The smell of burning paper filled the air, and pungent fumes made Kaelen's eyes sting. Desperately trying to cover his mouth, his body was shaken by vicious coughing, allowing ashen particles to force themselves into every corner of his aching lungs. He tried to see, but his vision was hazy with dark smoke wafting through the room. The blistering air was clinging to his skin, and the sweat was running down his neck like a mountain creek in spring.

At first, Kaelen didn't know where he was — only that his body needed to be here. His shaking feet stood on a cold stone floor, his torso hunched under a canopy of searing smoke. Everything around him was a blur of impressions, overloading his senses with a wild blend of colors and scents, emotions, and thoughts.

Finally, he could see through the fog that was shrouding his mind, only to find himself standing in front of the old archive gate he'd faced the night of the tome theft. Then, as now, it was open, with chain and lock cast aside carelessly. Blazing heat was wafting out of the restricted section, and its usual darkness was replaced by a blazing glow of red and orange. He could hear the flames before he saw them — they were ravaging through the ancient shelves, devouring tomes and scrolls Kaelen felt as if his face was melting, but he could not bring himself to look away — and so he watched as the kindling fire erased the most protected fates of the order, one by one, life by life.

#

Kaelen startled and almost hit his head on a branch above him. Hot sweat glued his greasy hair to his forehead and dropped off the tip of his nose like a leaking lavatory. His shaky hands clung to the fabric of his robe with a death grip, his knuckles white as paper.

Trying to steady his breathing, he looked around, trying to ground his mind in the present.

He was leaning against a large tree near the formation of boulders that served as their camp. The sun was just starting to rise, pouring warm light onto the planes and fields around them, and the nearby creek was spluttering cheerfully. Morning dew was covering the bushes and grass around him, glistening like shining armor in the refracted light that slowly filled the clearing. Despite the briskness of the air, Kaelen inhaled deeply and savored the sting in his lungs.

Just a dream, he thought. Or was it? Had this been nothing more than a foolish nightmare, concocted by his strained mind? Or had he experienced yet another fate premonition, showing him a gruesome future? Knots formed in his stomach as he considered the implications, but before he could delve too deeply into this mental abyss, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Were you sleeping on watch?" Nyu demanded, frowning at him. She was standing a few feet away and, by the looks of it, had just gotten up. Kaelen blinked and looked at her, then past her, to see Elara stretching herself in a desperate attempt to fight the stiffness caused by sleeping on hard ground.

"Morning," his sister muttered, only glancing over briefly.

Nyu spun around to face her. "And you," she said, pointing accusingly, "You were supposed to take over at some point."

Nyu crossed her arms and studied the siblings for a long moment. When she saw the mixture of innocence and weaponized incompetence on Elara's face, she sighed.

"You're lucky they didn't find us."

"Maybe they didn't even search for us," Elara said and shrugged, rubbing her hands for warmth.

With cheeks the color of red-hot coals and a runny nose that could barely be contained, she looked truly miserable. Had it not been for his heated dream, Kaelen would've been freezing just like her.

"I doubt that," Nyu scoffed, and picked up her backpack. "Doesn't matter now, though. We should get moving."

"Already?" Kaelen asked instinctively.

"This isn't a picnic," Nyu sneered while sheathing the daggers that had been lying next to her hands while she slept. "We've got places to be. The sooner we get to Cylion, the better."

Kaelen felt a pain he couldn't quite place.

"So you can get your payment and be on your way?" he asked, surprising himself with the sharpness of his words.

Nyu glanced at him for a moment. "Precisely," she concluded. "Besides, I'm sure you want to see mommy and daddy again."

"We can't wait," Elara murmured sarcastically. Then, with a softer voice, she added: "Do you have more of these mushrooms by any chance?"

Nyu chuckled briefly. "I'm afraid the breakfast buffet will have to wait, princess."

A cheeky smile crossed her lips when she saw the disappointed look on Elara's face.

"I might be able to find some berries along the way. If you behave, they might even be edible ones."

To Kaelen's surprise, Elara threw a playful glance at Nyu. For reasons he couldn't quite explain, a part of him took issue with that.

#

The hike to Cylion took a couple of hours, and with barely anything in their stomachs, it was a physically demanding journey. They avoided the main roads and instead made their way through gentle valleys and across smaller mountains and hills until they reached the Westway Willows. The large forest provided welcome cover from curious eyes, along with deep shade that would've been pleasant in summertime. As it stood, however, nothing about this march was pleasant.

