Kishiar gave Nathan a light command and stepped briskly into the open carriage door. Gakane swallowed nervously as he watched the large door, designed to allow even the tall Kishiar to enter without bending.
"Is it really true that the imperial carriage was crafted by grand mages to prevent even the slightest jolt?"
"We'll find out once we're inside," Yuder replied, his expression unreadable, though he silently agreed.
Unlike the others, Kanna showed no signs of amazement at the royal carriage. Once aboard, she didn't marvel at the smooth ride, but instead fidgeted continuously, as if sitting on a bed of thorns. Her gaze kept drifting to the window, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.
Why was she so anxious about going to the palace, even though she was a commoner?
Yuder watched her intently, puzzled by her behavior. Yet, Kanna seemed oblivious to his penetrating stare, her mind lost in its own turmoil.
'The Red Stone issue is troubling, but something's off with Kanna as well. If she doesn't settle down by the time we arrive, I'll have to keep a close eye on her.'
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Imperial Palace of the Orr Empire, known as La Luma Palace, sat at the heart of the capital. Built in an era when ancient relics still existed, the palace had preserved its majestic beauty for a millennium, earning a revered reputation.
Poets lauded it as the most sacred paradise on earth, and it was said that everyone longed to see the Sun Palace spire at least once in their life—a spire rumored to be touched by races long extinct.
"I can't believe I'm crossing all seven walls of Luma," Gakane whispered, his voice trembling.
Yuder gave a faint smile, remembering how he had felt the same during his first visit.
Even those living in the most remote mountain villages knew the stories of the heroes who aided the empire's founding emperor, and the legend of the sinister black mage Modal. Among those legends was the tale of the Archmage Luma, who had assisted the emperor in selecting the site for the palace and then constructed seven magical walls to protect it.
Each wall was imbued with a different enchantment, crafted from materials bearing seven distinct powers. To reach the Sun Palace at its center, one had to pass through all seven of these magical barriers.
The distance between each wall was significant, and those who stayed at the palace were housed in specific areas, depending on their rank, status, or purpose. What most people considered the capital was merely the outermost region within the seventh wall, where commoners and middle-class citizens resided.
It had long been the duty of the Imperial Knights to guard the outermost edges of the palace, where the barracks had stood for centuries, protecting against external threats.
Unlike the towering seventh wall, the barriers from the sixth inward presented unusual sights. As the carriage swiftly moved through them, Yuder observed the ever-changing scenery beyond the window, his gaze calm but attentive.
Tall white trees grew in perfect intervals, twelve fountains each adorned with the sculpted figures of sages, and statues of seven knights holding grand windows, mounted on majestic horses. The air was filled with the sweet, subtle fragrance of flowers, which, though invisible, permeated every corner and lifted the spirits of those who passed through.
All of this formed the magical walls that separated the districts—living legends in their own right.
The carriage occasionally stopped before the soldiers guarding the district boundaries, but only briefly, as it quickly sped off again. Bearing the imperial seal, the carriage itself served as an undeniable pass.
"We've crossed three walls. We should be at our destination soon," Kishiar murmured, breaking his silence. He sat with his arms folded, casually glancing out the window.
"The more I come here, the more I pity Archmage Luma. He went through the trouble of creating seven walls, and yet humans still perform their own inspections at each one. Such a pointless effort, don't you think?"
It sounded like a joke, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness that made it difficult to laugh. Kishiar's words were bold, especially for someone who had been born and raised in the imperial palace. Yet, his eyes remained languid, devoid of any sharp intent, leaving his true thoughts unreadable behind a faint smile.
"We've arrived."
The carriage came to a gentle stop, and Nathan's voice came through a small window connecting the driver's seat. The Cavalry members tensed, their eyes fixed on the slowly opening door. Sensing their unease, Kishiar, holding the box containing the Red Stone in one hand, spoke calmly to reassure them.
"Don't be nervous. Hardly anyone knows we're here today. Our meeting with His Majesty will be brief. After that, I'll be the only one having a private audience with him. Follow Adjutant Nathan and wait. Everything will be over soon."
