Seo Jiwoo
My eyes fluttered open, a headache gripped my head like a vice as I stirred, each muscle cranked with fatigue that felt so unbearable that I stopped struggling and laid unmoving.
The first thing I noticed was the sunlight. It poured in from a nearby window, warm and golden, flooding the room with an almost serene glow. The air was rich—almost too rich. The scent of flowers and moss hung so thick that it nearly overwhelmed me, but, somehow it appeared soothing, incense to calm the nerves. My senses felt dulled, the world as if out of reach, and heightened all at once, like I was stuck in some in-between state, suspended within some balance.
I blinked a few times, my eyes stung, tears rolling down as I felt sweat trickle my brows. My gaze went ahead, staring at the wooden beams above me. Greenery climbed along the walls, a living tapestry that blurred the lines between a room and a forest. It was beautiful in its own way, but it only made me feel more out of place.
I tried to move—just a small shift to sit up—but the pain hit me like a sledgehammer, this time so vivid I wailed. It wasn’t sharp, but it was everywhere, weighing me down as though the world itself had decided to settle on my chest, like it anchored me down. My arms felt useless, my body impossibly heavy. The kind of heaviness that makes you feel like a child again, utterly powerless.
Panic crept in like a slow tide as memories clawed their way back like shadows, my eyes seem to widen before they settled as I squirmed and somehow leaned against the bed I laid in. Instinctively, I reached inward, searching for the thread which connected me to Mordian...but it was quiet.
There was a wall. No voice, thought or presence felt through the weak awareness which still remained vivid inside my head.
‘Mordian, can you hear me? Please answer? Mordian?’ I pushed with all my might, but before they could travel, the thread crumbled and the words bounced back.
I frantically tried to think of something, but then suddenly, I remembered about the stray beam of energy from one of those pillars hit me.
I looked at my fully healed body, all the injuries gone. But something didn’t feel right. Something felt wrong, almost out of place. I once again searched inward, but this time within myself, feeling the familiar hum of the mana within me. And that’s when I froze.
It wasn’t right.
Where there should’ve been a steady current, a roaring river of power ready to answer my will, there was…nothing. Well, not nothing. Something was there, but it was sluggish, barely trickling like water through a cracked pipe. No matter how much I pulled, pushed, or begged, it refused to respond. My chest tightened as the panic sharpened, spiralling into something I couldn’t control.
Why wasn’t it moving? Why wasn’t it obeying me? Why is my mana not responding??
My breaths came faster, shallow and uneven, my chest was left heaving as I couldn’t focus even on my breathing. I forced myself to move again, the muscles in my arms trembling under what felt like an unbearable weight. The mana which always instinctively enforced my muscles and joints felt dispersed and gone, leaving my body weak and oozing with pain. I barely managed to lift my head as I urged the system interface and it bloomed in front of me.
I looked through it, moving my hand with great struggle as I withdrew an evernight elixir and bought the highest grade potion from the system shop.
I consumed the potions immediately, as I felt the fatigue pushed aside a little. But, I still couldn’t feel my mana properly, my channels appeared unresponsive.
What’s happening? Why can’t I still feel it?
Did something happen to my channels or is this some side-effect or injury due to tanking the blast from that pillar?
My mind worked for possibilities, but nothing came. I didn’t know what had happened?
I pushed my body and tried to reach any of my skills, but just as I tried to prickle them with some of the leftover mana I could barely move, they jerked back and deactivated, the powers no longer obeying me as I felt dread swell in my chest.
No...
Have I lost my ability to use mana? No, I can’t! Not after coming this far. I can’t. I rejected it, feeling a speck of despair settle in as my body shivered.
I can still feel the mana inside me, but I can’t control or move it. Just what the hell happened to me?
I also tried to manipulate mana rotation, but my channels didn’t react, the atmospheric mana didn’t move or get drawn to me.
But under my pessimistic thoughts, the sound of the door creaking open drew my attention to the end of the room.
The figure that stepped in made me pause. My eyes immediately went to her long pointy ears. An elven woman.
