Henry rubbed the back of his neck, "…I don't know. Find someone to settle in with?"
Maleficent scoffed, "That's not what you're missing. For someone like you, you can achieve that with a flick of your wrist. What you're missing is a true dream that gives you purpose, something that will drive you to push forward through all your hurdles. Things you can achieve easily can't be referred to as such."
"I've already been told that many times." Henry sighed in defeat, finding a flat rock surface to sit his arse on, "You know how hard it is to find a dream especially for someone like me? I can just say, my dream is to become the strongest, conquer the world, and all that. But deep down, I know that's not what I truly want. It's a hassle."
He then pointed at Maleficent, "Unlike me, you achieved your dream. You found your purpose on Aurora, to be the mother and parent that she's lacking right now."
Maleficent knew what he said was right. Initially, her first purpose—which doesn't exactly serve right as a dream—was to get her revenge on Stefan, see him suffer and break. But that slowly gave way as she grew to love and care for Aurora.
"I didn't experience someone betraying my trust, at least not yet. Nor do I have any of my loved ones murdered that would drive me to avenge them. I said I yearned to live my life fully with someone to settle in with but as you said, I can achieve that easily with my status and capabilities. So forgive me but finding a dream that will drive me forward is impossible."
Henry finished his words with a deep sigh. He didn't expect to get this kind of talk especially coming from someone like Maleficent.
After a brief moment of silence, Maleficent's response surprised him, "I understand."
She turned around and continued, "But sooner or later, maybe tomorrow or someday. You'll find your own dream. A person cannot continue living without a purpose."
Before Henry could make any comment about that, she already changed the subject, "Let's wrap up your last day of training. It's time for you to learn the advanced dark magic. But I won't teach you any spells under it, instead, I will simply lecture you and whether you decide to pursue this path or not, it's out of my hands."
Sensing that she didn't want to bring the topic back to the previous one, Henry just rode along with her. But this time, throughout the rest of the day, his mind was occupied with their earlier conversation.
———
Henry decided to depart in the middle of the night. A dumb move, some might say, but not to Henry. The night no longer scares him, rather he'd prefer the night since it's the only time of the day he would actually feel the things that remind him he's still a human.
During the day when the sun is still out, his stamina barely dents, he doesn't sweat, he doesn't feel hungry or thirsty. Which would sometimes scare him as his mind contemplates his humanity.
So yes, Henry was starting to love the night more than daytime.
"Are you sure you're leaving right now? You know the castle can accommodate you for another night, right?" Wearing her nightgown and a soft-fabric cloak that covers her figure, Aurora cast a worried stare over him.
Boy's saddles were already packed with supplies. With his full speed, they might make it within two days. A whole day before his birthday. If he misses it, who knows what kind of mother's that-could-obliterate-anyone's wrath would befell him.
Henry waved his hand at her as the horse started to canter, "I'll be fine. I need to get back as soon as I can, thank you for everything. Oh and tell Maleficent I said goodbye. I was about to tell her earlier but it seems she hates goodbyes." Aurora laughed it off at first but nodded in understanding in the end.
And just like he finally left.
"That was quite a vacation, isn't it?" Henry murmured, staring at the Moors Forest as they stopped atop a hill overlooking the entire wide expanse that reaches as far as his vision can see.
Boy neighed below him, "For you, you mean. Meanwhile, all I got was the face of the stablemaster who kept washing and cleaning me, and a short stay in the Moors Forest, which you stressed was an interesting place. Well, who knew grasses and trees would be interesting to you? I should've known better."
As Boy continued to complain and grumble, Henry rolled his eyes and mentally muted him to his hearing. The first few hours of their journey were spent with Boy complaining over little details such as the Ironmere's stablemaster who kept forgetting to wash his tail thoroughly and how there weren't any mares in the Kingdom that were worthy of his attention (he also has a short attention span).
But still, Henry endured it all off since Boy was galloping fast enough while doing these grumbling.
———
When people say news travels fast, they're absolutely right!
Henry has barely crossed half of the distance between Ironmere and Lioncrest Kingdoms and the Charming family has already received the news of everything that transpired in Ironmere Kingdom, at least the ones available to the public.
"Did Henry really do all these?" Olivia Charming gasped with her hand on her mouth as she read the summary of their intelligence network's reports.
Maximus poured a glass of whiskey and drank it all in one go before replying, "Knowing him, this is probably an understatement." He placed the glass on the table and stood.
"He's probably on his way back home. At least all our efforts would not go to waste. We still have three days before his birthday."
"Should we prepare for his return then? If these reports are true, then he's probably really exhausted right?"
Maximus was about to nod when his wife continued, "What about Ariel? Should we tell him about her? She just arrived with her father after all…"
Maximus rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Let's not spoil the surprise for him for now. I can tell her father is a great man. Very welcoming to our accommodations. I didn't expect the King of the famous supposed mythical Atlantis to be such a patient man."
"I know right?"
———
Oblivious that he is now walking to a very deadly death trap, Henry was singing a ballad of knights along with Boy. Even though his eyes were closed, his senses remained sharp.
