The Barrier of Silence covered the room.
A faint glow emanated from the walls, accompanied by a barely audible hum that seemed to vibrate through the air. K-10 studied the barrier carefully, examining its construction and the way the magical field enveloped the room without leaving any visible opening.
Seralyth turned toward Hazelthorn.
“Thank you for erecting the barrier.”
Hazelthorn nodded. “It is the best protocol under the circumstances, especially when dealing with a member of the royal family.”
K-10 continued examining the barrier for another moment before looking toward Hazelthorn.
“Your decision was appropriate. Good assessment.”
Hazelthorn gave him a brief look. “Thank you.”
Tomand remained seated, still trying to process what he had just learned.
“So, you’re actually a princess?”
Seralyth nodded.
Tomand rubbed his beard and shook his head. “I have to admit, I didn’t know. I apologize if I treated you improperly. The Darvenim generally keep out of the politics of other nations.”
“There is nothing to apologize for,” Seralyth said. “I wanted to keep my identity secret.”
Tomand nodded slowly. “That makes sense.”
Milfern looked increasingly uncomfortable. He glanced at Seralyth, then at Hazelthorn, before looking back at Seralyth.
“Princess?”
Seralyth raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now. Should I bow? Kneel? Is there some kind of proper gesture?”
Seralyth shook her head.
“Don’t do anything.”
Milfern hesitated before nodding awkwardly. “Understood.”
Kimlorn had remained unusually quiet. His eyes stayed fixed on the floor as he remembered the conversations they had shared before the Flame Gajra attacked. He had spoken openly about the policies of Ansell-Vend and had not exactly been respectful toward the strangers traveling through the forest.
Now he knew that the woman standing in front of him was the missing heir to Ansell-Vend.
K-10 noticed his discomfort but said nothing.
Instead, he turned his attention back toward Hazelthorn.
“Is the barrier secure enough that no one outside this room can hear what we discuss?”
Hazelthorn’s expression became serious.
“Yes. The Barrier of Silence prevents sound from passing through the affected area. Nothing spoken within this room will be heard from outside.”
K-10 looked toward the walls once more.
“Good.”
He folded his arms.
“Our mission began approximately one month ago.”
Hazelthorn listened carefully.
“We were traveling through the Black Forest after reports began circulating of hunters disappearing in the region. The disappearances were caused by an illusion barrier surrounding an area of the forest. The barrier had been protecting the Seal for centuries, keeping travelers from accidentally entering the area.”
K-10 paused briefly.
“But the Seal had weakened. As a result, the illusion barrier had also weakened, allowing hunters and other travelers to enter the protected area without realizing it.”
Hazelthorn’s expression grew more serious.
“We eventually encountered the Kapre, the guardian of the Black Forest. The Kapre confirmed that something was wrong and directed us toward a ruined temple.”
“Inside the temple, we discovered the weakened Seal. We also encountered a Minotaur.”
Tomand shifted in his chair.
“That thing was not small.”
K-10 continued without comment.
“We defeated it. Afterward, Seralyth repaired the Seal using her nature magic.”
Hazelthorn looked toward Seralyth.
Seralyth nodded.
“It responded to my magic.”
K-10 continued.
“Inside the temple, we also found a map identifying the locations of other Seals. One of them was located in the Northern Forest of Ansell-Vend.”
The room fell silent.
Hazelthorn slowly looked from K-10 to Seralyth.
“The beasts.”
K-10 waited.
Hazelthorn’s voice became quieter.
“The disturbances began approximately one month ago.”
She looked toward Milfern.
“Reports started coming in from the Northern Forest. Enchanted beasts that normally avoided settlements began attacking travelers and patrols. Some became unusually aggressive toward other creatures as well.”
Milfern nodded.
“That is what we encountered.”
Hazelthorn continued.
“At first, we believed it was a localized disturbance. Perhaps a change in the forest itself. Perhaps an unusually powerful beast had entered the region. But it kept getting worse.”
She paused.
“And then the Flame Gajra appeared.”
Milfern’s expression tightened at the memory.
Kimlorn remained silent.
Hazelthorn slowly pieced the information together.
“The Black Forest Seal weakened, and the illusion barrier protecting it weakened as well. Now the Northern Forest is experiencing similar disturbances.”
K-10 nodded.
“The two events are likely connected.”
Hazelthorn leaned back in her chair.
“The Flame Gajra wasn’t simply enraged.”
“No,” K-10 replied. “It was affected by something.”
Hazelthorn looked at him.
“And if the Seal in the Northern Forest is weakening…”
K-10 finished the thought.
“Then whatever happened in the Black Forest may be happening here.”
Hazelthorn’s expression hardened.
“We need to know why.”
K-10 turned toward her.
“Seralyth and I need to reach the Seal before the situation escalates.”
Milfern immediately spoke up.
“That won’t be easy. There are numerous enraged enchanted beasts roaming the Northern Forest. They have become increasingly aggressive, and some of them are extremely dangerous.”
He hesitated.
