Kaiden stepped quietly into his father's chambers. The door creaked a little when it closed behind him, but King Thane didn't even turn around. He sat at his broad wooden desk, shoulders straight, brush in hand, dragging black strokes across parchment.
For a second Kaiden thought maybe he hadn't been noticed, but that was stupid, the king did say come in himself.
The king finally spoke, voice deep and steady.
"You're late."
Kaiden bowed slightly, unsure if his father was annoyed or simply stating a fact. "I came as soon as the knights called for me, father."
Thane still didn't look at him. The brush kept moving, scratching softly. "Sit."
Kaiden sat down on the low stool by the side, his eyes flicking curiously at the paper. It wasn't the usual royal decree style, no stamps, no fancy golden ink. Just plain writing. A letter maybe, but Kaiden couldn't make out what it was from this angle. He figured it wasn't his business to ask.
Finally the king set the brush aside, but even then he didn't look straight away. He blew lightly on the parchment, drying the ink, before rolling it up carefully and pressing it shut with a stone weight. Only then did he turn.
His father's eyes had this heavy look, not the usual stern king who laughed loud at feasts or scolded his children. This was different. It almost looked… tired.
"You look well, boy."
Kaiden scratched his neck awkwardly. "I am well, father. Truly. Just a little hungry while I was in the woods, that was all. Nothing serious."
"Hungry, hm?" Thane stroked his beard, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "So a prince of mine nearly vanishes from the world because of hunger?"
Kaiden chuckled nervously. "Not exactly vanish, father. It was just… difficult finding my way back. The forest is big."
For a moment silence stretched between them. Then the king sighed, a long heavy breath, and leaned back in his chair.
"Kaiden…" His tone shifted, softer, almost fatherly instead of kingly. "I know what happened."
Kaiden froze. He blinked at his father, pulse racing. "W-What do you mean?"
Thane's eyes narrowed, sharp but not angry. "Your brothers. And your sisters. You don't need to hide it from me. I can see it in your eyes. The wound in your soul speaks louder than your words."
Kaiden's throat went dry. He stumbled a step back, hands trembling. "F-Father, I don't… I don't know what you're talking about."
But the king only raised a hand, silencing him. "No need to lie. You made the right choice, Kaiden. If you had spoken at the meal, if you had pointed your finger at them, the court would have turned into chaos. Proof is always demanded, and in the end it would have been your word against theirs. No, you were wise to keep silent."
Kaiden's lips parted but no words came out. His father's calm certainty unsettled him more than if he had raged.
Thane stood slowly, moving toward him. "Listen to me, Kaiden. You've always wanted to be a cultivator. You've always wanted to chase power, not crowns or politics. That dream of yours, it's a noble one… but it's a dangerous path."
He put a hand on Kaiden's shoulder. "The world of cultivation is not like the forest. It's not simply beasts chasing you until you find your way home. It is people, men and women, clever and ruthless, each of them with knives hidden behind their smiles. If you trust too quickly, you die. If you walk into the wrong place, you die. If you hesitate at the wrong time…"
He paused, looking straight into Kaiden's eyes. "…you'll wish you were dead."
Kaiden swallowed hard. His father's grip was heavy, but it wasn't cruel. It was grounding.
"I'm not saying this to scare you, Kaiden. I'm saying it because you have a heart too soft for the world you dream about. That kindness, that purity, people will see it, and they will use it."
Kaiden nodded faintly, not sure how to answer.
Thane turned and began pacing the room slowly, hands clasped behind his back. "When the storms come, when the shadows press closer than the light, remember that not every path forward is meant to be taken. Sometimes survival means stepping sideways, avoiding the straight road that everyone expects."
He stopped by the table and tapped his fingers once against the stone weight pinning down the rolled letter. "There are truths not meant for now. Words you won't understand yet. But in the future, when the air grows heavy and the walls seem to whisper, come back here. Sit where you sit now. Search where your eyes do not think to look."
Kaiden tilted his head slightly, but his father continued before he could ask.
"There will be a day when choices turn into chains. That is when you must remember my words. Remember them carefully. Some faces are not what they seem. Some brothers are not what they claim. And some dangers wear the smile of family."
The room suddenly felt colder. Kaiden rubbed his arms unconsciously. He wanted to ask what his father meant, but the look in Thane's eyes stopped him. It was not anger, not fear either… but something deeper. A quiet dread, mixed with a strange kind of acceptance.
"Father…" Kaiden's voice was low. "You sound as if… as if you know something."
Thane gave a half-smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "A king knows many things, my son. Too many. Enough to keep him awake at night. But not enough to change what must come."
Kaiden frowned. The words felt odd, like riddles, like puzzle pieces that didn't fit together yet. But before he could press, his father placed both hands firmly on his shoulders.
"You will grow strong, Kaiden. Stronger than any of us. And when you do, remember, power isn't just for yourself. It is for the people who believe in you. Never lose sight of that."
Kaiden nodded, eyes burning with a sudden swell of emotion. "I won't, father. I promise."
The king studied him for a long moment, then finally released him with a deep sigh. "Good. That's all I needed to hear tonight. Go rest. Tomorrow may look brighter… or darker. But you must be ready for either."
Kaiden bowed low. "Yes, father."
As he turned to leave, his eyes flicked once more at the rolled parchment on the desk. He thought about asking what it was, but decided against it. His father clearly didn't want him to know.
So he left the chamber quietly, closing the heavy wooden door behind him.
Inside, Thane stood alone again. He sat back at the desk, staring at the sealed letter under the weight. His hand trembled once before clenching into a fist.
"Forgive me, Kaiden," he muttered under his breath. "One day… you'll understand."