Kaiden takes his seat at the long table, finding himself across from Loden. Meanwhile, the Empress and Emperor sit next to each other at the head of the table, with Wulfric standing behind them in a rigid stance. Servants gracefully enter the banquet hall, neatly placing food, beverages, and plates on the table for each individual. A few other servants stand quietly against the nearest wall, holding their hands crossed in front of them, not making a sound.

Kaiden starts eating at a leisurely pace, keeping watch on the Emperor and Empress and following their lead. He steals occasional glances toward Loden, but Loden keeps his head bowed. He merely shuffles food around on his plate before taking small bites of different dishes.

Kaiden is relieved when Wulfric dispels the quietness in the room, and proposes to the Emperor, "Your majesty, I believe it would be most effective to begin our search in the distant outskirts and gradually make our way inward. We could focus on covering one direction each day."

Loden abruptly rises from his seat, placing his hand firmly on the table, asserting, "We ought to start from the palace and work our way outward. Additionally, we should adopt a district-by-district approach, diligently inquiring everyone for any information they may have."

The Emperor and Empress slowly glance at Loden first, before turning their gazes over to Wulfric. They continue eating their meal, taking small bites while maintaining their composure.

Wulfric shakes his head in disagreement, countering, "No, I believe it would be more judicious to start from the outer edges and work our way inward. Our approach should be to start at the south entrance gate and proceed in a counterclockwise fashion each day."

Kaiden observes as Wulfric and Loden continue their debate, recognizing a familiar yet distinct divergence in their approach to the problem at hand. He continues to heartily nibble his food, finally finishing the contents of his plate and reaching out to seize a fresh piece of bread from a nearby plate.

In an unexpected moment, the plate jerks closer to Kaiden, causing him to start with surprise. He quickly realizes that a young female servant is holding it out for him. She utters kindly, "Here you go, my priestess." Slightly befuddled, Kaiden tips his head in acknowledgment and thanks her graciously, grabbing two pieces of bread from the plate outstretched before him.

Kaiden holds the two pieces of bread in his hand, contemplating the young servant girl for a moment. A flicker of inspiration suddenly ignites in his mind, as a plan begins to form. This could just be the breakthrough they need to avoid a tedious citywide search, making it even easier by bringing the celestial warrior directly to them.

Kaiden gazes at Wulfric and Loden as they continue their contentious exchange over the most appropriate search direction. A thought occurring to him, he rises, capturing the attention of the Emperor and Empress. Setting the bread down on his plate, Kaiden clears his throat, then boldly proclaims, "I believe I have a far more efficient proposal."

Wulfric turns to face Kaiden with both respect and courteous interest, inquiring, "What do you have in mind, Priestess?" Kaiden is taken back slightly at the change in Wulfric's demeanor, but can sense the growing bond between them, and it puts him at ease.

Kaiden puts forth his proposal with assurance, stating, "Does the empire mark or publicize the arrival of a priestess in any way? If we make an announcement about my arrival, the celestial warrior should naturally make their way to the palace."

The Emperor and Empress both express their agreement with a simultaneous nod. Wulfric also approves, stating, "Indeed, that's a compelling reason for the celestial warrior to come to the palace. What's your take on this, Loden?" All eyes turn to Loden, awaiting his response.

Loden appears surprised at being put on the spot, but after a moment he nods in agreement, asserting, "That would save time and energy, as we won't need to exhaustively scour the entire city on our own."

Stolen story; please report.

The Emperor rises, clapping his hands together with determination. "Then it's settled," he declares. "We will have it widely known that our priestess has arrived to save the empire. However, there are a few crucial preparations we must handle before we can proceed..."

Kaiden was about to interject, but the Empress speaks up first, addressing him, "Priestess, you will need to be measured for the clothing you'll wear during the coronation ceremony, and undergo a swearing ritual. It should take about two days to have the garment tailored, and the preparations for the cleansing ritual itself should also require the same amount of time. We shall hold the proclamation in three days' time."

