Chapter 80: Earned the right
The thunderclouds had only just begun to part when the royal procession made its way into the shattered ruins. The King appeared, flanked by the Queen, adorned in regal silver and sapphire, and by none other than Elder Gideon and Lady Mariana Alden, Xavier’s parents. His royal mantle fluttered behind him as he stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate silence and reverence.
All those present instinctively dropped to one knee. The soldiers lowered their weapons. The cultivators, some still catching their breath from battle, bowed their heads. Even Henrietta, still veiled in mist and charged with the crackling remnants of her breakthrough, inclined her head deeply in respect before rising again to her full, radiant posture.
Lady Mariana did not wait for formalities. The moment she spotted her son kneeling amidst the rubble, she rushed forward past the guards and aides, her heart overriding protocol. She dropped beside Lucas with trembling hands, lifting his face gently, her eyes filling with tears at the sight of him, bloodied, bruised, and battered, but alive. Her fingers brushed his cheek, the pride and relief in her gaze too raw to be hidden.
"You did it," she whispered, her voice choking with emotion. "My brave boy... you did it."
Lucas gave her a small, tired smile, but said nothing, he didn’t need to, the moment said everything.
Elder Gideon remained behind the king, when his eyes met his son’s across the space between them, something softened. A subtle nod, firm and quiet, passed between them.
The king moved toward Henrietta first, He stopped before her, studying her with his eyes, his voice, when he spoke, was deep and resonant.
"You have crossed a boundary very few ever reach," he said. "we are proud of you, Henrietta. Your strength was decisive today. Your rise was the dawn in our darkest hour."
Henrietta bowed her head once more, her misty veil flickering in the breeze, but she said nothing in return.
He walked slowly toward Lucas, whose body still ached under the weight of everything he had endured. As the king approached, Lucas attempted to straighten himself. He rose as much as his limbs would allow, forcing one knee under him and bowing deeply despite the pain that surged through every fiber of his being.