It is funny, isn't it?
You are trying to find a hidden enemy, but do not look into people you do not regularly meet."
Once again, Kael found himself out of answers.
What could he even say?
It was as if a mirror was being held up to him, showing him how foolish he had been.
He questioned, his voice much quieter and more reserved than before.
"You have two options."
"First, you investigate the King, the Queen, the Prince, the Ministers, and more than 100 Noble Houses of Drakthar separately. Study them closely and understand their intentions. Learn of the traitors present in these Noble houses. Determine which House belongs to which faction. Discover the goals of each faction, then identify the factions with goals opposite to yours—the factions you might call your enemies— all without missing even a single possibility.
Of course, you still need to train while you do all this. After all, only when you are strong enough to face your enemies would any of this matter. Otherwise, you'll simply be eliminated for knowing more than you should."
That was the first option.
And it went without saying—it was impossible.
Even the Crown Prince himself was a character Kael couldn't completely understand. Figuring out more than a hundred Noble Houses, each containing who knows how many schemers, was simply not feasible.
Kael finally understood what Veylara was trying to tell him.
These noble houses had spent their entire lives trying to root out spies and traitors, yet they had still failed.
How could he possibly uncover the truth on his own?
From the beginning, this wasn't a real choice.
He could only choose the second option.
"Or, you live among your enemies, just as I told you."
Kael wanted to argue, but Veylara interrupted.
"Whatever these factions are, there is a strict balance between them. While your summoning may have tipped that balance slightly, the fundamental reality remains unchanged.
You only need to see things from a simple perspective.
There are factions that want you alive and factions that wish to eliminate you.
You will let them confront each other while you grow stronger."
Kael stared at the woman, and Veylara continued as her eyes shined with wisdom.
"Hero Kael, allies, enemies, traitors, goals, factions—you can ponder them all you want, but in the end, you will end up spending your entire life doing this and even then, you will never figure it out.
Kael's face turned grim. Veylara however, smiled.
"Fortunately for you, Lord Feraos's mercy has made it so you do not have to play this thankless game.
A path far more certain and simpler than the complicated mess you're trying to involve yourself in."
Veylara paused for a moment, letting Kael digest everything before she finally continued.
Not the political power, but raw strength, the real power.
You must have a bit about me, you must have heard about the crazy old woman who does whatever she wants.
Why do you think I can do as I please?
Why does even the King hesitate before giving me orders?
It's because I am far stronger than others.
I am irreplaceable. I am valuable. Therefore, I am respected."
Veylara glanced at Kael and added,
"Hero, you were born with a gift like no other. Use that gift to your advantage. Make yourself so strong that allies come to you willingly, and no one dares scheme against or betray you.
Become so powerful that your hidden enemies remain hidden in fear, rotting in the shadows they love to lurk in.
That is what you should strive for."
As Veylara spoke, Kael's expression changed and he clenched his fists, his eyes shined with powerful determination.
Seeing the newly lit fire in his eyes, Veylara smiled.
"Now that's a much better look—one befitting a Hero."
She nodded, satisfied.
"Remember, the Royal Palace is a filthy place. Generations of schemes are at play within those walls.
Every being hides far more than you realize.
Kael raised an eyebrow at those words, and Veylara grinned.
"Your opinion of the King might be positive because Elira and Arlan admire him. But do you truly believe that man sat on the most powerful throne in Nerathis without getting his hands dirty?"
Kael's expression shifted.
"Certainly, he may have changed after Lavinia was born. I saw the look in his eyes—I watched him transform from a power-hungry king into a loving father. But...
That man was forced to enslave and exile his own daughter—the daughter he adored.
I wouldn't trust him."
"But... isn't that all the more reason to trust him? I could... save his daughter."
Kael spoke hesitantly, but Veylara burst into laughter.
"Princess Lavinia fell to corruption. You, as the Hero, are destined to fight against corruption."
"The King told me the Princess was framed."
"Trust me, if that girl had claimed innocence, Alden would never have sent her away. He would have gone against the entire world for the sake of his daughter and he would have continued that till he either succeeded or he was killed.
He loved that girl more than anything.
The only way he could harden his heart enough to punish her would be... to witness her fall with his own eyes."
"Are you saying... Princess Lavinia might have fallen to corruption willingly...?"
Kael questioned. Veylara studied him silently before shaking her head and sighing.
"You're doing it again, Hero.
You're trying to piece together truths with your limited information. You'll only burden yourself—and your hair might fall out from stress too."
Veylara then grinned mischievously.
"You can see others' ages, can't you?"
"You should know I'm over 80 years old, yet look at me.
Do I look a day over 25?"
She playfully tossed her hair, as if trying to charm Kael—and honestly, it was working.
Veylara was an extraordinarily beautiful woman.
Kael, of course, restrained himself and chuckled.
"You do not, Lady Veylara."
Veylara nodded, pleased.
"Learn from me, Hero.
Like me, you've been blessed with handsome features. Don't ruin them by diving into this dirty mess they call politics.
Whatever happens, let it happen.
Your sole focus should be growing stronger and stronger, so when the time comes—and things do collapse—you're ready to catch them.
Because trust me when I say this, Hero.
Things will collapse.
The balance will break.
And there is nothing you or anyone else can do to stop it."