The trio—Niles, Roy, and Gustavus—awoke pleasantly to a royal breakfast, rolled in on a gleaming silver cart by castle maids. A miniature buffet awaited, laden with fresh fruit, dried meats, pastries, and delicate sweets. Niles popped a grape in his mouth, washing it down with a long gulp of water. “You know, guys,” he said, as he reached for more fruit, “I think the king actually likes us!”

Gustavus, carefully assembling a plate of treats, gave him a skeptical look. “Are you sure about that?”

“Why else would he serve us such a feast?” Niles replied, smiling with the oblivious cheerfulness of a lamb headed for the butcher.

Roy, mid-bite on a strip of dried meat, nearly choked. Niles slapped a glass of water into his hand before adding, “Maybe they’ve realized our greatness before we have!” He paused, brow furrowing thoughtfully. “Or… maybe it’s something else.”

Gustavus noticed the shift and cocked his head. “Care to elaborate?”

“Well,” Niles replied, leaning in conspiratorially, “I was talking with Aurelia, and she mentioned that in times of war, everything starts with deception.”

Gustavus nodded, his expression serious. “That does sound like the start of a trap.”

Changing the subject, Roy turned to Gustavus, his mouth twisted in a smirk. “Hey, Gus, how do you know so much about other worlds anyway?”

“Yeah, nerd,” Niles teased, winking at him.

Gustavus took it in stride, smiling. “I’ve read a lot of stories and watched plenty of anime, but this place… well, it’s different. There are three key reasons.” He held up a finger. “First, how we got here. Second, the fact that there are three of us. And third, usually in these stories, the summoned person has some kind of overpowered skill, but here, we’re…” He trailed off, giving Niles an expectant look.

“...practically useless?” Niles finished with a grin.

Gustavus nodded, pointing at Roy with a chuckle. “And that might be different if our buddy here could actually aim his cannon. But as it stands, you’ve got a better chance of hitting the moon than hitting a target.”

Niles laughed, poking at Roy. “Tell me, with that aim, you do sit down to pee, right?”

“Hey!” Roy protested, though the jab got a chuckle out of him despite himself.

Niles paused, a new seriousness settling over him. “Look, I know we haven’t known each other long…”

“Right—like, since yesterday,” Roy interjected dryly.

Niles nodded. “But this world’s got its own rules, and it’s nothing like what we’re used to. So, I think we need an alliance.” He let that sink in, glancing at his friends. “Even if we get separated, let’s have each other’s backs, no matter what.”

Roy eyed him with suspicion. “You’re not talking about challenging the king to another duel, are you?”

“No, no!” Niles replied, hands raised in defense. “Promise!”

Gustavus, sensing the gravity in Niles’ voice, nodded solemnly. “I’m in. I don’t know how much I can contribute, but… we’re in this together, right?”

“That’s the spirit!” Niles cheered, clapping him on the back. “What about you, Roy?” He extended his hand, eyebrows raised expectantly.

Roy exhaled, rolling his eyes but with a slight grin. “Fine. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to stick together.”

With a handshake and a shared grin, they clasped hands in solidarity. “Planet Buddies!” Niles proclaimed, attempting a triumphant wave that looked more like he was swatting at an invisible fly.

The team burst into laughter, sealing their bond in a way only they could.

A sharp knock on the door. It was Winston, the court assistant from the previous day, calm and cheerful as ever. "Good morning, gentlemen! I trust you all slept well?”

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Both Gustavus and Roy shot each other pained looks, the memory of Niles’ thunderous snoring still fresh. Niles, however, stretched and grinned as if he hadn’t disturbed a soul. “Slept like a baby!” he declared, as if speaking for all three of them.

Winston nodded, a slight smile on his face. “Glad to hear it.” He straightened. “We’ll soon be departing for the throne room, where you’ll have an audience with the king. But before that, I’ll be teaching you some essential court etiquette… to avoid,” he paused delicately, “unnecessary offense.”

Gustavus and Roy simultaneously shifted their gazes to Niles.

“What?” Niles said, raising his hands defensively.

Winston guided them through the basics of court decorum, covering everything from how to address nobility to the appropriate way to bow. Once satisfied, he added, “And just a reminder—there’s a ball tonight, and you’re all expected to attend. Many distinguished guests from across the continent will be present, so we’ll need everyone to be on their best behavior.” He hesitated, looking over their rumpled clothes. “Later today, you’ll be sent to the salon for a… wardrobe refresh. But for now,” he gestured to the door, “we mustn’t keep the king waiting. He’s not known for his patience.”

