Chapter 620: Covenant

Several minutes later, Thales led Mallos and a large crowd of people, noisy and swaggering, across the carpets of Renaissance Palace.

Wya tried again and again to tell Doyle that "the prince's personal affairs should be my responsibility," but each time, Doyle fooled him with chatter like, "Come now, brothers in life and death shouldn't divide you and me." Kohen urgently wanted to find Glover and ask him about certain matters, but the latter kept moving within the group, ensuring that he and Kohen were always on either side of Ralf. If the security officer wanted to find him, he would first have to pass through the Ghost of the Wind.

After experiencing a hardship together, the two groups who had never interacted and had only temporarily joined forces, the old subordinates from Dragon Clouds City and the Star Lake Guards, were no longer so clearly divided. The dark, oppressive Renaissance Palace forced them to cluster together around the prince, dispelling tension and fear, seeking safety and belonging.

"Thank you, Tormond."

Thales suddenly spoke, ignoring Wya behind him, who was struggling to catch up to the prince but was being held back by Doyle's excessive enthusiasm.

Mallos, closest to the youth, frowned.

"For what?"

"Thanks to you preparing thoroughly in advance and leaving me enough manpower," Thales said lightly.

"That was only emergency insurance."

Mallos shook his head.

"I didn't expect you not only to use it..."

As the person in this group whose clothing was the most complete, body the healthiest, and image the neatest, Mallos looked at the unfamiliar faces in the team and frowned.

"but also add quite a few people."

You did something big.

Amid the bustling noise, Thales was in low spirits, and Mallos also seemed weighed by thoughts. The two had a tacit understanding, leaving very long gaps between question and answer.

"Who is that?"

Looking at the backs of the two figures ahead, one large and one small, yet walking in perfect tacit rhythm, Wya could not help whispering to Doyle.

"Oh, him?" Doyle's eyes lit up, and he looked like someone with experience, casual and expansive.

"Of course, our deeply beloved captain of guards, Tormond Mallos."

"Oh," Wya reacted.

"The one His Highness said he would send to the Prison of Bones?"

Doyle's face changed, and he raised a finger to his lips.

"Shh."

He furtively glanced at the captain's back.

"He's... very petty."

They went down a flight of steps. The black horse Jannie hated this terrain and environment, and began making a fuss again. Jennard and Willow were thrown into chaos by her, causing a commotion in the group. In the end, Glover grabbed her reins and, with the Zombie's unique death stare and the sword at his waist, forced her to obediently submit.

"Thank you. You were clearly barely able to protect yourself, yet you still entrusted Captain Adrian to help me." Thales sighed and said to his captain of guards.

"What?" Mallos frowned.

"He came in to help me delay time. 'Since ancient times, blades and swords can hardly escape their sheaths.' Wasn't that a code you asked him to pass on?"

"No," Mallos decisively denied.

"That line was originally taught to me by the captain."

"What?" The prince was stunned.

"So he didn't come because you asked?"

Mallos shook his head, his face as usual.

"Of course not. Vogel alone was hard enough to deal with. How could I have the spare energy to manage you?"

Thales paused.

"I knew it."

The prince exhaled angrily and pressed his forehead.

"Calm down, calm down. Everything depends on yourself. Yourself. Entirely yourself."

Mallos's gaze turned to Thales's hand.

"What is that?"

Thales froze. He lowered his right hand and looked at the ornament on his index finger. It was a gray-white bone ring, with two bands front and back. Its face was carved with strange, savage beast heads that covered nearly half of his finger joint. Plain, yet heavy.

If he wore two more, he could even use them as knuckledusters.

"A gift witnessing reconciliation," Thales paused for a second before lowering his right hand and saying faintly,

"from Father."

Mallos was thoughtful.

A group of servants and guards came from afar. When they discovered the opposite side was Prince Thales, their expressions changed dramatically. They all retreated and dodged away at the fastest speed, scattering before they even entered saluting range.

"How rare. I've never received this treatment before."

Mallos faced the empty palace with complicated feelings.

"What did you do?"

What did I do?

Thales's mood sank. Amid the noisy, lively group, his expression became dazed.

