Adrianna Sandervile’s POV

I quickened my pace and nearly tripped over my dress, but Ren caught me. She smiled wryly at me and guided me out with our arms locked. Once we reached the front of the throne again, Ren let go of me, and the two princesses ascended to their seats. Leaving me behind…

“Wait! Where do I go?” I whispered loudly to Ren.

Ren just shrugged.

What!?

I can’t just go up there! That’s definitely not allowed and would probably cause an international incident. You can’t just walk up to the throne like that! And I can’t go sit down with my brother at our seat because it’s too far! So do I just stand there like an idiot?! Lauren! Ren!

I took a deep breath as I felt everyone watching me. I was sort of just standing awkwardly out in the open with nowhere to go, so I opted to do the next best thing. I just embraced it. I turned myself so as not to have my back towards the throne and the guests from other nations. It was a sign of disrespect to purposely stand with your back towards rulers or dignitaries, so proper etiquette demanded that I do something.

I was technically a princess of similar standing to Lauren, but, well...people don’t really look at the City-States that way. The side of the room was lined with foreign diplomats, all sitting in chairs and looking inward. Everyone else was standing in neat rows along the central carpeted path that led to the enormous marble and metal-studded doors that could allow a giant to walk through them.

The central pathway also had multiple men and women using an instrument I was unfamiliar with. Although I was sure I had seen it before, I just forgot what it was. It looked like a long metal tube with a wide opening at the opposite end. I heard a quick clap, and the musicians all put their mouths to the back ends and began blowing. It must have been some kind of wind or pipe instrument…it sounded…a little weird.

A set of two royal guards opened the doors on each side, and the music picked up with the added drums. The first to walk through the doors was an older man from The Mists. He wore a sea-green robe and a long white beard rolled down the front of him. He had kind dark brown eyes and was being escorted by two handsome men with long black hair wearing similar robes.

Ah! It’s him! He looks…so much older now…

Master Maran smiled at me and gave me a slight wave under his baggy arm sleeves. I returned the wave and smiled back at him while everyone around us began to whisper things. It was hard watching him slowly walking toward me. When I saw him just a few years ago, I was a little girl, and he was still looking healthy. But it seems the last few years have been hard on him as he has aged significantly.

He was Ren’s master and teacher, and I had spent quite a bit of time around the man. He was the brother to one of the emperors in The Mists and had recently taken two years off from training Ren to attend to business back home. Or so Ren had written to me. It was good to see him.

He stood next to me while his sons took up a position behind him. Both of them gave me nods of greetings, and Master Maran looked up at me with kind brown eyes. “It has been a while, Adrianna has it not?” he asked me in his warm voice. It reminded me of freshly baked cookies…he was always so kind to me during my stay.

“It has, Master Maran. I’m happy to see you are well,” I told him.

He let out a weak chuckle. “Well? I wish I were.” He eyed me up and down, and a smile appeared on his wrinkly face. “I’m happy to see you’ve grown into a fine young flower.” His eyes seemed to linger on me for a while, but his face never changed. “You remind me of your mother,” he added with a fondness to his voice.

“You knew my mother? I…I didn’t know that,” I whispered.

Master Maran chuckled lightly. “Ah, yes, I did know your mother. She was a wonderful, beautiful, and powerful woman. I see a lot of her in you,” he whispered back.

One of Master Maran’s sons put a hand on his shoulder. “I believe we should stop talking, father. We are getting some unsavory stares.” Master Maran merely grunted the same way older men do and faced forward, but not before giving me a playful wink.

Ah, we are…oops.

I caught Gal, my brother glaring at me—a disappointed look plastered on his face. I wish I felt some kind of sadness seeing my brother staring at me like that, but I didn’t particularly care. We may be siblings, but I feel like I barely know him.

While we were talking, two more people entered. A woman with blond hair wearing a blue and black dress had taken the position opposite of me. Also, a man wearing a white and gold suit that bore the symbol for Forward University stood next to the other woman. Along with those two, another younger-looking man in a black suit was talking quietly amongst the other two. It was then I realized who these people were. All of them were Luminar’s War Gods.

Master Maran was also a War God, and although he is getting on in years, I believe he is still considered to be one. I can’t say how strong he is now, but he used to be one of the strongest. However, I’m not sure if he could handle any of these War Gods now.

