Arc 6: Curse of the Royal Tribulation

A short while later, Thales led Mallos and a lively bunch, hot on their heels, strutting over the carpets of the Renaissance Palace.

Wya’s efforts to tell D.D. that T am responsible for the Prince’s personal affairs” were met with Doyle’s good-natured gags of “What’s the difference between you and me when we’re brothers in arms?” Kohen, keen on getting Glover to talk, found him always on the move around the group, making sure he and Kohen were always on either side of Ralf. To reach him, the police officer had to weave through the Phantom Wind Follower.

Alter weathering a shared ordeal, the two groups—former members of Dragon Clouds City’s entourage and the Star Lake Guards, who had never crossed paths and teamed up temporarily—no longer kept such distinct boundaries. The looming Renaissance Palace forced them to cluster around the Prince, easing tension and caution as they sought safety and belonging.

‘Thank you, Tonnond,” Thales suddenly expressed, ignoring Wya’s struggles behind, attempting hard to catch up with the Prince, but being held back by D.D.’s weighty enthusiasm.

Mallos, closest to the teenager, frowned and asked, “For what?”

“Your thorough preparation left me with enough manpower,” Thales said lightly.

‘That was just a contingency insurance,” Mallos said, shaking his head. “Didn’t expect you not only to use it but also to…”

Being the best-dressed, healthiest, and neatest one among them, Mallos looked at the unfamiliar faces in the group, furrowing his brow.

‘And that’s… quite something.’

In the midst of the hustle and bustle, Thales was not exactly in high spirits, and Mallos seemed burdened with thoughts. Between them, an unspoken understanding left considerable gaps in their questions and answers.

“Who’s that?” Watching the two figures ahead—one tall, one small, yet perfectly coordinated—Wya could not resist quietly asking Doyle.

“Oh, him,” DD.’s eyes lit up, taking on the aits of someone in the know, with a wide grin stating.

“None other than our much-loved Captain of the Prince’s personal guards, Tonnond Mallos.”

“Oh.” Wya caught on, “the one His Highness said was to be sent to the Prison of Bones?”

Doyle’s face paled, and he pressed a finger to his lips, Shh—”

He discreetly glanced at the captain’s back,

“He’s… very petty.”

Descending a flight of stairs, the black mare, Jennie, expressed its displeasure with the terrain, throwing a tantrum once again. Genard and Willow were in a flurry, trying to control it, causing a stir in the group. In the end, it was Glover who took hold of its reins, coaxing compliance with his distinctive death stare and his waist-mounted longsword.

Thales sighed and said to his personal guard captain, “Thank you. You could not even protect yourself, but you still asked Captain Adrian to help me.” “What?” Mallos creased his brow.

“He came in to buy me some time—’since ancient times, swords cannot escape the Sheath.’ Wasn’t that the code you entrusted to him?”

“No,” Mallos firmly denied, “that phrase was taught to me by the Captain himself.” “What?” The Prince was astonished, “So, you didn’t ask him to come?” Mallos shook his head, his expression unchanged,

“Of course not. Vogel alone is troublesome enough. 1 cannot handle you on top of that.”

Thales took a moment.

“1 had a feeling.”

The Prince let out a frustrated sigh, miming his hand across his forehead.

“It’s alright, alright. At the end of the day, it’s all on you, just you.”

Mallos’s attention shifted to Thales’s hand.

“What’s that?”

Thales hesitated, lowering his right hand to examine the ornament on his index finger— a greyish-white bone ring with distinct front and back sections, each engraved with a peculiar and somewhat fierce beast’s head covering almost half of the knuckle. Simple yet weighty.

Add two more, and they could even serve as knuckle dusters.

“A gift symbolising a witnessed reconciliation,” Thales paused for a moment, then gently placed his right hand down, speaking softly, “from father.”

Mallos pondered.

A group of servants and guards approached from afar. As they recognised Prince Thales, their expressions changed dramatically. Swiftly, they retreated, dispersing well before entering the range for salutes.

