**Narrator:**
King Henry stood unyielding, his presence dark and foreboding. With a measured breath, he released an overwhelming aura, one so immense that it easily smothered Sai's own.
**King Henry (voice dripping with disdain):**
"You insolent wretch. We saved your life, and this is how you repay us? You dare to threaten us?"
**Narrator:**
Sai's eyes widened in shock. This man—no, this monster—was far beyond anything he had imagined. Any hope of defeating him evaporated in an instant. Worse yet, Sai could feel Zaroth's power slowly draining from his body, slipping away like sand through his fingers.
**Narrator:**
Sai gritted his teeth, refusing to let the fear take hold, but the weight of King Henry's power crushed his resolve. His legs trembled, barely holding him upright as the last remnants of Zaroth's strength slipped away.
**King Henry (cold and mocking):**
"Look at you... trembling like a frightened child. Did you really believe you stood a chance against me?"
His voice was calm, but beneath it lay a sinister undercurrent that sent shivers down Sai's spine.
**Narrator:**
Sai's mind raced. He knew that without Zaroth's power, he was nothing more than a lamb awaiting slaughter. Desperation clawed at him, yet deep within, a spark of defiance refused to die. But what could he do? King Henry's aura suffocated him, like a storm threatening to tear him apart. In that moment, Sai realized the truth. Zaroth hadn't just left him. He was *testing* him.
**Sai (inner monologue, resolute):**
*I won't be broken…*
**Narrator:**
Sai clenched his fists, his body trembling not with fear but with the surge of something new. Something that wasn't Zaroth's power, but his own. He had been relying too much on the dragon's strength, forgetting that he too had power within.
**King Henry (noticing the shift, intrigued):**
"You're more stubborn than I thought. It won't save you."
**Narrator:**
A slow smile curled on Sai's lips, surprising even himself. The oppressive weight of King Henry's aura still hung heavily in the air, but Sai stood straighter, his fear melting into something sharper, more focused.
**Sai (calm and defiant):**
"Move your swords. I'm not your enemy."
**Narrator:**
King Henry narrowed his eyes, suspicion lacing his gaze. The king's blade remained drawn, its edge glinting dangerously. He wasn't one to be swayed by mere words.
**King Henry (coldly skeptical):**
"With this much power, you think I'll just believe you? And I know for certain… you're not human."
**Narrator:**
Sai's smile didn't waver, though he could feel the intensity in King Henry's words. The king's piercing gaze was like a predator sizing up its prey, but Sai wasn't about to falter.
**Sai (calm and composed):**
"Believe me or not, but I'm not your enemy."
"Then what are you doing in the Silva Tenebris (Forest of Darkness)?"
**Sai (shrugging slightly, casual):**
"I don't even know what I was doing in that creepy forest. When I opened my eyes, I was hanging upside down from a tree. After I freed myself, a bunch of monsters suddenly came at me."
**Narrator:**
King Henry's eyes narrowed, his skepticism growing. The Forest of Darkness was no place for the unwary, and Sai's explanation seemed far too convenient.
**King Henry (grim and probing):**
"Monsters, you say? And you just happened to survive?"
**Narrator:**
Sai met his gaze head-on, his expression unflinching. There was no way he could explain his otherworldly origin without complicating things further, so he left his words vague, yet truthful enough.
**Sai (calm and assertive):**
"I ran as fast as I could. Then I saw a waterfall up ahead. With no other choice, I jumped in. When I opened my eyes again... I was here."
**Narrator:**
King Henry studied Sai closely, his expression unreadable. The story Sai told was vague, too simple for someone who had survived the Forest of Darkness. But there was no lie in his words—at least none that Henry could detect.
**King Henry (stern and doubting):**
"And just like that, you ended up in our midst? You expect me to believe that?"
**Sai (smirking slightly, defiant):**
"I'm not asking you to believe me. Just telling you what happened."
**Narrator:**
The tension between them lingered, thick in the air. Sai kept his stance relaxed, but inwardly, he was prepared for anything. He had managed to escape the monsters in the forest, but King Henry might prove to be an even greater challenge if this conversation took a wrong turn.
**King Henry (smiling coldly, with authority):**
"Move your swords, knights."
**Narrator:**
The knights, still tense and poised to strike, hesitated for a brief moment before lowering their weapons. The metallic sound of steel sliding back into its sheath echoed through the clearing. King Henry's gaze remained fixed on Sai, his smile never quite reaching his eyes.
**King Henry (with authority):**
"You're a strange one. What's your name?"
**Sai (confidently):**
"Sairen Aelith. But you can call me Sai."
**Narrator:**
King Henry regarded Sai with a calculating gaze, weighing the name against the unusual presence the young man exuded. There was a sense of curiosity mingled with caution, and Sai could feel the king's scrutiny digging deeper.
**King Henry (nods slowly, intrigued):**
"Sairen Aelith... An intriguing name for an intriguing individual. But tell me, what do you intend to do now that you've found yourself in our kingdom?"
**Narrator:**
Sai paused, considering his response carefully. The weight of the king's authority hung in the air, and he knew the importance of his next words.