Another familiar face walked in last. He wore a tight-fitting raven black military-style suit that showed off his muscular frame. He had medals attached to his breast along with a fancy silver pauldron on his shoulder. His brown beard was trimmed expertly, showing off his square chin and strong face. His dark brown eyes locked with mine, and he bowed slightly upon reaching me.

“Lady Sandervile, it’s an honor to see you again,” he said in his deep voice.

“Lord Vasquez, it’s good to see you as well. How have you been?” I asked. The man looked…tired despite his strong facade.

“I am well, thank you for your concern,” he said, standing from his bow. The man was far taller than me, and I had to look up to see his face.

I looked behind me quickly, and the King still wasn’t present, nor was Prince Xander. “Where is Prince Xander?” I questioned.

Lord Vasquez looked to the throne, and I didn’t miss the momentary sadness that washed over his strong features, only to disappear in an instant. “He will be attending later. I’m sure of it,” he said with a voice of finality.

I didn’t press him any further as he stood tall next to me. The music changed slightly, and the lyres began playing along with the original instruments. Perhaps I just enjoyed the beautiful sound of the lyres more as I found this to be much more pleasant. Whatever was playing before sounded like we were ushering men into battle…come to think of it, that probably makes sense considering the people standing around me.

Standing around all these strong people really does make me feel so tiny compared to them. Even though I’ve made my way to becoming an Expert mage, I know I wouldn’t even be able to so much as scratch these War Gods. I’m sure even old Master Maran could knock me on my butt before I even knew what was up from down.

I shook my head slightly as I felt some people’s gazes turn to me. Everyone was always so tense during these stupid events and turned it into some kind of game. I hated it. This was supposed to recognize these brave individuals who fought and survived against a real-life Dragon! Yet some feel the need to make it a part of their political maneuvers…

With the music changed, the doors to the room were opened once more, and this time, three people came walking down the aisle. One was a girl maybe a few years older than me with long dirty blonde hair that was tied up into an elegant braid. A silver ribbon was tied around the end of the braid, and it matched her light silver and black gown with tiny silver specks along the bottom and around the seams. If I’m not mistaken, this was Linnetia Paine, I hadn’t gotten a chance to meet her, but she did look very much like her brother Sylas who was walking next to her in a simple black suit.

Besides the twins, there was one more girl, and she stood out the most. Her dress was form-fitting to her Elven curves and matched her purple and obsidian-colored hair. Her pale skin showing on the open sides of her dress seemed so soft and smooth even from here. Her High Elf ears peeked out from her hair that bounced off her shoulders. There was something oddly alluring about her despite her face being covered with a disfigured and broken bronze mask. Her single dark blue eye felt like it was glaring right at me, and I nervously fidgeted with the box.

That must be Sylvia, but I thought she was a Vampire, so why is her eye blue? Is that mask changing the color? And why is she glaring at me so hatefully? I can feel her bloodlust being directed at me, and I don’t like it one bit.

I turned away from her and watched the younger War God on the other side join the other three. He whispered something that I couldn’t catch with all the commotion and music, but Linnetia and Sylas smiled wryly. The War God stood adjacent to who I assumed to be the Vampire and flashed everyone a friendly smile. Then, with all four of them in place, they took a knee in unison, and apparently, this was the cue for the music to stop.

The room began to settle as the queen scanned the room. The king and prince were still absent, but it didn’t appear to bother her. I imagined that was her decades of training that allowed her to hide the frustration she was no doubt feeling. I had heard that King Maxwell was often late to things, so apparently, this was an everyday occurrence. But just because it’s normal doesn’t mean it’s good…

“You may rise, Heroes of Luminar,” the queen said in a soft voice. All four participants rose to their feet.

Hearing her speak seemed to soothe the soul. Even when I first met her, she was a soft-spoken woman, and it seems none of her children inherited her voice. All three royal siblings took after their father with the way they spoke, and I suppose that’s a good thing considering a solid voice is typically better in these situations. But even so…that didn’t discount Queen Maxwell’s abilities or her status. What many people may not be aware of is that she can be…aggressive in the most unusual ways.

Maybe aggressive isn’t the right word? Perhaps…fiercely independent? Clever? Cunning even?

It’s challenging to box her into one mold as she doesn’t fit any. Even my advisors warn me not to fall into her clutches and that she is far more dangerous than the king. It’s no secret who runs this kingdom and who protects it.

