The following day, Mel limped through Solstice City, wincing with every step. "Pretty sure he broke my ankle," he muttered, massaging his sore shoulder. "Yeah, definitely not fighting him again." As he started hovering slightly above the ground to ease the strain, curious whispers trailed behind him.
"Did you really fight King Bimoth?"
"Did you win?"
Mel waved off the questions with a half-smile, rubbing his bruised chin. "Maybe if I'd used a better weapon… Nah, if I'd gone all-out, it might've ended him." He shook his head, chuckling as he floated down the bustling streets.
Just then, a group of children rushed up to him, eyes wide with excitement. "King Melanthius!" one of them exclaimed, holding up a meteor hammer. "Is it true you fought King Bimoth with only a chain? That's so cool! Can you show us some moves?"
Mel grinned, taking the meteor hammer and giving it a playful spin. "Alright, but keep your distance," he said, demonstrating a few controlled swings. The kids cheered, captivated by the quick flashes of the weapon as he twirled it.
One of the kids tossed a watermelon into the air, and with a swift, precise swing, Mel shattered it mid-air. The pieces fell perfectly onto each child's plate, each slice a clean, juicy cut. The kids cheered, marveling at his skill as they eagerly grabbed their slices.
"Whoa, that was amazing!" one of them shouted, his mouth already full of watermelon.
"Well, you know," Mel scratched his head modestly, keeping the meteor hammer in motion with focused concentration. Suddenly, the dagger on the end slipped from his control, whizzing toward a girl nearby. Just in time, he halted it, inches from her face—only to realize it was Rue, sitting in her wheelchair with ten bodyguards lined up behind her.
Mel's eyes widened in shock, and he immediately dropped to his knees, bowing low at her feet. "I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed, pressing his elbows onto her lap, hands clasped in a pleading gesture.
One of the bodyguards stepped forward, his voice sharp. "Back away from the princess—!"
But before he could finish, another bodyguard caught his arm and shook his head subtly, a reminder lingering in his eyes of the day Mel had single-handedly defeated all ten of them.
"Whoa, King Melanthius actually hangs out with the princess? That's amazing!" the kids murmured in awe, their eyes wide with admiration.
Rue sighed softly, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "It's alright, Mel. I was the one who got in the way, and besides, you didn't even hit me." She offered him a reassuring smile, but he shook his head, still kneeling before her.
"What brings you here, Princess?" he asked quietly, his gaze fixed downward, not daring to meet her eyes"
She gave a small shrug, her gaze drifting up to the sky. "I just wanted to see the sun," she murmured, then added softly, "And… you were gone before I woke up this morning, so I thought I'd come find you." A hint of pink warmed her cheeks as she looked away, trying to hide her shy smile.
Mel gently maneuvered past the guards, taking hold of Rue's wheelchair handles. "Let me take you somewhere quiet, where we can talk," he murmured, starting to walk as she nodded in agreement.
They arrived at a secluded path in the forest, sunlight filtering through the leaves in soft patches. Mel glanced around, taking in the peaceful setting. "So, what is it about this place that you like so much?" he asked, watching as she brushed her fingers along a nearby bush.
"It's a peaceful forest," she replied with a quiet sigh. "The animals are gentle, and there's nothing dangerous here—no poison, no venom. It's perfect for the research I do." Her eyes softened as she looked around, taking comfort in the familiar scenery.
"What kind of research?" he asked, watching as she nervously fiddled with her fingers.
"Well… lately, I've been looking into animals that can regenerate… hoping it might help me understand if there's any way to, you know… fix my spine," she murmured, her voice trailing off.
Mel's expression softened, and he bit his lip, searching for the right words. "You know," he began slowly, shifting the conversation, "I was talking to Maren once, and he told me about his father, Triton. Apparently, there were gods before… powerful ones, back from the very beginning. I mean, I'd heard bits of it in Caldara, but hearing the details? It's fascinating, don't you think?"
Rue tilted her head thoughtfully, her curiosity piqued.
"And then there's Arid," Mel continued with a chuckle, "he's literally Mother Nature's son. Everyone here is just… so incredible in their own way. Auroria's full of people who seem almost mythic, you know?" He looked at her, a spark in his eyes. "It's strange to say it, but for once… I actually feel like I belong somewhere."
Rue gave a small, understanding smile. "Even with how chaotic it is?"
Mel laughed, nodding. "Especially with how chaotic it is."
