Kael and Mia sat side by side in the cart, the sound of horse hooves and the creaking of wheels marking their journey into the heart of Rheloria. The towering walls of the kingdom loomed before them, an oppressive sight. Kael's eyes hardened as he observed the guards and mages posted on the battlements, their robes and armor glistening in the fading sunlight. His mind couldn't help but recall the robe he had once found in the forest—the robe that had set his life on this brutal path. His fists clenched with hatred, his gaze burning into each guard he passed.
Mia's gentle hand on his arm was the only thing keeping him from acting on that anger. Though she had quieted in recent days, he knew she was just as full of pain and fury. They had discussed their shared goal during the dark nights by the campfire: survival, for now, and then revenge. Kael had promised himself that he would protect her, no matter the cost. His eyes softened briefly when he looked down at her, their bond now all that mattered in the wake of their parents' brutal murder. He was older by three years, but those years had never felt more meaningful than they did now, as he took on the responsibility of shielding her from further harm.
They had become each other's strength. In a quiet, fierce exchange of whispers during one of the nights, they had sworn to bide their time, play the part, and wait for their chance. They would grow stronger. They would escape or kill the mages responsible for their parents' death. But for now, they would submit, just enough to stay alive.
As they neared the gates of Rheloria, Kael's hatred simmered beneath the surface, his eyes tracing the impressive architecture of the kingdom, its stone walls rising higher than anything he'd seen in Eldenwood. Guards, adorned in regal armor, and robed mages patrolled the area, their cold, calculating gazes looking past the siblings as though they were beneath their notice. That only fueled Kael's anger more.
When the massive gates creaked open, allowing the cart and its escorts inside, Kael kept glaring defiantly, only to feel Mia's tug at his sleeve again, a silent reminder to stay calm. He turned his attention to the curious stares of the citizens of Rheloria. Men, women, and children stopped in their tracks, some whispering as they saw the cart pass by. But it wasn't just curiosity; Kael could sense their superiority, their judgmental eyes looking down on him and his sister as if they didn't belong.
Austin, seated confidently at the front, took notice of Kael's defiant stance. "Keep your gaze down," Austin commanded, his gruff voice cutting through the tension. "You're not in Eldenwood anymore. The people of Rheloria are of a superior standing. You would do well to remember that."
Kael bit his lip, his knuckles white as he forced his eyes down, staring at the dirt road beneath the cart. He wanted to scream at Austin, to lash out and attack, but the gentle pressure of Mia's hand on his arm kept him grounded. He swallowed his pride. Not yet, he thought. Not yet.
The journey through the city was long, the path winding between grand buildings, bustling streets, and elegant homes. As the sun began to set, casting a deep crimson hue across the stone walls, the cart finally approached the towering castle at the heart of Rheloria. Kael looked up, his chest tightening as they neared the gates of the castle. The sunset bathed the walls in red, an image that seared itself into his mind, reminding him of the blood that had splattered across his face the night his parents died.
They passed through the castle's outer gates and came to a stop before the grand entrance. The towering doors stood before them, carved with intricate symbols and designs that Kael didn't recognize. The air felt thick with anticipation, the weight of what lay ahead pressing down on him. Austin dismounted from his horse, the scarred mage's presence looming over the siblings as he motioned for them to stand.
"Welcome to the heart of Rheloria," Austin said, his voice holding a hint of something unsettling, a twisted pride. "This is where your journey truly begins."
Kael stared up at the doors to the throne room, his heart pounding. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—fear, anger, confusion. His hatred for these men and the kingdom grew with every second, but as he stood beside his sister, he knew one thing: they had to survive this. For Mia, and for the revenge that burned in his heart.