(Kael Varos — Age 13 — Audience With the King)
I. Three Days After the Courtyard Storm
Three days passed like thunder fading into distance—slow, rumbling, never truly gone.
Every sunrise, Kael meditated beneath Valdyros' hovering wings, lightning flickering across his arms as he wrestled the restless storm inside him.
Every afternoon, Eiran drilled him in perfect footwork, controlled strikes, disciplined breath—anything to keep Kael's emotions from igniting another uncontrolled surge.
Every night, the Architect's voice echoed inside Kael's dreams:
"Be the storm they cannot bend."
By the third morning, the academy pulsed with a single whispered truth:
Kael Varos had been summoned by the King of Elyndria.
And the kingdom watched.
II. The Carriage of Seven
The royal silver carriage waited at the gates, pulled by four cerulean horned stags whose hooves glowed faintly on the stone. Royal guards stood like blue-gold statues.
Kael stepped inside…and froze.
His entire circle was already seated.
Lyria, Serin, Ryven, Nira, Korran, and Valdyros curled arrogantly on a cushion like an offended noble cat.
Ryven slapped the seat beside him."Come on, Storm Lord. We're not letting you walk into the lion's den alone."
Kael blinked. "You—are all coming?"
Nira smiled sheepishly."We figured you might… panic. Or combust."
Serin adjusted his pristine cloak."Protocol dictates that prodigies summoned to the throne should be accompanied by witnesses of equal esteem and I do not trust you to speak with restraint."
Ryven snorted. "Translation: he thinks you'll punch a duke."
Lyria scooted closer and tugged Kael's sleeve gently. "We're with you. Always."
A warmth threatened to overwhelm his chest.
Korran nodded with stoic certainty. "You walk toward power. We walk beside you."
Valdyros flicked his tail. « And they brought snacks. Acceptable. »
Kael exhaled."Alright. Let's go."
The carriage lurched forward toward destiny.
III. The Capital of Elyndria
The capital was a living miracle.
Sunlight blazed off white marble high-rises and spiraling Source towers. Waterfalls spilled from suspended bridges into glowing canals. Street markets overflowed with spices, enchanted trinkets, floating lanterns, rune-woven cloth, and creatures from distant realms.
Children pointed. Merchants bowed. Nobles stiffened. Guards saluted with crisp reverence. Citizens stared and whispered.
Kael felt both too small—and far too large—for the attention.
Lyria squeezed his hand.
"You'll be alright," she whispered.
Ahead, the palace rose like a mountain of shining stone and sky—a sanctuary of blue banners, carved wings, and sunlit glass.
IV. The Palace Gates
A horn blared.
Royal guards formed two rigid lines, spears crossed in a corridor of polished steel.
Captain Daen Reth waited at the steps.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Eyes sharp as unsheathed blades.
He appraised Kael with unsettling intensity.
"Kael Varos," Daen said, bowing slightly. "The child who shook the academy. Welcome."
Kael bowed back—Serin-approved depth, no more, no less.
Daen's gaze darkened.
"I hope you live up to your reputation."
Valdyros snorted. « He will exceed it. Try not to faint. »
Daen stiffened—but wisely said nothing.
V. The Throne Room of Elyndria
The doors opened.
Light poured from grand skylights, bathing a hall of ivory pillars and floating crystalline lanterns. Nobles stood on either side, dressed in blues and golds, their expressions ranging from awe to fear.
Kael's steps echoed across the polished stone as his circle followed close behind.
At the far end, on a raised dais carved of white stone—
King Eryndor of Elyndria.
Regal.
Stern.
A presence carved from authority itself.
Beside him stood Princess Arion Valis, emerald eyes bright with the beauty of a goddess, who stared with curiosity.
Kael bowed smoothly."Your Majesty."
His companions bowed—Ryven bumped Korran, Nira wobbled Lyria catching her, Serin achieved perfection.
Valdyros merely nodded.
Half the court nearly collapsed.
VI. The King's Inquiry
The king's voice carried like a command etched into the air.
"Kael Varos. You stand before the throne under extraordinary circumstances."
He raised a hand.
"Triple-gate resonance. Storm manifestations. A sacred beast bond. And the manifestation of King Presence."
A ripple of gasps.
Kael swallowed. "I never sought any of it. I only tried to protect my friends."
The nobles murmured.
The king leaned forward. "And why did a sacred beast choose you?"
Valdyros rose to Kael's shoulder, eyes glowing with ancient storm-light.