"Mel, I know the real reason you're sticking around," Rue murmured, glancing at him, "it's because… the bounty on my head hasn't been lifted yet, right?" She sighed, gesturing toward the ten bodyguards lying unconscious on the ground, all taken down by Mel and tied up.
Mel glanced over his shoulder at them, then back at her. "That's… part of it," he muttered, brushing the dust off his leg.
"Then why else?" Rue pressed, her voice laced with frustration. "Even my own loyal guards tried to turn on me. So what's keeping you here?"
Mel paused, his eyes softening as he searched for the right words. "Rue," he said quietly, "I don't follow people because of bounties or orders… not really. I stay because I want to."
Rue's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across her face as she searched his expression. "But… why?" she whispered, voice laced with vulnerability. "Everyone I trusted betrayed me. What makes me worth it?"
Mel's lips curled into a gentle smile as he crouched down to her level, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Because you're strong, Rue. Not just on the outside, but where it counts most. You don't let anyone define who you are or what you're worth, and that… that's something I respect. Besides, we're both kind of misfits here, aren't we?" He chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension. "Who else am I gonna practice my terrible jokes on?"
A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips, and she looked down, fiddling with the fabric of her sleeve. "I guess I can't get rid of you so easily then, huh?"
"Not a chance," he replied, giving her a playful nudge. "I'm here as long as you'll have me, bounty or no bounty."
After a few moments, King Aldara and his knights arrived, swiftly arresting the rogue bodyguards. Mel and Rue slipped away, walking deeper into the forest until they reached a secluded spot by a calm, shimmering lake. Mel gently stopped Rue's wheelchair at the water's edge, then helped her out, settling her on the grassy bank where sunlight streamed down through the trees.
Rue closed her eyes, basking in the warmth. "This place… I used to come here to swim sometimes," she murmured, smiling softly as she took in the familiar view.
Mel picked up a few smooth stones, examining them curiously. "I've heard of this thing called skipping rocks," he said, glancing over at her. "But… I have no clue how to do it."
Rue chuckled and reached for a rock nearby. "You just throw it at an angle," she explained, demonstrating with a flick of her wrist. The rock bounced once, then plunked into the water. "It's tricky sitting down, but you get the idea."
Mel studied her motion, then stepped back, winding up with exaggerated precision. He released the rock with a sharp snap, sending it soaring across the lake. It skipped wildly, each bounce leaving widening ripples until it finally disappeared into the distance.
Rue raised an eyebrow, laughing. "That wasn't skipping! That was... launching! I think you scared the fish!"
"Sorry about that." Mel mumbled, dropping the stones in his hand. "This break is just... too much. I haven't had anything to do for days." He floated back and lay on his back in mid-air, staring up at the sky.
Rue tilted her head, considering him. "You could try finding a hobby, or even a job," she suggested.
Mel rolled onto his side, thinking. "Maybe you're right. I probably should've gone with Lance to the elf country." He rubbed his chin as if seriously considering it.
Rue looked down, fingers clenched into her dress at his mention of leaving. But Mel, as if sensing it, shrugged. "No, that's out of the question. I have to keep an eye on Atlantis."
Just then, Bimoth landed in front of them with a powerful thud, the ground rumbling beneath his feet. Mel's eyes went wide as he scrambled down to the ground. "It's Bimoth! He's here for revenge!" Mel shouted, panic flooding his face. He snatched Rue up over his shoulder and started running. "Rue! Hand me Weapon #4!"
Rue, completely bewildered, protested, "Melanthius—wait!"
"Weapon #4, Rue! The wooden sword from my stash! You didn't bring it?" he exclaimed in disbelief.
"I'm not your personal armory! And put me down!" Rue scolded. He froze, then turned around and set her down, still casting wary glances at Bimoth.
Spotting a stick, he grabbed it, holding it defensively. "Alright, Bimoth. En garde!"
"Melanthius, calm down. I was sent by King Aldara." Bimoth pointed behind him to where Aldara was peeking out from behind a tree in a poorly executed disguise.
"My mistake," Mel muttered, tossing the branch aside. He gave Bimoth a wary glance. "Aldara mentioned he thought Rue could use more bodyguards," Bimoth said, settling beside them. He cast a sidelong look at Mel. "How's your arm holding up?"
Mel flexed his shoulder, giving it a quick crack. "It's fine. How's the neck?" Bimoth's hand brushed over the scar around his throat, his voice dropping. "It's… fine." The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, both silently gauging each other.