Doyle was loudly telling all kinds of ghost stories about Renaissance Palace, stunning Kohen and Willow into disbelief.

Jennard looked at the obedient Jannie with relief, telling the increasingly impatient Glover that the prince's horse handler now had a successor.

Facing the complicated situation, Wya worked hard to gesture, trying to say something to Ralf to unite with him, but the latter always looked like he could not be bothered.

"I sold myself," Thales said gloomily.

Mallos turned to look at him.

"Don't worry. I negotiated a good price."

The Watchman narrowed his eyes.

"For example?"

Thales glanced behind him.

"For example, you, and everyone in Mindis Hall, safe and sound, escaping a great disaster?"

"Yes," Mallos's face did not change.

"A great disaster bestowed by you."

Thales ignored his sarcasm.

"Because he offended the royal family and kidnapped nobles at the banquet, Anker Byral will be sent to the Prison of Bones, imprisoned for life."

Mallos raised his brows.

"Imprisoned for life? Mm. He must be moved to tears."

Thales shook his head.

"Sparing his life was my father's greatest concession. As for the debt and political disputes between the two families behind it, the Noble Affairs Office will step forward, joining the Department of Finance and Taxation and the Discipline Office to negotiate a resolution."

"None of that is worth much," the guard Watchman shook his head.

"What exactly did you sell? What did you exchange?"

Thales paused.

"You know, today's royal council was originally going to hold the Western Desert nobles accountable for Blade Fangs Camp's internal strife and the Byral family's case."

Mallos's expression changed slightly.

Thales laughed softly.

"Until I took Fakenhaz's ancestral sword, violated the ban, broke into the palace, explained the stakes with pain and passion, and dissuaded His Majesty."

Mallos's expression moved. He glanced at the security officer behind them, who was telling the "Dragon Clouds City battle chronicle of Brave Kohen versus the Scorched Knight."

"But the sword you took clearly belonged to the Karabeyan family."

"Yes." Thales's mood was low.

"But people don't know that."

The Watchman paused, then nodded.

"People don't know."

Thales also nodded.

"And I will write a letter, sent directly to Duke Fakenhaz of the Western Desert."

Mallos's gaze moved.

Thales sighed, his tone filled with endless feeling.

"After I finish writing it, we will be able to walk sideways in the capital, and even across the whole kingdom."

Mallos was thoughtful. This time, he was silent for a long while.

Thales gave a soft sneer.

"Also, please tell Logistics Officer Storr that starting tomorrow, Mindis Hall's accounts must balance themselves."

Mallos's face darkened.

Fuck.

"Did you never think, what if you failed?"

"I did."

Thales sighed.

"That's why I sent Komuto."

"Komuto?"

Thales nodded.

"He was a little afraid of breaking into the palace and making trouble, and not very willing. So I sent him to find Lady Jines."

"Counting the time, she should be about here."

At that moment, a gust of wind struck, and the corridor lights flashed rapidly.

Mallos frowned.

"Enemy attack!"

Everyone's faces changed.

In the next second, a fierce wind swept in. A black shadow rushed out from the end of the corridor, charging toward Thales with lightning speed.

Glover and Kohen stepped forward together, drawing their swords.

But the black shadow was unexpectedly agile. It stepped onto Glover's blade, then onto Kohen's shoulder, flashed past, and instantly broke through the two of them.

Under everyone's eyes, the shadow passed Wya and Ralf in succession, breaking through without obstacle to Thales and Mallos.

"Wah-sah-sah-ho-ho-ho! Halt!"

A fresh and sharp voice spread out.

"This road was bought by me, this way was opened by me!"

Thales's vision blurred. He saw the black shadow draw a weapon, blade light flashing repeatedly, forcing Wya and Ralf back while making the Everlasting Lamps in the corridor tremble in pain.

"If you want to harm the prince, step over me!"

The black shadow stopped, revealing a small figure covered tightly by a cloak.

She held a curved blade and waved it around wildly, yelping and threatening the dumbfounded people around her.

"Did you hear me? Did you hear me? Did you hear me?"

Everyone, Thales included, was shocked still and stared blankly at the newcomer's performance.

