An Imperial Welcome Covered in Red Flags

   Cecilia lunged to save the woman, but a black-armored guard intercepted her, brutally pinning her to the polished floor and locking her wrists behind her back.

   “Hey!” Varek shouted, surging forward to intervene, but the Princess was faster.

   “Stop! What are you doing to our heroes?” she screamed at the guard, her voice echoing off the stone walls. “Release her at once!”

   “What the hell is wrong with you people?” Varek raged. He knelt and pulled Cecilia up. Her pale skin was already darkening with ugly purple bruises where the guard’s iron grip had clamped down. “Are you alright?” he whispered, checking her over.

   “Y-yeah... I’m alright,” she whimpered, trembling.

   “These bastards.” Varek’s vision went red. Leaving Cecilia in the hurried care of Hina and Kael, he marched straight toward the King to size him up.

   “V-Var-nii... wait!” Kael tried to stop him, reaching out a hand, but he was far too late. Varek was already gone.

   “Hey! You arrogant bastard, what is your problem?!” Varek seethed, getting right into the monarch's face. “First, you kidnap us from our world with no way back. Then, we’re ambushed the second we arrive—in your own damn throne room, no less! And now you have the nerve to let your thugs lay a hand on my sister?!”

   A guard stepped forward, hand on his hilt to cut Varek down, but the King raised a single, commanding finger. The guard froze instantly.

   Unbothered by the threat, Varek reached out and gripped the collar of the King's royal robes. The King looked Varek dead in the eye, his lips curling into a cold smile.

   “That’s good, hero.” The King’s eyes glinted with dark amusement. “I like your grit.”

   “Hero, please calm down! Release His Majesty at once!” Lucian cried, rushing forward to pry Varek's fingers off the King.

   “Don’t touch me!” Varek snarled, shoving Lucian backward. He didn't let go of his glare. “And don't get me started on you. You've been dodging our questions this entire time, yet you were quick enough to spot that monster's weakness!”

   “Hero! Please calm down!” The Princess pleaded, tugging at Varek’s hand grabbing the King’s collar. “I know you are furious but please, let us explain! Let go of the King!” she cried.

   “Listen to the Princess, hero.” Boran changed his sword’s target. “Don’t make me do it for you,” he growled in a low voice.

   Varek reluctantly let go, succumbing to the intense killing intent radiating from the Knight Commander. He retreated back to his siblings.

   “You guys better have a good explanation,” Varek growled.

   The King laughed. “Who do you think you’re intimidating with that meek valor, oh hero?!” The King ridiculed Varek. “You have no choice but to listen to us! You have no way of going home otherwise.” Suddenly, a fierce, crimson energy erupted from the King, expanding instantly to flood every corner of the massive royal palace.

   Varek and his siblings were instantly forced to their knees. It felt as though a mountain had been dropped onto their shoulders. Their bones groaned, vibrating under a force so immense they felt seconds away from being crushed into smithereens.

   Tch. This must be the King’s Eidon. What type of goddamn power is this? Varek’s body screamed under the increasing, suffocating pressure. I can’t move a muscle! Damnit!

   “See, hero?” the King sneered. “Do you feel how powerless you are? You have no choice but to accept what we ask you to do.” He waved his hand, and the pressure weighing down on them vanished instantly. The crimson energy receded, gathering back into the King's body.

   “Come, my Queen.” The King took the Queen's hand. “Let us leave. And Lucian, accommodate our heroes in suitable rooms. I trust you’ll take care of this matter too.” He walked out of the hall, casting a cold glare at the woman who was the Baron’s wife as he passed. “Boran, get someone to repair the throne room.” He ordered over his shoulder. The Queen looked back sadly in their direction before following the King out of the hall.

   “Yes, Your Majesty.” Lucian and Boran said in unison, bowing their heads and holding their fisted hands to their chests.

   “He left...” Hina murmured, massaging her sore muscles.

   “Damnit!” Kael punched the ground in frustration.