“Well, if isn’t this a new experience?”

Mallos looked at the empty palace courtyard with complicated emotions.

“What did you do?” ‘What did 1 do?’ Thales’ mood darkened, mind far away.

Doyle animatedly shared various ghost stories from the Renaissance Palace, leaving Kohen and Willow wide-eyed;

Genard watched the well-behaved Jennie with relief, thinking about how now that the Prince’s horse handler had a competent successor, though Glover’s impatience only grew;

While the situation escalated, Wya, with hand signs, tried to say something to Ralf and foster mutual understanding, but each time the latter responded with an indifferent expression, showing little interest in Wya’s attempts.

“I sold myself,” Thales muttered, gloomy, amidst the lively and noisy crowd.

Mallos turned to look at him.

“Do not worry; I secured a good deal.”

The Watchman narrowed his eyes.

“Such as?”

Thales glanced over his shoulder,

“Such as you and everyone in Mindis Hall, safe and sound. We dodged a major disaster, didn’t we?”

“Sure,” Mallos said, his expression unchanged, “isn’t it the disaster you have so graciously bestowed upon us?”

Thales brushed off his sarcasm, “For his offences at the banquet—holding a nobleman hostage and affronting the royal family—Anker Byrael is sot for lifelong imprisonment in the Prison of Bones.”

Mallos raised an eyebrow, “Lifelong imprisonment? Hmm, he sure is going to be thrilled.”

Thales shook his head, “Sparing him from death is my father’s biggest concession. As for the debts and political disputes between the two families, the Nobility Affairs Centre, along with the Finances and Department of Moral Standards, will handle negotiations for a resolution.”

“Does not sound like much,” the Watchman said, shaking his head.

“What exactly have you sold and got in return, again?”

Thales hesitated, “You see, today’s meeting was initially meant to hold the Western Desert vassals accountable for the internal strife in the Blade Fangs Camp and the case of the Byrael family.”

Mallos’ expression changed slightly.

Thales chuckled.

“Until I took Fakenhaz’s family sword, broke into the palace against the ban, and painstakingly put the cons and pros on the table, to dissuade His Majesty.”

Mallos’ expression flickered, and he glanced at the police officer narrating ‘Dragon Clouds City’s War Chronicle, Kohen the Brave against the Fire Knights’ in the background.

“But the sword you were holding was clearly the Karabeyan family’s”

“Yes,” Thales responded with a low tone,

“But people do not know that”

The Watchman paused, then nodded, “People do not know.” Thales nodded back,

“And 1 will write a letter, sending it straight to Fakenhaz, the Duke of the Western Desert.”

Mallos’ eyes twitched.

Thales sighed. His tone carried a wealth of emotions.

“With that done, we pretty much have free rein in the capital and even throughout the entire Kingdom.”

Mallos pondered, and for once, his silence lingered.

Thales scoffed lightly.

“Also, please let Logistics Officer Stone know, starting tomorrow, Mindis Hall will be accountable for its own profits and losses.”

Mallos grimaced.

‘Fuck.’

“Did the possibility of failure ever cross your mind?”

“It did.”

Thales sighed, adding, “That’s why I sent Kommodore.” “Kommodore?”

Thales nodded.

“He was a bit scared about causing trouble by barging into the palace—reluctant, you could say. That’s why I sent him to look for Lady Jines.”

“Given the time, it should be just about right.”

Suddenly, a breeze swept through, and the lights in the palace corridor flickered!

Mallos furrowed his brow, “Enemy attack!”

The faces of everyone present changed.

In the following moment, a brisk wind came, and a figure dashed out at the end of the corridor, heading straight for Thales!

Glover and Kohen moved forward together, drawing their swords.

Yet, the shadow defied expectations. Stepping on Glover’s sword and then on Kohen’s shoulder, in a flash, the figure instantly broke through the two of them.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the figure effortlessly manoeuvred past Wya and Ralf, unhindered, reaching Thales and Mallos!

