As Kael and Mia entered the grand throne room, hand in hand, their eyes were met by two rows of a dozen guards on either side. Each guard held a gleaming, magically refined sword, the tips planted into the ground as ethereal auras swirled around the blades. The siblings felt the weight of the moment as they walked past, their small footsteps echoing in the massive hall. The tension in the air was palpable, and just as they approached the center, the guards raised their voices in unison.
"Greet the king of Rheloria. Long live the king!"
The shout was so sudden, so powerful, that it sent a shock through both Kael and Mia, causing them to flinch. They exchanged a quick glance, silently agreeing on what to do. They dropped to their knees, bowing their heads low to the ground, their hearts pounding. They had no idea what was expected of them in a royal court, but Kael forced himself to speak, his voice trembling.
"We greet you, King of Rheloria."
Whispers rippled through the knights, some of them muttering under their breath, making biting remarks about the siblings' peasant origins. Kael clenched his fists, resisting the urge to lash out, while Mia tightened her grip on his hand. Despite the comments, they remained kneeling, heads bowed low.
Then, to the surprise of everyone, the king himself rose from his throne. His striking blue hair and piercing blue eyes caught Kael's attention immediately. He had never seen anything like it in Eldenwood, where such features were unheard of. Austin had once mentioned that unnatural hair colors could signify magical awakening—something Kael still barely understood. The whispers of the guards fell silent as the king descended the few steps from his throne, approaching the kneeling siblings.
"You may rise," the king said, his voice unexpectedly soft.
Kael and Mia hesitated for a moment before standing, keeping their eyes downcast, unsure of what to expect next. As they slowly rose to their feet, they found the king's blue eyes studying them, not with disdain or coldness like the guards, but with an emotion they hadn't expected: sadness.
"I am King Rheloria," the king introduced himself, his tone gentle. "You have been through much."
Kael's chest tightened. He had prepared himself to face cruelty, anger, or indifference, but this—this unexpected warmth, this sorrow in the king's eyes—it unraveled him. His mind flashed back to his parents, the blood, the explosions, and Mia's cries. He had steeled himself against the pain, thinking it would be easier if he held onto his rage. But now, standing before the king, the knot in his throat swelled, and to his shock, tears began to well in his eyes.
Mia was the first to break. The tears flowed silently at first, her small body trembling as she gripped Kael's arm. She leaned into him, and Kael couldn't hold it back any longer. His eyes blurred as the first tear slipped down his cheek, and before he knew it, he too was crying. Not out of weakness, but from the overwhelming release of everything they had been through.
The king said nothing more for a moment. He just stood there, watching them, his expression full of understanding and sadness, as if he too shared in their pain.
Kael had never imagined feeling this way again—this deep, aching grief. He had thought his heart had been hardened beyond repair after what happened to his parents. But here, in front of the King of Rheloria, that wall he had built around his emotions was starting to crumble.
They stood there, two broken siblings, before a king who looked at their grief with sympathy. That was all that was needed to bring them to tears.