A twig snapped nearby, and Mel and Bimoth's heads turned sharply. Three figures emerged from the brush, and Bimoth's eyes narrowed. "Get them!" he barked, and they lunged forward, prepared to strike—until Mel's voice rang out. "Wait!"
Bimoth stopped, mid-motion, as Mel recognized the faces: Leo Hunter, former yellow card; Piper Willows, former yellow card; and Tomas Stone, former white card. All three looked utterly terrified, with Tomas ducking behind Piper, his hands up in surrender. "No! Please! I'm too young to die!" he whimpered.
Mel lowered his guard and smiled. "These are my classmates. Haven't seen you guys in a while." He raised an eyebrow. "What brings you all the way out here?"
Piper folded her arms and shot a look at Leo. "Leo has something he wanted to ask you."
Leo took a shaky step forward, casting a wary glance up at the towering Bimoth. He swallowed nervously, then looked at Mel. "K-King Melanthius, we wanted to invite you… to join us for the music festival."
"A music festival? I've heard of music, but I didn't know people celebrated it like that," Mel said, scratching his head thoughtfully. "Sure, I'll come along. Are you guys performing?"
Tomas nodded eagerly. "Yeah, we're in a band—or, well, we're sort of starting one. We don't actually have instruments yet, but we've got a week before the festival. Plenty of time to learn, right?"
"So, you don't even play an instrument, but you just expect Melanthius to help boost your popularity?" Bimoth's gaze narrowed, and he stepped closer, his presence towering. "Pathetic."
The three shrank back, wide-eyed. "N-no! That's not it at all!" Tomas stammered.
Piper took a deep breath, glancing at Mel. "There's a real reason we want you with us… the festival is being held on Ironclad Isle."
Mel's eyes widened as the name of his hometown echoed in his mind.
"There's a festival on Ironclad Isle?" Rue's voice was laced with disbelief. "That place is… well, it's the worst island in the world. Criminals roam freely, the cities are practically crumbling, and the people… they're terrifying creatures—ghouls, goblins, werewolves. And then there's…" She hesitated, her eyes meeting Mel's, "…Caldara Bastille."
Mel's gaze dropped, his hand clenching at the mention of the infamous prison. But then, with a burst of excitement, he looked up, his whole face lighting up. "You guys… THAT'S AN AWESOME IDEA! I'LL TOTALLY GO TO IRONCLAD WITH YOU! I've never really seen it up close—imagine what there is to discover! I'm in!"
"I'm in too!" Rue announced, maneuvering her wheelchair forward with determination. But just as she said it, King Percival and Queen Ruecrix stepped out from the trees, their expressions stern.
"Absolutely not! We are not letting our daughter go to that… purgatory!" Ruecrix scolded, grabbing the handles of Rue's wheelchair.
Mel blinked, a little stung by the choice of words. "Ouch," he muttered, rubbing his stomach as if it had taken the hit.
"But Mom, I wanted to go with Mel," Rue protested, trying to wiggle free. "It's his first real chance to explore his hometown."
Ruecrix shook her head, her gaze hardened. "I'm sorry, Rue, but I cannot trust this… monster. No offense, Melanthius." She began wheeling Rue away, her grip firm.
"Ouch," Mel repeated, quieter this time, clearly feeling the sting of the words.
"Sorry, my little cyborg," Percival murmured to Rue, leaning close. "You know how much of a dragon she can be."
"I heard that!" Ruecrix snapped, her voice sharp. Percival sighed, shoulders slumping as he fell in line behind her.
Then Bimoth stepped forward, his expression firm. "What if I attend with them? With me there, I could guard the princess better than Mel ever could." His tone was steady, unaware of the sting his words carried.
"Ouch…" Mel, Piper, Leo, and Tomas muttered in unison, each looking a little deflated.
Rue shot Bimoth a glare, crossing her arms. "Bimoth, they might not be as strong as you, but that doesn't mean they're helpless."
Bimoth shrugged, unfazed. "I'm just stating the facts. The Ironclad Isles aren't a playground."
Mel stepped forward, lifting his chin with quiet confidence. "I grew up there, remember? I might not be the strongest, but I know how to handle myself in the Ironclad Isles."
The others exchanged skeptical glances, each thinking, Not the strongest…? Is he serious?
Ruecrix sighed, her expression hardening as she looked at the group. Slowly, she released her hold on Rue's wheelchair, though her reluctance was clear. "Fine. But only if every one of you promises to keep her safe."
The group stood straighter, their voices blending in determined unison. "We will."