Her presence appeared calm, almost ethereal, as if she belonged to the same harmony as this room, and I was the one that didn’t belong here. Her long silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her blue eyes met mine with something akin to concern.
My eyes went to her wrinkles for a moment but they didn’t appear to obscure her charm, but somehow she reminded me of someone.
But I couldn’t focus on her. My mind was still racing, spiralling. My heart thundered in my chest, my breathing uneven, as I felt my lungs barely taking in any oxygen.
I couldn’t control my mana. This realization alone dawned upon me like a nightmare.
And that terrified me more than anything else. My only source of power...and I had lost it...
After everything I’d gone through, I had somehow lost the ability to manipulate mana. I clenched my hands into fists.
The elder woman strode closer to my bed side, her eyes filled with concern and care which seemed almost pitiful.
I grabbed my heaving chest as I tried to calm it down. “Who are you? And where am I?” I asked as I straightened, that simple movement sent a ripple of pain to course through me as the woman steadied my body and helped me lean back better.
“I asked who you are? And where are my companions? Where are Aurora and Mordian?” I asked, this time more forcefully, as I saw the woman’s expression turn with understanding, she didn’t seem to mind my words as she took a stool from nearby and took a seat.
“They are fine.” She said simply, crossing her legs gracefully as she observed me keenly. “But they are resting. Unlike you, Aurora’s injuries weren’t that severe—she was simple knocked out cold and suffered from a concussion—, but Lord Astrionyx had sustained an equivalent amount of damage like you. His recovery had been slow just like you, he is awake, but in a weak state. And Aurora woke up only a day after you arrived.” She briefed me with sincerity laced through each word as I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Are you relieved now, Jiwoo?” She said, and I found my brows knitting.
“How do you know my name? Did Mordian or Aurora tell you?” I asked, this time more calmly as the elven woman seemed harmless, she moved, taking a glass from a table beside my bed and poured water into it with a jag nearby.
She handed me the glass, as I barely grabbed it without spilling the water in the process.
“Your name is like wildfire amongst the elves and dwarfs. We know about you because of your exploits in the orcen world only a few days ago.” She said, shifting her position as she continued. “A human, who came with a dragon bond and an elf with him all of a sudden to the orcen world and fought against the forces of the demonic army, turning the tides of war in the orcs' favour.” A faint smile tucked at her lips as a curious expression replaced her features.
“At first, we all thought this was something spun out of a fairy tale. But, when the truth reached us, we were only left to believe in everything.” Her eyes softened.
“I see.” I said. “Then, can you tell me where I am?” I asked politely, seeing the elven woman’s blue eyes turn from parts of my body, observing me.
“You are in the elven world, child.” She said and I found my brows jumping in surprise.
The system has brought us to the elven world? The last thing I remember was Mordian crashing against the portal with both of us in his hands, and then everything seemed like a blur.
“Lord Astrionyx may have sustained serious injures, yet you on the other hand had injures far worsen than his. His dragonic physique helped greatly in his fast recovery, but compared to your self-regeneration—a trait seen in none except the exidiums—, his healing factor couldn’t be compared. I have been the one who has been treating you for the last few days, and even I was felt shocked by how your body can even grow back lost limbs. It’s something so fascinating and magical.”
She said with a hint of awe in her voice as she smiled, but from her expression, I felt a shiver run down my spine that she might start experimenting on me out of curiosity.
I slightly bowed my head, showing my gratitude nonetheless. “Thank you for taking care of me, ahh...”
“Ariem. You can just call me Ariem, dear.” She said, like a kind grandmother.
“Thank you, Ariem.” I unbent my head as I thought for a moment and then decided to ask Ariem.
“When did we arrive here—in the elven world?” I spoke, taking a sip from the glass, moistening my mouth.
Ariem thought back and answered right away. “It has been over a week. The last we heard of your departure from the orcs was a week before that.”
A week...it had been precisely a week since we left the orcen world? How could that be? For us they were merely minutes, but for the others it amounted to days. So the flow of time inside that void was somehow different from the outside.
That could be the only explanation.
