As Ace turned away from the palace gates, the weight of the night finally settling on his shoulders, a royal guard stepped in front of him.
"Sir Ace," the guard said respectfully, lowering his spear. "His Majesty requests to see you before you leave."
Ace hesitated, then nodded.
He was led into a quieter hall where the king waited alone. The tension of battle was gone from the king's face, replaced by a calm but firm gaze.
"You're leaving without eating," the king said. "That would be an insult to my kingdom. We prepared a special meal for you."
Ace tried to refuse, but his exhaustion betrayed him. He accepted the offer and was soon seated at a long table, dishes he had never seen before placed in front of him. For the first time since the attack, he allowed himself to breathe.
Halfway through the meal, soft footsteps echoed behind him.
The princess entered.
She bowed deeply, her hands trembling. "Thank you," she said, her voice breaking. "For saving everyone… and for forgiving me."
Ace stood up immediately. "You don't need to thank me," he replied calmly. "You were being controlled. None of it was your fault."
Tears welled in her eyes, but she smiled. "If you ever wish to visit my homeland, I invite you to the Kingdom of Eldoria. You will always be welcome there."
Ace nodded, unaware that this invitation would soon change his path forever.
Later that night, he returned home—only to find it empty. A note confirmed what he already sensed: his family had gone to visit his grandfather and would be away for some time.
Too exhausted to think, Ace collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
Morning came quietly.
Without wasting time, Ace made his way to Vargan's home. Darian noticed him immediately.
"You look like you fought a war," Darian said. "What happened at the royal dinner?"
Ace told them everything—the attack, the princess, the strange mages, and the invitation to Eldoria. Vargan listened silently, his single eye narrowing with every word.
When Ace finished, he took a deep breath. "I've decided," he said. "I'm going to Eldoria."
The forest grew still.
Vargan didn't stop him. He only spoke one sentence:
"Then your journey has truly begun."
Ace turned toward the road ahead, unaware of what awaited him beyond the borders of the kingdom.