The silence that followed Rhaegalur's blunt declaration forced an immediate truce in the room. Arkon gave a deep, solemn nod of understanding, tucking his hands into the sleeves of his robe, while Isabelle, though vexed, wisely chose not to retort to the words of a being who could tear the castle from its foundations with a single flap of his wings.
Rhaegalur turned slowly, ignoring the rest of those present, and locked his gaze straight onto Hayjin. The echo of his deep voice had vanished, replaced by an unusually calm, almost intimate tone that cut out the noise of the outside world.
"I have given Arkon my conditions, but the final decision rests solely with you," he said, looking at him without indulgence, but with absolute firmness. "I have no intention of leaving you here like some diplomatic bargaining chip or a piece of furniture to please the sages of Opes. If you want to go home, say so now. We turn our backs and leave. So, tell me: do you want to stay in this place?"
Hayjin didn't take even a second to reflect. He didn't look at the ceiling, didn't weigh the pros and cons of his chronic social anxiety, nor did he care about having to face the venomous glares of the silver guards again.
"Yes," he replied, and the word came out sharp, resolute, devoid of any hesitation.
He shifted his eyes toward the canopy bed, where Zhilian was staring at him with a mixture of surprise and silent gratitude. The memory of the princess's words the corridors of black mirrors, the whispered voices, the terror of closing her eyes had lodged itself in his mind like a nail.
"I'm staying," Hayjin continued, lightly clenching his fists. "After everything that happened down there, she's still suffering. I can't just pretend nothing happened and go home to lounge around, knowing that every time she sleeps, she ends up in that hell. If my presence here helps her feel more at ease, or even just makes her laugh to distract her from those nightmares, then that's fine by me. I can handle this castle and all its weird nobles for a few days. It makes no difference to me."
Zhilian lightly tensed her fingers against the sheet, visibly moved by the boy's complete lack of hesitation. Even Isabelle averted her gaze, muttering something indistinctly under her breath, affected in her own right by a determination so genuine and free of ulterior motives.
Hayjin, however, after uttering those words so full of momentum, felt a slight pang of realism surface in his stomach. He turned back toward the towering figure beside him, significantly lowering his voice so Arkon and the women wouldn't overhear. There was a shade of vulnerability in his eyes the typical uncertainty of someone who knows they are about to be left alone in enemy territory.
"But... I wanted to ask you something," Hayjin murmured, taking a step closer. "What about you? Are you staying here at the castle for these few days too? I imagine Arkon wouldn't have any problem giving you a whole room in the guest wing. At least... I wouldn't be completely alone among these people."
Rhaegalur looked down at him from his height, and the corner of his mouth twitched into a very slight, almost invisible ironic smile.
"No, Hayjin. I am not staying," the other replied, with a calmness that brooked no argument. "My place is not here, and I have absolutely no intention of spending my days being revered by humans or breathing the air of this court. I'm going back home to Elara before she starts thinking we've gotten ourselves into some other trouble."
Hayjin felt a slight cold shiver run down his spine. The idea of having to manage the guards, the sages, the princesses, and the entire bureaucratic structure of Opes without the safety net represented by Rhaegalur's terrifying power made him feel suddenly exposed.
"Ah. Great," the boy commented, with a touch of his usual defensive sarcasm, though his eyes betrayed real worry. "So you're leaving me here alone to act as a lightning rod. Look, if Isabelle actually decides to use space magic to fling me into the moat, I don't have the mana to stop her hands, you know."
Rhaegalur placed a heavy hand on his shoulder, squeezing it with a measured strength enough to convey security without hurting him. His red gaze became incredibly serious, stripped of any trace of mockery.
"Listen to me closely, Hayjin," he said, his voice bearing the weight of an unshakeable certainty. "You can rest easy. Everything will be fine even without me. You've survived things that would drive half the mages of this kingdom insane. You've faced worse, protected your companions, and demonstrated a tenacity that has nothing to do with rank or the mana you lack. You are no longer the defenseless kid who has to hide behind my back at every gust of wind."
He loosened his grip on the shoulder, casting a sideways warning glance toward the dimness of the room, ensuring that Arkon was recording every single word.
"Arkon has given his word of honor, and he knows perfectly well what would happen if anyone tried to disrespect you or use you for their own political ends," he concluded. "You are safe, and you are strong enough to handle three days in this palace. Focus on resting too, and look after that girl. I will return to get you before you can even begin to miss Elara's scolding."
Hayjin took a long breath, feeling the weight of his anxiety lift considerably under the force of those words. He gave a small nod, relaxing his neck muscles.
"Alright," he said, his voice returning to a steady tone. "Alright, I get it. Go ahead. I can handle it on my own."
