CHAPTER 34: SUMMONED

They say you shouldn’t poke a bear. I poked a royal guard instead. Repeatedly. With words.

Now here I was—sitting on the cold stone floor of a mossy dungeon, arms crossed, legs cramping, and officially banned from talking... by popular demand.

"Okay, so maybe I shouldn’t have addressed their princess directly by her name, but who knew she was a princess" I muttered to no one in particular. "And maybe name-dropping Elira like we were drinking buddies wasn’t the smoothest play—"

"Ren," Akane snapped, "if you don’t shut up, I swear I will make the rest of our short lives even shorter."

"But they’re not even trying!" I gestured at the guards lounging just outside the cell bars. "All I asked was for them to tell the princess we’re here to help. Elira sent us! She literally screamed into my skull! That’s not nothing!"

One of the guards lazily lifted his head. "The princess doesn’t take unsolicited visitors. Especially ones who toss her name around like tavern gossip."

"Also," his partner chimed in, tapping the hilt of his blade, "your trial’s tomorrow. So I’d suggest you rest. You’ll need the strength."

"For what?" I asked.

They didn’t answer. Just smiled. That kind of smile.

Great. Very comforting.

I slumped back against the wall and stared at the dripping ceiling. Mei had already closed her eyes, pretending none of this was happening. Akane was sharpening her nails against the wall. Probably imagining it was my face.

I sighed. "You know, we could’ve led with diplomacy—"

"Shut up, Ren."

Rude.

A few hours—maybe minutes, I’d lost track—passed like that. The cell started to feel smaller. Like the stone itself was closing in, as if the forest had followed us inside and decided we weren’t welcome either.

Then it happened.

Boots. Marching. A new set of guards entered the corridor, steps more urgent than the others. One of them bent low and whispered something into the ear of the lead jailer.

He stiffened.

His eyes darted to us, then back to the whispering man. His entire posture changed.

"You lot," he said. Voice firmer now. "On your feet."

Ayame jumped up first. Rin followed with the quiet grace of someone preparing for a fight. Me? I tripped over my own foot getting up.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

No answer. Just a long, unreadable look.

Then, the words I definitely didn’t expect:

"The princess demands your presence."

Wait—what?

"Ha! I told you she’d want to see us!" I said, a little too loud. "See? This is what happens when you trust Ren—"

Akane elbowed me. Hard.

Totally worth it.

---

The doors swung open like they were judging us.

A vast throne room stretched out in front of us, all polished marble, floating lights, and elven symbols that glowed faintly like they were whispering secrets to the walls. Every step we took echoed louder than it should’ve—probably enchanted to make intruders feel small.

Mission accomplished.

Dozens of eyes turned toward us. Some armored. Some robed. Some so ancient I swear they blinked slower than time.

And on the far end of the room, high above the rest, sat her.

Princess Elira.

Hair like liquid starlight. Eyes that looked like they could see straight through your excuses. Dressed in ceremonial robes that shimmered with subtle motion—like woven flame and silk had made a truce.

She didn’t look happy.

"What business do you have in my court?" she asked, voice calm but edged like a drawn blade.

I stepped forward, because of course I did. "We—"

"Silence," she said, not even looking directly at me. "I wasn’t done."

I shut my mouth. Instantly. Like my lips had unionized.

Akane grunted beside me, muttering something about getting this over with. Mei and Rin didn’t even blink. Ayame... yeah, she was already scanning the exits.

Elira raised a hand.

The room obeyed. Everyone began to leave—advisors, guards, a floating cat-thing I swear winked at me. Within moments, the great doors sealed shut behind us with a final, echoing boom.

And then... Elira burst into laughter.

Not polite princess laughter. Not court-approved giggles. I’m talking doubled-over, hands-on-hips laughter.

"You idiots," she said between breaths. "What are you doing here?"

I blinked. "Wait, what?"

Ayame stepped forward. "We received a distress call. Your voice. It sounded urgent. You were shouting—"

"Right," I added. "Elira, it was glitchy but clear. You said you were in danger. Something about the flames returning—"

"Oh no," she groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Not the fire orb again..."

"The what now?"

She turned and walked down the steps toward us, robes whispering behind her like silk shadows. "Ren, that message was over a month ago. And it wasn’t a real distress call. It was part of the Elven Trials. A game."

"You sent a distress signal," Akane said flatly.

"Yes. Because in the game I was supposed to pretend I was being hunted by Flame Wraiths."

"That part came through just fine," I muttered.

"I didn’t think it would reach you. But I did leave one of the orbs with you before I left... maybe it acted like a relay, stretching the signal."

"More like tearing it," Rin said. "It flickered and echoed like it was breaking through time."

Elira stopped. "That... might not be far off."

"What do you mean?" Mei asked.

"The last war began three days ago," I said. "But you say this message is from a month ago?"

She nodded. "Because our realms don’t move at the same pace. Time here flows... differently. Faster. You were right to come—but you’re also a month late and right on time."

That made no sense. But also, it made perfect sense. Because my life had stopped making sense the moment I let a talking wolf spirit bond to my brain.

"Oh," Elira added, her smile vanishing. "And now we have a problem."

"Great. Fantastic. Love problems," I said.

"My father. The King. He doesn’t allow outsiders here. Especially humans. If he finds you here without purpose..."

She didn’t finish.

She didn’t need to.

Ayame stepped forward. "Then give us one."

"And make it good," Rin added. "We don’t plan on dying today."

Elira chewed her lip. "I need a reason strong enough to justify your presence before the next sun reaches its peak."

"We could lie?" I offered, hopeful.

Akane elbowed me. "Shut up, Ren."

Right then—

DING

A sudden, familiar blue glow erupted in my vision. Only I could see it.

[SYSTEM UPDATE — MAIN QUEST UPDATED]

Mission: "Royal Justification"

You must secure the trust of King Faelar before sunrise or face permanent exile (or beheading... probably both).

Reward: Access to Elven Archives, Court Trust +15, Hidden Character Route: [Locked].

"...Of course," I muttered under my breath.

"What is it?" Ayame asked.

"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just... got promoted to a racehorse. We’re officially running for our lives."

Elira took a breath, steeling herself. "I’ll get you to him. But you’ll have to convince him yourselves. And for the love of the stars, don’t mention the game."

"Oh, don’t worry," I said. "We’ll act like model citizens."

"Since when do you act like anything model?" Akane scoffed.

I smiled.

"Since now. Because apparently, death by royalty is a very real possibility."

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