Nyu was setting a vigorous pace up front, with the siblings following and occasionally complaining behind her. Around noon, when the sun was up high in the sky and they'd left the dense tree cover behind, they finally saw the impressive silhouette of Cylion in the distance, enthroned in the heart of a wide valley surrounded by rolling hills. Farms and vineyards sprawled onto the surrounding fields like a colorful carpet, sprinkled with spinning windmills grinding this year's harvest. A gentle haze lay over the valley, punctuated with golden wisps of smoke from pointy chimneys. The river that gave Cylion its name streamed sluggishly through the picturesque scenery, allowing boats and barges to travel to and from the nearby coast.

It was a sight Kaelen hadn't come to appreciate in a long time, but Nyu didn't allow them to linger for long. They descended from their outlook and started weaving through the condensing network of muddy trails leading up to the massive city wall, passing simple farm houses and wooden barns on their way. When they approached one of the three large gate houses, they could smell the fish from the markets, the stench of the sewers, and the warming scent of burned wood. The guards didn't pay them much attention on their way in, not knowing what imminent danger was in store for them and their city, and Kaelen suppressed the urge to tell them. Most likely, they would've thought him a crazy person, or worse yet, imprisoned him for spreading foul rumors.

Past the gates, Nyu stopped and turned to Kaelen and Elara.

"You lead the way," she told both of them at once.

"If you try anything, you'll regret it," she added, subtly reaching for her daggers.

Kaelen frowned. "Don't you think we are past that?"

"I don't like to take my chances."

"Don't you, though?" Elara prodded.

Nyu grinned briefly but didn't respond.

The streets of Cylion were buzzing with life — merchants were selling goods at every corner, loaded wagons were being pushed through the dispersing crowds, and the constant hum of many voices filled the air. Tall houses with colorful facades adorned the elevated walkways on either side of the streets, and drying clothes on saggy lines were looming over them like garlands. They could feel the shift in temperature that came with the maze of stone, and the sheer number of people that filled every crevice of it. The warmth immediately seemed to lift Elara's spirit, as she gradually emerged from the depths of her upturned collar. Behind them, Nyu was warily eyeing everyone they passed, like she would've done in Morathen. Her darting eyes scanned each potential threat for weapons and weaknesses, assessing possible enemies and escape routes with a lifelong habit.

While Cylion had its rough corners, Kaelen knew that no harm would befall them in these parts of town. People here were well off, with guards patrolling the streets in a rhythm as steady as the tides. It was a prosperous city, bustling from dusk til dawn with trade and commerce, and people were content with making a living as artisans and merchants. The crime rate was low because Cylion's inhabitants were generally happy, except for some sketchier outskirts south of town, which they'd try to avoid ever since their childhood.

They walked past a sprawling market square with a wide range of goods and local produce, the shouts of traders praising their wares following them into the next alley. Soon, the streets got wider and the houses bigger, and in the distance, they could already see the palace of Cylion, the residence of King Montis. Kaelen suppressed the urge to seek out an audience with the king already and instead led them down a tree-lined street branching off of the main avenue leading to the government building. White walls and meticulously groomed hatches were blocking the view into the luxurious properties they walked past, and the grand gates on either side were adorned with colorful crests and intricate decorations in gold leaf. In between the lush trees stood long marble benches, their smooth surface reflecting the afternoon sun like a mirror. Kaelen knew that no one had ever sat on them, except for him and his sister when they were young. Most of the wealthy residents in this district would not want to be seen sitting on a public bench, out of fear that it would damage their reputation.

Nyu whistled behind them as they passed through the spotty shade the trees granted.

"I can see where Malvorn got some of his inspiration from."

The siblings didn't respond, but instead stopped in front of the largest gate they had come by so far. Its golden bars allowed them to catch glimpses of a posh garden with short, vibrant grass and paths of white pebbles. Awe-inspiring floral patterns were carved into the massive fluted columns that supported a grandiose arch even taller than the tree tops. A crest as big as Kaelen's torso was sitting at the top of the arch, framed and upheld by marble statues on either side. The coat of arms of the Dor family was ostentatious to say the least — its background was entirely made of gold, not because this was a fancy rendition of it, but because it was an integral part in displaying the wealth the family had accumulated, just like a family of masons would have their tools be part of their crest. In the center stood a black raven, its head slightly turned towards the observer, with a masterfully painted coat of feathers covering the bird's slender body. Its dark eye seemed to study them with distrust, the beak slightly opened as if to say they were not welcome here.

Kaelen sighed.