"Yes," they responded in unison.
Following custom, the highest-ranking person was to exit the carriage last. One by one, the Cavalry members stepped out, leaving Kishiar behind. When it was Yuder's turn, he hesitated, delaying long enough to ensure he was the last remaining passenger alongside Kishiar.
The reason for his delay was simple. After reflecting during the ride, he realized that this would be his only chance to voice his thoughts privately.
"Commander, is that box going to be delivered to the palace today?" Yuder asked quietly, his words swift but deliberate. Kishiar's eyes narrowed, intrigued by the sudden question.
"Why do you ask?"
"During the recovery operation, you attempted to examine the stone using Kanna's abilities."
"Yes, I did. But it was impossible."
"Just because it didn't work the first time doesn't mean we should give up. It feels like a waste… Could you consider giving it more time?"
Yuder carefully, yet firmly, expressed his opinion. Kishiar, studying Yuder's face with curiosity, tilted his head and, after a brief moment, allowed a small, amused smile to form on his lips.
"Well…Do you think that with more time, something that was completely impossible could become possible?"
Kishiar's reaction wasn't as bad as Yuder had feared. From his words, it seemed that sending the stone to the Pearl Tower wasn't a decision set in stone. Had that been the case, Kishiar would likely have reacted far more negatively.
That left only one thing for Yuder to demonstrate in this negotiation.
Confidence.
"I will make it possible,"
"Hmm, this is tricky," Kishiar mused, gently stroking the lower part of his lip, his smile still in place. "Such a proposal, right before I present it to His Majesty. This is indeed... unexpected."
Despite the words, Kishiar's demeanor was thoughtful rather than irritated. Yuder teetered on the edge, ready to prepare a fallback plan in case his proposal was rejected.
After a few agonizing seconds that felt like an eternity, Kishiar raised his eyes to meet Yuder's. Their gazes locked.
"Originally, I had planned to deliver the box today. His Majesty is quite curious about it, and I thought I'd examined it enough."
"…"
"But," Kishiar continued, "considering this is the first request from an assistant I had to coax into service... I can't help but be accommodating. I won't give you much time, but since I've promised, you must succeed."
The nefarious plan swirling in Yuder's mind—contemplating breaking into the palace under a mask to steal the box if necessary—instantly vanished.
Kishiar's interest remained hidden behind his lazy smile. Yuder blinked in surprise, then slowly bowed his head.
"Thank you."
"For what?" Kishiar responded with a faint smirk. "This is nothing. I'm a man who keeps his word. Aren't you glad you accepted my offer?"
Without answering, Yuder quickly descended from the carriage, a great weight lifted off his shoulders. Behind him, Kishiar followed, stepping down with effortless grace.
They had arrived at the dazzlingly bright Palace. Despite its simplicity—reflecting only the sunlight and devoid of grand adornments—the palace had a grandeur that made anyone standing before it feel small. Even the imperial carriage, as grand as it was, seemed to lose its luster before the palace's mystical majesty.
The palace's unique beauty, as if the greatest artist had drawn it with bold strokes on white paper, was unmistakable. It was the Sun Palace, the residence of the emperor.
Yuder quietly gazed up at the palace he had visited countless times in his previous life. Whenever the emperor summoned him, he had to come, no matter where he was or what he was doing.
He knew many of the hidden secret passages within the palace and could recall the layout as if it were the back of his hand. Yet, he had never wanted to return here—especially not after his beheading. But fate had brought him back all too quickly. It felt surreal.
"Your Highness. I have been waiting for you."
An elderly man emerged from the inner courtyard, bowing deeply in greeting. Though his hair was as white as snow, his posture was still straight, and his eyes were sharp.
'More capable than he appears,' Yuder thought, admiring the old man's composure. Despite standing close to Kishiar, who held the box containing the Red Stone, the man showed no sign of discomfort, even though its aura was powerful.
Like most palace servants, he wore a belt with a special knot around his waist. The color of the belt and the number of knots indicated rank. The old man's belt was a deep sea blue with five knots, but what caught Yuder's eye was the golden tassel hanging from its end.