Inside the familiar apartment, Riya Ironhart was baking a cake for a relaxing afternoon.
She and her husband were tired after a demanding week of work and were finally enjoying a well-deserved day off.
Wiping her flour-dusted hands, she made her way toward the living room, humming sweetly, carrying two glasses of juice.
Johnson Ironhart was settled on the sofa before the TV, his eyes glued to his phone.
She slumped down beside him with a wry smile, snatching the phone from his hands before handing him a glass of juice.
"Stop working all the time. Today's our day off, just relax. We have to go back to work tomorrow anyway. You can work then."
Johnson let out a sigh and nodded.
Riya reached out to switch on the TV.
Nearly all the news channels, from the local ones to the global ones, were obsessed with the same thing: the ancient tomb.
She clicked her tongue in disapproval.
"Mother hadn't changed a bit. Even Alistair and the others are following her lead. They send so many young people into the tomb, fully aware of the danger. Still, it's a valuable opportunity for the youngsters."
Johnson hummed in agreement, but he choked on the juice he was drinking when a familiar name was announced on the news.
Yet, the channel's lead anchor continued, without caring about the coughing man.
"It's Skyler Thorne! Earlier, amidst the commotion, the Queen issued a formal statement confirming that several people had entered the ancient tomb. But we just received news that all of them have been ejected, except for one. Skyler Thorne."
A woman next to the man frowned.
"Skyler Thorne? Who is that? I've never heard of him before. Is he from the royal family? As far as I know, only those with royal blood can enter the ancient tomb."
The lead anchor nodded. His eyes were filled with excitement as he read through his tablet, seemingly looking like he had a lot to share about this Skyler Thorne.
"Of course he is! It is said that he wasn't living with the Queen since he's the son of the princess who vanished to live a normal life. Skyler appeared to meet the Queen. His Grandmother. Who would have thought he would be caught in the crossfire?"
The other anchors nodded in agreement, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. As if sensing the time was right, the lead anchor decided to drop a bombshell – a news that would send shockwaves around the globe.
"This news hasn't been confirmed yet."
He announced, his voice buzzing with excitement.
"But I have heard that this Skyler Thorne is someone who recently cleared the first level of Battle Royal in a single week!"
Utter silence. That was what followed. The other anchors, mouths agape, stared at him in shock. Then, loud murmurs rippled in the air, punctuated by gasps of astonishment.
"What?! Impossible!"
"That youth cleared the first level of Battle Royal in a week? Are you kidding me?!"
"This is too absurd! Are you sure the news isn't fake? This is unheard of!"
The room exploded in a cacophony of heated debate. The channel's viewership skyrocketed in an instant. All the lights in Eldoria who heard the news were stunned. An 18-year-old had cleared the first level of Battle Royal? And not only that, he'd done it in a week, when the shortest time recorded was months? It was simply unbelievable!
The lead anchor quelled the speculation.
"I've stated that this news is unconfirmed. Let's avoid jumping to conclusions. But..."
He trailed off, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"I heard he is a student of the prestigious Starlight Academy. Skyler was summoned to the initial test of Battle Royal at the age of 18. It's unheard of. Only those who have hit their 20th year are typically teleported."
His smile widened, as he went on.
"The Academy, recognizing his potential, extended an invitation to him to join them. He's not just a normal student there, but a member of the First Year Elite Class! The Elite Class! This speaks volumes about his exceptional abilities. Why else would the top academy in Eldoria favor him so? This is why, remember what I have said. If this information proves true, we have gained another powerful Light to defend us."
The lead news anchor continued to shock the viewers. Each piece of news he uttered was more bewildering than the last. Luckily or not, but Skyler Thorne's true background remained hidden. Perhaps the government ensured only the information they wanted to share would be displayed on the news.
Riya switched off the TV, unable to hear the news any longer. She turned to her husband.
"Darling... Did you hear what I did?"
Johnson had stopped coughing and was wiping the spilled juice. He looked toward her, not very sure whether to cry or laugh.
"I did, honey. I did. Our dear son has managed to stir up trouble again."
He paused for a moment.
Then let out a weary sigh.
"That daring child. Skyler can do whatever he wants, it's his life... But how did he even find out he was the Queen's grandson? The news said he went to meet her himself."
His wife mirrored his confusion. She, too, had no idea how Skyler found out about it.
"Anyway, we need to get out of here for a while. Just until things settle down. It won't be long before Mother finds out about us."
She handed him his phone.
"Also, contact the people you know in the Royal Castle. I want them to make sure to inform us when Skyler is out of the tomb. Our son has endured so much that now I believe nothing will happen to him."
Johnson took the phone and stood up. He, too, believed in Skyler. The kid had cleared the preliminary test and then the first level of the dangerous Battle Royal. What would be a big deal for him to clear a tomb? He would surely come back fine, just like always.
Still, as parents, despite their confidence, they couldn't shake off the worry. After all, Skyler was the only one inside the tomb. The fact that his name was currently trending on Star Net did little to ease their anxiety.
Johnson rubbed his temples.
"Once Skyler is back, he is going to be in a lot of trouble because of his sudden fame."
Riya nodded at his words.
"I know, especially among the Dark Lights. We've to ensure he doesn't get kidnapped."
She glanced at the silent TV.
"I usually hear about Jenny and her team on the news. They are always being discussed as the prodigies of this generation. But now it's Sky. Both of our kids are doing great."
***
At the same time, unaware of the popularity he had gained, Skyler shifted uncomfortably on a hard bed of stone. After a long time, his eyes finally flickered open. The memories of what occurred before he lost consciousness rushed back into his head like a tidal wave.
He groaned, the pain throbbing in his head, but forced himself to see his surroundings.
His gaze instantly fell upon the figure seated opposite him, watching him with calm eyes.
Skyler's heart nearly leaped out at the sight, and he hurriedly put some distance between them. His head was in pain, but his injuries were healed thanks to his self-healing skill.
His eyes darted around the space he was in, widening as he noticed he was within a grey barrier of sorts, with no apparent passage of escape, let alone a door. He calmed himself and his eyes once again found their way to the massive winged figure watching him.
He licked his dry lips and uttered.
"Umm... where is this place?"
The figure hummed softly, its massive golden wings resting calmly on its back.
Skyler could tell from its eyes that unlike before, when the figure was restless and wanted to mess with him for no reason, it was now calm. Or perhaps, just maybe, it simply wanted to kill for the sake of killing, just as it had done to many in the book.
He truly had no idea.
So, he was trying to control his tendency to blurt out whatever was in his mind because he knew that unlike before, when he still had a chance to escape, now he was completely at the mercy of the figure before him.
Still, what puzzled him was why it hadn't killed him yet? Why? That's the only thing that gave him courage to speak. Because before he fainted, he had thought he would die. After all, even the figures living in his subconscious couldn't fight the figure!
The figure tilted its head at his question.
"This place? It's where I was sleeping for a very, very long time. You don't like it?"
Skyler wanted to say, 'Yes, I don't like it! So please send me home!' But he held back.
"Oh... okay. Why did you bring me here?"
The figure chuckled softly. Its blue eyes darkened into an even deeper shade.
"At first, I just wanted to talk with you. To know a lot of things. Then kill you. But while you were unconscious, I thought long and hard. I came to the conclusion that there's no point asking questions when I already had an idea what had happened."
Skyler's eyes flickered with confusion. But before he could understand anything, the towering figure proposed something even more absurd that shocked him to the core.
"I saw those living within you... They are powerful, but you are not. How about you stay here for a while and learn from me?"