The grand hall fell silent as Max, Neros, and Dorian stepped forward.
The echo of their footsteps faded into the high ceiling. Light filtering through the stained glass painted the floor in soft colors… far too calm for what had just happened.
Max felt it immediately. Something was wrong. The king wasn't sitting upright like usual.
There was no smile. No childish glint in his eyes.
He was… slouched.
His hands gripped the armrests of the throne tightly, and his gaze—empty, distant—barely lifted when he saw them approach.
"Your Majesty…" Dorian began, bowing his head slightly.
The king cut him off with a weak gesture.
"They took her…"
His voice had no strength. Low. Broken.
Max felt a knot form in his chest without quite knowing why.
"They took… my pet…"
Silence. The weight of those words hit harder than any shout.
"I…" the king continued, swallowing, "I know I could… perform another ritual…"
His fingers trembled.
"I could summon another pet…"
His eyes grew moist.
