The towering walls of the capital loomed ahead, casting long shadows across the road as we approached. It looked like something out of a fantasy movie—massive stone walls, towering spires, and banners flapping in the wind. The gate was guarded by soldiers in armor that gleamed under the strange twin suns, each one eyeing me with suspicion as we walked past.

The faint aroma of bread and roasting meat hit me as soon as we entered, mixed with the unmistakable stench of too many people crammed into too small a space. The streets were narrow, lined with wooden buildings, some leaning at odd angles like they’d been built in a hurry.

Aric moved through the city with purpose, barely acknowledging the people we passed. I followed, trying to take everything in without looking like a total tourist. The people here—Elarions, I guess—stared at me like I was some kind of walking disaster. Maybe they could sense that I didn’t belong. Or maybe it was the fact that Aric, who clearly held some authority here, was dragging me through town like a prisoner.

We reached the castle gates, where another group of guards stood at attention. They stepped aside without a word as Aric led me through. The castle itself was massive—stone pillars, high ceilings, and tapestries that looked like they belonged in a museum. Everything here screamed “royalty.”

“Stay close,” Aric muttered, glancing back at me.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I replied, resisting the urge to make some joke about how it’d be easy to get lost in a place like this. But Aric wasn’t exactly in the mood for jokes.

After what felt like an endless walk through the castle’s winding halls, we reached a large set of double doors. Two guards stood on either side, their spears crossed in front of the entrance.

“I bring a fallen for the king’s judgment,” Aric announced, his voice formal.

The guards nodded and opened the doors with a slow creak. Aric stepped through, and I followed, my heart pounding in my chest.

The throne room was just as grand as the rest of the castle—high ceilings, walls lined with banners, and a long red carpet leading up to a massive stone throne. Sitting on it was a man who could only be the king. He looked older than Aric, with a short beard streaked with gray and a crown resting atop his head. His eyes were sharp, calculating as they landed on me.

To his right stood a woman in silver armor, her expression hard as stone. I could feel her gaze on me, assessing, watching every move I made.

Aric stopped a few feet from the throne and knelt. I awkwardly stood beside him, unsure if I was supposed to kneel too. The king’s eyes flicked between us, but he didn’t seem particularly bothered by my lack of protocol.

“Father,” Aric said, his voice steady. “I have brought one of the fallen.”

The king’s gaze settled on me, and for a moment, I felt like he could see right through me.

“So,” the king said, his voice deep and measured. “Why have you brought him here? Why not dispatch him?”

“He’s shown no signs of aggression,” Aric replied, standing to his feet. “At least, not yet.”

The king leaned back in his throne, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “What is your name, fallen?”

I blinked. “Oh. Right. My name’s... Cal. Cal Andrews.”

The king nodded slowly. “Cal Andrews,” he repeated, his voice low. “Do you know why you were brought here?”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t even know how I got here. One second I was walking down a street, and the next I’m... falling into this place.”

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The king regarded me for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. Then he looked to Aric. “And you believe he is no immediate threat?”

Aric hesitated. “I... don’t know. He seems genuine, but we can’t be sure. The magic he has access to is dangerous. He already demonstrated offensive capabilities against a shadow beast.”

“You did?” the king asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Yeah, but I didn’t mean to,” I said quickly. “It just... happened. I’m still figuring this stuff out.”

The king sat forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Fallen have access to all forms of magic. That power is not to be taken lightly. Even those with good hearts can be consumed by it, corrupted beyond redemption.”

The king considered his options for a moment, then spoke. “You will be watched closely, Cal. I cannot allow a fallen to wander freely without supervision.”

I tensed. “Wait, you’re not going to lock me up, are you?”

The king gave a slight smile. “No. I believe in giving second chances. But you will not be left to your own devices.”

He turned to Aric, and Aric immediately stiffened.

“You will be responsible for him, Aric.”

Aric blinked, caught off guard. “Me?”

“Yes,” the king said, his tone firm. “You found him, and you have already dealt with him in the field. You will watch over him and ensure he does not become a threat to this kingdom.”

Aric opened his mouth to protest, but the king raised a hand to cut him off.

“I trust you, Aric. You have proven yourself capable time and again. This is no different. I expect you to ensure he remains under control.”

Aric’s jaw tightened. “Father, with all due respect, I—”

“This is not up for debate,” the king interrupted, his voice sharp. “You will do as I command.”

Aric’s eyes flashed with frustration, but he bowed his head in submission. “As you wish, Father.”

I tried not to wince. The last thing I wanted was to be some kind of burden, especially to a guy who had nearly chopped my head off less than a day ago.

The king looked back at me. “I suggest you listen to Aric. He is not one to be trifled with.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed,” I said, trying to keep my voice light. “I’ll, uh, do my best to stay out of trouble.”

The king nodded. “Good. You will remain in the castle for now. Aric will take you to your quarters.”

I glanced at Aric, who was staring straight ahead, his face unreadable. “Right,” I muttered. “Quarters. Got it.”

With that, the king dismissed us with a wave of his hand. Aric turned sharply and started walking toward the doors without a word. I followed, trying to keep up with his long strides.

Once we were out of the throne room and the doors had closed behind us, I cleared my throat. “So, I’m guessing you’re not thrilled about babysitting duty.”

Aric didn’t slow down. “It’s not my place to question the king’s orders.”

“Right. But you’re still upset.”

He didn’t answer, but the set of his jaw told me enough. I sighed and decided to let the silence settle between us again. I wasn’t exactly thrilled about being under watch, either, but at least it was better than being thrown into a dungeon or something.

We walked through another set of winding corridors, finally stopping at a wooden door near the far end of the castle.

“Your room,” Aric said curtly, pushing the door open.

I stepped inside, half-expecting a cold, empty cell. Instead, I was greeted by a small but comfortable-looking room. A bed, a desk, a window overlooking the city below. Not bad, all things considered.

“I’ll be nearby,” Aric said from the doorway, his voice stiff. “Do not leave the castle without my permission. Is that clear?”

“Crystal,” I said, sitting down on the bed. “Thanks... I guess.”

Aric gave me one last look, then closed the door behind him, leaving me alone.

I let out a long breath, flopping back onto the bed. My head was spinning. First, I’d no-clipped into this weird world, fought off a monster with magic I didn’t know I had, and now I was under house arrest in a castle, with a prince assigned to keep me out of trouble.

“Great,” I muttered to the ceiling. “This is going to be fun.”