“Ariem, can I meet my companions? Can you bring me to Mordian and Aurora?” I asked after a moment, feeling a sudden surge of pain through my body, as shivers ran wildly through me.
Ariem drew closer to me, she placed both of her hands near my chest as a faint teal glow suffused her hands, drowning my body with the glow as I felt the pain and weakness subside.
“So, you’re an emitter. It’s quite handy.” I acknowledged with a raise of my brow.”
“Yes, and I’m quite a good one at that.” She smirked, and I felt the previous awkwardness fleeting between us.
After her treatment was over, she pushed back and spoke. “I can bring you to them. To be honest, that child has been eager to meet you since you arrived here. She came almost everything day to check up on you, hoping you would wake up, or to see your recovery—same thing with Lord Astrionyx.” Her smile bloomed a little as I realized she was talking about Aurora.
“Then, shall we go.”
Just as Ariem said, a knock at the door came, it was sharp and deliberate, pulling my attention from the haze of my thoughts. A guard stepped in, his silver armour catching the sunlight streaming through the window. It looked light but sturdy—practical for someone who needed to move quickly but still fend off a blade. His posture was stiff as he looked at Ariem, his demeanour respectful as he greeted her right after with a bow before speaking.
“Lady Ariem, His Majesty has ordered to bring the human if he is awake.”
I stiffened at the word ‘human’. There was no malice or interest in his tone, but the way it was said still felt like I was being singled out—an outsider in a world that didn’t belong to me.
But I shrugged as I turned to look at Ariem.
Ariem sighed, the sound heavy with irritation. When she turned to the guard who had come from outside, her voice was sharp, each word clipped and precise unlike her caring and sweet tone.
“I believe I made it clear last time that he is not in a condition to attend to His Majesty. I’m sure I sent the report of his treatments earlier before coming here. Do I need to go there myself? Then would that stupid king understand!”
The shift in her tone was subtle but chilling. The guard’s resolve crumbled instantly; he took a step back, his boots skidding slightly on the wooden floor. His face paled as he stammered.
“N-No…Lady Ariem, His Majesty has ordered to bring the human to him once he is awake, and I am merely following orders.”
Ariem sighed again, the sound carrying more weight this time. She turned to me, her gaze assessing, before speaking once more.
“Fine.” Her voice was laced with annoyance. “But I’ll be the one to bring him. He needs rest, and I believe you wouldn’t be kind enough to bring him how he must be.”
The guard looked like he wanted to argue, his lips parting as though to speak, but Ariem silenced him with a single wave of her hand. The glare she shot him was ice-cold, and he quickly backed off, bowing slightly as he exited the room without another word.
I watched the exchange in silence, my body still too weak to react. A part of me wanted to ask what the hell was going on, but another part of me knew better.
“I’ll be right back.” She said and then simply stepped out of the room.
After a few minutes passed, the door opened again and I saw her enter with a wheelchair.
She stopped right in front of the bed, as I inclined my head in her direction, confused and perplexed.
“I can just walk my way there. I don’t have to use a wheelchair.” I said, pushing the sheets from above me as I moved, but my body felt weak, moving even a single muscle left me powerless.
Ariem took me by my arm and held me down on the wheelchair, quite forcefully. The strength of her wrists felt stronger than what I could fend.
“You are my patient, and it is my duty to take care of you. You are in no shape to move, so it’s best if we use this.” She said, as she helped me sit on the wheelchair and I didn’t fight against it as I let it happen.
She stood behind me as she pushed the wheelchair and we exited the room, the warm sunlight spilled all over me as she looked at the guard from earlier and then walked away.
As we moved, all I saw was a garden around me. Tall trees lining the stone path, the sight seemed unbelievably beautiful.
Ariem dragged me along, the wheel-chair in which I lay gliding soundlessly across the polished stone floor. I stayed quiet, unsure whether to strike a conversation with her or not. But choosing silence, I allowed the distance to unravel as we crossed the quarters.
The transition was subtle, the air shifting as we emerged onto an open road from the forest like garden, kissed by patches of sunlight filtering through a canopy of perfectly aligned trees. They stood like sentinels, their branches intertwined in such a way that they seemed more a work of art than nature.
