The next day arrived with clear skies and a tense mood. Mark, Thorne, Kaela, and Selene—the four renowned adventurers—stood assembled before King Aethor in the grand throne room.
Despite their hardened experience and the reputation they had earned through countless successful missions, nerves still flickered beneath the surface. It was rare and almost unheard of for adventurers to be summoned directly before the king to receive a quest. Normally, quests were distributed through the guild, far removed from king's eyes.
But now they stood beneath the towering marble pillars, before the gilded throne of king Aethor himself.
The king's sharp gaze swept over them like a sword. His eyes, dark and calculating, carried the weight of decades spent as both ruler and former warrior. Even without speaking, his presence pressed on them like armor that too heavy to wear.
When he did speak, his voice was calm, yet commanding.