“And then there is the Flame Gajra.”
The room became quiet.
“The Flame Gajra is a sacred beast,” Milfern continued. “If it remains in the area, reaching the Seal will be extremely dangerous.”
Kimlorn nodded.
“There is another problem. The Northern Forest is currently off limits. No one is permitted to enter.”
“Why?” Tomand asked.
Kimlorn looked toward Seralyth before answering.
“There are holy sites within the forest. Some of them are restricted to Vends. Outsiders are not permitted to enter those areas.”
Tomand frowned.
“So even if we can get past the beasts, we aren’t allowed to go there?”
“Correct.”
K-10 considered the situation.
“So the Seal is located inside a restricted area, surrounded by hostile enchanted beasts.”
Kimlorn nodded.
“And a Sacred Beast.”
K-10 looked toward Hazelthorn.
“Then we will need authorization.”
Hazelthorn remained silent for a moment.
“The heir to Ansell-Vend has returned,” she said quietly. “And now you are telling me that she intends to enter one of our most sacred and dangerous forests to repair a failing Seal.”
Seralyth looked toward Hazelthorn.
“I did not return to Ansell-Vend for the throne.”
Hazelthorn studied her carefully.
“I returned because the country is in danger. If the Seal continues to weaken, the situation in the Northern Forest will only become worse. More enchanted beasts may become enraged, and the consequences could spread beyond the forest.”
She paused.
“Once the Seal is repaired, I will leave again.”
Milfern looked at her with surprise.
“You intend to leave Ansell-Vend again?”
“Yes. I have no desire to reclaim the throne. My return is not about becoming Queen. I came back because I could not ignore what was happening to my homeland.”
Kimlorn remained silent.
Her words forced him to reconsider everything he had believed about her.
Seralyth turned toward Hazelthorn.
“If allowing us into the Northern Forest requires authorization from the crown, then I will accept whatever conditions are necessary. But I will not remain in Ansell-Vend after the Seal has been restored.”
Hazelthorn regarded her for several moments.
“You would leave again?”
“Yes.”
K-10 spoke without hesitation.
“The objective is clear. We need to reach the Seal and repair it before the situation escalates.”
Hazelthorn remained silent.
K-10 continued.
“We will proceed with or without authorization.”
The room became noticeably tense.
Seralyth turned toward Hazelthorn.
“Then please release us.”
Hazelthorn’s expression hardened.
“I cannot do that.”
“Why?”
“You are the missing heir to Ansell-Vend. You have just revealed your identity inside a military facility while the Northern Forest is under restriction. I cannot simply allow you to walk out of here and enter a prohibited area.”
K-10’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“The Seal is weakening.”
“I understand.”
“Then delaying us is counterproductive.”
Hazelthorn’s voice became firmer.
“And allowing you to enter the Northern Forest without authorization could create a different problem.”
“We are not asking for permission to investigate an ordinary disturbance.”
“You are asking to enter a restricted holy site containing enraged enchanted beasts and a Sacred Beast that nearly killed an entire military patrol.”
K-10 met her gaze.
“And yet the Seal remains weakened.”
Silence settled over the room.
Seralyth stood.
“Hazelthorn, I understand your position. But I cannot allow my people to remain in danger simply because my presence has complicated the situation.”
Hazelthorn looked directly at her.
“And I cannot allow the missing heir of Ansell-Vend to disappear into the Northern Forest immediately after revealing herself to me.”
Kimlorn shifted uneasily. Milfern glanced between them while Tomand tightened his grip on his axe.
K-10 slowly stood.
“Then we have a disagreement.”
Hazelthorn did not move.
“Yes.”
Neither side backed down.
K-10’s attention suddenly shifted toward the door.
His expression changed.
Seralyth noticed immediately.
K-10 reached toward the two Lunarium kodachis at his sides.
“Kaiten?”
He did not answer.
His eyes remained fixed on the door.
“There is someone outside.”
Hazelthorn turned toward the entrance.
“What?”
“A strong presence.”
K-10’s hands rested on the grips of his kodachis.
The room fell silent.
Even Seralyth could sense something now.
The handle of the door slowly moved.
Nobody spoke.
The door opened.
A figure stepped into the room.
The figure passed through the Barrier of Silence as though it were nothing more than an open doorway. The faint glow of the barrier briefly surrounded him before settling back into place.
K-10’s grip tightened around his weapons.
The figure looked across the room.
“I heard enough!”
Hazelthorn immediately recognized him.
“Commander Alderond.”
Alderond, Commander of the Queen’s Guard, stood calmly inside the room.
His eyes settled on K-10, then moved toward Seralyth before returning to K-10.
K-10 stared at Alderond.
His eyes moved methodically over the Vend commander.
Approximately six feet and two inches tall. Broad shoulders. Muscular build. Shoulder-length white hair tied behind his head with a silver cuff. Sharp blue eyes.
Despite his age, Alderond’s physical condition was exceptional. His posture was relaxed, but K-10 recognized the stance immediately.
A career soldier.
