The old man turned his gaze westward, his expression unreadable. Without another word, his figure blurred and then vanished into thin air, leaving behind only the faintest ripple in the air where he had stood. But just before he disappeared completely, his voice echoed through the grand chamber once more.

  "Summon the heads of the noble houses. And bring your daughter along to the castle."

  His command hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy with unspoken consequences.

  The nobles who had secretly conspired in the rebellion felt a chill run down their spines. Beads of sweat formed on their brows as they exchanged uneasy gnces, their minds racing with the implications of the old man's presence. His sheer power had been undeniable, his judgment swift and merciless. What fate awaited those who had taken up arms against the crown?

  Some clutched at the hems of their robes, others gritted their teeth, trying to maintain their composure. But fear had already taken root. They knew—whatever was coming, there would be no escaping it.

  By the afternoon, nobles from various houses had begun gathering at the castle, each eager to curry favor with the mysterious old man. Whispers filled the grand halls—some seeking to learn his identity, others merely hoping to avoid his wrath. Despite their outward poise, tension ran high, especially among those who had secretly pyed a hand in the rebellion.

  Later, a select group was summoned to Soran Keep. The heads of the four great houses, alongside higher-ranking members of the church and Melissa, the newly anointed Holy Priestess, took their seats in the grand chamber. At the head of the table, in the main seat of honor, sat the old man, his presence alone commanding silence.

  Before he could utter a word, Count Von Vienar, his face pale and eyes brimming with unshed tears, suddenly dropped to his knees. “Please, my lord! I swear upon my house’s name—I had no part in the betrayal! I had no knowledge of this treason!” His voice cracked with desperation, his trembling hands csped together in a plea.

  The old man barely spared him a gnce. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he muttered, “Be quiet.”

  The room fell into stunned silence.

  “I did not come here to settle the petty affairs of this kingdom,” he continued, his voice carrying an edge of irritation. “I couldn’t care less about your squabbles. My presence here is for a far greater matter—one that concerns your borders.”

  At his words, the tension in the room shifted.

  The gathered nobles, who had been bracing for punishment, now exchanged uneasy gnces, their expressions turning grim. The Pope’s brows furrowed, his fingers gripping his staff more tightly, while King Andrel remained impassive, though his knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists.

  Melissa, however, was visibly puzzled. Unlike the seasoned rulers and church officials present, she had no knowledge of anything happening at the kingdom’s borders. As she gnced around at the others, she saw nothing but grim understanding written on their faces.

  Something was very wrong.

  Melissa turned her gaze to the woman seated beside her, Lady Cassandra Viremont of House Viremont, her aunt. Unlike some people in the room, Cassandra showed no expression upon hearing about the borders, as if the revetion meant little to her.

  Sensing Melissa’s confusion, Cassandra leaned in slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “You were never meant to learn of this until after your ceremony,” she began, her tone gentle yet firm. “The borders… They are a secret known only to a select few—those in the highest positions of power, both in the kingdom and the church.”

  Melissa’s brows furrowed. “The borders?” she echoed

  Cassandra nodded, her silver eyes sharp and unwavering. “Melissa, there are other nds apart from where we live—some far rger than ours. From what I was told, there are around fifteen to twenty of them.”

  Melissa’s surprise only deepened. “That’s impossible. If that were true, why have we never heard of them?”

  Cassandra’s silver eyes locked onto hers. “Because our continent—the Kingdom of Light—sits at the very edge of the world. The borders you’ve heard is a magical barrier. It iswhat sseparatesus from the rest of the world.

  Melissa struggled to process the revetion. “You mean… the rest of the world doesn’t even know we exist?”

  Her aunt’s expression remained unreadable. “No, they do not. And we have spent centuries ensuring it stays that way.”

  Cassandra continued, her voice steady as she expined, “Pentra is where those who won the war alongside the Goddess and contributed the most were allowed to settle. The rest of humanity—those who survived but did not py a major role—were sent to the other continents.” She exhaled, as if weighing her own words. “I always thought it was just a story, a legend passed down through generations. But now that this old man has appeared…” She turned her gaze toward him, her silver eyes narrowing slightly. “If I’m not wrong, he should be someone from the era of the Gods.”

