Upon entering the castle, Keagan was separated from Russ and the two children, who were led to the common room.

Now, he stood in a hall bigger than the one in Castle June. Fit for a king, it was filled with lords who cast curious glances in his direction.

"Welcome"

Lord Reede, the lord of the castle, spoke. He appeared middle-aged, with neatly trimmed black hair and beard. On the other side was Lady Aria, her long black hair, dark eyes and red lips gave her a cold beaty demeanor, but there was something in her eyes that held something familiar. A daughter of the current head of House Jade, the region's greatest power, she regarded him with a raised eyebrow. Finally, there was the person who once held this power: the former head. His long white hair was tied in a ponytail, and his expression was unreadable as he cast Keagan a glance. Though relaxed, he emanated an undeniable aura of authority.

"I thank you for such a...grand welcome."

His ability to speak their language surprised some, while others found his strange accent amusing. Still others seemed offended by his words. Their stares seemed to convey a message: 'We didn't gather here for you.'

"Yes," Lord Reede replied. "We rarely see visitors from beyond the Violent Sea. How did you learn our language?"

"From the grandson of a sailor," Keagan explained. "He claimed to have survived the voyage from here to Eberia."

A woman's voice then spoke out. "Eberia," The high lady said, her expression impassive. "Is that the name of the land you hail from?" Despite her expression passive, a glint of curiosity flickered in her eyes.

"Yes," Keagan answered, noting this flicker of curiosity.

The woman seemed about to ask another question, however, she thought better of it and remained silent.

"Forgive me for not asking immediately," Lord Reede said. "What is your name?"

"Keagan Aizen," Keagan replied.

"Aizen," Lord Reede began, gesturing to Keagan's hair and eyes. "I, and I suspect everyone here, is quite curious. Are hair and eye colors like yours common in your homeland?"

Keagan pondered the answer. The truth was no, his hair and eyes only changed color when he acquired the dragon's breath ability. But that wasn't exactly something he could readily share. "Well," he hedged, "where I come from, hair color can range from ginger, blond, brown, and black. Eyes come in blue, green, gray, and...even orange." He noticed Lady Aria's previously passive eyes light up in surprise. "Truly?" she said. "Is your land so...diverse?"

Keagan nodded. "Different ethnicities, really. Some live in kingdoms, while others live in tribal societies, and still others live in the cold. It's a mixture of different origins on one continent."

His words sparked murmurs and gossip throughout the hall. Lady Aria seemed like she wanted to ask for more, but she held herself back.

"That is indeed fascinating," Lord Reede said, nodding. Then, with a slightly solemn tone, he added, "While we are all curious about your land, I have come to hear of a certain matter.'" Lord Reede cast an eye towards a specific lord on the side. "Come, Lord Lesly, step forward," he boomed.

A young man with short black hair and clothes in bright green and gray hues stepped forward.

"Can I see the token?" Lord Reede asked Keagan, who immediately presented it.

The young lord, with the symbol of a cloud on his clothing, eyed the token passively.

"He bears the token of guest and friendship from your house, Lord Lesly. Do you know how it came to be Lord Lesly? Tell us."

Lord Lesly took a breath and answered in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "My sister gave them to the foreigner. In her letter, she described the foreigner as having headed to the castle to... retrieve his belongings."

Mutterings erupted in the hall. Some glanced at the weapons by the high lord's seat before quickly looking away. The hall quieted down just as quickly.

"The heir and representative of Castle June," Lord Lesly continued, "gave this foreigner a task—to eliminate a bandit camp—said to be in return for his items. Of course, at the time, the foreigner didn't know the items weren't with Lord Yuri, nor did Lord Yuri directly say he'd return the items." He added the last part with a passive glance towards Lord June.

Keagan watched the scene unfold, 'This had turned into a trial of some sort so quickly,' he thought.

Lord Lesly continued his narrative, "Once he completed the task, the heir of House June allegedly denied and turned him away."

Lord June couldn't contain himself any longer. "My Lords, if I may interject!" he exclaimed, interrupting Lord Lesly.

Lord Reede, raised his hand for silence. "Lord June, please. You will have your chance to speak after Lord Lesly finishes his account."

Lord Lesly continued, "Seeing the foreigner's character—his generosity, which led him to earn more than 300 primals when he cleared the bandit camp but he chose to give it to the victims of the bandits and kept only a small amount for himself. This act seemed to have won him my sister's favor, and she granted him our token of friendship." Lord Louis finished, "That is all the letter I received said."

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Another round of mutterings and murmurings occurs, as they judge the story and Keagan's character.

"Thank you, Lord Lesly," Lord Reede said, addressing the lords. "As you have heard, there seems to be an issue between the foreigner and Lord June. Lord June claims the items he gifted the high lord were from a deceased foreigner. However, the foreigner himself stands before us, alive and well." Lord Reede said, glancing directly at Lord June. Lord June appeared eager to speak but restrained himself.

"However," Lord Reede continued, "to get a full view of the matter, it's always best to hear all sides." He then addressed Lord June, "Lord June, please step forward."

The tension between Lord Reede and Lord June was obvious. Keagan, being new to their dynamic, found it curious. If his understanding was correct, Lord June held a position subordinate to Lord Reede. Having animosity from someone above you is not a good position to be.

Keagan glanced at his weapons, placed to the side of the High Lord's seat. He recalled how it was said that Lord June himself had presented the weapons to the High Lord. This suggested that Lord June might have bypassed Lord Reede entirely, neglecting to inform him about the items. Possibly, he did that to gain favor from a high lord himself instead of from a great lord.

There could be more to it, of course, that or he was completely wrong.