Rhaegalur turned with his usual composure, his cream-colored coat rustling. He did not care for long goodbyes, nor human ceremonies. He gave Hayjin one last look a silent nod that was worth more than a thousand recommendations and then turned to Arkon.
"I'm leaving. See to it that you keep your word, old man," he cut across, stepping toward the room's exit.
Arkon brought a hand to his chest, bowing slightly from the waist with extreme deference. "Everything will be fine, Exalted Rhaegalur. You can be certain of it. The word of an Opes sage does not crack over corridor whispers. The boy will be safe and treated with all due honor."
Rhaegalur did not reply, disappearing past the sandalwood door and leaving a wake of absolute silence behind him.
Hayjin remained standing in the middle of the room, his gaze fixed on the now-closed door. Suddenly, a strange sensation of emptiness settled in the center of his stomach. Rhaegalur's presence, however cynical and stern, was still his greatest certainty. Now that he was gone, the reality of the castle crashed down on him with all its weight.
"Am I completely stupid?" he asked himself, clutching his head in his hands. "Did I really just agree to stay here? Alone? In the middle of a pack of nobles who want to see me dead and guards who hate my guts? Damn it, Hayjin, you dug your own grave. This might be the worst idea of my life. If something strange happens, if the Cult shows up... how the hell am I supposed to handle a fight in here without losing my mind?"
His social anxiety and the lingering effects of his trauma were knocking at his mind again, threatening to drag him into that vortex of paranoia he always struggled to escape.
Arkon, noticing the boy's sudden shift in mood, approached him with a calm step, placing a gentle hand on his arm.
"Well, Hayjin. I'd say you've had quite enough excitement for today," the sage said, his tone incredibly fatherly. "Dinner will be ready soon, so you should go get ready and freshen up a bit. Come, I will personally escort you to your quarters. I assure you that you will be able to rest without anyone disturbing you."
Hayjin shook himself out of his gloomy thoughts, nodding weakly. "Yeah... alright. Thanks, Arkon."
The sage guided him out of Zhilian's rooms, traversing a series of side corridors where the architecture grew even more refined, until they reached the wing reserved for guests of the highest regard. Arkon opened a large light-wood door, inlaid with silver floral motifs, and invited the boy inside.
Hayjin took a step inside and froze, his hazel eyes wide with surprise. He was happily stunned and genuinely astonished by the beauty of the room. It wasn't just large; it was a masterpiece of comfort. In the center stood an immense bed with soft, pale blue sheets that looked as fluffy as clouds. A large glass window looked directly out over the royal gardens, allowing the golden light of the sunset to flood the room. There was a stone fireplace already lit, radiating a pleasant warmth, a writing desk made of fine wood, and even a private bathroom with a steaming marble tub.
"Well... not bad for a setup for someone like me," Hayjin commented, a spontaneous smile finally returning to his face. "I don't have all this stuff back home."
Arkon chuckled, happy to see him more relaxed. "I promised you the utmost comfort, didn't I? You've earned it. Now, I will leave you to yourself. You should wash up and change your clothes. I will come back myself later to collect you so we can dine together."
"Thank you so much, Arkon. Really," Hayjin replied, turning toward him with sincere gratitude.
The sage nodded and closed the door, finally leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Hayjin took his time. He removed his heavy gray iron greaves, which were absolutely killing his legs by now, and his matte black vest. After washing with the hot water, which melted away a good portion of the tension he had accumulated in the woods, he changed his clothes. He slipped into significantly lighter, cleaner garments provided by the castle, though he kept his inseparable earrings and silver necklace.
He slipped on clean shoes and stepped out of the room, intending to wait for Arkon in the corridor. But he didn't even manage to take two steps past the threshold before rounding a blind corner and colliding violently with someone running at full speed from the opposite direction.
"Whoa! Watch out!" Hayjin exclaimed, reeling backward from the impact.
"Ah! Ow!" cried a sharp, youthful voice, landing flat on her bottom against the plush carpet.
Hayjin rubbed his shoulder, looked down, and froze. The figure sitting on the floor, rubbing her head with a comical expression, turned out to be Wren, Zhilian's younger sister.
The little girl raised her eyes, and the moment she recognized his messy hair and white streaks, her expression shifted in a millisecond. She became blissfully happy, ecstatic, her eyes sparkling with pure joy. She leaped to her feet, completely ignoring the fall, and pointed a finger at him.
"Hayjin?! Is it really you?!" Wren shouted, her voice echoing through the quiet corridor. She catapulted herself at him, grabbing his shirt with her tiny hands. "What are you doing here at the castle?! I thought you went back to your house. Why didn't you tell me you were coming?!"
Hayjin chuckled, infected by that burst of pure energy which instantly made him forget all his paranoia.