“Wahhhhhh! Hah!”

A crisp and piercing voice echoed,

“I bought this path; I am the one who forged it!”

Thales’ vision blurred. He saw the shadow draw a weapon, the blade flashing. It forced Wya and Ralf back while making the Everlasting Lamp in the corridor tremble as if in distress.

“If you want to harm the Prince, step-over-me!”

The figure halted, revealing a short and small silhouette tightly wrapped in a cloak.

She took a swing at a scimitar, babbling and showcasing her skills to the dazed people around her,

“Do you hear me? Do you hear me? Do you hear me?”

Everyone, including Thales, stood frozen, gazing in bewilderment at the unexpected performance.

Seeing no one challenging her authority, the newcomer put away the scimitar, nodding in satisfaction.

“Hmm, that’s right!”

In the next moment, Thales could not help but wince.

“A-aida?”

The small figure nodded, twirling her cloak and hands on her hips, striking a confident pose, and snapping her fingers. ‘You got it!

“Kid, as soon as I heard that you were in danger, I immediately rushed over! But since I am here now, you are safe; you are welcome!”

Under everyone’s bewildered gazes, the elf protector gleefully reached out her hand, awkwardly patting Thales on the shoulder.

“How’s that? I showed up just in time and pulled you right from the jaws of danger. Pretty touching, huh?”

Thales’ face darkened, and he dryly expressed his gratitude,

“Ah, yes, very touching. Thanks to you. If you were a bit later…” ‘… wouldn’t have made much difference.’

Aida nodded contentedly, wiping a smudge from the comer of her mouth.

Having grown accustomed to this scene, Wya and Ralf sighed and went their separate ways, leaving only the black horse, Jennie, excitedly snorting.

“Instructor Aida,”

Mallos’ expression tensed,

“Royal Guard, welcome home.”

Hearing these words, Aida visibly shivered and turned around, her voice shrinking, “Oh, you are that, uh, that…”

“Instructor, ma’am!” A shrill cry rang out.

As Doyle elbowed his way through the crowd and came forward, his eyes welled with tears, and his voice took on a different tone.

“Y-you were gone for six years—six years, and finally, finally, you are back! Sniff, sniff, you told me back then that it would only be a few weeks…”

Others looked at him with furrowed brows.

Aida blinked, sheepishly scratching her head, and said, “Ah, yeah, s-sony…”

“1 did not expect it to take so long; I’ve made you worry…”

“No, now that you are back, it’s a relief,” D.D. wiped away teats and mucus with theatrical flair,

“1 can serve by your side again, ma’am, just like before!”2

“T-thank you,” Aida chuckled apologetically.

“Oh, by the way, you…” She, as if something suddenly came to her mind, kindly looked at the devoted D.D. and asked, “Who are you?”

On rhe other side, Mallos observed the chaotic scene, exhaling a long breath.3 “You know. Your Highness, the actual price does not matter all that much.” He turned his attention to the downcast Thales.

‘The most important thing is, when you are negotiating the prices, is the scale you are using…”

Mallos said in a hushed tone,

“…your own?”

Hearing this, Thales lifted his head, clenching his right hand.

“Really, ‘words alone’?”4

Within the chamber’s walls, Thales chuckled at the King.

“So, what? Do I now need to ink a labour contract to sell myself to you? ‘If I do not do as you say, do not go undercover in rival companies, or steal trade secrets, you will cut my year-end performance bonus’?”

The Prince shot a pointed look at King Kessel.

“Boss?”

Thales sneered.

“Or maybe you would prefer a confidential statement? So, when the inevitable betrayal happens, you can pull it out and broadcast to the world, ‘Watch out; the Prince is a wolf; do not trust him.'”

The Iron Hand King chose silence over dignifying the nonsense with a response.

He simply raised his head, pensively taking in the unchanged setting of the Ballard Room after many years, silent for a while.