Seeing that no one challenged her authority, the newcomer finally put away her curved blade and nodded in satisfaction.

"Mm. That's right!"

In the next moment, Thales's face twitched.

"Ae-Aida?"

The small figure nodded, flicked her cloak, put her hands on her waist in a handsome pose, and snapped her fingers.

"Correct!"

"Kid, as soon as I heard you were in danger, I immediately rushed here! But since I'm here now, you're safe. You're welcome!"

Under everyone's strange gazes, the elf guard cheerfully reached out and awkwardly patted Thales's shoulder.

"How about it? I arrived in time and saved you from mortal danger. Are you moved?"

Thales's little face darkened, and he thanked her dryly.

"Ah, yes. Very moved. Thanks to you. If you'd arrived one step later..."

It probably would not have made any difference.

Aida nodded in satisfaction and wiped the oil stain at the corner of her mouth.

Wya and Ralf, used to this scene, sighed and scattered. Only the black horse Jannie gave an excited snort.

"Instructor Aida."

Mallos's face tightened.

"The royal guards welcome you home."

Hearing these words, Aida shuddered hard, turned back, and her voice shrank.

"Eh, you're that, that..."

"Instructor!"

A mournful cry rang out.

Doyle pushed through the crowd and threw himself over, eyes glistening, voice distorted.

"You, you left for six years, six years, and finally, finally came back! Waaah, back then you clearly told me you'd only be gone for a few weeks..."

Everyone else frowned and looked at him.

Aida froze and scratched her head in embarrassment.

"Ah, yes, sorry..."

"I didn't expect it to be that long either. I made you worry..."

"No, since you've returned, I can rest easy," Doyle said with tears and snot, moving to the heart.

"I can once again serve by your side like before!"

"Thanks, thanks." Aida chuckled guiltily.

"Right, that..."

She suddenly thought of something and looked kindly and gently at the loyal Doyle.

"Who are you?"

On the other side, Mallos looked at the chaos in the group and sighed deeply.

"You know, Your Highness, the price actually doesn't matter."

He turned to the low-spirited Thales.

"Most important is, when you bargain, what you use..."

Mallos said in a deep voice,

"is it your own scale?"

Hearing this, Thales raised his head and clenched his right hand.

----

"Still empty words are no proof?"

In the Ballard Room, Thales laughed softly at the king before him.

"What, after selling myself to you, do I still need to sign an employment contract? 'If I don't do what you say, don't go undercover at the rival company and steal trade secrets, you'll deduct my year-end performance bonus'?"

The prince glared at King Kessel.

"Boss?"

Thales laughed coldly.

"Or do you want me to write a secret declaration, so when I sell you out and betray you, you can take it out and announce to the world: 'The prince is a wolf, don't believe him'?"

The Iron Hand King did not respond to this nonsense.

He merely raised his head and quietly watched the Ballard Room's furnishings, unchanged for many years, and stayed silent for a long time.

Finally, just as Thales could not help wanting to yawn, the king spoke softly.

"Make an oath."

Thales froze at this.

King Kessel's eyes were bright.

"We form an alliance and covenant. Let an oath witness this moment."

Make an oath?

Thales blinked, somewhat surprised.

"Wow."

"That, I really didn't expect. An oath."

The prince chewed over the word.

"So old-fashioned?"

King Kessel did not speak. He only coldly watched Thales.

Thales sighed.

"Fine, Your Majesty."

In the next second, Thales pressed down with his right hand and flipped himself onto the council table.

The king frowned.

Thales sat cross-legged, flipped open the wine pot, took a sip, and choked until his face twisted.

"Then, if you agree, if you accept, if you acknowledge what we have agreed today, if you are willing to fight beside me and advance together until the kingdom is peaceful and Constellation is restored, Your Majesty Kessel," Thales bit out the words and set down the wine pot in disgust,

"then let us drink from the same cup and take oath by hand as allies."

He knocked on the wine pot and pushed it toward the king.

"For the Constellation."

King Kessel frowned deeply. He looked at the wine pot, then at Thales, who was dressed miserably yet carried himself with reckless abandon, and gave a displeased cold snort.

"What?"

