So we were really heading to the royal palace. For what reason exactly? No idea.
But during my stay here in Valerión, I learned something...When you are suddenly escorted to meet the most powerful people of a nation or a kingdom, it usually meant one of two things.
You were about to be rewarded…Or you were in trouble. Knowing my luck, it's definitely the second one.
Elandor walked in front with his usual calm steps, like he wasn't dragging me into possible political disaster. Elariel walked beside me, hands behind her back, looking way too relaxed for someone who lived here.
Blaze stayed on my shoulder, tail flicking lazily. "You look nervous," he said.
"I am nervous."
"Good. Fear builds character."
"That explains a lot about your personality."
The palace gates opened as we approached, guards immediately stepping aside for Elandor and the princess. We passed through tall halls lined with silver pillars, and things that looked expensive enough to make me walk carefully.
Eventually, we reached the throne chamber. The giant doors opened slowly.
Even I could tell something was off. The king clearly hadn't expected visitors today.
King Aelthirion sat upon the throne, speaking quietly with several advisors before turning toward us. His sharp gaze moved from Elandor… to me… then to Blaze.
Elandor stepped forward and bowed his head. "Greetings, Your Majesty. I have urgent matters to bring before the throne."
The room immediately shifted in mood.
Formal. Serious. King Aelthirion straightened slightly. "The floor is yours, Brother… General. State your business, and let us see if the news warrants such a somber introduction...My sword.. It's.." the king looked to me.
I noticed that pause. Brother. General. So they were dropping titles on purpose today. And that sword thing again? Yeah… I'm definitely in trouble.
Elandor rose and walked closer to the throne. He leaned slightly and spoke quietly into the king's ear. I couldn't hear a word. But I saw the king's expression change.
Not shock. Recognition. Like he had just heard something connected to an old memory only he and Elandor understood.
That was when I noticed one of the advisors on the side staring directly at me.
No...He's actually looking at my sword. His eyes narrowed. He stepped forward slightly, as if he had sensed something.
Before he could speak–
The king's voice cut through the chamber.
"Boy." I nearly stood straighter by instinct.
"Do you know what is in your possession?"
I blinked. "…Uh. My legendary discount sword?"
Silence.
Elariel covered her mouth. Blaze nearly fell off my shoulder laughing. The king did not.
"Do not disrespect its name." His voice carried across the room with enough force to shut down every sound. "That blade is Valaerion." He paused. "Divine Will."
The chamber grew still. Then his eyes locked onto mine. "It is either your burden… or your fortune." Well that sounded terrifying. One of the advisors finally stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, forgive me–but surely there is some mistake. Valaerion cannot simply appear at the waist of a human child who found it in a marketplace!"
Another joined in. "This is unacceptable. Such a relic belongs to the throne!"
A third spoke sharply. "It must be confiscated and secured immediately!"
I slowly took one step back. Yep. Definitely trouble.
"Kid, you want me to burn something?" Blaze said
"Stop it you're not helping.."
Before anyone else could move, Elandor spoke. "No." Just one word. But the entire room stopped. He turned toward the advisors. "You know the law of the Divinarchs."
His voice was calm, but colder than usual.
"No hand claims them. No bloodline owns them. No crown commands them." He looked directly at the oldest advisor.
"They choose."
The advisor frowned. "And yet this one chose a human?" Elandor didn't hesitate.
"Lucien Greaves is not ordinary."
I muttered quietly, "I'm starting to miss being ordinary."
Blaze nodded. "Too late for that."
The advisors continued arguing.
"A child lacks wisdom!"
"A foreigner lacks heritage!"
"A human lacks standing!"
Each sentence somehow more insulting than the last. I was about to defend myself when Elariel stepped forward first. "He also defeated Sylas in one punch yesterday."
The room went silent for an entirely different reason. I looked at her. "Why was that your first contribution?" She smiled innocently.
The advisors tried again. "Even so, Your Majesty, if we allow this–" The king rose from his throne. Instant silence.
You could feel authority move with him.
His gaze swept across the chamber. Then he spoke. "If Valaerion has chosen this boy…" He looked at me. "…who are we to deny him his destiny?" That ended everything.
No one argued. No one even breathed loudly. The advisors lowered their heads one by one. Blaze whistled softly. "Oh, that was clean."
The king descended the steps of the throne and stopped before me. Up close, he felt even more overwhelming. Not threatening. Just powerful. Ancient, almost.
"Lucien Greaves."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"You now stand at the edge of matters far older than yourself."
Great. That sounded like responsibility.
He turned slightly toward Elandor. "Then it is decided." His gaze returned to me.
"You will begin training in advanced magic."
I blinked. "…I what?"
"You will go to Orynthia with Elandor" Now even Elariel reacted. "The Hall of Eternal Echoes?"
The king nodded. "It is what must come next. If Valaerion has chosen you, then ignorance can no longer be your shield."
"I beg your pardon your majesty, Orynthia?.." The name alone sounded important. And expensive.
King Aelthirion studied my reaction for a moment before answering. "Orynthia."
He turned slightly, as if even the throne room itself should listen when that name was spoken. "The Hall of Eternal Echoes."
His voice carried calmly through the chamber.
"It is the oldest seat of knowledge remaining through all of elven kingdoms. Before these walls were raised… before crowns were forged… Orynthia already stood among the ancient trees."
Blaze groaned dramatically. "Oh excellent. Tree scholars." I looked between the king, Elandor, and the silent advisors. As I tried to picture that. A school older than the palace. Yeah, no pressure.
The king continued. "It is not a place of soldiers. They do not train with blades or march in armor." He glanced at Valaerion at my side. "They pursue a different path of strength..Knowledge in magic."
End of chapter.