Dragon King: Throne of Demons and Gods-Chapter 102: Candles and Crowns

The hall was quiet.

King Albrecht stood with one hand raised.

"...and that is why," he said. "Eldoria will loosen its borders and offer greater authority to adventurers, regardless of origin. All allied kingdoms will now have open access to our dungeons and missions, and our trading system will be modified to improve our exchanges. The time for divided strength is over."

Crest, sitting straight in the middle rows, felt his heart race. He couldn’t believe it.

To open the borders? To empower adventurers?

This wasn’t just political talk. It was a revolution.

A chance.

He looked around the amphitheater, recognizing faces from across the continent.

Warriors, mages, guild leaders, all here. He was part of something real.

Then, the King lowered his hand.

"If there are questions," he said. "You may raise them now."

For a moment, nothing.

Just whispers. Hesitation.

Then a hand rose. Large, clawed.

A tall beastman stood. A wolf-kin with rugged fur, brown and wild, with clothes stitched together like a hunter’s. He scratched behind his ear casually.

"Mighty fine words, yer Majesty," he said, his voice lazy. "But why now? Why make it easy now, when it was hell back then?"

Murmurs rippled.

The King nodded slightly.

"Please, clarify."

The wolfman smirked.

"Why make it easy now? Why open yer golden gates? Is there a specific reason?"

The amphitheater tensed.

The King did not flinch.

"Because we must unify. Without borders between us. When war comes, and it always does, unity will be the difference between survival and extinction."

The wolfman chuckled.

"Glad you used the word war, yet mighty King. At least you’re not pretending anymore."

Crest watched him carefully. Something in that tone didn’t sit right.

The beastman folded his arms.

"I remember," he said. "Back before the war ended, there was a talk just like this. ’Unity’ this and ’shared strength’ that. Everyone clapped. Everyone cheered. But when it came time to share the fruit of that victory, who got the crown?"

He gestured broadly.

"Who built their walls higher? Who taxed the trade routes? Who banned foreign adventurers from year kingdom dungeons? We returned to our lands and found them burned. Our warriors died at the frontlines, so we only had our females and children to rebuild our world, while the liars in shining armor returned to parades."

His eyes darkened.

"And now... now that the demons are back, in your garden, you open the gates again? Invite us in to bleed beside you again?" He chuckled dryly. "Isn’t that arrogant?"

A silence fell.

Crest felt the words hit like hammer strikes. Even Airi, beside him, didn’t scoff.

The King looked down for a moment, then stepped forward.

"You’re right."

The beastman blinked.

"What?"

King Albrecht’s voice was softer now.

"You’re right. After the war, our expectations were noble, we wanted to help, to rebuild the world together. But reality struck hard. Our kingdom was in ruins, our people starving, our leadership shattered. The previous king had died, and the throne stood contested. In the chaos that followed, torn by internal wars and crippled by poverty, we closed our borders, not out of arrogance, but out of desperation. We told ourselves it was to recover, to stabilize, but in doing so, we abandoned those who had bled beside us."

He raised his head.

"We let the world rot while Eldoria rose."

Gasps fluttered through the crowd. He looked around the room.

"When I was a boy, I heard songs of the Battle of the North Pass. Of beastmen who held the line for three days while our supply lines reformed. Of elven warriors who gave their last breath atop our walls. Of dwarven warriors who lit the final charge into the demon realm."

He looked at the beastman.

"I know your pain. And I take responsibility for the failure of those who came before me, and those who answered to me."

He stepped down from the dais, eyes meeting the beastman’s.

"If this is arrogance, then let me be humbled. If this is opportunism, let me be corrected. But know this: we do not ask you to die for us. We ask you to live beside us."

The King looked out to the crowd again.

"The demons do not care what flag you wear. They will not stop at our walls. They will not knock politely. And when they come, the only thing that will matter is whether we stand together... or fall apart."

His voice softened.

"Eldoria does not seek to lead this world alone. Not anymore. We wish to share the burden. And the hope."

A silence followed.

Then, slowly, a hand clapped. Then another, and another.

Not everyone joined. Some remained skeptical.

But for the first time, in a long time, there was a sound of agreement.

Meanwhile, outside the castle, Bel and Selith sat on a bench near the fountain.

Selith looked forward, watching the trees sway in the wind.

"I’ve been traveling with them lately," she said softly. "Ilya’s determination... it surprised me. To acknowledge her weakness, yet still decide to fight so someone else could rise... it’s rare."

She mused, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear.

"But in my eyes, that kind of selflessness deserves praise. And I guess I feel the need to rise to meet her expectation."

Bel nodded slowly.

"And Lena? You speak like you despise humans, but you’re still helping one. Why?"

Selith chuckled, a soft melodic sound.

"Like I said, maybe I’ve been with them too long. Or maybe... I’m just too old. For people like us, humans are like candles. But when you watch them long enough, you realize... not every candle burns the same. So why should someone suffer when their time is so short?"

She looked at the water.

"I told her I wanted her to fight. But truth is, I just want her to remember to live."

Bel crossed his arms and looked at the rippling water.

"That’s noble," he murmured. "... And troublesome."

Selith smiled gently, watching him from the corner of her eye.

"Would you be interested in joining us? Just for a while. There are some things you can only see in the eyes of others. Some of those things... are answers."

Bel gave a small smile.

"That’d be the worst thing for me right now."

A moment of silence passed between them. Selith turned another page in her book.

"Do you feel like talking more?" she asked.

Bel tilted his head.

"Aren’t we already talking?"

"I mean... about yourself."

He leaned back.

"I’m not that lost. You don’t have to worry."

"It’s not about worrying," she replied. Her voice was gentle but steady. "I’m curious. I have theories, but I like hearing answers in people’s eyes."

Bel looked at her for a long second. Then his gaze dropped to her book.

There, on the open page, was a detailed sketch of a dragon.

At the same time, inside the amphitheater, the first prince, Adrian, stood at the center of the stage.

"Our final proposal," he declared, his voice clear and commanding, "is the fusion of our national armies into one continental defense bloc. This force, unified and disciplined, will stand as the first shield against the demons."

He paused, letting the murmurs fade. Then, he took a breath.

"Which brings me to our final subject. Our greatest hope against the demons: the Sacred."

But before he could continue, a voice cut through the silence.

"Is that really wise?"

All eyes turned.

Elysia.

The interruption was bold, almost disrespectful. Crest leaned forward, eyes wide.

Adrian’s gaze fell on her.

"Pardon?"

"All of this," she said, standing slowly, "this meeting, these strategies, with so little verification of the people present... isn’t that dangerous?"

The prince frowned.

"Young lady, we have taken every necessary precaution. I assure you, there are no demons here."

Elysia stared straight at him.

"And what if I could prove otherwise? What if I said I could reveal a demon in this castle, right now?"

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om