The double doors were opened by Naia’s hands.
And the two wolves saw the eclipse being split in half.
Behind the imposing doors, a hall as vast as an entire floor of the castle came into Kair’s view.
Luxury.
The purest kind, reserved solely for royalty.
Various pieces of fabric, paintings, vases as old as generations, and weapons.
Many of them.
An entire arsenal was displayed throughout the hall.
Kair’s fascinated eyes passed over various spears, swords, shields, and clawed gauntlets like the ones he had left in his room after changing clothes.
And, most importantly…
Runic Weapons.
Something resembling a revolver made of a brass-like metal made Kair stop and stare at the glass dome.
The runes engraved on the cylinder looked rudimentary, but they still went far beyond even the slightest spark of Kair’s knowledge.
Perhaps noticing Kair’s genuine interest, the diplomat’s daughter spoke.
“This is one of the first prototypes of runic weapons ever made.
It dates back centuries, something around 350 to 450 years ago…
I…
I don’t know the exact date.
I’m sorry.” Amid her words, her embarrassment at not knowing for certain made Naia begin to stammer.
“It’s already incredible that you know that!
They look pretty powerful…
If I had one of these…” Before Kair could finish, Naia’s sad and still-traumatized voice interrupted him.
“We could have saved many more inside the Fracture…
But it interferes with any weapon that isn’t kept inside some kind of sealed space.
Runic weapons are naturally sensitive to entering and leaving sealed spaces.
From what I know, the runic inscriptions become chaotic and short-circuit.
Causing a dangerous explosion that can even kill the shooter.” At some point, Naia had somehow produced a pair of rounded golden glasses and began moving far too close to Kair.
Perhaps because she did not want another explosion, or because she liked the not-too-sweet perfume he wore.
Kair refrained from commenting.
“I know, little wolves, that His Majesty’s ostentatious arsenal is hypnotizing.
I myself have spent quite a few moments admiring it, but don’t you think it’s rude to leave two old wolves waiting?” The Ambassador’s voice echoed through the hall.
With almost a jump, her tail appearing between her legs, Naia grabbed her glasses and half-walked, half-ran toward the ambassador.
“Sorry, Dad!
We’re coming!” Kair did not even have time to process what was happening before Naia nearly dragged him by the collar of his shirt.
She’s kinda cute, isn’t she?
Without realizing his own thoughts, Kair approached the back of the hall.
There, a balcony covered by a glass dome overlooked the area.
From there, it was possible to see the entire island and the city surrounding it.
At the center stood an imposing table made of hardwood, polished to a glossy black.
On top of it were dozens of documents and many artifacts.
Including a small statue of two wolves biting an eclipse.
In front of the table, Ambassador Lucian sat in a cushioned chair.
Behind the table, with his armchair turned away from the young wolves’ view but facing the glass dome, was most likely the King of the Wolves.
“Come, come, don’t be shy, little wolves.
Sit down.
His Majesty is finishing a taste of an old drink I acquired from a certain grumpy lizard.” With a slight bow from Naia, which Kair followed a little too late, the young wolves sat at the king’s table.
A few moments of silence followed, until Garran’s powerful yet calm and unburdened voice reached them.
“Do you drink, Kair?” Do I drink?
Uh…
I’ve never had anything before, but I’ve always thought the smell of the drinks Uncle used to have was awful.
The seconds of silence had become an obvious breach of etiquette that did not escape the Ambassador’s notice, but what made him raise an eyebrow was seeing his daughter give Kair a few little nudges, urging him to answer.
“Ah…
Um…
I’ve never drunk before, Your Majesty.” With a fervent look toward Naia, Kair managed to answer.
“By the standards of the Asteria Empire, you are of legal age now.
You are an adult, and not even I, as King, can say otherwise.
Do him this favor, Lucian.” A faint note of frustration colored King Garran’s voice, but no one there dared ask about it.
As if rehearsed, or the result of many years of practice, the Ambassador poured two fingers’ worth of a viscous, bluish drink into a crystal glass.
Naia’s eyes followed the liquid, silently begging to taste it as well, but her father’s gaze only needed the slightest tremor for the girl to lower her bluish tail in surrender.
Gathering his courage, and still haunted by the horrible memories of his uncle’s drinks, Kair swallowed the liquid in one go, just as his uncle used to.
He expected burning, something that would scorch or hurt him.
But what reached him was a refreshing sensation and a faint chill.
The taste was somewhat sweet and left a slight burn in his mouth, but that only made him salivate even more and crave another taste.
Kair’s body visibly relaxed as his shoulders dropped.
“Very good…
It’s delicious, Your Majesty.” The Ambassador, almost impassive at the sight, poured another two fingers’ worth into Kair’s glass, which was already about to be emptied again when he was stopped by a whisper.
“Hey…
I imagine it must be very tasty, but that’s a very rare drink, made by one of the most reclusive and unpleasant Lizard Lords.
It’s meant to be savored slowly…” The Ambassador stopped halfway through his motion to put the bottle away and cast a suspicious look at his daughter, who could have sent many people collapsing unconscious.
A faint laugh escaped from behind the armchair.
And slowly, it turned around.
King Garran was no longer wearing his armor.
He wore a black dress shirt, and his hair was disheveled.
Many gray strands streaked through his black-and-white hair.
His eyes looked tired, but they still carried the unmistakable strength he possessed.
“I’m glad you liked it.
Little Naia is right.
Drink slowly.
At least until you get used to it…
Now tell me.
Are you rested?” Kair’s senses screamed at the King’s question.
His eyes quickly regained their focus, and his posture became tense again.
“Yes, Your Majesty.
It was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in weeks.” “Good!
You deserve more rest than most…
Tell me, Kair Galefang.
How are your preparations for the ball going?” A shiver ran through Kair, and his eyes swept toward Naia as he remembered her talking about the colors of the Galefang lineage.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to lie.
“Terrible, Your Majesty…
I don’t think I’m going to attend the ball.” He’s going to be furious, isn’t he?
It’s kind of like having one less wolf on the political field…
But if he asks me certain things about my supposed lineage…
I’ll be exposed right here.
“That’s good…
Very good, actually, Kair.” The king’s astute, approving gaze and the Ambassador’s confused one left everyone in the room unable to understand.
“Tell me, Kair, what do you intend to do with your future now that you are an adult with a lineage?”