Earlier, he noticed that someone was following him. At first, he thought it was just a coincidence but after a few hours, that thought was thrown into the trash. This certain figure stayed approximately half a kilometer away from him, and instead of taking the road, this person seemed to be a fan of the shade of the trees.
'An assassin? It's been a while since I met another one.' He mused, 'But still, what's taking this guy so long? Can't you see I have my guard down? Just strike me already!'
At this point, Henry had already sung all the ballads he knew. All that's left are the songs from his past life, though he barely remembers their lyrics, so Henry opted to confront the assassin instead.
"Alright, you can come out now. My throat hurts already." He pulled the reins on Boy, skidding him to a stop.
At first, there was silence, minus the loud blowing of the wind current and the trees swaying alongside it.
However, it didn't take long before the figure finally stepped out, and when it did, all the blood on Henry's face drained on the spot.
Standing before him, despite a few distances away, was someone very familiar to him. Burning blue flames instead of hair, a maniacal smile on his face that reveals his sharp pointed teeth, and a black attire that shifts between a fabric and dark bellowing smoke.
'Fucking Hades?!' Henry gulped his saliva hard. His hand instantly went to the handle of Sunshine on his waist. As if its presence would help calm his fear.
Hades tilted his head, a surprised look on his eyes, "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost? Is it the hair? Cool, right? Makes me look menacing and dashing at the same time."
Henry didn't say anything. Instead, he forged a Mind Message with Boy.
"Boy, can you hear me? Don't say anything else. As soon as I snap your reins, I need you to run as fast as you can back to Lioncrest…"
The horse's eyes widened at first before settling in with an eerie calmness. Henry was confused at first until 'Boy' opened his mouth and spoke.
But the voice that came out was from someone unfamiliar, and when it did, a pressure instantly descended upon the entire area.
"Leave the boy alone, Hades." It was powerful, authoritative, filled with brimming confidence as if no power on the planet could thwart him.
Hades's face quickly contorted into annoyance, "Why must you ruin my first impression, brother? I was simply…interested in meeting my great-great-grandniece's future husband."
Instead of answering him, the ground suddenly shook. Henry held tight on 'Boy's reins, as he realized that an earthquake was occurring right now. The trees violently swayed, and cracks slowly formed on the ground.
"I don't need to tell you twice, brother."
Hades clicked his tongue, "Fine." He shifted his gaze back to Henry and continued, "Let's resume our meeting at another time and place, preferably somewhere more…private." After that, he vanished. Not even Henry's physical and magical senses, sweeping all around the place, could detect any anomalies.
Of course, he didn't feel like he just dodged an arrow right now because there's another god he has to deal with.
He looked at Boy below him, "T-Thank you, s—"
"Save it, boy. I did not help you out of the goodness of my heart. I am simply sparing my granddaughter from bawling her eyes out over you."
Henry kindly shuts his mouth. He even stopped breathing just to make less noise. After that, the god, now known as Poseidon, spoke for the last time.
"I know what kind of a man you are. So know this, I'm keeping an eye on you…"
After that, the pressure quietly and swiftly disappeared, the earthquake faded away and only the cracks on the ground remained as proof that what had just happened was real and not something that had occurred in his mind.
On the other hand, Henry finally had the room to breathe, yet he was still having a hard time breathing. Everything that just transpired knocked something hard into his mind.
He's in absolute danger from now on.
"What's going on? What did just happen?" This time, when Boy spoke, it was no longer deep and authoritative, it was back to the familiar slightly high-pitched voice that sounds similar to Kevin Hart.
Henry looked down at his shaking hands and replied, "Nothing happened…"
———
In a dark place, barely lit with torches that illuminate the Greek-styled structure, Hades appeared in a flash of blue flames. The skeletons and floating imps around him quickly parted after noticing the pissed look on his face.
They've been serving their lord and master for thousands of years, they know better when he's angry.
"One day. One day I'll get back on you lot!" Hades shook in anger, his blue flames flaring mirroring his fiery feelings.
He descended the stairs and made his way to an open field. Dark gloomy clouds dominated the sky above him, and inside was a giant skull with an open mouth, something in blue was shimmering inside.
On the field, there were three old women. Each having their own distinct appearance. One only had one eye, the other had two eyes while the last one was holding an eyeball.
One glance could immediately tell anyone that they're simmering in anger as they stare at a single golden thread in front of them.
"Well? How is it?"
Hades looked at them in annoyance, "How is it? Didn't you see what happened? My brother interrupted before I could even introduce myself."
"Useless as ever, Hades. Thousands of years ago, you couldn't kill a half-mortal Hercules…" One of the fates spoke, and another continued on her behalf, "…and now, you can barely talk to a mortal."
Hades suppressed his anger and pointed out, "Mortal? Am I being an imbecile but mortals aren't supposed to have golden threads like the gods?" His question was rhetorical rather than a genuine question.
"Silence! The boy is a mortal. There is something wrong with him, that's all…"
"Yeah right. Whatever helps you sleep at night." Hades sighed in defeat and waved his hand in dismissal as he retreated to his room.
Leaving the three fates as they stare at the golden thread in anger, a mountain of broken and bent scissors can be seen piled up behind them.