Justin jogged back toward the palace gates, but on the way, he ran into the rest of the party chasing after him. Atlas was scored with molten rock but lumbered along all the same.

"You did good, buddy," Justin said, patting the construct's carapace. "But you need your rest."

He absorbed Atlas into his ring. With luck, the construct would recover completely after a day or two.

"Well?" Alistair asked, breathing hard from the run. "Did you catch him?"

Justin shook his head. "I'm not sure how much you saw, but I got onto the drake's back, but he barrel-rolled me off. I survived the fall with Sapphire Aegis."

"Of course you did," Lila muttered, though relief tinged her voice. "And you somehow managed to refresh the cooldown with your Advantage thing?"

Justin nodded. "Luckily."

"Valdrik is gone, then." Alistair's shoulders dropped. "This is my failure. I should have guessed he would escape; I was too focused on the Queen."

"He's a Level 37 Lexicant with hundreds of spells in his arsenal," Eldrin said quietly. "Even if we had anticipated it, he was always going to be difficult to contain."

"Difficult isn't impossible." Alistair's eyes burned with determination. "I will track him down. He's committed crimes against the Crown, the Templars, and who knows who else. This doesn't end here, and for him, there's no more hiding."

Justin nodded. "For what it's worth, I think he was rattled. He didn't try to fight—just ran. That's something."

Before anyone could say anything else, a notification appeared in Justin's vision:

[The Vault of the Throne of Shadows has been successfully cleared! Return to the location of completion to claim your rewards.]

Justin blinked. "The Vault rewards. It's prompting me to return to the throne room."

"Same here," Lila said.

"Same," Eldrin confirmed.

"I wonder how much we'll be getting," Lila said. "A Level 50 Vault... I still can't believe it!"

"It's hard to say," Alistair replied. "But I think it's quite possible all of us will be earning a few levels. And some of us, more than a few."

"Where's Irina?" Justin asked, glancing around.

"I think she hung back," Alistair said. "Maybe around the time you fell from the drake?"

"Maybe," Justin said. A thought occurred to him. "Do you think Valdrik can claim rewards too? He was technically part of the Vault, but he abandoned it."

"I doubt the System will reward someone who fled," Eldrin said.

"But he'll likely gain experience," Alistair added grimly. "That much is certain, even if it's not from the main objective. He was present for Blackwood's death and participated in combat. The System doesn't judge intent. Only results."

Justin pushed the thought aside. The next time they met, Valdrik might be exponentially more dangerous. "Let's get inside."

They moved through the palace corridors in silence. Servants were already at work clearing the chaos—broken furniture being carried away, blood scrubbed from marble, shattered glass swept into bins. The efficiency was remarkable, as if the palace had protocols in place.

The throne room doors stood open, guarded by four Queensguard in pristine crimson armor. They stepped aside as Justin's group approached, offering respectful nods.

Inside, the scene was one of organized chaos. Four Templars in white and gold armor moved through the space with purpose. At their center was Templar Tiffany, her hands glowing with soft golden light as she examined the ash pile that had once been Gareth Everett. Two other Paladins worked near where Wolfram Gravesong's body lay, while a fourth coordinated with palace staff and members of the Church of Light—Priests in simple white robes who were carefully documenting and removing the remains under strict supervision.

Tiffany looked up as they entered, her face a mixture of relief and exhaustion. "Alistair. Justin." She straightened, wiping ash from her gauntlets. "Thank the gods you're all right."

"Templar Tiffany," Alistair said, moving toward her. "When did you arrive?"

"Perhaps five minutes after the Lich was banished." Her expression was grim. "The moment that abomination manifested, every Paladin in Belmora felt it—a stain of Death Magic so powerful it was like a beacon. I gathered every brother and sister I could find and came as fast as possible." She gestured to the ash piles, the scorch marks, the shattered columns. "But by the time we arrived, the battle was over."

"You sensed Belshar specifically?" Justin asked.

"A Level 50 Lich Emperor, if what I'm hearing from Sir Wren is true?" Tiffany's laugh was humorless. "You could have sensed him from the other side of the city if you had the gift. The concentration of Death Magic was..." She shook her head. "I've never felt anything like it. And I've seen a thing or two. Sir Wren was catching me up on the main details while we worked."