The Emperor turns to a guard that was standing by the wall. “Go let the Elder Council and Ritual Keepers know that they have 3 days to make preparations.” The guard nods in response and exits the dining room.

The Empress turns back to the table with a sweet smile on her face, “Please continue eating.”

Wulfric steps in, expressing his opinion. "In the meantime, we should have guards stationed around you, a small team of bodyguards to ensure nothing happens until the announcement."

Loden interrupts with a counterargument, questioning the need for the added security measure. "Is that truly necessary? Kaiden already has us to safeguard him. The celestial warriors are tasked with defending the priestess, after all."

Kaiden and the royal couple turn their attention to Loden and then Wulfric, who vehemently shakes his head in disagreement with Loden's remark. "We're only two men," he retorts, "and we cannot ensure the priestess' constant safety on our own. Look at how things have unfolded thus far."

Loden averts his gaze, clearly feeling wounded and embarrassed. Kaiden intercedes, attempting to ease the tension. "Let's not argue over trivialities," he says, his tone calm. "Let us simply enjoy our meal for now."

The Empress nods in agreement, her smile warm and gracious. "Please, continue eating," she says. "There's still plenty of food left on the table."

Loden sullenly turns away, toying with his food with a dejected air. From behind the Emperor and Empress, Wulfric stands with a frown on his face and lets out a frustrated puff of air.

Kaiden continues to dine, finishing off both loaves of bread on his plate. Once everyone has completed their meal, the servants swiftly move to collect the plates and other items from the table, efficiently clearing away all the contents.

The Emperor dabs at his mouth with a napkin, then stands up. The Empress follows suit, as the Emperor addresses Kaiden, "Kaiden, you should proceed to the royal tailor's quarters to get measured for your garment. The Empress and I will now retire to the throne room. We will have the first meeting with the Priests and Ritual Keepers to make the necessary arrangements for the ritual."

Kaiden responds with a nod, acknowledging the Emperor's instructions. "Of course, Your Majesty," he affirms. "I'll proceed to the tailor's quarters immediately."

The Emperor nods in approval, stating, "Excellent." He then turns his attention to Wulfric and Loden, directing, "Wulfric and Loden will accompany you to the tailor's quarters. Take note of the location for future reference, as you'll be visiting there periodically for new garments."

Kaiden couldn't help but wonder to himself, "How many outfits do I need? Are all these different outfits for the coronation, summoning, and parties really necessary?"

Both Wulfric and Loden respond simultaneously, "Yes, Your Majesty." The Emperor then dismisses the matter with a casual wave of his hand, prompting them to return to their natural stance.

The Empress and Emperor bid a quick farewell to the group before leaving the hall, preparing to head to their new meeting. With their exit, the other servants discreetly follow suit, disappearing with little trace of their presence. This leaves Wulfric, Loden, and Kaiden standing in a now eerily quiet room.

Loden fidgets anxiously, shifting his weight from the balls of his feet, while Kaiden restlessly presses his fingers together, quietly awaiting further instructions.

After a few minutes of silence, Wulfric finally breaks it by adjusting his stance and moving towards the doors. "We should get going," he instructs, "since I'll be showing you the way and acting as your guide for now."

Kaiden briskly follows in Wulfric's footsteps as they exit the banquet hall. Loden brings up the rear, silently following the pair without uttering a word.

Kaiden can't help but notice the unusual silence emanating from Loden. There's something different about his demeanor, and it leaves Kaiden feeling slightly uneasy. He silently ponders if he's unknowingly done anything to upset Loden.

Kaiden considers addressing the issue with Loden but quickly decides against it, refocusing his attention on following Wulfric and keeping up with the pace. As the trio walks down the halls, passing through various corridors and doors, Kaiden silently reflects on his surroundings. He is grateful for Wulfric's presence as his guide, knowing he would have likely gotten lost otherwise. Kaiden muses to himself, pondering how he managed to find the throne room so effortlessly this time despite not remembering the exact route taken the day prior.