Dimensional Descent

In a location barely ten miles from the Capital, Elthor sat on the ground, his face swollen with bruises and his lip dripping with a small bit of blood.

It was clear that someone had roughed him up, but not to the point of leaving any lasting injuries. In fact, even though he had a cold look in his eyes at that moment, it didn't seem to be a real rage. Rather, it was more of a dissatisfaction.

Other than his partially swollen face, his clothing was in rags and his arms were chained behind his back. He sat in the dirt, not looking toward any specific direction despite the fact that several individuals were standing above him. It was as though he couldn't hear their rage at all.

Of these people, two were particularly pissed off. Just with a simple look, one could see that they bore some resemblance to Elthor, although they weren't quite as handsome.

By now, their faces had gone red from fury and their throats hurt from yelling. But, it only made it worse that Elthor didn't respond no matter what it was that they said. He simply sat there, unmoving.

He had already succeeded in his goal. The Capital was definitely being attacked right now and whether they won or lost would be in Leonel's hands.

As for the rage of his family… So what? He only did what he thought was right.

At that moment, the ground suddenly split. A silence fell as they moved out of the way one after another, even the two men who bore a resemblance to Elthor fell into silence, moving out of the way. In the presence of this man, they didn't dare to say a word.

Elthor felt a shadow cast over his body. For the first time, he looked up. But, what he saw made his pupils tremble.

The man that stood above him was none other than his own father, the King of the Oryx. Somehow, at that moment, his wrinkles seemed far deeper than they had been, as though he had aged ten years in the span of just a few moments.

He was a man of tall stature, his hair completely wizened with white. His robes were plain, and he didn't wear a crown, but he had a dignified momentum that forced those around him into silence.

He had a forceful, sort of square face. Compared to Elthor, his horns were far larger, branching out almost like the canopies of a large, ancient tree. Even though his eyes were somewhat murky with age, they hid a sharpness that seemed capable of piercing through his son's soul.

a word for a long time. He only continued to

his heart tremble and his eyes water. His father didn't have to speak for him to suddenly feel a weight he had never experienced in

that moment, for some reason, he felt that burden a

"Why?"

could listen to for a lifetime without becoming tired. It was hard to tell if this was simply natural, or if it was a cadence

trembled before he

up in the wrong location, too far from the battle to make it in time. It would be one thing if they

simply didn't want the rebel army to attack The Capital. Anything else they did didn't

your orders." Elthor finally said as

at risk instead?" The Oryx King continued calmly. "Do you understand how many will die when this plan of yours

snapped. "I NEVER

day out. This was never something he had

at his son's outburst. His breathing remained steady, his gaze unmoved, his

after all these years, you still do not understand. Being

before he could,

also not about

Oryx King continued to gaze at

a burden. It presses on your shoulders, it bends your back, it weighs on your heart and soul. You do not become a King by wanting, you become one by

cannot feel this burden… Even worse, those who chase after it, lusting after it, pleading for it… These are not

some reason, they felt a pang in their hearts, their expressions becoming overcast by hints of shame they couldn't hide despite the

trembled fiercely, his eyes watering