The queen left the throne, and her long cloth dress was reminiscent of the Old Brax clothing style. It was loose and seemed to prioritize comfort and ease of movement. The dress was such a light gold it was almost white, and it sort of made the queen appear like a fairy in Wood Elf stories. Her golden leaf crown with a large white gemstone sat atop her beautiful long blonde hair. The queen’s soft green eyes took everyone in as she addressed the gathering.

“We are here to celebrate all the heroes who stood tall against one of the world’s most fearsome beasts. A monster of legend come to life. In what could have been this nation’s darkest moment, these individuals radiated a brilliant light that could not be smothered by even the most draconian of legends. The tales of old tell us that a Dragon has not been slain in well over two thousand years, that even being capable of such a feat took unimaginable power and strength. Yet, these brave souls may not have felled the Dragon with their own hands, but it is due to those same hands so many were saved from slaughter by the maddened beast. So, bask in the presence of these four heroes as they stand before you now and know you are witnessing history in the making.”

The queen put a hand over her heart and nodded at the four individuals as the crowd exploded into oohs and aahs as well as a round of vigorous clapping. I felt a quick gaze as both Lauren and the queen stared at me intently, so I didn’t waste any time in making my way to the front. Thankfully everyone was preoccupied with these new heroes, so I mainly went unnoticed…besides the feeling of somebody trying to burn a hole through me with their eyes.

It’s her…why is she staring at me like this?

Lauren eyed me to come to stand next to her, so I did. With that, the queen looked back at the four people. “Sir Kelly Garrison, The Warden of the South, War God, and Professor of Class Onward, please step forward,” the queen asked.

The young-looking War God smiled brightly, and his green eyes seemed to shimmer as he stepped forward and knelt before us. “Accounts have it that you charged the Dragon singlehandedly, with no regard to your own life in order to protect the people of this kingdom. Are these events indeed true?” the queen asked with a gentle smile.

The man chuckled and raised his head. “You honor with me such a favorable recount, Your Majesty. I did indeed charge the beast to buy my students and colleagues time to escape,” the man admitted in a friendly voice.

“Stand, Sir Garrison, and do not be so modest. Most men, even of your skill would fold under the might of such an overwhelming opponent. I ask that you be proud of your courageous and selfless decision as you undoubtedly saved hundreds if not thousands of lives with your sacrifice,” the queen told him. “Now accept this medal on behalf of this kingdom and prepare yourself for the bountiful awards that are to head your way, Margrave Garrison. Once your family grows, you will receive land and an entire city within the next six years. The crown expects great things from your future household,” she said with a playful smile.

The man’s eyes went wide with surprise and, for a moment, looked confused. It seemed he just jumped from the lowest nobility rankings to nearly at the top. I’m not sure if he is thrilled, confused, or scared…maybe a little bit of everything. I kept pace behind Lauren, and once we arrived, I opened the box to reveal the medals.

Margrave Garrison looked at Lauren with a complicated expression. “Uh, what just happened?” he muttered so only we could hear.

Lauren gently removed the medal from the box and stood in front of the man. “Whatever could you mean, Margrave? A noble title befitting a noble action,” Lauren teased while whispering. “It is with great honor that I bestow this award to you, Margrave Garrison. May you continue protecting this kingdom with your sharp blade while educating the youth with your witty mind,” Lauren said loud enough for everyone to hear.

Margrave Garrison smiled drly as Lauren put the medal around his neck. Although Lauren didn’t say anything to him he stood up, and everyone began clapping for him as he took his position with the other three. Once Lauren and I backed up slightly, the queen started to address Sylas and Linnetia.

“Lord Sylas Paine and Lady Linnetia Paine of House Paine, please step forward,” the queen asked. Once the two twins had kneeled before us, the queen continued. “Tell me, Sylas, is it indeed true that you organized the remainder of able-bodied students and staff to create triage centers in order to better assist Sylvia in their healing? And you, Linnetia, is it true you marshaled capable fighters in defense of those who were injured?” the queen asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the two responded in unison.

The queen smiled brightly. “Please, raise your heads high and let everyone see the faces of those who exemplify what it means to be of nobility in this kingdom. As members of the prestigious House Paine, it is due to your bravery and knowledge that so many people draw breath today. I shall be ascending your family to a more befitting status for your actions. House Paine shall now be the first Archdukedom. The land originally owned by House Paine before the fall of Brax shall be gifted back to you in full. May your family prosper for generations to come.”

“Your kindness knows no bounds,” Sylas said genuinely.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. House Paine will strive to meet your expectations,” Linnetia said stoutly.