The trio exchanged a look of silent agreement: no one was in any rush to test the king’s limits.

Niles, Roy and Gustavus followed closely behind Winston, the assistant leading them through the castle’s endless corridors toward the throne room. After a stretch of silence, Niles couldn’t resist breaking it.

“Hey, Winston,” Niles asked, curiosity lighting up his face, “what’s your skill?”

Winston glanced back as they walked, his voice humble. “It’s really nothing special…” But the trio’s eagerness coaxed him on. “I can see everyone’s level—numbers that appear over their heads, but only to me.”

“Whoa! That’s like a super omega ultimate skill!” Niles marveled, practically bouncing in place. “No wonder they have you working here in the royal court!”

Caught off-guard by Niles’ enthusiasm, Winston let a small, proud smile slip. “Well, not exactly. My position at court…let’s just say my parents paid a large sum for me to be here. Besides, they don’t need my skill much since the amulet can read levels and more.”

Niles pressed on, clearly captivated. “So, who has the highest level here? Is it the king?”

After a brief hesitation, Winston replied, “That would be Prince Xander, actually. Then the king…”

“And then the rest of the royal family?” Niles cut in.

Winston shook his head, chuckling softly. “No, after the king, it’s Dragon, followed by the Xargian elite guards.”

Just as Niles geared up for more questions, they arrived at the massive doors to the throne room. Two Xargian guards—the elephant and wolf-helmeted soldiers from the day before—stood watch, opening the grand doors. Niles shot the wolf-helmeted guard a mocking scowl, taunting him with a look that seemed to say, What’re you gonna do about it?

The guard’s body tensed, but he kept his composure under the gaze of the court beyond the doors.

Inside, the royal court and family were already assembled. King Xerxes sat high on his throne of a thousand crowns, his gaze intense as he looked down upon the trio. Without a word, he raised his hand, silencing the murmur in the room, and fixed his focus directly on Niles.

“Which claim do you wish to receive?” he demanded, his voice echoing.

Winston stepped forward, and Niles braced himself. “The following claims are available,” Winston recited. “The freedom of Lady Aurelia, an island to declare as your kingdom, or the hand of Princess Xemena.”

Gasps rippled through the court. Xemena stiffened, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, but Niles’s focus never wavered from the king. He took a breath, then spoke firmly.

“The freedom of Lady Aurelia,” he declared.

Aurelia’s face broke into a warm smile, her gaze meeting his with a grateful, silent thank you that seemed to pass between them.

The king’s voice rang out. “Granted. Goddess, you are free, and all charges against you are dropped. For the sake of our alliance, however, will you join us at tonight’s ball?”

Aurelia nodded gracefully. “Yes, my king,” she replied, her voice steady and respectful.

The king continued, his expression hardening. “War is upon us. To defend our nation, we shall strengthen our borders. Each of my children will return to their posts to protect our lands. And you, summoned champions, will accompany one of them.”

His eyes narrowed, recalling his children’s antics from the day before. “Prince Xhiva, you may choose first.”

Xhiva, the heavyset prince lounging on a padded stool, glanced dismissively at the trio. “I’ll take the least useless among them,” he muttered, his gaze landing on Roy. “Sir Roy, I expect you to perform well under my command.”

Roy squared his shoulders, nodding curtly. “I’ll do my best, Your Highness.”

Niles and Gustavus exchanged glances of relief, grateful to have dodged Xhiva. The king’s attention turned to Xemena.

“Next, Princess Xemena. Your choice.”

Xemena’s cold gaze assessed Niles and Gustavus before she settled on Gustavus. “I choose the least bothersome—Sir Gustavus, if you will.”

Gustavus managed a respectful bow. “Of course, my lady,” he said, his voice wavering slightly. Even so, he feared that one misstep might end his journey here.

Finally, the king addressed his eldest son. “And now, Prince Xander.”

Xander cast a long, empathic glance at Niles, his expression tinged with both warmth and sorrow. Something was off. Niles could feel it in the air.

“Due to your failure in yesterday’s duel,” the king intoned, “Sir Niles is hereby banished. He has until tomorrow to leave, but until then, he is in your command, Prince Xander.”

The decree hit Niles like a blow. He reeled, trying to process the weight of it as the king rose, his speech concluded. The room began to empty, yet Niles couldn’t stand back and accept his fate—not without a final gambit. He took a step forward, heart pounding.

It was now or never.