Jai and James exchanged a brief glance as they followed Zayn through the palace corridors.
It wasn't fear that passed between them.
It was acceptance.
They had spent the entire journey hiding behind the identities of Arthur and Clement Barne, but now they were about to stand before the King and Queen of Khazadcoher themselves.
If anyone in the kingdom possessed enough power to see through their disguise, it would be them.
Zayn glanced back.
"Come on, you two. My father and mother are waiting."
Jai forced a casual smile.
"All right. We're coming."
As they walked, James leaned slightly toward him.
"Jai..."
He kept his voice low enough that Zayn couldn't hear.
"Do we really have to do this?"
Jai glanced at him.
"We could leave."
"Escape?"
"Exactly."
Jai shook his head.
"That would make everything worse."
James frowned.
"If we suddenly disappear now, they'll immediately assume we're hiding something."
He looked toward the enormous carved doors ahead.
"And if our identities are exposed inside?"
Jai's voice remained calm.
"Then at least they'll probably question us first."
James looked doubtful.
"We're not ordinary criminals."
Jai continued.
"We're members of the Chenwongo family."
He lowered his voice even further.
"Grandchildren of Beatrice Chenwongo."
James slowly nodded.
"If we're discovered, imprisonment is more likely than immediate execution."
"Exactly."
It wasn't exactly comforting.
But it was better than running.
"Fine," James whispered.
"Let's do this."
The doors opened.
Jai and James followed Zayn into the throne chamber.
King Borin Stonehead and Queen Morlin Stonehead sat side by side upon massive stone thrones.
Even without releasing their elemental pressure, their presence dominated the room.
Jai immediately understood why the royal family inspired such respect.
Borin studied them carefully.
Then his stern expression softened.
"So."
His deep voice carried through the vast chamber.
"You are the two men who saved my daughter."
Jai and James bowed.
Borin smiled.
"You returned something to me more valuable than the entire treasury."
He leaned forward.
"Tell me."
"What reward do you want?"
Before Jai could respond, Zayn stepped forward.
"Father, I already gave them what they asked for."
Borin looked toward him.
"What?"
"The freedom to leave whenever they want."
Queen Morlin immediately frowned.
"That is not a reward."
Zayn looked at her.
"They asked for freedom."
"The work you gave them was employment, not imprisonment."
Morlin's voice was calm but firm.
"Allowing them to leave is simply their right."
Zayn went silent.
Morlin turned toward Jai and James.
"What are your names?"
Jai bowed respectfully.
"My name is Arthur Barne, Your Highness."
He gestured toward James.
"And this is my younger brother, Clement Barne."
Before the Queen could answer, hurried footsteps echoed from behind them.
Jai turned.
The young orphan they had rescued earlier rushed into the chamber.
Little Arthur.
Jai's expression almost changed.
Almost.
The boy stopped near Zayn.
Queen Morlin looked between the child and Jai.
"And who is this?"
Jai answered immediately.
"This is my youngest brother."
James nearly looked at him.
Jai continued without hesitation.
"Arthur Barne."
Morlin stared.
"Your name is Arthur."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"And his name is also Arthur?"
Jai nodded politely.
"Yes."
James had to look away.
Queen Morlin's brow furrowed.
"Your parents named both of you Arthur?"
Before Jai was forced to invent an explanation, Zayn stepped forward.
"It's a strange coincidence, Mother."
He quickly explained how they had found the child that morning, how the boy happened to share Arthur's name, and how Jai had decided to take responsibility for him.
The confusion faded from Morlin's face.
Jai quietly exhaled.
More importantly...
neither the King nor Queen had reacted to their disguises.
No suspicion.
No recognition.
No sudden attack.
The disguise was holding.
For now.
"Very well."
Queen Morlin returned her attention to Jai.
"Arthur."
Jai straightened.
"What reward would you like?"
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then his eyes moved toward James.
"I would like a Tier 9 Air and Space Advancement Artifact."
Silence spread through the throne room.
James's eyes widened.
Even several guards glanced toward Jai.
A Tier 9 advancement artifact was not an ordinary gift.
It was the kind of resource noble families could spend years trying to acquire.
Morlin leaned forward.
"Why that artifact?"
Jai's answer came immediately.
"My brother Clement awakened both Air and Space."
James stared at him.
"If he wants to advance properly from Tier 10 to Tier 9, he needs a suitable artifact capable of stabilizing both elemental paths."
Morlin studied him.
