The Royal Palace

Silvindor, the City of Silver, welcomed the party with open gates, its towering walls gleaming in the sunlight. 

"Whoa…"

Cole's eyes widened at the sight, captivated by the grandeur that surpassed his wildest expectations. Even amidst the chaos that had befallen the world, Silvindor stood tall and majestic, proof that it was a city above cities. A Capital above Capitals.

The city seemed to shimmer with silver hues, from the cobbled streets to the ornate buildings.

Banners bearing the kingdom's crest adorned every corner. It was a stark contrast to the destruction Cole had witnessed in his own small town and the Luminescent Lumira which had been destroyed all the same.

"Dang, I thought I'd see more wreckage," Brander remarked, echoing Cole's thoughts as the carriages rolled through the bustling streets. 

"Looks like this place regenerated most of the destruction during our travels."

Aeliana, guiding the carriage with an air of familiarity, nodded in agreement. 

"Duh, Silvindor is the heart of the kingdom, after all."

"Oh, now that I think about it, how long have you been traveling for?"

Cole asked a question that would've made much more sense to have done so weeks ago.

"Pfft, over a month and a half." 

Brander shrugged his shoulders as he further leaned on the plush cushions of the carriage.

"That's almost half of the time since the Celestial Eclipse happened. I guess it was an important mission, right?" Cole asked once again with a finger to his lips, drowned in thoughts.

"Correct, Cole. We were out surveying the kingdom and giving reports with our batch of Communication Parchments, although, the last one was used up on the message I received back in Stonehaven, hence, the return."

"Oh, I see."

Albeit Cole said that out loud, what he thought was totally different.

'Bullshit. There must be something up regarding me, so she decided to bring me here for a better assessment of the situation with better-qualified people.'

'Not good, not good. No need to be so distrusting of people who treated you kindly, Cole!'

He immediately chastised himself mentally as they ventured deeper into the city, and instead, Cole decided to marvel at the layers of society. 

Commoners went about their daily lives, bustling through markets and tending to their businesses, some were fighting for the reason of the overpriced necessities for life, but he quickly ignored that. 

The nobles, distinguished by their refined clothing and poised demeanor, occupied the middle layer. The way they seemed to be without any worries spoke enough of their economic situation.

Beyond that, lay the towering castle. The residence of the king.

The carriages, however, didn't stop in the commoners' layer. 

The hour-long journey inside the Capital continued to grow, and instead, they delved deeper into the city, making their way to the border of the nobles' quarter. 

The buildings grew more opulent, and well-dressed individuals moved with a sense of purpose.

"Wait, why are we going so deep into the noble quarter?" 

Cole asked, a mix of curiosity and confusion as he tried to stretch inside the carriage, tired of the now two-hour-long journey inside the capital.

Aeliana turned towards him with a goofy grin on her face as the sun began to set.

"Teehee! Each of us has our own residence here." She then turned slightly more serious, "The nobles and people of high importance live close to the castle, and as Diamond Royal Guards, we are granted such privileges."

'Oh, so they have houses here.'

The carriage finally halted deep into the nobles' quarter, the party disembarked and Cole couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. 

Mansions, more extravagant than anything he had seen before, lined the streets. 

Each member of the party had their own mansion, and that was a revelation that left Cole dumbfounded.

"Damn, I didn't know you were this important?!" 

Cole yelled in shock, glancing at each party member in turn.

Laughter echoed through the group. 

Selene grinned, "Well, we do hold a certain level of significance in the kingdom, just like Aeliana might've told you already."

Lyra remained stoic, not offering any response, which only seemed to add to the amusement of the party.

As they reached their respective mansions, they bid each other farewell, dispersing into the opulent residences.

Aeliana escorted Cole to her mansion, a sprawling estate with manicured gardens and a team of maids and butlers awaiting their arrival. The contrast from the destroyed town of Lumira and Elyndor couldn't be any more visible.

The courtyard was adorned with vibrant flowers, and the fragrance filled the air as they entered.

Cole, overwhelmed by the luxurious surroundings, tried to maintain his composure.

As they approached the entrance, the servants bowed respectfully. 

"Welcome home, Miss Aeliana!"

Aeliana smiled and gestured towards Cole, introducing him, "This is Cole, a brave ally who fought alongside us. He'll be staying with us for a while."

The maids and butlers welcomed him with professional smiles, leading him to a lavishly furnished room where he could rest. Aeliana bid him goodnight, assuring him that they would meet again the next day.

"Tomorrow, then."

"Alright, thank you for everything."

Alone in the room, Cole sank into the plush bed, still processing the surreal turn of events. 

'The world ended for me, and then, I returned to see it more alive than ever. Just what is up now, did that Eclipse ever happen…?'

'Yeah, it did… I don't have any useless mental capacity to waste on such unnecessary questions.'

The softness of the bed, the intricate details of the furniture, and the quiet elegance of the room contrasted sharply with the hardships he had endured ever since that fated day, and so, finally feeling pure comfort and softness, he drifted to sleep.

***

Chirp, chirp, chirp!

The next day brought a summons. 

Cole and the party members were to be granted an audience with the king in the Royal Mansion. 

As they approached the castle, the towering structure seemed to touch the heavens, its spires adorned with silver accents.

With his head fully raised and still having difficulty properly seeing the end of the peaks, he couldn't help but wonder how the heck people made something as big.

Step, step, step.

The grandeur of the castle mesmerized Cole as they entered its halls. 

The intricate details on the walls, the polished marble floors, and the ethereal glow of chandeliers left him in awe. He tried to mimic the party members in their etiquette, unsure if his self-learned manners would suffice in such a regal setting.

Cra-crack!

"Well then, Cole, do not stress out and follow after our own actions."

Aeliana flashed a grin as the wide and golden gates opened, revealing an expansive audience chamber, two rows of people leading towards the throne, and at the end of the hall, on his throne, sat a being of absolute authority and power.

'Corvus Aurum Goldenvale the Sixth!'