Kael, Lyssa, and Seraphina stepped through the double doors into the royal family's main dining room, and Kael had to consciously prevent his jaw from dropping. The space was magnificent—a long table of polished dark wood dominated the center, set with what looked like actual silver plates and crystal glasses. Chandeliers hung overhead, their light catching and refracting through countless facets. Tapestries depicting historical scenes adorned the walls, and windows along one side showed the palace gardens bathed in evening light.
Queen Catherine sat at one side of the table's head, Duke Hadrian across from her. At the table's head sat a man who could only be King Aldric VIII—and Kael felt a jolt of surprise at his appearance. The King looked ancient, his hair completely white, face deeply lined, skin papery and spotted with age. He moved slowly, carefully, like someone whose body caused constant pain.
But his eyes were sharp and alert, carrying an intelligence that belied his apparent physical age.
Seraphina gestured toward where the mythbeasts should go—a separate area along one wall where large cushions and feeding stations had been arranged. Vera, Ember, Fulminus, Mushy, Spritz, and Granite moved there without needing verbal direction, joining Hadrian's and Catherine's water dragons, who were already settled comfortably.
"You two sit here," Seraphina said quietly, indicating chairs near the middle of the table. "Across from each other. I'll be next to you, Kael."
As they approached the table, Kael raised a hand in casual greeting. "Hey, everyone. Thanks for having us."
Lyssa, beside him, immediately bowed slightly toward the King. "Your Majesty, it's an honor to be invited to your table. Thank you for your hospitality."
Kael noticed the contrast in their greetings and had to suppress a smile. Lyssa was trying so hard to be proper, while he just... wasn't. He couldn't help it—formality felt awkward and forced.
They took their seats as servants began bringing in the first course—some kind of soup that smelled amazing.
The King studied Kael with open curiosity for a moment before speaking. "So, young Kael. What do you think of my sister-in-law Seraphina? I hope she hasn't been any trouble for you. I know how that side of the family can be—stubborn and rowdy sometimes." He glanced meaningfully at Catherine and Hadrian. "Present company very much included."
"Hey," Catherine protested mildly. "We prefer 'determined and spirited.'"
"Potato, po-tah-to," the King replied with amusement.
"Nothing of the sort," Kael answered the original question. "Seraphina's been wonderful. We're just happy to make a new friend. She's shown us around the capital, introduced us to people, and made us feel welcome. We've really enjoyed spending time with her."
Seraphina beamed at the compliment.
Kael paused, then asked with genuine curiosity, "How old are you, Your Majesty?"
The room went silent. Lyssa's elbow jabbed into Kael's ribs sharply. "That's rude," she hissed under her breath.
The King looked genuinely startled, his spoon pausing halfway to his mouth. Then, to everyone's surprise, he started laughing—a sound that seemed rusty from disuse, as if he didn't laugh often anymore.
"I don't think anyone has ever asked me that so directly to my face," he managed between chuckles. "I'm thirty-one years old as of this year."
Kael blinked. "Then why do you look so old? I mean, no offense intended, but you look like you're ninety-ish."
Another sharp elbow from Lyssa. Even Vera, from across the room where the mythbeasts were eating, turned her head to stare at Kael with an expression that clearly conveyed tactless human.
The laughter faded from the King's face, and a heavy sadness settled over the entire table. Catherine's hand found her husband's, squeezing gently. Hadrian's expression became carefully neutral, though pain flickered in his eyes.
"I was cursed," the King said quietly. "About five years ago, during a diplomatic mission to a neighboring kingdom. Their protector mythbeast—I still don't know why—cursed me with something that makes me age rapidly. Not just in appearance, but in how I feel. Every day, I wake up feeling older, more tired, in more pain. Presumably, it's shortening my lifespan as well."
"No one in this country has been able to purify or heal it?" Kael asked, his earlier casualness replaced by genuine concern.
"No one," Catherine confirmed. "We've tried every healer, every purification-type mythbeast, every technique we could find. The curse is too strong, too deeply rooted. It's killing him slowly, and we can do nothing but watch."