  Melissa's breath hitched as another wave of surprise washed over her. She turned sharply, her blue eyes locking onto the old man. He remained seated, his expression unreadable, as though he had expected this realization all along

  The old man leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze sweeping across the gathered nobles and clergy. “Gather your men,” he ordered. “Start searching the entire kingdom. Some people from the outside have entered Pentra.”

  A tense silence filled the room as the nobles exchanged uneasy gnces. Then murmurs broke out—how had outsiders managed to slip into their nd, past the borders?

  The old man’s next words sent a fresh wave of unease through them. “They stole something from the Echoing Encve.”

  At once, the weight of the revetion settled over the gathering like a storm cloud. For a moment, no one spoke. Then, hushed whispers spread like wildfire.

  The Echoing Encve? That sacred, untouchable pce.

  Someone had stolen from the old man?

  Their minds reeled at the implications. Could this be the reason for the terrifying energy waves that had shaken the capital? If those thieves were strong enough to evade the old man, how were they supposed to find them, much less capture them?

  Finally, one of the nobles cleared his throat and hesitantly asked, “Can I humbly ask, how do you know they came from the outside? It is impossible for anyone beyond the borders to enter Pentra. Only those within can leave.”

  The old man’s expression darkened with clear annoyance. “I can sense everything born on this nd,” he said, his voice sharp. “Every being, every creature, every drop of blood tied to Pentra—I know them all.” His gaze swept over the gathered nobles, daring them to question him further. “And I am telling you, these intruders are not from here. They are from the outside.”

  A heavy silence followed his words, the weight of the revetion pressing down on the room. The nobles and clergy turned to one another, their faces etched with disbelief and unease.

  NOTE

  Royal Lineage of Pentra (Simplified Family Tree)Ancient Kings (First Era, ~500,000 years ago)King Orivax the Eternal (Lived ~4,800 years) – Founder of the Royal House of Pentra.

  Married Lady Velthara Vienar, cementing the first noble alliance.

  Had three children, one of whom became King Zareth the Conqueror.

  King Zareth the Conqueror (Lived ~5,000 years) – Expanded Pentra’s territory.

  Married Princess Era of House Calystria, beginning a tradition of intermarriage with noble houses.

  Middle Kings (500th-800th Monarchs)King Vaelor the Blooded (Ruled for 120 years) – A short-lived but infamous ruler, known for his wars.

  Married Lady Ceyne Viremont, bringing House Viremont into direct royal politics.

  King Eldric the Warden (Lived ~3,500 years) – Strengthened alliances.

  Married Seraphina Ravencourt, stabilizing ties with House Ravencourt.

  Queen Lysara the Iron Veil (One of the few ruling queens, lived ~2,000 years)

  Married Prince Dain Vienar, restoring the Vienar bloodline in the royal family.

  Recent Kings (900th-990th Monarchs)King Magar the Lasting Fme (Lived 4,200 years) – Brought a golden age of magic.

  Married Lady Elyssia Calystria, reintroducing House Calystria’s influence.

  King Ronovar the Ashen Bde (Lived 800 years) – A short but impactful reign, ended by civil war.

  Married Lady Syrene Viremont, whose house was suspected of involvement in his assassination.

  King Vaedros the Twilight King (Lived 5,000 years) – The longest-lived modern ruler.

  Married Queen Regent Maris Ravencourt, securing a power bance.

  King Andrel (the 990th King)—The current ruler (lifespan and rule duration unknown).

  Married Era Viremont, ensuring the continuation of noble bloodlines.

  Longevity is unpredictable: Some kings reign for millennia, others for mere centuries. The reasons vary—magic, divine favor, assassination, or battle.

  Intermarriage with the Four Great Houses is a requirement to maintain legitimacy.

  The Crown passes through bloodline primacy, but noble houses can challenge a weak heir through political intrigue or war.

  Each king has a unique title based on their reign (e.g., “The Ashen Bde,” “The Lasting Fme”) but King Andrel has none too weak to deserve one

  The Royal Archive of Pentra keeps strict records of all 990 monarchs, but some records are lost or hidden.