The golden leaves shimmered as they swayed gently in the breeze, the dapples of sunlight pooling on the ground like drops of liquid gold.
Fountains carved of smooth marble trickled serenely, their streams catching the sunlight as if sprinkled with shards of crystal. A greenhouse appeared along the edge of the courtyard, its glass domes gleaming softly, nurturing plants that grew like whispers of magic. My face bloomed into an expression I could not suppress—astonishment, perhaps awe—as I took in the majesty of the elven courtyard. There was something about the air itself, warm and golden, that made the world feel like autumn at its most perfect, a perpetual moment of soothing sunshine.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Tell me, Jiwoo,” Suddenly Ariem’s voice touched my ears and I looked above my shoulder. “Beast tamer is a profession quite common in our and the other worlds, but dare I say have I seen a beast tamer with a dragon bond. Honestly, I have never even seen a real dragon all my life until now, all I know about dragons is from the tales and folk stories I’ve heard—plus the picture books. How did you meet Lord Astrionyx?”
Her question was harmless, simple curiosity which anyone would have.
I lifted my hand where the rune was branded after Mordian and I had bonded, and showed it to her. She looked at the base of my wrist and gasped.
“So it’s true that he is your bond. A dragon bonded with a human. Quite an odd and unbelievable duo.” She said in awe.
“The rumours were true.” She added as she pushed the wheelchair more steadily.
“You seem to know quite a bit.” I asked suddenly.
And she simply smiled. “Well, while I treated you, Aurora told me about some of your adventures, and they were quite fascinating actually.”
“Yeah, did she tell you more than half of them almost resulted in my unfortunate end.” I laughed it off and Ariem joined me as we both fell quiet.
And then we reached a larger courtyard, more expansive than the last, its beauty soft yet overwhelming.
Rising before me, I beheld a castle unlike any I had imagined. It loomed and yet felt light, as though it were an extension of the very nature surrounding it—majestic yet soothing, intricate yet effortless.
The walls were silver-grey stone, polished so smooth they reflected the rays of the sun like water. Verdant ivy crawled across its surface, laced with luminescent veins of light, as if the castle itself breathed magic. Towers rose into the sky, their pointed tips adorned with crystalline spires that shimmered faintly with hues of teal and gold. It was nature in its full glory, shaped into something more—something eternal.
“Why are we in a castle? Why were we brought here for treatment instead?” I suddenly asked Ariem, unsure of why were here, but she remained silent for a moment before answering.
“Where we are going, you will eventually have your answers. Just be patient for a moment.”
I shifted my attention back at the surroundings as I saw massive doors, two guards stood watch, one male and the other female, clad in armour so finely made it seemed like a second skin.
They straightened as we approached, heads bowing respectfully, though I noticed their eyes passing over me with faint disinterest before fixing on Ariem. With a graceful wave from her, the guards shifted smoothly, pushing open the great wooden doors which creaked faintly despite their ornate craftsmanship. Their heads remained lowered until we crossed the threshold, the doors closing behind us with a muted finality.
Curiosity gnawed at me as I asked. “You seem to hold some authority, with how the guards bowed to you, and how the previous one didn’t seem to react when you disrespected the king. Are you perhaps an elder with a high ranking position here?” I said, turning to her.
Ariem smirked, her sweet, pristine voice carrying a playfulness that caught me off guard. “There is more you will learn soon enough. Just don’t be too surprised.” She replied, her tone light, as if her youth had momentarily returned to her.
We entered the grand hall, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe. The space stretched far and wide, its ceilings so high they vanished into a soft haze of golden light. Trees grew along the vast hallways, their trunks ancient and their branches reaching upward like the arms of worshippers.
Leaves glowed faintly, casting soft light against the walls as they swayed lazily. The air was perfumed with a faint scent of fresh earth and blossoms, mingling with something warm—like old parchment and magic.
