The Golden Throne

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"Well... did they find him?!" Hilbert's mother demanded.

Several days had passed, and there still hasn't been an update on her son.

"I'm truly sorry Ma'am, but it's been days and we haven't seen any sign of him yet" the officer said, using every part of her experience to keep a straight, professional voice. It hurt her to break the news to the woman like that. The expression on her face was nothing short of painful. Eyebags hung from her eyes that were bloodshot from crying so much. Her mouth was agape as if wanting to tell her she was wrong- and most of all, the distraught mother's face was pale from exhaustion. Pure, unadulterated exhaustion.

"No... no," she whimpered, "you're wrong. You got it wrong you hear me! You aren't searching hard enough!" She screamed with all the fury she could muster- and broke down on the floor. Alder and Professor Juniper comforted the bawling woman. Behind them, Cheren was holding Bianca who had been crying silently for the past half hour. He too was shedding tears. But he had to be strong. He knew Hilbert. If Hilbert was anything, he was a fighter. And he couldn't bear to give up on him so simply.

But he went missing in the ocean AFTER A STORM- A sliver of doubt dripped into Cheren's mind. NO! Cheren thought to himself. Hilbert survived. He must have... He has to. But with each day passing with no sign of him, it was getting harder to believe Hilbert was still somewhere out there.

"If they could find the other survivors, why couldn't they find Hilbert?!" Prof. Juniper demanded.

"The ocean is a big place Professor. Yes, the search party had found a handful of drifting lifeboats, but those who weren't found yet have been declared dead. It's international: Any persons missing at sea for this long are to be declared deceased. The head of the search party wants you to know that they extended their search specifically for your son. But they can't carry on spending resources and bending the rules like this. Especially with no trace of hi-"

"You've said enough," Prof. Juniper cut him off. "Leave the woman in peace."

Alder could only watch Mrs. Black sob helplessly. "It's all my fault! All my fault!" She wailed. "I always said he should get out there. Stupid!Stupid!Stupid!" She cried. "He should've just stayed home with me. My baby... I'm so sorry."

"Helena, please, don't say that." Alder comforted. "If anyone should be blamed..." Alder paused. tears began to collect in his eyes as well. He felt sorry for this woman. It was him who insisted Hilbert to travel. And now look what he's done. "...It should be me. I was the one who urged him to go out there," Alder said in a wavering voice. This only made the poor woman wail some more.

"The search party has done their best Mrs. Black," the officer hesitantly muttered. "I'm sorry for your loss."