"You know there are other methods of advancement."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Jai nodded.
"He has been using them."
He glanced toward James.
"But progress is slow."
James remained silent.
"He has only reached around thirty-five percent of his required core accumulation."
Morlin raised an eyebrow.
Jai continued.
"Even with constant training, it could take him a very long time to reach the next stage."
His expression became sincere.
"So if I am truly allowed a reward..."
He looked toward James again.
"I want something that helps my brother become stronger."
James froze.
The request hit him harder than he expected.
A royal wish could have been used for wealth.
Land.
Status.
Rare equipment.
A powerful personal artifact.
Instead, Jai had spent it on him.
For a moment, James felt ashamed.
He had sometimes wondered whether Jai only valued him because of his usefulness.
His Space ability.
His support.
His combat potential.
But this?
This wasn't strategy.
At least not entirely.
Queen Morlin slowly nodded.
"Very well."
Jai looked toward her.
"We can provide such an artifact."
James's eyes widened.
"But understand the danger."
Morlin's tone became much more serious.
"If Clement's body and core are not strong enough to absorb its essence..."
She paused.
"...the advancement process could kill him."
Jai nodded.
"We understand."
Morlin looked directly toward James.
"Do you?"
James swallowed.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The Queen summoned a palace official.
"Retrieve a Tier 9 Air and Space Advancement Artifact from the Royal Vault."
The official bowed.
"Immediately, Your Highness."
Morlin then looked back toward James.
"The artifact will not activate simply because you possess it."
James listened carefully.
"You must gradually fill it with your own core essence."
"How long will that take?" he asked.
"Potentially two months."
James blinked.
"Two months?"
"Perhaps longer."
Morlin nodded.
"The artifact must recognize your energy and adapt to your core before you can attempt the advancement."
James slowly nodded.
He glanced toward Jai.
Jai gave him a warm smile.
For once, James had nothing sarcastic to say.
Queen Morlin then turned toward him.
"Clement."
James straightened.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"What do you want?"
James hesitated.
Unlike Jai, he had not prepared an answer.
His gaze moved around the throne room.
Then toward little Arthur.
An idea entered his mind.
But first...
he wanted to ask something else.
"Your Highness..."
Morlin waited.
"Is it possible to create a second elemental core?"
The entire chamber went quiet again.
King Borin tilted his head.
"What exactly do you mean?"
James stepped forward slightly.
"Suppose someone already possesses one core."
He gestured toward his chest.
"Could another core be implanted inside them?"
Borin's expression became curious.
James continued.
"If the body had two stable cores, could that person possess two completely separate elemental systems?"
King Borin suddenly laughed.
Not mockingly.
Genuinely amused.
"The idea itself makes sense."
James's face brightened.
"But no."
The excitement disappeared immediately.
Borin continued.
"A normal body cannot safely accept a foreign elemental core."
"Why?"
"The energies would reject each other."
Borin tapped his chest.
"The original core is connected to the body from awakening or birth. Introducing another fully developed core would create violent instability."
James frowned.
"So it would fail?"
"It would do more than fail."
Borin's expression became serious.
"It would most likely kill the host."
James looked disappointed.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Morlin noticed.
"Would you like to choose another reward?"
James looked toward her.
Then toward Jai.
Then little Arthur.
A reckless idea finally settled in his mind.
"Yes."
Everyone waited.
James bowed.
"I want my Big Brother Arthur..."
Jai immediately looked at him.
"...to be appointed as a Minister of this kingdom."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Jai stared at James.
Zayn stared at James.
Borin and Morlin stared at James.
Even the guards seemed confused.
Then Zayn reacted first.
"What?!"
He stepped forward.
"Have you lost your mind?"
James stood his ground.
"No."
"Do you understand what you're asking for?"
"Yes."
Zayn looked toward his parents.
"He's asking for one of the highest positions in the kingdom!"
James crossed his arms.
"The Queen asked me what reward I wanted."
Zayn's eye twitched.
"And that's what I want."
Jai looked like he wanted to strangle him.
James continued.
"My brother saved the princess."
He gestured toward Jai.
"He's educated."
"He understands Elemental Magic."
"He cares about people."
"And he's already working inside the academy."
Jai slowly covered his face with one hand.
James finished confidently.
"I think he deserves a position where he can actually help the kingdom."
The throne room remained quiet.
King Borin looked toward Morlin.
Morlin looked back at him.
Then Borin laughed.
A loud, booming laugh filled the chamber.
