The sky was a muted gray, streaked with the first hints of golden sunlight as the wind whispered through the endless manna grass fields stretching out beyond the walls of Ropa.

The grass moved like waves beneath a gentle breeze, its silvery-white blades catching the light and shimmering like the surface of a restless sea. A cool mist hung in the air, clinging to the ground and swirling around the boots of the gathered men like a ghostly veil.

Ren stood at the very center of the field, his figure tall and unyielding, wrapped in a deep blue cloak that snapped with each gust of wind.

His eyes were set forward, lost in the horizon, his expression unreadable. There was a weight in his stance, a quiet anticipation, as if he were about to reveal something profound hidden within the undulating grass.

Around him, the gathered soldiers stood at rigid attention, their armor glinting faintly in the pale light, while the senators clustered together in small groups behind them, their faces marked with a mixture of curiosity and unease.

To Ren’s right, Ogren shifted uneasily, feeling out of place amidst the gathering. His broad shoulders, usually so solid with confidence, now seemed tense, as if his very presence in the field went against some inner desire.

He couldn’t help but glance back towards the city, towards the palace where Princess Hazel was no doubt still reveling in the unexpected joy of her mother’s return. A pang of longing struck him; he would have given anything to be there, to share in the happiness of that reunion.

But the king had summoned him, and a summon from Ren was not something one could ignore—especially now, with the weight of the crown newly resting on his brow.

Ogren looked at Ren, standing amidst the rippling manna grass, and felt a surge of frustration that he quickly suppressed. He could not yet read the new king’s intent.

The other senators, most of whom had been reluctantly dragged from their comfortable chambers, muttered among themselves, their robes of state stirring in the breeze like restless shadows.

Some of them stared openly at Ren, suspicion and doubt flickering in their eyes. The air seemed to buzz with anticipation, every breath drawn out and heavy with uncertainty.

“Why here?” Ogren wondered, his jaw tightening. The early morning was bitterly cold, and the grass rustled around him as if whispering secrets.

He cleared his throat, his voice gruff with barely concealed impatience. “What is it that you intend to show us here in the fields?”

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Ren remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the horizon as if searching for answers hidden in the rising sun. A slow, knowing smile curved at the corner of his lips, the kind that only deepened the mystery swirling in Ogren’s gut.

Ren finally shifted from the horizon as he turned around, his movements calm and deliberate.

He scanned the faces of the senators—men wrapped in fine cloaks embroidered with family crests, women who had held power in Aropia’s halls. His eyes were cold, unyielding, and there was a sharpness to his expression that made the soldiers around him stand even straighter.

"Senators," Ren began, his voice ringing clear and commanding over the fields, carried by the breeze like a blade cutting through the air. "You were called here for a reason. This city, this nation, is on the cusp of transformation. I will no longer allow the same rotten hands to grip the reins of Aropia’s future. I’m relieving all of you of your posts right now."

A murmur of confusion rippled through the gathered nobles, their confusion quickly turning into indignation.

One of the older senators, a gray-haired man with a heavy, fur-lined cloak, took a bold step forward. “King or not,” he scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain, “you cannot simply sweep aside centuries of tradition with a flick of your wrist. Our families are the pillars upon which this nation stands. You cannot—”

“Enough.” Ren’s voice cut through the senator’s words like a sudden clap of thunder. His eyes narrowed, and he raised his arm, pointing directly at the defiant man. “I can and I will.” He took a step forward, his presence towering and unrelenting. “All of you are to leave office. Effective immediately.”

The silence that followed was palpable, the only sound the rustling of the grass in the wind.

Faces went pale, jaws dropped, and a wave of disbelief rippled through the senators. A young, ambitious noble with a golden sash across his shoulder stepped forward, his face twisted with anger.

“You can’t do this! Do you have any idea who we are? Our families have influence, sway, and resources that you cannot possibly—”

Ren’s expression was unflinching. “Your influence?” he interrupted, his tone scathing. “The corruption that has bled this city dry has all led back to you and your families. I have seen the records, the bribery , the deceit. The people you’ve killed with taxes, the coffers you’ve stolen from, the lives ruined by your games.”

He raised his hand, and soldiers stepped forward, their expressions grim and resolute.

“Your threats are empty,” Ren said, his voice growing harder with each word. “I do not fear you, nor your power. I will not allow your corruption to continue poisoning Aropia’s future.”

He paused, his eyes locking onto each senator in turn. “I gave you a chance to step down gracefully. You refused. So now, I will see to it personally that you are removed.”

One of the bolder senators, a man with sharp features and a sneer that matched his venomous gaze, took a step back, his voice rising in fury. “This is madness! You cannot rule alone! The other families will stand against you! We will—”

Ren’s expression hardened, and he gestured sharply to the soldiers standing by. “Take him,” he commanded, his voice as cold as the dawn’s chill.

The soldiers moved without hesitation, seizing the senator by the arms as he struggled and shouted obscenities.