High above the academy gates, the pinkish-purple sky with shadows of orange split open as three heavily armoured royal vehicles descended in a horizontal formation. The massive central ship, which seemed to be the primary royal transport, loomed twice the size of its escorts. Its outer body was covered in bright gold plating while the weapons on either side crackled with energy.
Damon watched them land and looked thoroughly unimpressed by the dramatic entrance.
'Wow,' he thought to himself. 'They sure do waste a lot of gold on a simple vehicle. Nice defences, though.'
Several of the King's guards stepped out in metal armour and spears in hand.
Nearby, the six scout boys looked at the arriving vessels in absolute awe. Klaven, however, stared at the central ship the exact way a criminal looks at a judge walking into a courtroom, his heartbeat drumming loud enough for him to hear it in his own ears.
Cythera noticed his posture. "Don't look so frightened, Klaven. Get up."
Klaven looked at her, then pushed himself off the wall, standing up somewhat shakily. He glanced at his cousin, exhaling a rough breath. "I appreciate your support, Cythera. But you can't keep telling me what to do."
"I can," Cythera said flatly. "You can simply choose not to obey, and we'll see how you end up."
Damon and Daichi watched the cousins' peaceful squabble over their shoulders. When the bickering died down, Damon turned his gaze back to the courtyard.
The heavy doors of the central vehicle slid open.
The King and Queen of Sunspire immediately stepped out, abandoning their usual royal pace to run toward their daughter, their grand garments trailing behind them with crowns on their heads. The Queen's hair was a striking red, a shade darker than Klaven's reddish-orange, and her golden eyes were a perfect match to Alya's—making the King's own eyes look like a simpler, darker version of yellow.
Before Alya could even speak, both of her parents wrapped their arms around her, hugging her tightly at the same time. A thick, familial warmth enclosed them like a tight rope, bonding the three of them together.
Alya's face froze in subtle shock for a few seconds, but she quickly melted into the embrace, hugging them back just as tightly. She inhaled, and the scent of family put a smile on her face.
Standing a few paces away, Nyra watched the King hold his daughter. She swallowed softly, and her expression darkened with a quiet, heavy sadness. As she fixed her gaze on them, Nyra held several thoughts:
'I wonder how she must be feeling... Having her father. I wish I had someone to run to like that. Mother is always there, and Damon... but what does it feel like... to have a father? Zariel...'
She remembered the man she visited occasionally, the one who gifted Damon the Shard of Luminaris when he first arrived at Eternum.
'I haven't seen Zariel in a while; he's the closest thing to that for me. Still... I'd do anything to be in Alya's place.'
Damon sensed her ki, but he didn't look at her—his eyes stayed fixed forward—but he casually wrapped a single arm around his sister's shoulder, anchoring her as if he had read her mind.
Queen Thessa noticed a soft, motherly smile gracing her features as she gave her Nyra a reassuring look while patting her head with extreme gentleness.
With those simple actions, it was as if a new fire was lit in Nyra's chest. The heavy chill of jealousy and sadness vanished gradually yet soothingly, replaced by a wave of pure warmth that spread through her entire body, grounding her right where she stood.
The Queen of Sunspire pulled back slightly, her palms cupping Alya's face as she scanned her up and down. "Alya, are you hurt anywhere? Are you okay? You look so tired. Say something, Alya! Don't scare me with silence."
"Alya… your core. Does it?" Her father said as he leaned down with a furrowed brow.
The Queen instantly snapped her head toward him, her voice sharpening. "Her core! Are you seriously worried about that right now?!"
The King looked at his wife, frustratingly confused. "If her core's not okay, how will she be okay?"
"You know exactly what I mean," the Queen shot back. "You're worried about the power of the Kings' cores, not her."
"How can you say that in front of my daughter?" the King muttered with a tight jaw.
"Because she knows I'm right."
Damon and Daichi let out a synchronized, muffled laugh at the royal bickering. Alya caught the sound instantly. Her face flushed in deep embarrassment, and she frowned slightly in an attempt to salvage her dignity.
"Please, just stop," Alya pleaded as she looked from one parent to the other. "Mother. Father. I'm fine. A little hungry, but that's it. Stop arguing and thank the people who actually saved me."
Alya's words seemed to silence them. The King and Queen finally looked behind their daughter, taking in the crowd in front of them—Queen Thessa, her kids, the six scouts, and the Vorens.
A subtle yet heavy silence fell over the courtyard. The wind rustled through the massive trees, carrying scented petals across the clearing until a single red petal drifted down and landed squarely on Daichi's white-furred nose. One landed on the back of Damon's fist.
King Cassian walked past his daughter, stepping slowly and deliberately toward Queen Thessa.
"Thessa…" Cassian spoke with a voice heavy in a conflicted mixture of pride and regret. "How… you could have used my daughter to ruin me. Yet, you chose not to when you should have. If roles were reversed, I would have done it without a second thought. But... you didn't."