« Because his soul carries the tempest of change, and I stand by him as guardian and witness. »
Silence shattered the hall.
Princess Arion choked on breath. Some nobles stepped backward. Others stared as if a legend had just spoken.
King Eryndor stroked his beard thoughtfully.
VII. Trial by Combat — Kael vs. Captain Daen
The king lifted a single hand.
"Captain Daen. Test the boy's strength. Let the court judge truth for itself."
The hall cleared.
Daen unsheathed an obsidian-forged sword, sigils glowing like fire in its core.
Kael drew his own blade. Lightning sparked around his grip.
Daen bowed. "Do not hold back."
Kael cracked his knuckles. "Wouldn't dream of it."
The Duel Begins
Daen vanished.
No wind-up. No warning.
Just gone.
A shadow flickered behind Kael.
Kael barely blocked the downward strike—
BOOM!
A sonic shock rang through the hall. Stone cracked beneath their feet.
Ryven whooped. "NOW WE'RE TALKING!"
Daen attacked with speed that tore lines in the air. Kael countered with sharpened Mind Gate focus—
Predicting angles—Redirecting momentum—Matching Daen stroke-for-stroke.
Daen's grin widened."Faster than the rumors said."
He surged forward—
Bladestorm Waltz
Daen unleashed fifty strikes in three seconds.
The blade flickers blurred like a storm of steel.
Kael entered Storm Shift—
Lightning veins spread across his skin—Hair lifted—Vision narrowed—Every movement became instinct.
He dodged the first twelve. Parried the next seven. Absorbed two with hardened Body Gate force. And returned a storm-laced slash—
CRACK!
Arc-light split across the hall.
Daen skidded backwards, boots sparking against the marble.
The nobles screamed. Princess Arion's eyes sparkled. Eiran pressed a fist to his heart, pride flickering behind stern eyes.
Daen steadied, then charged again—
Electric Clash
Steel met Source. Momentum met lightning. Kael swept a lightning-infused kick—Daen blocked—Shockwave tore through the air—Chandeliers trembled overhead.
Kael and Daen charged toward each other blades colliding. The shear force between the two weapons send both of their swords flying in opposite directions.
Both Kael and Daen jumped back in different martial art forms.
"Had enough kid?" said Daen
"Im just getting started", said Kael
The torches snapped in their sconces as Kael lunged forward, heels cracking the marble. Daen slid aside, cloak whipping, and drove a tight elbow toward Kael's jaw. Kael blocked with his forearm, spun, and countered with a sharp palm strike aimed at Daen's chest.
Daen caught the strike, twisted Kael's wrist, and hurled him across the polished stone. Kael flipped mid-air, landed hard, slid, then exploded forward again.
Their bodies collided in a blur.Kael's knee flashed upward — Daen deflected it with one hand and answered with a rapid trio of punches. Kael weaved left, right, then ducked under the final blow, sweeping Daen's legs.
Daen leaped over the sweep, twisting gracefully, and came down with a downward heel-kick. Kael rolled out just as the kick shattered the tile where his head had been.
Kael sprang back up, closing distance instantly. He launched a spinning backfist. Daen intercepted, grabbed Kael's arm, and used his own momentum to flip him over a shoulder. Kael hit the ground, rolled, and came up immediately with a rising uppercut that grazed Daen's chin.
Daen's counter was brutal — a hook to the ribs, another to the side of the skull. Kael stumbled back, braced, then surged forward again.
The exchange intensified.A storm of fists.A clash of knees.Blocks, parries, and strikes thrown faster than a breath.
Kael caught Daen's arm mid-strike, dragged him forward, and slammed a knee into his abdomen. Daen gritted through it, shoved Kael back with a palm to the sternum, then dashed in with a spinning elbow that Kael narrowly avoided, the air splitting beside his cheek.
Marble dust filled the air as Kael tackled Daen into a pillar. Daen's back hit stone, but he twisted, locking his legs around Kael's waist. With a brutal torque of his hips, he flipped them both — Kael smashing down onto the floor while Daen landed atop him.
Kael bridged, heaved Daen off, rolled to his feet, and instantly fired a straight kick. Daen sidestepped, grabbed the leg, and dragged Kael in close, headbutting him sharply.
Kael's vision flashed — but he answered with instinct.A spin.A hook-kick.Daen blocked high, though the impact drove him backward across the hall.
Both steadied.Both lunged.