Near the throne, Theric stood watch while Queen Eleanor sat upright, looking remarkably recovered. The Dungeon Delver caught Justin's eye and gave a subtle nod of acknowledgment.

But Elena was nowhere to be seen.

Justin's eyes swept the room again, confirming her absence. It made sense, in a way—as an Earther who'd been involved with Valdrik's conspiracy, even tangentially, she might not want to be around when Templars were collecting evidence and asking questions. Better to make herself scarce until things settled.

"We're securing the palace as we speak," Tiffany continued, gesturing to where Queensguard and Church acolytes were coordinating. "These—" she indicated the ash piles, "—will be taken to Mont Elea for analysis. High Priest Kaive will want a full report, and physical evidence will be crucial."

"Have you found anything else?" Alistair asked. "Anything beyond the mine and what's happened here?"

Tiffany's expression hardened. "Lord Blackwood's treachery, it would seem, runs deep. We're cataloging everything we can, but with Valdrik on that undead drake, it's not likely we can reach Silverton before him, even with the waygates." She glanced at the Queen, then back to Alistair, lowering her voice. "We'll speak later. About what happened here and what comes next."

"Agreed," Alistair said.

Tiffany called out instructions to the other Paladins and Church officials. "All right, that should be all for now. Let the Queen thank these heroes, and then we'll get back to work."

As they left, Justin looked around. All trace of the undead and their effects had already been cleared.

Once the doors had been closed, the Queen called out. "You can come out, Elena."

From behind the throne room, the hidden door slid open. Within moments, Elena appeared, stepping beside the Queen.

"Elena is an old friend," Queen Eleanor explained. "But her history with the Templars is... complicated, let's say."

The Queen did not offer more.

Justin approached the throne, placing his fist over his heart in what he hoped was the proper salute. Alistair did the same beside him.

"Your Majesty," Alistair began, his voice formal. "If I may—"

"You may," the Queen replied. "I want a full accounting of what happened here. I've heard a few things from Sir Wren already, but I want the rest: Lord Blackwood's betrayal, the Lich you mentioned, and Count Valdrik's involvement. Leave nothing out."

Justin and Alistair exchanged glances, then began.

Alistair took the lead, explaining how the Templar investigations had led them to Belmora. Valdrik had been their main target, but when Justin had stumbled onto the mine, that set in motion all the events that transpired today. He mentioned Justin's mission to gather intelligence while posing as nobility, which the Queen accepted with a nod.

Justin noticed Myrelle's sharp glance. He hadn't told her the truth about his fake nobility. Her expression was unreadable—hurt? Understanding? He couldn't tell. They'd need to talk about it later.

Justin added details about Lady Scarlet's true nature as a vampire, the blood crystal delivered by Lord Tennyson, the discovery of the hidden passages beneath the palace, the recruitment of Reginald the Bold, and his heroic sacrifice. He could hear his voice thicken slightly when describing the rooster knight's final moments—how he'd given everything to break Belshar's shield.

They explained practically everything they knew, aside from Justin's true origins as an Earther. Alistair even explained how Valdrik had placed the Mark of Death on Justin months ago, describing it as "incontrovertible proof" that Valdrik had used Death Magic, along with other crimes Valdrik had committed.

It felt strange to explain all of this when Gareth and Wolfram had died just steps away. It was hard for Justin to believe that both threats were eliminated. He wondered what came next for Valdrik. Did he have a backup plan? Was he going to live life on the run? There was no way of knowing.

The Queen listened in silence, her expression growing colder with each revelation. When they finished, she was quiet for a long moment.

"Lord Blackwood," she said finally, her voice like ice. "You mentioned his Blood Wizard class before, but to think it was happening right next to me... after everything... with my own nobles as accomplices." Her hands gripped the throne's armrests. "How long was I under his influence?"

