The Original Realm

The grand hall buzzed with tension, the chaos of the tree's arrival still fresh in the minds of the elders. Dust lingered in the air, catching the ethereal light streaming in through the shattered entryway. The elders, shaken but regaining composure, turned their scornful gazes toward Luke.

"I've seen beasts with more manners than this one in our ancient texts," Elder Thalrien muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. "At least they don't crash trees into sacred halls."

Elder Elaris raised an eyebrow, her tone sharp. "Perhaps he's not truly sentient. No conscious being would dare speak to Aldric in such a tone."

Luke, frowning, was about to respond when Aldric sighed theatrically, stepping forward. "Relax, you pack of overgrown leaves. He's just a foolish human. He doesn't know any better."

The room went deathly silent.

The elders stared at Aldric, their expressions ranging from confusion to outright disbelief. Sylveria's gaze snapped to Luke, her blue eyes narrowing. "Wait... he's actually human?"

Elder Thalrien's voice wavered. "That can't be. It's impossible. Humans are gone."

Aldric waved a paw dismissively. "And yet here he is, real as the trunk beneath my feet. Didn't see that one coming, did you?"

Sylveria stood slowly, her expression cold and calculating. "If this is true, Aldric, then this revelation could cause wars. The relics, the balance of power—everything could be thrown into chaos. The disappearance of Solen and his rumored return could be written off as coincidence, but this..." She gestured toward Luke, her voice steady but laced with unease. "This is evidence that the portal might still be active—or worse, still holding remnants of its power."

Luke blinked. "Portal? What portal? What's going on?"

Aldric shot him a sharp look. "Not now, boy. I'll explain it to you later."

"But—"

"I said later."

Sylveria raised a hand to quell the brewing tension. "This knowledge must remain within these walls. If word spreads that a human is here, kingdoms could rise against one another. Luke must stay hidden until we fully understand the situation."

"Hidden?" Luke's voice rose indignantly. "No way. I'm here to learn from this... fluff ball, to prepare to kill Solen. Staying hidden would just ruin everything!"

The air in the room shifted as his words echoed off the chamber walls. The elders looked at Luke, their expressions frozen in shock.

"You what? " Elder Elaris whispered.

Aldric groaned, placing his paw over his face. "For the love of—boy, you really need to learn when to shut up."

Sylveria's piercing gaze fixed on Aldric, her voice colder than the northern winds. "Is this true? You've taken him as a pupil?"

Aldric's eyes darted toward her, his demeanor unusually sheepish. "Well, yes. Though, in fairness, it wasn't entirely my idea."

Sylveria's expression tightened. "You refused to train me. You said my skills were unsuited to your methods. And yet, you've taken on this... this human?"

Luke couldn't hold it in. A chuckle bubbled up, and despite Aldric's glower, he couldn't stop himself. "You mean this 'strongest warrior'—this fluff ball —got roped into training me because he was outsmarted? That's priceless."

The elders gasped, Sylveria raised an eyebrow, and Aldric's fur bristled with irritation. "Laugh all you want, boy. When I drop you into a chimera den for survival training, we'll see who's laughing then."

Sylveria exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples. "This is madness. But if Aldric has chosen to train you, then the least we can do is support the endeavor. For the sake of balance and for the protection of the realm, we shall help you prepare."

Luke blinked in surprise. "Wait, really?"

Sylveria's gaze turned icy. "But know this, human. If you jeopardize the stability of this kingdom—or this world—you'll face consequences far worse than anything Aldric can muster."

Luke's grin faltered, but Aldric just smirked. "There's the Sylveria I know. Always so warm and inviting."

The queen ignored him, gesturing to the elders to prepare for their next move. "We have much to discuss, but for now, Aldric, ensure that this boy does not become the instrument of our ruin."

Luke stood awkwardly, caught between relief and the realization of just how precarious his position truly was. The weight of their stares bore down on him, but in his mind, only one thought lingered: Outsmarted by his ego. Some teacher.