"Kael Ashford, Your Majesty. Lord Ashford's youngest Son." The King's posture shifted immediately, something like Recognition crossing his exhausted features. "One of our two SS rank Awakened.

The fire manipulator who questioned royal service during the Ceremony." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Continue."

"Both SS rank students survived the rift, Your Majesty, But their conditions are markedly different." Lord Chancellor Veros stepped closer to the throne.

"Your Majesty, perhaps we should discuss the political sensitivities Before "

"No." The King's voice was absolute. "Captain Aldric will deliver his full report without political filtering. I'll handle The sensitivities afterward, just as I'll handle meeting with the families of

One hundred forty eight dead children. Continue, Captain." Aldric met the King's burning gaze. "Baron Sarah Millbrook sustained critical injuries during the disaster, Your Majesty.

She Was fighting alongside Professor Leo's group when they encountered the Corrupted students. During engagement, she was wounded by one of the corrupted. And the corruption began spreading through blood contact. Professor Leo was Forced to perform emergency amputation he removed the corrupted tissue before It could reach her essence core.

One of the Military Lieutenants inhaled sharply. "The Temporal manipulator? An SS rank asset?"

"Yes, Lieutenant." Aldric's tone remained formal, But compassion bled through. "The procedure was successful, but traumatic.

She's currently stable under Professor Harold's care, but has lost significant Tissue mass from her abdomen. Recovery will take weeks, possibly months.

However, her essence core remains intact, and Professor Harold confirmed her Temporal manipulation abilities are uncompromised."

King Kendrick's expression twisted with something raw grief, Fury, and protective instinct combined. "Baron Millbrook was elevated few months ago because his daughter awakened with SS rank potential.

Now she's been mutilated fighting corruption to save her own life." His Voice roughened with emotion he didn't bother hiding. "I will meet with Him personally. Not as king to baron, but as one father to another. Because no

Parent should receive news like this from a formal letter or diplomatic

Envoy."

He turned to Lord Chancellor Veros. "Draft whatever Talking points you think necessary, Chancellor, but I want honesty. His Daughter fought with exceptional courage, prevented her own corruption through Decisions that saved her life, and her abilities remain intact despite severe

Injury. He deserves to hear that from me directly, not through political

Theater."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Veros replied quietly.

"And the other SS rank student?" Captain Frost Asked, her tone careful. "Lord Ashford's son"

"Kael Ashford was the last survivor to cross through the portal," Aldric said, and something in his tone made everyone lean forward slightly. "He arrived during the final extraction window, approximately three minutes after we had recused the students. His condition was... severe."

"Define severe." King Kendrick's attention sharpened with the same protective instinct he'd shown for Baron Millbrook's Daughter.

"Critical injuries across his entire body, Your

Majesty. Multiple lacerations, broken ribs, signs of extreme dehydration and Malnutrition, extensive burn wounds that appeared to have been partially healed

Then re-injured. Professor Harold's assessment indicated sustained high intensity combat over the three day period, not evasion or hiding."

Guild Master Torrhen's expression grew thoughtful.

"Captain Aldric, House Ashford produces exceptional fire manipulators, but sustained combat for three days in a hostile dimensional realm would challenge even experienced hunters. This was a first year Academy student?"

"Yes, Guild Master. Additionally, Student Ashford was separated from other students during the initial rift chaos. He survived three days entirely alone no teammates, no support, no coordination with other

Survivor groups. When he reached the extraction point, he'd crossed three kilometers of collapsing terrain while critically injured."

Complete silence filled the chamber.

Colonel Hestian spoke up, respect evident in his exhausted voice. "Your Majesty, I observed Student Ashford when he crossed the portal. His injuries were severe enough that most would have collapsed and waited for rescue.

Instead, he covered three kilometers through hostile territory, reached our detection range, and crossed the threshold under his own power. That level of determination is... exceptional."

King Kendrick's expression shifted grief for what the boy had endured mixing with something like grim pride. "The boy has House Ashford's bloodline. Six generations of elite fire manipulators. But three days alone in hell..." He shook his head. "No training prepares anyone for that. Not really."

"Your Majesty," Lord Chancellor Veros interjected carefully, "during the Second Awakening Ceremony some months ago, you personally invited both SS rank students to join the King's Guard after graduation. Baron Millbrook's daughter accepted immediately. But young Ashford was... hesitant."

"Skeptical," King Kendrick corrected, his voice carrying tired recognition. "He questioned whether royal service would allow him to develop his abilities according to his own judgment rather than institutional doctrine. Polite, diplomatic, but fundamentally questioning

Whether authority structures enhance or limit individual growth." The King's mouth twisted into something that might have been a smile if it weren't so exhausted. "I respected that skepticism then.

I respect it more now, knowing he survived three days through his own strength when every authority structure we built failed to protect him."

Captain Frost spoke up carefully. "Your Majesty, with respect, skepticism about authority is concerning in a potential King's Guard recruit. We need warriors who can follow orders and coordinate with established command structures."

