Two days had passed since Kael revealed the truth about the Lost King. Kael and Darius had agreed to accompany me,they said they were heading the same destination guiding us toward the kingdom where the Lost King was rumored to be fighting in a brutal tournament. They told me this was where he had been, surviving not as a ruler but as entertainment for others. I couldn't refuse them; they had proven to be valuable allies, and they knew the way. We left the city and set out on our journey, but with each passing day, the weight of our mission grew heavier.
The landscape around us had shifted—rugged, unforgiving terrain stretched on for miles. The Kingdom of Beasts, where the Lost King fought for his life, was on the horizon, and yet, I couldn't shake the unease clawing at my mind. Aria had been walking quietly beside us, her presence unspoken but tangible. Though she never complained, there was something about her silence that suggested more than just exhaustion. She was holding something back.
I had to take her to her destination, yet the urgency of finding the Lost King only seemed to intensify with each mile. It wasn't just about understanding why he had disappeared. I needed him. Humanity needed him. The Demon King was still out there, ruling over what was left of the human kingdom, and if I had any chance of stopping him, I couldn't do it alone. The Lost King had to return.
Kael's words replayed in my mind, gnawing at me with increasing force. "A king doesn't get to pick and choose when to fight for their people. When the kingdom is burning, when lives are at risk, that's when a king must rise."
I clenched my fists. Then why is he still in hiding?
"You seem troubled."
Mira's voice echoed in my mind, calm and analytical. She had been with me since the beginning, a presence unseen by others but invaluable to me.
"You are questioning the Lost King's motives," she observed. "Do you doubt Kael's perspective?"
"I don't know," I admitted silently. "I just don't think it's that simple. If he was once a king, he must have been strong. Why would someone like that abandon his people?"
"Survival is a powerful motivator," Mira replied. "But so is fear. You believe he can help you fight the Demon King. Are you prepared for the possibility that he may refuse?"
"I won't let him," I said, determination hardening my thoughts. "If there's even a chance he can fight, I have to bring him back. The Demon King won't fall if humanity has no one left to lead them."
"Then your path is set."
And then there was the matter of the Queen. Kael hadn't mentioned her once, and that bothered me. Was she with the king, or had she too vanished into obscurity? What if there was more to this story than anyone had let on?
The more I thought about it, the more unsettled I became. I turned to Kael, who had been walking ahead, his expression unreadable.
"Kael," I began, breaking the silence between us. "How long has the Lost King been in that tournament?"
Kael's golden eyes flickered toward me, and for just a moment, I saw something soften in his gaze. "Years. Longer than I care to think about," he said tightly, his voice betraying a trace of old wounds. "He's been fighting every day for money. The Beast King controls him now, and the people… they don't care who he is. Humans are just more like slaves in this world. They only care who wins."
My fists clenched. That was it? A king who once ruled an entire nation had been reduced to this? "It's not right. A king doesn't belong in that kind of place."
Kael's voice dropped to a murmur, almost as if speaking to himself. "Maybe he believes it's the only way to survive. The only way to keep going. But it's not living. It's just existing. And he hasn't been seen outside that tournament for years."
I exhaled sharply. "Then I have to find him. Not just to understand—" I met Kael's gaze, my resolve burning. "I need him to help me fight the Demon King."
Kael's expression darkened. "You think the Lost King will help you?"
"I have to make him," I said, my voice unwavering. "He's the only one who can lead humanity. If there's any part of him that still remembers what it means to be king, then I'll bring him back."
Kael studied me for a moment, then let out a low breath. "It won't be easy, Ethan. The Kingdom of Beasts doesn't take kindly to humans, especially those looking for the Lost King. You'll need to be ready for anything."
"I'm ready."
I glanced at Aria, who had been walking silently beside us. Her face was calm, but I could feel the quiet weight she carried. It was as if there was something she wanted to say but kept hidden.
"Let's go," I said, my voice steady. "We find him. We get the truth. And we bring the Lost King back, where he belongs."
Kael gave a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Let's see if you can convince a king to take his crown back."
That night, the wilderness around us was thick with silence. We set up camp under the stars, the weight of our journey pressing on each of us. The Kingdom of Beasts loomed in the distance, a reminder of the unknown awaiting us.
Kael, ever resourceful, pulled something from his pack—a glowing green orb. He walked toward a tree and pressed it against the bark. To my astonishment, the tree began to shift and bend, its bark twisting until it became a small, cozy house.
Aria gasped. "What… how did you—"
"It's just like the yellow orb," Kael explained casually. "This one's green, used for temporary shelters. The royals carry them for convenience."
I could only stare, my mind racing to understand what I had just witnessed. The world around me was far more fantastical than I had ever imagined.
Inside, Darius was already preparing a meal. The smell of roasted meat and herbs filled the air, the warmth of the food offering a brief but much-needed respite from the harsh night outside.
We ate in silence, the flickering fire casting shadows over our faces. But the comfort of the meal couldn't mask the heavy thoughts gnawing at my mind.
Mira's voice returned, her tone gentle. "You are forming connections, Ethan. Do not underestimate their importance. They will shape your journey more than you realize."
She wasn't wrong. I glanced at Aria. Even she, in her quiet way, had become part of this mission.
After finishing the meal, I stood, needing to clear my head.
Aria followed me outside, her footsteps soft on the ground. She stood beside me for a moment before speaking.
"Ethan," she began, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "I'm sorry if I'm a burden to you."
I turned to her, surprised. "What do you mean?"
She looked away, her shoulders tense. "Ever since I joined you, I feel like I'm just holding you back. I haven't been able to do much."
I stepped closer, my voice firm. "Aria, you're not a burden. You're not holding me back. I promise I will take you to your destination, and I will. But—" I paused. "The Lost King… I need him to fight the Demon King. If he doesn't return, humanity has no hope."
She met my gaze, understanding flickering in her eyes. "I know. I understand why this matters to you." She smiled softly. "And I know you'll find him, Ethan. I have faith in you."
For the first time in days, I felt ready for whatever came next.
END OF CHAPTER