Two days passed — Erica, William, Alice, and Jericho finally arrived at the Holy Kingdom of Righteous. No sooner had their boots touched the sacred marble of the outer court than they were summoned directly by the king himself.
As they made their way toward the castle entrance, Jericho found himself blocked by a guard who didn't recognize him. The man's hand shot to his weapon, eyes narrowing at the unknown traveler walking among holy knights.
Jericho raised his hands calmly, but before the situation could escalate, Erica stepped in.
With a single command from the princess of Righteous, firm and unmistakably authoritative, the guard stepped aside instantly. Jericho offered an apologetic nod and followed the others inside.
Once through the grand doors, they continued onward through vast white corridors, until they reached the entrance of the audience chamber.
Just before entering, Erica turned to Jericho.
"Wait here for now," she said gently but firmly. "We will call you when it's time."
Jericho nodded without complaint and took his place by the doors as the others stepped inside.
The throne room was enormous — a hall bathed in white from floor to ceiling, glowing with holy radiance. A magnificent chandelier hung from the center, scattering soft, golden light across the room. A long strip of golden carpet stretched toward the far end, where three golden thrones sat elevated upon a marble platform — crafted for the king, the queen, and the princess.
Today, the room was full.
The king, the queen, the young prince, and the royal council all stood in attention, awaiting the commander and princess.
Erica, William, and Alice stepped forward and bowed deeply.
The king acknowledged them with a nod, granting them permission to raise their heads.
As they did, the young prince's eyes immediately drifted to Alice.
He gave her a bold wink and a playful smile.
Alice stiffened, looking away quickly with a forced, sour expression — a reaction that did not go unnoticed by William, who shot the prince a cold glare.
The king began by expressing his relief.
"It gladdens my heart to see you safe, Erica," he said, his voice carrying over the vast chamber. "I was in the middle of our annual Royal Audience when word reached me that you had returned. I had to see for myself how your mission went… but judging from your expressions—" his gaze swept across Erica, William, and Alice "—things did not go well in the Great Forest of Dawn."
His face hardened.
"And why is it only the three of you? What of the mercenaries we hired? You insisted on leaving the Holy Knights behind so the kingdom would not be undefended. Did they not accompany you?"
Erica lowered her head, her voice heavy with exhaustion and grief.
"Yes, Father… the intel we received about the strange movements in the forest was accurate. But what they didn't tell us was the creatures we would encounter, and the sheer number of them." She took a breath to steady herself. "We were overwhelmed… completely. The mercenaries we hired were all absorbed by those creatures. We… we barely made it out alive to stand before you now."
A wave of worried murmurs rippled across the throne room—council members whispering, the prince stiffening, even the queen covering her mouth in shock.
But the king raised a hand, and the room fell instantly silent.
He softened his expression as he addressed his daughter again.
"Do not burden yourself with guilt, Erica. The loss is tragic, yes—but you were right not to bring the Holy Knights. Had you taken them, the consequences would have been far worse. You made the correct judgment."
Erica offered him a small, sad smile.
"Thank you, Father… but even so, we still lost potential allies in our war against Jace."
The king sighed.
"I know. But do not forget—mercenaries are mercenaries. They have no allegiance to any kingdom. Their loyalty belongs to the highest bidder. Anyone could have bought them, even Jace. In truth, we may have avoided a far greater danger. So lift that weight off your shoulders… and stop worrying."
The king folded his hands, leaning slightly forward on his throne.
"Erica… can you give us a full account of what happened in the Great Forest of Dawn?"
Erica then began explaining in full detail what happened in the forest.
She told the king how, upon their arrival, everything felt wrong from the very first moment — the forest was unnaturally silent, as if every living creature had fled long before they reached it. Then, without warning, those creatures emerged from the darkness, far more in number than any report had ever suggested.
She described how their group was completely overwhelmed…
How the mercenaries they hired were swallowed up one after another, unable to stand their ground against the sheer force and unnatural resilience of the creatures…
And finally, how she, Alice, and William were barely holding on, already accepting their fate…
Until someone intervened in the very last second — someone who cut through the strange creatures effortlessly and saved their lives when all hope had vanished.
Whispers shot through the throne room like sparks on dry leaves.
Some council members leaned toward one another, muttering urgently:
"Impossible… how could a human harm those creatures?"
"Not even Warmark's contraptions can put a dent in the Lost…"
The king lifted his hand again, and the murmurs died instantly.
Before he could speak, the Queen leaned forward, her voice calm but edged with concern.
"Erica… who was this person that saved you?"
Erica allowed a small smile.
She loved this part.
"Well… if I just say it plainly, none of you will believe me. So—prepare yourselves. This will be… jolting."
Her brother scoffed loudly.
"Erica, enough of your nonsense. Just get to the point already. I have better things to do than listen to your theatrics."
She turned her head slightly, teasing:
"My, my… still cheerful as ever, I see."
His jaw tightened.
"Don't patronize me, favorite child. Just finish so I can leave."
Their tension crackled through the room — old, familiar, and bitter.