Thales laughed and patted the table beneath his backside.

"Hey, don't tell me this table is some antique used by someone important, and if I recklessly jump onto it, you'll make me regret it?"

King Kessel shook his head. Expressionless, he gently pushed the wine pot aside.

Thales frowned.

"You..."

"This is a northern oath custom, barbaric and backward."

The king said slowly.

"We have a better way."

Under Thales's strange gaze, King Kessel reached out and grasped the Scepter of Stars at the side of the chair.

At that instant, the gem atop the scepter emitted dazzling blue light without warning, illuminating the entire Ballard Room like daylight and forcing Thales to shut his eyes and turn away.

"Holy shit!"

Fortunately, the blue light flashed and vanished.

King Kessel set down the scepter and opened his left hand.

Thales painfully opened his eyes and slowly recovered his vision.

He discovered that in the king's left hand lay a fairly large ring.

Its color was gray-white.

Its face was savage.

"This is an object of coronation passed down through the Jadestar royal family," King Kessel turned the strange ring in his hand, his eyes unusual.

"For seven hundred years, it has always been hidden within the Scepter of Stars. Only when the throne changes hands does it briefly appear in the world."

"An object of coronation?"

Thales narrowed his eyes and examined it.

"This ring, this form, doesn't quite look like..."

"An orc-style bone ring," the Iron Hand King knew his doubt and answered directly.

"Made from the rare, heavy bones of ancient terror beasts, the hardest parts melted and cast within, then arduously forged."

This time, Thales was genuinely shocked.

"Orc?"

The king did not answer. His gaze still rested on the bone ring.

Thales studied the strange ring. From the face to the band, many beast heads were carved onto it. Without exception, they were all roaring.

He compared it with what he had seen in the desert. Although this bone ring was already very large, compared to orcs...

"It's too small," Thales said in confusion.

"Because it was not made for orcs, but for humans," the king said faintly.

"Its name: Kortaksa."

Kortaksa.

Thales recalled his orc language lessons and guessed,

"I don't know whether you're pronouncing the tones correctly, but in orcish, this syllable and structure should be a noun or pronoun. And these two affixes should be positive and honorable, and an abstract concept. As for the actual meaning, that depends on pronunciation and writing, as well as the different linguistic habits of the three great orc branches..."

"'Covenant,'" King Kessel did not give him a chance to show off his lessons and answered directly.

"That is its meaning."

Covenant.

"Kortaksa." Thales's gaze was drawn to the bone ring. He softly spoke its name.

"Covenant?"

The king nodded.

"Seven hundred years ago, the allied forces of the mountain elves and northern humans suffered a crushing defeat and were destroyed overnight. The situation in the Final War rotted."

The Final War.

Thales's mood sank.

"At the critical moment, a mortal went north alone, stepping onto a dangerous road. He crossed in reverse the ancient 'humanity's final defense line' and went deep into the Quigur Glacier."

Quigur Glacier.

The king's voice was long and heavy.

"He wanted to break the taboo humans had held since ancient times, seeking aid from an ancient enemy, forming a covenant and alliance to resist the calamity together."

Ancient enemy.

Resist the calamity together.

Doubt rose in Thales's heart.

"A... mortal?"

The king slowly nodded, his words carrying the weight of history.

"When he returned from the glacier, eight battle banners rose behind him."

"In the orc kingdoms beyond the glacier, eight tribes were willing to lay down the blood teachings of their ancestors and cast aside a blood feud as deep as the sea."

"They marched south in great force, whole tribes moving."

Thales could not help holding his breath.

"Thus, for the first time since the Age of Ignorance, orcs crossed the natural barrier of Quigur without bloodshed, passed through the ruins of the 'humanity's final defense line,' crossed the Thirty-Eight Watchposts later built, entered the Northland Province, stepped onto the territory of the old human empire, migrated a thousand miles, and joined the Final War."

In the next second, King Kessel's eyes sharpened.

"In this way, with tremendous courage and daring, Nakeru Eck broke through unprecedented obstacles and brought a powerful reinforcement no one had expected, one the world could not tolerate."

"And so stabilized the northern battlefield."

"Helping him finally reverse the cold wind."

Nakeru Eck.

Listening to this name, Thales could not help thinking of the belly of the mountain beneath Dragon Clouds City, of that strand of silver light in boundless darkness.

"This is the first time I've heard this."

The Iron Hand King nodded.

"Deviating from the norm, associating with monstrous-looking aliens, later Northlanders naturally do not consider this glorious," King Kessel said lightly.

"Especially after the Final War, when relations between humans and orcs deteriorated again and they became enemies."

The Iron Hand King set down the bone ring in his hand and pushed it before Thales.

"And this is the token by which Nakeru and the orcs formed their covenant back then."

"Kortaksa, 'Covenant.'"

The king paused for a long while.

Thales picked up the bone ring. Suppressing the doubt and shock in his heart, he slowly digested this strange piece of history.

"There are eight beast-head marks on it, representing the consensus of eight orc sacred chieftains," the king said slowly.

"It is said that Nakeru followed orc etiquette and, by his own strength, defeated all opponents, thereby gaining the orcs' respect and trust in exchange for understanding and commitment."

"By his own strength..." Thales turned the bone ring, examining the unclear text around the band. Remembering the "orc duel" he had encountered in the desert, he sighed.

"Fine. A legend, then."

"But how is it here? On the scepter of the King of Constellation?"

King Kessel raised his head.

"After the Final War, the new northern nobles and imperial remnants again came into conflict. Nakeru and Tormond the First met each other with blades and soldiers."

"But in the end, the two kings formed a covenant and ceasefire through far-sighted wisdom, letting bygones be bygones."

Thales thought of the library in Dragon Clouds City and came to a realization.

"This ring witnessed the agreement made when the two kingdoms were first founded, witnessed the vows of Nakeru and Tormond," the king said in a deep voice.

"In the end, Eckstedt's founding monarch gifted it to the Revival King to show reconciliation and trust."

So Nakeru used this thing to exchange for Tormond's "Triumph"?

"Oh," Thales said without changing expression.

"So that's how it was."

"Then why did you take it out?"

King Kessel quietly stared at him and did not answer.

Thales reacted and could not help laughing.

"This? Isn't that still a northern oath method?"

He tossed and caught the bone ring, laughing and crying at the same time.

"Barbaric and backward?"

In the next second, Kortaksa was thrown into the air by Thales, only to be seized by the king.

King Kessel watched Thales solemnly, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

This made the latter tense up.

The king slowly, very slowly, put "Covenant" onto his own index finger and extended it toward Thales.

"Here and now, under Kortaksa's witness, we swear and form a covenant."

His expression was solemn, not joking.

Thales's brow twitched.

"You're really doing this?"

Are you an actor or what?

But the Iron Hand King stared fixedly at the youth and spoke word by word.

"You will help me push the kingdom, rolling forward, removing obstacles and breaking shackles."

His gaze sharpened.

"For this, you will spare nothing."

"Nothing."

At that moment, Thales almost could not withstand the king's sharp gaze.

"That's pretty general."

He had no choice but to turn his head away, using a joke to ease the atmosphere.

"No clauses or anything?"

The Iron Hand King stared at him for a long while before gently removing the bone ring.

"The one who swears is a person, not cold language and text."

"What the oath connects is also people."

The king said softly,

"As for what covenant is made, what promise is kept, and everything said before, both of us know it tacitly in our hearts."

"There is no need for redundant words."

Thales's brow jumped. He laughed unnaturally.

"Sounds like kids playing house."

But the king did not want to play house. He pushed Kortaksa before Thales.

"Your turn."

Seeing the other party so serious, Thales had no choice but to gather himself and pick up the plain yet savage bone ring.

"Fine."

Thales did not think too much. He shook the ring in his hand.

"And you..."

"Put it on." King Kessel interrupted him, his gaze growing colder.

Thales could not help frowning.

But he still carefully turned the bone ring and put it on the index finger of his right hand.

Unlike its savage and rough appearance, it felt smooth and warm.

Thales swallowed and pointed it at the king.

Fine.

"Here and now, under 'Covenant's' witness, we swear and form a covenant."

