Inside the silent palace, the head attendant, who had stationed Kishiar and the Cavalry members outside the door, politely knocked before entering. The place was eerily quiet, devoid even of the usual guard knights.
Could this truly be the residence of an emperor of an empire? The silent question flickered in everyone's eyes.
'Considering Kishiar rarely keeps a servant close, with only Nathan Zuckerman by his side, there may be a deeper similarity between the brothers.'
Yuder silently speculated amid the stillness.
"His Majesty has granted an audience. Please enter."
Moments later, the door opened again, and the head attendant reappeared. Kishiar strode into the room, his posture steady and confident. The members followed closely behind, and only Nathan Zuckerman, who had quietly accompanied them, remained standing outside the door.
Walking just behind Kishiar, Yuder swiftly scanned the surroundings. The room was designed with a sharp efficiency, every corner seemingly dedicated to a specific task.
Beneath a window spilling bright light stood an office desk, neatly arranged with pens of various types. A nearby stack of scrolls and documents emitted the dry scent of aged paper. Behind an arch-shaped partition dividing the space, a curtained bed was visible, with a table beside it where black tea steamed, filling the air with its distinctive aroma. It was a room where eating, sleeping, and working were intertwined.
The Emperor, the palace's owner, sat in a high-backed chair positioned not in the center of the room but against a wall, quietly awaiting their approach.
"You've arrived," came the Emperor's voice. It was calm. "I can feel an unusual presence. It might be best not to come too close."
At this, Kishiar immediately stopped, and the members with him instinctively bowed their heads in unison. The Emperor coughed a few times before slowly continuing.
"Under normal circumstances, I would have received you at the Seventh Palace and welcomed you with the proper honors. However, given the current situation, I must receive you here. I trust you understand."
"Merely completing the mission Your Majesty entrusted to us is honor enough."
Kishiar gracefully responded, lowering to one knee and bowing his head. Startled by the unfamiliar scene, the Cavalry members hurriedly followed suit, kneeling before the Emperor.
"Good. Raise your heads."
After a brief pause, the Emperor quietly commanded them to lift their heads.
At last, Yuder could see the Emperor clearly. He resembled a scholar more than a sovereign, as though years of research had drained him. His features were strikingly similar to Kishiar's, but their auras couldn't have been more different.
While Kishiar was tall and composed, his lazy smile hinting at effortless control, the Emperor appeared fragile, his thin frame concealed beneath his robes. His tired eyes peered out from behind glasses, and not a trace of a smile could be found on his lips.
He lacked Kishiar's radiance. Yet, despite his frail appearance, he didn't seem as incapacitated as rumors had suggested. His health might have been a public concern, but Yuder sensed something deeper behind the Emperor's weary look. A subtle but nagging premonition stirred within him.
'Seems like I've seen a similar sight somewhere before...'
Ah.
At that moment, the Emperor turned his head slightly, his gaze briefly resting on Yuder's face. In an instant, Yuder understood the unsettling feeling he had earlier. It was the same sensation he'd felt from Kishiar in the dream last night—now, the Emperor carried that same aura.
The Emperor's hair and eyes, once vibrant, had lost their luster. His face, pale like the embers of a fire about to go out, was drained of its former light, leaving behind only a hollow, ash-like residue.
For a fleeting moment, the Emperor looked uncannily like the dream-Kishiar—brilliance faded, standing at the edge of death. But why?
Before Yuder could voice this strange sensation, the Emperor began to speak once more, his voice slow and deliberate.
"Simply by sensing your presence, I can tell that the beloved Duke Peletta has fulfilled his mission flawlessly. It brings me great joy to finally hold what I have long sought."
Yet, despite his mention of joy, there was no trace of happiness in the Emperor's eyes. It was as if his smile had been entirely stolen by Kishiar, his younger brother.
When his words concluded, the Emperor took a deep breath, scanning the faces of the five Cavalry members.
"I have been trying to retrieve it since it fell two years ago. Many tried—court mages, the valiant knights of the imperial guard, even hired mercenaries—yet none succeeded. Only one person, Duke Peletta, was certain of success. But he needed help. He asked for the power of the Red Stone and a special cavalry made up of the awakened ones."