Finally, just as Thales was about to stifle a yawn, the King spoke softly.

‘Take an oath.”

Thales was caught off guard.

King Kessel’s eyes gleamed.

“We shall forge an alliance and solemnly vow to bear witness to this moment.” ‘Take an oath?’

Thales blinked, somewhat surprised.

“Wow.”

“I honestly didn’t see that one coming—an oath.”

The Prince mulled over the word.

“So old-fashioned?”

King Kessel stayed silent, his gaze coldly fixed on Thales.

Thales sighed.

“As you wish, Your Majesty.”

In the next moment, Thales pressed his right hand and smoothly flipped onto the council table.

The King frowned.

Thales sat with crossed legs, casually opening the wine flask for a sip, only to grimace as it went down the wrong way.

‘Then, if youagree, ifyou accept, if you areready toacknowledge ouragreement

today, if youare readyto stand shoulder to shoulder withme,marching forwarduntil

the Kingdom’s path is in the clear and Constellation is back on the rise, Sire Kessel…” Thales bit out the words, disdainfully setting down the flask,

“Let’s share adrink andaffirm our alliance withan oath.”

He tapped theflask andslid it towards the King.

“For the Kingdom of Constellation.”

King Kessel furrowed his brow, glancing at the flask, then at Thales, dishevelled yet atrogantly composed. He coldly snorted in dissatisfaction.

“What?”

Thales laughed and gave the table beneath him a pat.

“Hey, do not go telling me this table has some ancient history, and for daring to hop on it, are you going to give me an earful?”

King Kessel shook his head, his expression unchanged, as he gently pushed the flask away.

Thales furrowed his brow.

“You…”

‘That’s how those barbarians up in the North do it—savage and outdated.”

The King spoke slowly.

“We have a more refined way.”

Under Thales’ puzzled gaze, King Kessel extended his palm, grasping the Constellation Staff by the chair’s side.

In that instant, without warning, the gem atop the staff glowed a dazzling blue light, bathing the entire Ballard Room in daylight. Thales closed his eyes, turning his head.

“Holy shit!”

Fortunately, the blue light was a brief flash.

King Kessel carefully set the staff down and extended his left hand.

Thales, wincing slowly opened his eyes, regaining his sight

Before him. a sizable ring lay quietly on the King’s left hand.

Its colour was a muted grey.

Its appearance, somewhat fierce.

‘This is the coronation heirloom passed down through the Jadestar Royal lineage,” King Kessel rotated the peculiar ring on his hand, his eyes reflecting an unusual gleam.

“For seven hundred years, it has been hidden within the Staff of Constellation, revealing itself for only a short period of time whenever the throne changes hands.”

“A coronation heirloom?” Thales squinted at it.

‘This ring, this design, does not quite match…”

“An orc-style bone ring,” the Iron Hand King addressed his doubts directly.

“Forged from the rare and sturdy bones of the ancient fearsome beasts, melted into the toughest segment, and meticulously crafted.”

Thales was genuinely surprised this time.

“Orcs?”

The King did not reply, his gaze fixed on the bone ring.

Thales scrutinised this peculiar ring—engraved on its surface to the circumference were numerous beast heads, all in a roaring posture.

Comparing it to what he had seen in the desert, though the bone ring was already sizable, it seemed rather dwarfish when measured against orc standards.

‘Too small,” Thales remarked.

‘That’s because it was not crafted for orcs, but for humans,” the King stated softly.

“Its name: ‘Gur’tak’sa'”

Gur’tak’sa

Thales thought back to his Orcish language lessons and hazarded an educated guess,

T cannot say for sure if your pronunciation is correct, but in Orcish, this syllable and structure usually point to a noun or pronoun. Also, with these two affixes, it suggests something positive and honourable—an abstract concept. The actual meaning would depend on pronunciation, writing, as well as the different linguistic habits of the three main Orcish branches…”

“Oath of Alliance—’Covenant’,” King Kessel replied to him bluntly, without giving him a chance to showcase his linguistic prowess, “That’s what it means.”

