The sun filtered softly through the velvet curtains, brushing Kael's face with a peaceful warmth he was not used to. He had woken several times during the night, caught between the comfort of the bed and the fear of being jolted awake by the thud of boots. But nothing came. No screams, no threats. Only the silence of a strange place, wrapped in an almost suffocating safety. That morning, he rose cautiously, still wary, as if one wrong move could make it all vanish.
He approached the mirror-a large polished surface framed in gilded steel. What he saw left him speechless. His face, freed from dirt, revealed features he barely recognized. His eyes, once dull, now held a new gleam. His hair, still tousled, was gently combed. He had always thought poverty was his appearance, but here, without the grime, he almost felt... human.
As he stared at this unfamiliar reflection, a soft knock sounded at the door. He stiffened immediately, old habits taking over. He expected the worst, again. But it was only Naelys' voice. Gentle, calm. "May I come in?"
He hesitated for a moment, then answered timidly, "Yes..."
Naelys entered with the same confidence as the day before, dressed in a simple yet elegant blue gown bearing her House's crest. She smiled warmly and invited him to sit. Kael stayed standing, uncertain. "You're going to meet them today," she said softly. "My father... the Arkhon... and my mother."
At those words, panic flared in Kael's chest. His legs trembled. The Arkhon. That word alone carried weight. He didn't know exactly what it meant, but he understood it was authority. A leader. A patriarch. The kind of person who had the power to decide the fate of others... especially people like him.
"I... I'm not ready," he whispered.
Naelys stepped closer, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "You have nothing to fear, I promise. My father just wants to talk to you. He holds no anger, no arrogance. He wants to understand who you are. And my mother... she is kind, attentive. You'll see."
Kael couldn't believe in such kindness. His whole body screamed to run, to distrust. But he had nowhere else to go, and a part of him, buried deep, wanted to believe in this chance, this miracle. Maybe... maybe this world wasn't as cruel as he had always thought.
Naelys accompanied him to another wing of the manor. The hallways seemed endless, adorned with tapestries depicting ancient scenes he couldn't understand. Portraits of noble figures with proud gazes decorated the walls, each seeming to watch him. He walked in silence, clammy hands, heart pounding wildly.
Finally, they arrived before two massive wooden doors. Two guards stood on either side, statuesque, their armor gleaming. They didn't move an inch. Naelys knocked lightly. A deep voice responded: "Enter."
Kael felt his legs weaken, but Naelys gave him a reassuring glance and pushed the doors open. The room was vast but calm. At the far end, two figures sat in finely carved armchairs. A man with graying hair, powerful build, piercing gaze. And beside him, a woman of noble bearing, her look soft but firm. They were there. The Arkhon and the Lady.
Kael took one step, then another, feeling the weight of each movement. He felt tiny. He wanted to speak, apologize, kneel, flee. But nothing came out. He stood there, frozen, unable to do anything but lower his head.
"Come closer, young man," said the Arkhon, his voice deep but not harsh. Kael raised his eyes hesitantly. He stepped forward slowly, glancing at Naelys who gave him a small encouraging nod. When he reached a few paces from the couple, he stopped, fists clenched.
The Lady spoke next. "Your name is Kael, isn't it?" He nodded. "You are safe here. We know what happened in the streets. What those men did to you. You have nothing to fear."
Those words fell like a gentle rain upon his dry heart. He felt a burn behind his eyes. He didn't want to cry. Not in front of them. But the emotion rose, unstoppable.
"You didn't choose this life," the Arkhon resumed. "But you are still standing. That is strength." He then rose slowly, approaching Kael. The boy instinctively stepped back, but the man stopped at a respectful distance. "Here, you don't have to steal to eat. You don't have to hide to sleep."
Kael bit his lip. He didn't know what to say. Everything inside him was confused. Why? Why all this? Why him? He was just a thief. A dirty kid. A street rat. Why speak to him like he mattered?
Naelys stepped closer too, standing beside him. "My father would like to offer you something. But first... he wanted to see you. To know you."
The Arkhon nodded. "Nothing is forced upon you. But if you wish, you may stay here. Receive a name, a place."
Those words echoed in the room like an unreal promise. A place. A name. Things Kael had never had. Part of him wanted to shout yes. But another... fiercer, tougher, whispered: beware.
Silence fell again in the room. All eyes were on him. And Kael, the street rat, the kid from the alleys, was at the center of it all.