Victory lasts exactly three minutes before politics arrives.
Sometimes less.
The applause from the Forge Trials still echoed through the Skyforge Citadel when Commander Darius informed me, with the emotional warmth of a prison sentence:
"The Council wishes to see you."
I stared at him.
"Those words have never led to anything positive."
He nodded once.
"Correct."
Excellent.
I stood in the centre of the forge arena, still holding the Aegis Key, while nobles, warriors, and professional gossip collectors watched me as I had personally insulted tradition.
Which, to be fair, I probably had.
Lei Mira descended from the sovereign balcony, red-gold armour reflecting the fading stormlight, her giant hammer resting across one shoulder like a warning disguised as furniture.
She stopped beside me.
"You survived."
I looked at her.
"Your faith in me is deeply touching."
"I was prepared to be mildly disappointed."
Progress.
Healthy emotional development.
The favourability panel blinked.
Favorability Updated: 15 → 30 Thunder Sovereign Bond: Recognised Challenger.
Thirty already.
Either I was improving—
Or this realm simply appreciated people who survived blunt force trauma.
Both are possible.
Lei Mira glanced at the Aegis Key in my hand.
For the first time, her expression softened.
Not much.
But enough.
"You forged well."
That, from her, felt like being handed a kingdom.
I answered honestly.
"I had good reasons."
She held my gaze for a moment longer than necessary.
Dangerous.
Then Commander Darius ruined everything by existing.
"The Council Chamber awaits."
Ah yes.
Democracy.
My greatest enemy.
We walked through the upper citadel together.
The halls of Skyforge were built like someone had asked the concept of pride to become architecture.
Black iron pillars.
Golden stormglass windows.
Massive statues of past rulers holding weapons large enough to qualify as public threats.
Everywhere, crowns.
Broken ones.
Whole ones.
Forged ones.
Apparently, subtle symbolism had also been exiled.
I pointed at one enormous, shattered crown hanging above the central hall.
"Let me guess. Historical trauma?"
Lei Mira didn't even look up.
"Civil war."
"Excellent. Love that for you."
She almost smiled.
Commander Darius definitely did not.
Inside, the council chamber was worse.
Much worse.
A circular hall suspended above the Forgeheart itself, with twelve black thrones arranged around a ring of floating molten metal.
Each throne held a council elder.
Old.
Powerful.
And looking at me like I was an administrative error.
I disliked them instantly.
Again.
Professional instinct.
At the highest seat sat the High Chancellor of the Iron Council.
Lord Vael.
White hair.
Steel armour polished like pride.
Eyes sharp enough to file legal complaints.
He looked at Lei Mira first.
"My Sovereign."
Respectful.
Then at me.
Disrespectful.
"The outsider."
Consistent.
I gave a polite nod.
"Emotionally exhausting, yes."
No laughter.
Terrible audience.
Lord Vael folded his hands.
"You have passed the Forge Trials."
A pause.
"Against our advice."
I smiled.
"I find advice improves when ignored selectively."
Commander Darius made a sound that might have been pain.
Fair.
Vael's gaze shifted to the Aegis Key.
His expression darkened slightly.
"The Forgeheart accepted your artefact."
Not praise.
Suspicion.
Better.
Because praise from men like him usually came with hidden chains.
He leaned forward.
"Tell me, outsider. Why does a man from another world seek sovereign fragments?"
Straight to the throat.
Respectable.
I answered with the truth.
Because lies in rooms like this only waste time.
"Because someone is trying to break every sovereign realm before the final gate opens."
The chamber went still.
Several elders exchanged looks.
Ah.
Interesting.
They knew more than they admitted.
I continued.
"The Obsidian Covenant has already moved through the Crimson Realm and Moonwater."
I looked directly at Vael.
"And judging by how everyone here suddenly looks allergic to honesty, I'd say they've been here too."
Commander Darius closed his eyes.
Probably reconsidering career choices.
Lei Mira crossed her arms and looked delighted.
Dangerous woman.
Lord Vael's voice hardened.
"You speak boldly for a guest."
I met his gaze.
"I speak urgently because your enemies don't care about protocol."
Silence.
Then one of the older councilwomen—Lady Seris, judging by the amount of jewellery dedicated entirely to intimidation—spoke.
"The third fragment is not a trinket to be handed to wandering heroes."
Finally, someone said the quiet part out loud.
I nodded.
"Agreed. Which is why it shouldn't remain with people pretending politics will stop the Abyss."
A few council members actually stood.
Good.
Let them.
I was tired.
And honestly, once you had argued with ancient moon memories, old politicians lost some dramatic impact.
Lord Vael raised one hand.
Silence returned.
He looked at Lei Mira.
"And your judgement?"
Ah.
There it was.
The real weight.
Not whether they trusted me.
Whether she did.
Lei Mira stepped forward.
No hesitation.
No politics.
Just thunder wrapped in human form.
"I judged him in battle."
She looked at the council.
"I will."
Then at the Aegis Key.
"In creation."
Her voice lowered.
"And unlike most men in this chamber, he understands that power is responsibility—not inheritance."
Several council elders looked personally attacked.
Excellent.
She wasn't finished.
"The outsider seeks the fragment."
A pause.
"I say he earns the right to stand before it."
The chamber erupted.
Protests.
Outrage.
Political theatre with expensive armour.
I stayed quiet.
Because sometimes the strongest move was letting powerful people argue with each other while you stood there looking like a problem.
Lord Vael rose slowly.
Silence followed.
Authority.
Old and sharp.
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then said:
"Very well."
Interesting.
Too easy.
I distrusted it immediately.
"The outsider may seek the third fragment."
There it was.
The trap.
He continued.
"But first—"
Of course.
"—He must survive the Crown Descent."
I blinked.
I hated the name already.
Lei Mira's expression changed.
Not surprised.
Annoyance.
Bad sign.
I looked between them.
"That sounds like either a ceremony or attempted murder."
Darius answered flatly.
"Yes."
Helpful.
Lord Vael's eyes never left mine.
"Beneath the Skyforge Citadel lies the Tomb of Broken Kings."
Wonderful.
Naturally.
"Every ruler who failed this realm rests there."
Even better.
"At its centre lies the Crown Fragment."
Ah.
Not just a test.
A message.
They weren't sending me to prove worth.
They were sending me where kings went to be remembered as warnings.
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
I smiled anyway.
Because fear hated being laughed at.
"Excellent."
I held up the Aegis Key.
"I was worried this week was becoming too emotionally stable."
Lei Mira sighed like a woman who had chosen violence and regretted none of it.
Commander Darius looked like he needed stronger alcohol.
Lord Vael sat back.
Judgement delivered.
"The Crown Descent begins at dawn."
And just like that—
The victory ended.
The next fall had already begun.
Honestly?
At this point—
I was getting good at falling.