Silence befell the room once more.
The ten members sat quietly in their seats.
Mordren's head had already begun regenerating, though the process was far from complete.
His jaw hung slightly out of place, one eye had yet to return, and parts of his face were still reforming.
Eric tried not to stare.
He failed.
Zarin stood at the head of the table, staring into the distance.
"It's so quiet here."
Vask finally broke the silence, leaning far back in his chair.
"Well, it was until you decided to open your dumb mouth."
Seraphine immediately shot back.
Vask shrugged.
"Rhaen, it's good to see you've returned."
Every hair on my body stood on edge.
I forced a huge smile.
"Good to be home."
"For a moment there, I thought you tried to run away."
Vask continued.
I actually needed his small talk.
At least he was giving me something else to focus on.
"Well, that would've left a bad mark on Zarin."
Soren added.
"Exactly."
"Were you on a mission?"
Maevra suddenly asked.
My eyes shot towards Zarin.
For help.
That was wishful thinking.
"Well, umm..."
I scratched the back of my neck.
"Something quite close to that."
Zarin might have been the leader of the Roundtable, but every member had their own subordinates.
And I happened to be under Zarin's authority.
That meant the other Upper Phase demons couldn't punish me themselves.
Still...
I didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble.
Especially after watching what happened to 001.
I wasn't interested in having a second demonstration.
"Do you think the King will actually show up?"
Theron glanced towards the empty throne.
"It's been ten minutes."
Everyone else shrugged.
"Zarin..."
Kaine's deep voice suddenly called out.
Zarin didn't turn.
"Were you successful with your mission?"
"You'll find out when the King gets here, Kaine."
Kaine said nothing.
The room fell silent again.
Demons didn't age the same way humans did.
Most of the people sitting around this table looked almost ageless.
For all Eric knew, some of them had been sitting in this very room for decades.
"It's interesting how long it's taking you to heal, Mordren."
Rook suddenly burst into laughter.
The others soon followed.
Mordren's remaining eye twitched.
"Maybe next time you shouldn't go around picking fights."
Odrak added.
The table snickered once more.
Mordren glared at them.
"What's funny?"
The doors suddenly opened.
Everyone stopped.
The King had arrived.
A tall figure entered the throne room, dressed in a long, majestic robe that trailed across the floor behind him.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Every member of the Roundtable stood.
Eric quickly followed.
Everyone bowed.
The King walked towards the elevated platform as the doors closed behind him.
Only one guard remained inside.
Zarin followed behind the King, stopping at the bottom of the stairs.
He watched as the King ascended.
The guard stepped forward and carefully removed the King's heavy robe.
The King lowered himself onto the throne.
King Zelus.
The 109th King of the Demon Realm.
The pinnacle of power within this realm.
His large stature alone demanded attention.
But it was his presence that truly filled the room.
When he finally spoke, his deep voice seemed to travel through every corner of the chamber.
Three obvious scars crossed his face.
Each one looked like the mark of a battle he'd won.
And Eric had no doubt there were many more hidden beneath his robes.
"So..."
The King looked around the table.
His eyes stopped.
Mordren was still partially regenerated.
The King stared at him.
"Mordren..."
His voice echoed through the hall.
"One would think that after all these years, you'd respect your position."
He leaned against the side of his throne, resting his head against his hand.
"Every member of this table is unique."
His eyes moved across the Roundtable.
"Every one of you is part of my elite soldiers."
His gaze returned to Mordren.
"Do me a favor and respect that."
A pause.
"Or you can consider yourself replaced."
Eric understood immediately.
Replaced.
Dead.
Mordren couldn't answer.
His body was still healing.
The damage Zarin had inflicted was taking longer than usual to repair.
Only Zarin and the King could recover from something like that almost effortlessly.
The hall fell silent.
"Zarin."
Zarin stepped forward from the bottom of the stairs.
"My Lord."
"You called for this meeting."
The King leaned back.
"I expect some good news."
"Of course, My Lord."
The ten members settled into their seats.
I remained standing against the wall.
Zarin began.
"It's known that I left the realm a while back in search of the Vyre Stones."
His eyes travelled across the table.
"During my search, I came across a parallel human dimension."
Several members looked up.
"A town called Elton."
Zarin paused.
"They're very similar to the humans of the Onyx Dimension."
He looked towards the King.
"Except they're powerless."
The King remained silent.
"After several encounters while searching for the stones, I came across a group of young adults."
Zarin's voice remained calm.
"They call themselves..."
He paused.
"The Guardians."
The King's presence suddenly became colder.
"What?"
There was an element of surprise in his voice.
His expression, however, barely changed.
"The Guardians?"
Maevra leaned forward.
"Are those the human heroes we annihilated twenty years ago?"
"That's right."
Odrak shrugged.
"I almost forgot about that event."
"What a laugh."
Isolde's quiet voice entered the conversation.
"Are they trying to make a comeback?"
Vask stroked his chin.
"Are you sure they're the real deal? I'm pretty sure we finished off their predecessors."
"Apparently, one predecessor survived."
Zarin's eyes moved towards the King.
The King stared back.
Something passed between them.
Something Eric couldn't understand.
"Xavier."
The King finally spoke.
"Correct, My Lord."
Zarin nodded.
"He trained these kids."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"They inherited the legacy and power left behind for them."
A pause.
"And we gave them a head start of twenty years."
Zarin called it a head start.
But Eric knew the truth.
Hunter and the others wouldn't last ten seconds against even 010.
Yet Zarin had allowed them to escape.
Perhaps he wanted to see what they would become.
Perhaps he simply wanted to see how far their determination could take them.
"If you know this much..."
Mordren finally spoke.
His voice was rough from his unfinished regeneration.
