It was Aldric—Aurelia's father—who slowly entered the room.

“All right, let’s get to work,” Xander said, clapping Niles on the shoulder. It was a signal that he could remain in the room. Xander turned to Xhiva and spoke in coded simplicity, “I’ll handle the hard part,” implying he would retrieve the status-unveiling crystal.

Xhiva gave a quick nod, understanding his own task: smuggling Felix into Niles’s room.

Xemena’s eyebrows lowered in distaste. “Why do I feel like you’re all up to something no good?”

Xander offered her a calm, knowing smile as he glided past her. “Why, sister, why would you ever think that way about your loving family?”

Xemena didn’t bother replying, her gaze already shifting to Xhiva. His expression was as readable as an open book, brimming with guilt that he was part of a larger scheme.

“Spit it out,” she commanded, stepping squarely into his path.

Xhiva made no attempt to sidestep her—not that he could with his broad frame while Xemena was blocking the small doorway. “Sing, little brother,” she said, her tone sharp and unyielding, her piercing eyes inspecting every inch of his face for cracks in his resolve.

But Xhiva held firm, his lips pressed tightly shut, avoiding her eyes at all costs.

Xemena sighed in exasperation, throwing up her hands. “Fine. I’m too tired for this. I’ve got more important things to do. Just don’t let me take the blame for whatever idiocy you’re planning.” She turned her attention to Gustavus, pointing sharply at him. “I expect a full report later—everything. As my soldier, that’s an order.”

With that, she spun on her heel and left, her commanding presence lingering in the air.

Lord Aldric exhaled audibly, his shoulders sagging in relief. “Thank heavens. That young lady makes my knees shake.” He pulled a silver handkerchief from his coat and dabbed at his brow.

That single comment won him an immediate welcome into the group.

“I know, right?” Gustavus blurted, as though Aldric had spoken directly to his soul.

Roy nodded vigorously. “She’s terrifying.”

Xhiva chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. “If you think that’s bad, wait until you see her when she’s actually mad.”

The group burst into laughter, momentarily easing the tension.

“Well, enough fun. We’ve got business to attend to,” Xhiva declared, gesturing to Roy and Gustavus. They followed him out of the room, shutting the door behind them with a faint click.

Now alone with Niles, Aldric took a moment to compose himself. “Sir Niles,” he began carefully, his voice quieter now, “I’ll be honest—I overheard your conversation earlier.”

Niles’s stomach tightened, the air in his lungs growing heavier. Was Aldric about to report his plans to save Felix? A minor coup against royal decree?

But Aldric shook his head gently. “Don’t worry—I have no intention of interfering. In fact, I wanted to thank you.”

“Thank me?” Niles asked, the tension in his chest loosening, though confusion filled the space it left behind.

“Yes,” Aldric said, his expression softening. “I was hesitant at first. Unsure of you. But thank you for caring so deeply for my daughter.”

He took a seat at the edge of Niles’s bed, his gaze drifting toward the open window. Sunlight spilled onto his weathered face, and for a moment, he appeared lost in thought.

Then, as though preparing to tell a story, Aldric straightened slightly and began, his voice touched with both sorrow and resolve.

"Once, our kingdom flourished," Aldric began, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "Fields of green stretched as far as the eye could see, nestled between protective mountains. We were small—not rich enough to tempt greed—but we were happy. Proud."

He paused, his gaze drifting to the window as though he could still see the rolling hills of his homeland. "I was just a boy when the soldiers of Xandria stormed our lands. They came to my grandfather with a choice: bow or don’t bow." Aldric’s voice caught for a moment, then steadied. "He refused. He wouldn’t kneel for invaders."

The weight of memory pressed down on him, his eyes darkening. "They removed him before my eyes."

Niles didn’t need to ask what removed meant.

"Then they turned to my father and asked the same question. He chose to bow," Aldric continued, his voice quieter now. "I was with him the day he delivered our crown to the throne of a thousand crowns." His lips pressed into a thin line, bitterness creeping into his tone. "It was Xerxes’s father who sat upon that throne back then. They melted our crown down and added it to the others. A symbol of our submission."

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Aldric’s voice faltered as he stared into the distance. "It broke my father. He couldn’t live with the shame." He straightened slightly, though the burden of those memories still clung to him. "So, I became lord of our lands at a young age. Too young."

He looked to Niles, his gaze heavy with curiosity. "Sir Niles, do they have wars in your world?"

Niles nodded. "Always," he said, the word weighted with resignation. "Even though the nation I lived in prospered in peace, conflict was never far away."

Aldric sighed, the sound carrying the ache of centuries of human folly. "Is there any way to break the cycle?"

Niles hesitated, searching for an answer that didn’t exist. "I don’t know, Lord Aldric," he admitted. It was all he could think to say.

The room fell silent, both men lost in their thoughts.

At last, Aldric spoke again, his voice wavering. "The king has already decided. He said we won’t try to save her, that 'she has served her purpose.'" His hands trembled as he stared at them, as though trying to understand his own powerlessness. "But she’s my daughter. She has never served a purpose. She is my purpose. She is my beloved child, now and always."

His voice broke, and he fell silent, shame weighing him down. "And I... I didn’t even argue. I just accepted his decision."

Niles couldn’t bear it any longer. "We’ll get her back," he said, his voice not particularly strong, but steady enough to carry hope.

