moment, Purple's whole body tensed up. And then his face darkened, his anger simmering. He snatched the book from Second, throwing it down with such force that a cloud of dust erupted.

"Talking about breaking rules now, are we? You, Prince Second, recklessly escaped your kingdom, abandoned your title, fled without a plan, without guards! You almost got yourself Killed by the Warden, knowing full well the forest creatures are going insane! So 'Forbidden rules' my ass! At least I tried to get information and actually came with some, unlike you!".

Ouch. That was... Something.

Second was taken aback by the raw emotion, finding it oddly funny that Purple had finally dropped his usual formality, but he managed to suppress his laughter. After all, Purple was right. They were cut from the same cloth, both were driven by the same thing– a refusal to stand idly by while their people suffered. If breaking a few stupid rules was the price of helping, they didn't care.

"So... this book came from a Witch?".

He asked after a long pause to regain his composure, his tone a more serious one. Purple, apparently calmer now that his actions weren't being immediately questioned, nodded. He still kept that frown and Second was just glad that the guy hadn't thought of jumping on him and strangling him yet.

"Yes. Though, it wasn't easy finding one. They tend to hide, understandably. But I found a rather harmless, weak one, that was willing to negotiate". Second nodded, relieved Purple hadn't sought help from a powerful, potentially dangerous Witch, as they are all know for being wicked and selfish. Unlike Second himself, Purple had clearly thought things through.

But again. Unlike Second.

"And did you learn anything else? From the Witch, or the book?".

"Other than who's behind the attacks? Not much".

Here they go again, Second thought. Finding a lead, only to hit a dead end. Still, Purple had solved half the case, which was good. The Nameless One was behind the missing abilities. Great. But where was he now? Not so great. The book had mentioned the Nameless One's desire for power, his ambition to rule a bigger kingdom, his wish to be a god. His deal with the Illegers. His failed attempt at godhood led to the other kingdoms fearing him, his ensuing war, his ultimate defeat and banishment. But where was he banished? The book didn't specify.

"We need to know more about this Nameless guy". Second declared, his voice firm, eyes sparkling with determination.

"What?". Purple asked, his attention drawn.

"The book has barely any information! Let's find out more". However, Purple shook his head in frustration, clearly having considered the same thing.

"I tried! The Witch knew nothing beyond what's in the book; the war happened decades ago". Second grinned, seeming to have already thought of something as the ball of fire in his hand flaring brighter, sparks dancing like mischievous sprites.

"What if... we found someone who's old enough to remember the war?". He asked, making Purple look down, chin resting on his hand with a thoughtful frown creasing his brow as he tried hard to understand what the other prince was saying. But he failed. He remained silent for a long moment, the silence stretching taut.

"What are you insinuating?". He asked, his voice a low rumble, one eyebrow arched high.

"The Wisdom Tree!". Second blurted out, the enthusiasm momentarily waning under Purple's scrutinizing gaze,

"It's been around for thousands of years! Surely, it must have some information we can use".

A wave of uncomfortable silence washed over them, heavy and thick as smoke. Second's earlier excitement flickered and dimmed under Purple's doubtful gaze. The prince's boredom was almost palpable; a deep breath escaped his lips, followed by a long sigh.

Second shifted uncomfortably. He knew what Purple was thinking. The Wisdom Tree– just another legend, one among many. But Second believed. Victim had seen it once, had sought its help when he was younger. It was a secret known only to the royal family of Hephaestus, a secret Second had guarded fiercely. He'd feared ridicule, feared Purple would scoff, call him mad. Their villain was a supposed legend, after all.

The silence stretched out, agonizingly long. Then, slowly, Purple nodded his head. A rare, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips. He looked at Second, his eyes holding a surprising glimmer of approval.

Second stared, utterly shocked. He'd half expected ridicule, dismissal. Instead... this. A genuine, approving smile. Purple believed him. He believed Second could actually do this. A wave of relief washed over him, so potent it almost extinguished the fire in his hand. The guilt of leaving the castle, the weight of the decision, lessened. And he knew he was doing the right thing.

The silence, no longer heavy, now felt… peaceful. A shared understanding hung in the air, a silent agreement to face whatever lay ahead, together. For a moment, the world outside, the looming danger, ceased to exist. They simply were, relaxing, in that hidden room, the weight of their burden momentarily forgotten.

But as they say, it's the calm before the storm. The room suddenly started to shudder, a tremor running through the ancient stone. Dust rained down as the two princes stared with wide eyes. Though, it wasn't a good idea, especially when Purple hissed in pain as some dust got in his eyes.

