Kael was led through the cold, majestic palace hallways. Black pillars towered on either side, adorned with coiled serpentine carvings that seemed to move with their steps. Torchlight reflected off the onyx stone, casting long, dancing shadows along the walls.
The footsteps of the soldiers escorting him echoed firmly, the chains binding his hands rattling with each step. Elina walked beside him, her face impassive, though Kael could see a flicker of anxiety in her eyes.
Finally, they arrived at the throne hall. The massive black steel doors opened slowly, a metallic sound that made the air in the room heavier.
The hall was vast, its ceiling soaring with bronze-clad domes. Along the walls, red and black flags fluttered with the symbol of a serpent. Rows of elite Valorian soldiers stood to the right and left, their faces cold and unmoved.
And at the end of the room, atop a towering staircase, sat the ruler of Valoria.
A middle-aged man with black hair braided with silver, wearing a long, black-and-red robe adorned with a gold chain around his shoulder. His eyes were sharp as blades, and although he sat quietly, he radiated authority and menace.
"Kael of Solaris," his voice was deep, trembling like a suppressed thunderclap. "You have finally arrived in Valoria. I have heard all your stories from the common people, then met the legendary sword Astralis, and now become a knight of Solaris."
Kael looked up, staring straight ahead without looking down. "Then, Your Majesty already knows who I am. Then allow me to ask you directly: what do you want from me?"
Several soldiers immediately tensed, some even gripping the hilts of their swords. But the ruler of Valoria only smiled faintly, as if finding Kael's boldness a rare amusement.
"I want the truth," he said quietly, but sharply. "About what destroyed Solaris. About the darkness that is drawing near."
Elina stepped forward, her voice reverent. "Your Majesty, Kael witnessed the destruction of Eldoria and Solaris. If he speaks, perhaps we can finally understand the threat that has only been a shadow."
The ruler raised his hand, stopping Elina. His gaze pierced Kael again.
"Speak. Tell us what you saw. No lies, for Valoria has a way of separating truth from lies."
Kael took a deep breath. He told of the sudden black mist, the monsters and their leader, Ravorth, who emerged from the mist, and how Solaris was unable to withstand the onslaught.
Each word filled the hall with a deeper silence. Only the sound of chains and the crackling of torches accompanied the tale.
When Kael paused, the ruler of Valoria leaned back against the throne, his eyes narrowed. "So, you believe the darkness is real. A threat no single kingdom can withstand."
Kael nodded. "And if Valoria thinks she can hide behind these walls forever… then you will surely be lost forever."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense. Several soldiers drew their swords, but the ruler simply raised his hand, signaling for them to hold back.
He rose slowly from his throne, his steps heavy but dignified, until he finally stood just a few meters in front of Kael. His gaze was sharp, but it wasn't just a threat—it held curiosity, perhaps even acknowledgment of the truth of Kael's words.
"I never thought you would dare speak like that in front of me," he said quietly, almost like a snake's hiss. "But perhaps that's what makes you different from the others."
He turned to Elina. "You did the right thing in bringing her here. I want to see for myself the one who escaped that destruction."
Then his gaze returned to Kael. "From this day forward, you are no longer just our prisoner. You are the one who decides. And the one who decides… has two choices. Swear your oath to Valoria, or perish alongside Valoria's enemies."
Kael stared straight into her eyes, undaunted. "If my oath means only a life in chains, then I would rather die free."
The ruler chuckled, his deep voice echoing through the hall. "You truly are a child of Eldoria. Very well, Kael. I will give you time. Think carefully, before darkness engulfs the world… and Valoria decides who will be spared."
With a gesture of his hand, the soldiers quickly led Kael to the palace's black steel prison. Elina could only stare at him with a complicated expression—a mix of relief, anxiety, and something deeper that remained unspoken.
Kael closed his eyes for a moment. His encounter with the ruler of Valoria had just opened a new chapter—a game of politics and power, where his life was at stake.
And deep down, he knew: Valoria was more than just a powerful kingdom. They were the key, and the greatest threat, in the war against darkness.
Kael sat leaning against the stone wall of the prison. The air in the dungeon was damp, smelling of rust mixed with the sweat of the remaining prisoners. The chains on his wrists creaked softly with each movement, but his eyes remained alert and alert.
From the darkness, a low cough sounded. Kael turned his head, his eyes adjusting to the dim torchlight. Behind the iron bars to his right, an old man with a shaggy beard stared at him. His eyes were sunken, but they held something more than just pain.
"New, huh?" he whispered, barely audible. "Not everyone who comes in here makes it out with their legs intact."
Kael stared at him sharply. "Who are you?"
The man chuckled softly, his laugh more like a hiss. "Someone who used to believe in Valoria. Until I found out what they were hiding."
Kael frowned, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"
The man leaned closer, his face pressed against the bars. His voice dropped lower, as if afraid the walls themselves might have ears.
"They say Valoria is strong because of its discipline and order. That's just the surface. Their true strength… comes from something darker. Something they hide deep beneath this fortress."
Kael felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. "What is it?"
The man was about to answer, but suddenly the sound of soldiers' footsteps approached. The sound of steel boots echoed loudly in the hallway. The prisoner hurriedly retreated into the shadows, his face lost in the torchlight.
A soldier stopped in front of Kael's cell, staring at him coldly. But behind that gaze, Kael caught something—doubt. The soldier looked down for a moment, then quickly whispered before turning away.
"Don't believe everything they show you. Even in Valoria… snakes bite each other."
His footsteps trailed off, leaving Kael in a silence heavier than before.
Kael stared into the darkness around him. Two cryptic messages—from an old prisoner and a young soldier—set his mind reeling.
If Valoria truly had something to hide, then his encounter with the ruler just now was only the beginning of a deeper mystery.