"Here we are," he declared, even though it was obvious they had reached their destination.

Nyu chuckled in disbelief. "This will be the best job of my entire life," she muttered.

"Don't get too excited just yet," Elara interjected. "Our parents aren't exactly generous people. And they are not overly fond of us."

"You are still their blood," Nyu shrugged.

"I'm afraid they value gold more highly than blood," Kaelen growled bitterly.

Next to the massive portal stood a gatehouse that could have served as a living space for an entire family. Its door was no less decorative than the rest of the entryway, and a golden door knocker in the form of a raven's head presented itself to any visitor bold enough to approach the Dor residence. When Kaelen stepped over to knock, he was trying to contain the overpowering emotions that rushed through his body. It had been a long time since his last visit to this place he used to call home, and he could've gone a lot longer without ever coming here. Besides, the circumstances of their return would not make for a cheerful reunion, if there even was such a thing with their parents.

Kaelen knocked twice and stepped back. After a moment, they could hear movement in the gatehouse and soon after, an old man with gray hair and a neat uniform appeared behind the golden bars of the main gate.

He blinked, then raised his hand to protect his watery eyes from the low-hanging sun. Studying the visitors, his scrutinizing gaze went from Nyu to the siblings, and suddenly his eyes lit up.

"Mistress Gwynelara, Master Kaelendril!" he exclaimed. "What a pleasure to see you! We were not expecting you."

The man gave them a bright smile, wrinkles covering his old face. Kaelen ignored the amusement on Nyu's face.

"It's good to see you, too, Ellisar," he said gently. "Truth be told, we did not expect to be here, either."

"Oh," Ellisar mused, then quickly added: "But you are here now, and that's all that matters! And you brought company?"

He glanced at Nyu, trying to hide his irritation behind a mask of politeness.

"Splendid," he concluded, and took his eyes off the broad-shouldered woman with orange hair.

After hastily unlocking and opening the tall gate, he ushered them inside.

"It is so good to see you, my Dear," Ellisar said to Elara as they walked down one of the pebble-covered paths, past some colorful flower arrangements and a small fountain.

Nyu followed behind them, her facial expression a mixture of disbelief and disgust, staying right in the middle of the path as if expecting the vegetation to be poisonous.

"It's good to see you, too, Ellisar," Elara responded courteously and smiled. "We were hoping to be back sooner, but life at the Great Library is busy."

Kaelen knew half of that was a lie, but Ellisar didn't notice.

"I'm sure it is. I can only imagine the exciting things they are teaching you there every day." The glowing eyes of the gatekeeper were filled with marvel and wonder.

"Well, a lot of it is pretty mundane," Elara chuckled.

"I'm sure you are just being humble, like you always have been. What a great young woman you have turned out to be."

Elara blushed at the heartfelt compliment. Their parents' servants had always been kind to them, oftentimes filling a role their own mother and father failed to assume. Surely, they had noticed the absence of warmth in their family over the years, and despite the glaring difference in wealth, they chose to be compassionate beyond what their salary demanded.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"You are in luck," Ellisar fluted as they walked past a collection of expensive-looking vases on marble pedestals amidst purple hydrangeas, "the master and mistress just came back from a consultation with the king's military advisor. We will find them in the leisure room in the east wing."

A large mansion emerged behind a set of stone pines, with white walls, latticed windows, and blue shutters. The slanted roof was made from orange shingles and interspersed with smoking chimneys. Pointy arches lined the facade of the first floor, and smooth marble columns in between them reached to the brim of the roof three stories above. The center of the building grew into a large stone tower, looming majestically over the entire property, with tall, skinny windows and a decorative balcony near the top. On both sides, the cubical main building expanded into two-story wings that bend around the corner and out of sight.

A pair of cypresses, planted by Kaelen's great-grandfather, flanked the main entry gate, which was just as massive as the first one they entered. When they approached, Kaelen could feel knots form in his stomach, and biting dread spread in his mind like a poison. The facial expression on Elara's face indicated a similar mental state.

"I hope we can make your stay as pleasant as possible," Ellisar said cheerfully, either reacting to or not noticing the look on their faces.

"I don't think we'll be staying long this time," Kaelen murmured.

Ellisar frowned slightly. "Oh, that's a shame. I'm sure your parents —" he began, but then broke off, unsure how to finish the sentence.

Kaelen gave him a weary smile, appreciating that their gatekeeper was not trying to sugarcoat things.

