As the major feast progressed and the people finally became completely absorbed in the celebration and the countless entertainments on offer, the prince quietly disappeared and made his way to the enchanted forest of Jeriok so he could hunt for a while.
As he went deeper and deeper into the enchanted realm, extraordinary sparkles appeared everywhere and then a vision of life formed before the heir from which emerged a beast, his own as giant as it was beautiful, his faithful star creature that stood before him and looked at him.
- Here, you arrive a little late Yogel. Declared the prince, amused, in sign of welcome.
- My apologies your highness. But why are you hunting?
- Because I'm hungry.
- You always taste the most delicious and delicate dishes that can be prepared, I would like to point out. And that's every day, not to mention all the elaborate and perfect dishes that have been specially prepared for you, in astronomical quantities, for this great event...
- I know," replied the prince, unperturbed as he continued his exploration, followed by his monster. But sometimes I would like to prepare, if I may say so, my own food.
- The problem would be the bushmeat you are going to hunt!
- Are you afraid I'll catch too much?
A mocking laugh answered this ironic question.
- That's the last thing I would ever think about, your highness. I was only thinking about the quality of the prey you are going to kill. If its flesh is poisoned, you will suffer.
A sardonic exclamation followed this statement which ultimately betrayed deep affection and concern.
- But you will be there to help me in case of danger, won't you? replied the prince, turning to his most loyal ally and reaching out to lightly stroke the dazzling fur. So I don't really see what I'm risking.
For once, to demonstrate his absolute confidence in his star creature, the prince neglected to awaken his powers and went exploring the forest with only his body and natural strength, his unyielding beast as his only magic walking beside him.
- When you put it that way, Prince, you give the impression that you are the weak master in constant need of the strength and vigilance of his faithful assistant to live.
- This is the case, Yeugon!
- We know very well that this is not true. But in order to respect the dietary balance, you must and are of course aware of this, accompany the meat with fruits and vegetables.
- Yes, I know. But it's amazing that I almost feel like I'm with my mother when I'm with you.
- Hey, you yourself pointed out that my job is to take care of you! So I have to make sure you eat properly, especially in those inappropriate places like an abandoned forest. Added the large creature, looking wryly at the hundred-year-old trees and their flowering buds.
- It's not abandoned at all! protested the prince, frowning slightly. It is even the opposite, it is a very invaded forest. A little too much sometimes for my taste.
- For me, they all look alike anyway. As women are for you highness.
- That's what I said to Mom just this morning.
- And I can see her reaction now. She may be your mother and empress, but she is above all a woman, your father's wife. She will never accept such a mark of inferiority. Especially coming from you, her own son.
- No doubt, conceded the heir after a few minutes of reflection.
- But for you, in spite of all these words and the wound of your sovereign, these women will never remain but similar creatures.
- Well, while we're on the subject... Stop," the prince suddenly said when they reached the edge of a vast meadow. They immediately turned off their aura and moved in absolute silence to see what kind of animals occupied the vast wilderness clearing. They immediately saw morous, kind of animals with bicolored fur, very skilled in moving in busy spaces.
- No, they did not. Yeugon refused outright.
- Why not? Their flesh is not so bad! But above all, they are clean, and that's what you want me to eat, right?
- Yes, but too inferior.
The prince squinted.
- If I eat you now, I won't have to hunt anymore. suggested the prince in a gentle, dangerously calm voice. For you, surely, are a superior creature.
- One can see it like that, indeed. conceded the monster, not knowing how to interpret his master's words.
- That's for sure. But I'll pass. Hunting alone, I might as well choose a worthy prey!
Abandoning the morous, the two friends penetrated further into the enchanted territory.
- Tell me, Prince.
- Yes?
- Are you really not interested in participating in the Elf event?
- No, I am not.
- Why not?
- Why do you want to know so badly?
- Because it's about you.
The prince turned to his creature for a moment and exchanged a long look with him, then decided to tell him the truth.
- Because during those few hours when people are so happy and distracted by pleasures and amusements, I can take off this hideous and so disturbing mask of prince and heir, and escape.
- Escape, that's what you do all the time!
- Yes, but not this way! Today, I can give up my magic for a while without it hurting me.
Yeugon Zeneg was about to reply to this remark when his prince suddenly stopped, and he saw that the young heir had his eyes riveted on a deplorable spectacle. Not far from a pile of ochre earth, a whole group of enraged beasts was taking their anger out on one, a round, very hairy creature, of a very dark red color that was even more distinct because of all the blood that was coming out of its wounds. The poor exhausted and beaten beast was already having trouble moving. When he thought that death was going to take over his being, the monsters that were tearing his body suddenly stopped, before being torn to pieces, and whose blood and flesh spread everywhere with an abominable brutality.
Then the poor battered beast felt an extraordinary cold force reigning in the whole place, he saw first the huge monster whose beauty and light seemed to resemble the stars, and its power no doubt also similar, a power such as to be able to keep away or even simply to cease all life existing in the forest.
But the most dangerous thing was not that, no, the greatest danger was undoubtedly the one who stood next to him and whom he seemed to serve with so much devotion that it was as visible as the stars of the night, a young boy wearing simple, but luxurious clothes, a light brown suit that he wore with incredible casualness, the same casualness that had led him to tear apart its mortal enemies a moment earlier without the slightest mercy or feeling. He had no aura, probably having decided to celestialize it to move without attracting attention, which was the only possible explanation anyway. And his power was reflected in his crystal eyes, and his whole being annihilated any magic that might surround them, unmistakably reflecting his nature and his greatness. He seemed to reign supreme over all that he did, but something seemed to dwell behind that phenomenal strength, something deeper and darker. And just as he was advancing toward the little beast with the adorable, bruised body, which died of fear more than before, he desperately dragged himself to the pile of earth, and took refuge there with all his might, pitifully closing his eyes as he thought of his true end with dread. He let out small moans as tears streamed down his ravaged face, shaking miserably like a dead leaf lost in the violent winds of the storms, and his blood kept gushing out of his soaked fur.
But when he saw himself already immobilized, frozen and scattering like the others before him, he only felt a cold but restorative magic take hold of his body and invade him completely.
When he found the strength to open his small, round, shining eyes again, he noticed that his body was no longer injured and that the two strange visitors had left.
The redheaded creature hesitated for a moment and then went in search of his cold saviors, of this being so beautiful and seemingly devoid of any life, of any pity, having probably saved him only by simple whim and not by empathy.