Note: Thank You Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire
“@GooseOverlord”
for 32 Golden tickets! TQ So Much!
–
Two days had passed since Kent was declared free, and his name was spreading like wildfire throughout the Seventh Realm.
The glass orbs around 7th realm repeatedly played the scenes of the royal court, capturing the moment he protected Queen Soya from a hail of forbidden spells.
People in villages and towns alike admired him—especially aspiring young wizards, who saw Kent as a symbol of idol. His defiance against the emperor and his audacious wishes—an independent territory and free walk to the royal treasury—became the talk of both public squares and private forums.
–
Inside the dim, damp confines of the royal prison, Ria hung by her wrists, chains biting into her flesh. Her white robes were stained with blood and grime, a far cry from the pristine image she once bore as the leader of the women in white.
The air around her was thick with the smell of rot and sweat, and faint echoes of distant cries of pain reverberated through the cold stone walls. Yet, in the face of it all, she remained eerily silent.
The prison guards had tried everything to break her—whips, fire, poison, even spells meant to pull secrets from the deepest recesses of her mind. But none had succeeded.
She knew that the slightest slip of her tongue could lead to the exposure of No Man Island, the secret base of the women in white, and the end of everything they had worked for.
Two royal interrogators stood before her now, their faces masked. One of them, a tall man with cold eyes, held a glowing iron poker, its tip radiating heat. He brought it close to her skin, inches away from her cheek, taunting her with its searing presence.
“Tell us, who are your accomplices?” the man hissed. “Where did you come from? What’s your connection to the attack on the queen?”
Ria’s eyes flickered to the poker but then returned to the dark, damp corner of the cell, as if she hadn’t even heard him.
“She hasn’t said a word since we brought her in,” the second interrogator muttered, his voice frustrated. “How long can she keep this up?”
“She will speak,” the first interrogator replied with cold certainty, pressing the iron closer to Ria’s skin. “Everyone breaks eventually.”
–
Meanwhile, in a secluded part of the realm, far away from civilization, a group of women dressed in white gathered once again on the barren No Man Island. Their faces were grim, reflecting the failure of their recent attack on Queen Soya.
Almost all of them were kneeling on the cold ground, heads bowed before thirteen elders who hovered in the air above them, exuding a daunting aura.
Chelli, their vice leader, raised her voice respectfully to the elders. “Respected ancestors, we lost 84 members in the last attack. And 133 were severely wounded.”
“Shame.. 84 died without any use.” An elder said with a mocking smile.
“Not 84, Chelli. It was 83. Ria was captured and imprisoned in the royal prison.” Chelli corrected with a serious face.
The elder’s expression darkened. “Do you think she’ll survive? Her fate was sealed the moment you left her behind. While she stood her ground for your safety, you all ran away, didn’t you?” His voice thundered, causing the ground beneath the women to tremble. “You abandoned her, so don’t pretend you care now. Instead of mourning, focus on training! How could one man—one man—defend against so many forbidden spells at once? You’re weak. You have failed.”
The words were like a whip, and the women bowed their heads further, accepting their punishment.
Their bond with the elders was forged in desperation and blood, but the elders’ support came at a price—unflinching loyalty and results. Yet they had failed to kill the queen, and worse, failed to bring down the man who had protected her.
Ria, their once-beloved leader, was all but forgotten as they resumed their intense training without complaint.
—
Back in the royal capital, Kent moved through the city with a different kind of aura. Wherever he walked, people greeted him with respect and admiration. Special invites poured in from noble families wanting to host him at their manors.
Kent had become a sensation, not just for his feats in the court but also because he had claimed the ruined Dead Island City as his own independent territory.
Kent had already visited the dead island city yesterday to confirm a startling discovery—the existence of a Titan crystal beneath the city’s soil. After verifying the treasure’s authenticity, Kent had scolded the beastmen for digging the city for years without noticing something so valuable.
“How did none of you find this before?” Kent demanded, standing before the trembling beastmen.
“We didn’t dig in this place, Master. We are outcasts and didn’t come to this side to dig!” the elder of the beastmen apologized, shaking under Kent’s piercing gaze.
Kent gave them a strict order. “You are to isolate the Titan crystal tree and uproot it completely. Every piece must be secured. No one—no one—outside this island can know about it. You have Seven days.”
The elder nodded quickly, “We will complete the task within five days, City Lord. And we will keep the secret to our graves.”
Satisfied with their compliance, Kent had granted the beastmen certain liberties. “You may build homes here. And as for your request to marry human females, I’ll allow it—provided both parties agree willingly.” He had passed the official city command without hesitation, cementing their loyalty.
Now, in the royal capital, Kent’s mind was preoccupied with another problem. He needed to figure out who had first discovered the Titan crystal and spread word of it. There was a great chance that the person who discovered the Titan crystal must be related to the Doom family. Otherwise, people will fear to reveal such information as kings chose to kill informers to keep the secret.
The queen had promised to investigate the people who might have known about the Titan crystal, and now, Kent was thinking of meeting her to get an update.
Just as he was mulling over his next steps, four royal wizards approached him from behind, walking in perfect synchronization. Their uniforms glittered under the sunlight, marking them as high-ranking officers.
“Kent Hall?” one of them asked, confirming his identity.
Kent nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“The Queen has commanded your presence immediately. Follow us.”
With a quick glance around the bustling streets of the capital, Kent followed the wizards toward the royal palace.
–
*One more is on the way! Stay Tuned!