Covenant

“Gur—taak—sa,” Thales’ eyes were drawn to the bone ring as he whispered its name, “Covenant?”

The King nodded.

“Seven hundred years ago, the alliance between mountain elves and northern humans suffered a devastating defeat, wiped out overnight, marking the bleak end of the Battle of Eradication.”

Battle of Eradication

Thales’s mood sank.

“In the nick of time, a mortal ventured north alone, embarking on a dangerous journey. He traversed the ancient ‘Mankind’s Final Defensive Line’, delving deep into the Glacier Quiquer.”

Glacier Quiquer

The King’s voice was measured and profound,

“He aimed to break humanity’s age-old taboos, to seek help from the ancient enemy, to form an alliance, and to tackle the calamity together.”

ancient enemy

tackle the calamity together

Thales found himself puzzled.

“A… mortal?”

The King nodded slowly, his words laden with the weight of history, “When he returned from the Glacier, eight war flags unfurled behind him. “In the Orcish Kingdom beyond the Glacier, eight tribes were willing to forsake ancestral blood oaths and put aside deep-seated enmities.”5

‘They came in great numbers, migrating southward as entire clans.”

Thales listened with rapt attention, his breath held.

“So, since the Uncivilized Era, the orcs, for the first time without spilling blood, crossed the natural stronghold of Quiquer, passed the ruins of the ‘Mankind’s Final Defensive Line’, went beyond the Thirty-Eighth Sentry Grounds later built, entered the Northland

Province, stepped onto the territory of the former human empire, covered a thousand miles, and ultimately joined the Battle of Eradication.”

In the next moment, King Kessel’s gaze became sharp.

“Just like that, Raikaru Eckstedt, with tremendous courage and determination, overcame unprecedented obstacles, bringing an unexpectedly powerful but socially unwelcome reinforcement.”

“And in doing so, he stabilised the conflict in Northland.”

“Assisting him finally into—the Reversal Gust Battle.”

Raikaru Eckstedt

At the mention of this name, Thales could not help but recall the silver light amidst the vast darkness between the mountains under Dragon Clouds City.

‘This is… the first time I have heard of it.”

The Iron Hand King nodded.

“Going against the norm and associating with grotesque foreign species, the Northlanders in later generations naturally do not see this as an honourable act,” King Kessel remarked lightly.6

“Especially after the Battle of Eradication, the relationship between humans and orcs deteriorated once again, turning them into enemies.”

Setting down the bone ring in his hand, the Iron Hand King pushed it towards Thales. “And this is the token of the covenant forged between Raikaru and the orcs.” “Gur’tak’sa—’Covenant.'”

There was a brief pause in the King’s narrative.

Thales took the bone ring grappling with his inner doubts and awe, slowly digesting this intriguing piece of history.

‘The eight beast heads engraved on it symbolise the consensus of the eight orc tribes’ Holy Chiefs,” the King explained slowly.

“It’s said that Raikaru followed orc customs, triumphing over all opponents singlehandedly, earning him the respect and trust of the orcs in return for understanding and commitment.

“Single-handedly…” Thales turned the bone ring studying the cryptic inscriptions around it. Memories of the ‘orc duel’ in the desert crossed his mind, prompting a sigh.

“Well, legends and all that. But why is it here? On… the Staff of the King of Constellation?”

King Kessel raised his gaze.

“After the Battle of Eradication, tensions flared between the new Northland nobles and the remnants of the Empire. Raikaru and Tormond the First met in combat.”

“But the two kings, guided by foresight and wisdom, eventually brokered a ceasefire treaty, putting the past behind them.”2

Thales recalled the library in Dragon Clouds City, a realisation dawning upon him.

“This ring bears witness to the treaty formed by the two nations and the oath taken by Raikaru and Tormond,” the King conveyed in a solemn tone.

