As the king announced the metal rite, an elderly person walks up and says, "This is a historical tradition and has been passed down through generations."
The elderly person then goes on to say, "Any and all children present here will choose a metal that calls to them, and once they've chosen that metal, they are to consume it.
Zorin, after having heard this, looks and sees many parents with confused expressions on their faces. Some of the parents become wary of this information and begin questioning, "Why was eating the metal necessary?"
The king answered the question calmly, saying, "That consuming it was important for our children's health and safety, just as it was for us when we were young, and like the many generations before us."
After the king answered the people's question, the parents hesitated until some of the parents let their children go to choose.
One by one, the children started finding the metal that called out to them, the parents who hesitated after some time began to let their children go and find the metal that called out to them.
Some of the children had begun to hesitate for a while, while others reached out and found their metal from the pile without fear. Among the children was none other than Xyros, the young prince.
Then Xyros went to the piles of metal. From what Zorin can see and Xyros finds after moving several other rocks and metals, he begins to feel a particular connection to one metal.
Though this metal was unusual, it was as white as snow and gave off a faint white glow, making it stand out from the many others that glowed.
Xyros tries to grab it as he touches this snow-white rock, then suddenly a big flash appears, blinding Xyros and the people nearby for a moment.
When the people's vision came back, they noticed the snow-white rock Xyros had touched had disappeared.
As the people's concern grew, the king addressed the concern by saying, "The metal rite will continue, these things are bound to happen."
After the king addressed the concern, the king can be seen talking with the elder, though nobody knows what they are talking about.
Zorin looks at Thomas and asks, "Why did people get concerned about what metal the prince chose?"
Thomas responds, "The metal the young prince chose is extraordinarily rare."
After having heard this, Zorin asks, "Can I leave?" Thomas answers, "No, if you're concerned about being a hybrid, then you should know the metal rite applies to everyone, regardless if you're a full-blood, half-blood, or a hybrid.
Zorin, after having heard this, replies, "That's not my reason, my reason is I think I already did the metal rite." Thomas.... with a confused look, asks, "How?"
Zorin explained what happened after he ran off from the kitchen after Tiffany barged into the kitchen, went for a walk to calm himself, and found a pitch‑black rock‑looking thing with white polka dots, then I went back to the kitchen and was told and had to follow a maid to be here.
Thomas then told Zorin, "he should inform the elder, but it wouldn't matter that much due to the many guards around, and if you don't want to attract attention from the royals, then there aren't any options available for what it looks like."
As Thomas finishes speaking, Zorin sees the elderly person approach. The elder then asks Zorin, "Why didn't you join the others?"
Zorin responds by explaining what he just told Thomas earlier.The elder stood still, visibly surprised. The king, noticing the elders' expression, began walking up to them.
As Zorin sees this, he tries to walk away, but the elder grabs him by the shoulder. The king, having now made it to the group, asks, "What happened?"
The elder responds, "This child has already done the metal rite, though not through traditional means."
The king, after having heard this, begins to be visibly angry and demands to know why Zorin had done it before this ceremony.
Before Zorin could explain, the king's expression shifted as he properly looked at him and began to recognise him. Zorin then explained what had happened to the king.
The king, after listening to the explanation, says this is unusual, then tells Zorin to come with him.
Zorin, worried, begins looking at Thomas, as Thomas pays Zorin no mind, and then he looks at the elder, who seems unaware of the tension and situation at this moment.