Glowing vines hung down from the ceiling, their luminescence pulsating gently as though they were alive, veins of emerald and sapphire running through their twisting tendrils. They framed the tapestries hanging along the walls, each one a masterpiece of ancient elven history. The woven depictions were intricate, telling stories I could not yet understand, and yet their jewel-like runes pulled at my gaze. Embedded in the fabric, the runes pulsed softly—teal and gold, like the last rays of a setting sun.
The floor beneath us was polished stone, inlaid with patterns that rippled outward like the rings of water disturbed by a single drop. The echoes of my wheelchair’s faint movement sounded distant, swallowed by the stillness of the hall. And yet, even in that stillness, the castle felt alive—magic woven into its very foundations, breathing with the rhythm of nature.
I could not help but stare, my voice caught somewhere in my throat. We took a few turns, and soon arrived in front of two massive doors, outside two guards stood post, them wearing similar armour to the elves I’d seen outside, they bowed looking at Ariem and then opened the doors as we entered.
My eyes immediately caught sight of a throne at the end of the hall, made of fine elder wood, with spiralling lines which seemed like veins, creating a mesmerising display, but my gaze went to the man sitting over it.
His face still seem to hold its young features, no wrinkles of old age, long ears, his blue eyes glowed with wisdom and authority, and locks of silver gunmetal hair, but lighter, ran down his ears, as a crown and ornaments accentuated his silk robes.
His postured appeared firm and rigid as his eyes moved down at me with a glare, and I returned it as our clash continued for a moment before he turned away, as if making it so that I was even unworthy to match eyes with him.
Beside him sat a female elf. My eyes widened for a moment as I gazed at her, it struck me how youthful she looked, her soft milky skin capturing the light, her teal coloured eyes flickered with warmth, her silvery hair cascaded like a stream, bound by a tie and her crown, and just from a glance, I thought perhaps I was looking at a mirror image of Aurora, but older.
She met my gaze, offering me a kind smile, making me think for a second it was Aurora siting on that throne, and then I turned to two other elves present in the throne room besides a handful of guards.
The male elder elf’s silver hair caught the chamber’s light, his chestnut eyes seemed to hold extraordinary wisdom untouched by any. His face was a sharp cut of handsomeness, etched with the kind of dignity that could only come from enduring countless trials of time. Yet, the wrinkles of old age were visibly present, adding more to his character, as if every line told an extraordinary story.
He looked at me curiously, seated in his chair with an aura of authority that made his presence even heavier than the king himself, yet oddly calm. He gave me a friendly smile as if greeting some old acquaintance and I felt my brows knitting in confusion.
My eyes shifted to the female elf beside him. She was young, younger than the elder, but the fiery cage of power emanating from her was immense, almost suffocating, and I frowned, frustrated that I couldn't seem to guage her level. Her dull green hair, cut into a neat bob, framing her sharp features, and her long ears peeked through, barely visible behind her hair.
I was caught in a dead stare with her, as I saw her green eyes looking at me with an almost unexpectedness.
She wore a pristine white military-cut uniform, adorned with a golden-red lace draped across her right shoulder and waist—a mark of some rank or honour, no doubt.
But I knew this uniform, I’d seen Lyressa and Lance wearing it, and perhaps the person herself. I had seen her through Mordian’s memories, she was the leader of brigade: zero I’d heard about from the elven duo; Beatrix Runao.
Her gaze was steady and unyielding, as though daring me to falter. She shifted slightly in her seat, her movements controlled, calculated.
Finally, my gaze moved past them to the king, seated high on the throne above, as the guards around the chamber returned to their posts.
“As Your Majesty’s orders I have delivered the human.” Ariem said from behind me, her hands clenched the handles of the wheelchair tightly as I almost saw them snap, as my attention went to the king sat on the throne.
His expression seem to shift for a split second, as if he had broken into a cold sweat over her words.
Before he could say anything, Ariem spoke again, her tone unrushed and each word sharp. “While I thought you would be kind enough to let your daughter’s saviour rest a few more days, I guess you still lack much patience despite all your years since your ascension to the throne, Neil.”
I felt my mouth agape for a moment as my brows knitted, turning to look at Ariem, she only gave me a sweet smile, as if this answer was expected and normal.