The first course was cleared away, replaced by the main meal—roasted meats, vegetables, elaborate side dishes. The conversation shifted to lighter topics for a while, but an undercurrent of sadness remained.
Then the Queen brought up something that made Kael's stomach tighten slightly. "Have you heard about the mysterious healer at the sanctuary park?"
"Seraphina mentioned it earlier," Lyssa replied carefully.
"We're actively investigating," Catherine continued. "Not to stop them—quite the opposite. We want to find them, contact them, and ask if they might be willing to try healing Aldric's curse. If something or someone has the power to restore decades-old injuries, missing limbs, damage that was thought permanent... perhaps they could help with this too."
"But we've had no luck so far," Hadrian added. "The sanctuary mythbeasts are remarkably tight-lipped about their healer's identity. They clearly feel protective of whoever's helping them."
"Of course," the King said. "Whoever it is, they've given those creatures something precious—hope, health, life. The mythbeasts would naturally be loyal, want to protect their benefactor."
Dessert arrived—delicate pastries and fruit tarts that looked almost too beautiful to eat. Kael barely tasted his, his mind working through the implications of what he'd just heard.
Should I reveal myself? He asked his companions through their bonds. Help the King?
Yes, Vera responded immediately. We've sensed nothing evil from this family. They seem genuinely good people who care about their subjects. And the King is suffering—you can help him.
Absolutely, help, Ember agreed, her mental voice carrying warmth and compassion. He's in pain. You can fix that.
Do it, Fulminus added with his typical fierce certainty. Show them what we can do.
Please help him, Mushy's gentle presence urged. He seems kind. Kind people deserve help.
I agree with everyone, Spritz chimed in. And besides, my secret will need to come out anyway if you're revealing your healing. Might as well do it now, where it'll have maximum impact.
Kael felt conviction settle in his chest. Yes. This was the right thing to do.
Lyssa, watching his face, seemed to read his thoughts. "Kael, no. You can't—"
"What's the worst that can happen?" Kael replied with a smile.
"Famous last words," Lyssa muttered, but she didn't try to stop him.
Kael set down his dessert fork and cleared his throat. "I have a secret I need to share. And to make explaining easier..." He turned toward where the mythbeasts were resting. "Spritz, can you come here, please?"
The small water dragon approached immediately, moving to stand beside Kael's chair. Everyone at the table looked confused—what did the defective dragon have to do with anything?
"I can heal others," Kael said simply. "From everything and anything. Complete restoration from any injury, any condition, any damage." He paused, then looked at Spritz. "Looks like we can't keep it a secret from them anymore. Show them what you can do now."
Spritz focused, and water began to manifest. Not just one sphere, but multiple—five perfect orbs of water floating in the air around the small dragon's head, each one stable and clearly controlled.
The room erupted in astonished murmurs.
"That shouldn't be possible," Hadrian breathed. "It was defective—it couldn't use any elemental powers at all."
"It couldn't," Kael confirmed. "Until I healed it. The defect is gone. Spritz has full access to water manipulation now, and it's growing stronger every day."
The King leaned forward, his aged eyes intense. "If you could heal a birth defect like that... then perhaps..."
"I'm the one who's been healing the mythbeasts at the sanctuary," Kael said clearly. "Every night at midnight, I go there and restore whoever needs it most. Missing limbs, broken bones healed wrong, internal damage, ancient scars—I can fix all of it. And if you're willing, I'd like to try healing your curse."
The King looked stunned, clearly torn between hope and skepticism. "If you're telling the truth—"
"I am."
"—then I would like you to try. But..." The King's expression became more serious. "On one condition. Our royal protector mythbeast must be present to oversee the healing. If something goes wrong, if there's any danger, it will intervene immediately."
"That's completely reasonable," Kael agreed.
The King closed his eyes, and Kael felt an immense psychic presence reach outward—a mental call to something incredibly powerful.
A swirl of leaves materialized in the center of the dining room. They spun in a tight vortex, then dispersed to reveal a mythbeast standing where nothing had been moments before.
It looked like an ordinary stag at first glance—maybe slightly larger than normal, with antlers that branched in elegant curves. Leaves seemed to grow from those antlers, creating a crown of natural beauty.