“hi the end, Eckstedt’s founding King presented it to the King of the Renaissance as a symbol of reconciliation and trust.”

“So, Raikaru used this item to secure Tormond’s ‘Triumph’?”8

“Oh,” Thales said, his expression unchanged, “So that’s the story.

“Then why did you bring it out?”

King Kessel observed him silently, offering no response.

Thales caught on and could not help but chuckle.9

‘This? Isn’t it still how those barbarians up in the North make vows?”

He tossed the bone ring into the air, his tone a blend of amusement and genuine puzzlement.

“Savage and outdated, wouldn’t you say?”

All in a blink of an eye, Gur’tak’sa soared through the air as Thales tossed it, only to be firmly caught by the King

King Kessel regarded Thales with a serious gaze, the atmosphere turning weighty. This naturally put Thales on edge.

With deliberate slowness, the King placed the ‘Covenant’ on his index finger and reached out towards Thales.

“At this very moment, at this very place, with the Gur’tak’sa bearing witness, we pledge and vow, bound by a solemn pact,” he declared, the seriousness evident.

Thales’ eyebrows twitched.

“Is this for real?”

‘Is this guy a drama queen or something?’

Nevertheless, the Iran Hand King maintained an unwavering gaze on the teenager and delivered each word with emphasis.

“You will assist me in propelling the Kingdom forward, overcoming any obstacles, and shattering any constraints,” he asserted, his gaze sharpening.

“Sparing any effort”

“Any.”

In that moment, Thales found it challenging to withstand the King’s piercing gaze.

“Isn’t that a bit vague?” He remarked, turning his head in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“No conditions or anything?”

King Kessel stared at him for a while before gently removing the bone ring.

‘The one making the oath is a person, not cold words on paper.”

‘The bond created by the oath is also between people.”

The King spoke softly.

“As for the agreement we make and the promises we uphold, including everything said earlier, we share a mutual understanding in our hearts.”

“No need for redundant words.”

Thales could not resist but arch an eyebrow; he awkwardly chuckled.

‘That… sounds a lot like make-believe.”

But the King was not in the mood for any playacting; he just pushed Gur’tak’sa over to Thales.

“Your turn.”

Observing the King’s earnestness, Thales had to gather himself and pick up the plain yet menacing bone ring.

“Very well.”

Without dwelling too much on it, he gave the ring a little shake in his hand, “And you…”

“Put it on.” King Kessel cut in, his gaze turning sterner.

Thales had to frown.

Still, with caution, he turned the bone ring and slid it onto the index finger of his right hand.

Unlike its fierce and lugged appearance, it felt smooth and waim to the touch.

Thales swallowed and directed it towards the King.

‘Alright.’

“At this very moment, at this very place, with the ‘Covenant’ bearing witness, we pledge and vow. bound by a solemn pact”

“I will assist you in propelling the Kingdom forward…” Thales looked at the King and squared his shoulders, “and you will respect my wishes, heed my opinions, and await sincerely, withholding nothing.”

“Without any deception.”

“Any.”

In that moment, the Prince and the King locked eyes, sensing the gravity in each other’s gaze.

After a thoughtful pause. King Kessel nodded.

“So, in the name of Kessel Mindis Aydi Jadestar,

“1 solemnly make this promise.” He held Thales in a firm gaze.

Thales shifted uncomfortably under the King’s intense gaze, eager to put some distance between them,

“So. in the name of Thales TherrenGirana Kessel Jadestar, I…” Thales cleared his throat,

T agree!

“Does that work for you?” ‘Damn it.’

Wealing the ring was not exactly bothersome, but the Prince could not shake an unsettling feeling. It was like… he was being bound by something.

The King looked away, nodded, and said in a hushed tone,

“The pact has been set.”

Thales sneered and shook the bone ring on his hand.

“So. is the contract now in effect?”

And then, it happened.

A sudden, loud sound reverberated through!