Jealousy had always poisoned the prince's heart where Erica was concerned.
The king finally stepped in, his tone firm.
"That's enough, both of you. Control yourself," he ordered his son.
The prince rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath:
"Of course… always taking her side…"
Ignoring him, the king turned to Erica again.
"Continue."
She nodded respectfully.
"Then… allow the person who saved us to introduce himself."
She motioned to the guard.
"Bring him in."
The doors swung open.
Footsteps echoed across the white-and-gold hall as a figure stepped into view.
As he walked past the king's council, those who recognized him instantly went pale.
Some staggered back.
A few whispered prayers, convinced they were seeing a ghost.
And then—
As the man stepped fully into the light, the King of Righteous himself froze, eyes widening in disbelief.
The room fell utterly silent.
Because the one approaching him… was someone the entire world believed to be dead.
Everyone who had ever attended a royal gala, diplomatic summit, or official gathering with the Dynasty of Menssai recognized Jericho immediately.
Gasps rippled through the room.
"It can't be…"
"The Saint Prince…?"
"But he died—he died—"
Others, those who had never seen Jericho before—mostly younger nobles, newer officials, or guards—looked around in confusion.
"Why is everyone panicking? Who is he?"
"What's happening?"
"Is he someone important?"
While the room dissolved into chaos, only one man remained perfectly calm.
The ArchPriest of the Holy Church of the Six Crowns, Leon Will Voltar, watched Jericho with a knowing smile, as if he had been expecting him all along.
Sensing the mounting confusion, Erica stepped forward with a smug little grin.
She was loving this far too much.
"Everyone… allow me to clarify before you all faint."
She lifted her voice clearly.
"This is Jericho Von Menssai.
The lost prince of the Dynasty of Menssai…
And the man who saved our lives. He was never dead, he was just lost."
Jericho had a nervous grin on his face as Erica stated he was never dead, only lost.
Silence followed. Not disbelief — shock so deep it stunned the room into stillness.
They heard her words clearly. But believing them? That was the real battle.
Erica continued anyway:
"Let me also introduce those present for his sake.
First up is my father and His Majesty, Gustavious Von Righteous, the King of the Holy Kingdom of Righteous.
Her Majesty, Rachel Von Righteous, our Queen and my mother.
My brother, Prince Tazz Von Righteous.
And lastly, the highest authority of our faith — ArchPriest Leon Will Voltar of the Holy Church of the Six Crowns."
She added distractedly, "The Prime Minister isn't present, but you can meet him later."
Still, no reaction. Just stunned faces.
Erica laughed softly.
"I did warn you all."
William sighed, rubbing his temples.
"She's enjoying this way too much…"
Alice shook her head.
"Her bad habit is showing again…"
Erica innocently raised her hands.
"Oh come on, it is funny. How could you not see it?"
At last, Jericho stepped forward and broke the suffocating silence with a gentle bow.
"Erica told you the truth. I am indeed Jericho Von Menssai.
It is an honor to stand before you again, your majesty."
He glanced down at his torn, battle-worn clothes and frowned.
"My attire… I must apologize. Things in the Forest of Dawn left me with little choice."
Erica leaned forward and whispered—loud enough for Jericho to hear:
"Exhibitionist."
Jericho froze.
Then his face turned a brilliant shade of red as he desperately struggled to maintain his composure in front of one of the most powerful kings in the world.
The murmurs of disbelief continued to ripple through the court, some whispers almost audible above the echoing hall.
Finally, the king spoke, his deep voice steady but edged with uncertainty.
"Tell me… is this truly Jericho?"
Jericho met his gaze with a calm, honest stare.
"Yes, Your Majesty." He replied.
The king sank back into his throne with a long, heavy sigh, trying to process the impossibility standing before him.
The queen, voice trembling slightly, asked,
"How… how is he alive? We mourned him. We thought him gone forever."
Jericho bowed his head slightly, then began explaining everything he had told Erica, William, and Alice back in the forest.
Adding he was indeed never killed, he survived and was stranded in a small farming village under one of the vassal states of Warmark.
He exhaled as the words felt heavy, cause he disliked lying, but he just had to, at least for that moment. He then went on to recount the ambush, the strange creatures, the mercenaries, and finally, his own abilities — the same powers that had stunned Erica's group at the Great Forest of Dawn.
The revelation caused immediate tension in the room.
Some members of the council stiffened, panic flickering in their eyes. Half argued that Jericho should be detained immediately, citing his brother Jace's tyrannical rise and the same terrifying abilities, fearing that Jericho might seek vengeance against the kingdoms.
But the other half, those who truly knew Jericho and had witnessed his heart, spoke just as strongly in his defense.
They reminded the court of the Saint Prince of Menssai's incredible kindness, the honor he earned through his courage, and the lives he saved.
The arguments clashed in a storm of voices, echoing through the white-and-gold hall.
Through it all, the king remained silent. His eyes never wavered from Jericho, watching him as though trying to read the impossible truth in his gaze.
Jericho returned the king's stare unflinching, ignoring every council member, every whisper, every shocked murmur around him.
