The road to Kingdom Nium had been long, yet uneventful.
Until the winds changed.
Dark clouds gathered without warning, swallowing the warmth of the afternoon sky. A sharp gust tore through the convoy, rattling banners and sending murmurs through the escorting knights.
Within the chariot, Princess Aeloria pulled aside the silk curtain.
"We halt," she said calmly.
Lylan turned immediately. "Your Highness?"
"The storm ahead is unnatural."
Lucas glanced upward. Even he could sense it — the air felt wrong, heavy with a tension no ordinary weather carried.
The commander of the convoy rode forward, studying the horizon.
Moments later, the order was given.
The journey would pause.
They would seek temporary shelter at a Zephyrian outpost near the border before proceeding at dawn.
That evening, beneath torchlight and quiet preparations, Aeloria walked along the resting grounds.
Lucas stood nearby, polishing his blade with casual ease.
"You seem less troubled than your companion," she observed.
Lucas grinned.
"Lylan was born troubled."
Aeloria laughed softly — a sound Lucas found surprisingly pleasant.
"And you?"
"I complain loudly and survive dramatically."
She tilted her head, amused.
"You speak so freely."
Lucas shrugged. "Life's too uncertain for stiff silence."
Her eyes drifted toward Lylan, who stood some distance away, gaze fixed on the darkened road beyond the outpost.
"He rarely speaks," she murmured.
Lucas's tone softened.
"He carries more than most men his age."
Aeloria watched Lylan for a moment longer before falling silent.
By morning, the storm had vanished.
As if it had never been.
And so, the convoy resumed its journey.
The gates of Kingdom Nium rose like a vision of marble and silver.
As they approached, something unexpected unfolded.
The guards upon the walls stiffened.
Then bowed.
But not to the chariot.
Not to the princess.
Their heads lowered toward two mounted soldiers riding beside her.
"The Wolves of Zephyr…" someone whispered.
Citizens gathered rapidly, awe spreading like wildfire.
"They survived the giants…"
"They fought Vardok's wizards…"
"Living legends…"
Lucas's breath caught.
Lylan's grip tightened subtly on his reins.
This.
This was something they had once dreamed of in childish whispers.
Respect earned not by title…
But by deed.
The crowd bowed deeply.
To them.
Within the royal courtyard of Nium, trumpets sounded.
The King of Nium descended the steps with open arms, his expression warm.
"Welcome, my dear niece!"
Aeloria stepped gracefully from her chariot.
"My uncle."
Behind her, Lucas and Lylan dismounted.
Then—
She appeared.
Princess Seraphina of Nium.
Her presence was radiant yet strikingly familiar. There was something unmistakable in her features — echoes of her mother, the Queen.
Lucas nearly forgot to breathe.
Lylan noticed immediately.
And smirked faintly.
Queen Elowen approached with regal poise.
Her gaze settled first upon Lylan.
"Well…"
A subtle smile curved her lips.
"So these are Zephyr's famed warriors."
Lylan bowed respectfully.
"My Queen."
She studied him openly.
"I must say… legendary feats such as yours, yet you both look far too handsome for the brutality of war."
Lucas blinked.
Lylan froze slightly.
The Queen turned toward Lucas.
"And you are certainly no less impressive."
Lucas grinned despite himself.
"You honor us, Your Majesty."
Seraphina, standing beside her mother, stared.
Particularly at Lucas.
Aeloria caught it.
And hid a smile.
The reunion festivities had barely settled when tension entered the air.
The King of Nium turned toward Zephyr's soldiers, eyes narrowing slightly.
"I have heard many tales."
Lucas's smile faded.
"Yet tales grow in exaggeration."
Silence fell.
"I would see truth," the King declared.
Servants quickly assembled a training ring within the courtyard.
Two of Nium's finest swordsmen stepped forward.
"You will duel," the King commanded.
Lucas glanced at Lylan.
Lylan exhaled slowly.
"As you wish."
The clash was swift.
Steel rang sharply.
The swordsmen were skilled — disciplined, aggressive, relentless.
But within minutes—
They fell.
Disarmed.
Defeated.
Breathing heavily as they yielded.
The courtyard erupted in stunned murmurs.
Lucas rolled his shoulder.
"Not bad."
Lylan adjusted his stance calmly.
But the King did not smile.
Instead—
He gestured again.
"Goliath."
The ground seemed to tremble.
A knight stepped forward.
Short in stature.
Massive in build.
A dwarf giant.
He wielded a war hammer nearly as large as himself.
Behind him emerged—
A sorcerer.
And finally—
The General of Nium.
Lucas muttered, "Now this looks fun."
The battle exploded.
Fire roared from the sorcerer's staff, scorching across the ring.
Lucas dove aside, barely evading the blazing arc.
The General charged him instantly.
Blades collided.
Meanwhile—
Goliath moved like thunder.
His hammer swung with terrifying force.
Lylan parried—
Too late.
The impact shattered his guard, sending his sword spinning across the sand.
Gasps echoed.
Unarmed.
Facing a monster.
Goliath's hammer descended again.
Lylan's eyes sharpened.
At the last possible instant—
He caught it.
Bare hands gripping the weapon mid-swing.
Shock rippled across the courtyard.
Muscles strained.
Veins burned.
With a roar, Lylan twisted violently, wrenching the hammer free.
Goliath staggered.
And Lylan struck.
A devastating punch crashed into the dwarf giant's helm.
Goliath reeled backward, dazed.
Lucas danced through chaos.
The General pressed hard.
Fire blasts scorched past Lucas's shoulders as he fought with lethal precision.
Then—
Lucas shifted.
Dodged a flame burst.
Countered.
His blade flashed.
The General fell.
The sorcerer raised his staff, fury blazing.
He slammed it into the ground.
From swirling fire—
A warrior emerged.
Living flame.
It charged Lylan with savage intensity.
Lylan barely recovered his sword before impact.
Fire claws tore into armor.
Heat seared flesh.
Pain lanced through him.
Yet Lylan endured.
Steel met flame.
Again.
Again.
Until—
With a final desperate strike—
The fire warrior dispersed into embers.
Smoke curled from Lylan's scorched armor.
He turned instantly.
Kicked.
The sorcerer's staff flew from his hands.
Lucas finished the General.
But then—
A blur.
Goliath rose again.
Hammer crashing into Lylan with monstrous force.
The strike sent him flying across the ring.
Lucas's eyes widened.
Something snapped.
He dropped his sword.
Charged barehanded.
Blows rained like fury unleashed.
A savage combination of strikes crashed into Goliath's frame.
Again.
Again.
Until—
The dwarf giant collapsed.
And tapped the ground.
Yielding.
Silence consumed the courtyard.
The King of Nium stared in disbelief.
Queen Elowen covered her mouth.
Seraphina's eyes shone with stunned admiration.
And Aeloria…
Could not look away from Lylan.
Burned.
Bruised.
Still standing.
Still unbroken.
Zephyr's Wolves had not merely proven legend.
They had redefined it.