They walked into the castle, and Azel felt like it was his first ti stepping inside again.
The vast marble halls stretched as far as the eye could see, and he could see the chandeliers once again.
Servants moved quickly through the corridors, carrying trays and docunts with their immaculate uniforms.
Barely anything had changed... this place was still the sa, even after everyone believed Edna died too... It was still the sa.
’It’s been over a year since I was last here,’ he thought. ’By now, Ira should’ve been enrolled at the Academy already... But she’s still with Naelia doing god knows what.’
He brushed the thought aside. ’Well, let’s put that aside for now.’
"Welco to Star Castle," ca a refined voice.
A butler stepped forward and bowed with grace. "I am Head Butler Martinez, and I have been assigned to guide you two to the eting table."
"Thank you," Mynes said calmly.
Azel simply nodded, following her lead.
They trailed the butler down another long hallway and he had a hunch about where they were being taken.
Apparently he was right.
Martinez stopped before a tall pair of ornate double doors and opened them wide.
Inside was a grand dining hall, it was still as beautiful as he rembered.
At the long, golden table sat several people... n and won in robes and suits embroidered with their family crests.
These were nobles.
Not just regular nobles though... they were angry, important nobles.
But Azel imdiately recognized a few familiar faces among them.
Principal Dorian Astralis sat calmly with his hands folded, watching the argunt unfold before him.
Beside him was Aldric Starbloom who was still as confident as ever, it was to be expected since he was the Emperor.
Further down, he spotted Captain Mira, her violet hair was unmistakable even from a distance.
It had been a long ti since he’d last seen her, and she had only grown more striking since then.
The eting was heated.
"My daughter almost died there! She’s just a first-year — how can I be expected to overlook this?!"
That voice belonged to Cassian Everbright, Flare’s father. He was one of the loudest, and sounded like the kind of man who made sure his anger was always heard.
Azel might have believed him if he didn’t know the way this man treated Flare... he was sure this was just a way to rack up so points from the Imperial family.
Azel paused near the doorway as Martinez cleared his throat loudly, drawing all attention toward them.
"Presenting Lady Mynes Duvraine and Lord Azel Thorne," Martinez announced with a small bow. "They ca a long way to attend this eting."
Silence fell imdiately.
Then, a booming laugh broke it.
"Oh my boy, is that you?" The King’s face lit up in recognition. "You’ve grown quite tall... and muscular, too!" he said with a hearty grin, waving Azel closer.
Azel hesitated for a mont, but manners demanded obedience.
He walked forward, stopping before the Emperor, then bowed low.
"Good morning, Your Majesty. I hope you’re in good health," he said formally.
For all his private disdain for the man, Azel still acknowledged that Aldric Starbloom was the Empire’s ruler... for now at least.
The King’s gaze drifted toward Mira and then back at Azel with a knowing smile.
"Co on, lad. Go sit beside Mira. You two have a lot to catch up on."
Azel didn’t argue.
He moved toward the seat beside her and sat down quietly, noting how much taller he’d grown compared to her since the last ti they t.
Mira turned to him, her athyst eyes turned warm.
"You look... a whole lot more mature now," she said softly, flicking her purple hair back over her shoulder.
"Thanks," Azel said, leaning back slightly in his chair.
"I heard you mastered the Sword Saint style completely," she continued. "It’s a sha I never got to see all your techniques before."
Azel gave a small smile.
"I can still show you later," he replied.
She held her hand to her lips, like she was trying not to laugh.
"Still confident and boastfuls ever."
anwhile, Mynes took her place across the table beside a regal woman who bore a striking resemblance to her... she was an older and more elegant version of Mynes.
Azel assud that was Stella, Mynes’s mother.
He caught her staring at him for a brief mont before she turned away, completely uninterested.
The nobles, on the other hand, resud their squabbling.
Azel had no interest in listening to their self-serving outbursts.
Mira, apparently sharing his thoughts, sighed softly and reached for a bottle of champagne that sat on the table.
"Have you ever had a bottle of Empire alcohol before?" she asked.
Azel blinked.
"No, I didn’t see the need," he said honestly. Or had he? He couldn’t honeslty rember.
"Perfect," she said, smiling.
She poured a glass of the shimring golden liquid and slid it toward him. "Then consider this your first ti drinking."
Azel raised an eyebrow. "Don’t you think we shouldn’t be doing this at a eting table?"
"Just do as your elders say," she teased.
He chuckled and took the glass. "Fine."
He was a man that liked drinking back in his past life... just one drink here wouldn’t hurt him, would it?
He drank it down and he had to admit, it was a good drink.
"Not bad," he admitted.
Right now, King Aldric was now listening quietly to Cassian’s rants. The other nobles were chiming in, he hated social etings like this one...
Cassian slamd his hand on the table, shaking the cutlery.
"How am I supposed to stay quiet when the Academy lacks security?! My daughter nearly died because of their incompetence! Clones?! Why would a professor be making clones right below your noses and you wouldn’t be able to know?"
Dorian spoke.
"Sir Cassian, we’ve already compensated the victims’ families and doubled the funding for defensive wards around the Academy’s periter. However, blaming every professor or representative will not bring back what was lost."
"Don’t speak to like I’m ignorant, Astralis!" Cassian shot back. "You’re the one at fault for not being able to see it sooner and guess what? He’s still at large... He could be creating an army of clones right now and we wouldn’t kno—"
"Enough."
The King’s voice echoed once and the entire hall fell silent.
Azel watched quietly as Aldric leaned back in his chair.
"We’re here to discuss asures, not to point fingers endlessly. That being said..."
The King’s gaze slowly shifted toward Azel.
"...I believe one of the people here has firsthand experience in the matter."
Azel straightened, already expecting what ca next.
"Why don’t we hear what Azel Thorne has to say about it?" Cassian said suddenly, turning toward him with narrowed eyes.
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