Thales felt a muffled explosion in his ears. His eardrums hurt, and he instinctively covered them with his hands.

[The pact has been set… set… set…]

A weighty and echoing voice surrounded him, throughout the entire chamber!

Yet covering his eats proved fiitile. This heavy and peculiar voice infiltrated his mind in an indescribable way, and he could not even discern the language.

[Those who betray this oath… those who betray… those who…]

If he had to put the sensation into words, it was like thousands of blades tearing through steel!

Even the table and floor tiles beneath him vibrated continuously.

[… forsaken and betrayed by those deemed close…]’0

“Holy shit!”

Thales felt the world spin. He found himself closing his eyes, sensing everything around him vibrating at a high frequency!11

He could not hold back his shout, “What in the hell?!”

The Sin of Hell’s River surged with madness, but strangely, it had no effect

The voice, heavy and shaip, persisted, its words growing shorter and more forcefill, each one ringing distinctly:

[Engulfed in raging flames—]

The words rose and fell, resonating deeply within, leaving Thales with a numbing sensation in his chest.

[Soul severed by the Hell’s River!]

Finally, the last syllable faded away, and all came to a standstill.

Thales rested his head on the table, lowered his hands that covered his ears, and shakily opened his eyes.

Unbeknownst to him, he was now drenched in cold sweat.

The Ballard Room retained its calm.

The lamplight bathed everything in its usual glow.

On the other side of the table, King Kessel sat, visibly uncomfortable, as he massaged his forehead,

“Calm down; this aligns with the records…”

Thales struggled to sit up and swiftly went to remove the bone ring in one try.12

It rolled a few times on the table, coming to a stop with its beast-like face’s mouth wide open, as if ready to devour everything.

“What in hell is this… thing?”

Thales took a few deep breaths, still reeling.

“An extraordinary power, isn’t it?” The King exhaled, gradually regaining composure. ‘This is a curse.”

Thales vigorously nibbed his eats, only to find they no longer ached, as if everything that happened moments ago… was an illusion and never occurred.

“A curse?”

King Kessel nodded, his expression growing stem again,

Tn the days of the Empire, there were tales suggesting they came from the depths of hell, from the source of Hell’s River—evidence of demons causing havoc in the human realm.”

“Some dismissed them as mere fabrications of wandering charlatans, exaggerated selffillfilling prophecies that were more about self-deception than truth.”

“While others insisted they originated from mysterious and formidable unnamed ancient gods, concealed in the cornels overlooked by the Bright God during the creation of the world.”

“But even the oncc-knowlcdgeablc wizards could not fully comprehend its secrets. They could only label it as the most secretive and forbidden aspect of magic, treated with respect and kept at arm’s length.”13

The King glanced at Gur’tak’sa, then looked thoughtfully at Thales, his words carrying depth.

“This is the curse laid down by the ancient sages of the Orc tribe—mysterious, unyielding, and enduring.”

curse

Thales caught his breath and wiped away his sweat.

“Does it… work? What does it do?”

The Iron Hand King chuckled softly.

“Those orcs…” He paused before continuing, “Seven hundred years ago, the eight orc tribes that assisted humans in their battle against calamity did not march out of generosity and compassion.”

Thales waited.

“Raikaru promised to give them a ‘land that never meets snow and ice’, a place to live and multiply after the victorious war.”14

King Kessel spoke slowly,

‘That’s what became the Bight Great Orc Tribes today, beneath the Dragon Skeleton Throne in the Great Desert.”

Thales wrinkled his brow.

‘The Great Desert?”

Memories of his time in the desert and brief encounters with orcs came rashing back. “So, the Eight Great Orc Tribes in the desert came about because of this?” Thales quickly put it together.

“Wait, a land that never meets snow and ice?”

The King stared at him silently.

Thales burst into laughter.

“So, Raikaru played a word game? The land he promised before the war, later given to the orcs, was essentially unwanted—a barren desert?”

