"Put on your safety belts," I say as I start flipping switches and pressing buttons. The speeder hums to life, lifting smoothly into the air. As we ascend into the morning sky, its wings extend, and soon we're soaring back towards Inyeth Themar, the wind whipping past us as we leave the encampment behind.

  The flight is smooth, the speeder cutting through the sky with ease as the wind whips past us. The sun is starting to rise higher, casting golden hues over the landscape below. Forests stretch out endlessly, dotted with rivers that gleam like silver veins in the light. Alduin, who had been gazing quietly at the scenery, turns away from the passing landscapes and looks over at Talia.

  "So, you've changed your name," he says gently, his voice filled with curiosity.

  Talia looks back at him, and I can sense the nervousness in her, like a tight knot in her chest. She nods. "I wanted to leave my old life behind. I hated it," she admits, her words hanging heavy in the air. I can see that they sting Alduin, but his expression shows a deeper understanding.

  He takes a deep breath, his eyes softening as he reflects. "Are Mom, Alora, and Alissa alright?" Talia asks quietly.

  Alduin nods, his gaze growing distant. "After you left, your mother blamed me, and since then, she hardly spoke to me. I blamed you, of course... thought you were just being rebellious. But over time, I started to realize that it wasn't that simple." He sighs. "When the peril of Eldoria began, your mother left with your sisters. They went to the cabin to get away from me of course. Since then, I've spent a lot of time reflecting. I wanted the best for you, but the truth is..." He pauses, his voice faltering. "I was a horrible father and... I shouldn't have controlled your life the way I did."

  A tear rolls down his cheek, and I can feel the sincerity in his words. He reaches for Talia, his hand trembling slightly. "I know it will take time, but I hope that someday you can forgive me. I hope that we can start over."

  Talia looks down at their hands, tears welling in her eyes as she takes his hand in hers. "You're right," she says softly, her voice thick with emotion. "It will take time... but I'd like that."

  Alduin smiles, nodding slowly. "I'd like that too," he says, his voice warm.

  He studies her face for a moment longer before asking, "Now... do you prefer to be called Talia or do you wish to be called Silvia again?"

  "Everyone else, Talia," she says, smiling faintly. "But... you can still call me Silvia."

  Alduin nods again, and I can feel the relief between them, a weight lifting. As the moment settles, Alduin looks over at me, and I can sense a playful glint in his eyes. "Silvia," he begins, a slight smile curling at his lips, "I've noticed the way you've been acting around this young man." He turns to me, his look stern as if he's peering into my very soul. "Ryu, what is your relationship with my daughter?"

  His words catch me off guard, and I jolt the controls a little, causing the speeder to jerk momentarily before I quickly correct it. Talia looks at me, her cheeks flushing slightly, but I nod to her in reassurance. She takes a deep breath, letting go of her father's hand and grabbing mine instead.

  "He's... he's my boyfriend," she says, her voice steady, though I can feel how nervous she truly is beneath that confidence.

  Alduin remains silent for a moment, his eyes moving from our joined hands to her face, then back to the passing landscape. "I see," he says, a curling smile forming on his lips. He seems content, and I can sense Talia's relief wash over her.

  We fly in silence for a while after that, Talia not letting go of my hand. I glance over at her, and she's smiling, her face relaxed for the first time in a while. Suddenly, Alduin's voice cuts through the quiet, light and teasing. "When you two get married," he says, a grin in his voice, "it should be in Elaria."

  Talia snaps her head toward him, shock and embarrassment lighting up her face. She quickly lets go of my hand. "Father!" she blurts, her voice a mix of exasperation and embarrassment. "We just started dating! It's way too soon to talk about marriage!"

  Alduin chuckles softly, turning his gaze back to the passing landscapes. "No daughter of mine will marry outside of Eldoria," he says with a smirk, clearly teasing her.

  "Father..." Talia huffs, crossing her arms and turning away, but I can tell she's not truly upset. In fact, I can sense that she's happy, despite her protest.

  I can't help but smirk a little myself. The dynamic between them is heartwarming, and the tension that had once plagued their relationship seems to be melting away.