Five centuries of experience would make him dangerous even without considering his Affinity.
K-10’s gaze briefly moved toward Alderond’s hands before returning to his face.
Alderond noticed.
The two men stared at each other.
Neither spoke.
Seralyth stepped forward.
“Greetings, Teacher!”
Alderond’s attention immediately shifted toward her.
“Seralyth.”
There was a moment of silence as Alderond studied her, seemingly confirming for himself that she was truly standing before him.
“It has been a long time,” Seralyth said.
“Yes.”
Alderond’s voice was restrained.
His eyes returned to K-10.
“You are the human traveling with her.”
“Yes.”
Alderond studied him carefully.
“You have been traveling together.”
“Yes.”
“That is all I know about you.”
K-10 remained silent.
Seralyth stepped forward.
“Teacher—”
Alderond raised a hand.
“I am only asking questions.”
His gaze remained on K-10.
“You are armed.”
“Yes.”
“You are human.”
“Yes.”
“And you have been traveling with the missing heir of Ansell-Vend.”
“Yes.”
Alderond’s expression hardened.
“That is enough to warrant my concern.”
Seralyth looked at him.
“Kaiten has done nothing to harm me.”
Alderond glanced toward her.
“I am glad to hear it.”
His eyes returned to K-10.
“But I know nothing about him.”
K-10 nodded slightly.
“That is true.”
Alderond’s expression remained guarded.
He had failed to protect Seralyth once. Human men had taken her from Ansell-Vend and subjected her to horrors that had left wounds far beyond the physical.
Now she had returned, standing beside another human male.
Alderond would not assume that this human was trustworthy simply because Seralyth said otherwise.
Seralyth looked between them.
“Teacher, Kaiten saved my life.”
Alderond’s eyes remained on K-10.
“I will hear the circumstances before I make any judgment.”
K-10 gave a slight nod.
“Fair.”
Neither man looked away.
For the moment, they remained strangers, and neither had any reason to trust the other.
Alderond finally turned toward the others.
“I heard what was said before I entered.”
His eyes moved from Hazelthorn to Seralyth, then back to K-10.
“The Black Forest. The weakened Seal. The temple. The map identifying another Seal in the Northern Forest. The enraged enchanted beasts. The Flame Gajra. And your intention to reach the Seal before the situation escalates further.”
K-10 waited.
Alderond continued.
“I have followed the investigations into the Northern Forest.”
Hazelthorn listened closely.
“We have documented the behavior of the beasts. We have confirmed that the aggression is abnormal. We have searched for causes.”
He paused.
“We found none.”
K-10 said nothing.
“Your account of the Black Forest gives us something we did not have before. A known weakening Seal. A demonstrated connection between that weakening and the protective barrier surrounding it. And evidence that the Seal can be restored.”
Alderond looked toward Seralyth.
“And someone capable of restoring it.”
Seralyth nodded.
Alderond’s gaze returned to K-10.
“Objectively, your proposed course of action is the best direction available to us.”
K-10 watched him carefully.
“I am not speaking as Seralyth’s teacher.”
Alderond’s voice hardened.
“I am speaking as a soldier.”
He looked around the room.
“If another Seal is weakening, and the Northern Forest disturbances began at approximately the same time, then reaching that Seal is the logical course of action.”
K-10 nodded once.
“Agreed.”
Alderond’s expression remained stern.
“That does not mean I trust you.”
“I did not expect you to.”
“Good.”
The two men continued to study one another.
Alderond finally turned toward Hazelthorn.
“This matter has been escalated to National Security.”
Hazelthorn straightened immediately.
Alderond’s gaze moved across the room, settling on each person in turn.
“From this moment forward, no one present will discuss what has been said here with anyone outside those directly authorized to know. Not with family. Not with friends. Not with fellow soldiers. Not with anyone.”
His voice carried the weight of an order rather than a request.
“If this information is disclosed without authorization, it will be considered treason.”
Hazelthorn gave a firm nod.
“Understood.”
Milfern swallowed.
“Understood, Commander.”
Kimlorn’s expression tightened as the weight of the order settled over him.
“Understood.”
Tomand crossed his arms and gave a solemn nod.
“You have my word.”
Seralyth remained composed, though she clearly understood the seriousness of what had just happened.
K-10 simply watched Alderond.
Alderond turned back toward Hazelthorn.
“This discussion will be moved to the Royal Castle.”
He paused.
“Everyone involved will need to meet with the Queen.”
Silence filled the room.
Milfern’s eyes widened.
Kimlorn visibly stiffened.
Hazelthorn took a slow breath.
Tomand’s expression changed as the implication settled in.
Seralyth lowered her gaze.
K-10 remained motionless.
Alderond turned toward him.
His eyes moved down.
K-10 followed his gaze.
The Lunarium armor plates covering his body had survived the Flame Gajra’s attack.
Everything else had not.
Alderond sighed.
“For Gods’ sake! Get this man some clothes!”
The room fell silent.
K-10 looked down at himself.
Then back at Alderond.
“Fair.”