Chapter 332 – The Sea King's Burden
The great marble hall of the Ocean Kingdom's palace was quiet, save for the soft echo of footsteps as Thalren entered. The sealed parchment sat on the council table, bearing the Hollow's crest scorched with soot. Its edges were blackened, the seal slightly warped from heat. The air around it seemed heavy, as though it carried more than words—it carried the weight of a people's tragedy.
Thalren's queen sat already at the table, her fingers brushing over the edge of the letter. Their children had been ushered away earlier, spared from what was surely grim news. Around them, the Sea King's advisors waited with tense anticipation, faces lined with unease.
"Read it," Thalren said, his deep voice calm but edged with a steel none of them missed.
The queen nodded, broke the seal, and began to read. As the words spilled into the hall, the atmosphere shifted from curiosity to disbelief, then to a stunned silence that thickened with every line.
Kael had faced one hundred thousand orcs.
Alone.
He had slain the Orc Overlord.
And the Hollow had been destroyed in the process.
When the queen's voice cracked as she read the final plea for shelter, the silence that followed seemed deafening.
Thalren leaned back, his jaw clenched, his mind already churning. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them, sea-blue irises blazing with a storm beneath.
His chief advisor, an older merman with silver scales across his temples, spoke first. "This… this is beyond reckless. To face such odds alone… Kael is not just bold—he's dangerous, to himself and to all tied to him. If he had failed, the horde would not only have razed the Hollow, they would have poured out toward our shores."
"Yet he did not fail," the queen countered, her tone sharp. She laid the letter down gently, as though afraid it might crumble. "He won. He paid dearly for it, yes—but he won. And without his victory, perhaps none of us would be sitting here now."
The chamber fell quiet again.
Thalren finally spoke, his words heavy and deliberate.
"They ask for more time. For shelter. For patience. But what they truly need is hope. If we keep their people safe but let them hear nothing but ruin from their homeland, despair will take root. And despair destroys faster than any enemy."
He stood, towering over the table, his presence commanding.
"I will not let the Hollow fall into despair. They stood alone against annihilation and survived. They are worth our strength, worth our aid. I will send builders, supplies, food, stone, timber—all they need to rebuild. And I will go myself. They must see that their allies do not abandon them."
The queen placed a hand on his arm, her expression both proud and troubled.
"Your presence will mean more than you realize, my king. But… take care. You will be walking into the ashes of another's pain. Choose your words with care."
Thalren inclined his head. "I will."
The Journey
Three days later, the Ocean King's fleet sailed upriver toward the Hollow, warships and supply barges alike. Banners of deep blue and silver fluttered in the breeze, a sight both protective and commanding. On board were hundreds of skilled builders, masons, carpenters, and healers, all sworn to assist. Crates of timber, iron, stone blocks, food, and clothing filled the holds.
Thalren stood at the prow of his flagship as they neared the Hollow's territory. He expected ruins, yes—but no words, not even the charred parchment of Kael's letter, could have prepared him for the sight that awaited him.
The Hollow was shattered. Entire districts were flattened. The walls that had once stood tall and proud were broken, their stones scattered like children's toys. Ashes hung in the air, carried on every breeze. The land bore deep claw marks and gouges, scars of a battle fought by giants.
Thalren's jaw tightened. He had fought wars before, but never had he seen destruction so concentrated, so raw. It was as though the very earth had been torn open by gods.
The people of the Hollow lined the edges of the ruins as the fleet's banners came into view. Their eyes were hollow with grief, yet when they saw the Ocean King's ships, some wept with relief. Others simply stood straighter, as though hope had just stepped into their broken home.
Meeting the Council
The remnants of Kael's council awaited him in the ruined square that had once been the heart of the Hollow.
Rogan was the first to step forward. His massive frame looked smaller somehow beneath the soot and exhaustion, but his voice was as strong as ever. "King Thalren," he said with a deep bow, "your presence honors us. I… I thank you, though words are hollow compared to what you've brought."
Thalren clasped his forearm in warrior's fashion. "Strength recognizes strength, Rogan. You fought to build this home, and now we fight to raise it again."
Fenrik followed, quieter, his weathered features drawn in humility. "You've given us a chance to breathe again. That's more than I thought possible when the flames still burned. For that, I am in your debt."
Selina, though still fierce, could not hide the redness around her eyes. She dipped her head slightly, voice clipped but sincere. "The Hollow will not forget this, Thalren. Not while I still draw breath."
Varik bowed deeply, ever the disciplined soldier. "You've given us more than supplies—you've given us time. Time to heal, time to rebuild. We won't waste it."
Then came Lyria and Azhara, both stepping forward together.
Lyria's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she bowed low. Her voice was steady, but soft with emotion. "I cannot thank you enough for sheltering our people. Without your mercy, they would have been scattered, lost. You have given them hope when hope was ashes."
Azhara, standing beside her, placed a hand over her heart. Though her tone was sharper, her gratitude was no less heartfelt. "I cursed Kael for what he did, but I cannot deny what he saved us from. And now you, King Thalren, have given us the means to rise again. You will always have my respect for that."
Thalren studied the two women for a long moment. He saw the grief in their eyes, the fire in their words. They loved Kael—deeply, fiercely—and their pain was as raw as their loyalty.
"You need not thank me," Thalren said quietly. "What I do, I do because it is right. But know this—I will not see the Hollow die. Too much has been paid in blood for that."
The Oath of Aid
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the Ocean King's builders set to work, unloading timber and stone, raising tents and scaffolds. Fires were lit, not for destruction, but for warmth and food. For the first time since the Hollow's fall, life stirred within its ashes.
Thalren stood among the council, his voice carrying over the ruins.
"This is only the beginning. We will rebuild. Stone by stone, house by house, wall by wall. And when Kael rises again, he will see not ruin, but resolve."
For the first time in many days, the council allowed themselves to believe in a tomorrow.
And though the Hollow was broken, its spirit had begun to stir once more.