The Grim Loop Of Destiny-Chapter 21: Homecoming(Part 1).

The royal capital of Narzan stood still, an ominous quiet hanging in the air. The heads of the eight noble families knelt before Emperor Avantis Astaline, their faces lowered in reverence or perhaps in fear.

The Emperor, a figure of cold authority, strode forward with measured steps, the weight of his rule emanating from every movement. Behind him, his family followed in somber silence: his wife, Milena, ever the shadow to his rule; his daughters, each a reflection of deadly beauty; and his youngest son, Nolan, walking quietly at his side.

At 67, Emperor Avantis Astaline was the embodiment of ruthless power. His icy silver eyes, sharp and unforgiving, cut through the air, while his graying black hair only added to the gravitas of his presence. He exuded an authority that commanded silence in his wake, and none in the room dared to speak unless called upon.

Beside him stood Milena Astaline, the Emperor's one true wife. Her dark hair cascaded like an ever-present night around her shoulders, and her figure remained concealed in shadows, a quiet mystery. She said little, but her presence held the room in unspoken tension. Their children, who carried the bloodline of the Astaline dynasty, were a collection of ambitious minds and brutal wills.

The Emperor's sons, each a different reflection of his empire's ambitions, stood like dark sentinels:

Canon Astaline (37): The Crown Prince a warlord whose battle scars were as much a part of him as his name.

Adrian Astaline (31): The foul tongued manipulator, master of secrets and shadows.

Genichi Astaline (28): The strategist, whose calm demeanor concealed a mind as sharp as a blade.

Nolan Astaline (24): The youngest, a prodigy in both magic and swordsmanship, but his inexperience made him the least dangerous... for now.

And his daughters, each a formidable force in her own right:

Vaelina Astaline (26): The eldest, whose sharp intellect and beauty made her the brightest of the royal children.

Sana Astaline (22): The political mastermind, whose venomous cruelty was masked by her striking platinum hair and emerald eyes.

Erisa Astaline (18): The youngest, whose golden eyes and unnerving presence fueled rumors of forbidden magic and alchemy.

Though bound by blood, these siblings were locked in a brutal game for power, each one vying for the Emperor's favor and their own survival. Only the princesses and the youngest prince were present today.

The Emperor moved with purpose, his steps deliberate as he approached his throne, a crown of pure gold glinting in the light. His family took their positions beside him, the tension in the room palpable. The noble heads remained kneeling, their silence broken only by the soft shuffle of their movements.

The Emperor's eyes swept over them, cold and unyielding. His voice shattered the stillness.

"You may rise."

The noble families slowly rose, their faces etched with fear and respect. They dared not speak unless summoned.

The Emperor's gaze was like a blade as it passed over the gathered nobles. When he finally spoke, his voice was slow and measured, every word laced with ice.

"Today, I have gathered you all for a reason and I believe you already know what that reason is."

The air grew heavier. The Emperor's eyes locked onto Sugen Riku, the head of the Riku family. There was a brief, chilling moment of silence before Riku, ever the brave man in his own domain, lowered his eyes. The sweat forming on his brow betrayed his anxiety, but it was quickly concealed beneath a mask of dignity. He stood tall, his shoulders squared as he addressed the Emperor with a voice full of controlled pride, tempered by the authority of the Emperor before him.

"Your Majesty," Riku began, his voice firm but respectful, "I greet you in service to the crown."

He hesitated briefly, his eyes narrowing with a hint of pride, but he quickly regained composure.

"We all know the reason the missing case of our Supreme Commander Veythor."

The moment the name was spoken, Vaelina's heart began to race. Her nails dug into her palms, the pain a distant thing compared to the storm rising in her chest. She kept her face a mask, but inside, a thousand thoughts burned.

Riku continued.

"Your Majesty, I stand before you not as a criminal but as the head of the Riku family. We have heard... rumors whispers that I and my family sought to harm Supreme Commander Veythor. Such accusations are beneath us and I think Your Majesty already knows that. We do not engage in such petty retribution. The Riku family's legacy is built on more than a these types of baseless attacks. We are a family of influence, not one to sully its name with such trivial acts."

Riku's voice remained calm, though the pride of his lineage was unmistakable.

"However, if these accusations have reached the throne, then we will submit ourselves to the Emperor's justice."