Lauren and I repeated the process of handing Linnetia and Sylas their medals. “Congratulations, Lin,” Lauren whispered.

While still painting a smile, Linnetia managed to sigh quietly. “More responsibilities…yay…” Both of them giggled quietly, and a fond smile tugged on Sylas’s lips.

With their medals gifted, the two siblings bowed again to the queen and Lauren before regrouping with the other two. Of course, Land and titles weren’t the only things they were getting. If I’m not mistaken, Ren may have let it slip that nearly everyone would be receiving a good portion of coin as well as any other miscellaneous things they requested. Most of this was already agreed upon behind closed doors, which is what I managed to squeeze out of Ren.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Well…in the case of Margrave Garrison, I suppose not everything was handled beforehand.

An awkward silence seemed to grip the room as everyone began paying a little more attention to the proceedings. Even the pontifex was keeping a single eye open as she watched curiously as to what was about to happen next. After all…it was time for the Vampire to receive her award, and if Ren was telling the truth, she might be just as important as the Dragonslayer.

Queen Maxwell didn’t even need to request a bout of silence as she addressed the Vampire. “Sylvia, please step forward.”

The Vampire walked forward and knelt before the queen. It was almost like this simple action weighed heavily upon everyone. The room was getting tenser by the second, and a heavy air settled in. It felt like something terrible was about to happen, and I could feel sweat pooling under my arms.

However, the queen didn’t seem phased. “Sylvia, could I ask you to show the world your face? I believe it to be wrong for a hero to feel they are being forced to hide behind a mask because they are afraid of persecution. Your race does not matter here, and no matter the color of your eyes or the lengths of your teeth, you will be recognized all the same,” the queen said softly.

The one blue blinked out of existence, and she seemed to mull over what the queen had asked. “Your Majesty, with all due respect, I ask that you not request that of me. I wish to keep my face hidden for the time being,” she said in a lovely voice while still kneeling.

Wow…what a beautiful voice…I…I hadn’t expected that. It’s so gentle and soothing…she should try singing. But she just said no to the queen?! I mean… it was a very nice way to put it but still!

The queen nodded her head. “I understand. If that is what you wish for, then I shall not force you. However, Sylvia, despite your momentous achievements in saving the lives of over one hundred people, you have declined all our offers to receive a noble title and even gone as far as to dismiss our attempts to grant you any sort of compensation. You have also been difficult to track down these last few days.” Queen Maxwell allowed a little bit of emotion to slip into the last part. Perhaps not frustration but a small amount of disappointment.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I’ve been preoccupied spending time with those close to me,” she admitted.

“I see. Then, Sylvia, may I ask what is it you desire? We have prepared an award for you, and although it is the first of its kind, it is merely a token of this kingdom’s gratitude towards you,” the queen asked with a warm smile.

The Vampire remained kneeling, and I could see her blue eye flicker to life. “All that I ask is you grant whatever request Voker Winterheart makes.”

Quen Maxwell raised her eyebrows in surprise, then smiled gently. “You would forgo any reward for the wish of your lover?”

The Vampire coughed slightly, and her pale ears burned bright red as she cleared her throat. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Wait…she said Voker? So the two masked Elves are together, and Lauren and Ren…oh…I see…I get it now. But wait, what request would Voker make of the crown?

The queen rubbed her face slightly and looked at Sylvia with a fond smile. “You are absolutely certain that this is what you want? I can’t guarantee to agree to something I’m not even aware of.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the Vampire repeated.

“Although I disagree with your request and I can not promise to accept another in its stead, I will respect your decision, Sylvia. Please raise your head.” The queen made her statement and looked over at Lauren.

We walked together towards her, and I could still feel her hateful gaze tear into me. I still had no idea why she was looking at me like this, and it made me nervous. I had the feeling she was going to lash out at me if I so much as looked at her wrong.

Lauren sort of just tossed the medal around her neck, and the Vampire let out a barely audible snicker. A vein momentarily bulged on the side of Lauren’s neck as her jaw clenched. I could tell she was holding back some kind of snarky comment. But even while Lauren was handing her the lacquered medal box, she never once stopped glaring at me.

“Thank you for your contribution to this country,” Lauren struggled to say through gritted teeth.

“Of course, Your Highness,” the Vampire said in a completely neutral tone.

I blinked in surprise at her tone. Was this Vampire trained in etiquette? Even the way she holds herself makes her seem like nobility. Perhaps she was born into one of the influential Vampire families still in power? What would she even be doing here in the first place?