They collided again in a violent blur — Kael slipping inside Daen's guard to hammer a punch across his cheek, Daen retaliating with a downward elbow toward Kael's collarbone. Kael caught the elbow, shoved it aside, drove his shoulder forward, and sent Daen sliding back.
Daen skidded, pivoted on his heel, and charged.Kael met him head-on.
A final frenzy — grapples, knees, fists slamming into ribs, forearms colliding, bodies twisting in perfect technique and lethal precision. The floor cracked beneath them, dust rising, torches flaring with each impact.
Neither yielded.Neither slowed.Just pure, relentless combat echoing through the King's Hall.
Kael pressed his palm to Daen's armor and sent a pulse of controlled storm-light—
THUNDER-BOOM!
Daen slid back ten feet, armor smoking faintly.
Then…
He knelt.
"Enough.", said King Eryndor
Daen stood to his feet with a smile.
You surpass every expectation.", said Daen his voice was steady. "You have strength worthy of kings."
The hall erupted in chaos.
VIII. King vs Storm — The Presence Clash
King Eryndor rose.
A tidal wave of authority expanded outward.
King Presence.
It struck like gravity multiplied a hundredfold.
Nobles and the group collapsed to their faces. This was nothing like what they felt from Kael. Guards buckled to their knees, muscles locking. Even Daen grimaced, dropping once more to his knee. Eiran dropped to one knee as well struggling to keep his head up.
Kael's legs buckled and he hit the ground to his knees and hands. He shook violently—Storm-light flared—Vision swam—
But he refused to fall.
Slowly—inch by inch—he straightened rising under the crushing weight.
Lightning glimmered along his arms. His eyes turned molten gold.
He stood.
Gasps exploded through the hall.
The king's stern façade cracked into a rare smile.
He released the Presence.
"You truly are extraordinary."
IX. The King's Decree
King Eryndor raised his hand, voice booming:
"Let it be recorded across Elyndria:
Kael Varos is not a threat—but a prodigy under the crown's protection."
Nobles murmured in shock.
"And to ensure proper training, Captain Daen shall personally mentor him."
Daen bowed and stood up with a smile."I accept."
The King nodded.
"And Kael Varos is hereby granted rank as—A-Rank Adventurers of the Elyndrian Guild. Effective immediately."
The Hall erupted.
Kael looked up in shock.
"With the performance I've seen today you'll no doubt have any issue with those quest." the King said sitting back on his throne.
Kael bowed his head in gratitude.
Kael turned and looked at his friends, though all of them was smiling and cheering he felt alone because no of them would be with him. He thought about the Architect's message.
"Why the heavy look child?", said King Eryndor.
Kael rose his head and said, "Your Majesty I am so thankful for this opportunity but if I may I have one request."
"Speak." said King Eryndor.
"I am nothing with my team, if you want me at my best I must have them by my side." Kael said smiling looking at his friends.
King Eryndor smiled.
"So be it, Kael Varos and his companions are hereby granted rank as—D -Rank Adventurers of the Elyndrian Guild. Effective immediately."
Ryven pumped a fist. Nira squeaked.Korran looked honored. Lyria's smile was soft and bright. Serin—in rare sincerity—placed a hand on Kael's shoulder.
"You earned this."
Kael bowed deeply."Thank you, Your Majesty."
X. The King's Warning in Private
The court emptied, leaving silence behind.
The king descended from the dais, stopping before Kael.
"You carry a storm unlike anything this kingdom has seen," Eryndor said. "That power will either save Elyndria… or tear it apart."
Kael swallowed. "I won't let it destroy anything."
Eryndor placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Then walk wisely. The potential you wield is as sacred as it is deadly."
Valdyros bowed—an honor few kings ever earned.
« We hear your words, King Eryndor. May your reign remain worthy of the storm you now shelter. »
The king chuckled softly. "A sharp-tongued guardian you have."
XI. Shadows Beneath the Capital
Far below the glittering palace—
In the undercity's labyrinth of stone, smoke, and secrets—
Malek Voren listened to the spy's report.
When the tale ended, Malek smiled.
Cold.
Slow.
Certain.
"So… the king embraces the storm."
He turned to the map of Solis and Elyndria, fingers tracing the borders like a surgeon preparing an incision.
"Good. Let the lion believe the storm is his."
His red eyes glowed like a blood moon.
"When the time comes…Kael Varos will serve my just cause."
He leaned forward, words dripping prophecy.
"And if Elyndria stands in the way…the storm will break its chains."
His smile sharpened.
"Whether the boy wishes it…
or not."