  We soon reach the capital, and I lower the speeder into a clearing in the forest, not too far from the city but far enough to remain out of sight. Once we've landed, we walk to the gates of Inyeth Themar, greeted by the usual soldiers standing guard. As like in the camp, the guards immediately shout for us to halt, spears aimed in our direction.

  "Halt! State your—"

  "I am King Alduin of Elaria," Alduin interrupts with authority. "Lower your weapons and let us pass."

  The guards squint, suspicion etched in their faces, but as their eyes adjust and they take a closer look at Alduin, their expressions shift. One of them steps forward, eyes wide in astonishment. "By the gods, Your Highness... you look well."

  Alduin inclines his head. "I was under the influence of a dark force," he explains, his voice calm and steady. "This man saved me." He gestures toward me, and a ripple of shock runs through the gathered soldiers.

  "But, Your Majesty..." another guard interjects, casting a wary glance in my direction. "He kidnapped you. And... they're wanted."

  Alduin's voice carries the weight of authority as he responds, "I'm well aware. But as of now, they are no longer wanted. In fact—" he gestures to Talia, "I bring even more welcome news. My daughter, Silvia, whom I was told was lost... is alive."

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  A murmur of disbelief stirs through the soldiers, each face a mix of shock and curiosity. Talia steps forward, slowly lowering her face covering and pulling back her hood. Gasps ripple through the crowd, the soldiers' eyes wide with astonishment.

  "Princess Silvia? But... how?" one of them stammers.

  "I was never lost," Talia says calmly. "I chose to leave. But when I learned of my father's condition, I returned to help him."

  The soldiers burst into cheers, raising their spears high in celebration. "The king and Princess Silvia have returned!" one soldier shouts, his voice filled with joy.

  Alduin raises a hand, quieting them. "This isn't the time for celebration. I need my officers in the war room immediately."

  "At once, my lord!" a soldier calls out, and the rest disperse quickly, urgency overtaking their earlier excitement.

  We continue through the city, moving toward the palace tree. The streets are alive with activity, as news of Alduin's return spreads like wildfire. As we near the gates of the palace, Alduin stops and turns to me, Talia, and Apollo.

  "I have a great deal to do to repair our fractured relationship with Eldoria," he says, his expression somber and reflective. Then, he looks at Talia, his gaze softening as he addresses her. "Silvia... I would be grateful if you stayed to help me, but I can see that your heart is set on accompanying Ryu." He steps closer and wraps his arms around her, holding her tightly. "Please... be careful."

  As they embrace, I catch his whispered words to her, "I'm so proud of you." His voice is filled with warmth.

  Talia smiles, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Thank you, Father," she whispers, hugging him one last time before pulling away.

  Alduin turns to me, his gaze sharp with both gratitude and the fierce protectiveness of a father. "You'd better keep my daughter safe," he says, his voice carrying a subtle but unmistakable edge.

  I nod, meeting his eyes without hesitation. "Of course. You have my word."

  Alduin studies me for a moment longer, as if weighing my resolve. Then his expression softens, and he gestures to the guards. "Now, is there anything I can provide to aid you in your mission?"

  "There is, actually, Your Grace," I reply, reaching into my cloak and producing a neatly folded parchment. I hand it to him, and he unfolds it, his eyes scanning the extensive list of supplies.

  "This is... even more than what you asked of Bjorn," he remarks, his brow lifting slightly as he reads through the items.

  "If it's an issue, I can reduce the list," I say, offering a slight shrug.

  Alduin shakes his head, dismissing the thought with a wave of his hand. "No, not at all. If these supplies will help you, then they are yours. Let me see to it."

  He nods to a nearby guard, who bows and leaves to arrange for the supplies. A few moments later, we are led through the palace, the grand hallways echoing with the quiet movements of elven guards as they hustle to fulfill the order. Finally, we enter the throne room, where the supplies have been gathered with almost military precision.

  The throne room itself, magnificent with intricate elven tapestries and the soft glow of enchanted lights, now holds a more practical beauty. Crates upon crates are neatly stacked, each labeled with its contents—metal ingots of every variety, from shimmering mithril to rare enchanted alloys that hum faintly with power. Beside the ingots lie rows of mana crystals, some carved and refined, others in raw form, pulsing softly with energy. The magical books, bound in ancient, embossed leather and adorned with delicate runes, are stacked reverently, their pages protected with velvet cloths.

