Back to the present.
The "Queen" was still listening attentively to the "King."
"So how did you find it?" she asked curiously.
"It wasn't that easy," the "King" replied, a tired expression crossing his face as he continued.
On the day he set out, he encountered a swarm of Star Eaters.
They were ravenous, and the moment they caught his scent, they charged without hesitation.
Outnumbered and exhausted, the "King" had no choice but to run, flinging magic behind him to slow them down. But they kept coming—one after another—trampling the bodies of their fallen.
"These damned beasts," the "King" muttered under his breath.
His strength was nearly gone.
Maybe this wasn't the best way.
He stopped running, turned to face them, and shouted, "Come here, you bastards!"
With that, he charged straight at them, summoning two swords. Both sides rushed forward.
The "King" swung relentlessly, sweeping through their ranks, but they didn't flinch.
Then, portals burst open around him.
The Star Eaters, lunging at him, fell into the gates—only to be teleported above their own heads.
The "King" immediately opened another gate directly beneath the first, trapping the Star Eaters in an endless free-fall loop.
He did this to accelerate their descent—turning their bodies into high-velocity projectiles, bullets he would use to blast through the encircling horde.
One by one, they dropped through again in a continuous loop, accelerating with each cycle.
He had turned them into bullets—ammunition to break through the siege.
Meanwhile, he fought the hordes still below.
They clawed and bit, covering him in wounds—his blood mingling with theirs.
But he didn't stop.
Infusing his swords with magic, he slashed with brutal force, blasting them away and clearing a path.
They tried to close in again, but the "King" had already ascended into the sky.
Looking down at the loop of Star Eaters falling faster and faster, and then he shout:
"Go."
He released the portal below.
The Star Eaters shot down like missiles, exploding on impact. The shockwave blew the others back, and a thick dust cloud blinded them.
Then came the spears.
As they struck the ground, they erupted in deafening blasts, disorienting the enemy, making them lash out in confusion—at each other.
Floating above, the "King" watched as chaos unfolded.
"They're still the same blood-stained beasts," he said coldly.
When the dust settled, only a pile of flesh and blood remained.
The "King" landed and noticed something moving in the carnage.
He approached cautiously.
It was a heavily wounded Star Eater, silently roaring, dragging itself toward him.
With every inch it crawled, the "King" took a step back—like he was looking down on it from a grave.
Then, he felt something—footsteps. Not human. Approaching.
He glanced at the creature with a calculating gaze.
"You'll be very useful."
Moments later, more Star Eaters arrived.
They saw only the remains of their kind—then the grave—then the wounded creature roaring.
As they neared, its body glowed.
And then—an explosion. Thunder and fire tore through the air, engulfing them in a blazing inferno.
By then, the "King" was long gone.
Hearing the explosion behind him, he smiled.
"I hope you like my gift."
He continued forward.
"So that's the reason for his wounds?" the "Queen" asked, gently touching him.
"It doesn't hurt that much," he replied softly.
"How can it not, when they're this deep?"
"I told you—it's already healed."
Still, despite his words, she couldn't help but worry.
Her fingers traced the jagged, blood-stained scars. Tears welled in her eyes.
"You're not that sad," the "King" said, brushing her cheek.
"But..."
"It's okay." He smiled. "Do you want me to keep going, or should I stop for now?"
"It's okay," the "Queen" wiped her tears. "I want to hear the rest."
"You're sure?"
"I'm sure," she said firmly.
"Then let's continue," he said with a smile.
The story resumed with the "King" arriving at the ruins of the former Atlantis.
He stood in silence, staring at the forgotten remnants of what he once protected.
"So... where do I start now?" he muttered.
He tried to reconstruct the old city from memory, to find the book's location—but everything felt unfamiliar.
"Well then... I'll find it myself."
He walked through the ruins. And as he did, the echoes of the past began to stir.
Houses. Festivals. People smiling in the sun.
They turned and waved at him.
He smiled and raised his hand to return the gesture—only for the illusions to vanish, leaving him waving at empty air.
The "King" stood still, lost in thought.
"This place used to be beautiful... now look at it."
Though he still couldn't let go of the past, this time he had a purpose.
He continued walking, past crumbled stone, dried blood, and brittle bones.
More visions came—this time, a celebration.
People sang, danced, exchanged gifts.
They approached him with offerings, but he walked on, indifferent.
Then, a gentle voice called out behind him:
"You're just going to abandon us?"
"You don't care anymore?"
"You... hate us?"
The voice turned bitter.
"You only think about yourself."
"You're too great to care."
"You're a coward."
"So what?" the "King" replied coldly, still walking.
"What?"
"I am a coward. A selfish man. A failed king," he admitted without hesitation. "But I'm still here. Still searching. I haven't given up. Maybe I did, once... but that stranger reminded me—someone's still waiting."
"What about us? Were we just pawns?" the voice demanded.
"I never saw you that way. You were my family."
"Then why—"
"I'm sorry."
"What did you say?"
"I'm sorry I couldn't save everyone." His voice softened. "Maybe I'll never be forgiven. But I accept that. Not out of regret—but to carry it with me. It's part of me. My reason to keep moving forward."
"You think saying that erases your sins?" the voice sneered.
"I don't need to erase them. I'm facing them."
The "King" stopped.
"Then... can everybody accept me?"
He lowered his head.
"You really are selfish," the voice murmured.
"I'll take that as a compliment." He smiled, touching something on the ground.
The scene faded.
Only reality remained.
"There's still a long way to go. Don't give up," the voice whispered—now gentle.
Then it, too, faded.
The "King" stood there with the book in hand.
"I'll try," he said, eyes on the horizon.
A warm breeze passed.
But then came the roars.
The Star Eaters emerged from the shadows.
"You really can't let a man enjoy peace," he muttered, taking a defensive stance.
"Come on, you bastards." He cast his magic forward.
Later, as he returned to the underground kingdom, a scream cut through the silence.
He followed the sound—and found a little girl under attack.
He rushed in, slew the creature, and healed her.
"How did she get up here?" he wondered.
Then she spoke—her friends were still out there.
But he already knew.
They were gone. Killed.
He fought again, protecting her as they made their way into the tunnel.
He watched the girl cry and thought.
"Maybe I should do something."
He patted her head—but it didn't help. So he remained quiet.
Eventually, they encountered a group—presumably her parents.
They glared at him. One lunged.
"Fool" the "King" thought.
Striking and knocking the man out before walking on.
"And then... everything led to now, right?" the "Queen" asked.
"Yes," he replied simply.
"You're really cold."
"I'm sorry," he said, smiling. "But I'm still gentle with my family."
"Really..." The "Queen" smiled. "After all this time, you're still the same."
"Of course. This family is everything to me."
"Okay, stop." She blushed and pushed him away. "So what will you do with the book?"
"I plan to discuss it with the others."
"So... you're leaving?"
"No." He shook his head gently. "That can wait. Right now, I'm spending time with my family."
"Are you sure?"
"If you keep asking, I might change my mind."
"Wait—okay, you win," the "Queen" huffed.
"Just kidding." He smiled. "Now... how about a kiss, after all this time?"
"You're unbelievable," she laughed.
Then they kissed—sweetly, softly—something that no longer belonged to this harsh world.
Meanwhile, their two children returned upstairs, only to witness the scene.
"What are you two doing? You're still acting like kids," they groaned.
The couple broke apart, laughing, while their children stood there, flustered.
And then, for a little while, they spent time together.
Creating one last peaceful, tender moment—before the storm came.
Wishing it would never end.