‘How should I put it, Raikaru, you damn…’ ‘Little trickster?’

Thales thought of the silver figure in the belly of the mountains, finding it both amusing and perplexing.

“A word game?”

However, the Iron Hand King snorted coldly, causing the room’s lights to tremble.

He glanced at Thales with a certain lightness.

“Do you know how the King of Dragon Knights met his end?”

Thales, hearing this, instantly dropped his smile.

He had a foreboding feeling.

“Illness.”

Thales spoke cautiously,

“King Raikaru lived a life devoted to warfare, plagued by illness, and died young. His nephew, ‘The Smiler’ Nuven Walton, inherited Raikaru’s position and title, renaming Arunde Castle to Dragon Clouds City to honour his uncle, the founding King of Eckstedt.”

Speaking of which, Thales had to think of ‘Raikaru’s Oath’ and the centuries-old straggle between the King and the Archdukes,

“However, a disagreement arose between the Smiler and the nine suzerains under Raikaru, plunging Eckstedt into internal strife. It was not until ‘Black Bye’ John led a northern campaign, compelling their unity, that ten Archdukes then signed ‘Raikaru’s Oath’ to collectively face the challenges posed by the Constellation.”

“Right,” King Kessel granted softly as he listened, “Yet, that’s the official account.”

‘Official account?’

Thales squinted and waited for the following,

“hi rhe Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Department, there’s an ancient top-sccret intelligence sealed by ‘Deadly Iris’ himself.”

The King said quietly,

“It documented that on a night following the establishment of the Eckstedt Kingdom, numerous denizens in Arunde Castle were startled awake.”

‘They heard the howling wind echoing from miles and miles.”

“And saw the blue flames covering the moon, melting the snow on a thousand peaks.” howling wind, echoing from miles, blue flames…

Listening to these unnatural phenomena, Thales, who had experienced them before, exclaimed,

“What? Are you saying…”

King Kessel fell silent for a moment before nodding faintly.

“Exactly.”

‘That mythical dragon, the so-called ‘Queen of the Sky’, rumoured by the people to be the consort of the King of Dragon Knights, descended on the Cliff of the Sky that night.”

In the narrow and dim Ballard Room, the Iron Hand King’s voice echoed softly, “It brought down merciless flames…”

“And the acclaimed human hero, the King of Dragon Knights, Raikaru Eckstedt the First…”

“Alive…”

“Burned to ashes.”

The words fell, and the lights dimmed.

“What?” Thales blurted out, his eyes glued to the table, specifically on the eerie, pale bone ring.

‘The hell?’

The statue that stood at the highest point of Dragon Clouds City.

The hero held in high reverence by the Northlanders.

The founding monarch of Eckstedt.

The Silver Shadowman under the mountains.

The King of Dragon Knights.

Raikaru Eckstedt.

His fate. Was he… by his own actions or by the rumoured ‘wife,’ brought by the Queen of the Sky’s…

Brought…

Thales’ mind went blank, struggling to make sense of the logic behind this revelation. “1 have said it before—the one who made the oath is a person, not just a collection of words. Deception and wordplay are but trivialities,” the King said slowly, a blend of caution and seriousness in his tone. deception, wordplay…

Thales’ gaze sharpened.

Hold on.

Raikaru’s oath, the orcs, a land that never meets snow and ice, the Great Desert.

So, what just happened was… those who betray this oath forsaken and betrayed by those deemed close Recalling the haunting voice he had just heard, Thales was left perplexed. “As for the terms sworn, the vows kept, what constitutes betrayal, what constitutes abandonment, Gur’tak’sa has its own judgment.”

Across from him, King Kessel also gazed at the bone ring, his eyes flickering.

“It will, when deemed necessary, in its own way…” “Respond.”

Under the mountains, the jovial figure of Silver Shadowman flashed in Thales’ mind for the last time.

In its place echoed those haunting words:

Engulfed in raging flames

Soul severed by the Hell’s River

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep