The King's Request

King Eldran's gaze lingered on the letter before him, one he had read countless times. With each rereading, the lines on his forehead deepened. The absence of Prime Advisor Alexander Levison from the royal court had stretched on too long. Officially, Alexander had left to witness the kingdom's state with his own eyes, but Alfred knew better. His advisor's departure signalled something far graver: a lack of confidence in the King's abilities.

Though he would never claim to be a virtuous man, Alfred could honestly assert that he had been a good king. He had heeded the wisdom imparted by the Crusader King, Nathaniel Heaven, and through his diligence, Lordrixis had preserved its former glory and harmony. Yet, a bitter sigh escaped him as he contemplated a world where sins remained unforgiven, no matter the efforts made to atone. The immutable past tainted his reputation, and an uncertain future failed to sway people's judgment.

Worse still, Alfred realized that if Alexander Levison had decided to apologise for his earlier disrespect, his situation must have reached an urgent juncture.

He lifted his gaze to the empty hall, anticipating the arrival of someone important. Shun Xshasi, the individual whom he had once deemed the source of his misfortunes, was now the only ally he could consider in these desperate times.

As if summoned by his thoughts, a portal shimmered into existence in the centre of the hall, conjured by the fourth complete ethereal warrior, Noah Heeden. Noah emerged with a playful smirk, followed closely by two others whose expressions reflected a blend of astonishment and unease.

"Boss, they are here," Noah announced lazily, "My job is done; I don't want to waste any more of my precious time."

King Eldran shook his head, waving a hand in resignation. With a grin, Noah flicked his fingers, creating a portal beneath him and promptly disappearing into another dimension.

Shun watched the display, recognizing the true extent of Noah Heeden's formidable ethereal ability. It was a power without limits, and he understood that the fourth ethereal arm was a crucial step toward achieving his ultimate goal. However, he had no time to dwell on it further.

He gestured politely, "Your Majesty."

Beside him, Silver stood respectfully, her demeanour devoid of the anxiety that gripped Shun.

"Spare me the pleasantries; we both know your respect is merely an act," King Eldran replied slowly, the usual solemnity in his tone noticeably absent. "Today, I wish to invite you to an honest dialogue. I had not anticipated the presence of the ninth complete ethereal warrior, but it matters little."

Shun met the king's gaze, sensing that beneath the irritation in his voice lay no hostility or intent to harm. He stood silently, awaiting the king's words.

"Shun, I speak not as a monarch, but as an ethereal warrior, and I wish to regard you as my equal." The king's eyes remained fixed, unwavering. "I propose an alliance—or more correctly stated, a request."

Forming an alliance with Shun was not a great choice, given the past's lessons.

Shun's expression betrayed his disbelief; his eyes widened as he trembled with unease. A harrowing realization struck him—after his duel with Dominic, he had revelled in the excitement of his newfound power, forgetting that Dominic had witnessed everything. The old warrior was likely aware of Shun's capabilities and may have conveyed them to the king.

"Come now, don't leave me hanging. At least offer some response," the king sighed, surprised by Shun's reaction. After a moment's contemplation, he dismissed it without further thought.

Shun managed to utter, "An alliance with… me?"

"What makes me so special?" The unease in his voice was palpable, apprehensive about his secrets being exposed.

"Yes, what IS so special about you?" The king countered. "To be completely forthright, countless complete ethereal warriors and influential figures have rallied to your side, despite your past actions. What is it about you that inspires such unwavering support?"

Shun pondered this very question, realizing he had yet to uncover the answer. At least it seemed the king remained oblivious to the true nature of his ethereal arm, which was a small comfort.

He glanced at Silver, who averted her gaze. Inhaling deeply, he struggled to find his words.

Noting Shun's internal struggle, King Eldran pressed on without demanding an immediate reply. "I don't know what makes you exceptional, nor do I particularly care, as long as that uniqueness can be harnessed for the benefit of the kingdom. I require your assistance, Shun."

Shun responded flatly, "My assistance? Does it have to be me?"

"No, but yes," King Eldran replied, shaking his head before nodding slightly. "Are you familiar with the Kingdom's Prime Advisor, Alexander Levison?"

Shun recalled hearing that name from Jaylen, though he knew little of the man. He nodded slowly.

"I need you to gain his trust," the king articulated with careful precision. "More accurately, I need him to regain my trust." 

He sealed the letter in his hand and tossed it into the air. Shun caught it deftly.

The letter was plain and concise, a stark contrast to the elaborate missive written by Yun. Shun skimmed through it quickly, grasping the essence of the situation.

"Alexander Levison is a legendary figure; his ascent to the position of Prime Advisor, despite wielding merely an instrument-class ethereal arm, is nothing short of miraculous. As the second-highest-ranking official in the royal court, directly beneath me, his importance cannot be overstated." The king continued after Shun finished reading, "Yet, as you can see, he finds himself entangled in a predicament beyond his ken."

"And how can I help?" Shun queried. From his understanding, a new organization had emerged in the city of Sila, causing civil unrest. Alexander Levison had been present during these tumultuous events, yet he had been unable to unearth the mastermind behind the chaos. On a broader scale, this was not a crisis demanding immediate concern, nor did it warrant someone of Shun's calibre to intervene.

King Eldran continued, "Alexander possesses an intellect unmatched by others; if he cannot discern the individual behind this turmoil, then no one can."

"Then how could I?" Shun raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"You need not," the king replied, his tone growing sombre. "But I suspect the culprit is none other than Alexander himself. I require an assistant to investigate this matter, and the reason for your selection is my belief that he is one of your supporters."

"I have heard you are seeking to unveil the truths of history, so in return, I shall provide answers to any questions you pose, assuming I possess the knowledge."

Shun hesitated, wrestling with the implications of this offer. If he could acquire ethereal arms during this journey while simultaneously winning the king's trust, there would be little reason to decline. However, he grappled with an underlying mistrust toward both the king and the Prime Advisor. He was reluctant to entangle himself with individuals whose intellect surpassed his own, and he sensed that Alexander Levison was no ordinary figure.

Amidst his contemplation, Silver placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Shun turned to her, finding her expression filled with brightness and determination.

At that moment, he realized there was nothing to fear.