"Why bring up such old tales now?"
Kishiar chuckled softly, his tone playful, as if lightly scolding the Emperor. But the Emperor paid him no heed, continuing his story.
"I didn't believe it at first. But now, after two long years, the Duke has indeed brought it before me. No doubt, all of you played a role in this success."
"We are deeply honored," Gakane responded on behalf of the group, his voice trembling slightly with genuine emotion.
"I do not forget those who serve me well," the Emperor continued. "Each of you will receive the title of 'Knight,' ten high-grade magic stones from the North Mountain, and I will establish a training ground for the Cavalry."
Even those without noble backgrounds could receive the title of Knight. It was a title often given to young court mages or soldiers, a stepping stone to higher ranks. But for all the Cavalry members to not only receive a surname but also titles in recognition of their success with the Red Stone was a rare and extraordinary honor.
Even Kanna, who had been so tense she hadn't lifted her head since arriving at the palace, couldn't hide her surprise.
"We are humbled!" the group exclaimed in unison.
"Your Majesty," Kishiar suddenly interrupted, his voice light and teasing. "The reward you've given my subordinates is indeed generous. However, haven't you forgotten something important? Shouldn't there be a reward for me as well—the one responsible for seeing everything through, from start to finish?"
Though brothers, it was bold of Kishiar to speak so casually to the Emperor. The Cavalry members braced themselves, worried the Emperor might take offense.
But the Emperor did not grow angry. Instead, he calmly adjusted the silver and lapis lazuli glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, furrowing his brow slightly as he gazed at his smiling brother.
"Duke Peletta, you've received much support from me these past two years. Isn't that enough?"
"It is not enough. Did you not hear the report of more than ten unidentified Awakened beasts storming into my residence? The report about the Red Stone's explosion?"
"..."
"I risked my life to bring this here. So, give me more."
Gakane swallowed hard at Kishiar's audacious tone. The Eldore siblings exchanged subtle glances of admiration. Kanna, tense as ever, lowered her head, while Yuder quietly observed Kishiar's bewitching smile.
The Emperor, who had been glaring at Kishiar, sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, the fatigue on his face deepening.
"Very well. Tell me what it is you want so badly that you're begging so shamelessly."
"I want time."
"Time?"
The Emperor raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled.
"Yes. I want time to examine this further."
Yuder's heart raced for a moment. Kishiar's expression remained composed, his gaze fixed ahead. The Emperor, still perplexed, spoke again.
"Haven't you already observed it more closely than anyone else during the recovery mission? Your task was to retrieve it, not investigate it. Such work should be left to the mages. It's far too dangerous to entrust it to someone with no experience in such matters."
"Oh, Your Majesty," Kishiar chuckled softly, his tone laced with provocation. "I thought you had finished reading my report from last night, but it seems you haven't. Do you truly believe those who can't even approach the box properly will be able to investigate it? Honestly?"
The light jest felt sharper than any formal challenge.
"It's the same as when you entrusted me with the recovery mission. In the end, the only ones who can truly perceive the power of the Red Stone are those who have been Awakened by it. The Cavalry is full of individuals with unique abilities, far more capable of yielding meaningful results than the avaricious mages. I guarantee it."
"..."
His smooth, unyielding argument left everyone breathless, as if doubting his words would be the height of foolishness.
"…And if something dangerous happens during this investigation, what then?" the Emperor asked, his tone measured.
"If that happens—which it won't—I will take full responsibility," Kishiar replied without hesitation.
"Even if it means giving up your position as commander?"
At the Emperor's slow, deliberate question, the Cavalry members collectively held their breath. Even the sunlight streaming through the tall windows seemed to freeze in place.
Yuder furrowed his brow, not having anticipated the Emperor to push this far. He had expected that Kishiar, as his only sibling, would be shown some leniency. But the Emperor was proving to be a much more formidable opponent than anyone had imagined.
Yet Kishiar only burst into laughter, as if the Emperor had just told a lighthearted joke.
"Are you that worried about me? I hardly know what to do with such concern at my age."
Worried? The word sounded more like a thinly veiled threat to everyone else. The same uneasy thought flickered through the minds of the Cavalry members in that moment.