"Do you want me to entertain your guest with a cup of tea while you talk to your parents?" Ellisar asked when they were only a few feet away from the entry gate.

Nyu scoffed. "Yeah, right — you wish."

"Excuse me?" Ellisar muttered in utter confusion.

He was used to proper etiquette and had always stood on ceremony.

"I'm coming with them," Nyu asserted. "Or, to be more precise, they are coming with me."

The gatekeeper looked to Kaelen and Elara in search of answers, making Kaelen chuckle.

"It's okay, Ellisar. We'll all go."

"Very well, Master Kaelendril," Ellisar said once he'd collected himself.

#

The inside of their childhood home was just as luxurious as Kaelen remembered it to be. Worse yet, it reminded him of the inside of Malvorn's palace, with marble statues and oil paintings everywhere, carpet-lined hallways and chandelier-lit rooms. Expensive upholstery and intricately crafted wooden furniture were tastefully scattered in the expansive lobbies they passed, matching the individual color scheme of every room. Woven tapestry lined the walls, with rich decorations adorning the ceilings in a display of peak craftsmanship. Naturally, there was gold everywhere.

After walking up a wide marble staircase with narrow steps and a sculptured balustrade on either side, they made their way down a long hallway and reached the portal leading to the east wing of the Dor mansion. Ironically, Kaelen thought, this was where he and Elara had had their quarters growing up, and back then their parents had mostly left this part of the building to their children. A strange sense of familiarity crept up on him, and every statue and every piece of furniture unlocked long forgotten memories, reminding him of a past he rarely thought back to.

They stopped in front of a large door with marble busts to either side and a slender couch with pink cushions across from it.

"Would you excuse me for a moment? I will just let them know you are here." Ellisar gestured at the couch next to them.

His voice was as gentle as can be, but Kaelen could feel his words stir buried emotions like a boiling stew.

"Sure, go ahead. Thank you, Ellisar," Elara responded.

The gatekeeper bowed and slid through the door without opening it wide enough for them to see much of the inside.

None of them sat down.

"You have to wait to see your parents?" Nyu asked in disbelief, rupturing the silence with brutal honesty.

Kaelen could feel a sting in his chest. "Welcome to the Dor family," he said bitterly.

"Doesn't sound much like family to me, if I'm being honest," Nyu continued.

"It doesn't feel like family, either," Elara whispered. "Good luck bargaining for a high ransom — you will need it."

Nyu muttered a silent curse.

When the door opened and Ellisar ushered them inside, Kaelen could almost feel the air turn stiff. Their parents were sitting near a crackling fireplace on an arrangement of burgundy upholstery, surrounding a small decorative table covered in gold leaf and painted flowers. A book lay open in front of their mother, while a handful of documents were resting neatly stacked next to their father. Both of them were dressed in long, elegant silk robes the color of ripe plums, with embroidered crests on their collars showing the Dor crow.

They stopped only a few feet shy of the set of couches and armchairs. Their parents straightened their postures, but made no move to get up to greet them. Instead, Kaelen could feel two pairs of probing eyes, one green and one brown, examine them with the same coldness they always had. There was the scrutinizing gaze of their father, Vaelorian, his bushy eyebrows perked up in a mixture of irritation and judgment, accompanied by his pursed lips that sought shelter underneath his neat dark mustache. There was the ever-so-concerned and fearful look on their mother's face, Maelira, whose features otherwise resembled his and Elara's appearance. Her eyes were always hazy and bleak, filled with an emotion one might easily mistake for compassion, but to Kaelen, it had always seemed more like grief — over what, he didn't know.

It felt like they were being received as petitioners.

"We did not expect to see you again so soon," their mother said wearily.

Kaelen could already feel his anger surface. "One might argue that three years is a long time."

"Arguing is for commoners," their father said, his voice as deep and commanding as the sea.

Kaelen could sense Elara flinch next to him, expecting punishment for a mistake they'd made.

"It's good to see you, too, father," he sneered through gritted teeth.

Vaelorian scoffed disapprovingly, making his eyebrows jump.

"So, I trust things at the Great Library are going well?" their father asked with a twang. "Master Zerath has failed to inform me of your progress lately."

Kaelen flinched at the thought of Zerath writing to their parents about his and Elara's performance. It felt like a small betrayal.

"It's going well," Elara interjected. "We are making a lot of progress and are getting a lot of praise for it."

Kaelen appreciated that Elara made it sound like they were receiving the same amount of praise. Either way, their father did not look impressed.