Aurora wasn’t just any nobility, she was the princess of the elves?! And Neil...she was using her father’s name as her alias?
I thought as Ariem seem to make an obvious expression and then addressed king Neil again. Aurora’s father.
“Seriously, just how much of prick can you be to a guest. He is also the hero of the orcs, would you be fine if they find out how you treated their high praised saviour?”
"Seriously, sometimes I wonder how does Anastasia fairs with a person like you?"
Neil faltered back as if like a child talked off by an adult, and I saw the queen, perhaps Anastasia, smile.
His lips moved as he countered with his remark. “She is my daughter, so that is why I’m doing this, mother.”
My face flummoxed even further as I looked at Ariem again...no Lady Ariem as she only offered me a kind smile again, making no effort to clarify things any further for me.
My mind went back to her previous words, of how she had told me that everything would make sense in a while. So she meant this.
“Enough, mother. I want to speak with the human.” He said and I almost saw Ariem’s face turn ugly in anger as if she could throw the wheelchair itself at him.
I saw her tap my shoulder and whisper, before she joined the other two by the side.
“Don’t mind his words too much. He wants someone to point every ounce of his anger at for the frustration he went through because of Aurora’s childish antics. Just take it as a stupid test. He can be a fool sometimes.”
Sitting in the wheelchair, my arms prickling with pain and my mind foggy from the encounter, I looked up at the elven king on his high throne. Neil’s sharp eyes bore down on me with unrestrained disdain, his mouth twisted in a sneer, his nose wrinkling as if even breathing the same air was an offense to his existence. Every inch of him radiated cold hostility toward me.
But he looked like a pouting dog.
“Were you not taught enough now how to greet?” He said, his face turned in a way that seemed to mock me.
So, this is how you want to start? I shrugged.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” I said, letting my voice carry a measured iciness, balanced and controlled. If he wished to make it this way, then so be it. It wasn’t my headache to entertain people like him. “But I suppose you are aware of my circumstances, and..." I paused. "I wasn’t taught how to greet royalty. And not enough to be kind to such customs and gestures of mockery for personal grudges.”
His scowl deepened, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out. Instead, he leaned back in his throne, his expression no less severe. “Your insolence speaks for itself, stranger. There is no need for a formal greeting from someone of your…station.”
A flicker of amusement crossed my mind, but I kept my face impassive, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing my reaction.
“Tell me,” Neil continued, his voice lowering, almost a hiss, “I have heard about your achievements and exploits from my soldiers and our allies in the orcen realm. What you have done for them, and how you did it. How and where did you come from? I suppose even you know that human have no clue about the existence of the compass, yet how did you reach a realm different from yours?” Neil spoke in the common tongue as if readying himself to mocking me already.
For a moment, I simply stared back, as though genuinely considering his question, then replied back in fluent common tongue. “Where I come from?” I repeated slowly, my tone politely curious, as if discussing the weather, Neil’s expression shifting slightly. “I suppose it’s a place far too different from this world. One where…authority must be earned, and where one doesn’t fully believe that the ignorance of an entire race may blind them to the dangers lurking outside.”
“I know you other races don’t think much of the humans, but please, try to humour me a little. I think Zalar had more guts than a king just sitting on his throne like an ignorant man knowing no better.”
His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. “Careful with your words. You tread on thin ground, outsider.”
He said, as I saw his hands clench, but beside him, the queen grinned, and also the three elves on my left, who seem to hold back laughter only by a twitch.
“Is that how the customs of the elves are? To belittle and mock others without knowing any better?” I said, shifting slightly in my wheelchair as I tried to stir my mana, still trying to check for my mana’s workability; checking for my skills.
He breathed, as he shifted his question and spoke. “Enough, human. My concern lies in the fact, and more to the point, what possessed you to place my daughter’s life in peril? Where did you take her, to bring her back in such a weakened state?”
I tilted my head slightly, a pang of guilt rising in my chest as I remembered Aurora’s body flunged through the air in the void. My eyes never left his as my expression remained the same.
