The King was summoned into a Dream

My breath came in rapid bursts, my heart pounding with a speed I hadn't known was possible.

Each thump echoed like a war drum in my chest, reverberating against the walls of my mind.

Panic danced at the edges of my consciousness, fighting against the remnants of the dark void I'd just been torn from.

I sat up, blinking into the dim warmth of my room.

The cozy atmosphere felt like a fragile sanctuary, a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness that had enveloped me just moments ago.

Shadows flickered across the walls, remnants of the fear that had gripped me, as I struggled to ground myself in this reality.

Moments ago, I'd been summoned—to a place beyond darkness, where power pulsed like a heartbeat, filling every corner, pressing down like the weight of a storm.

The air had crackled with energy, vibrant and alive, each breath heavy with the promise of transformation.

The being I'd encountered there... I can only describe him as omnificent.

He was a paradox, radiant and shadowed all at once, an entity whose presence defied comprehension.

His essence was a storm, a force beyond the Saints, who stood as mere echoes in his shadow.

He had summoned me, and in that moment, I felt both awed and terrified, as if I stood on the precipice of destiny itself.

"This is madness," I muttered, my voice soft in the silence, a fragile whisper lost in the vastness of my thoughts.

The words hung in the air, a futile attempt to grasp the enormity of what I'd just experienced.

In the faint glow cast from a nearby lamp, my reflection caught in the gold-framed mirror beside my bed, its frame casting an almost blinding glint after the oppressive dimness of that other realm.

I stared at the face looking back, searching for the strength I feared I lacked. My eyes, still wide with shock, mirrored the turmoil swirling within me.

And in that otherworldly place, I'd seen The Seeker—a man with silver hair that glimmered like stardust against the backdrop of the void.

His presence had been mesmerizing, drawing me in as if he were the sun and I a wandering planet.

Even through the haze of that vision, his aura shimmered with streaks of silver, as though his very being was woven with power.

I could feel the weight of his gaze, a fusion of knowledge and intent that suggested he held the keys to untold secrets.

It couldn't have been random.

No... for him to summon me right after my rise to the throne, with promises of power and visions of strength, couldn't be mere coincidence.

Every fiber of my being screamed that there was a connection—an invisible thread binding us together across the expanse of realms. He must be connected to Caelum.

With that silver hair, strength, and knowledge of the future, perhaps he was a father... or an ancestor.

Either way, Caelum was involved in this greater tapestry, woven into my destiny in ways I had yet to understand.

In that instant, clarity struck me like lightning. I couldn't afford to let Caelum become an enemy.

His potential was too great, his connection to the Seeker too significant. He had to be more than an ally—more than a mere pawn in my game of thrones.

He needed to become a knight in my service, bound to me by something greater than a promise of coin—a bond forged in loyalty, trust, and shared purpose.

At my desk, I scanned the stacks of paperwork, neglected while my thoughts drifted elsewhere.

I'd already summoned Caelum once, granting him a fortune and a seat of honor. He'd sworn loyalty in return, but his words felt like only that—words.

I needed more than words.

Caelum was too valuable to leave on the outskirts, in a modest villa beyond the capital. I'd once thought to use him as a failsafe, a scapegoat should things go awry.

But I'd been wrong—he was far too vital to be kept at a distance.

"It's decided," I murmured, pushing aside scattered papers as I rose. I called for a carriage, every moment heightening my resolve. I would make my case directly.

After changing into formal attire, I prepared myself. My first objective: convince Caelum to move into the capital.

Gradually, I'd introduce him to the idea of knighthood—a unique oath, binding him to me.

The carriage rattled along the cobbled streets, and my thoughts wandered back to the figure who had summoned me.

Not only had he called me by name, but he'd also given me a title to match my card—a calculated move.

And he'd mentioned two others: Mirror Girl and Tainted Knowledge. The names lingered in my mind, mysterious and powerful.

Whoever they were, they held influence. Only those who speak, he said, will reveal the throne they hold.

The mystery gnawed at me, and I yearned to return to that place and unlock the secrets it hid.

Suddenly, the carriage lurched to a stop, snapping me from my thoughts. We had arrived.

Caelum's house loomed before me—a modest yet sprawling estate, its worn exterior suggesting wealth concealed beneath humble appearances.

I stepped down, adjusting my cloak, and approached the door.

But before I could knock, the door swung open, and Caelum rushed out, colliding into me. My guards sprang forward, hands on their swords, but I raised a hand, stopping them.

Caelum's eyes widened, surprise crossing his face. "Ah, Caelum," I greeted with a slight bow. "I was hoping we might speak."

He blinked, clearing his expression as he returned the bow. "Actually, I was on my way to see you," he said, a faint, almost sheepish smile breaking through. "But since you're here, would you like to come in?"

I nodded, signaling to the four guards accompanying me. "Return to the palace; I'll be safe here."

They exchanged wary glances, then stepped back as I followed Caelum into his home.

The interior felt unexpectedly warm, rooms lit with a rustic charm that mirrored Caelum himself—unpolished but undeniably strong.

In the living room, I settled into a worn but comfortable couch, while Caelum took a seat across from me near the fireplace.

I was just about to speak when a woman entered from the hallway.

Her long black hair fell over a white shirt, partially hidden under a short black jacket.

Azure-blue eyes, glinting with an unspoken knowledge, met mine before she dropped into a bow.

She wore dark pants that frayed near the edges and boots streaked with blue and black. Is this his...

"The King!" she greeted, then quickly bowed again.

I raised a hand. "Ah, no need to bow if you're Caelum's partner," I chuckled.

The woman shared a quiet word with Caelum, and he nodded, before she gave a final nod to me.

"Greetings to the Light of the World," she said, "and farewell to the Light that bends it." With that, she disappeared back down the hall, bowing once more.

After the door shut, Caelum turned to me, a seriousness settling over his face. "So, why have you come to see me?"

I exhaled slowly. "I need your help, Caelum." He seemed taken aback but waited for me to continue.

"Your insight goes deep," I continued, "and your potential has only begun to surface." He gave me a curious look, allowing me to proceed.

"I would like you to become a knight and live within the capital, near the heart of the kingdom. Or, if that doesn't suit, I can offer you your own fiefdom with a transport mirror linking you to the capital itself—and make you a Duke."

This change might confuse him. In that place, I'd noticed that time felt... abstract; it didn't flow correctly.

For him, only a month had likely passed since I last saw him, but for me, it had been mere moments.

His face contorted, and he smiled softly before speaking. "That is the most gracious offer... but it needs something else."

I sat in confusion as he stood up.

"I wish to gain power—power that may even surpass the limits of a mere kingdom. I wish to become a being who can live freely. And with this, I offer you something in return."

He summoned his card and pointed it at me, a sly smile crossing his lips. "Let us become a duo and play a game of war with the world."