"We can't be certain, Your Majesty," Alistair said carefully. "But based on the Templar investigation, we believe it may have been weeks, if not months. The blood crystals from the Crimson Mine in the Aether Hills—"

"The Crimson Mine." The Queen's voice went flat. "I'm aware of it. In my grandfather's time, it was shut down during the war with Gaerlon and Tanitz. I remember Blackwood mentioning several years ago that he was trying to get it operational, but I never dreamed it would be in this manner." She frowned. "And the Voice has informed me that this Vault became Prismatic and that a Prismatic Core has already been claimed?"

Justin cleared his throat. "That would be me, Your Majesty."

She studied him closely. "Justin Talemaker. That would explain your unique class—Living Legend, is it?"

Apparently, the Queen had the means to scry it. "Yes, Your Majesty. The legends I build grant me power tied to those specific accomplishments."

"A legend-builder," the Queen said, a faint smile flickering on her lips. "Well, if a legend isn't built from the events of today, I can't imagine what will." Her expression sobered. "So, Lord Blackwood was using Blood Magic to override my autonomy. This can only be achieved by taking control of my core, even if only nominally. I just don't know how he pulled it off, and I shudder to think of it."

"There are levels to core magic," Elena said. "From complete core and thought domination and memory erasing to subtle suggestion. And sometimes, a mix of both. My best guess is that he was influencing your core enough to make you completely at his mercy while still retaining some semblance of independence, while also erasing memories that might have been too directly incriminating on his part. If the core controller does something too against the moral framework of the victim, it can cause the whole enchantment to collapse or become prohibitively expensive. And this enchantment, indeed, would have been incredibly expensive to fuel, necessitating an entire mine. He may have needed to administer the crystal as many as two or three times a day."

"And cutting off the supply caused them to move ahead in their plans more quickly," Justin said. "Far faster than they would have liked."

"And they used Theric's core to create the blood crystals in the mine," Lila said. She looked at the Vault Delver. "How did they manage to lure you in there?"

Theric shifted his weight, his usual levity gone. "I was completely drunk, that's how. I have my room at The Royal Banner; just about everyone knows that. When I woke up, I was somewhere else entirely... I'd rather not discuss that any more than I have to. It's quite embarrassing, frankly."

"It's hard to say just how many crystals were used," Elena said. "And we know why they were using Queen Eleanor."

"We do?" Justin asked.

"To summon Belshar," Lila said.

"Yes," Elena agreed, "but more than that. A ritual to summon a being of Belshar's abilities has a lot of moving pieces. Core magic, certainly, but also magic that is difficult to learn and master, plus time to cast. The Queen's unique Monarch core was almost certainly a key condition. It seems the mechanism they used was core magic to not only create a Vault but to ascend its level to Prismatic. They probably discovered some sort of exploit within the Aether itself."

Justin frowned. Exploit? Like in a video game? He was uncomfortable with the terminology. It implied that Valdrik was right, that this reality was false, or worse, some sort of game where actions didn't matter for anyone besides the players.

"Where is Irina, anyway?" Lila asked.

"My daughter is taking care of some important business," Elena said. "But suffice it to say, even if we don't have all the details, the mining operation has been going for quite a while. They must have been using other victims to make more crystals before they got their hands on Theric. Lower-level adventurers, maybe. Or even the unclassed, since everyone has a life core gifted by the Creator. Though they would have had to go through hundreds of victims, if not thousands."

"How could this fail to go unnoticed?" Justin asked. "We're missing something crucial here."

"We saw what appeared to be homeless people in the palace tunnels," Lila said. "Perhaps they were targeting them, or perhaps refugees? People that wouldn't be looked for, as harsh as that sounds."

In the silence that followed, Justin found himself contemplating Elena and Irina, the biggest mysteries of all. Irina was Valdrik's daughter, and Elena was her mother. So Dragomir and Elena had once been an item, however brief.

"Elena," Justin began, "you seemed to imply Valdrik wanted to use the Prismatic Core for something. That he used one in the past to abduct Irina. How does that work?"

Before Elena could respond, a pulse of magic rippled through the throne room. The air itself seemed to crystallize as the Vault's magic activated.

[Vault Rewards are now available. Claim your prize, Brave Adventurers.]

Seven resplendent, platinum chests materialized in perfect synchronization, appearing before each member.

"Well," Theric said, breaking the silence, "that's certainly dramatic."

The chests opened simultaneously.

