Day 7, Arrival at Lithrium

  The morning sun glistened against marble towers, golden spires piercing the sky like spears of light. Lithrium, the Royal Capital, unfolded before Stray Dawn like a dream painted in gold and gemstone. The hum of city life echoed—markets bursting with color, floating trams gliding between archways, and banners of noble houses dancing on the breeze.

  Marian:

  "Whoa..."

  Cedy (clutching her hood):

  "...Guys. I think the air here is cleaner. Like, nobler."

  Kristie (sniffing):

  "Tastes like taxes."

  Jonax: "Why do I feel poor?"

  Lyra (spinning dramatically with open arms):

  "Welcome to Lithrium—the city of crowns, chaos, and coin."

  Josh (grinning):

  "First one to find a food stall wins!"

  Rica (already eyeing the palace's distant silhouette):

  "Don't wander too far, we're not here to play—!"

  Too late.

  The party scattered. Stray Dawn's most powerful tradition had begun: unsupervised exploration.

  Within the hour...

  A distant rumble.

  A crowd gathered.

  Voices raised.

  Everyone groaned in unison.

  Jonax:

  "What did Josh do this time?"

  Rica: "I just wished he could stay still for once."

  Kristie: "Ok, where's the drama at?"

  Elly (squinting):

  "Wait... That's not Josh in the center."

  Lily (tense):

  "...That's Ren."

  Ren stood calm, centered in the town square—his cloak fluttering in the breeze, Seri clutching the edge of his coat, teary-eyed.

  Before them stood three armored adventurers in rugged, wolf-themed gear. The Wild Wolves—B-rank adventurers known for brute strength and louder mouths.

  Bragg (the leader, burly with a wolf-pelt mantle):

  "Tch. We were just having a conversation. Teach your brat to watch where she's walking."

  Ren (calmly):

  "She's a child. And you're scaring her."

  Feyla (the rogue, flipping a dagger):

  "Aww, is daddy here to bark back?"

  Morn (the third, silent but looming):

  Cracks knuckles with slow menace.

  Ren (steady):

  "I'm asking nicely. Leave her be."

  Bragg:

  "You got a problem, pretty boy?"

  Ren (exhaling):

  "Only if you want one."

  The square stilled.

  Then—

  Bragg (grinning):

  "Alright. Let's see if that fancy cloak of yours can still move after we break your legs."

  From different directions, the others arrived—

  Josh (eyes wide):

  "WAIT—You guys were supposed to wait for me before picking fights!"

  Kristie (elbowing through):

  "Ohhhh, we're doing Ren Rage Arc Part Two?? Yes please."

  Rica (gritting her teeth):

  "He was trying to de-escalate, clearly."

  Elly (already rushing to Seri):

  "Are you alright?"

  Iver (to Lily):

  "This was supposed to be a peaceful entry..."

  Lily (sighing):

  "First day at the capital and we are already picking fights. Nice."

  A ring had formed—marketgoers, travelers, guards off-duty—gathered like moths to a flame. The hum of excitement surged with every heartbeat.

  Ren stepped forward, one hand guiding Seri towards everyone, the other hand already reaching back for the handle of his blade.

  Ren (firmly):

  "Everyone stay back. I'll handle this cleanly."

  Josh (off-screen):

  "BOOO! CLEAN IS BORING!"

  Cedy (wide-eyed):

  "Guys this is like... romantic. He's fighting for Seri's honor!"

  Seri (tiny voice):

  "U-um... I think he's just mad..."

  Bragg, the brute, charged in like a boulder with a war axe swinging down in a vicious arc. Ren sidestepped smoothly, his boots sliding across cobblestone as if guided by instinct. The axe slammed the ground, cracking the stone beneath.

  Ren's counter:

  A swift strike across Bragg's knee with the blunt edge of his blade. Bragg roared, staggering.

  Feyla darted in from the side, throwing daggers. Ren ducked—one blade nicked his sleeve.

  Ren (muttering):

  "Cheap tricks..."