"We also need warriors who think independently and question whether orders make tactical sense," King Kendrick countered, his voice carrying steel beneath the exhaustion. "Young Ashford's skepticism

During the ceremony wasn't rebellious defiance it was intelligent caution from

someone evaluating whether service would be genuine opportunity or political obligation.

Given that our 'established command structures' just failed to protect two hundred students, maybe his skepticism was more justified than any of us wanted to admit."

The rebuke landed like a physical blow, and Captain Frost fell silent.

Aldric continued his report. "Your Majesty, Student Ashford provided the intelligence about artificial structures and intelligent

Presence in the rift. He couldn't offer specific details, claimed he was too focused on survival to conduct detailed observation. However, Professor Harold's medical examination showed evidence of combat against multiple beast species injury patterns suggest repeated engagement with A Class and possibly S Class entities."

Guild Master Torrhen leaned forward with obvious interest. "A first year student fought S Class beasts alone and survived? That's beyond exceptional that's unprecedented."

King Kendrick's exhausted gaze sharpened with calculation. "You think he encountered more than he's disclosing."

"I think his three days alone included experiences he's choosing not to share, Your Majesty. Whether those experiences involved the Intelligent entities he mentioned, the artificial structures, combat training through necessity, or something else entirely... I cannot say definitively.

But his knowledge exceeds what his documented education and survival circumstances should have provided."

"He's hiding something," the Military Lieutenant stated flatly.

"Perhaps." King Kendrick's voice carried understanding rather than suspicion. "Or perhaps he's processing trauma in his own way. Three days fighting alone for survival would affect anyone, and House Ashford training emphasizes individual strength and self reliance.

If young Ashford encountered something he's not ready to discuss..." The King's expression darkened with protective fury. "That's understandable

Given that we failed to protect him from experiencing it in the first Place."

Lord Chancellor Veros cleared his throat diplomatically. "Your Majesty, we're discussing two of the kingdom's most valuable assets both SS rank awakened, both under twenty years of age. Baron Millbrook's daughter was critically injured preventing her own corruption.

Lord Ashford's youngest son survived through means he won't fully explain. The political ramifications are complex."

"Explain the complexity, Chancellor," King Kendrick said, though his tone suggested he already knew and was simply forcing Veros to state it plainly.

"Baron Millbrook's family was elevated to nobility specifically because of Sarah's SS rank temporal manipulation," Veros said carefully. "The elevation came with expectations of service and loyalty.

Her injury will devastate Baron Millbrook, but he'll understand that his Daughter's survival represents fortune given the circumstances. However, he'll also expect the kingdom to acknowledge her sacrifice and ensure appropriate recognition."

"Which I will provide personally," King Kendrick Said. "Continue."

"Lord Ashford presents different challenges,"

Veros continued, his diplomatic voice measured. "House Ashford is an established noble family with six generations of elite fire manipulators. They value strength, honor through combat, and advancement of House reputation.

"If the youngest Ashford survived circumstances that killed one hundred forty eight others, demonstrated combat capabilities against S Class entities, and acquired dimensional knowledge beyond his education... Lord Ashford will expect him to fulfill House obligations and accept King's Guard service just like his brother."

"But will young Ashford agree?" Guild Master Torrhen asked. "From what you've described, he survived through independent action and individual strength. That experience might reinforce his skepticism about whether institutional structures help or hinder development."

King Kendrick stood from his throne, his presence filling the chamber despite the exhaustion carved into his features. "These are questions that matter, but they're not the immediate concern." His voice carried the weight of command tempered by three days of crisis.

"Captain Aldric, I want detailed debriefings with both SS rank survivors once they've recovered sufficiently. Handle Baron Millbrook's daughter with appropriate care given her injuries and trauma. But I want a personal conversation with Lord Ashford's son not interrogation, but genuine discussion about what he experienced and what he learned."

"Your Majesty," Lord Chancellor Veros warned carefully, "Lord Ashford will expect to be present for any royal audience with his youngest son.

House Ashford is traditional about maintaining family authority over their members, especially regarding matters of service and honor."

"Then Lord Ashford will be disappointed," King Kendrick said with finality that made even the King's Guard Captains tense.

"I failed to keep his son safe. The Academy failed. Our wards failed. Our Intelligence failed. Lord Ashford's traditional views about family authority do not override my responsibility to ensure that boy isn't pressured into decisions before he's recovered from three days of hell."

One of the King's Guard Captains the earth manipulator spoke up carefully. "Your Majesty, with respect, circumventing Lord Ashford's Family authority could create political friction. House Ashford has considerable influence, and "

"And I'm the King," Kendrick interrupted,

Exhausted fury bleeding through his words. "I stood in the war chamber Three days ago and promised to bring those children home. We saved fifty two.

We failed one hundred forty eight. Lord Ashford will understand that his Son's recovery and his right to make decisions without family pressure takes Precedence over House politics.

If he doesn't understand that, then he and I will have a very direct conversation about priorities."

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