Leaving Aelira behind, I turned to face the Royal Guards.

  ?With a curt nod, they pushed the massive gilded doors open, revealing the path to the throne room.

  ?Boom.

  ?The doors groaned shut behind me, sealing me inside the belly of the beast.

  ?Stepping forward, I was greeted by the chamber’s suffocating grandeur. Crimson drapes hung from the ceiling like banners of blood, and gold leaf covered every inch of stone. A massive chandelier loomed overhead, heavy enough to crush a small army.

  ?It was exactly as I remembered it: expensive, loud, and utterly exhausting.

  ?Light streamed in from the high windows, blindingly bright, leaving the corners of the vast room drowned in sharp, contrasting shadows.

  ?Beneath the towering portrait of the Golden King, the current ruler sat upon his throne.

  ?A few men stood silently in the shadows behind him—high-ranking statesmen, vultures waiting for scraps. Their quiet presence spoke louder than any shout.

  ?He always liked to put on a show, I thought, suppressing a sigh. That damn pig.

  ?I stopped at the foot of the dais and bowed slowly.

  ?“I came as soon as I heard your call, Your Majesty.”

  ?“You may raise your head, Zaek.”

  ?I straightened, lifting my gaze to study the man who held the Empire in his palm.

  ?He looked terrible.

  ?His uniform, stitched with royal red and gold, strained against his bulk, looking like it might burst at the seams if he took a deep breath. His curly hair was a mess, greasier than a tavern drunkard’s, and his beard was unkempt.

  ?But his eyes...

  ?They were old. Tired. And sharp enough to cut steel.

  ?Those were the eyes of a survivor. The only part of him that hadn't gone soft.

  ?“I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come,” he said slowly. His voice rumbled through the hall, pausing for dramatic effect. “Let’s get to the point. Do you accept my offer?”

  ?An offer.

  ?He hadn’t framed it as a royal decree, but we both knew what it was. A demand wrapped in silk.

  ?I chose to remain silent.

  ?He leaned forward, propping his heavy head on one hand, elbow resting on his knee. The throne creaked under the shift in weight.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  ?“Step down from your seat, Zaek. Join the court as the private tutor of the Crown Prince.”

  ?Step down.

  ?It was the most polite way to demand my absolute allegiance. To leash the dog before it bit.

  ?“It is a tempting offer,” I said smoothly. “Yet, I must decline.”

  ?One of the statesmen behind him grunted, stepping forward to object. The King silenced him with a sharp flick of his hand.

  ?He studied me for a long moment, his gaze heavy.

  ?“Hmm? May I ask your reasoning?”

  ?“I’ve just taken on a new disciple,” I replied. “A promising one. I can’t take another until I’ve properly trained her.”

  ?“Zaek...” His tone sharpened, losing its lazy edge. “The Viremonts can’t give you what they promised. You know it. I know it. Stop hiding behind excuses.”

  ?So, he knows about the deal.

  ?“This is where you’re wrong, Your Majesty. She has greater potential than even the legends of the past. Let me put it this way: she managed to awaken her magic in a single day.”

  ?“A single day?” one of the statesmen scoffed loud enough to echo. “At least make your lies believable, Hero.”

  ?I ignored the heckler.

  ?It was abnormal. Unheard of, really. But history held examples for those who knew where to look. King Laius. The Witch of the West.

  ?The King locked eyes with me. He saw that I wasn't lying.

  ?He grumbled, sitting back.

  ?“Zaek, I’ll be straight with you. A war is coming.”

  ?The air in the room grew cold.

  ?“A war that no one can stop. You’ll have to choose a side sooner or later.”

  ?“Majesty!” an aide shouted, panicked by his candor.

  ?The King silenced him with a glare.

  ?“A war, you say?” I kept my voice neutral.

  ?“We’ve lived in the most peaceful age of the last five centuries,” he continued, his voice dripping with bitterness. “Maybe of all human history. Yet peace has brought no reward. The Temple claims to offer one.”

  ?His fist clenched on the armrest.

  ?“A lie, dressed as salvation.”

  ?On this, I had to agree. The Temple had been growing like a tumor lately, feeding on the despair of the common folk. I doubted they offered any real salvation to the poor. Just control.

  ?“So, you want me to oppose the Temple,” I said.

  ?“That’s right.”

  ?“I understand. But I still refuse. Politics were never my strength.”

  ?The silence stretched, awkward and tense. I could feel the guards’ hands drifting toward their weapons.

  ?I lowered my head slightly.

  ?“Even so... the Evarard family will stand by their King, as we swore. If the fire comes, I will be there.”

  ?I waited for the tension to recede.

  ?The King exhaled, his shoulders slumping.

  ?“I trust your words, old friend.”

  ?“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

  ?He hadn’t dismissed me, but I’d had enough of the golden cage for one day.

  ?“About that disciple of yours...” he called out as I turned away. “I would like to see her potential myself.”

  ?I paused halfway to the doors. I glanced back over my shoulder.

  ?“About that... I think you will. Soon enough.”

  ?I walked out of the throne room, the heavy doors booming shut behind me.

  ?“Gahh...” I cracked my neck, stretching my arms. “This old body of mine is too tired for these games.”

  ?The air in there was suffocating. Too much perfume to hide the scent of rot.

  ?“Where did the little one go?” I muttered, looking around for Heinz. He wasn’t there.

  ?I wandered through the polished halls until I stepped outside into the garden. The fresh air filled my lungs, washing away the taste of politics.

  ?To put it simply: The Temple seeks power from the King, and the King refuses to yield. The classic recipe for disaster.

  ?“A Great War, huh? Even though we have long passed the Era of Kingdoms.”

  ?I sighed, exhausted by the mere thought.

  ?“How stupid.”

  ?ROAR!

  ?From the direction of the training grounds, a loud cheer erupted.

  ?It was followed by a sudden, sharp silence.

  ?I narrowed my eyes. That wasn't the usual sound of knights drilling. That was the sound of a spectacle.

  ?“Don’t tell me...”

  ?A wry smile tugged at my lips.

  ?With a sigh that rattled my old bones, I turned my steps toward the noise.

  ?Are they already at it?