Skybound Throne-Chapter 169: How long has it been?

"Skyler has vanished?"

Alistair Thorne shot to his feet, his grip on the phone tightening as he stormed out of the royal study, speaking urgently with the principal of Starlight Academy.

"How could he possibly vanish when he wasn't even allowed to step outside the academy? How long has it been?"

His angry voice echoed through the castle halls, sharp and thunderous, turning every head as servants and staff froze in alarm.

He paused as Principal Wen revealed that Skyler had been missing for a whole week.

"What the hell? I want every detail—how it happened and what you have done since! If anything happens to him, I'll hold the entire academy accountable. You call yourselves a top institution, yet you can't even protect a single student!? What the hell are those old geezers staying there even doing?!"

Principal Wen did his best to calm him, explaining that numerous powerful Lights had been dispatched and were tirelessly searching for Skyler Thorne, and that no one had seen him leave the academy.

But Alistair cut the call short, his face darkening as he bellowed for the royal guards to assemble immediately.

He ran his fingers through his hair as he arrived outside the royal castle and began shouting urgent orders to the royal guards, commanding them to search every corner of the Human Continent for Skyler.

He even reached out to several top guilds for help, especially Argon's guild. Suddenly, a flicker of guilt flashed in his eyes.

"Is this my fault? I spread the rumor that Skyler had the Lost Sapphire of Serenity to distract the Dark Lights. I believed he'd be safe—after all, he was inside the academy. But who could have imagined he would vanish suddenly without a trace?"

He sighed and vanished the moment the royal guards began to disperse. Inside the royal castle, Queen Elizabeth stood by the window, watching everything unfold.

"I've never seen our eldest son this worked up before. It seems he's grown attached to Skyler, even though it's been a short time."

Her husband, Damien, let out a sigh.

"As if you're not worried. I can see your fingers tightening around that glass."

He closed the book he had been reading and rose from the bed, patting her back.

"If you're so restless, why not go look for him yourself, dear? He has inherited your race—you should be able to sense him."

Elizabeth's brow furrowed deeply.

"I have duties to attend to. Why should the Queen of the continent go searching for a kid who has just begun to find his footing? Alistair is already doing everything he can. Also, who knows if he's still alive?"

Damien could only shake his head as he watched her leave. His gaze drifted to the clear sky beyond the window, but soon he returned to bed and resumed reading the glowing golden book he had set aside.

"He'll be fine. I don't believe he can die so easily—not with the power he possesses."

He smiled quietly to himself. Yes, that kid would be fine. He wasn't sure why, but there was something special about him that set him apart from anyone he'd ever met.

***

In Nowan City, Riya Ironhart answered her husband's phone as it suddenly rang. They were preparing to enter an Epic-tier crystal.

Her face stiffened as she listened to the caller's message. Her husband, Johnson, standing opposite her, asked who it was when the call ended. She pursed her lips.

"We need to change our plans. Skyler has vanished from the academy. The call came from the Vice Principal's assistant, Lorian. Since my phone was off, she couldn't reach me and had to contact you instead."

Johnson's brows furrowed.

But it wasn't him who spoke next—it was Loyd, their guild's second-in-command.

"Our prince has vanished? Could he have been kidnapped? I had a feeling something like this would happen the moment I saw his face plastered all over the TV."

Johnson shot him a sharp glare.

"This is no time for jokes."

Loyd raised his hands in surrender as he removed his armor and stood up, sighing.

"Change of plans, huh? Should we go and raid the underworld to look for him? Skyler's most likely kidnapped. I don't like the sound of this at all... But I know I have no choice—you two are going to drag me along since we don't have any urgent work right now."

Riya patted his shoulder with a smile.

"You're starting to understand us."

Loyd clicked his tongue softly, as if to say he already knew how overprotective they could be when it came to their children.

Regardless, over the past month, he had noticed how both Riya and Johnson were weighed down by guilt—wishing they had handled things differently when Skyler and Jenny's relationship started to sour. They believed they should've disciplined Jenny sooner to prevent it from getting worse.

Yet, he knew it was already too late.

He had listened to Jenny's recent call—every single word dripping with blame.

She spoke only of how Skyler had nearly gotten her and many others killed, how he had started disrespecting her, and how he had stolen many opportunities from her.

Not once did she talk about his well-being or whether he was fine at the academy. Her concern was completely absent, even in her tone, replaced entirely by resentment.

Riya had listened, unable to utter much except to remind her how wrong she was—that Skyler was her brother, someone she should care for, not blame. At one point, she even cried, overwhelmed by worry.

Yet, instead of understanding her mother's concern, Jenny had abruptly ended the call, accusing Riya of favoritism—claiming she only cared about Skyler, her beloved son.

Jenny even brought up the past, reminding Riya how she had been scolded for leaving Skyler behind during the preliminary test.

Yet now, Riya and Johnson were acting so differently—despite the fact that Skyler had deliberately put her and others in danger.

Loyd sighed inwardly and shook his head. He couldn't understand what changed.

Jenny used to be a kind, sweet girl who loved her family dearly—so how had she turned into this? Was it her admission into Starlight Academy that changed her? Well, it wasn't like he could interfere in Riya and Johnson's family matters. Sooner or later, the duo would have to mend the growing resentment between their children.

"Or maybe... Riya and Johnson really had shown favoritism. After Skyler awakened only 1-star potential, they went out of their way to support him... But in doing so, they began putting Skyler first. They didn't even ask Jenny why she started avoiding Skyler like plague after he awakened. Was Jenny embarrassed by him for being weak? If so, they should have disciplined her sooner."

He groaned as a headache settled in. How complicated everything was. He shouldn't get involved in other's family matters—but his curiosity always got the better of him, especially when it came to spicy gossip.

Johnson and Riya, having overheard him, exchanged quiet sighs. Johnson even gave him a good smack on the back of the head.

"Stop wasting time. We need to leave. The sooner we infiltrate the Dark Lights' base, the sooner we can find information about Skyler. He's been missing for a week."

Loyd rubbed his aching head and followed the two, fully aware that his days would be exhausting until Skyler was found. What he didn't realize was that even after weeks of relentless searching, they still wouldn't be able to find the kid—as if he never existed.

It wasn't just Skyler; Riruru had vanished just as entirely, leaving no trace behind.

***

Jenny stood by her window, gazing outside absentmindedly with furrowed brows as she smoothed the creases from her uniform.

The Starlight Academy grounds buzzed with excitement. Just weeks earlier, the continent had been completely shaken by the news of Skyler Thorne's sudden disappearance. But that headline had long since been buried by the news of the Academy's annual Gala.

Despite his absence, the world moved on.

Some professors still whispered about him with concern, and many were still out there searching. But no trace had been found. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

Jenny sighed quietly, shaking her head. Today marked the beginning of the highly anticipated Gala. Like Max, she had signed up for the grand battle—the one that would crown the 'Star of the Generation'. That was her goal now. That had to be her focus.

Skyler... He should have known better than to wander off, especially given how famous he had become after entering the tomb and discovering the Lost Sapphire of Serenity. If he was in danger—though she believed he had likely gone on his own—it was his own fault. There was nothing more she could do.

She turned at the sound of a knock on her door and hurriedly went to answer it, only to find Elena's familiar face smiling back at her.

Dressed in a similar uniform, her hair neatly tied up for the occasion, Elena beamed and eagerly linked her arm with Jenny's.

"Let's go! Max and Austin are waiting!"