The Emperor's gaze remained cold, his silver eyes piercing through Riku's every word. The tension between them was palpable, but there was no sign of weakness in the Emperor's expression. Riku's proud stance did not faze him.

"yes You will," the Emperor's voice cut through, final and unyielding, "and I will see to it personally that this matter is dealt with."

Riku's pride remained intact, but he lowered his gaze just slightly.

"Of course, Your Majesty of course," he replied, his voice steady. "The Riku family always stands ready to prove its innocence."

The Emperor's lips curved into a thin smile, though there was no warmth in it.

"You will do more than that, Riku. If I find you or your family guilty of these crimes, there will be no place for you to hide. Understand this nothing and nobody will or can save you."

Riku met the Emperor's gaze without flinching, his posture still proud, though he understood the weight of the Emperor's words.

"Understood, Your Majesty."

The Emperor's cold voice once again broke the silence.

"I have already dispatched Puxxian to handle this matter. Let us see what he uncovers."

The room fell silent as Riku gave a short nod, his pride slightly tempered, but his resolve unshaken.

Suddenly, a knocking sound echoed through the royal court's doors. A guard's voice rang from outside.

"Your Majesty! Sir Puxxian seeks entrance!"

At the mention of Puxxian's name, Riku's eyes narrowed.

The Emperor's smirk deepened.

"Let him in."

The gates of the royal court swung open, and a young man entered. He had long black hair, pale skin, and black pupils. His silver knight's armor gleamed under the light, immaculate and proud.

He walked straight toward the Emperor without sparing a glance at anyone else. Every eye in the room followed his approach, the weight of his presence undeniable. When he reached a certain distance, he knelt before Avantis and spoke.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

With practiced grace, he placed a broken sword before the Emperor. The room grew colder.

"I bring grave news. As you know, my search party and I spent seven days investigating Lord Veythor's disappearance. Today, near the borders of the Eternal Forest of Darkness, we found... these."

He gestured to the broken sword and the fragments of veythor's armor laid beside it.

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"This sword broken as it is belongs to Lord Veythor. I am certain of it. It was the very sword gifted to him by Your Majesty's own hand."

The room froze. Vaelina's breath caught. The Emperor's eyes darkened as they fixed on the broken weapon a relic of power, now shattered.

And with it, perhaps, the fate of the Supreme Commander himself.

The room hung in a suffocating silence. The sight of Veythor's broken sword lay like an accusation before the throne an omen of death and ruin.

Vaelina's heart pounded violently in her chest, but her face remained a mask of ice. Still, she felt the tremor in her hands, hidden within the folds of her gown. The air was thick, oppressive, as if the entire court held its breath, waiting for the Emperor's word.

But before Avantis could speak, the heavy doors of the royal court burst open with a thunderous crack.

A messenger stumbled in his face pale and streaked with sweat, his cloak torn and muddied from long travel. Guards moved instantly, but the Emperor raised a single hand, halting them. The messenger fell to his knees, his breath ragged.

"Your Majesty!" the man gasped, his voice hoarse. "News... urgent news!"

The Emperor's eyes narrowed. "Speak."

The messenger swallowed hard, trying to compose himself. "It's... it's Lord Veythor, Your Majesty. He... he is alive.

For a moment, the entire court seemed to freeze. The air itself felt heavier.

Vaelina's heart skipped a beat. She forced herself to remain still, but her nails dug deeper into her palms, drawing blood.

Sugen Riku's eyes flickered with something dangerous something that was not quite fear, but close. The other noble heads exchanged tense glances, the weight of those words crashing over them like a wave.

Zaurak tried to interrupt But the messenger wasn't done. His next words fell like thunder.

"Lord Veythor... has already entered in Kranel and gone straight toward his house as he is gravely injured for some unknown reason that we don't know right know.!"

The room erupted. Gasps, whispers, and hurried conversations broke out all at once. Kranel the heart of Narzan's political strife, a city riddled with power-hungry factions and hidden knives. For Veythor enter Kranel alive now... it was an open challenge. A declaration of war.

The Emperor's face remained unreadable, but his silver eyes gleamed with something dangerous. Slowly, he rose from his throne, and when he spoke, his voice was cold and absolute.

"Let the hounds gather. The Supreme Commander returns."

Vaelina's lips curled into the barest hint of a smile.

And far away, in the shadowed streets of Kranel, Veythor walked his crimson eyes burning with purpose.