The King paused, he chuckled sadly and looked at the ground beneath him, his crown glinting with sun-setting light, "I suppose it takes a moment like this to make a man see how blind he's been. And the error of his ways. I owe you everything. Tell me—how can I begin to repay you? "
Queen Thessa maintained a majestic, untouchable real smile, her sapphire eyes glinting as the breeze subtly stirred her silver-white hair.
"You don't," she said, cutting him off with total finality. She stepped aside, gesturing to the teenagers behind her.
"Thank them. I didn't lift a finger to save your daughter. My priority is, and always will be, my own people, yet I know how cruel it can be to use one's child against them. I have no grudges against you, Cassian, but if it had been up to me instead of my son, your daughter might not have fared as well. He and his friends saved both our people. They're the ones who earned your gratitude, don't you think?"
King Cassian shifted his body, his gaze scanning the teenagers until it locked entirely onto Damon. He froze, a memory flashing behind his eyes—the Trineum festival, where he had handed this same boy a glowing training shard and a prismatic vial.
'He's… grown even stronger?' Cassian thought as the almost suffocating realisation settled into his senses. 'How? In such a short time? His purges… I can't— the sheer agony of it must be unfathomable. Is that why he saved my daughter? If the seal on her core had fully released, she would have endured the same torment he did at the festival. No, hers would be worse; she has the core of ten kings, he's bonded with one. She could...'
He paused with a hitched breath and slightly widened eyes. Damon subtly raised an eyebrow as he noticed the King's eyes on him.
'Forcing decades of growth into a single, volatile moment is a horror I never thought I'd witness in my centuries of life. Thank The Eternal One, I'll never have to witness it a second time, especially on my daughter.'
The King glanced back at Alya. 'My daughter. She's… standing straight. Now that I look at her, she carries her mother's steel more.' He offered a small, proud smile. His wife's eyes shone as she held their daughter tight, both of them watching his next move.
'No more looking away or hiding her eyes; she's looking me right in the face. Is that his doing? I knew she'd change eventually, but.. I never thought the day would come so early. Does his ridiculous growth force everyone around him to catch up? If so, my daughter's newfound pride is all thanks to… him.'
Queen Thessa's voice broke the silence, yet she spoke dryly and amused. "Cassian. You're just staring now."
King Cassian inhaled sharply, breaking out of his thoughts. "Oh. My apologies. Thank—"
"Excuse me, sir," Damon interrupted casually, stepping forward with his hands still jammed in his pockets. "I just wanna ask for something else."
The King blinked, thrown off by the lack of formality. "I will do anything in my power to show my thanks, Prince Damon."
"Good, good," Damon said, nodding. "I'd like to ask for the opportunity to give every single one of us here something that we want from you."
Cassian let out a small, bewildered breath, thinking aloud. "You used a favour just to ask for another favour?"
"Tells you the kinda guy I am in a sentence, right?" Damon shrugged with a slight smirk. "I'm just asking you to swap the 'thank you' you were about to say for letting us ask for what we actually want. That's simple."
The King let out a slow sigh, his expression softening into something weary but deeply respectful. "You remind me of your father, bless his soul. Very well. What would you like, Prince Damon?"
"No, let's start with the young ones," Damon said, gesturing with his hand toward the scout boys. "Actually, ladies first."
Cythera stepped forward, her voice cool and calculated. "I want an official, sealed document stating that my family and our lineage are, and will always be, under the absolute diplomatic protection of Sunspire, regardless of any conflicts you may have with any other kingdom. Including Woewyn. By Sunspire, I do not necessarily mean the name of the Kingdom, the name could change, but the people will always remain, so as long as Sunspire—as a people—are alive."
'Oh wow… not a shred of hesitation in her voice,' The Queen of Sunspire thought. Queen Thessa only held an encouraging smile.
King Cassian nodded without hesitation. "Granted. It will be drafted and delivered by morning. It shall be delivered to no one except you, so I ask that you kindly remain at your abode tomorrow."
Cythera bowed. "Thank you," she said as she stepped back.
Nyra stood just a few paces from the King of Sunspire, her hand resting thoughtfully on her lip.
Before she spoke, her mind flashed back to the events at the Ignivar volcano, where she had stood in bitter silence after killing Lady Seraphine. She remembered how Damon had cut off her dark thoughts by slinging an arm over her shoulder and telling her about an Earth tradition—a New Year's Resolution.
He'd teased her about acting entirely on instinct and told her to try thinking things through before she spoke as her own resolution, right before lifting her onto his shoulders and promising to always be a better brother to his little sister.
'My resolution...' Nyra thought, grounding herself back in the courtyard. 'I should think before I talk. What should I ask him for? I don't need anything from him, should I say that? This is a great opportunity, though. What do I—'
She pondered it for a quick second, and then her face suddenly brightened.
'That's it. He doesn't need to give me anything. But with this, he could give others a lot more. I'm sure Zariel would like this too.'
With a sharp, knowing gleam in her eyes, Nyra stepped forward, her voice filled with a confident brightness as she faced King Cassian.