  With a flick, his own dagger spun from his wrist, deflecting the next blade mid-air. He pivoted just in time to meet—

  Morn, the silent giant.

  The punch came fast—Ren blocked it with the flat of his sword, the force sliding him back, boots screeching, arms straining.

  Kristie (with arms full of coins):

  "Place your bets! We got one Ren vs three meatheads!"

  Jonax (holding Josh's hood):

  "Josh, I swear—STAY."

  Josh (arms flailing):

  "TAG ME IN, REN! I'LL TAKE THE LEFT ONE—THEY LOOK FLIMSY!"

  Rej (whispering):

  "...He's really dancing with death, huh?"

  Rica (arms crossed):

  "He told us not to interfere. Trust him."

  Lily:

  "Am I the only one who felt refreshed that Ren is the one doing the chaos for once?"

  Kristie:

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  "Right!? For once I'm not the one getting tackled by guards or starting accidental fires. Growth."

  Rej:

  "He's just trying to steal your brand, Kristie. Next thing you know, he's gonna dye his hair and start matchmaking strangers."

  Feyla threw smoke—trying to vanish.

  But Ren anticipated it. He closed his eyes, counted the steps. She reappeared behind him.

  Ren (without turning):

  "You breathe heavy."

  He twisted, elbowed her in the ribs, then slammed her into the ground.

  Bragg came again—furious. He grabbed Ren's arm and tried to slam him into a wall.

  But Ren flipped off the wall, landed behind him, slashed Bragg's belt buckle clean off. The brute's pants fell.

  Kristie (snorting):

  "Oh my Stars he pantsed him!!"

  Bragg (humiliated):

  "Y-you—!"

  Thwack.

  Ren palm-striked his face, sending the man spinning into a cart of cabbages.

  Only Morn was left, his fists glowing with Essentia.

  He growled, braced for a full brawl.

  Ren readied himself. He lowered his stance. Breath steady.

  Then...

  Thunk. Splash.Whap

  A wooden palette smacked Ren in the back of the head.

  Paint exploded like confetti.

  Everyone froze.

  A small voice cut through the crowd.

  ???:

  "Are all your fights this noisy? Or is this a special edition?"

  Ren turned slowly.

  And saw her.

  Ella The Vahlcrest Artist

  She was short—barely over five feet. Dressed in a layered, ink-stained smock several sizes too big. A paintbrush tucked behind one ear. Her short bobbed hair bounced as she stepped into the circle like she owned it.

  Her expression?

  Deadpan.

  Ella:

  "You idiots have been yelling for five minutes. Some of us are trying to paint urban decay in peace."

  Ren (grinning instantly):

  "ELLAAAAWWWW!!"

  Ella (flatly):

  "You again!? You idiotic goblin!"

  She threw another palette.

  Whap. Right on his face again.

  Josh (pointing, gasping):

  "HEY THAT'S THE GREMLIN FROM BEFORE!

  Kristie (blinking):

  "Uhhh...did she mention her name the last time we met her? Was it Capybara-something?."

  Rej:

  "She's so cute, I love her."

  Elly (genuinely confused):

  "Did Ren... summon her?"

  Ella stepped over the unconscious Feyla, casually poking her with her brush.

  Ella:

  "You done posing dramatically? Or should I let you get hit one more time so your brooding arc feels authentic?"

  Ren (rubbing his head):

  "You could've aimed lower..."

  Ella:

  "I could've aimed higher. Be grateful I didn't scalp you."

  Rica (watching carefully):

  "So she's a Vahlcrest, I should have known the first time we met her."

  Lyra (grinning from the sideline):

  "I like her. She's got spark."

  Iver (quietly):

  "She's... efficient."

  Ren:

  "Oh, before I forget—" he fished something out from his satchel and held it up like a prize.

  "Your favorites."

  He handed her a small, perfectly preserved painting of The Silver Saints—dramatic poses, windblown hair, glowing weapons, and heroic jawlines that shimmered like sunlit armor. At the bottom corner, five signatures glinted in silver ink.

  Ren:

  "Signed and everything. You're welcome, fangirl."