But the power radiating from this creature was overwhelming. Even with what was clearly tremendous restraint, even with the mythbeast deliberately suppressing its presence, Kael could feel strength that dwarfed anything he'd encountered. Rank 20 at minimum, probably much higher. This was one of the legendary protectors Seraphina and Lyssa had talked about—the creatures that could devastate entire countries if they so chose.
The stag's eyes were ancient and knowing, carrying wisdom and power in equal measure.
The King spoke quickly, explaining the situation—Kael's claim to be able to heal anything, the offer to try healing the curse, the request for the protector to observe and intervene if necessary.
The stag turned its gaze on Kael, studying him with an intensity that felt like being examined down to the molecular level. Then it gave a small nod—permission granted, but with absolute readiness to act if anything went wrong.
Kael stood and moved around the table to where the King sat at its head. The stag positioned itself directly beside him, its presence like standing next to a barely-contained hurricane.
"This might feel strange," Kael warned, placing his hand on the King's shoulder. "But it won't hurt."
He reached for Divine Restoration and let it flow.
Golden-white light erupted from his palm, washing over King Aldric's body in waves of healing power. The stag leaned closer, its eyes fixed on the light with intense focus, clearly prepared to intervene at the first sign of danger.
But there was no danger. Just healing. Pure, complete restoration.
The curse was complex—Kael could feel it like dark tendrils wrapped around the King's life force, draining vitality and accelerating decay. Divine Restoration attacked it systematically, burning away the curse's influence like sunlight dispersing shadow.
It took a full minute before showing the first changes, longer than most healings. But gradually, visibly, the King began to change.
The deep lines in his face smoothed. Age spots faded. White hair darkened to its natural brown. His skin regained elasticity, his posture straightened, and his eyes brightened. Within a few minutes, the ancient-looking man had been replaced by someone who looked exactly his actual age—thirty-one, healthy and vital.
"This feels amazing," the King exclaimed, his voice stronger and clearer than it had been all evening. "I feel alive again. All the aches, the constant pain, the exhaustion—it's just floating away like it was never there!"
He stood abruptly and pulled Catherine into a fierce embrace, tears streaming down his face. "You finally don't have to look at that old face anymore," he said, his voice breaking with emotion. "I'm back. I'm actually back."
"I didn't mind," Catherine replied, though she was crying too. "We all grow old eventually anyway. But I'm so glad you're back, as you should be. Healthy. Whole."
They held each other, and Kael felt warmth spread through his chest at the sight. This was why he did it—these moments, this joy, this restoration of hope and life.
The King finally released his wife and turned back to Kael, clearly overwhelmed with gratitude. But before he could speak, the stag made a soft sound—something between a snort and a rumble.
Kael looked down to find the legendary protector mythbeast had moved closer and was now pressing its head against his chest, clearly trying to understand what it had just witnessed. The stag's presence felt curious rather than threatening, but there was definite confusion in how it examined Kael.
The healing power it had just seen didn't match any known classification. It wasn't traditional healing-type mythbeast energy. It wasn't purification magic. It was something else entirely—something the ancient protector couldn't categorize despite its vast experience.
After a long moment, the stag finally stepped back, its expression thoughtful but no longer suspicious. Whatever Kael's power was, it had helped rather than harmed. That seemed sufficient for the protector's purposes.
The King looked at Kael with an expression caught between joy, gratitude, and profound uncertainty. The room had gone completely silent except for Catherine's quiet crying as she held her husband's hand.
"So, Kael," the King said slowly. "What to do with you now?"
Lyssa looked the most worried of anyone at the table, her face pale with concern about what might happen next. Hadrian appeared thoughtful and calculating, clearly running through political implications. Seraphina seemed caught between happiness for her brother-in-law and concern for her friend.
But Kael just looked happy, still smiling from witnessing the moment between the King and Queen. Whatever happened next, he didn't regret revealing his secret. Not when it had brought that kind of joy to people who'd been suffering.
"Your Majesty," he said simply, "I just wanted to help."