Light spilled forth—not the harsh glare of fire, but the soft, encompassing radiance of starlight. Justin's eyes adjusted as he looked down into his chest.

Inside, nestled in midnight-colored velvet, lay a cane.

It was beautiful in a way that made his Cane of the Drake look crude by comparison. The shaft was light gray, almost silver, with a subtle iridescence that shifted colors depending on the angle. The metal—if it was metal—was smooth and flawless, without seam or joint. At the top, the cane curved into an elegant hooked handle. It was crafted from pure bluish-violet material that subtly glowed without a single blemish.

But what drew Justin's eye were the inscriptions. Flowing script covered the entire length of the cane in lines so fine they seemed etched by divine hand. The language was unfamiliar, runic, and any time he tried to focus on one of the runes, it faded, making it impossible to hold the symbol in his memory.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

He reached in and lifted the cane from its velvet bed.

The moment his fingers closed around it, warmth spread through his hand—not burning, but welcoming. The cane felt alive, responding to his touch as if it had been waiting for him.

A notification appeared:

[Weapon Acquired: The Syncretic Cane]

Tier: Mythic

Description: Forged from pure Mythril during the Ethereal Era, this cane was created as a prized possession of the Elf King Elendron. Wielded against the hordes of the Harrower during the Godswar, it learned to absorb new enchantments. The runes inscribed upon its surface shift and change, defying mortal comprehension.

Enchantments:

+12 Charisma, +12 Power

Syncretic Canecraft: This cane can take on the primary enchantments of most canes you have previously cored. This enchantment is then scaled to Mythic power. Only one enchantment can be active at a time. Cooldown between switches: One minute.

Elemental Synchrony: This cane automatically matches the element of its master.

Arcane Blade: When willed by its owner, a blade of pure Mythril extends from the cane's hook, cutting through all but Ascendant-tier armor.

Mythic Light: Create magical light in a 100-foot sphere, revealing all and leaving no shadow for you and all party members. This light cannot be seen by enemies.

"Mylanta," he whispered.

[Would you like to bind the Syncretic Cane to your core?]

Justin nodded, and the cane glowed slightly green in response, feeling even more solid and heavy, yet strangely light.

He immediately tested it out, focusing on two of his previous canes.

[Available Cored Weapons: The Cane of Valoria, The Cane of the Drake, Jester's Roulette.]

[Note: Jester's Roulette is incompatible with the Syncretic Cane.]

[Available Enchantments:]

Gentleman's Rebuff (Mythic): Defend the first attack of combat. This rebuff inflicts Stun, and if resisted, Slow. If an ability was used as part of the attack, the enemy is locked out from using it for the rest of combat. Cooldown: The first attack of each combat phase.

Drake's Breath (Mythic): Deal heavy ice elemental damage in a cone. If the attack is successful, there's a 100% chance for it to chain into weaker versions of Drake's Breath that strike all enemies in range. From there, there is a 50% chance it chains again, the percentage chance dividing by half for each chain. Cooldown: 5 minutes.

Both of these enchantments were huge upgrades over the originals. Gentleman's Rebuff would not only stun enemies now, but it would also disable abilities. If perfectly timed, Justin could lock high-level enemies out of their most brutal attacks and, at a minimum, Slow them.

The upgraded Drake's Breath was just a flat-out upgrade, and it would be perfect for dealing with large groups of mobs. The more densely packed they were, the more effective Drake's Breath would be.

[Which enchantment would you like to bind?]

Justin willed it to take on Gentleman's Rebuff.

[Gentleman's Rebuff (Mythic) is active!]

Justin shook his head in disbelief. This was the cane to end all canes. All he needed was to find more; even a weak cane's enchantment would be scaled up to Mythic.

Even more, it automatically matched his element. He still had Terridan's Resolve active, his Earth Affinity. That explained why the cane currently glowed with a slightly greenish tint, why it felt suddenly heavy and more solid.

This meant if he were fighting enemies of a different element, he could switch his Affinity, and the cane would mirror him, allowing him to deal extra damage.

"Amazing," Justin said.

