CHAPTER 87: CH 87: A REWARD FOR YOU - PART 3

The tension in the grand hall shifted.

Queen Eleysa’s voice rang out clearly through the silence.

"In honor of the one who saved Callex... I present to you a gift. A title. The ultimate honor one can receive on this planet."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the nobles, whispers spreading like cracks on porcelain. Aether lights shimmered above them, casting long shadows across the marble floor.

Nova remained still.

The Queen stepped forward, her golden gown trailing behind her like spilled sunlight. With practiced elegance, she unsheathed the sword at her side—a weapon forged entirely from condensed aether.

It pulsed with soft light, humming with restrained power. She raised it high for all to see.

"A sacred weapon passed down from ruler to ruler. With this blade, I bestow upon you Callex’s highest honor."

She announced.

Then she looked at him—straight into Nova’s eyes.

"Kneel! And accept what is rightfully yours."

She said gently, almost lovingly.

The hall held its breath.

But Queen Eleysa froze.

Because Nova hadn’t moved.

His gaze remained steady, calm. Too calm. And something in that gaze made the Queen feel suddenly, irrationally exposed.

Like he was reading through her.

Nova turned slightly, his eyes drifting toward the table. Malrik caught his glance and gave the barest tilt of his head.

Trouble.

Nova smiled faintly, then looked back toward the Queen.

"Tell me, is bestowing honor the only thing you’re planning to do right now?"

He said softly.

The Queen blinked. Her fingers twitched on the hilt of her sword.

"What else would I be doing? You saved us. This is gratitude."

She replied, voice still even—but her stance shifted, her balance coiling tighter.

Nova’s smile disappeared.

"Then I refuse."

A shocked gasp passed through the nobles like a gust of wind. Ministers leaned forward. Even the guards along the walls stiffened.

Eleysa’s jaw clenched.

"You... refuse an honor?"

"I do. I didn’t come here for titles. I came to fulfill a promise. That promise is done."

Nova replied plainly.

"You cannot reject a gift from Callex! This is more than a ceremony. This is history."

She snapped, a hint of fire slipping into her tone.

"I’m not from Callex. And I have no intention of being part of your history."

Nova said.

"Then kneel. That is a royal command."

She demanded.

"No."

The Queen’s face flushed with fury.

"Guards! Make him kneel!"

Two guards moved at once. Heavy armor, etched with old sigils, clanked forward as they drew long halberds crackling faintly with runed aether.

Nova didn’t even blink.

The guards charged.

He moved once.

Two clean blows later, both guards were unconscious, sprawled in opposite directions. Neither had even touched him.

The room went dead silent.

Nova straightened and turned toward the Queen.

"So. What now?"

Queen Eleysa stared at the fallen men, her face taut with rage. The ceremonial sword in her hand trembled.

"You dare—"

"I do."

Nova interrupted flatly.

She took a step forward.

"Do you think that Callex will accept this insult?"

She hissed, voice low and dangerous.

"You already lost your god. Now you’re gambling with your pride."

Nova said.

"And you...You are arrogant."

Her eyes flashed.

"I’m honest."

She raised the blade.

The nobles rose from their seats in alarm. Ministers whispered frantically. Some shouted for reason. Others called for Nova’s arrest.

But Nova didn’t draw his weapon.

He didn’t even shift his weight.

"You would raise your blade against the one who saved your Planet?"

He said,

"This planet was not saved by one man. It was saved by its people. By our courage. You were merely a means."

She spat.

Nova tilted his head.

"And I suppose betraying me is your reward to yourself."

Her grip tightened.

And then, without another word, Queen Eleysa lunged.

She swung her aether blade at Nova’s head—fast, fluid, trained.

But Nova sidestepped it easily.

With one motion, he caught her wrist mid-swing. The sword halted inches from his shoulder.

"I don’t kneel for others."

He said, voice quiet but razor-sharp.

Her blade hissed with energy. Aether crackled up her arm—but Nova’s grip didn’t loosen.

And then he let her go.

The Queen stumbled back, panting, fury now twisting her noble mask into something far more desperate.

Nova looked past her, toward the crowd.

Most stared in stunned silence. A few began to move—guards, maybe. Loyalists.

Nova raised his hand.

"Malrik! We’re leaving."

He called.

Malrik was already moving.

He knocked his chair aside and began walking toward the stage, eyes sweeping the room, hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. No one dared block his path.

Queen Eleysa looked between them, chest rising and falling.

"You’ll regret this. You’ll walk away now, but this world is still mine."

She whispered.

Nova stepped down from the stage beside Malrik.

"I don’t stay on broken worlds. I just fix them long enough to make sure they don’t drag others down."

He said.

And with that, he turned.

Malrik glanced back once, then followed.

Behind them, the feast was still burning.

But the appetite was gone.

Queen Eleysa stood motionless as the echo of Nova’s footsteps faded down the corridor. Her jaw clenched tightly, lips trembling—not from fear, but frustration.

Her ministers were the first to break the silence.

"Your Majesty, what do we do now? He humiliated you in front of the court—"

One of them spoke cautiously,

"He didn’t just humiliate me. He walked away. From you. From this kingdom."

Another interrupted, voice tight with disbelief.

The Queen’s eyes were still locked on the door, dark with calculation.

"Send a pursuit party,"

She ordered quietly.

"Your Majesty?"

"Bring him back. We cannot afford to lose him. He is... perfect."

She said firmly.

"But—"

"As a consort and a shield for this world. Callex is vulnerable. And he’s the only one powerful enough to protect it."

She said coldly.

The council exchanged nervous glances, but none dared oppose her.

Outside the palace, Nova and Malrik moved swiftly through the fractured city. The feast had ended in disarray, and the chaos masked their retreat well enough.

"She’s not done. That woman will chase you. She doesn’t seem like the type to let go easily."

Malrik muttered under his breath.

Nova didn’t even look over.

"I know."

He said simply.

"Then why did you antagonize her like that?"

Nova’s lips curled faintly.

"Because I’m leaving her a parting gift."

Malrik raised a brow.

"What kind of gift?"

Just then, a thunderous crack tore through the night.

Behind them, the far eastern wing of the imperial castle—unoccupied, but still pristine—groaned violently before crumbling in on itself.

Stone and dust exploded upward in a silent, glowing burst as aether energy unraveled its very foundations.

Malrik flinched.

Nova didn’t turn around.

"That should keep her busy."

He said.

Malrik stared at the distant ruin, then at Nova, and sighed.

"You’re the most polite nightmare I’ve ever met."

Nova chuckled softly.

"Let’s go. We’ve got stars to chase."

He said.