“Of course, Your Majesty,” I said, infusing just the right amount of deference into my voice. “But I’d hate to think I was…misunderstood. It may have been my greed all along to bring princess Aurora alongside us, but she had her own willingness no matter if I tried to stop her. But after all, if anyone should know about the risks of venturing beyond one’s grasp, it would be your daughter, wouldn’t it?”
“She embraced those risks to travel alongside me and my bond, yet, I know fully well that I can be held guilty for what happened to her. And, I’m not backing away. I take full responsibility for any punishment you give me; as her father.”
A tense silence settled over us, but I held his gaze, unwavering. The weight of the room shifted like a bomb about to explode, feeling the sharp glares of the guards, barely holding back at lashing out at me. Neil’s eyes narrowed, but he couldn’t find any obvious disrespect in my words, only the subtle implication that I hadn’t acted alone in the decision that led to Aurora’s endangerment.
She knew fully well, that death would have been a possible outcome if she came with us. And I’d tried my best to protect her. But in the end, I’d failed, again.
“How dare you speak of her that way,” he growled, his hands clenching around the arms of his throne. “It is because of your evil tactics that my daughter had to face all of those dangers. You coaxed her with your silly words to bring her along for her love for adventures.”
“Then does it mean, you wish to shackle her in this castle, like a damsel? Never to let her know what really is going out there?” Upon my words, Neil froze, the queen looked at me with an almost unexpected expression as if unsure on how to respond. “I think the reports came to you, I know you already are aware of the battles.”
“From the way I see it. Your daughter is amazing. The way she held her own in the war in the orcen realm made me thing she was a trained warrior, her resilience in the battles, her determination and strength that helped many of the orcen kind—myself and Mordian included. She has great talent, but only shackled by her own insecurities.” I said with my eyes solemn, gripping the handles of the wheelchair.
“Then, you mean to say that I should sacrifice my daughter!!!” He growled, his murmur laced with threat.
“No, to trust her. She isn’t as naive as you think of her, king Neil. She only wants to get her father’s approval, that she isn’t some helpless child in the need for protection.” I said simply.
But from the side, I saw a guard move, his face contorted in anger.
I sighed. Here we go with the cliché crap!!
“You dare talk to the king like that, insolent human. I held back for the sake of my solemn oath, but I can no longer take your nonsense for king Neil, neither the princess. You dare talk to him in such a tone.” He drew his sword, as I got ready.
I raised my brow, looking at the approaching knight. My face expressionless, no panic visible, as I still checked.
Out of all my skills, only Ruler’s Authority seemed to remain active—a faint presence, barely there but tangible enough for me to notice. Mordian had mentioned back in the orcen world that Primordial had tempered the skill when he had possessed me, suppressing it just enough for me to manipulate it without losing control.
And if it was true, then Ruler’s Authority could be used again like it did before I had gone out of control.
And from my hazed memories, I remembered Primordial's words, he himself had said that he couldn't be able to take possession of my body in the future due to the weakning of his strength.
And now, I felt like I could control my skill again, looking past the tragedy I'd gone through using the flame of destruction.
I reached out to it, trying to force my body into motion which it refused to do. The moment I touched the skill with a prickle of mana, a sharp, zapping sensation shot through my dormant mana channels and my body. The pain was sudden, sharp, and electric, but I didn’t stop.
The skill reacted, its force pulsing through me, the throne room suffused in an aura which seem to twist everyone’s expression, and for a brief moment, the pain inside me dulled, shoved aside as my mana surged awake—violently, recklessly—as if I had never lost it at all.
The shift was jarring, almost disorienting, but my instincts kicked in faster than my mind could catch up. My body moved as if on its own as the wheelchair jerked back by the force of my rise, the pain no longer holding me back as mana fused my muscles and ligaments again. I twisted, throwing my weight against the flow of the guard’s incoming weapon. His blade glanced off awkwardly, and before he could recover, I struck.
My foot slammed into his with the force of a hammer, and the plate protecting it bent with a sickening screech before snapping. The guard cried out as he staggered back, his body skidding across the polished floor, leaving him sprawled and off-balance.
I exhaled sharply, my gaze snapping upward, locking onto the throne ahead. Neil.
