Chapter 1 Arrival in Sarena.

  Harpya, impressed by the cable cars and airships flying through the sky, asks a merchant how to get to the castle.

  Harpya: -Excuse me sir, where can I get to the castle most quickly? I'm not from around here and I'm a bit lost in the city.

  The merchant pointed out the cable car driver, and Harpya thanked him with a smile and went to the driver.

  Upon entering the cable car, Harpya was impressed by everything: the lights, the people, and the new technology; he had never seen anything like it in Vein.

  Driver: -So, where would you like to go?

  Harpya: -To the castle. I'm an acquaintance of the princess.

  The driver looked and laughed, saying, "Hahaha, you guys? I doubt she knows a strange guy with that giant dog, besides that boy who seems to have some kind of problem and isn't reacting."

  Harpya got angry, but showed the letter Ida had sent, and the driver believed her.

  Driver: "Wow, that's the real seal. Forgive me if I was rude, you know, I just wanted to break the ice, hahaha."

  The driver laughed, worried about the situation, and Harpya said everything was fine.

  Driver: "You're not from the capital, are you? Where are you from?"

  Harpya swallowed hard and said that they were brothers who came from the countryside, and the driver said that made sense; it seemed they had never ridden a tram before, besides which he had never seen such a large dog. But the men were well-dressed, and the driver asked where Harpya knew the princess from.

  Harpya lied, saying he went to the castle to discuss something for his village in the countryside, and the driver believed his story and dropped them off at the castle gate, which was next to the town hall.

  Harpya asked to enter, and the soldiers stopped him, but Nyx, a guard of the king, asked to let them in.

  Nyx: "Gentlemen, please make way; they are guests of the king."

  The guards were surprised and made way.

  Nyx extends his hand and introduces himself: "Hello, I'm Nyx, a guard of the king. Welcome to Volny. How was the trip?"

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  Harpya: "It was peaceful, thank you for the rescue. I'm Harpya, this is Isz, and the dog is Cerberus."

  Nyx thinks he's heard that name before, but continues on his way.

  The castle was different from what Harpya was used to; it was modern, with electric lights and various technological devices.

  Ida spots them from afar and gives Harpya a tight hug with tears in her eyes.

  Ida: "I'm so glad you managed to escape, I thought I'd never see you again."

  Harpya, with a slight smile, says: "Thank you so much, Ida, without your help we would never have escaped from there."

  Ida quickly wipes away her tears, trying to regain her composure, but her eyes still gleam with relief. She looks at Isz, unconscious in Harpya's arms, and her expression changes to worry.

  Ida: "That's Isz, isn't it? Poor boy, I remember when he was a child, what happened to him?"

  Harpya: "He's been like this for months, he's faced so much and I don't know when he'll recover. He doesn't eat, he doesn't drink, and he doesn't seem to react to anything."

  Ida: "And how is he alive?"

  Harpya looks around and says: "I'll tell you more another time."

  Harpya lowers her gaze and props Isz up on a bench. Ida pets Cerberus, and a maid says the visitors' quarters are ready.

  Ida: – Come quickly. The king needs to see you... and we need to take care of Isz immediately.

  Nyx gestures for them to follow her through the castle's wide corridors. The walls displayed ancient paintings coexisting with electrical panels, bluish power lines, and automatic doors—a mixture of tradition and modernity that left Harpya even more disconcerted. He observed everything as if witnessing another world being born before his eyes.

  Harpya finds the king and recounts everything she and Isz went through to get there.

  Harpya slightly inclines her head, still holding Isz.

  King of Volny: – It's alright, Harpya. You, like Isz, fought in the war and saved both Vein and Volny. Honestly, I didn't think there were any knights left, since Edward and Baron told me what happened.

  Harpya: -I understand, I don't want to take advantage of your kindness, and if there's anything I can help with, I'd be happy to assist.

  King of Volny: -Rest for now, son. We'll talk more about this at dawn. I just wanted to confirm for sure what happened in Vein.

  King Londor hadn't spoken to me in years, and when I heard about his death I was saddened, but what about his daughter?

  Harpya: -She was probably complicit in what happened in Vein; she betrayed the people along with the church.

  King of Volny: -Yes, I never imagined she would do that. You can get up, boy. You don't need to bow, and take your friend to your room. I've already ordered a bath and new clothes for you both.

  Harpya: -Thank you very much, sir.

  The king is thoughtful: "-What those boys went through... I can't believe Vein fell like that, an internal corruption. I hope they find rest and peace here in Volny."

  Nyx accompanies Harpya and they talk on the way; Isz was placed in a wheelchair to facilitate transportation.

  Harpya asks Nyx his age, who replies that he was 15 years old and that he was part of the exorcist guild before the king hired him and knew who Harpya was, and he would keep his secret.

  Harpya thanks him and goes to his room.

  Later, Ida enters carrying tea and tells Harpya that this was his new home, and to relax, that everything would be alright.

  Harpya smiles and thanks her while looking at Isz's motionless body lying on his new bed.