Chapter 12
The Royal Palace of Glaria stood at the heart of the capital, towering over the surrounding buildings like a fortress built for giants.
White stone walls surrounded the enormous complex, decorated with golden carvings and the crest of the elven kingdom. Tall towers rose behind the walls, their pointed roofs shining beneath the afternoon sun.
Nick stopped walking.
"So... we're actually going inside that?"
He stared up at the palace, his mouth slightly open.
Miguel looked around nervously.
"Apparently."
Nick glanced at Krogas.
"And you're not even nervous?"
Krogas kept walking.
"Why would I be?"
"Because we're about to meet the king."
Krogas looked over his shoulder.
"I've met him hundreds of times."
Nick's expression changed.
"Wait. Hundreds?"
Krogas shrugged.
"Something like that."
Miguel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're really close to the royal family, aren't you?"
Krogas smiled.
"You could say that."
Nick immediately became suspicious.
"You're hiding something."
"I'm not."
"You definitely are."
Krogas laughed.
"You two have known me for barely a week and already think I'm suspicious."
Nick crossed his arms.
"Because you are."
Miguel sighed.
"He's not entirely wrong."
Krogas shook his head.
"You'll understand eventually."
They continued toward the palace gates.
Several guards stood outside, dressed in polished armor. Their expressions were serious, but the moment they noticed Krogas approaching, their posture changed.
One of them stepped forward.
"Sir Krogas."
Krogas gave him a casual nod.
"Open the gates."
The guard immediately turned toward the others.
"Open them."
The enormous gates slowly began to move.
Nick stared.
"They didn't even ask who we are."
Miguel glanced toward Krogas.
"They probably don't need to."
Nick looked at the old elf again.
"Seriously, who are you?"
Krogas smiled.
"You'll find out."
Nick narrowed his eyes.
"That's the third suspicious answer you've given me."
Krogas chuckled.
"Then perhaps you should stop asking suspicious questions."
---
The moment they entered the palace grounds, Nick's attention was captured by everything around him.
The gardens were enormous. Carefully trimmed trees lined the stone pathways, fountains sparkled beneath the sunlight, and statues of famous elves stood throughout the courtyard.
Nick turned his head from one side to another.
"This place is huge."
Miguel nodded.
"How many people live here?"
"Quite a few," Krogas answered.
Nick pointed toward a massive statue.
"Who's that?"
"A former general."
"Was he strong?"
"Very."
Nick looked at Krogas.
"Stronger than you?"
Krogas stopped walking.
Miguel immediately looked away.
He already knew where this was going.
Krogas stared at Nick for a moment.
"No."
Nick's eyes widened.
"Seriously?"
Krogas nodded.
"He was strong."
Nick grinned.
"So you're stronger."
"Yes."
Miguel glanced at him.
"You sound way too proud about that."
Krogas smiled.
"I've earned the right."
Nick looked back at the statue.
"Then why is his statue bigger than yours?"
Krogas stared at him.
Miguel covered his mouth.
A laugh escaped.
Krogas shook his head.
"Children."
Nick grinned.
---
They eventually reached the palace entrance.
Two guards opened the enormous doors.
Inside, the palace was even more impressive.
Long corridors stretched in every direction, decorated with paintings, banners, statues, and enormous windows that allowed sunlight to illuminate the polished floors.
Nick lowered his voice.
"This place feels different."
Miguel nodded.
"It does."
Nick glanced at the guards lining the corridor.
"Everyone here looks serious."
Krogas continued walking.
"Because they're working."
Nick frowned.
"You never look serious."
"I work differently."
Miguel gave Krogas a suspicious glance.
"What exactly do you do?"
Krogas smiled.
"Many things."
Nick groaned.
"That's another suspicious answer."
"You really need to stop calling everything suspicious."
"No."
Krogas laughed.
---
At the end of the corridor stood two enormous doors.
The guards beside them immediately recognized Krogas.
One of them stepped forward.
"Sir Krogas, His Majesty is waiting."
Krogas nodded.
"Good."
The doors opened.
Nick's steps slowed.
Beyond them was the throne room.
It was enormous.
Tall windows covered the walls, golden banners hung from the ceiling, and several royal guards stood silently along the sides.
At the far end sat the King of Glaria.
Nick stared at him.
"So that's the king..."
Miguel swallowed.
"Yeah."
Nick glanced at him.
"You nervous?"
Miguel hesitated.
"A little."
Nick nodded.
"Same."
Krogas walked forward without hesitation.
He stopped before the throne, but he didn't kneel.
Instead, he simply smiled.
"Still sitting around, I see."
The king raised an eyebrow.
"And you're still incapable of showing proper respect."
Krogas shrugged.
"We've known each other too long for that."
The king stared at him for a moment.
Then he laughed.
"You haven't changed."
"Neither have you."
The king leaned back.
"Come closer."
Krogas stepped forward.
Nick and Miguel followed.
The king's gaze settled on the two boys.
"So these are the children you found in Elderwind Forest?"
Krogas nodded.
"They are."
The king studied them carefully.
"They look younger than I expected."
Nick glanced at Miguel.
Miguel gave him a nervous look.
The king noticed their reactions.
"You don't need to be frightened."
Nick straightened.
"I'm not frightened."
Miguel quietly muttered,
"You were just staring at the floor."
Nick turned toward him.
"I was thinking."
"About the floor?"
"Yes."
Krogas chuckled.
The king smiled.
"I see."
His attention returned to the boys.
"Tell me your names."
Nick stepped forward.
"I'm Nick Freyan."
Miguel followed.
"Miguel Kriss."
The king nodded.
"Nick and Miguel."
He paused.
"Krogas told me about your abilities."
Nick's eyes brightened.
