Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

The atmosphere inside the Royal Palace was marked by a sense of grandeur and power. The walls were decorated with works of art and even the chandeliers looked expensive, made of crystal that emitted a soft light that danced on the polished marble surfaces.

In the main hall, a place that had once been the scene of many battles, Petril stopped and said:

“Kaizen and Xisrith, are you hungry? A few minutes ago, I ordered you to prepare dinner for the King, would you like to join him?” Petril looked warmly at Kaizen, but Xisrith’s eyes caught a glimmer of something deeper between the lines of that look, as if Petril already knew the reason for the visit.

“That would be nice, Petril. Thank you for your attention, I really wanted to talk to Steveren.” Kaizen replied courteously.

“Very well, accompany me, please.”

As they walked down one of the first corridors, Petril slid a casual glance at Xisrith.

“Lady Xisrith, it’s an honor to meet you. I must say, descendragons are figures I’ve always wanted to meet.” 

Xisrith kept her posture upright, feeling the curious glances of the servants who crossed her path. “I appreciate your words, Butler Wyvernjack. It’s a responsibility I take seriously.”

Petril nodded, looking pleased with his response. “Responsibility is indeed a mark of those who have blood like yours running through their veins, I imagine. But please, just call me Petril. Excessive formalities can create an unnecessary barrier.”

She nodded in agreement and her gaze shifted to Kaizen, who was walking beside her and shrugged, as if confused too.

“By the way, Klaus, thanks for doing that during the attack.” Petril thanked him. “I was in Holinda when it happened and traveled here as fast as I could, a shame so many died.”

“You’re welcome, Petril. The least I could do was defend the Royal Family since the palace was already destroyed.” Kaizen replied and his eyes fixed on a painting depicting an ancient battle between knights and a dragon.

As they advanced, the scent of delicious food began to seep through the corridor, filling the air with a subtle temptation. And then, a few steps later, they finally reached an imposing wooden door. Petril stopped and turned to Kaizen and Xisrith.

“Here we are. The dining hall of royalty. Please come in,” he said, gently pushing the door open.

As they entered the hall, an impressive sight greeted them. A long oak table was laid out in the center, covered in a rich golden velvet cloth. Golden candlesticks held candles that softly illuminated the room along with the crystal chandeliers on the ceiling. The aroma of carefully prepared delicacies floated through the air, heightening everyone’s senses.

At the end of the table, sitting on a throne carved from ebony and adorned with gold details, was King Steveren Spelloyal. His expression was serene, but there was an intensity in his eyes that didn’t go unnoticed by Kaizen and Xisrith. He had his hands crossed, his fingers with a few rings on them, and he smiled.

“Kai… I mean, Klaus? What are you doing here?” greeted the King in a deep, warm voice, and the fact that he almost called Klaus Kaizen in front of Xisrith made Klaus’ heart skip a beat.

A few visits ago, Kaizen asked to start being called by his blacksmith name and to leave the name ‘Kaizen’ only for when he was wearing a mask. It took a while, but they learned, except for the King it seemed.𝗈𝓥𝐥xt.𝒞𝗈𝓶

“Your Majesty.” replied Kaizen with a bow and a bead of sweat running down his forehead.” Sorry to interrupt your dinner, but we wanted to talk to you. We received Petril’s invitation to join the dinner, is there a problem with that?”

“Of course not. The more company the better, especially since Ravastine and Lidia are traveling to talk to the nobles in the countryside.” The King said and his gaze turned to Xisrith. “And who is this young lady who honors us with her presence?” The King’s voice was calm, but contained a slight tone of curiosity and malice.

Xisrith kept his posture upright and looked directly into the King’s eyes. “I am Xisrith, knight of a descendragon village, Your Majesty. It is an honor to be in this legendary palace.”

Steveren raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Petril, who was watching them attentively, extended an inviting gesture towards the seats. “Please take your seats. Our meal is waiting for you.”

They settled down at the table, every detail of the setting arousing a sense of reverence. The porcelain plates were detailed with gold patterns, and the crystal goblets reflected the candlelight in a mesmerizing way.

The atmosphere in the room was one of expectation, with Xisrith’s presence adding a touch of mystery to the ambience.

The King’s curious gaze was fixed on Xisrith as she settled at the table. Silence hung for a moment, filled only by the soft sound of crackling candles. Xisrith kept her expression serious, despite sensing the tension in the air.

“Xisrith, which descendragon are you?” asked King Steveren, his tone now mixed with surprise and fascination.

She looked at the King and replied with a tone disguised as snot: “I’m from Drakenvale Village.”

The King tilted his head slightly, processing the information. “Drakenvale… South of the Capital, if I’m not mistaken. I’ve heard stories of your people, mainly stories about their skills and strength.”

“Of course you have, you denied us.” She said and put a spoonful of stew into her mouth.

Once again, Steveren was surprised. “What do you mean? I denied them? What do you mean?”

Xisrith’s words hung in the air like a burning flame, filling the room with a tense atmosphere, and discomfort seemed to spread through the room like a mist, at which point Kaizen finally remembered the story of Xisrith’s village.

Xisrith lowered her spoon, her expression hardening as she struggled to contain her emotions. Her fists clenched under the table, her nails sinking slightly into her palms. She knew she was risking a lot by addressing a king like that, but the hurt and indignation that the Kingdom of Tretidian had denied her village protection and she had had to humiliate herself for the Kingdom of Vrikhodour.

Steveren, used to dealing with diplomacy and courtesy, noticed the heavy atmosphere and made an effort to dispel it. His smile transformed into a more serious countenance, and he crossed his fingers on the table, dropping his cutlery once again.

“I apologize if my actions have caused misunderstandings or resentment in the past,” said the King with a perceptible sincerity in his voice, bowing his head and surprising everyone, including the butler.