CHAPTER 48: KING ERIC

The private dining hall was a masterpiece of understated power. Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over walls lined with portraits of kings dating back centuries, their painted eyes seeming to follow Jack as he entered.

The table itself was carved from a single piece of obsidian, so perfectly polished it reflected the ceiling like still water.

But it was the man seated at the head of the table who commanded Jack’s attention.

King Eric Valdris was not what Jack had expected. Where Aurelius radiated predatory elegance and controlled menace, the king possessed a different kind of authority entirely.

He was perhaps forty-five, with graying temples that were worn down from the weight of crown and responsibility. His clothes were fine but not ostentatious.

When those eyes fixed on Jack, there was something there that made the young man pause. Not the calculating assessment of Aurelius or the cold evaluation of a political opponent, but something warmer. Recognition, perhaps, or maybe even respect.

’Your Majesty,’ Jack said, offering what he hoped was an appropriate bow. The etiquette lessons from his noble upbringing felt rusty after everything he’d been through.

"Jack Kaiser." The king’s voice carried the authority of absolute power, but it was tempered with something Jack hadn’t expected. Genuine warmth. "Please, sit. We have much to discuss."

Jack took the seat indicated, noting how the servant who had escorted him retreated with silent efficiency, leaving them alone. Even Aurelius was absent, though Jack could feel the chosen one’s presence somewhere nearby.

King Eric poured wine from a crystal decanter, the liquid dark as blood in the candlelight. "Tell me, young Kaiser, what do you know of your family’s history with the crown?"

The question caught Jack off guard. ’Not as much as I probably should, Your Majesty. I know the Kaisers have served the realm for generations, but the specifics...’ He shrugged, letting the gesture convey his uncertainty.

"Your father never mentioned our friendship?" There was something almost vulnerable in the king’s voice, a crack in the royal composure that Jack found startling.

’No, Your Majesty. He spoke of duty to the realm, of service and honor, but...’ Jack paused, studying the king’s face. ’You knew him personally?’

King Eric’s laugh was soft, tinged with old memories. "Knew him? Jack, your father and I grew up together. We trained with the same weapons master, chased the same girls, got drunk on stolen wine in the castle cellars." The king’s eyes grew distant. "He was the closest thing to a brother I ever had."

Jack felt something shift in his understanding of the political landscape. This wasn’t just about a powerful chosen one and royal authority. There were personal stakes here, old bonds that complicated everything.

’Then why...’ Jack began, but the king held up a hand.

"Why did I allow Aurelius to bring you here? Why didn’t I simply ask your father to present you at court in the traditional manner?" King Eric sipped his wine, buying time to choose his words carefully.

"Because, Jack, your demonstration against Spiralus created ripples that reached far beyond our borders. Within hours of that battle, I received messages from three neighboring kingdoms. All of them wanted the same thing."

The king leaned forward, his intensity palpable. "You."

Jack felt his stomach tighten. ’They want to recruit me?’

"Recruit. Capture. Eliminate. The methods varied, but the goal was universal." King Eric’s voice grew harder. "Draconia offered a fortune in gold and dragon eggs for you. Cordelia suggested an educational exchange that would have lasted decades. Sanctorium..." The king’s expression darkened. "Sanctorium declared you a divine instrument that should serve their god exclusively."

The implications crashed over Jack like a cold wave. His demonstration of power hadn’t just made him valuable. It had made him a target on an international scale.

’So you had me brought here for protection?’ Jack asked, though something in the king’s manner suggested the situation was more complex.

"Partly." King Eric’s admission was frank. "But I’ll be honest with you, Jack. Having someone who can eliminate disaster-class threats single-handedly... that’s not just valuable."

The king stood, moving to one of the tall windows that looked out over the capital. The city stretched to the horizon, thousands of lights twinkling in the gathering dusk. "Do you know what keeps me awake at night, Jack? It’s not enemy armies or political intrigue. It’s the knowledge that somewhere out there, things like Spiralus exist. Creatures that can destroy cities, topple governments, end bloodlines with their mere presence."

Jack remained silent, sensing the king was working toward something important.

"Traditional armies are useless against such threats. Even groups of chosen ones struggle against certain disaster-class entities. But you..." King Eric turned back to face Jack, his expression intense. "You ended one of the ancient terrors as if it were nothing more than a troublesome beast."

’It nearly killed me,’ Jack pointed out. ’I was unconscious for three days afterward.’

"But you survived. More importantly, you won." The king returned to his seat, his gaze never leaving Jack’s face. "That makes you the most valuable military asset in the known world. Every kingdom wants that power under their control."

Jack felt the weight of that statement settle over him like a shroud. ’And you believe keeping me here is the solution?’

King Eric’s smile was sad, almost apologetic. "I believe keeping you safe is the solution. Whether that’s here in the palace, at the magical academy in Cordelia, or hidden away in some remote location... that’s what we need to discuss."

The king refilled both their wine glasses, his movements deliberate and thoughtful. "Aurelius believes you can be trained, integrated into our chosen one program, made into a perfect weapon for the crown. He’s not wrong. You have incredible potential."

’But?’ Jack sensed there was more coming.

"But I knew your father when we were boys. I know the Kaiser blood, the stubborn pride, the absolute refusal to bend even when breaking would be easier." King Eric’s eyes held something that might have been admiration. "You’re not going to simply accept whatever role we assign you, are you?"

Jack met the king’s gaze steadily. ’No, Your Majesty. I’m not.’

"I thought as much." King Eric raised his glass in a small salute. "Your father would be proud. He never could stomach being told what to do either."

They drank in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken negotiations hanging between them.

’What are you proposing, Your Majesty?’ Jack asked finally.

"Patience," the king said with a slight smile. "Your family should arrive within the next few days. I believe this conversation should include your father. He has... insights into the political world, that might be useful."

Jack nodded, understanding that he was being given time to consider his position. But something in the king’s tone suggested there was more to his relationship with Alaric than simple childhood friendship.

’Your Majesty, may I ask you something?’

"Of course."

’Why do I get the feeling that you owe my father more than just the loyalty of old friendship?’

King Eric’s smile turned sharp, and for a moment Jack saw something dangerous flicker behind those winter-storm eyes. "Because, young Kaiser, you have excellent instincts. Yes, I owe your father a debt that goes far beyond childhood bonds. One that I can never fully repay."

The king stood, signaling that the meal was ending. "But that’s a story for when he arrives. For now, know this. You are under my personal protection while you’re in this palace. Not as a prisoner, not as a weapon, but as the honored son of my dearest friend."

Jack rose as well, bowing slightly. ’Thank you, Your Majesty.’

"Call me Eric when we’re alone," the king said with surprising warmth. "Save the formality for public occasions."

’I have one other concern, Eric. Can I have some actual clothes?’

Haha.

The King laughed. "Yes Jack, I’ll have some clothes sent to you and you can do as you please."

As Jack was escorted back to his chambers, his mind raced with the implications of what he’d learned.

The king’s respect for his father, the international pressure, the delicate balance between protection and control. It all painted a picture far more complex than Aurelius’s simple integration program.

But most intriguing was that debt the king mentioned. What had Alaric Kaiser done that would make a king feel eternally obligated?