"Well, I sure hope so. Dors have always been achievers at the Great Library. It is in our blood to fill the highest ranks of the Fateweavers," Vaelorian said arrogantly and straightened his robe with his manicured fingers.

Kaelen had to resist the urge to ask his father why he was not even an average Fateweaver then, but instead a mundane banker, albeit a successful one. He could tell Elara was taken aback by the lack of acknowledgment, and suddenly it felt like they were children again — or at least being treated as such. It filled him with anger and a familiar feeling of defiance.

"Elara is the best Fateweaver of her generation, as I'm sure Master Zerath has told you in great detail in his letters," Kaelen said firmly, making Elara blush.

Vaelorian scoffed condescendingly and turned to his wife.

"Have we not taught our children to show their parents the proper respect?"

Maelira pursed her purple lips but didn't respond. Their mother had never been the warmest person either, but she was usually less cruel than their father.

"If you ask me," Kaelen began in a challenging tone, "you haven't really taught us anything when it comes to social interactions."

Vaelorian pushed back the velvet armchair and rose to his full height, waving his long black hair as he spun around to face them.

"Watch your tone, boy," Vaelorian hissed between gritted teeth.

Kaelen didn't feel like backing down.

"Or what?" he barked and stepped forward.

Next to him, Elara gasped for air, while Ellisar was tiptoeing anxiously from one foot to the other.

They fell silent for a long and tense moment, with only the crackling of the burning wood hanging in the air. As children, Kaelen and Elara had spent many hours in this very room. It had served as a playground to the two of them, and subtle stains on the cushions still bore witness to that time long gone — and so did the mental scars the constant scolding of their father had left, one for every scrutinized childish mistake. Growing up, their exploration of life and its possibilities had always been a slippery slope.

"Look, as heart-warming as this family reunion is," Nyu interjected once the tense silence had gotten almost unbearable, "we didn't come here for that."

Vaelorian looked at her like he hadn't even noticed his third visitor until now.

"Who are you?" he snarled. Then, glancing at Ellisar, he added: "Who is this commoner, Ellisar, and what is she doing in our house?"

The gatekeeper nervously folded his fingers behind his back.

"They are a guest of your children, Sir. Maybe a friend, even?" He looked at Kaelen for help.

"I wouldn't go that far," Kaelen muttered, glancing at Nyu, who had stepped forward and was now standing in between the siblings.

"I'm the one who saved your offspring from certain death."

A hint of terror flickered over Maelira's face, almost too brief to notice. Vaelorian's face remained as solid as a bar of gold.

"Explain," he demanded briskly.

Nyu did a mocking bow and continued.

"Your children made the unfortunate mistake of coming to —" she paused, considering how much of the truth she had to reveal to get what she wanted. "Let's just say, they came to a very hostile place. They were slated for execution, when I stepped in to save them."

Vaelorian looked Nyu up and down, not even hiding his contempt at finding the likes of her in the midst of his home. Then, he glared at Kaelen and Elara.

"Is what this … woman … is saying true?" he asked coldly.

"It is," Elara stammered quietly.

Vaelorian cleared his throat. "Well, how very fortunate for all of us."

His voice was as sharp as a fresh breeze on a winter morning.

"Thank you for saving our children," Maelira said wearily, much to the dismay of her husband, who seemed like he still couldn't get over Nyu's appearance.

"Let me guess," Vaelorian snarled, "you will want a reward?"

Nyu performed another theatrical bow, and Kaelen couldn't help but smile at the way she was mocking their father.

"A humble token of your gratitude would be much appreciated, kind Sir," Nyu fluted.

Vaelorian scoffed, dripping with contempt.

"Of course," he sneered. "I would expect nothing less from your kind."

"My kind?" Nyu echoed, and the playfulness left her voice.

"The kind who relies on vagrancy and ploys to make a living. The kind who loves nothing more than to take from those who earned their wealth with hard work."

Nyu folded her arms and glared at Vaelorian. "Oh, I'm sure your path to becoming rich was paved with nothing but good deeds and compassion."

"What is it with this impertinent youth?" their father growled quietly, but loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. "You are not wrong, though. And so I'm sure you can also imagine that we didn't get rich by giving alms to beggars like you."

Nyu chuckled. "Alms make it sound like you have a choice."

Vaelorian's eyes narrowed. "Oh, but I do," he rasped.

"That's where you're wrong," Nyu said casually. "See, I was going to threaten you with doing rather painful things to your children — but I might just do them to you instead."

She smoothly opened her jacket and exposed a set of knives on her belt.

