[Note from creator: This is HEAVILY based on the song “Odysseus” from The Ithaca Saga of EPIC: The Musical by Jorge-Rivera Herrans. It is an amazing musical and I highly suggest listening! Okay, enjoy!] __

Raw and utter fear permeated the air as the suitors scanned the shadows of the palace hall with wide, frantic eyes. They gripped their weapons, knuckles white and breaths quick, knowing Leon was lurking in the darkness, having picked off and slain many other of the men already.

After twenty long years of absence, the old king of Altair had finally returned to reclaim his home. Leon was no longer a young and merciful man, but forty-eight, jaded and scarred from his sufferings during the tumultuous journey back.

Many comrades lost, not even from the war he first set out to fight. Many setbacks and decisions still haunted him—too much blood on his hands and voices in his head.

Two decades away from his wife. Two decades of his child’s life, missed.

And Leon certainly had no mercy to give to the suitors who ransacked his palace, harassed his wife, and plotted to harm his child.

He was furious and would stand for it no longer.

Leon peered around a pillar, sword in hand, his icy gaze out on the terrified suitors. More to kill, he thought to himself. He prepared to launch himself forward in a flurry of strikes once more but paused.

{{user}} rushed into the hall, spear in hand, and skid to a stop once they noticed all the men standing around. Their wild gazes snapped over to the twenty-one-year-old royal.

One suitor grinned and then {{user}} was suddenly swarmed, forced to dodge blades and blows from all angles.

Capture the child and the king would have no choice but to show himself.

They desperately wanted the upper hand. It would be their doom.