"I will help you push the kingdom..."

Thales looked at the king and said solemnly,

"And you will respect my will, listen to my opinion, treat me with sincerity, and hold nothing back."

"Without any deception."

"Any."

At this moment, prince and king looked into one another's eyes, feeling the seriousness in each other's gazes.

After a long silence, King Kessel nodded.

"Then, in the name of Kessel Mindis Eddy Jadestar..."

"I grant this promise."

He stared fixedly at Thales.

Thales felt uncomfortable being stared at like that and only wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

"Then, in the name of Thales Selanjelana Kessel Jadestar, I..."

Thales coughed.

"I agree!"

"Is that enough?"

Damn it.

Although wearing this ring was not uncomfortable, the prince did not feel good.

It was like... he was being bound by something.

Only then did the king shift his gaze and nod, saying softly,

"Then this covenant is made."

Thales gave a cold laugh and shook the bone ring on his hand.

"Then, contract in effect?"

At that moment.

Boom!

Thales felt a muffled explosion burst beside his ears. His eardrums stabbed with pain, and he instinctively reached up to cover them.

[Then this covenant is made... made... made...]

A heavy, layered voice attacked from all directions, its echoes endless, shaking the entire palace.

But covering his ears was useless. This heavy and strange voice poured irresistibly into his mind in an indescribable way, and he could not even distinguish what language it was.

[Those who betray this covenant... covenant... nant...]

If he had to describe the feeling, it was like thousands of blades tearing at a piece of steel.

Even the table beneath him and the floor tiles were trembling endlessly.

[Shall be abandoned by all...]

"Fuck!"

Thales felt the world spin and could not help shutting his eyes tightly, yet everything around him seemed to vibrate at high frequency.

He could not help shouting,

"What the hell!"

The Sin of Hell's River surged madly, but it had not the slightest effect.

That heavy, sharp voice continued, becoming shorter, stronger, and clearer.

[Burned by raging flame.]

The words rose and fell, shaking the heart. Thales felt his chest go numb.

[Soul severed in Hell's River!]

Finally, the last syllable vanished, and everything stopped.

Thales lay sprawled on the table, lowered his hands from his ears, and tremblingly opened his eyes.

Without realizing it, he was drenched in cold sweat.

The Ballard Room remained quiet.

Lamplight shone. Everything was as usual.

Opposite him, King Kessel sat in his chair, likewise rubbing his temple with a pained expression.

"Relax. This matches the records..."

Thales struggled upright and hurriedly stripped off the bone ring.

It rolled several times and stopped on the table, beast heads opening savage mouths, as if they would swallow everything.

"What the fuck... is this thing?"

Thales took several deep breaths, still afraid.

"A wondrous power, no?" The king exhaled and gradually returned to normal.

"This is a curse."

Thales desperately rubbed his ears, yet discovered they no longer hurt. It was as if everything just now had been an illusion that never happened.

"A curse?"

King Kessel nodded, his expression turning cold again.

"In the imperial era, some said they came from beneath hell, from the source of Hell's River, proof that demons disturbed the human world."

"Some said they were merely self-fulfilling prophecies fabricated by charlatans, alarmist tales, self-deception."

"Others said they came from mysterious and terrifying nameless ancient gods, lurking in corners the Bright Gods overlooked when creating the world."

"But even the learned mages of the past could not fully see through their secrets. They could only classify them as the most hidden and forbidden part of magic, keeping a respectful distance and shelving them away."

The king looked at Kortaksa, then gazed faintly toward Thales, his words deep.

"This is the curse laid down by the ancient wise ones of the orc tribes, mysterious and difficult to understand, continuous and undying."

Curse.

Thales panted and wiped away sweat.

"This... does it work? What can it do?"

The Iron Hand King laughed softly.

"Those orcs..." He was silent for a good while before speaking.

"Seven hundred years ago, those eight orc tribes willing to help humans resist the calamity did not send troops because of generosity and sympathy."

Thales's expression paused.

"Nakeru promised them a 'land without snow and without freezing,' where, after the war was won, they could dwell and multiply."

King Kessel said slowly,

"That is the great desert today, beneath the Dragonbone Throne, home to the eight great orc tribes."