Clearly, Vaelorian had not expected the discussion to take a turn like that, and it filled Kaelen with satisfaction to see their father caught off-guard.

"How dare you?" he gasped, his voice now tainted with concern. "Ellisar," he barked, "remove this person at once!"

Ellisar looked nervously from Nyu to Vaelorian and back.

"Sir?" he stammered.

"You heard me!"

Nyu smiled at Ellisar. "I wouldn't if I were you."

Ellisar gulped and gestured pleadingly at Kaelen.

"Why don't we all calm down a bit?" Kaelen finally said, even though he was curious to see where this interaction would've led.

Vaelorian glared at Nyu, the corners of his mouth nearly reaching the underside of his bony jaw. A vein was pulsating on his neck, like a serpent stirring beneath his smooth skin.

"Fine," he blared, "have your gold and be on your way."

Nyu smirked. "I knew we could come to an agreement."

Vaelorian's face seemed to slowly change color, but he remained quiet for the moment. Maeleira nervously shifted her weight on the couch.

"So now the question would be," Nyu continued unfazed, "how much your children are worth to you."

Kaelen admired her tenacity, but he personally did not want to know the answer to that question. Judging by the harrowed look on Elara's face, she shared his sentiment.

Vaelorian scoffed.

"I don't know who you are, I don't know who you think you are, but I will tell you this: throughout my career, many people have tried to play Vaelorian Dor for a fool — few of them live to tell the tale." He closed his robe a little tighter and raised his chin.

"If you try to extort my generosity, that same fate will be waiting for you," Vaelorian concluded with a rumbling voice.

Nyu smirked. "I am Nyu, and I prefer my threats in the form of cold steel pressed against my throat rather than in words spoken by fancy peacocks. I will take my chances."

Vaelorian ground his marble white teeth. "I see," he hissed with biting contempt in his voice.

"Splendid," Nyu said, "I would say 100 gold coins would be enough. Per returned child, that is."

A collective gasp filled the room. For anyone but his parents, Kaelen thought, this would have been a ridiculous figure. But then again, they were sitting in a room full of gold, and while 200 gold coins could feed an average family for decades, to the Dors, it was only a minuscule fraction of their wealth.

To his surprise, a bitter smile crossed Vaelorian's face.

"You should work in banking, I see you have the necessary unscrupulousness."

"I trust you would know," Nyu retorted.

Vaelorian's smile widened.

"So be it. You get your gold. Consider yourself the lucky owner of a Dor bank account with 200 coins in your name."

"What?"

The confusion on Nyu's face was almost comical.

"Surely you meant to thank me for my generosity," Vaelorian sneered.

"I want real payment," Nyu barked after collecting herself.

"I don't know what backwater place you come from," Vaelorian snorted, gesturing dismissively with his hands, "but that is how wealth works in the big city. You don't own it, just the idea of it."

"A bank account in Cylion will do me no good where I live," Nyu hissed and clenched her fists.

"Oh," Vaelorian whispered with newfound interest, "and where would that be, exactly?" He studied Nyu like produce at a market stand.

Nyu hesitated briefly, her face showing signs of unease.

"You wouldn't know it," she finally murmured.

"Try me," Vaelorian pressed with increasing intensity.

His eyes had taken on a fierce glow, like he was smelling a business opportunity he had to seize.

"Where she is from is none of your concern," Kaelen interjected. "You should just be happy she saved us, which is more than you would ever do for us."

"Tread carefully, Kaelendril."

Facing Nyu, Kaelen continued without paying his father's words much attention.

"We can go to the bank and withdraw your gold, if that's what you want."

Nyu looked skeptical. She glared at Vaelorian with hateful eyes, but eventually nodded and opened her fists.

With visible satisfaction, Vaelorian sat back down in his armchair and rang a bell next to the stack of paper he'd been working on. Shortly after, a servant entered the room, only to be sent away again to fetch the required paperwork. Another few minutes later, Nyu had signed the document for opening a Dor bank account — with Elara's help, since it turned out Nyu had never held a pen in her life.

"Well, well," Vaelorian murmured, once everything was done, "I'm glad this regrettable affair is finally over."

Then, gazing at Kaelen and Elara, he added: "That would be all, I assume?"

No matter how many walls Kaelen tried to erect around his emotional core, their parents' indifference would always manage to pierce all his defenses.

"Not quite," he said wearily.

Vaelorian raised an eyebrow, silently asking what more they could possibly want.

Kaelen sighed. "We require an audience with King Montis."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.