Aldric looked at him, the faintest smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thank you," he said softly.

Clearing his throat, Aldric shifted to a new subject. "The reason I came was to bring you something Aurelia had prepared for you in her room." He reached into his coat and pulled out a neatly wrapped box, its corners meticulously tied with ribbon.

He smiled faintly as he held it out to Niles. "She told me she was planning to sell this for gold to fund her escape. But she didn’t have to—because you saved her." His smile grew a bit wider. "Brave girl, my Aurelia. Don’t you agree?"

Niles returned the smile, the memory of her fiery determination vivid in his mind. "Yeah. She’s incredible."

Aldric rose from the bed, adjusting what little hair he had left, smoothing it neatly to one side. Though not a large man, today he seemed even smaller. His age and the weight of his burdens had shrunken him further.

"I wish you safe journeys ahead, Sir Niles," he said, his voice formal but kind as he turned toward the door.

As he reached the threshold, Niles felt an overwhelming urge to say something—anything—to give the man strength. "WAIT, LORD ALDRIC!" he blurted out.

Aldric turned, his expression curious. Niles’s mind raced for words, for some profound statement that could lift the older man’s spirits. But nothing came.

Instead, Niles simply reached out his hand.

It wasn’t a gesture of explanation or persuasion, but one full of determination. A silent vow.

Aldric hesitated, then stepped forward. He clasped Niles’s hand with a firm grip, meeting his gaze. "Thank you, Sir Niles," he said, the gratitude in his voice quiet but sincere.

With that, Aldric left, closing the door softly behind him.

The emotional weight of Aldric’s visit lingered in the room, pressing down on Niles’s shoulders. He took a deep breath, trying to center himself. But curiosity quickly crept in, drawing his attention to the neatly wrapped box Aurelia had left for him.

“This better not be some kind of farewell prank,” he muttered, carefully undoing the ribbons and peeling back the layers of wrapping.

As the packaging fell away, the box itself was revealed—smooth, ornate, and otherworldly, as though it had been crafted by hands not of this realm. His heart quickened. With a bit of fumbling, he finally managed to open it. Inside, nestled in soft fabric, was an enormous egg.

But it wasn’t just any egg. This one was veined with streaks of silver, like bolts of frozen lightning etched into its surface. It seemed to hum faintly, an aura of myth and power radiating from it.

“What the...?” Niles whispered, running his fingers over the strange markings.

The moment he touched it, the egg began to glow, faintly at first but quickly intensifying. The light grew brighter and brighter until the room was bathed in a blinding brilliance.

With a deafening ZAP and the crackle of electricity, the egg split open. A powerful surge of energy filled the air as something exploded forth. Niles stumbled back, shielding his eyes, but when the light subsided, his jaw dropped.

Hovering before him was a magnificent bird, its wings extended as if to claim dominion over the entire room.

The avian was a creature of storms. Its feathers shimmered with a deep, stormy blue, streaked with silver that flashed like lightning in motion. Around its neck and chest, a molten band of gold glowed as if forged from fire and thunder. Its eyes, sharp and bright, seemed to pierce through Niles’s very soul, crackling with untamed energy.

The bird spread its wings and took flight, circling the room in a wide arc, its movements impossibly graceful. The subtle hum of electricity trailed after it, making the air feel alive with power.

Then, in the corner of his vision, a system message appeared before Niles:

[Status Activated: Familiar Registration – Please Choose a Name]

[Name: ]

[Type: Thunder Phoenix]

[Rank: Legendary]

[Interests: Fish and Cuddles]

The bird finally landed on the table, puffing out its chest with unmistakable pride. It stood still, radiating an aura of majesty, its feathers shimmering in the light.

Niles stared at it, still in awe. "Wow," he breathed. "That was... incredible. Truly legendary."

The bird chirped, tilting its head as if to agree.

Smiling, Niles walked closer. "All right, buddy. A creature as epic as you deserves a name that captures your essence—a name that will echo through the annals of history!"

The bird, clearly pleased, straightened its posture and waited expectantly.

Niles thrust his arm into the air dramatically. "I dub thee... Squeaky!"

The bird froze mid-pose, its proud demeanor crumbling. Slowly, it turned to face Niles, its expression somewhere between disbelief and sheer horror.

The system message updated immediately:

[Status: Familiar]

[Name: Squeaky]

[Type: Thunder Phoenix]

[Rank: Legendary]

[Interests: Fish and Cuddles]

The thunder phoenix—or rather, Squeaky—let out a plaintive chirp and buried its face under one wing, as if trying to hide from the shame of its new identity.

“Aw, come on, Squeaky!” Niles said, crouching down and grinning. “It’s a great name! Short, memorable, and, uh… unique.”

Squeaky peeked out from behind its wing, its beady eyes narrowed in what could only be described as judgment.

“Happy to have you on board, pal!” Niles extended his hand, grasping one of the bird’s wings in a playful shake.

Squeaky let out a half-hearted chirp, the sound somehow managing to convey both resignation and reluctant acceptance. Despite its disappointment, there was a faint warmth in its voice—like it couldn’t help but return the greeting.

“See? We’re already bonding!” Niles said, patting the bird lightly on its shimmering feathers.

Squeaky let out a low, electrified hum, puffing itself up again. It might have been stuck with an embarrassing name, but its pride—and its power—remained intact.