"Why aren't their heads here?"
Several members looked towards him.
"Or perhaps you actually let a bunch of kids get the better of you."
"Like I was saying..."
Zarin continued without even acknowledging the insult.
"I had a standoff with Xavier, the former Dragon's Chosen, and eventually his friend, Andrew."
The King listened.
"Unfortunately, they managed to escape."
The King's eyebrows tightened.
"From you?"
"I was unfamiliar with Andrew's abilities."
Zarin answered calmly.
"His spells were powerful. With Xavier by his side, they made a good combination."
"And?"
The King urged him on.
"The Guardians escaped as well."
Zarin paused.
"That made me wonder where they could possibly be running to."
He looked around the room.
"A dimension where I couldn't follow?"
His eyes returned to the King.
"It's obvious they headed for the Human Realm."
The room remained silent.
"Now they know you're searching for the Vyre Stones."
Zarin continued.
"It's possible they'll attempt to reach them before you."
He paused.
"And perhaps gain possession of the Onyx Sword."
Seraphine's eyes narrowed.
"So you let them escape..."
She leaned against her chair.
"...in order to lead us to it."
"Exactly."
Zarin nodded.
"We've been searching for these human treasures for the longest time."
His expression remained emotionless.
"They are among the few things capable of posing a threat to the King."
He looked towards the empty spaces between the members.
"And now these humans may lead us straight to them."
"Just give them time."
Theron folded his arms.
"It's just as brilliant as it is dangerous."
He glanced towards Zarin.
"Should they reach the artifacts first, it could become a problem."
"Don't tell me you can't handle a bunch of kids."
Kaine immediately countered.
"I'm very certain I can, Kaine—"
"Then there's no problem."
Kaine smiled strangely.
"We allow them to gain some sense of hope and freedom..."
His smile widened.
"Then snuff it out like a match."
"So, Zarin."
Isolde tilted her head.
"Did you return empty-handed?"
Zarin reached into his coat.
He pulled out a flat box.
He walked towards the throne.
Ascending the stairs, he handed the box to the King before returning to his position.
The King opened it.
Inside...
Lay two of the Vyre Stones.
Emerald.
Sapphire.
Mordren's eye widened.
For the first time since the meeting began, genuine surprise crossed his face.
Zarin had returned with something.
The King stared at the stones for several seconds.
Longer than necessary.
"I was able to take them just before Xavier escaped through a portal."
The King looked up.
"I see."
Xavier and Andrew hadn't realized the gust of wind that had grazed them was Zarin.
He had remained motionless.
Pretending to be unconscious.
"Well done, Zarin."
The King's voice softened slightly.
"I'm very proud of your accomplishments."
He finally snapped the box shut.
Then his eyes returned to Zarin.
"But tell me..."
The room became still.
"Does Achlys' son breathe?"
Zarin stared back at him.
He said nothing.
The King watched him carefully.
Several seconds passed.
"I see."
That was all he said.
Eric felt something shift inside the room.
There was something between these two.
Something different.
The King didn't speak to Zarin the way he spoke to the others.
And Zarin didn't look at the King the way he looked at everyone else.
"Well..."
The King's gaze shifted.
"What role did Rhaen have in all this?"
My stomach dropped.
Finally.
I was the topic.
I guess my punishment begins now.
"He infiltrated the enemy ranks."
Zarin answered.
"And assisted me in fighting the enemy."
Words vanished from my mind.
Did he just cover for me?
If I'd been caught...
It wasn't an exaggeration to say I would've been dead on the spot.
Did he cover for me because he cared?
Or because I still had some kind of use?
Probably the latter.
"Quite formidable, Rhaen."
King Zelus praised me.
It was quite needless to explain how relieved I felt.
"Thank you, My Lord."
"Does anyone else have anything to say?"
Mordren's hand immediately flew into the air.
"My Lord."
He waited until the King looked towards him.
"Shall I take up this mission from Zarin?"
His eyes shifted towards Zarin.
"After all, he deserves some rest."
He smiled.
"I swear not to disappoint you."
The King stared at him.
"Zarin appoints you if he needs to."
His tone hardened.
"Until then, your orders come from him."
Mordren's smile faded.
The King rose from his throne.
Everyone else stood immediately.
"This meeting is dismissed."
King Zelus stepped down from the platform.
The guard followed him.
The doors opened.
The King left.
And the doors closed behind him.
"You never seem to learn, Mordren."
Soren immediately spoke.
"Shut the hell up."
Mordren leaned back in his chair.
"This was supposed to be my mission in the first place."
Zarin began walking towards the door.
I quickly followed.
We left the Roundtable behind.
"I appreciate you for your help back there."
I spoke sincerely.
I wasn't expecting an answer.
"What do you mean, help?"
Zarin didn't even look at me.
We stepped through the doors.
Two guards immediately approached.
One stood on each side of me.
That's when reality finally dawned on me.
Oh.
No.
Zarin stopped.
"You ran away."
My heart sank.
"You lived with humans."
The guards stepped closer.
"You defied my authority."
I swallowed.
"You addressed me directly by my name in Elton."
Zarin finally turned towards me.
"And you actually tried to throw hands with me."
His eyes narrowed.
"Brave, aren't you?"
Dread washed over me.
"Take him."
The guards grabbed my arms.
"Give him his punishment and lock him up for a day."
My eyes widened.
"Wait—"
The guards dragged me away.
I struggled, but there was no point.
Zarin turned around.
And simply walked back towards his wing.
He didn't look back.
Orders existed.
And those who defied the hierarchy...
Paid the price.
I had spent years away from the Demon Realm.
Apparently...
I still had a lot to learn.
It's going to be a long twenty-four hours.