Anand was feeling pretty good about himself. He'd successfully managed to eliminate a potential threat to the Harrowed Hand, install the puppet queen onto the throne of a small kingdom, and he'd done it all without a single person suspecting his true identity.

"Hey, Anand, I was wondering when you were going to tell us who your true backers are? I'm pretty sure you're not from this kingdom."

Anand turned toward the minister who'd spoken to him. His left eye twitched.

Okay, I might need to take a rain check on that last statement.

"No…" Anand shifted his eyes back and forth. "I am a native… To here… I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, that’s really funny, but seriously, we need to know who is backing you."

Anand took a deep breath. "I'll tell you about it later."

The minister shrugged and walked away. The poor guy was probably busy trying to dial back many of Rami's nonsensical proposals. The woman didn't have the slightest idea how to govern. She instituted a 90% tax on everyone. Not on the middle class or on the rich specifically. Just… everyone. Anand was completely confused as to what kind of logic could've been going through her head.

Well, whatever. At least Nathan and that boy king were taken care of. I doubt we'll be seeing them anytime soon.

A loud horn broke him out of his thoughts. He froze and looked around for the source of the noise.

"What was that?" he said.

One of the guards perked up. "That was the sound of the Royal Assembly. But Rami doesn't know the protocol behind that. So who…?"

Out of nowhere, Anand was hit with a sinking feeling. He felt as if all of his dreams were about to be shattered in about two seconds flat.

"Go on ahead, I'll join you in a second."

The guard nodded and walked off toward the source of the noise. Anand reached into his clothes and pulled out his trusty journal. He slipped it underneath a potted plant and looked around to see if anybody had spotted him—it looked like no one had.

Perfect. If anything happens to me, at least the Harrowed Hand will eventually get my information.

With that done, Anand pulled up his hood, hiding his face. He approached the area where he'd heard the horn. Around him, he could already see various members of the court filing in toward the noise.

"Is it that idiot queen?" someone said.

"That would just about make sense. Of course, the fool would find the Royal Horn and use it as nothing more than a musical instrument."

"At least Zayen had the good sense to respect our traditions."

Anand awkwardly looked toward a point on the ceiling. Man, Rami really is terrible at her job.

Eventually, they all filed into the throne room. No one was there at the throne. Anand tilted his head. Where was the queen? She loved sitting there so much that she'd once injured herself and bruised her bottom. It was a very embarrassing day for the queen.

Suddenly, a side door opened, and a figure approached the throne. It was a smaller figure, a teenager. He sat down on the throne and pulled off his hood, revealing the face of—

Anand's jaw dropped.

"G–guards!" Anand yelled. "Seize the imposter!"

A few of the guards looked at each other with uncertain looks in their eyes. One guard scooted closer to the throne.

Before anybody could do anything, Zayen opened his mouth, and everything stopped.

"My people!" he shouted. "I have returned. And not only that, but I bring you great news."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Whispers darted back and forth among the audience. "What is he talking about?"

"Is he going to retake the throne?"

Zayen brought his fingers up and snapped them. Omarn approached the throne—when had he gotten here?—and laid two spherical objects at the base of the throne.

An instant hush fell over the crowd. Two red gems, almost like eyes, dropped at the feet of the king.

Anand awkwardly grinned. "What's he doing? Why are we so quiet?"

"Don't you understand what those are? Scan them."

Anand felt his stomach drop. A roiling tension inside of him made him want to vomit.

He scanned the objects.

[The Eyes of the Dustend]

The Eyes of the Dustend—two blazing rubies ripped from the heart of a magical storm. If you have these, it means you didn’t just survive the Dustend—you ended it. And now, its power is yours.

These gems are reservoirs of raw, untamed magic, capable of fueling spells of immense power. Wield them wisely, or recklessly—either way, expect collateral damage. Nations will covet them, mages will fear them, and you? Well, you’ll either become a legend or a cautionary tale.

System Advisory: Try not to explode. No refunds.

For a few seconds, there was nothing but silence.

Then a cheer erupted from the crowd. Hats flew into the air, the people next to each other shook one another in shock and awe.

