Chapter Forty-Five: A Difficult Task
In the heart of the Kingdom of Anfrida, at the royal palace, the royal residence stood tall, surrounded by wide gardens teeming with rare flowers and their fragrant scents, and fountains that glittered beneath the sun like shards of crystal.
In the majestic throne hall, capped by domes adorned with gold and ruby, the king sat upon his sumptuous throne. The throne was carved from rare black wood, engraved with astonishing precision, threaded with golden lines that flowed like ancient symbols. Tall torches stood by his sides, their flames dancing and lending the place an air of solemnity and awe.
The king himself was advanced in years; his features were stern, yet his deep eyes revealed a hidden sorrow. He wore a royal robe of deep blue velvet, embroidered with golden threads and small gemstones at its edges, and on his head a massive crown symbolizing his absolute authority. His right hand rested firmly on the arm of the throne, as if drawing strength from it.
Behind the throne stood a man of sharp features and unmistakable dignity, clad in luxurious metal armor and draped in a long red sash that fell to the floor. This man was the captain of the king's guards, and his imposing silence suggested that every movement was calculated. Even the guards standing at the sides of the hall cast him looks of respect; to them he was not merely a commander but a symbol of strength and discipline.
Despite the grandeur, the air was heavy with grief. The king remained submerged in deep sorrow for his only son, the prince who had been, to him, an incomparable treasure, the apple of his eye, and the hope for the future. He had prepared him since childhood to inherit the throne, teaching him the arts of politics and war, imagining the day he would sit in his place. All those dreams collapsed in an instant when he lost him without warning.
The silence was broken by a soft announcement from one of the guards, requesting permission for a group to enter. The king granted them permission with a composed voice, despite the turmoil in his heart. The heavy hall doors opened slowly, and Commander Bran entered first, leader of the knight center—the man who had aided Daniel earlier in the cave against that madman.
Behind him came the two guards who had accompanied the prince on the day of the incident, then Lucas, his left hand wrapped in a white cloth stained with dried blood. Their faces wore a mixture of sorrow and tension, and as they approached the throne they knelt before the king with respect.
In a measured, loud voice, Commander Bran said: "After conducting all investigations, we have finally found conclusive evidence that the person behind the assassination attempt is Rex Val, Your Majesty's nephew."
The king's grip on the arm of the throne tightened until the veins stood out; he understood that the name carried betrayal in all its weight. Rex Val stood to gain most from this crime.
The king turned to the two guards and Lucas and asked one of the guards in a serious tone: "Are you telling me that Niral could have fled, but he chose instead to defend my son and die in his stead?"
The guards lowered their heads to the ground, and one answered in a hoarse voice: "Yes, Your Majesty... the assassins targeted them, and when His Highness saw what was happening, he flew into fury and attacked them to divert them from us."
Even Lucas, who stared at the floor, could not raise his eyes at the hearing of that.
The king said sharply: "Your task now is to tell me the name of the person who leaked news of the prince's departure on a mercenary mission outside the palace."
"Hear and obey, Your Majesty." The guards replied immediately, both feeling a slight relief that the king did not mete out immediate punishment.
The king then turned to Lucas and asked: "Tell me about Niral, and what he was doing with you."
Lucas seemed bewildered by the question and began to recount hesitantly, stammering at times and skipping between events, but he hid nothing. When he finished his account, he looked up at the king and found him weeping silently. He stopped speaking at once.
(If Niral found a girl he loves...) The thought flashed through the king's mind, but he checked himself and ordered Lucas and the guards to leave the hall.
He then turned to Commander Bran and said: "It seems you have advanced to the fourth level."
"Yes, my lord." Bran replied.
"And what about the two who disappeared from my son's retinue?"
"According to the guards' statements, they vanished suddenly, which indicates instantaneous transference. The most likely possibility is that the old man Azrian is responsible; the young man named Daniel recently transferred into this world in the last transition."
The king was silent for a moment, then handed Bran an Eira in the form of a button and said: "Your mission now is to go to the academy and kill Rex Val. Leave no trace of it, and be aware that there are fourth-level guards protecting him right now, so be cautious."
Bran was greatly surprised by the order and by the difficulty of the task and its danger—he had only recently risen to the fourth level—but he took the Eira and answered firmly, knowing he had no other choice: "Hear and obey."
Then the king looked toward his captain of the guards and asked: "What do you think of this?"
The captain answered seriously: "This is a dangerous operation even for Bran. I apologize for my boldness, but although most nobles support your brother, failure would mean catastrophe for us, especially since they are waiting for a single opportunity to rise."
The king said coldly: "True, which is why we will do it. If Rex is removed, all of this will end. Either survival or destruction."
He added: "Why did I choose Bran for this task when there are those higher than him in level?"
The captain of the guards replied confidently: "He is the person I trust most among all the guards and knights. He possesses broad experience, even if he is newly in the fourth circle."