The King stopped mid-step, eyebrows rising.
Roma looked like she wanted to say sothing—probably a warning about royal protocol—but Northern was already continuing.
"I understand skepticism. Really, I do. It sounds impossible. But I don’t have ti for lengthy explanations or proof-gathering expeditions." He glanced around the throne room, taking in the carved stone pillars, the guards positioned at every entrance, the courtiers watching with barely concealed curiosity. "Send scouts to Stelia if you want confirmation. Send your whole army. I genuinely don’t care. What I care about is retrieving Abyss Tyrant and leaving."
"Abyss Tyrant?" The King frowned. "The monster we have in custody?"
"Yes. He’s mine. Part of my group." Northern’s tone suggested this should have been obvious. "I’d like him back, along with the doctor you’re also holding."
The official who’d brought them stepped forward, indignation written across his face. "Your Majesty, this is absurd! We cannot simply release potentially dangerous entities on the word of—"
"On the word of the person who could level this entire mountain if he felt like it," Northern said conversationally. "Not that I would. Too much effort. But let’s not pretend you could stop if I decided to just take them."
The threat—casual, almost throwaway—landed like a thunderclap.
The guards tensed. Hands moved toward weapons. The Admiral’s expression shifted to sothing wary, his posture subtly adjusting into sothing more defensive.
But the King... the King laughed.
It was a genuine sound, surprised and almost delighted. The tension in the room wavered, uncertain how to respond.
"By the stars," he said, studying Northern with new appreciation. "Roma, you didn’t ntion your friend was quite this bold."
"I didn’t know he was quite this bold," Roma admitted, looking at Northern like she was seeing him for the first ti.
The King circled Northern slowly, evaluating. Northern stood still, unbothered by the scrutiny. He’d been assessed by far worse than kings. By things that didn’t laugh or make deals—things that simply killed what they found wanting.
"You remind of soone," the King said finally. "Soone who ca to this throne room years ago and made similar claims. Similar threats, even." He smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "They were telling the truth too."
He stopped in front of Northern, close enough that most people would have felt intimidated by his size and presence. The man was tall, broad-shouldered, built like soone who’d earned his throne through more than just birthright.
Northern didn’t step back.
"You want your people back. Fine. But first, you’ll demonstrate."
Northern’s eyes narrowed. "Demonstrate?"
"Prove that you’re as capable as you claim." The King gestured broadly. "My daughter speaks highly of you. The Admiral here tells you arrived in a vessel that should require a crew of hundreds. Your friends claim you fought Origins." He leaned forward slightly. "Show sothing. Anything. Give reason to believe that releasing dangerous entities into your custody is wise."
Northern was quiet for a long mont, considering.
’He’s not wrong to ask. From his perspective, I’m just a kid making wild claims.’
But he was also tired. And increasingly annoyed at having to justify himself repeatedly. Every kingdom, every authority figure, every person with power—they all wanted the sa thing. Proof. Demonstrations. Tests.
As if what he’d survived wasn’t proof enough.
"What did you have in mind?" he asked finally.
The King smiled—and this ti it reached his eyes, predatory and eager.
"A simple test. My best warrior against you. If you’re truly as strong as you claim, it should be trivial." He paused, sothing almost playful in his expression. "Unless, of course, you were exaggerating?"
Northern looked at the King. Then at Roma, who seed caught between concern and curiosity. Then at his friends, who looked worried but not surprised—they knew him well enough to know what was coming.
"Fine," Northern said. "One condition though."
"Oh?"
"When I win, you release Abyss Tyrant and the doctor imdiately. No more delays, no more questions, no more bureaucracy. We take them and leave."
The King’s smile widened. "And when you lose?"
"I won’t lose," Northern said with absolute certainty. "But if sohow I do, I’ll answer every question you have about Stelia in excruciating detail. Fair?"
The King extended his hand.
"Fair."
Northern shook it, noting the King’s grip was designed to test strength—firm, deliberate, the kind of squeeze ant to establish dominance. He didn’t bother competing. Just matched the pressure exactly, his expression unchanged. There was no point in playing gas like this anymore. Not after everything.
The King’s eyes flickered with sothing that might have been respect.
"Roma, clear the training grounds. Everyone else—" he addressed the room at large "—you’re about to see sothing interesting."
As people began moving, Northern caught Ellis’s worried look.
"It’ll be fine," Northern said quietly. "Probably won’t even take five minutes."
"That’s what worries ," Ellis muttered.
Roma approached as they began filing out of the throne room. "Northern, my father’s best warrior is my eldest brother. He just recently beca an Ascendant, surpassing even Father."
Northern glanced at her. "And?"
"And you should know what you’re getting into."
"I appreciate the concern," Northern said, genuinely aning it. "But Roma—I just killed an Origin. A newborn Ascendant is..." He searched for appropriate words. "Not really a concern."
Roma studied his face, looking for bravado or false confidence. She found neither—just the calm certainty of soone stating an obvious fact.
"What happened to you?" she asked softly. "In just a few weeks?"
Northern thought about Stelia. About Kryos and the Chaos Prince and everything he’d done. About the person he’d beco—or perhaps the person he’d always been, finally allowed to stop pretending otherwise. The deaths. The choices. The weight of it all, settling into his bones like sothing that would never quite leave.
"I took your advice," he said finally. "Stopped pretending I wasn’t willing to do whatever it takes." He t her eyes briefly, then looked away. "Co on. Let’s get this over with."
They moved toward the training grounds, the King walking ahead with Roma, Northern following with his friends, and what seed like half the palace guard trailing behind to witness.
’Just another demonstration,’ Northern thought. ’Just another person who needs convincing.’
He was getting very tired of convincing people.
Maybe after this one, they’d finally just let him leave.
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