"What was that?!". Purple squeaked, his voice barely audible above the rumbling while rubbing his burning eyes. The tremor had barely subsided, and Second didn't wait for an answer. He grabbed Purple's arm, his grip firm, then pulled him towards the stairs.

Purple gasped, surprised by the abruptness, but quickly followed behind. They reached the top of the stairs, and with a touch of Purple's hand to the wall, a hidden passage swung open, revealing the castle hallway. They burst out, running towards the source of the chaos – the ballroom.

The sounds were deafening: explosions, shattering glass, screams, the thunder of many feet. They reached the ballroom, the once-elegant doorway splintered and flung aside. The scene inside was horrific.

Shattered glass, overturned tables, ruined decorations – the opulent ballroom was a scene of carnage. Blood stained the floor. Noble guests huddled in terrified groups, desperately trying to escape the onslaught of monstrous forest creatures. Soldiers fought back, but were clearly outnumbered.

King Orange, however, was a sight to behold. He moved with terrifying speed and efficiency, taking down three creatures at once with brutal precision. A Drowned creature lunged at him, but the King was faster, grabbing its arm and delivering a searing electric shock followed by a powerful punch to its stomach. The creature convulsed violently, smoke billowing from its scorched body before collapsing. Second was utterly impressed, the man was a professional!

"Seco... It... Hide... Plea".

A chilling whisper, faint but insistent, sliced through the din of battle. Second's eyes widened. He spun around, searching for the source, finding nothing.

"Hi... Hide it... Hurry!".

The voice echoed again, closer this time. This time, Second looked to Purple, but by the look of his face he didn't seem to notice... Or even hear it.

"Did you hear that?". He asked Purple to make extra sure, his voice barely a breath. However, Purple shook his head.

"Hear what?".

Second then shook his head and looked away. The voice somehow held a strange mixture of urgency and… pleading? It resonated deep within him, warm and chilling simultaneously. A wave of unease washed over him. Was he hallucinating? The strain of the battle, the chaos, was it getting to him?

But the feeling persisted, a desperate plea, a secret to protect. The thought flickered through his mind as he surveyed his surroundings, his mind momentarily distracted.

No.

He had to deal with the reality around him. They were under attack, and he needed to help. The mystery voice would have to wait.

"Brother!". The voice, clear and strong, cut through the ballroom chaos. Second looked up. This voice was different – clear, resonant, real. It wasn't the distorted echo he'd heard before. But Purple seemed to recognize it and reacted instantly, his gaze snapping towards the sound. Golden, a blur of motion, was already running towards them.

"Sunshine, no!".

Green, sword dripping with pigman blood, finished dispatching his foe with a swift thrust. He sheathed his weapon and sprinted towards Golden. With a fluid movement, he slid to a stop, his body a shield between Golden and an attacking skeleton. A burst of electrical energy erupted from his sword, sending the skeleton flying backwards.

"Green! Golden!". Purple was already moving, a flash of violet. Second followed close behind, his heart hammering. He crouched beside Golden, who was trembling, pulling the boy into a tight hug and burying his face in his soft hair.

Green, rising from his defensive stance, looked down at the brothers with a warm smile. His gaze then met Second's, and before Second could react, he was enveloped in a bear hug.The surprise quickly melted away, replaced by warmth. Second returned the hug; it was surprisingly… nice, despite everything.

"What took you guys so long! I thought you were captured!". Green's voice was angry, but laced with relief.

"We had to…finish some things". Second reassured him, his voice still slightly shaky from the adrenaline.

Green nodded, understanding lacing his expression. He knew what some things meant. Their shared gasp echoed as a furious snarl ripped through the air. They spun around to see the pigman, its eye bleeding, charging at them. Before it could reach them, a violet barrier erupted, trapping the pigman. The barrier then surged outwards like a violet wave, flinging the creature away like a ragdoll.

Green watched, eyes widening slightly, as Purple’s hand glowed faintly with violet energy. He gave Purple a thumbs-up, a soft smile playing on his lips. Purple didn't respond verbally, but a faint blush colored his cheeks as he tightened his embrace around Golden.

"Mind explaining what's going on?". Second asked, glancing from the still-furious pigman to the other monsters – even some were hanging from the ceiling!

"No idea, it happened so fast. Didn't even have time to hide Golden". Green admitted, launching a ball of electrical energy at one of the ceiling-dwelling creatures.

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(Hello, everyone! Finally a new update for my fav book. So, what do you think? I honestly didn't know how to end this chapter, and even wanted to add more, but then realized I had literally wrote over 2187 words so I had to stop. As usual.

Anyway, hope you guys loved it as much as I do and let me know what you think because I LOVE reading your comments.

See you next week!).