  Ella: frozen

  "You—how—where—" Her ears turned red before the rest of her face caught up.

  "...You're evil."

  Ren:

  "Only a little. I had to bribe a scribe, a merchant, and lie about being your cousin, by the way. I think I'm legally engaged to one of them now."

  Ella promptly gut-punched him in the stomach with a single, practiced strike.

  Ren: wheezing

  "W-Worth it..."

  Ella: grumbling and snatching the painting

  "...You better not tell anyone."

  Ren:

  "Oh absolutely. I'll start with Queen, then Rica, then—"

  Ella: hissing

  "Ren."

  Ren:

  "Maybe I'll even tell Gareth himself that his number one admirer wants to draw him shirtless—"

  Ella:

  "I WILL turn you into a still life."

  Before the palette could fly again—

  A sudden gust swept through the square. The crowd shifted.

  And then—he appeared.

  Kael strode through the garden with casual elegance, sunlight catching the gold strands of his hair as if the world had aligned just to backlight his entrance.

  Golden hair. A scar that kissed the corner of his jaw like a perfect signature. Armor that shimmered with understated class. And eyes—hazel and gold—so kind it almost hurt to meet them.

  Kael:

  "Still causing trouble, Stray Dawn?"

  Kristie: sotto voice to Cedy

  "Oh no. It's him. The man. The myth. The walking emotional crisis."

  Cedy:

  "Be cool. Be chill. We are collected women—oh god he looked at us run—"

  Kael offered a polite nod to Ella, then focused on Ren.

  Kael:

  "The Queen is waiting. She's requested Stray Dawn's presence at the palace. Now."

  Ren: straightening up

  "So no time to tell Ella's secret obsession to the Silver Saints, huh?"

  Ella: growling

  "You'll pay for this."

  Kael: smiling faintly

  "...I do hope this isn't romantic tension I walked into. It's already exhausting just watching it."

  Ren:

  "It's not. It's more like... tactical bullying."

  Kael:

  "Good. Keep it tactical. Now—come. The Queen awaits."

  And with that, Kael turned, his white and gold cloak billowing behind him as he began walking toward the castle gates—each step measured, regal, and devastatingly attractive.

  Stray Dawn followed in a scattered, chaotic pack.

  Kristie: whispering

  "Why does his armor sound like music? Why does he walk like he's about to solve all my problems?"

  Cedy:

  "I think I just got healed by his aura."

  Jonax:

  "I'm starting to think he's not real. Is he real?"

  Ella: to herself

  "I hate how symmetrical his face is."

  Ren:

  "Don't worry, Capybara-sama. He's not your type. Too polished."

  Ella:

  "You don't know my type."

  Ren:

  "Long-haired men who cry once an arc. Trust me—I know."

  She jabbed him with her staff again.

  Thus, Stray Dawn marched forward through the heart of Lithrium, past noble courtyards and shining towers—onward to their royal audience... with the Queen herself.

  ...

  The castle gates parted with a deep groan of gilded iron, revealing polished marble floors, looming archways, and the chilling scent of incense and formality. Every echo of their footsteps was swallowed in the grand emptiness of the palace halls.

  At the entrance corridor stood a pair of royal knights, clad in platinum armor trimmed with cobalt.

  Royal Guard Captain:

  "Before entering, all adventurers must withdraw their beasts and surrender their weapons for safekeeping. This is royal protocol."

  The party hesitated. Bonds shifted uneasily beside their tamers—some growling, some whimpering.

  Rica: coolly

  "It's fine. They'll behave. Return."

  Queen, her Aether Dragon, gave her a final nuzzle before turning into light and vanishing into her sigil. One by one, the others followed.

  Even Vultherin faded into frostlight, leaving only a lingering breeze across Ren's shoulder.

  Kristie: grumbling

  "I feel so... naked without Snarl."

  Josh:

  "Hey, if things go south, I still got fists. That counts, right?"

  Kael: calmly

  "You won't need them. Unless someone insults your fashion again."

