Three days had passed.
The morning sun bathed the North in a cold light, reflecting across the stone walls and making the ice gathered on the rooftops shimmer like silver.
The castle was slowly waking.
Soldiers changed shifts.
Servants crossed the corridors carrying supplies.
In the distance, the rhythmic sound of a blade cutting through the air crossed the training courtyard.
At the center of the stone arena, Éon repeated the same sequence of movements.
The katana traced perfect arcs before his body.
Leaning against one of the pillars, Karna watched in silence, arms crossed.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Karna raised his eyes.
Éreon walked to his side.
His gaze, however, remained on Éon.
The katana kept cutting through the air in the same rhythm.
Without hesitation.
Without rest.
"How long has he been like this?"
Karna kept his eyes on Éon.
"Since before sunrise."
The katana cut through the air once more.
Éreon looked away from Éon.
"And the others?"
Karna uncrossed his arms before answering.
"Last night we received confirmation."
"The children arrived safely at the Tirésias marquisate."
"Marcus will wait at the agreed location."
Éreon gave a discreet nod.
"And the Awakened?"
Karna turned his gaze toward Éreon.
"I found five."
"None of them have ties to the Abyss, as you requested."
A brief pause.
"According to the records found in the temple..."
"They all still remain within an Elevated Body."
Éreon's gaze slowly traveled across the courtyard covered by a thin layer of snow.
"As long as they have no ties to the Abyss, that is enough."
"You will be responsible for them."
Karna nodded.
"Understood."
The two returned to watching Éon.
The blade cut through the air again.
Karna let out a brief sigh.
"It seems the defeat against Cassian affected him more than he shows."
Éreon remained silent for a moment.
"It was inevitable."
"His body still hasn't finished stabilizing."
Éreon's eyes followed the path of Totsuka for a moment.
As it cut through the air once more.
"Cassian has already reached a Semi-Divine Body."
A brief pause.
"So... the outcome between an Elevated Body and a Semi-Divine Body was predictable."
Karna shifted his eyes toward Éreon.
"And you?"
Éreon closed his eyes for a moment.
When he opened them again, a faint smile rested on his lips.
"Even a Transcendent like me would need to face him with caution."
Silence once again occupied the courtyard.
The only thing still breaking the morning was the rhythmic sound of the katana.
Éreon slowly stepped away from the pillar.
His footsteps echoed across the stone covered by a thin layer of snow.
He stopped a few meters from Éon.
"I met with His Majesty before coming here."
No reaction from Éon.
The katana cut through the air again.
"The nobles of the North are gathering in the castle."
Another strike.
Steel whistled before Éon's body.
"And everything indicates the Queen will arrive later today."
The rhythm of the blade remained exactly the same.
Éreon continued.
"His Majesty will offer a banquet after her arrival."
A brief pause.
"The two of us will be present."
The katana completed another movement.
Then another.
Only Éon's dark eyes shifted for a brief moment toward Éreon.
"We should prepare ourselves."
Silence was the only answer.
Totsuka slowly returned to its sheath.
The click of steel echoed through the courtyard.
Without saying a word, Éon turned around.
And began leaving the training arena.
Éreon watched his figure disappear into the distance.
A discreet smile appeared on his lips.
Soon, he turned toward Karna.
With a slight movement of his fingers, he tossed a small coin in his direction.
Karna caught it in the air by reflex.
He lowered his eyes to the object.
Then looked back at Éreon.
"What is this?"
"Keep it."
Karna frowned slightly.
"That's all?"
Éreon remained silent for a moment.
He started walking.
As he passed by Karna, he answered:
"If something happens..."
A brief pause.
"You'll understand."
Karna's fingers slowly closed around the coin.
He turned the small object between his fingers.
Then cast one last glance toward Éreon.
"I hope this makes sense when the time comes."
The cold wind crossed the training courtyard once again.
Inside the fortress—
Footsteps slowly echoed through the stone corridor.
Firm.
Rhythmic.
At its end, two enormous black stone doors remained closed.
Carved across their surface, ancient roots coiled around the white dragon of the North.
The two guards standing before them discreetly raised their eyes.
The man approached without the slightest hurry.
Long blond hair fell near his shoulders.
Blue eyes remained calm.
Steady.
His posture was impeccable.
White noble-cut garments draped over his body with austere elegance, marked only by subtle golden details.
Upon reaching the doors, he did not slow his pace.
Then pushed against the massive gates.
The stone doors slowly groaned open.
The vast council hall revealed itself before him.
Circular.
Monumental columns rose until they vanished into the shadows of the vaulted ceiling.
Great ivory-white banners hung between them, breaking the monotony of the gray stone.
At the center of the hall.
An enormous circular table had been carved from a single block of rock.
Around it, the great nobles of the North occupied their seats.
No voice broke the silence.
The man's eyes traveled across the hall as he walked.
At the opposite end of the table—
Vaelrion remained seated.
Behind him, Cassian immediately followed the figure that had just entered.
Golden eyes narrowed.
"Lord Alaric..."
Toc.
Vaelrion's index finger tapped the armrest once.
Cassian immediately cut himself off.
He lowered his head slightly.
And took a discreet step back.
The silence grew even heavier.
Without showing any reaction, Alaric continued walking.
The gazes of the other nobles followed him throughout the entire path.
Only when he reached his seat did he stop.
He pulled out the chair and sat down.
Vaelrion's golden eyes, marked by slit pupils.
Slowly moved across the nobles gathered at the table.
None of the nobles dared speak.
Toc.
Some discreetly exchanged glances.
