— The Emperor's Test
The palace hall stood vast and silent.
Tall pillars rose toward the ceiling, carved with ancient patterns that carried the weight of history. The air itself felt heavy, as if it was filled with an invisible authority that pressed down on anyone who entered.
Nahil stepped inside slowly.
Each step echoed faintly.
At the far end of the hall, seated upon the throne, was Emperor Smaguel Klowen.
His presence alone made the space feel distant.
Not overwhelming in an aggressive way—
but absolute.
It was the kind of pressure that reminded one of their place without needing to force it.
—
Nahil walked forward steadily.
He stopped at a respectful distance and bowed slightly.
"Junior Nahil greets Your Majesty."
His tone was calm and controlled.
—
The Emperor did not respond immediately.
His gaze rested on Nahil.
Deep.
Sharp.
As if trying to see through everything.
—
Nahil felt it clearly.
That gaze carried weight.
It was not simply looking—
it was measuring.
Judging.
—
A few moments passed in silence.
Then the Emperor finally spoke.
"So, you are the boy my daughter brought back."
His voice was calm, yet it carried unquestionable authority.
—
Nahil raised his head slightly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
—
The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You were found in the forest."
"You have no known background."
"No clear origin."
He paused.
"And yet… you now stand here."
—
Nahil remained silent.
He did not interrupt.
—
"Tell me," the Emperor continued, "who are you?"
—
The question was simple.
But the meaning behind it was not.
—
Nahil took a brief moment before answering.
"My name is Nahil Dragsen."
He spoke clearly.
"I was raised in Lamul City, within the Samarian Empire."
—
The Emperor listened without expression.
"Raised?" he asked.
—
Nahil nodded.
"I was adopted."
—
A faint shift passed through the Emperor's gaze.
"Explain."
—
Nahil spoke steadily.
"I was found near the outskirts of the city when I was very young. I do not remember my original family."
"My adoptive father is Draven Washin."
"My adoptive mother is Teresa Washin."
"They raised me as their own."
—
The Emperor remained silent, allowing him to continue.
—
"They are both cultivators at the Golden Core stage," Nahil added.
"My father is also a talisman maker."
"He runs a small shop in the capital."
—
The Emperor's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of his throne.
"A small family…"
—
Nahil nodded slightly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
—
"And your cultivation?" the Emperor asked.
—
"I am currently at the Third Stage of Qi Refining," Nahil replied.
—
A faint pause followed.
—
The Emperor's gaze sharpened slightly.
"At your age… that is not impressive."
—
Nahil did not react.
He simply nodded.
"I understand."
—
There was no defensiveness.
No excuses.
—
This caused the Emperor to observe him more carefully.
—
"Your spiritual roots?" he asked.
—
"Dual attributes," Nahil replied.
"Fire and wind."
—
The Emperor leaned back slightly.
"Average."
—
Again, Nahil did not react.
He accepted the judgment calmly.
—
"But…" the Emperor continued slowly,
"My daughter chose to bring you back personally."
"That alone makes your situation… unusual."
—
Nahil remained silent.
He understood that this was not something he could explain.
—
The Emperor watched him for a few more seconds.
"You were injured in the forest."
"Severely."
—
Nahil's expression remained steady.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
—
"And yet," the Emperor said, his voice lowering slightly,
"You recovered completely in a short time."
—
For the first time, Nahil felt a slight tension in the air.
—
"I am not sure how it happened," he replied honestly.
"When I regained consciousness, my injuries were already healed."
—
The Emperor continued to watch him.
There was no clear lie in his words.
But there was something missing.
—
Still—
he did not press further.
—
"Tell me," the Emperor said, "what do you think of this marriage?"
—
Nahil paused briefly.
Then answered,
"It is not a matter of choice."
—
The Emperor's gaze shifted slightly.
—
"It is a political decision," Nahil continued.
"One that benefits the empire."
—
Silence followed.
—
The Emperor leaned forward slightly.
"You speak as if you understand your position."
—
Nahil met his gaze.
"I do."
—
Another brief silence.
—
"Then tell me," the Emperor said, his voice calm but firm,
"what do you intend to gain from this?"
—
Nahil did not hesitate this time.
"Strength."
"And the opportunity to survive."
—
The answer was direct.
Without decoration.
—
The Emperor watched him closely.
There was no greed in his tone.
No arrogance.
Only clarity.
—
After a moment, the Emperor spoke again.
"Strength is not given."
"It is taken."
—
Nahil nodded.
"I understand."
—
The Emperor's gaze deepened.
"Do you believe you have the ability to rise within this palace?"
—
This time, Nahil paused slightly longer.
—
"I do not know," he said honestly.
"But I will not remain weak."
—
The Emperor's fingers stopped tapping.
—
There was no false confidence.
No empty promise.
—
"…Good," the Emperor said.
—
He leaned back again.
—
"If you wish to remain in this palace…"
His voice became more serious.
"…then prove your worth."
—
Nahil listened carefully.
—
The Emperor continued,
"If you can reach the Golden Core stage before the age of twenty…"
He paused slightly.
"I will give you an opportunity within the royal palace."
—
The weight of those words settled heavily in the air.
—
Nahil's eyes narrowed slightly.
Golden Core before twenty.
That was not a simple condition.
It was a test.
—
Still—
he did not hesitate.
—
"Yes, Your Majesty," he said firmly.
"I will try my best."
—
The Emperor watched him for a moment longer.
—
"…Trying is not enough," he said.
"But we will see."
—
Silence followed once again.
—
Then the Emperor waved his hand slightly.
"You may leave."
—
Nahil bowed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
—
He turned and walked out of the hall.
—
Each step felt lighter than before.
But his mind was heavy with thoughts.
—
Golden Core before twenty…
—
That was not a small goal.
But it was not impossible.
—
If I want to survive here… I have no choice.
—
His gaze became firm.
—
I will reach it.
—
The doors of the hall closed behind him.
—
Inside, the Emperor remained seated.
His expression slowly returned to calm.
—
After a moment, he spoke.
"Come out."
—
A figure appeared from the shadows.
A subordinate, kneeling respectfully.
"My lord."
—
The Emperor's gaze remained steady.
"Verify everything the boy has said."
—
The subordinate lowered his head.
"Yes, my lord."
—
"His background."
"His family."
"Everything."
—
"Yes, my lord."
—
The figure disappeared as silently as it had appeared.
—
The Emperor leaned back slightly.
His eyes narrowed faintly.
—
"A boy with no background…"
"…yet impossible to see through completely."
—
He did not fully trust it.
But he did not reject it either.
—
"For now…"
he murmured softly,
"let us see how far you can go."
And with that—
the hall returned to silence.