   “Var-nii...” Cecilia crawled to him. “Are you alright?”

   “Yeah...” Varek replied, weary from all the tense situations.

   “I’m sorry, heroes,” the Princess said as she approached them, with a pained, apologetic face. She knelt in front of them. “My father is a bit... hot-headed. I’m sure he’ll calm down in a bit.”

   Varek glared at her. “Isn’t he a bit unhinged to be a King?” he snarled.

   “Show some respect! Or else I'll have to make you do it myself. Consider this my last warning.” Boran glared at Varek dead in the eye.

   In that moment, there was absolutely no trace left of the fun, easy-going man who had been fighting that monster just moments before. Varek stood up, grumbling as he brushed himself off. The rest of them stood up as well.

   “Heroes, please understand, we do not wish to force you to help us,” the Princess straightened up, her eyes soft but resolute. “But we really are in a very dire situation. Please, if you help us, I pledge on my status as the Princess of Axioma that I will actively search for a way to return you to your own world.” She bowed to them in earnest, her voice carrying a pleading note.

   “Tch. Damnit. It’s not like you gave us any other choice anyway.” Varek sighed, looking over at his siblings before turning back to her. “Just make sure you take good care of us.”

   “Of course, heroes!” the Princess exclaimed, her face instantly lighting up with a brilliant smile. A wave of visible relief washed over her. “We will ensure you are provided with the absolute best hospitality.”

   Hina, Cecilia, and Kael quietly nodded in agreement with him. As the King said, there isn’t much we can do right now anyway, Varek thought, scratching his head. Besides, I did openly disrespect the King. A reaction like that was to be expected.

   “Oh, now that I think about it, you haven’t introduced yourselves yet, heroes.” The Princess clapped her hands together enthusiastically. “Could you tell me your names?”

   “I’m Varek Ila,” Varek said reluctantly.

   “I’m Hina Ila.” Hina offered with a smile.

   “I’m Cecilia Ila, but you can call me CC.” Cecilia grinned, trying to lighten the heavy mood.

   “And I’m Kael Ila. You can call me Kae too.” Kael added, giving her a polite smile.

   “Ah, then you must all be siblings. That explains Sir Varek getting furious on your behalf.” The Princess giggled softly, covering her mouth with her delicate hands.

   “I’m sorry,” Varek muttered, scratching the back of his neck. “I lost my cool back there. It’s just... everything has been a bit overwhelming, you know?”

   “It is entirely understandable, hero.” Lucian appeared by the Princess’s side and bowed low. “Your rooms have been prepared for you to rest. Baths are also being drawn for you to wash up.”

   Cecilia, however, wasn't ready to let things go. She glared at him, pointing a finger at the woman still being held by two of the Lorica knights. “Why was she going to be executed?”

   “Because her husband became a Zal-Kesh,” Lucian replied calmly.

   “A Zal-Kesh? Yeah, I did hear you calling that monster that...” Cecilia was still angry. “But still, what has that got to do with her? It was her husband who suddenly turned into a monster, not her! It’s not her fault.”

   “You don’t seem to understand, Hero Cecilia. A Zal-Kesh does not form suddenly. The transformation takes a great deal of time, and the individual displays very blatant warning signs as they turn.” Lucian slowly turned his gaze to the crying woman. “Signs which Baroness Vyer here deliberately hid instead of bringing the Baron in for a check-up. Why did you hide it, Baroness?” He asked the question with eyes as cold as ice.

   “I-I’m sorry!” Tears streamed down the Baroness's cheeks as she trembled. “I... I knew he w-was turning, but I loved him so much! I-I didn’t report him because I was terrified they would kill him! I only h-hoped that... that he would be able to resist it!”

   Lucian’s expression did not soften in the slightest. “That is still no excuse to put everyone’s lives in danger.” The Baroness collapsed, bawling hysterically. Lucian turned to the guards, his voice flat. “Take her to the dungeon for now.” The knight nodded and dragged her away.