I had so many questions yet…I didn’t want a single one of them to be answered.

The queen took her throne, as did Lauren, while the Vampire went back to her group. The three younger heroes moved to join the ranks of everyone else while Margrave Garrison stood next to the other War Gods. Not being told what to do again, I sort of just found myself back next to Master Maran.

“You did a wonderful job, Adrianna,” the old man said softly.

I thanked him with a short, polite bow. You could never be sure who was watching me. “Thank you, Sir.”

I looked back at the throne and had to do a double-take to ensure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. It was impossible to miss King Maxwell, so when he suddenly appeared when he wasn’t there just moments ago I couldn’t believe my eyes.

He was just casually relaxing on his throne as if nothing was amiss. I don’t even think the people in the room realized he was here now as we were supposed to kneel before him, but…well, I guess he isn’t one for formality. Standing next to him and the queen now were their two Shadow Dancer guards.

I had only been in their presence a few times during my previous visit to Luminar, so I never really got a chance to speak to them. Which was regretful since if I had spoken to them, perhaps I could have learned more about Kali…, and things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

Ah…there I go…thinking about him again. This whole event is throwing me off. I just want to spend the next few days relaxing with Ren and Lauren after this.

I heard somebody else sit down, and Lord Vasquez shifted next to me. I followed his gaze, and Prince Xander had also joined us. The smile that was forming on my face never came to be as I looked into his tired eyes. Prince Xander seemed so… different…what happened to him?

Once the Prince returned to Luminar after his loss during the tournament, apparently, he had begun to change. Lauren would write me scathing reviews of her brother, calling him an idiot warmonger and a foolish failure. It was a complete and utter change that I just didn’t understand.

On my first visit to Luminar, all three of the royal siblings seemed to have a completely normal relationship. Prince Xander was a funny and kind boy, and I never once got the impression he would even so much as think about hurting Ren and Lauren.

So when I read that he was hiring assassins and was told that he now had a completely different personality than what I had witnessed, I just didn’t believe it. I thought it was perhaps a sibling quarrel, but…not anymore. He’s even avoided me and refused to speak to me during dinner or the party…

How did he change so drastically? What happened to the man who spent almost an hour telling me stories about his little sisters? Where did all that love go?

The young man sitting on his throne wearing a gaudy raven black military uniform was not the Prince Xander I knew. All those medals and stupid rope things…that golden pauldron…none of it was him. Even his god-awful hairstyle pained my heart.

The sound of something clicking against the floor began to echo in the great hall, and the entire room went silent. Then, somebody coughed loudly, and the sound of instruments began to fill the halls as everyone looked toward the doors. They were once again opened, and a small procession of royal guards was leading the way. Those carrying the long wind instruments raised them high and began blowing into their horns as the tension started to rise.

The clicking became louder and more distinct, and I recognized it as somebody walking with a cane. The masked Elf from before was walking down the aisle slowly, limping his right leg behind him. His white suit gleamed in the torchlight from the chandeliers, and he moved with purpose. I looked him up and down, and now that I was at a distance, I realized just how large of a man he was. I had never seen a High Elf so big before…he was nearly the size of those Dark Elf Shadow Dancers guarding the queen and king.

Wait!? Is he the one that slew the Dragon? This guy?! I barely even noticed him at the party?! How can a man with such little presence be capable of felling a Dragon?

The Dragonslayer had apparently been significantly injured during the battle and hadn’t been seen in public for months! People weren’t even sure if there was a Dragonslayer or if they were still breathing! It seems only a handful of people knew who had killed the Dragon and where the mysterious Dragonslayer was.

My mind was racing to try to piece everything together when the music ceased once more as Voker stood before the throne…a little too close. He also hadn’t kneeled, and I could hear a few people whispering amongst themselves. All the dignitaries were sitting closer to the edge of their seats as they watched Voker with wide, curious eyes. Even the pontifex was showing an interest as she was fully awake.

The first person to make a move was Prince Xander as he aggressively shot forward in his chair. “You will kneel before your—”

“Silence,” the king said quickly, interrupting his son.

King Maxwell’s voice was deep and powerful. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand on the edge, and I couldn’t stop looking at him. He tilted his head slightly and rested it on his open palm. The corner of his mouth was beginning to turn into a fierce grin.

“The day I have an injured hero kneel is the day I stop being king,” he stated simply.

