Walking back through the castle halls, Olorith guided them to their respective rooms—Ash and Axel would share one, while Korthok's room was just across the hall.
From the corridor, their voices could be heard carrying through the doors.
"How are you boys settling in so far?" Korthok asked from outside their room in his.
"We're fine," Ash replied. "Everything here is so amazing compared to how we lived before."
"That's good to hear," Korthok said with a tired smile, letting out a yawn. "You boys should get some rest."
"Okay, we will," the boys replied.
That night, Ash and Axel stayed up talking, their curiosity keeping them awake as they compared their powers and shared what they'd learned so far.
When morning came, Olorith appeared at their doors, servants beside him carrying trays of breakfast. "Good morning," he said. "Eat quickly and get ready the king wishes to see you in the throne room."
Upon hearing this, everyone hurried to prepare and made their way to the throne room, where the king sat waiting on his throne with Olorith at his side.
The king rested his fingers together and crossed one leg over the other. "You certainly took your time," he said, fixing them with a cold glare. "I have a task for the two of you.
"A pair of humans have been wreaking havoc on the inner outskirts of our border — kidnapping territorial beasts, most likely to sell in human lands. Normally I'd send soldiers to drive them off and recover the creatures, but reports say the pair have begun abducting women and children who stray too close.
"At first I thought to have them executed and their bodies displayed at the border as a warning," he continued, his voice hard. "Then I had a better idea: I want you two to deal with them."
Olorith frowned. "Leader of the Fairy Folks, isn't this a bit too dangerous?"
The fairy king's grin only widened. "Oh, don't worry, Drakkonian. The two are clearly inexperienced their focus is the beasts, and they only target women and children. I've discussed it with Olorith; he and I are in agreement."
"With that said, the three of you leave at once. Olorith will accompany you he and the Drakkonian are to observe and intervene only if your lives are in danger. You don't need to kill them; subdue the pair and bring them back here. I'll deal with them myself. You're fully briefed go and wait for Olorith to carry you to your objective."
They exchanged nervous, worried glances as they left the throne room.
With the king and Olorith alone in the throne room, the king fixed Olorith with a cold stare. "Olorith, watch those boys closely. If any of them show even the slightest sign of joining their kind, kill them at once."
Olorith bowed deeply. "Yes, my king," he said, then left to rejoin the others waiting outside.
"All right," he announced to the group. "We know the plan. Let's go."
They set off in uneasy silence, Olorith leading the way. The boys stayed close together, nerves taut until Axel finally broke the quiet. "I know everyone here hates us," he muttered, "but the king… he seems to really despise humans."
Olorith kept walking, not looking back. "He has his reasons," he said quietly. "He was once in love with a human woman."
The three looked at each other, stunned by the revelation.
Olorith continued, his voice low and steady.
"Yes, it was quite the shock for us as well. For us fairy folk who live for thousands upon thousands of years to fall in love with a human, a being whose life is but a fleeting moment in comparison... it seemed impossible. Yet he was the happiest I had ever seen him."
Olorith's tone darkened. "That was until she was taken kidnapped by her own people. They made an example of her. She was humiliated, beaten, violated... and finally killed, her body hung in the center of human lands for all to see."
His jaw tightened, voice trembling with fury. "After that, my king could not bear to go on. He wasted away failed suicide attempts, starvation, despair. To see my once radiant king reduced to such a pitiful state because of those wretched humans..." Olorith's lip curled into a snarl. "I swore that day I would never allow it to happen again. Even if it meant becoming the most vile, most loathsome creature alive."
Olorith froze "Anyway it looks as though we're here" cages littered the surroundings. Pointing forward to a campfire with the silhouette of two men sitting around it "you'll find your objectives there"
The pair sat huddled around the fire, their voices low and greedy.
"We'll make a fortune," one muttered. "All these magical beasts will fetch a fine price on the market."
His companion smirked, nodding toward a shadowed cage nearby. Inside, a small fairy child lay bruised and trembling.
"And that one," he said with a cruel grin, "the nobles will pay handsomely for. The perfect little plaything."
Suddenly there was a loud thwack one of the men flew backward, a smudge of green energy sizzling at the side of his head. He collapsed to the ground, dazed, rubbing his temple. "What was that?" he mumbled.
Ash stepped forward, calm. "Nothing much just a bit of training. I only just started, by the way."
The other man, alarmed, snatched up an iron sword and swung at Ash. Where the blade cut the air, a black void ripped open, swallowing the strike. Axel spoke up his. "I'm sorry," he said, "but you're going to have to fight me. I need the on-the-job experience."
The men turned to face Axel standing behind them and behind him, two towering figures watched calmly, arms crossed, their expressions unreadable.
Korthok broke the silence first. "You were right they really are inexperienced. They'll make excellent training dummies for the boys."
Olorith gave a faint smile. "Indeed. Let's see how this plays out, shall we?"