Around him, his companions shared similar reactions, but from what Justin could tell, he was the only one who got a Mythic-tier weapon, perhaps influenced by his two Prismatic Cores and, to a lesser extent, his Essence of the Hoard cologne.

Lila held up a sleek gauntlet that extended from her wrist to just below her elbow. Crafted from a platinum-silver metal, it featured dozens of small vials arranged in a honeycomb pattern. Each vial glowed with different colored liquids—crimson, emerald, sapphire, and gold.

"It's called the Songbrewer's Arsenal," Lila said, her voice filled with awe. She flexed her hand, and the gauntlet responded with soft clicking mechanisms. "I can load potions into it and fire them at range. Healing potions become projectiles for allies, while damage potions become weapons." She grinned fiercely. "It also automatically refills empty vials."

"Game changer for sure," Justin breathed.

Eldrin had received a longsword that absorbed light rather than reflecting it. The blade was black as midnight, with silver edges that gleamed like starlight.

"The Poisonfall Blade," he announced. "It deals additional Poison damage based on any two poisons in my inventory. And it does it without wasting the poison." He swung it experimentally, the blade whistling through the air with perfect balance.

Alistair's new war hammer dwarfed his previous weapon. The massive head was inscribed with phoenix feathers that glowed with a soft golden radiance. "The Phoenix's Judgment," he said reverently. "All attacks deal Life damage. Once per day, I can invoke Holy Light, a Life Magic spell that damages all enemies in a wide area." He hefted it, and despite its size, it seemed weightless in his grip.

Theric's new sword was a masterwork of platinum and gold, its blade shimmering with an opalescent sheen. "The Delver's Edge," he said with satisfaction. "It deals bonus damage based on the level of the Vault I'm in and has a built-in detection enchantment that reveals hidden passages, traps, and treasures."

Elena's staff was a natural beauty—living wood wrapped in platinum vines, topped with a jewel that pulsed with golden light. She didn't share details, though.

Myrelle's weapon seemed quite different: a platinum and pink-colored umbrella that, when opened, was as thin as gossamer. She gave an experimental jump and floated down slowly.

"The Parasol of Precision," she said. "It increases my combat speed while using one of my skills, allowing me to more easily land hits. More than that, while in the air, it imbues me with Featherweight, allowing me to easily maneuver and escape a bad situation. So I'm always precisely where I need to be."

Strangely, with Irina absent, there was no other chest. Justin wondered if she had missed out, along with Valdrik.

As Justin admired his new cane, the platinum chest before him dissolved into motes of light—and was immediately replaced by another. This one was even more ornate, with golden filigree woven through the platinum in intricate patterns.

Around the room, identical chests appeared before each party member.

"The armor sets," Eldrin said, his voice hushed with anticipation.

Justin willed his chest open. Inside lay a complete outfit that made his Shadowhunter's Regalia look pedestrian by comparison.

[Mythic-Tier Armor Set Acquired: The Legend's Raiment!]

The ensemble included several striking pieces: a long coat of deep midnight blue, lined with silver thread that appeared to be woven from captured starlight. The fabric was unlike anything Justin had ever seen—supple like silk yet sturdy; he knew that despite its softness, it would stop a blade more effectively than steel. Silver buttons adorned the front.

Accompanying the coat was a vest made of platinum-threaded cloth and a high-collared shirt of pristine white. The trousers matched the coat's midnight blue, reinforced at stress points with platinum threading.

He also noted leather boots with platinum buckles and soft gray leather gloves that featured platinum reinforcement across the knuckles and fingers.

Completing the ensemble was a top hat of the deepest black, adorned with an indigo blue band around the crown, inscribed with the same runes as his new cane—runes that seemed to meld into the fabric at a glance.

As soon as Justin touched the outfit, a surge of information flooded his awareness:

[The Hero's Raiment - Complete Set]

Armor Type: Light Armor Tier: Mythic

Set Bonuses (When wearing the complete set):

+12 to Endurance, +12 to Charisma, +6 to Coordination, +6 to Spirit

Legendary Presence: 10% of your Charisma attribute is shared among all party members, bolstering morale, inspiring them to fight harder, and increasing resistance to harmful status effects.

Legendary Vitality: Permanent Lesser Regeneration activates whenever you are injured, accelerating natural healing.

