Death or Survival

As they made their way out of the Misty Forest, the sound of their weary footsteps broke the surrounding silence. Leven, who seemed excited despite his exhaustion, turned to Zelestina and said with a calm smile:

"We're close to the imperial palace. We can reach it before nightfall."

Zelestina, carrying the injured Ji on her back, looked at him skeptically:

"And what if they think we kidnapped you? That would put us in a bad situation."

Leven chuckled lightly and replied:

"Don't worry. I'll explain everything to them. The guards know me well; everything will be fine."

Ji, who was barely conscious due to extreme fatigue, muttered faintly:

"No... we shouldn't... waste... time..."

Zelestina, feeling the weight of his body and his dire state, tightened her grip and said firmly:

"I won't let anything happen to you. Stay calm; we'll be there soon."

The road was rough, and the surrounding trees seemed to breathe with every step they took. The wind carried the scent of damp grass, and when the imperial palace towers appeared on the horizon, Zelestina felt a slight relief but kept her guard up.

At the palace gates, the guards were waiting. When they saw Leven, they rushed toward him, shouting:

"Prince Leven! What happened to you? Are you alright?"

The guards approached them with their swords raised, casting suspicious glances toward Zelestina and Ji. Zelestina, who didn't trust them, placed her hand on her sword's hilt, ready for any confrontation.

The head of the guards, a tall man with stern features and a prominent scar on his cheek, stepped forward, looking at them with suspicion. He spoke in a voice filled with accusation:

"Did you kidnap the prince?"

Zelestina, feeling insulted, retorted angrily:

"We saved him from death! Without us, he wouldn't be here now!"

But the guard captain interrupted her sharply:

"Speak with respect, you..."

Before he could finish his words, Leven interrupted him with unexpected anger:

"Silence! They are my friends. They saved me from certain danger. If you don't understand what happened, don't speak unnecessarily!"

The captain fell silent for a moment, unable to ignore the prince's orders. He lowered his head and said curtly:

"As you command, Your Highness."

"Now, let them in!" Leven gestured to the guards, and the group proceeded toward the palace.

Inside the palace, the atmosphere was entirely different from the Misty Forest. The brightly lit halls and sparkling chandeliers made Ji feel like he was in another world. After being provided a luxurious room, Ji was taken there to rest.

When Ji opened his eyes after hours of deep sleep, he found himself lying on a soft, spacious bed. He looked around slowly, trying to make sense of what had happened. Near him, Zelestina sat on a wooden chair, silently reading a book.

When she noticed he was awake, she closed the book and looked at him with a faint smile:

"Finally awake. How are you feeling now?"

Ji, still feeling some pain, mumbled:

"Where are we? Are we in the imperial palace?"

"Yes," Zelestina replied, pointing to the large window overlooking the royal gardens. "The ruler wants to see you after dinner. He wants to thank you for saving his son."

Ji, still feeling disoriented, asked:

"And you? Are you alright?"

Zelestina chuckled lightly and said:

"I'm fine, don't worry about that. Focus on regaining your strength."

After dinner, Ji dressed in elegant clothes prepared for him. While getting ready to leave, Don suddenly appeared beside him, smirking mischievously:

"Wow, look at you, Ji! You look like a real prince. Hahaha!"

Ji, feeling embarrassed, tried to play it off and said:

"Alright, thanks for your usual encouraging words."

When Ji entered the throne room, he found the king seated on his throne. The man looked serious, but his eyes carried a clear sense of curiosity. He spoke in a calm yet authoritative tone:

"Tell me, how did you save my son?"

Ji began narrating the story, detailing every event. The king listened silently, his expression reflecting his astonishment. When Ji finished, the king said:

"You seem like an ordinary person, so how did you manage to face those monsters?"

Ji hesitated for a moment, then said:

"I'm not entirely human... I'm something else."

The king, not expecting this answer, rose from his seat and said:

"What do you mean?"

Before Ji could continue, Don appeared beside him and whispered angrily:

"Don't reveal my secret, Ji!"

Feeling pressured, Ji changed his answer and said:

"Maybe it was just luck. I don't know."

In the end, the king thanked Ji deeply and said:

"For saving my son, I'll provide you with a safe place, skilled mentors to help you develop your abilities, and all the resources you need. You and your companion are welcome to stay here as long as you wish."

Ji, feeling grateful, said quietly:

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After three days of rest and intensive training, Ji felt his strength returning. He decided to continue his journey, but Zelestina insisted on accompanying him.

"I won't let you go alone. You'll need my help."

"Thank you, Zelestina. You're always by my side."

As they prepared to leave, Leven suddenly appeared and declared:

"I'm coming with you!"

The king tried to stop him, but he was adamant. After a long discussion, the king reluctantly agreed, provided that some personal guards accompanied them.

And so, the three set off together on a new journey toward the rugged mountain region of Zeiker, where new adventures and unexpected challenges awaited them.

End of chapter...