The door clicked softly behind Kieran, leaving a lingering silence in the living room. The soft hum of the refrigerator was the only sound for a few seconds.
Leo sank deeper into the couch, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Mia stared at him with wide eyes, still holding her soda like it was the holy grail.
"Two million..." she whispered. "For banners. For branding."
Their mom sat beside Leo, concern and pride tangled in her eyes. "Leo, sweetheart. That man wasn't joking, was he?"
"No," Leo replied, staring at the ceiling. "He wasn't."
Mia leaned forward, elbows on her knees. "I mean… are you even gonna take it? You're already ballin'. You cashed out what, two million in gold just last week?"
Leo nodded. "Yeah. And I've still got more. Thirty million gold sitting in my account right now. And that's just from playing."
His mom gave a small laugh. "My son. Playing a game and bringing home more than corporate executives."
Leo grinned faintly. "It's insane, right?"
She reached over and gently touched his hand. "But it's your success. You did that. And maybe... that's worth thinking about."
Leo looked toward her, curious.
"You're building something, aren't you?" she continued. "A kingdom in that game. Your own rules. Your own people. Your name."
"Nyxaris," Mia added, dramatically. "The guy everyone's obsessed with."
Their mother gave a soft smile. "So ask yourself this, Leo: do you want that name tied to someone else's brand? Are you okay putting someone else's name on your kingdom's flag?"
He stayed silent.
Mia chimed in again. "Okay, yeah… big money sounds sweet. But imagine building your kingdom your way. No strings. No 'Sponsored by BigCorp' over your castle gates."
Leo rubbed his temples. The thought of customized tools and resources was tempting. It would speed things up. But everything he'd done so far—from the village design to recruiting the goblins, protecting the ogres, structuring his army—it had all been his.
His will. His choices. His legacy.
"I mean," Mia said with a grin, "unless you name your capital like… 'Brandopolis,' I don't think it'll feel like yours anymore."
Leo chuckled. "God, no. Never naming my city that."
His mom laughed softly. "Well, you have until Monday. You don't have to rush it."
Leo leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "Yeah… I've got a lot to think about."
Mia looked at him slyly. "Wanna take your royal advisors out for dessert? Might help you think clearer."
Leo smirked. "Fine. But only because it's for the empire."
They all stood, the weight of the decision still hanging—yet lighter now, surrounded by warmth, laughter, and the people who mattered most.
Later that night, Leo lay in bed, staring at the ceiling again. In the silence thinking about what Zeraldris once told him.
"Do you wish to reign in freedom, or prosper in chains?"
Leo closed his eyes, smirking.
"Let's find out."
The city lights outside Leo's apartment window glowed dimly as he sat at his desk, hands gently resting on his VR headgear. The soft hum of the world beyond was barely audible over the pounding in his chest.
"Arkanos," he whispered to himself, the name rolling off his tongue like destiny.
He had chosen it a few days ago—no votes, no debates, just a quiet moment standing at the edge of the forest, watching his newly built village take its first breath. The villagers, the goblins, the rescued ogres—they had begun calling it that too.
It was more than a name.
It was a promise.
He put the headset on.
[LOGGING INTO EVOLVERA…]
[WELCOME BACK, NYXARIS.]
[SYNCHRONIZING CORE PRESENCE… COMPLETE.]
The world exploded into life around him.
Towering trees swayed in the breeze. The sounds of hammers striking wood, goblins barking orders, and children laughing echoed through the newly carved roads of Arkanos. The once simple village was transforming fast.
And standing at the center of it all was Erik, arms crossed, grinning proudly.
"You're late," Erik called out. "We've got stables now."
Nyxaris smiled as he walked toward him. "You're welcome."
Zeraldris' voice echoed faintly in his mind. "Your people grow. Your name spreads. The roots of Arkanos deepen… but what kind of tree will it become?"
"Depends," Nyxaris whispered back. "The kind that outlives the forest."
A cluster of goblins in armor saluted him as he passed. Ogres were helping construct a new wall to the north. The farms were blooming with well-irrigated fields. The market square now had stalls made of stone and enchanted wood.
Erik turned and walked beside him. "We've got the defense grid like you wanted. Mana wells. Scout posts. The southern route's almost finished."
"And the village council?" Nyxaris asked.
Erik smirked. "Three humans, two goblins, one ogre… and me."
"Good." Nyxaris nodded. "We'll need them."
Suddenly—
[SYSTEM QUEST ALERT!]
[QUEST: "Forge the Banner of Arkanos"]
Objective: Officially declare Arkanos as a recognized kingdom. Forge a national banner, choose your kingdom's sigil, and present it to the people.
Rewards: +25 to Leadership, +20 to Diplomacy, 200,000 Gold, Village Morale Boosted
Failure: Confidence in your leadership wanes. Arkanos will remain a nameless settlement.
Nyxaris narrowed his eyes, a grin slowly forming. "A banner, huh?"
Erik peered over his shoulder, oblivious to the system window. "You got one of those quest faces again."
"Yep."
"Let me guess. Something royal?"
Nyxaris looked up at the sky. "Something eternal."
Later that day, he gathered the people. The villagers, the goblins, the ogres. Every one of them stood in a semicircle around the central plaza. At its heart was a massive black stone, newly placed.
With a flash of energy, Nyxaris raised his hand.
Magic circled around his palm like a tempest.
He spoke clearly, his voice like thunder across the field.
"This land is ours."
"This kingdom is Arkanos."
A massive banner unfurled in the sky, its image burned into the clouds by arcane light—a silver phoenix rising from a ring of crimson flame, wings spread wide above a black crown.
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]
[KINGDOM NAME CONFIRMED: ARKANOS]
[NYXARIS: RULER STATUS – VERIFIED]
[MORALE INCREASED. DIPLOMACY UNLOCKED. NEW DIPLOMATIC OPTIONS AVAILABLE.]
The crowd erupted in cheers. Goblins whooped and beat their weapons against their shields. Ogres let out proud roars. Villagers cried, smiled, hugged one another.
And as the light faded, Erik turned to him, eyes wide.
"That was the most badass thing I've ever seen," he said.
Nyxaris smirked. "Just the beginning."
Zeraldris' voice rumbled. "And now, King of Arkanos… where will you lead them next?"
Nyxaris didn't answer immediately.
He just stared at the banner in the sky, watching it ripple in the wind.