Untouchable Hero: Gain immunity to Stun, Fear, Paralysis, Stonetouch, Deathtouch, and Charm effects. When affected by a status effect, gain +20 to Endurance.

Utility Enchantments: Dust Repel, Mend-Weave, Heat/Cold Resistance, Water Repel, Water Breathing

Justin stared at the bonuses in disbelief. This wasn't just armor—it was a complete transformation of his capabilities. The immunity to status effects alone was worth its weight, but those attribute bonuses and aura effects that would boost the Charisma of his own allies just meant they would gel far better as a unit than before.

[Would you like to bind The Hero's Raiment to your core?]

Once Justin affirmed, he activated his Ring of Hygiene's instant-change property.

His current outfit vanished. In its place, The Hero's Raiment materialized. The coat settled onto his shoulders with a reassuring weight, protective without being restrictive. The fabric breathed against his skin, neither too warm nor too cold, adjusting to perfect comfort. The vest hugged his torso, the boots felt like walking on clouds, and the gloves fit like a second skin.

The only disadvantage, if there was any, was that the Shadowhunter's Regalia might be needed in situations where hunting undead was important. Otherwise, this was his new default.

"Damn," Lila said, looking him up and down. "Looks awesome. Wish I had that instant change enchantment you do."

Around the room, his companions examined their armor sets with similar awe.

Lila had received a set of enchanted leather armor in deep crimson and black, fitted with numerous pouches and sheaths for her knives. The armor shimmered and shifted, making it difficult to pinpoint her exact position—clearly designed for a mobile knife thrower that relied on stealth and unexpected strikes.

Eldrin's new armor resembled woodsman's gear elevated to artwork—forest green and brown, reinforced with platinum threading.

Alistair's armor was full plate that gleamed like captured sunlight—white and gold, the armor of a champion of Arion.

Theric's armor was adventurer's gear taken to its extreme—leather and plate blended perfectly, covered in pockets and attachment points for equipment, designed for dungeon delving.

Elena received enchanted robes instead of armor, in spring green and gold, while Myrelle received a resplendent dress studded with pink sapphires that matched perfectly with her new parasol.

As the last of them finished examining their new equipment, the armor chests dissolved just as the weapon chests had.

This time, only a single chest appeared in the center of the throne room, pulsing with power.

It opened on its own.

Inside, hovering above a velvet cushion, floated a crystal the size of Justin's fist. It was perfectly clear, but within its depths swirled colors beyond naming—prismatic light that shifted and changed with every heartbeat.

[Platinum Ascension Crystal]

[This crystal can upgrade any piece of gear of gold quality or lower by one tier.]

Before anyone could move, a notification appeared:

[The Vault offers this prize to the most fortunate among you. Roll to claim the crystal. Highest roll wins.]

Justin felt the prompt in his mind—a simple mental command to roll a hundred-sided die. He willed it, sensing fate's hand at work.

[Justin rolls: 84]

Around the room, others made their rolls:

[Alistair rolls: 43]

[Eldrin rolls: 52]

[Lila rolls: 4]

[Theric rolls: 38]

[Elena rolls: 61]

Lila blew a raspberry. "Justin, you have all the luck."

"Heh. That's why they call me Golden Boy."

Justin approached the chest but was interrupted by another notification.

[Irina rolls: 97]

Justin turned to see Irina enter the throne room, her silvery eyes strangely amused.

"Fate, it would seem, has different plans."

She strode toward the Ascension Crystal, instantly absorbing it. Her staff shimmered as it accepted the power-up.

Not only that, two chests materialized before her, and she cracked open both. Somehow, both Irina's new weapon and armor set instantly disappeared into what must have been a spatial storage device—a ring like his or perhaps a different enchantment entirely.

"Shucks," Justin said.

The chest dissolved, taking the last of the Vault's physical form with it.

Queen Eleanor rose from her throne, and the room fell silent.

"I never dreamed," she said, her voice echoing through the throne room, "that my own throne room would become a Vault. That I would witness such magic and bravery in the heart of my palace." Her gaze swept across the assembled heroes. "But here we are."

She descended the dais steps, with Elena and Theric, and now Irina flanking her.

