That Time I Got Reincarnated as a King (Old Version)

The throne room of Emberhollow was unusually quiet.

Queen Elira sat perched in her high-backed seat, fingers laced tightly, her silver hair braided and swept to one side. King Thalion stood behind her, hands behind his back, expression as unreadable as the Flame Mirror itself.

"He's been gone for how long?" the Queen asked.

"Three weeks, Your Majesty," replied the steward, bowing low. "There were initial sightings near the southern ridge, but nothing since."

The Queen's face remained calm, but her voice lost none of its weight. "He's only six."

A cough interrupted the tension.

Prince Garron stepped forward, arms crossed, looking both concerned and amused. "He's also Kael. You really think a kid who taught himself three languages before his fifth birthday and stole a wyvern egg from the treasury vault is going to stay put forever?"

"Garron," the King said in a warning tone.

Garron raised both hands. "I'm not saying it's smart. I'm saying it's him."

A nervous chuckle rippled through a few attendants. It died quickly when the King turned.

"Send a party," Thalion ordered. "One with discretion. No banners. I want to find him before the other Houses catch wind of it."

"Should I lead it?" Garron asked.

"You will," Thalion replied. "And take Elric with you. He knows the forest routes Kael prefers."

The Queen stood, walking slowly toward the wide windows that overlooked the kingdom. Her eyes scanned the horizon.

"He's my son," she said softly. "But even I know he shouldn't be bound to this palace."

Deep in the woods, Kael was balancing on one leg while holding a stick in each hand. Rimuru bobbed beside him, mimicking the pose with wobbly grace.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

"This is technically training," Kael muttered.

Great Sage:

"Technically inefficient."

"Still counts."

Great Sage:
"You have not moved in seven minutes."

"I'm harnessing inner peace."

Great Sage:
"Inner peace does not require chicken skewers."

Kael bit into one. "Says you."

They were camped on a mossy cliffside, overlooking the western valley. Rimuru spun slowly, catching little rays of light in his translucent body.

Kael gazed down at Emberleaf, now a patchwork of huts, gardens, and glowing mana totems. Smoke from morning cookfires curled gently into the sky.

"I wonder when they'll notice I'm not coming back," Kael mused.

Great Sage:
"Estimated realization delay: eighteen days."

Kael blinked. "Wait. It's been longer than that."

Great Sage:
"Correct. They noticed."

Kael chuckled. "Wanna bet Garron's the one they send?"

Great Sage:
"Probability: 76%."

A breeze ruffled his hoodie.

"They'll come eventually," Kael said. "But they're not dragging me back. Not when I've got a village, a slime, and a warhammer-sized goblin waiting for breakfast."

Rimuru squeaked proudly.

And down in the valley, Emberleaf stirred to life, unaware that Kael's family was already on their way to find him.

Earlier That Morning in Emberhollow

Garron tightened the straps on his leather travel cloak and slipped a letter into his satchel—sealed with the Queen's crest. He stood in Kael's old room for a moment, taking in the dust-covered books, the worn slippers under the bed, and a tiny wooden slime carving perched on the shelf.

He picked it up, turned it over, and smirked. "You better not have started a war."

Their younger sister peeked in. "Here," she said, handing him a braided mana-thread bracelet. "Give this to Kael. For luck."

"You know he won't wear it."

"Then wear it for him. Dummy."

Meanwhile, in Emberleaf

Gobrinus was chasing two goblin kids away from Rimuru. "He is not a toy! Stop poking him!"

Rimuru bounced to safety behind a crate, only to hop onto it dramatically like a noble steed.

Zelganna barked drill commands at a line of goblin recruits. "You trip again, you're sparring with Nanari."

Nanari sketched a glowing diagram in the dirt next to Kael. "Self-warming food pots. If I enchant them properly, they won't burn down the kitchen. Again."

Kael raised a brow. "The again part doesn't inspire confidence."

"Noted."

Rimuru mimicked Kael's slouched posture, then promptly rolled off the crate with a soft thud.

Later, on the Cliff

Great Sage:
"Royal search party approaching. Two days out."

Kael didn't move. "So... I should run?"

Great Sage:
"You should prepare."

Kael sighed, looking down at Emberleaf as morning fires rose from the kitchens.

"Guess they were bound to end up searching for me."