Thales frowned.

"The great desert?"

He remembered his experiences in the desert and his brief contact with orcs.

"The eight great orc tribes in the desert came from this?"

Thales immediately reacted.

"Wait. A land without snow and without freezing?"

The king quietly stared at him.

Thales burst into laughter.

"So Nakeru played a word game? Before the war, he promised, but after the war, the land he divided to the orcs was a barren desert no one wanted at all?"

What should he say, Nakeru, you damned...

clever little bastard?

Thales thought of the silver figure in the belly of the mountain and did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Word game?"

But the Iron Hand King gave a cold snort, making the lights in the room tremble.

He lightly glanced at Thales.

"Do you know how the Dragon-Riding King died?"

Hearing this, Thales's smile immediately vanished.

He had an ominous feeling.

"Illness."

Thales said cautiously.

"King Nakeru lived a life of war, so his body was riddled with wounds and illness, and he died young. After him, his nephew, Nuven Walton the Smiler, inherited Nakeru's position and title, renaming Arunde Castle to Dragon Clouds City to commemorate his uncle, Eckstedt's founding monarch."

At this point, Thales could not help thinking of "Nakeru's Oath," and the centuries of struggle between kings and archdukes.

"But the Smiler and the nine lords under Nakeru refused to submit to one another, causing Eckstedt to fall into terrible division and chaos. Until John the Black-Eyed led troops north, forcing them to unite. The ten archdukes established 'Nakeru's Oath' to resist Constellation together."

"Correct." As King Kessel listened, he gave a soft snort.

"But that is the official version."

Official version?

Thales narrowed his eyes and waited for the rest.

"In the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department, there is a very early top-secret report, personally sealed by the 'Fatal Iris.'"

The king said faintly,

"It records that on a certain night after the Kingdom of Eckstedt was established, countless people in Arunde Castle awoke from sleep."

"They heard wild wind piercing their ears, resounding through ten thousand miles of sky."

"They saw blue flame covering the moon, melting the accumulated snow of a thousand peaks."

Wild wind, long sky, blue flame...

Hearing these unnatural phenomena, and having his own experiences, Thales said in shock and doubt,

"What? You mean..."

King Kessel was silent for a while, then nodded faintly.

"Exactly."

"That mythical dragon, the so-called 'Sky Queen' whom the people passed down as the Dragon-Riding King's spouse, descended on Sky Cliff that night."

In the narrow, dim Ballard Room, the Iron Hand King spoke in a deep voice.

"It lowered merciless flame..."

"And took the accomplished human hero revered by countless people, the Dragon-Riding King, Nakeru Eck the First..."

"alive..."

"and burned him to ash."

The words fell, and the lamplight dimmed.

"What?"

Thales cried out in shock.

His gaze turned to the tabletop, fixed on that gray-white, savage bone ring.

What the hell?

That statue standing at the highest place of Dragon Clouds City.

The hero Northlanders took the greatest pride in.

Eckstedt's founding monarch.

The silver shadow beneath the mountain.

The Dragon-Riding King.

Nakeru Eck.

His end, he was, by his own, or what the world claimed was his "wife," by the Sky Queen...

Burned...

Thales's mind went blank. He found it impossible to understand the logic behind this truth.

"I said, the one who swears is a person, not cold language and text. Cheating and playing with words are only petty tricks of the lowest sort."

The king said slowly, wary and solemn.

Cheating, playing with words...

Thales's eyes froze.

Wait.

Nakeru's promise, orcs, land without snow and without freezing, the great desert.

So what just happened was...

Those who betray this covenant.

Shall be abandoned by all.

Recalling the magical voice he had just heard, Thales's expression went blank.

"As for what covenant is made, what promise is kept, what counts as betrayal, what counts as abandonment, Kortaksa has its own judgment."

Across from him, King Kessel likewise watched the bone ring, his gaze flickering.

"When necessary, it will, in its own way..."

"respond."

Respond.

Beneath the mountain, that silver figure laughing heartily flashed before Thales's eyes one final time.

In its place came that magical voice.

Burned by raging flame.

Soul severed in Hell's River.