"It falls to me, as Queen of Aranthia, to be the voice of benediction for those who have saved not only my life but my queendom." She gestured to Irina, Theric, and Elena. "Some of you already hold titles within the Aranthian Court. Your service today only adds to the honors you've earned."

Her eyes shifted to Alistair. "And you, Sir Alistair of Drakendale, are already a Knight in the Order of the Templars—a rank I cannot improve upon, though I can offer you my personal gratitude and friendship."

Alistair bowed deeply. "Your Majesty's recognition is honor enough."

"Which leaves three." The Queen's gaze settled on Justin, Lila, and Eldrin. "Three who entered my palace as heroes and emerged as saviors of the Crown. Three who have no noble rank to their names but whose deeds speak louder than any title I could grant."

"In actuality, my Queen," Eldrin said, stepping forward, "I hold titles to the County of Thornwood. A poor county, hardly worthy of the title it's held for centuries, but the papers to transfer my titles to my younger brother are in the process of completion."

Justin blinked in surprise. "Eldrin, you're a count?"

The Field Synthesist winked. "I have been for almost fifteen years now. In name, at least. It's a long story, but I set things to rights, as best I could. That was the business I was taking care of."

"A surprise, to be sure. I knew there was a Count Eldrin of Thornwood, or at least, there had been. The county has been under the care of Lord Allanis of Silverlake since the disappearance of the old count." Queen Eleanor's eyes found Eldrin's. "To think the true count would be standing before me is something I could have scarcely predicted."

"I am not proud of my role in this," Eldrin said. "I was a young man, foolhardy. And grief was no excuse for my responsibilities to my people. But my brother, Edgar, is now of age, and with your blessing, my Queen, and by my wishes, it is my hope he can take on the role that he is, quite frankly, far more suited to than I."

"We can discuss this later, Count Thornwood," she said, her tone noticeably cooler than moments before. Her manner wasn't exactly hostile, but Justin could read the disapproval clearly. Abandoning your county for fifteen years, regardless of grief, wasn't something a monarch forgave easily—even if you'd saved her life today.

Justin was still reeling from the revelation as Queen Eleanor retrieved a sword seemingly from nowhere. Like Irina and Elena, she appeared to have access to a spatial inventory as well.

"Kneel," the Queen commanded.

Justin exchanged glances with Lila and Eldrin. Together, they dropped to one knee before their Queen and, at her request, gave her their full names so the ceremony could be completed.

"I'm from Daeloria," Lila whispered. "A foreigner."

"Then you are a citizen of Aranthia today," the Queen said.

When Justin watched the blade, with the likeness of a rooster etched into the metal, he realized it was clearly ceremonial rather than functional.

She touched the blade to Justin's right shoulder. "Justin Talemaker, for your service to the Crown, your bravery in the face of impossible odds, for saving not only your Queen but your kingdom..." The blade moved to his left shoulder. "I name you Knight of the Realm, with all rights and privileges that title entails."

Justin rose, his heart pounding. He was a knight. Actually, officially, a knight. Sir Justin Talemaker, Knight of Aranthia. Not Justin from Enid, Oklahoma, pretending to be someone important. Not an impostor at a masquerade ball. A real, honest-to-gods knight with lands and title.

From NEET to knight in just a few months. He wondered what his mom would think of that.

She went through the same motions with Lila as well, despite her protestations that she was a foreigner. Apparently, she was not only a citizen of Aranthia but a Knight and Lady herself. She skipped over Eldrin; even if his titles had passed on to another, presumably he would still be considered nobility, perhaps a knight like them. As for Alistair and Myrelle, both were already nobility.

The Queen met Justin's eyes, and something knowing flickered in her gaze. "I confess, Sir Justin, I had my suspicions about your nobility even before today. At the dance—one of the last clear memories I have before Blackwood's corruption deepened—certain irregularities suggested you might be playing a role rather than living it."

Justin's stomach dropped. "Your Majesty, I can explain—"

She raised a hand. "The deception is forgiven. You were operating under the Templars' direction, gathering intelligence on a conspiracy against the Crown. For that mission, a false identity was necessary." Her expression softened slightly. "And given that you risked your life to save mine, I can overlook any social faux pas."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Justin said.

