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  The morning in the castle was quiet, the kind of heavy, almost uncomfortable silence that makes even the air feel hesitant.

  I was sitting on the floor outside Serena’s room, basically at my post. The whole corridor smelled of damp stone and old candles.

  Hogan had passed by not long ago, coming back from the infirmary. Apparently the maid was physically fine, just… “shocked,” according to him.

  I mean, totally understandable. She’ll probably need some serious therapy to recover from all this. But the important part is what she told us.

  According to her, a friend who took part in the protests saw — more than once — someone dressed in white talking with some of the leaders. On its own, it’s not solid information. The protests have many leaders, and each district is so far apart that they almost never meet. But it didn’t happen just once.

  Hogan suspects the first demonstrations were “fueled” by that person in white.

  And when he told me that, the first thing that came to mind was the clothes of those guys in the labyrinth. Way too specific to be a coincidence.

  He said he’d try to squeeze more out of the prisoners using that connection. Honestly, I no longer know if they’re just very organized bandits or part of some hidden cult.

  And if it is a cult… how many of them are there? And why the hell would they be interested in this kingdom? I can’t stop thinking that the castle was probably the target all along, especially Serena. All those monster attacks just created the perfect stage to turn the kingdom against her...

  My gaze went to the closed door.

  Serena hadn’t made a single sound since yesterday. I could feel her presence inside, but it was like the room had frozen in time.

  She was fine physically. But that meant absolutely nothing.

  I sighed and let my head rest against the cold wall.

  That was when I heard firm footsteps in the corridor, accompanied by a familiar metallic clink. Hogan, of course.

  He stopped in front of me, crossing his arms.

  “Any news?” I asked.

  “Not from here. I’m going back to the interrogation with a different approach.” He straightened his posture, letting a bit of accumulated fatigue slip through. “But on the other side of the castle, yes. The king asked to speak with you.”

  I blinked.

  “With me? Now?”

  “Yes. And it’s not a request I’d recommend ignoring.” He hesitated before adding, “He’s… not well. Be careful.”

  Hogan started to leave, but stopped after two steps.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “Oh, and one more thing.” Without looking at me. “Don’t try to cheer him up. Just answer what he asks.”

  He went on his way. I stood up and gave Serena’s door one last look.

  ‘I’ll come back.’

  I followed Hogan through the inner corridors, the part of the castle no one shows to visitors. Tapestries far too old, short candles, worn-out wood. Strange to think the king spent most of his time there.

  Hogan knocked on the door carefully.

  “Your Majesty, I’ve brought Victor.”

  A few seconds of silence. Then, a hoarse voice:

  “…Come in.”

  Hogan opened the door for me but didn’t enter.

  So I went in alone.

  King Zered was sitting near the half?open window. The gray morning light revealed deep dark circles, an unshaven beard, and a kind of weariness rooted in his bones.

  When he lifted his eyes to me, I didn’t see anger or hostility.

  “Victor,” he said, his voice weak but steady. “Thank you for coming.”

  I closed the door behind me.

  “What would you like to talk about, Your Majesty?”

  He drew a long breath, like someone who had needed to prepare a lot just for this.

  “About… many things. But mainly… about who you are.”

  It wasn’t suspicion.

  He went on:

  “You’re a Metamorph.” Straight to the point. “I already knew. But what I don’t know is… why. Why help my family? Why risk your life for this castle?”

  I’d been expecting that.

  “Because a family from your kingdom took me in,” I answered without hesitation. “They gave me a place when I had nothing. Then Serena, Sentil, even Hogan… all of them gave me their trust. I’m just returning the favor. I want them all to be okay after I’m gone.”

  It was true. Just not the whole truth.

  Zered lowered his eyes to his own hands. They were large, steady… and trembling slightly.

  “Victor…” he murmured. “I no longer know if I have anything to offer anyone in this kingdom. Not even my own children.”

  I stayed silent.

  “You want them to be all right after you leave…” he said, as if tasting the idea. “It’s a simple ambition. A kind one.”

  He stood up slowly, body heavy with years of guilt. He walked to the window and rested his hand on the cold frame.

  “You remind me a little of Solange.”

  I froze. The name sounded… important.

  “My wife,” he explained. “She was free. Excessively free. She would walk into a place and change everything without asking permission. I… fell in love with that in her.”

  A weak laugh escaped, without humor.

  “I lost Solange far too soon.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Your Majesty.”

  He didn’t thank me. He didn’t look away.

  “Serena…” he murmured. “She was very attached to her mother. Solange was everything to her. And living with the guilt of having taken your own mother’s life… is a burden no child should carry.”

  Zered closed his eyes.

  “Serena killed Solange by accident… at eight years old.”

  Shock hit me.

  But I kept my expression steady. With her unique skill… it was plausible. Terrible, but plausible.

  He continued:

  “She isolated herself after that, afraid of hurting anyone else. And…” his voice wavered, “at first, I… felt relieved that she chose isolation. I was so destroyed that… I let it happen.”

  He rubbed his face with trembling hands.

  “Now I see that… as a man, not as a king… I was a complete failure as a father.”

  He looked straight at me.

  “That’s why… I’m asking you not as king, but as a desperate father: keep helping them. Take care of them for me… please.”

  How far does a man have to fall to ask this of a monster? I don’t know. But if trusting me gives him any relief, there’s no way I can refuse… it’s the same thing I did with Thom.

  “Another vow…” I muttered. “All right. But it won’t be free. When all of this is over… as payment… I want Your Majesty to talk to your children. For real.”

  He let out a short, exhausted laugh.

  “That’s fair. I think I can still manage at least that much. We have a deal.”

  And that was it.

  I left the room in silence, the weight of the revelation still fresh in my mind.

  Sentil… he’s strong, responsible. Carries too much, but he can handle it. I just hope he can relax a little after all this. Serena, though…

  Now that I know her past… talking to her won’t be easy. She’s already fragile with everything that’s happened.

  Ask about her mother? No way.

  ‘Damn… am I really this bad at dealing with sad people?’

  My legs walked on their own. Before I realized it, I was back in front of her door.

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