   The sound of her wailing as she was dragged from there painfully rang in the siblings’ ears. Varek looked at Lucian, his jaw clenched.

   “Hey, what exactly is a Zal-Kesh?” he asked him.

   “My apologies, but your questions must wait,” Lucian said, giving them a polite but firm bow. “I am certain you are all exhausted by today's sudden events. Please, rest for the evening. Tomorrow, I will answer all of your questions, and we will begin your training.”

   Before they could protest, Lucian pivoted on his heel and walked away, throwing out quiet orders to the remaining knights to begin cleaning up the ruined throne room.

   “Now, heroes! Why don’t you follow me, and I’ll guide you to your rooms?” the Princess asked, offering a warm smile.

   She then led them through the sprawling corridors of the Royal Palace. Eventually, they reached a set of four bedrooms joined by a spacious common room. Each sibling claimed a room of their own. When offered personal servants to help them settle in for the night, they immediately refused. They had all watched enough anime to know exactly what that meant; this was the classic move pulled whenever a host wanted constant surveillance on you.

    “Princess, can I ask you something?” Hina asked before heading inside her room.

   “Yes, of course. Was it… Hero Hina, right?” the Princess asked.

   “Uh, yes. Well, when we first came here, Luc—the Royal Strategist, um, introduced the kingdom as ‘The Kingdom of Imperial Avarice, Axioma.’ C-can I ask what that was about?” Hina asked quietly. For a split second, Hina felt a chill run down her spine, as if a murderous glare had just been directed at her.

   But the Princess’s smile didn’t waver. “That is simply a title given to us by the other kingdoms and empires. They are just a bit jealous of us, since we are the largest and most powerful nation.” She reassured her, her tone perfectly sweet. “Now, I shall excuse myself for the evening as well.” The Princess offered an elegant curtsy and departed. Hina stepped inside her room and shut the door, but her mind remained deeply unsettled.

   After taking a good, long bath, the siblings all gathered in the common room. They were all wearing newly provided, fresh clothes.

   “These clothes are so soft!” Cecilia exclaimed, wrapping her arms around herself to feel the plush fabric. “Ina, this is so good!” she giggled, trying to cling to her older sister.

    “CC, stop it!” Hina said, playfully pushing her away.

   “You two, settle down,” Varek said as he claimed the sofa in the centre of the room. The others quickly joined him, sitting close.

   “I checked everywhere and didn’t find anything strange they could use to spy on us,” Kael said solemnly. “But we still need to keep our guard up.”

   “Yeah, since they have something like magic here,” Varek sighed, leaning back. “Eidon, huh?” he muttered.

   “Right. Personally, I don’t think any of them are trustworthy,” Hina added, crossing her arms.

   “Except the Princess,” Cecilia chimed in. “I think she’s at least a little trustworthy. She seemed genuinely concerned for us.”

   “No, I don’t think so,” Hina countered, before quietly recounting the strange interaction she’d just had outside her door. When she finished, Cecilia and Kael looked unconvinced.

   “Still, I don’t think that’s enough to say she can’t be trusted,” Kael argued. “She probably just got a bit defensive because it was about her kingdom.”

   “Hmm. I don’t know…” Varek pondered, rubbing his chin. “Almost everyone in this palace seems fishy to me. I just can’t prove anything yet—well, except for the King, who is obviously bad news.”

   “So, what’s our move, Var-nii?” Hina asked, looking at him hopefully.

   “Well, there isn't much we can do right now. That shiny guy—Lucian—said they’d start our training tomorrow and answer our questions. Let’s just wait and see what tomorrow brings,” Varek sighed.

   “Alright.” Kael yawned, stretching his arms. “Let’s sleep for now.”

   “Yeah.” Cecilia agreed, while yawning too. With that, they retired to their respective bedrooms, though none of them managed more than a restless, uneasy sleep.

   Then morning arrived.