The Core of the Kingdom
Captain Arin came to a slowing pace and looked over at Leon. The silent bond that existed between them went back and forth in their minds—they were coming up to the door of the kingdom’s very heart, where the strongest and most influential individual of Moonstone Kingdom lived: The King of Moonstone.
As they approached the grand gate into the interior palace complex, Leon paused, his eyes flicking momentarily over the imposing edifice. The gate was tall and stately, decorated with fine carvings of old symbols and shining silver trim that glinted in the morning light. Leon stopped for a moment, drinking in the historic import of the location. Then, with a serene face hiding his subdued wonder, he moved forward again, Arin at his heels.
From past Leon’s recollections, he remembered to have traveled here to this central palace section once before — but viewing it now in his own visual perception was unlike anything. The air itself was thicker with some kind of unspoken and unseen authority. Although he kept his astonishment behind a calm facade, within him his thoughts ran wild over memories of the past and the present intersecting.
Passing through the outer gate, a line of guards in shiny black armor stood at attention. Each lowered their heads respectfully—not so much to Captain Arin, their commanding officer, but to Leon as well. Though Leon was no king, his position as a top official put him just one step below the throne. The guards’ slight bowing was an unstated recognition of his authority and rank in the kingdom’s hierarchy.
Leon and Arin continued their steady walk, their footsteps echoing softly on the marble pathway. When Leon crossed the threshold into the inner core area, a sudden shift in the air greeted him. The atmosphere here was different— The air was fresher, more alive as charged with a rich, vibrant mana that seemed to hum just beneath the surface.
Leon was well aware of the importance of this location. Cultivators who trained here doubled their progress, as the mana-rich climate sped up their development. The reason behind this was largely forgotten over the passage of time, even to the current generation of kings. But Leon, with the information provided by his system, was aware of this secret.
But this was not special to Moonstone Kingdom only. Underneath the central palace zones of the five great independent kingdoms, a mana stone was buried, which was a source of extremely strong mana that filled the land above with heavy, living mana. In the distant past, when the four great empires had not yet risen to power, Galvia had comprised a myriad of small kingdoms. It was during those unstable times that a gigantic mana crystal had been found deep inside Galvia’s earth.
This find unleashed a savagery — a war of possession that painted Galvia’s land with blood. The five peak kingdoms of the time clashed violently to claim the mana stone, as minor kingdoms took the chance to challenge their long-standing oppressors. At last, from wearying battles and massive losses, the five kingdoms had no choice but to negotiate a desperate truce. The mighty mana crystal was broken into five parts, with each of the kingdoms taking one to avoid future war.
Although the wars came to an end, the kingdoms were left weakened and weakened. It was then that four of the great empires started to emerge, gradually sowing their seeds throughout Galvia and redefining its fate.
But all of that was ancient history now as Leon strolled through the palace gardens—meticulously kept, filled with exotic flowers and tall, elegant trees swaying in the morning breeze. The fragrance of jasmine combined with the crispness of morning dew, creating a peaceful environment hiding the underlying political tensions.
Ahead of them, there was a junction where the road forked in four different directions. Leon’s head automatically remembered the palace arrangement. To the left were the residential areas of the King and Queen, and where the private study of the King was situated. Directly ahead was the royal court, the seat of the kingdom’s administration. To the right, past the gardens, were the luxurious entertainment halls where performances and grand feasts took place.
Arin looked at Leon and then proceeded down the left path. "His Majesty is in his study room, where he is having a meeting with the other dukes," Arin described while they walked. "We shall go there straight away."
Leon nodded lightly, proceeding with the captain’s guidance by quiet resolve. Each step led him nearer to the king—the closer he got to the moment he had eagerly and longed for.
Following a few more steps, the outline of an enormous palace loomed before them, grand and tranquil. The building was a work of architectural splendor, painted in unblemished white and lined with touches of deep sapphire blue. The walls towered like guardians, their slick planes receiving the morning light and radiating a soft azure sheen.
The palace gates were thrown wide between two gilded staircases that curled upwards, their balustrades cut from gleaming marble and adorned with intricate silver filigree. Royal blue drapes cascaded from the arches, swaying softly in the breeze, like a royal tapestry framing the entrance.
Along the walkway from the verdant, manicured gardens, a number of top-level guards stood at attention in shiny silver-and-blue armor, spears standing perfectly aligned. The gardens themselves were a resplendent mixture of boldly colored flora—emerald-shaded hedges clipped with military precision, groups of snowy white lilies, and blooming bushes that poured color onto the flagstone walkway.
As Leon and Arin reached the entrance of the palace, Captain Arin slowed down, then halted respectfully. Captain Arin turned about and bowing low, said. "Lord Duke, from here on you will make your own way. Lord Harvan will escort you inside further."
At the mention of the name, Leon’s mind flashed back to a soft recollection—a middle-aged man with threads of grey in his hair who had come to see him only a month ago, with the King’s invitation. A royal messenger and one of the King’s most intimate advisors.
Leon nodded slightly in recognition. "Understood."
Captain Arin stood from his bow and looked at Leon. "Then, I take my leave, my lord Duke."
Leon nodded slightly in response.
Without further comment, Arin stood up, cast one final glance, and walked away, leaving Leon by himself at the entrance of the King’s palace.