"What did he tell you?"
Krogas glanced at him.
"Enough."
Nick frowned.
"That's not an answer."
The king smiled.
"He told me you can use magic without incantations."
Nick looked at Miguel.
Miguel shrugged.
"We didn't know that was unusual."
The king's expression became serious.
"It is."
The room grew quieter.
"Very few people can accomplish such a thing naturally. Even among experienced mages, casting without an incantation requires considerable control."
Miguel looked down at his hands.
"So we're... unusual?"
Krogas nodded.
"Very."
Nick's expression became thoughtful.
"Does that mean we're strong?"
The king smiled slightly.
"Potentially."
Nick grinned.
"I like that answer."
Miguel sighed.
"Of course you do."
---
The king turned toward Krogas.
"And what do you intend to do with them?"
Krogas folded his arms.
"Train them."
The king's eyebrows rose.
"Personally?"
"Yes."
"You rarely train anyone."
"They're worth the effort."
Nick's eyes widened.
"Did you just compliment us?"
Krogas looked at him.
"Don't get used to it."
Nick grinned.
The king laughed.
"I understand."
His expression became serious again.
"But what happens after their training?"
Krogas answered immediately.
"They will attend the Royal Academy."
Nick's eyes practically lit up.
"The Royal Academy?"
The king nodded.
"The finest academy in the kingdom."
Nick leaned forward.
"What do they teach?"
"Magic, combat, history, geography, monster studies, politics, and many other subjects."
Nick's excitement grew with every word.
"When do we start?"
The king smiled.
"Not yet."
Nick's expression froze.
"What?"
"You must be thirteen to enroll."
Nick stared at him.
Miguel blinked.
"So we have to wait?"
"Yes."
Krogas placed a hand on Nick's head.
"Three years of preparation."
Nick's eyes sharpened.
"Then I'll become strong enough to dominate the academy."
Miguel looked at him.
"You're already planning to dominate a place you've never seen."
"Preparation."
"For what?"
"Winning."
Miguel sighed.
The king laughed.
"I have a feeling the academy will become much noisier when you arrive."
---
The king's expression became more thoughtful.
"There is another matter."
Krogas looked toward him.
"What is it?"
"These children cannot simply be treated as ordinary refugees."
The king's gaze returned to Nick and Miguel.
"They possess abilities that could attract dangerous people. If word spreads that two children can cast magic without incantations, there will be people who attempt to take advantage of them."
Miguel's expression tightened.
Krogas's eyes became colder.
"They won't get the chance."
The king nodded.
"I know."
The room briefly fell silent.
Then the king continued.
"Glaria can provide them protection, education, food, clothing, and a place to stay."
Nick looked at him.
"And what do you want in return?"
The king smiled faintly.
"Good question."
Krogas glanced at Nick approvingly.
The king continued.
"I want an alliance."
Miguel frowned.
"An alliance?"
"Yes. Not ownership. Not servitude."
The king leaned back.
"You are free to leave Glaria when you are old enough to make your own decisions. But while you remain here, I expect you to remember who helped you when you had nowhere else to go."
Nick thought about it.
"So basically... we're allies?"
The king nodded.
"Exactly."
Nick smiled.
"I can accept that."
Miguel looked at him.
"You decided pretty quickly."
Nick shrugged.
"They're giving us food, clothes, training, education, and a safe place to live."
He looked toward the king.
"And we're supposed to become stronger anyway."
The king smiled.
"Then we have an agreement."
Krogas nodded.
"Good."
---
Just as the discussion seemed finished, a young elven girl entered the throne room.
She was around the same age as Nick, dressed in elegant royal clothing.
The moment she noticed Krogas, her expression brightened.
"Krogas!"
Krogas turned.
"Princess."
The girl's face immediately became annoyed.
"Don't call me that."
Krogas smiled.
"Then what should I call you?"
"You know my name."
"I do."
She crossed her arms.
"Then use it."
Nick looked between them.
Miguel whispered,
"They know each other?"
Krogas glanced toward the princess.
"She's been bothering me since she was little."
The princess frowned.
"I have not!"
Krogas smiled.
"You followed me around the palace for three days when you were six."
"Because you promised to teach me sword tricks!"
"And I did."
"You only showed me one!"
"Because you nearly cut your own shoe."
The princess's cheeks reddened.
Nick struggled not to laugh.
Miguel looked away.
The king sighed.
"Every time you two meet, the palace becomes louder."
The princess finally noticed the two unfamiliar boys.
She tilted her head.
"Who are they?"
Krogas looked toward Nick and Miguel.
"Two children I found in Elderwind Forest."
The princess's eyes widened.
"Elderwind Forest?"
Nick nodded.
"Yep."
She studied them curiously.
"You survived there?"
Miguel nodded.
"With difficulty."
Nick smiled.
"But we survived."
The princess looked impressed.
"I see."
Krogas glanced toward the king.
"We still need to verify their biological ages."
The king nodded.
"Bring the Royal Physician."
A servant immediately left the room.
Nick looked toward Miguel.
"Finally."
Miguel nodded.
"We don't even know how old we actually are."
They had both known from the beginning that they were children.
But neither had any way of knowing exactly how many years they had lived in these new bodies.
The physician soon entered the throne room carrying a small case and a glowing crystal.
He approached the two boys.
"I'll determine your biological ages."
Nick looked at the strange crystal.
"Is it going to hurt?"
The physician smiled.
"No."
Miguel relaxed slightly.
Nick nodded.
"Good."
The physician raised the crystal toward him.
A soft light began to glow across the throne room.
Krogas watched silently.
The king leaned back in his throne.
And for the first time since their rebirth, Nick and Miguel were about to learn exactly how old their new bodies truly were.
To be continued...