"Calm down, calm down, one breath at a time, princess," he said, placing a hand on her head to stop her continuous bouncing. "Rhaegalur went back home, yeah. But Arkon asked if I wanted to stay here at the castle for a few days... to be near your sister and get some rest. And I said yes. So, I'll be your guest for a bit."
At that explanation, Wren went completely ecstatic, letting out a little cry of victory. "Hooray! That's awesome! So you're staying! That means we can hang out, you can tell me more stories, and I won't have to listen to the boring sages talking about politics all day!"
"Since you're here, I'm leading the way now!" Wren decreed, grabbing him by the sleeve and starting to drag him down the corridor without giving him a chance to object. "I'll show you the castle myself, I know all the secret passages and the coolest spots!"
Hayjin let himself be dragged along, amused by her complete lack of royal protocol. The two thus began to explore the castle, walking side by side through the enormous art galleries and loggias that overlooked the mountains.
As they walked, Wren's expression suddenly turned a bit more serious, and the little girl looked up at him from below with a shadow of worry in her large golden eyes.
"Hey, Hayjin..." she began, lowering her voice. "How are you... you know, after that awful business in the dungeon? When Zhilian came back, she looked like a ghost, and everyone at court was whispering that you guys almost died down there. I was so, so scared for you."
Hayjin felt a slight tug at his heart, but he forced himself to maintain a calm, reassuring tone so as not to frighten her.
"I'm fine, Wren. Really," he replied, giving her a genuine smile. "It was a tough moment, I won't deny it. That place was a bit of a cursed maze. But as you can see, I'm completely in one piece. Let's just say I'm going to rest up here at the castle to get my strength back and recover. Between the treats from the royal kitchens and your company, I think it'll take me no time at all to get back to a hundred percent."
Wren seemed relieved by his words and immediately regained her usual vitality. She began showing him various areas of the castle, explaining the history of the rooms with contagious enthusiasm.
"Look at that painting up there! That's my great-grandfather, King Opes the Third! They say he defeated an entire army of goblins by himself, but I think it's a lie because he has a huge belly in the picture!" Wren recounted, pointing to the immense canvases hanging on the marble walls. "And see that hallway way down there? That's the Gallery of Silver Mirrors. That's where the knights take their vows before going to war. It's a bit chilly, but when there's a full moon, the reflections look magical..."
Hayjin listened to her intently, fascinated by how a child could make a place feel alive and almost magical a place that, just a few minutes prior, had seemed to him like nothing more than a prison of stone and pompous nobles.
"Princess Wren! Do you really think this is proper behavior?"
A cold, rigid, and perfectly modulated voice abruptly cut off the little girl's story. From the far end of the corridor stepped forward a woman who, however, did not wear the typical high-ranking maid uniform of the castle.
It was Riko, Wren's personal maid.
Riko stopped a few paces away from them, and before even looking at her princess, she glared intensely at Hayjin. Her gray eyes were full of suspicion, coldness, and a blatant disapproval of the fact that a common boy a human, no less was walking so freely beside the young royal.
Hayjin, caught off guard by that sudden wave of hostility, felt confused and preferred to say nothing, remembering Rhaegalur's advice about not wasting breath on those who couldn't understand. He limited himself to holding her gaze, though visibly annoyed.
Riko averted her eyes from him with a slight jerk of her chin, instantly shifting her expression into a mask of formal courtesy as she turned to Wren, bowing her head deeply.
"Your Highness, I have been searching for you everywhere," Riko said, her voice turning sweet. "Sage Arkon asked me to inform you that dinner is ready and that all the guests are waiting for you in the secondary dining hall. It is not dignified for a princess to be running through the corridors at this hour, especially... in the company of strangers."
Wren pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. "Riko, I wasn't running! And Hayjin isn't a stranger, he's my friend!"
However, the thought of food seemed to win out over her desire to protest. The little girl's face lit up again. "But it's true, I'm starving! Let's go eat!"
Without a second thought, Wren turned to Hayjin, firmly grabbed his right hand with her warm, small hand, and began pulling him toward the dining hall, walking briskly right beside him.
At that sudden, spontaneous contact, Hayjin froze for half a second. Beneath his light-brown complexion, he felt his cheeks catch fire completely, beginning to blush intensely. He looked down at his hand enclosed in the little girl's, then looked at Wren's back as she dragged him along with absolute naturalness, entirely indifferent to the scandalized glare Riko was throwing at them from behind.
A sense of clean warmth, far away from any loop, any monster, and any fear, filled his chest. And so, as he was escorted toward the royal dinner by an enthusiastic child, Hayjin began to smile like a complete idiot, feeling that maybe, after all, staying in this castle hadn't been such a terrible idea.