In that moment, nothing else existed in the room but the calm, unshakable presence of the Saint Prince standing before the King of Righteous.
Some seconds passed in heavy silence before the king finally spoke, his voice low but steady.
"Jericho…" he began, pausing as he searched for the right words.
Jericho inclined his head respectfully.
"On behalf of my kingdom and my people," the king continued, his voice filled with uncharacteristic vulnerability, "I am truly sorry for what transpired with you… Four years ago. That war… that war… I have no clue what caused it. All we are left with are losses and regrets for things we don't even remember."
He placed his hands over his face for a moment, the weight of the memory evident.
"Your father… he was the best thing to ever happen to this world. Learning of his death, and knowing he was never truly involved in the war to begin with… it broke me. We are still paying for that sin. The people have lost faith in us because of that war. The nations we destroyed, the lives we took… it's a nightmare that will not leave us, no matter how much time passes."
The king's voice grew heavier as he spoke, each word dragging with remorse.
"The alliance treaty we signed to stabilize the world are barely holding. In the eyes of the people, there is no way to rectify the destruction we caused four years ago. And now… Jace. His thirst for revenge, half the world supporting him because of their hatred for us… I see this as our day of reckoning. Our punishment for what we did back then."
He exhaled deeply, looking directly at Jericho.
"I will not blame you if you seek revenge as well. But know this… we are truly, deeply remorseful. And I am beyond grateful that you are alive, Jericho. Your survival… it is at least one piece of good news we have received in all these years."
The king's eyes were calm now, filled with sincerity, and the weight of his words settled over the throne room like a heavy fog.
Even the council fell silent, each member feeling the gloom and solemnity in the air, as though the room itself had absorbed the king's pain and regret.
Prince Tazz, clearly irritated, spoke up before anyone else could respond.
"Father… why are you apologizing to a stranger?" His voice was sharp, his hands gripping the armrests. "His wicked brother has that same strange ability, and look at what he's done to the world. How can you be sure this fallen prince before us won't do the same? People keep talking about his good heart, but it's been four years—people change! You can't judge him as a friend based on that alone."
He leaned forward, eyes blazing. "And why aren't you questioning the fact that only he and his brother can use that strange gift? What kind of abomination exists in their kingdom? Those are the questions you should be asking! Instead, you apologize? Think of your people first!"
He lowered his voice to a hiss, almost a whisper: "That is why I would make a better king than you—or my stupid sister."
The throne room went quiet. Some court members shifted uneasily, secretly agreeing with the prince's harsh words.
King Gustavious's eyes hardened.
"Tazz… watch how you speak to me."
The authority in his tone was enough to make the prince falter. But just for a moment. With a scowl, Tazz rose and stormed toward the doors, his mother immediately following, worry etched on her face.
The king exhaled deeply, turning back to Jericho.
"My son's tone… I apologize for that."
Jericho inclined his head slightly, calm.
"It's fine. He isn't entirely wrong," he said, his voice steady.
There was weight behind his words. Four years ago, his father's death, the chaos of war, the world's collapse—it could have hardened him. He continued, gaze steady on the king:
"This would have been the perfect opportunity to get close to the royal household of Righteous and… seek revenge. And with Jace being my only family left, it will be unwise of any of you to think I would ever go against him. You would all be right to assume as much, especially seeing me now… and knowing I have abilities too."
Some council members shivered and stepped back slightly, unsettled.
"But what my brother has become, the chaos he has caused… my father would have never wanted that. I would never want that. no one wanted that…. I am not here for revenge. The events four years ago were out of everyone's hands," he added, thoughts flickering briefly to Pluto, the true orchestrator of the war.
"I am here to bring hope, to give the world a fighting chance. I was blessed with these gifts not to destroy, but to save the world… and my brother. It is up to you to trust me—or not."
The king studied him, suspicion briefly flickering in his eyes after Tazz's outburst. But as he looked deeper, he saw sincerity and resolve, and doubt melted away.
William, Alice, and Erica exchanged small, relieved smiles. The council, though still cautious, exchanged knowing glances.
Then, for the first time, ArchPriest Leon Will Voltar spoke. His voice, calm and measured, carried authority over the room.
"Your Majesty… Jericho's heart is too pure for this world. He speaks nothing but the truth. You should have faith in him."
A ripple of surprise went through the council—impressing the ArchPriest was no small feat, yet Jericho had done it with mere words.
Leon's gaze lingered on Jericho a moment longer, as though confirming a deeper truth. Then he made his request:
"Your Majesty, I ask that the throne room be cleared. I have questions for Jericho that are far too confidential for public ears."
Some nobles stiffened, pride and curiosity warring within them. But the king's voice cut through the room like steel:
"Leave. Your presence is no longer required."
One by one, the council exited, muttering in protest but obeying, until only Jericho, Erica, Alice, William, King Gustavious, and the ArchPriest remained.
Jericho turned to the ArchPriest, curiosity in his eyes.
The ArchPriest merely smiled and bowed.
"Hello, Jericho," he said.
Shock rippled through the room— with the others taken aback by what they had just witness.