  Alduin stands beside the collection, his posture relaxed but his gaze steady. "Will this suffice?" he asks, turning his attention to me, his eyes flickering with the remnants of his earlier concern.

  I study the supplies, nodding in satisfaction. "Yes. This more than suffices. Thank you."

  One by one, I summon each item into my pouch of holding. The mana crystals vanish in a shimmer, the metal ingots disappear with a faint hum, and even the heavy crates slip into the pouch's magical depths, leaving the throne room gradually emptier.

  Alduin watches, a mixture of amazement and respect evident in his gaze. "You have my sincerest thanks, Ryu," he says, his voice warm with gratitude. "Not only did you prevent my kingdom from falling into ruin, but you saved me from the clutches of the Shadowfell."

  He glances over at Talia, who stands beside me, her expression touched with both pride and relief. "And... you kept my daughter safe."

  Talia smiles, stepping forward. "Actually, Your Highness, we keep each other safe."

  Alduin's face softens, his eyes brightening with pride. He nods, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

  He steps forward, wrapping Talia in a tight embrace. She closes her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder, savoring the rare moment of closeness. "Be careful," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. "And remember... you always have a home here."

  "Thank you, Father," she murmurs, her voice almost a whisper. She pulls back, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as they share one last look, the silent understanding of family who've been through a lifetime of trials.

  Alduin turns to Apollo, nodding respectfully. "And thank you, Apollo," he says. The droid inclines his head, acknowledging the gesture with a quiet efficiency that somehow holds a hint of reverence.

  "Wait—before I forget," I say, reaching into my pouch. Alduin stops and turns back toward me as I pull out a small, sleek device and hand it to him.

  "What's this?" he asks, taking the communicator from my hand and turning it over, studying its smooth, unfamiliar design with a hint of skepticism.

  "It's a communicator," I explain, stepping back slightly. "You can use it to contact me, no matter where you are. Here, let me show you how it works." I activate my glove's communicator and speak into it. "Your majesty?"

  Alduin's eyes widen slightly as my voice comes through the device in his hands. He looks down at the small object, visibly surprised. "Incredible," he mutters, turning the communicator over again and inspecting it more closely. "What remarkable technology."

  I nod. "If anything happens, use it to reach me."

  Alduin looks up at me, nodding with appreciation. "Thank you," he says, his voice sincere. "This could prove invaluable." He tucks the communicator into a pocket, then offers a slight smile. "Be safe, Ryu."

  "You too," I reply, before we part ways for good.

  With final goodbyes exchanged, we make our way out of the palace, descending the grand staircase and stepping into the lively city streets. The city of Inyeth Themar is alive with energy, and I can feel the relief in the air. It's as if a weight has been lifted from the people's hearts. News of the king's recovery and his reunion with his daughter has already spread like wildfire, and citizens watch us with a mix of admiration and gratitude, whispers of hope filling the air.

  As we exit the city gates and approach the speeder, the weight of our mission settles over us once again. I glance back at Talia, her face still touched with the warmth of her father's parting words. She meets my gaze and gives a small nod, her resolve clear.

  Silently, we make our way back to the speeder. Talia pulls up her face covering and hood to avoid drawing too much attention. But just before we reach the speeder, she stops and grabs my arm, pulling me to a halt.

  Apollo pauses as well, turning to look at us. Talia gives my hand a gentle squeeze, her eyes soft and filled with gratitude. "I just wanted to thank you for saving my father, Ryu. It means a lot to me," she says quietly, her voice full of emotion.

  I turn to her and smile. "Of course," I say, squeezing her hand in return. "I'm just relieved I was able to save him and stop the war from breaking out."

  Talia nods, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Let's head back to the cave," she says, her voice steady. "We have a lot of planning to do."

  With that, we board the speeder and take off. The journey back is uneventful, the landscape passing by in a blur of greens and blues. Upon our arrival at the cave, Nikko rushes out to greet us, her face lighting up with joy. She hugs me tightly, then Talia, and finally Apollo, her tail swishing happily behind her. Rebecca waves us hello while IG-22 just watches us silently.

  "We're back," I say softly, smiling down at Nikko as she nuzzles against me, relieved to be reunited.