"I'd like a trade agreement. Due to a past incident of a certain... volcano, Mother here's asked me to help certain traders on adventures as my punishment. What I would like is for your kingdom to reduce its export fees on raw materials, since your lands have more high-grade shards."
She shifted her gaze to Damon, a playful smirk on her face. "Like the shard you gave my brother at the festival. Except it's mine now, remember?" she said with a chuckle.
Damon gave a one-sided smile, "Of course, I remember. It seems like it's working on you too..."
King Cassian stared at the princess as she conversed with her brother, a wave of internal surprise washing over him. 'The Princess…' he thought, his heart twisting slightly. 'I expected her to ask for something aggressive, something that would force my borders to compromise and my heart twist itself. She really is getting older. She thinks more like a ruler now.'
"How could I forget such a rare item? However, you can consider it done," the King replied. "I'll take it a step further and decrease tariffs on artificial vials, too."
Nyra smiled in satisfaction, "Good, good. You can add that too. I see you do love your daughter after all, King Cassian."
The King stared at the Princess with a raised eyebrow. He shook himself and turned his golden eyes back to Damon. "And you, Prince?"
"What? What about these six guys? They're the ones who defeated Mr Cyborg." Damon said as he patted the head of Fireboy, it almost seemed to hurt the boy, actually. Damon nudged the boy forward with his palm.
King Cassian seemed gently surprised with his parted lip, "Oh. What is it you would like, young man?"
Fireboy looked up at King Cassian. He reached up to scratch the back of his neck, but his eyes were completely steady, totally lacking any real nervousness.
"Well… nothing," Fireboy said. "I don't want anything, Your Grace."
King Cassian's jaw twitched slightly in surprise. "Hmm? Why not?"
Fireboy didn't answer him. Instead, he turned his entire body away from the King of Sunspire and faced Queen Thessa. "Because the only thing I want is from the Queen."
Thessa looked slightly shocked, but a pleased expression quickly smoothed over her features. "And what is it you would like to have?"
A quiet stillness settled over the courtyard. A few feet away, several birds seemed to be settling into their nests on trees; the sound of cracking twigs and tweets echoed lightly against the stone walls as the evening breeze caused the surrounding leaves to whisper. Fireboy took a breath, holding the Queen's gaze.
"Many men died in the recent war... passed, against a lady called Velmira, and my father was one of them," he said, his voice dropping into a rough but serious tone.
"Before he'd died, whenever he managed to come home in one piece, he'd tell me all these stories of battle, and I always wanted to be exactly like him. I fought hard against Doran today because I hoped you'd acknowledge me. I want proper training so I can serve you to my full capabilities, Your Majesty."
Queen Thessa tilted her head slightly to the side, her sharp eyes boring into his as if she had instantly picked up on a flaw in his words.
Under her gaze, Fireboy's chest tightened. A dark flush crawled up his neck, and his eyes darted down to his boots as he shifted his weight uncomfortably, his hands clenching into fists inside his pockets.
"No," he muttered, his shoulders dropping. "I'm sorry. I lied about the serving part. I just… I want to be like my father, but better. And getting your help is the best way I can think of to do that, Your Majesty."
Queen Thessa looked at the boy with sharpening thoughts. 'I see. The King who established the Sisters of Woewyn was right. Fathers really do lie. They choose to hesitate and romanticize the goriness of war just to soothe the hearts of their loved ones. He was already injured when I met him, so I suppose the goriness of death in battle hasn't changed this boy's mind. Still, I can't help but feel a bit sorry for him.'
"What is your real name?" she asked.
Fireboy looked startled for a moment, "Oh. It's Icarus, Your Majesty."
"Very well, Icarus," Queen Thessa said aloud. "If your current guardian allows it, your wish is granted. The sun is moving to rest, and so should we. Those who have a request from King Cassian should speak now. It has been a long day. I'd like a long night."
The water user from the scout group stepped forward, keeping his posture rigid and formal.
"Your Highness, I'm a Noble of Woewyn," he said, addressing King Cassian directly. "The only reason I even attend the academy, aside from it being the best, is because Queen Thessa states that every Noble under the Royal Family is equal while at Trineum. I reasoned that, unlike the tragedy of my childhood, I wouldn't be targeted here. Though, in reality, that hasn't exactly been the case with your people. Could you just tell the ones in your kingdom to stop? Sometimes I think it's racism, yet we're all human."
King Cassian's expression turned solemn. "Your request is one I can understand. I trust you will not indulge in sabotage when I ask you to provide my guards with a written list of the names of your oppressors. They are likely high-ranking Nobles or strongly related to influential houses, but as per your request, the behaviour will cease. I grant you personal permission to send a private message directly to my court if it continues."
Water sighed in relief as if he'd been holding his breath.
The King paused, his golden eyes scanning the rest of the teenagers. "Now, do any of you younger ones still have requests?"
The remaining children quickly brought forward their own requests, and within a few short minutes, King Cassian had settled every single one of them with the practiced, quiet efficiency of a ruler who just wanted to take his family home.