He sat there, his posture unshaken, but his expression told a different story. His azure eyes glowed faintly, their light unnatural and unnerving. He frowned as he looked at me, feeling unsure on the turn of events.
“Stand down, knight captain. He is not someone of your calibre. Perhaps only Beatrix could be his match in the entirety of our realm. Even in a weakened state, he's still a beast.” Neil stated as he waved his hand, the guards went to the knight captain as they cradled his body carefully.
“So, was this your intention all along?” I asked, as my eyes turned to him and I saw him shudder, feeling the atmosphere bend.
But from the side, a strong presence surged forth, and I saw Beatrix standing.
I could no longer hold back as the pain bit, and I released my skill as I fell to one knee and spat blood. The drawback sent shivers tearing through me as I felt my muscles could burst, as the mana reinforcing them dispersed.
“He just had to do something stupid to make a point.” I heard Ariem speak as she approached with the wheelchair, and sat me down carefully.
She sighed, like a nagging grandmother, which she was. “Didn’t I tell you, not to mind his words? He’s a fool of a king when anything regarding his daughter is brought up. But you’re the bigger fool.” She glared at Neil and then back at me. “You understand me clearly, Jiwoo. Your body is in an unstable condition, where you can’t freely manipulate your mana, I didn’t tell you before, but you should know better, your body may breakdown if you recklessly use magic. I have done everything I could’ve in my limited knowledge to heal you, but the damage is too excessive for me to help you with.”
A sincere apology replaced her expression for a moment as I took a breath and calmed myself.
“Before that, I want to know where my companions are?” I directed the question at Neil as he looked at me with a straight face.
“Lord Astrionyx was provided his private quarter in the castle, and Aurora is resting. You may do whatever you want, but, I’m warning you to dare not approach my daughter.” He said, sternly, as if issuing an order.
“That will depend, whether she approaches me first, Your Majesty,” that’s all I said as Ariem pushed the wheelchair and took me away from the throne room before things escalated further.
I looked at Beatrix and the elder one last time, as Ariem took me away into the long hallways and corridors. Along the way, I finally decided to ask Ariem what she had told me only briefly in the throne room.
“Shouldn’t you tell me what you meant by in the throne room?” I asked, feeling my face grow still, so abnormally still that even I seemed unsure of what more might Ariem may say.
“I will tell you everything, everything that is going on inside your body. And why you can’t use your mana.” She said as we came by to a quarter after a long walk, Ariem’s expression seemed bleak, as if she hesitated from entering the room.
“You were the one who called him, why hesitate now?” I heard an aged voice from behind me and saw the elder from before approach.
“I know, but, you of all people should know exactly about our bad history, Ramus.” Ariem muttered looking at Elder Ramus approaching.
“Oh dear, if I remember correctly, that fight only lasted for seven years, it wasn’t much. You already made peace. And Camus himself said that he is now a believer of pacifism and has mended his old ways. He isn’t as rigid and crude as he used to be, that’s why he came upon your request. You know he doesn’t do that often—perhaps ever."
“And truthfully, it was Aurora who begged you to help heal Jiwoo, and bring Camus. And you aren’t any better when it comes to your granddaughter, Ariem.” Ramus said with a mischievous smile.
But Ariem shot back. “Says the old gramps who didn’t leave her bedside until she woke up. People might say you are more politically calculated for your own good, but no better for your granddaughter.”
From their conversation, I seemed to link together some points of their family tree.
So, Neil was Aurora’s father, Ramus, Aurora’s grandfather while Ariem being her grandmother, and queen Anastasia her mother.
“And, if possible, I would love to have a good chat with you if we can make some time later, Seo Jiwoo. I have heard a lot about you.” Ramus gave me a wink, as he approached the door, his expression made me think he had some motive in mind.
I smirked back as I spoke. “Yeah. The gesture is similar. I have also heard quite a lot about you, Mist Tyrant.”
“Alright, alright. Enough of you both, shall we enter, both of them are waiting inside.” Ariem said as she pushed me and Ramus opened the door to reveal the inside of the room.