"Now then." The Queen's voice took on a more formal tone. "Beyond the titles, I offer each of you a stipend of one platinum shard as the Crown's thanks. Additionally, you will each receive lands to hold—parceled from Lord Blackwood's former estate in the Northern Forest. His holdings were vast, and now they will be put to better use."

"Your Majesty!" Lila said. "We cannot accept such generosity."

"On the contrary, Miss Fairwind, it is too little for the service you have rendered. The Northern Forest is rich in timber and game, with fertile valleys and established villages. Of course, if you do not wish to have the full responsibility of your titles, you are welcome to simply build a home there or hire a steward."

Justin nodded his thanks. A parcel of land in the Northern Forest—timber, game, villages, maybe even vassals, though as far as he understood it, knight was pretty low on the totem pole. Would that mean he'd have a lord to pay tribute to? He wasn't sure he much liked that idea, if true. He had no idea how to manage an estate, but he supposed that's what stewards were for.

"Your Majesty is too generous," Alistair said. He faced Justin, Lila, and Eldrin. "Congratulations."

The Queen regarded them. "Blackwood's treachery ran deep, and most of his co-conspirators remain at large. The Templars will be busy here for quite a while, I imagine. The Cult of Morvath, Count Valdrik, and anyone else involved in this plot must be rooted out. I intend to launch a full investigation into the Crimson Mine and everyone who profited from its operation." Her gaze swept the room. "Consider these rewards the beginning of our partnership, not the end."

Before anyone could respond, the air shimmered.

The System's presence filled the throne room once more.

[The Prismatic Vault honors your triumph. Now go forth, Brave Adventurers, with courage in your hearts, strength in your limbs, and wisdom in your minds. May your legends grow eternal.]

[The Trial of the Vault of the Throne of Shadows is complete!]

There was a long pause, almost as if the world itself were holding its breath, processing what was about to come.

Then, Justin's vision exploded with notifications:

[Experience gained for banishing Belshar the Nightbringer: 150,000]

[Experience gained for completing a Prismatic Vault 29 levels above your own: 45,000]

[Experience gained for defeating Severian Blackwood: 30,000]

[Experience gained for defeating Gareth Everett: 6,000]

[Experience gained for defeating Wolfram Gravesong: 4,000]

[Experience gained for claiming a Prismatic Core: 25,000]

[Thanks to your second Prismatic Core, you gain the following benefits:]

[Increased likelihood of finding Vaults.]

[Increased rarity of items found within Vaults.]

[Level cap raised to: 60]

[Total Experience Gained: 260,000]

[Current Experience: 275,110/37,000]

[LEVEL UP AVAILABLE!]

Justin gasped. That amount of experience would shoot him to at least Level 25, if not higher.

Around him, his companions were reacting similarly. Lila's eyes had gone unfocused, clearly processing her notifications. Eldrin had placed a hand on his chest. Even Alistair looked stunned, his usual stoic composure cracking.

"90,000 experience," Lila breathed. "That's insane. I've never seen numbers like this."

"Same here," Eldrin said. "It would take most people years to earn that much. If they ever do."

Justin kept his notifications to himself for now. The others had gained massive experience—enough for at least two or three levels each. He'd gained nearly three times that, likely because the System credited him specifically for banishing Belshar and claiming the Prismatic Core.

Explaining the disparity seemed... complicated. Better to level up privately and avoid questions about why the System had singled him out. Besides, with Valdrik at large and hunting him specifically, the less information floating around about his exact capabilities, the better.

He looked up at the Queen, at his companions, and at the throne room that had nearly become a tomb.

"Your Majesty," he said, his voice unsteady. "I think we all need a moment to process what just happened."

"Take all the time you need, Sir Justin. You've more than earned it."

Justin bowed, the motion feeling more natural than it had at the masquerade. Maybe because this time, it was real.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

As he straightened, he noticed Myrelle watching him with an unreadable expression. They definitely needed to discuss the whole "fake nobility" issue.

But that could wait. Right now, he had 260,000 experience points in the bank.

He had a feeling there were a few more items to address before he even had the chance to rest.

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