Vaelin Kor followed Lady Commander Celeste into the ornate council chamber of Eldoria. The high-vaulted hall was dominated by a great round table around which Eldoria's noble council had gathered. Atop a raised dais, King Eldric sat in solemn gravity, his eyes fixed in appraisal of the man brought before him. Murmurs of disbelief and discontent trickled among the richly attired nobles as the chamber fell into a heavy silence.
A stern silver-haired noble addressed the assembly first. "State your name for the council."
"Vaelin Kor," he replied in an even, measured tone that revealed nothing more than a resolute calm.
Celeste stepped forward, her voice firm. "This man fought bloodily last night against bandits who threatened our people. His actions saved lives, though his origins remain unrecorded in our records." Her words carried a note of defense, but the council's eyes narrowed in judgment.
King Eldric's gaze swept over Vaelin, his tone cold and measured. "In troubled times such as these, loyalty to Eldoria must be unequivocal. What oath, what pledge can you offer in service of our kingdom?"
Before Vaelin could respond, a haughty noble interjected, "A man without lineage or pledge is a danger to our order. We cannot trust your word alone."
In that moment, something inside Vaelin snapped. His eyes flared with a mix of anger and defiance. "I did not come here to recite oaths forged by your tradition," he said, voice rising with controlled fury. "I fight to protect the innocent, not to be bound by the chains of a crown. I owe no allegiance that would limit my purpose or my freedom."
A ripple of shock swept through the council. Celeste's expression tightened with concern as she attempted to intercede, "Vaelin, your service has saved lives—but discipline and loyalty are the bedrock of our kingdom's order."
"Loyalty, discipline—words that mean nothing when they are used to justify control!" Vaelin snapped. His voice echoed in the marble hall as he glared at the accusing nobles. "I will not have my life reduced to a contractual bond stamped with royal seal. I stand for protection, not submission. And I refuse to pledge myself to a system that values obedience over valor."
The tension in the room became palpable as all eyes were fixed upon him. King Eldric's gaze hardened. "Then you leave us no choice," the king intoned gravely, "You shall serve under our banner until you prove otherwise. But know that your every action will be watched."
At this, the murmurs grew into an undercurrent of outrage. Without waiting for further debate, Vaelin's expression turned steely. "I serve for the sake of those in need, not for your ambition or your control." With that, his hand gripped the hilt of The Crimson Warbringer—it was enough.
In one swift motion, he turned on his heel and strode abruptly from the council chamber, his cloak billowing behind him like a dark storm escaping confinement. His departure was as sudden as it was final—a clear rejection of the bindings the court sought to impose.
For a long, suspended moment, silence reigned in the hallowed hall. Celeste's eyes met the king's, laden with a mixture of disappointment and unresolved concern. The nobles exchanged glances that ranged from disdain to frustration as the echo of Vaelin's retreat faded down the marble corridors.
Outside, in the cool air of the ancient corridor, Vaelin paused only briefly to listen to the fading echoes of his dissent. A silent promise of independence and defiance burned in his chest. With each step away from the oppressive weight of Eldoria's traditions, he reclaimed a piece of himself that the council would never understand.