Lord June was a man with long hair tied back in a ponytail. He stood a few inches shorter than Keagan, and while there were age-etched lines on his face, his body still held an air of strength.

"My Lords, Lord Reede, Lady Aria, and Your Excellency," he began slowly. Then, his gaze shifted to Keagan, his voice hardening with accusation. "I stand before you to express my outrage at how our titles and statuses are being disregarded!" Lord June boomed, his arm extending in a dramatic gesture towards Keagan. "This barbarian has insulted the authority and status of my house, and by extension, the authority of all the lords in this land!" His voice echoed throughout the hall, eliciting gasps from some, hushed gossip from others, and glares directed at Keagan.

Keagan, meanwhile, couldn't help but roll his eyes internally. Even in this land, lords seemed to have a fondness for dramatic proclamation. His face remained impassive though. He observed the scene like he was watching a play.

Lord Reede's gaze flickered between Lord June and Keagan. "Lord June," he addressed him directly, "what specific actions has this man taken to warrant such an accusation? How has he insulted your house and the authority of all the lords?"

Lord June glared contemptuously at Keagan, but his shorter stature only made him appear comical in Keagan's eyes.

"Within the very walls of our castle," Lord June boomed, his voice filled with outrage, "this man dared to accuse our house of both falsehood and theft! He has shown blatant disrespect for our authority and stained our honor, and on our own grounds no less!"

His words caused a stir in the hall. "My Lord Reede," a voice called out, "there is no need to stoop to the level of entertaining such a barbarian!"

Another voice chimed in, adding fuel to the fire, "Indeed, how can we have a savage hold court within our walls!"

Several lords voiced their opinions, creating a chaotic atmosphere in the hall. Keagan recognized them as the ones who had taken issue with his lack of a bow earlier. Others, however, exchanged furtive glances, their expressions unreadable.

"Silence!" Lord Reede boomed, his voice cutting through the commotion. The hall quieted down immediately.

He then turned to Keagan, addressing him directly. "Aizen," he said, "tell your side of the story. How do you defend yourself against these accusations?"

Keagan could see curiosity flicker in the lords' eyes, wondering how he would respond to the accusations. He launched into his narrative, recounting how his weapons were taken while he was unconscious. As he mentioned this, he cast a pointed glance at the weapons displayed beside the High Lord's chair. A silent exchange passed between him and the High Lord.

Keagan continued his story, explaining how he had requested the weapons' return, only to be met with Lord Yuri's claim that they rightfully belonged to him, despite the fact they were taken while Keagan was unconscious.

"My Lord Reede! My nephew informs me that if it weren't for our esteemed doctors, he wouldn't have survived! Show them, barbarian! Show them the infected wound on your arm, caused by some sort of poison. If it weren't for our exceptional doctors, the poison would have spread, and you would have died!" Lord June boomed, abruptly interrupting Keagan. Lord Reede, though clearly displeased by the interruption, gestured towards Keagan with a frown.

"Show us this arm," Lord Reede instructed.

Keagan nodded and complied, removing his glove. A thin, blackened finger was revealed, drawing gasps of disgust from those gathered in the hall.

"Their doctors," Keagan began, his voice steady, "don't have the ability nor the means to save my arm. it was my own body that saved me..."

Before Lord Reede could ask further, a voice boomed from the highest seat, silencing the entire hall. "What inflicted this?"

Keagan met the High Lord's gaze and answered simply, "A creature." He offered no further details about the creature appeareance. "When I washed ashore, it ambushed me and poisoned me. I managed to fight it off before succumbing to unconsciousness. I was later found on a riverbank."

The High Lord's gaze held Keagan's, scrutinizing him as if searching for hidden secrets. After a moment, the High Lord gave a curt nod.

The lords exchanged eyes, wondering what prompted the High lord to ask the foreigner so about the arm.

"How could you still move your arm?" Lady Aria chimed in, "Your arm, if I'm to be blunt, isn't it good as dead?" She said, the tone of her voice changed slightly from her passive tone from before to one of slight disbelief.

Keagan offered her a wry smile. "Indeed, any ordinary man would lose full use of that arm. But," he paused, slipping his glove back on, "I'm not exactly ordinary.."

Lady Aria's brow furrowed. "And how precisely will this arm heal itself?" she asked, her tone had a very faint hint of skepticism. The High Lord briefly flicked his gaze towards her before returning his attention to Keagan.

"Time," Keagan replied simply. "It will heal, it'll just take time."

The high lady fell silent, lost in thought. Lord Reede nodded curtly and addressed Keagan, "Continue your narrative from the point where Lord June interrupted."

Keagan acknowledged him with a nod, while Lord June looked disgruntled. As Keagan reached the part about completing his task and requesting the return of his items, Lord June boomed once more, unable to contain himself. "Tell us what you said to my nephew! What accusations did you hurl at our house?!" He glared fiercely at Keagan, a predatory grin on his face.

Keagan remained calm, his gaze fixed on the lord. "When someone takes something that belongs to you without your permission, what is that called?" He paused, letting the question hang in the air before continuing. "And when someone reneges on an agreement they have made, what would you have them called?"

Lord June's scowl deepened, clearly surprised by the foreigner's audacity. Nevertheless, a grin was on his face, this was what he wanted, "And what precisely might that be?" He taunted.

Keagan cast a slow, deliberate scan across the hall. The air crackled with tension as if they couldn't believe he would really say it. "A thief," he declared, his voice ringing clear, "and a liar."

Keagan's words ignited the hall in chaos, a cacophony of shouts and gasps filling the air. Amidst the uproar, Keagan locked eyes with the High Lord and the High lady.

He was going to push this as much as he could.