One man started weeping and dropped to the ground. "We are finally free!"

"This is the golden age of the Sandara Kingdom!"

Then, like a beating drum, Anand heard the sound of a single name.

Zayen. Zayen. Zayen. Zayen!

Anand felt his soul leave his body.

Well, there goes that whole scheme.

Zayen—the man of the hour himself—raised his hand into the air, calming the crowd. He smiled.

"My people, I appreciate your enthusiasm," Zayen said. "But I did not do this by my own hand. Indeed, I was not even the primary mover. The fact that I live today, the fact that the Dustend has been defeated—all of it is due to one man, and one man only."

The crowd, now intrigued, all seemed to lean forward slightly to hear what Zayen was about to say.

"Nathan Lee—the Miracle Man."

The crowd erupted into cheers.

"He single-handedly revolutionized farming!"

"I had no idea he was a farmer!?"

Zayen stood to his feet. "And my people, we have an opportunity. This man, no—this lord—he seeks to go beyond the desert. He seeks to return to his homeland. A land of grass, a land of snow, a land of plenty and abundance!”

At this point, someone next to Anand seemed to have sparkles in his eyes. Another person was staring up at Zayen with unabashed idol worship.

"Where is he even going with this?" Anand muttered.

Zayen stood to his feet. "I wish for us to go with him. I wish to see this new world. To see a world beyond the desert. And I would ask that all of you accompany me on this journey."

Someone next to Anand started shaking. "It would mean giving up everything. Everything that we built here."

"They killed the Dustend!" someone else said. "They could tell me that the sky was made of gold, and I would trust them!”

Zayen's voice continued to rise as he kept speaking. "The truth is that I was a poor ruler. I allowed Rami to get the better of me. But even so, I will always do what I believe is best for my people. And I believe the best thing for everyone in this court, and everyone within the borders of this land, is to follow Nathan Lee. To death, or to a new dawn!"

Spontaneously, the chant began to change.

Nathan Lee. Nathan Lee. Nathan Lee!

Anand, at this point, felt like crying. He was starting to sniff and tear up a little bit.

I thought he was gone. We won! And then he goes and kills the Dustend!?

"But what of the queen!?" someone yelled. "And what of all her loyalists!"

Zayen nodded.

"Bring them out!" he yelled.

Six or seven people in chains were dragged up before the throne by… orcs!? Anand stiffened. Those orcs… he could tell they were well trained. Military? No, special forces.

Where did he get them from…?

At the forefront of the prisoners was a very familiar face. Rami. She instantly caught sight of Anand's face and glared daggers at him.

Anand looked over toward the floor.

"These are the ringleaders of the conspiracy to replace me. The amount of damage they have done to this kingdom is beyond measure. Hundreds starving, or worse."

It was so quiet that Anand could've heard a pin drop.

I need to get out of here. As soon as they find out that I was associated with her, they'll put me in prison.

Anand looked to the left and right for an escape. At the very least, if he was captured, he was fairly certain that Zayen was too softhearted to torture or kill him. So that was a plus.

Omarn held his hand up, and a blue glow emanated from it. A sword made of water materialized within Omarn’s hand. He leisurely strolled over to Rami—

and beheaded her on the spot.

Anand went pale white.

Rami's head rolled into the audience, more than a few people looking at her with disgust. One person spat on her head.

Zayen took the blade from Omarn and raised it in the air, blood splattered across his youthful face.

Anand screamed internally.

WHAT THE HELL DID NATHAN DO TO THAT KID!?

"And now, my people, with me!"

Zayen walked over to the exit of the royal court, leading the crowd like a shepherd. Anand tried to look for an escape, but the crowd was too thick. He was hemmed in from all sides. They were in the streets now, people being told the news as they passed along. The group was getting bigger with every single second that passed. If Anand didn't make his move now, he wouldn't be able to escape. He looked up. Maybe if he jumped for it—

There was a lady on the second floor, tossing iron bars into a wagon on the first floor.

Then she threw too hard, sending one into the crowd.

"Oh no! Watch out!" she shouted.

Anand watched the iron bar sail directly toward his head.

You've got to be kidding me—

THUNK!