Zayn stared.
Jai lowered his hand.
Borin slapped one hand against the armrest.
"Fine!"
Jai's expression went blank.
Zayn's jaw dropped.
Borin pointed toward Jai.
"Arthur Barne."
Jai swallowed.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"You will be appointed as a junior Minister under the supervision of the royal administration."
Jai blinked.
He had expected...
almost anything else.
A refusal.
A lesser noble title.
A financial reward.
Maybe a palace position.
But Minister?
Even a junior ministerial appointment gave him direct access to information, officials, resources, and political networks he had never expected to reach so quickly.
James turned toward him with a smug smile.
Jai stared back.
You lucky idiot.
Yet beneath the disbelief...
Jai was thrilled.
This wasn't merely protection.
It was opportunity.
A base.
Influence.
Access.
And perhaps the perfect position from which to investigate the Shadow Ledger.
After the audience concluded, Jai, James, and young Arthur bowed and left the throne chamber.
The enormous doors closed behind them.
James immediately grinned.
"You should thank me."
Jai stared at him.
"For what?"
"Minister Arthur."
Jai raised a hand.
James stepped backward.
"Violence against your younger brother is inappropriate for a government official."
Jai almost laughed.
Then something changed.
A sudden wave of weakness struck him.
His vision blurred.
The corridor twisted.
Jai stopped walking.
"Bro?"
James's smile vanished.
Pain exploded behind Jai's eyes.
Not a normal headache.
Something deeper.
Something violent.
His knees gave way.
"Jai!"
The marble floor rushed toward him.
Then everything went dark.
Fire.
That was the first thing Jai saw.
A chamber consumed by flames.
Smoke rolled across shattered stone.
Bodies covered the floor.
Dwarf guards.
Dead.
At the center of the destruction stood a man dressed entirely in black.
His clothing was strange.
Smooth.
Form-fitting.
Nothing like the armor or robes warriors normally wore in Aetheleon.
In his hand was a sword.
Long.
Narrow.
Curved.
A katana.
But the blade was not silver.
It was black.
Almost obsidian.
Along its edge burned a deep crimson glow that looked disturbingly similar to blood.
The man moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
A guard attacked.
The black blade flashed.
The guard fell.
Another rushed forward.
Dead.
Another.
Dead.
Jai watched helplessly.
The man didn't fight like someone struggling against enemies.
He moved like a predator walking through prey.
Then the vision shifted.
Queen Morlin.
She stood before the man.
Blood covered the floor around her.
The crimson-edged sword moved.
Jai tried to shout.
No sound came out.
The blade pierced her.
Morlin collapsed.
The scene changed again.
Zayn.
He was on his knees.
The man stood behind him.
The bloody katana rested against his neck.
Jai desperately tried to see the killer's face.
Who are you?
The flames shifted.
For the first time, the man's features became visible.
Black hair.
Intensely black.
And eyes...
red.
Burning red.
Jai froze.
He had seen those eyes before.
The man from the strange room.
The futuristic screens.
The black suit.
It's him.
The katana moved.
Jai watched Zayn's head fall.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
The red-eyed man stood among the wreckage.
Then slowly...
he looked directly at Jai.
As though he could see him through the vision.
The crimson eyes seemed to pierce straight through his soul.
And then—
Jai gasped.
Reality slammed back into him.
He was lying on the palace floor.
James knelt beside him.
Zayn was there too.
Both looked worried.
"What happened?" James asked.
Jai forced himself to sit up.
His hands were trembling.
"Nothing."
James stared at him.
"That didn't look like nothing."
"A dizzy spell."
Jai rubbed his forehead.
"Probably stress from the audience."
It was a terrible lie.
James knew it.
But Zayn didn't press him.
Jai slowly stood.
Inside, however, panic spread through him.
Black hair.
Red eyes.
The same man.
The same face from the strange vision of the futuristic room.
Except this time...
he had murdered Morlin.
Murdered Zayn.
And slaughtered the guards of the Dwarf Kingdom.
Jai's stomach tightened.
Are these visions connected?
Is that man real?
Is this the future?
Or was someone trying to show him something?
Jai looked down the palace corridor.
Everything around him suddenly felt fragile.
Temporary.
The joy of gaining political influence meant nothing compared to what he had just witnessed.
Something was coming.
Something connected to that man.
Black hair.
Red eyes.
A crimson blade.
And if the vision truly showed the future...
the Stonehead royal family was going to die.