The king began radiating a fierce bloodlust that nearly dropped me to my knees. Sweat dripped down my face, and I felt like my heart was about to stop from the intense aura. I looked around, and most people were also struggling underneath his might…but Voker remained steadfast. Then just like that, it vanished.

“Impossible,” Lord Vasquez muttered in disbelief. His brown eyes were wide as he looked at Voker with the most emotion I’ve ever seen on his usually stoic face.

The king let out a laugh that resonated deep within his chest. Being this close made it rattle my chest, but I was just thankful the bloodlust had subsided. It was even worse than Kalis…

“Wonderful! Truly a wonderful man. Did the Dragonslayer enjoy his Dragon’s rest?” the king chuckled playfully.

“You could say that, Your Majesty,” Voker said in a deadpan voice.

Lauren sighed while Ren just smiled wryly at him. Poor Prince Xander looked about, ready to burst from his chair. Of course, speaking in such a manner as Voker just did to a king or queen could easily have your head removed…even if you killed a Dragon. But the king didn’t seem to be bothered, and neither did the queen. They almost seemed relieved.

The king sat a little straighter on his throne. “Voker Winterheart, The Dragonslayer, savior of this kingdom, what is it that you want most in this life? What do you desire above all else? Tell me what you want. I shall give you anything you desire.”

The entire room looked up at the king. Those words were very powerful, and announcing such a wish in front of so many people was mind-boggling. Typically you would offer land, titles, money, honestly anything over '“anything you desire.” Anything can mean a lot of things…

Voker stayed silent for a time as he apparently mulled over the king’s request. But for whatever reason, I didn’t feel that he was even considering what the king said to be a problem. It was almost like he didn’t care.

What is he going to ask for? What does this man—

“Your crown,” Voker stated.

Everyone present sucked in a breath, and all heads turned to the king. The royal guards began unsheathing their swords, and even the Shadow Dancers pointed spears at the man.I was expecting a fight, maybe even an order to have Voker executed. However, you could ask a king a lot of things that were borderline disrespectful or even threatening if you did it right. King Maxwell wasn’t precisely a tyrant, nor was he known for being particularly aggressive. As one could see, he was a relatively laid-back type of man in most situations. I suppose he was a soldier turned king, after all.

However…asking for a king to relinquish his crown in a public place like this is not an acceptable request…even as a joke. I’m sure he’s strong, but can Voker take on every person in this room?

King Maxwell let out another deep laugh, this time much louder. His booming voice echoed off the walls, and a real tear was wiped from his clear blue eye. “Bold! I suppose it takes a different type of man to make such a request! Perhaps the type that can face down a Dragon!” he said with a laugh. The guards lowered their weapons and looked amongst each other as the king ignored them.

But his smile faded quickly, and his joyful nature was gone in a blink of an eye. “There are some things I cannot do; this is one of them, Voker Winterheart,” the king said dangerously.

Voker nodded. “I understand. I was merely testing the limits and what you meant by “anything,” Your Majesty,” Voker said calmly.

For a man that just danced a fine line between being executed and making a joke, he seems awfully calm about all of this. Perhaps this really was planned out, and I’m just out of the loop? I guess this may be a ploy to make King Maxwell seem more benevolent…but I feel this wasn’t a part of some script.

Everyone looked expectantly at Voker, and as did the king. Voker scanned the room, and it felt like his eyes fell on me. “I see what your limits are, Your Majesty. In that case, would you be willing to fight for me? Possibly in a war if it came down to it?”

What? Why did he look at me when he said that? Wait…wait…

Everyone began to whisper under their breath after hearing what Voker had just said. The tension in the room grew as people began frantically trying to figure out what was going on now.

The king had a confused look on his face as he turned to the queen. She just smiled at him, and the king’s grin encompassed his entire face. He leaned back in his chair, exposing parts of his overly muscular upper chest. King Maxwell was far too big to be a normal person, in my opinion…how does somebody even get those kinds of muscles?

“A war, huh?” the king muttered to himself. “Why don’t you just say what you want, Voker Winterheart?”

Voker nodded again and shifted the weight onto another leg. “I am a wanted criminal with a significant-sized bounty on my head. I request that my bounty be cleared and any crimes pardoned. Furthermore, I desire that my friends, family, and close ones be safe.”

Surprised gasps began to leave people’s mouths. The whispers of the audience grew even louder and reached a pitch to where people were trying to talk over one another. Things were devolving quickly and for a good reason.