  The guards moved forward and began collecting their weapons—one by one. Rica hesitated for a second before removing her elegantly crafted mantle, eyes narrowing, then surrendering it.

  Josh reluctantly handed over his new spear, whispering something like "treat her gently" under his breath.

  Once the last blade and relic were secured, Kael gestured for them to follow.

  They moved through vast hallways lined with stained glass depictions of past rulers, battles of old, and a radiant queen in green armor, wielding a glaive of wind and gold.

  Ren, walking beside Kael, finally spoke.

  Ren:

  "Kael... just curious. The Queen requested us. Not the King?"

  Kael paused for half a step, then continued walking.

  Kael:

  "King Aldric is... alive, but not ruling. The wars took much of his strength, and more of his clarity. He remains a figurehead now, watched over by the court physicians and seers."

  Ren frowned.

  Ren:

  "So... who rules?"

  Kael glanced back at him with a faint, meaningful smile.

  Kael:

  "Queen Seraphine. Ever since the Twilight Rebellion five years ago. The nobles were divided, but she's held them together with fear, grace, and unshakeable resolve. She was once a knight herself, you know. They call her The Verdant Spear."

  Iver: quietly

  "I've heard of her. She held the western front alone during the siege of Brynn's Hollow."

  Kael:

  "She did more than that. She won it... with one glaive, and no fear."

  They stopped in front of a towering pair of ornate doors, carved with spirals of wind and stars, guarded by two silent sentinels.

  Kael:

  "This is where I leave you."

  He turned to the group, gaze sweeping across the members of Stray Dawn—still rumpled from travel, patched from battle, but standing proud.

  Kael:

  "Be respectful. Speak only when spoken to. And remember—this is not just royalty. These are rulers who survived wars, rebellions, and monsters that you can't kill with swords."

  He stepped aside.

  The doors creaked open, revealing a throne room bathed in sunlight and stormlight, where pillars of white marble stood like giants, and banners of emerald and silver billowed silently.

  The nobles stood on each side of the long carpet, a sea of silks and steely gazes. At the far end—three thrones.

  On the central throne sat a woman in green and gold armor, cloak of soft feathers, hair braided like a crown of vines—Queen Seraphine. One hand rested on her glaive, the other on the shoulder of a young girl, barely ten, sitting beside her with wide, curious eyes. The future heir.

  To her left, seated just slightly lower, was a tall young man with short ash-blonde hair, sharp royal features, and a calm, calculating gaze—Prince Luther. Draped in deep green robes with a ceremonial sword resting across his lap, his demeanor was cold yet refined. He watched the group with the air of someone already weighing their worth.

  The throne room fell silent.

  Stray Dawn stepped forward—ragtag adventurers, mismatched gear, frayed cloaks—and at Rica's signal, they lowered themselves into a deep bow.

  The nobles watched.

  The court held its breath.

  Queen Seraphine leaned forward.

  And the true audience with royalty began.

  tries to be the responsible one… and yet somehow ends up at the center of every public disturbance anyway?

  Yeah. Me too.

  “Today, I will be composed, rational, and diplomatic,” and then five minutes later he’s breaking a guy’s belt buckle in a royal capital while a five-foot gremlin artist assaults him with paint.

  Character growth? Debatable. Entertaining? Absolutely.

  You can’t really call yourself a member of this crew unless you’ve got at least three loose screws, one unhealed trauma, and a moral compass that occasionally forgets where north is.

  Lithrium, the shining heart of the kingdom. The place where politics glitter, secrets walk in daylight, and trouble hides behind polite smiles.

  And if the Queen herself wants a word with Stray Dawn…

  Well. That never means something simple, does it?

  What does the Queen want with them—and what kind of storm did they just walk into?

  Hey everyone! ????

  If you enjoyed Ren’s descent into chaos, Ella’s precision paint-based violence, or Kristie’s ongoing side-career as the group’s commentator, don’t forget to rate, comment, and follow the story!

  Every bit of support keeps Stray Dawn’s journey alive (and Ren’s sanity slightly intact).

  – Rein Silvers ???