Toc.
Others remained motionless.
The tension seemed to make the air itself heavier.
Toc.
Alaric calmly raised his eyes.
He met the king's gaze.
"I hope Your Majesty forgives my delay."
Vaelrion did not answer immediately.
"How curious."
His voice came out low.
"The man who summoned this meeting..."
A brief pause.
"is precisely the last to take his seat."
No change crossed Alaric's expression.
Vaelrion continued:
"Caution tends to justify many choices."
"Delay, very few."
The hall sank once more into silence.
Alaric remained perfectly upright.
His hands rested upon the stone table.
"That is precisely why I took the liberty of summoning this meeting."
"Because I believe certain events cannot be ignored."
"A temple that stood for nearly a decade..."
"collapsed precisely after the appearance of the supposed heirs."
Blue eyes slowly traveled across the table.
"Some would call that coincidence."
He turned toward the throne.
"Others..."
"an omen."
Vaelrion slowly rested one finger against the armrest.
Toc.
"On the contrary, Lord Alaric."
"We should consider this a blessing and cause for celebration."
Some nobles subtly shifted their eyes.
Others remained still.
"For years, this kingdom believed it possessed only one successor."
The king's voice remained calm.
Unshakable.
"A young man worthy of respect..."
A brief pause.
"But who does not carry my blood."
The silence became even heavier.
"Now two legitimate heirs have appeared."
"Two descendants of my lineage."
"If the gods truly decided to manifest themselves..."
Vaelrion's gaze remained on Alaric.
"Perhaps they are not condemning those who arrived."
"Perhaps they are judging what remained hidden..."
"beneath the roof of that temple all these years."
Alaric held the king's gaze.
"My only fear is that, with the destruction of the temple..."
"the only means of confirming who those youths truly are may also have vanished."
A brief pause.
"The High Priest will remain in Arkhel for the next few years."
"Until then... this doubt will continue to exist."
Vaelrion remained motionless.
His index finger slowly tapped the armrest of the throne.
Toc.
"I have always believed my eyes were enough to recognize my own blood."
His eyes slowly swept across every noble present.
"Unless... the king's word has lost value since the arrival of the new queen."
None of the nobles answered.
Some merely lowered their eyes discreetly.
Alaric was the first to break the silence.
"We would never dare question Your Majesty's word."
The answer came firm.
Controlled.
"Our concern exists only because the kingdom is passing through a delicate moment."
"The fewer doubts there are..."
"the firmer the North will remain."
Vaelrion held his gaze for a few moments.
His index finger slowly tapped the armrest again.
Toc.
A discreet smile appeared on his lips.
"Your loyalty..."
A brief pause.
"remains admirable, Lord Alaric."
"All that remains is to discover..."
The golden eyes never left the marquis.
"who it belongs to."
None of the nobles dared so much as breathe.
Alaric did not look away.
"My loyalty has always belonged to the Northern Kingdom, Your Majesty."
Vaelrion slightly inclined his head.
"I am pleased to hear that."
Silence once again dominated the hall.
Then—
The deep sound of a bell crossed the fortress.
Once.
Then again.
Its echo spread through the stone walls.
Vaelrion slowly raised his gaze.
"It seems the Queen has finally returned."
He stood.
Every noble immediately did the same.
"I suppose our meeting is concluded."
Golden eyes slowly moved across the table.
"Tonight there will be a banquet."
A brief pause.
"We will celebrate the Queen's return..."
His gaze remained firm.
"...and I will officially announce before all the North the legitimacy of the princes."
None of those present dared contest the king's decision.
Vaelrion merely turned away.
His cloak followed the movement.
And he left the hall.
Vaelrion's footsteps echoed through the long stone corridor.
Firm.
Constant.
Cassian walked a few steps behind him.
In silence.
None of the guards along the corridor dared raise their eyes as the king passed.
The sound of the hall slowly disappeared behind them.
"Report."
Cassian did not hesitate.
"Our men were unable to approach the ruins."
"The Marquis' soldiers completely isolated the area immediately after the collapse."
The footsteps continued.
Vaelrion's gaze remained ahead.
Cassian continued:
"Given the scale of the operation assembled to protect the ruins..."
"there was something in that place that was not meant to be seen."
A pause.
"Whatever it was... it is probably now in the princes' possession."
Silence once again accompanied them.
Only the echo of boots crossed the corridor.
After a few moments, Vaelrion spoke again.
"What did you think?"
Cassian reflected for a brief moment before answering.
"Both are variables."
"Éreon sees more than he shows."
"And thinks several moves ahead."
A brief pause.
"He is the kind of man who prefers to win before the battle even begins."
The two continued walking.
Cassian spoke again.
"Even so..."
Vaelrion slightly turned his eyes toward him.
"If you would permit an observation, Majesty..."
"I would keep greater attention on the younger brother."
Vaelrion's silence answered him.
Cassian continued:
"Men like Éreon tend to reveal their intentions sooner or later."
"But men like Éon..."
A brief pause.
"are far more difficult to understand."
Vaelrion's golden eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Was it the fight that convinced you of that?"
Cassian denied it with a slight movement of his head.
"Not only the fight."
A brief pause.
"Because even using my eyes..."
"I was incapable of seeing what was behind him."
A discreet smile appeared on Vaelrion's lips.
"Interesting."
A brief pause.
"I'm curious to see..."
"how those two will deal with the most dangerous woman in this kingdom."
Silence once again occupied the corridor.
The two continued walking.
In the distance—
the ringing of the bells still echoed through the fortress.
Announcing the queen's arrival.