When Aldrian and the others arrived at the royal palace, they were greeted by a large crowd surrounding the vast field beside it. In the center stood a newly established platform, and everyone knew its purpose. This was the execution platform—a place where many fates had already been sealed, and today, it would seal yet another.
As they entered the royal palace, they were greeted immediately by King Douwin himself. He seemed more enthusiastic than usual, but Aldrian could sense what was on the king's mind. Although angered by the treachery of certain nobles within his kingdom, his optimism about the completed Divine Sword outweighed his frustration. This was a moment of truth for him and many of the Forgeheart Kingdom's nobles.