The Dragonslayer, a wanted criminal? Him? What is going on? There’s no way…is he wanted in the City-States? Is he blaming me? Or…could it be him?

“Silence,” the king demanded while scanning the room.

He gave Voker a fatherly smile that was unlike him. “I understand your concerns, but this is hardly something to be worried about, Voker.” The king cleared his throat, and his booming voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. “This man before you is pardoned of any crimes. The crown will pay for his bounty. The Dragonslayer is no criminal,” the king stated with a satisfied smile.

The queen rubbed her face and let out a tired sigh. She stood from her throne and looked down at Voker. “This is hardly a befitting award for the man who saved countless lives. Some may forget that Luminar would have only been the first stop on the rampaging Dragon’s quest for death and destruction. An untold amount of devastation would have been wrought across the entire world if it weren’t for you, Voker Winterheart. Absolving you of crimes long since committed is to be expected of us. Every nation that calls this continent home should think carefully about thinking otherwise.”

Huh…that seemed to have quieted people down.

Queen Maxwell brought her hands together, beaming an affectionate smile towards Voker. “With saying this, it is unthinkable to make this your only reward. So, in taking into account your desire and that of another, I shall give you this. Voker Winterheart, Dragonslayer, you are to be knighted here and now. As someone who holds no lands or titles, the title of knight shall be bestowed upon you now.” The queen looked over to Ren with a different kind of smile. “Princess Arene Maxwell, you are to perform the ceremony and knight Sir Winterheart.”

“Mother?!” Ren choked. “I—I can’t do that! Lauren should—”

“It is uncouth that a princess of your standings does not have a single knight under her command. Your sister and brother have plenty, and therefore, you shall receive one that can equal all their power combined. Princess Arene Maxwell, you are to knight this man.” The queen’s decree left no room to bargain, but that wouldn’t stop Ren.

Ren looked to her father with a face begging for assistance, but he quickly averted his eyes. Ren looked to Lauren next, but she just shrugged as if it was out of her hands. Even Prince Xander seemed nonplussed about all of this. I thought he would at least be up in arms, but he was just sitting with his eyes closed and arms crossed.

The whispering was growing again, and I looked to Voker, but he made no moves to disagree with the queen or refuse the title. From Queen Maxwell’s hand, an enormous, ornate sword appeared from nowhere. It was still sheathed, and it was far too wide or unwieldy to be helpful in a sword fight. But I did recognize that blade, and it was from the Old Empire.

One of the previous emperors of Brax was said to have melted down an entire noble’s treasure trove to make the blade. The emperor used the gems from the noble’s wife’s collection to stud the pommel and hilt. And then he stripped the noble’s children’s clothes to wrap the handle. Of course, this was all one big fairy tale, and I couldn’t be sure if it were true…but one thing was for sure, that blade was very real.

Ren grabbed the handle while the queen still held onto the scabbard. The long golden blade made a satisfying sound as it slid out.

Ren moved the sword with ease, and she looked somewhat silly, wielding such a massive sword in her white dress. If she were to plant the blade into the ground, it would be almost as tall as her.

Now that I’m getting a better look…Ren looks quite muscular in her arms and shoulders. Has she gotten stronger?

Ren stood in front of Voker yet wouldn’t look him in the face. “Would you kneel, sir? It would be difficult for me to reach your shoulders…”

Ah…duh…Voker is a lot taller than Ren.

Voker looked over Ren’s head and straight at the queen. “Actually, there is one thing, Your Majesty.”

The queen looked confused for a moment but nodded her head. “And what would that be, Sir Voker?”

“You see, Voker Winterheart isn’t real. If you are going to be knighting someone, you need to knight me.”

Voker placed his hand over his mask and removed it. My heartbeat was deafening in my ears, and my vision narrowed. Voker’s gray hair began to turn into a beautiful raven black in a wave starting from the top of his head. His cream-colored skin was gone, and in its place, a light tan remained.

His High Elven face was chiseled and was the definition of Elven beauty. But above all else, his two different colored eyes stuck out the most. His brilliant golden eye swirled like a melted pool of gold, while his other eye was different from what I remembered. His purple eye had changed as the white part was grayer, and the eye itself seemed more reptilian in nature.

It was a face I didn’t immediately recognize, but I knew it had to be him…Kali…what happened to you?

“You’ll be knighting Kaladin Shadowheart.”