Chapter 77: The Royal Mandate

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Royal Mandate

"To keep a bird from flying away, you don’t clip its wings you show it a sky too vast to ever leave." — Matshona Dhliwayo

Lyra POV

The heavy walnut doors of the Queen’s private study closed with a soft, final click.

The quiet that followed felt almost oppressive.

Inside, the room was bathed in the warm amber glow of floating hearth wisps. Moonlight poured through the massive arched windows, illuminating the distant silver barked spires of the capital.

Queen Aeloria stood beside the window.

A crystal glass filled with dark moon wine rested between her fingers.

She didn’t turn around when footsteps approached.

She didn’t need to.

The nervous, uneven rhythm belonged to only one person.

"You’ve been pacing outside my door for twenty minutes, my little star."

Aeloria’s voice carried gentle amusement.

She finally turned.

Princess Lyra stepped farther into the study.

Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her.

Her violet eyes were filled with anxiety.

Without her usual royal composure, she looked every bit her 13 years.

Young.

Emotional.

And frightened.

"Mother."

Her voice cracked slightly.

She stopped several paces from the desk.

"We need to talk about Riven."

Aeloria raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow.

She set her glass down on the redwood table.

"Ah."

A faint smile appeared.

"The human who humiliated Captain Vaelen in the Sovereign Ring and reduced Lord Cassian to a trembling wreck."

She folded her arms.

"What about him?"

"He might leave."

The words came out immediately.

Lyra took a step forward.

"Now that his mask is gone..."

Her voice became quieter.

"I don’t know what will keep him here."

Aeloria watched her carefully.

Lyra swallowed.

"He’s spent most of his life running. He survives in places where people like us don’t even look. The badlands. The Undervault. The frontier."

Her fingers tightened together.

"He’s always moving forward."

She looked down.

"And if he decides to leave the capital, I..."

She hesitated.

"I won’t be able to follow him."

Aeloria’s expression softened.

She had already understood what Lyra was struggling to say.

"You are afraid he’ll leave you behind."

Lyra’s cheeks warmed.

But she didn’t deny it.

"I’m afraid he’ll realize he doesn’t need anyone here."

She looked back at her mother.

"He’s already stronger than most people his age. He’s fought monsters, assassins, mercenaries, and trained soldiers."

Her voice trembled.

"And now the court knows what he can do."

Aeloria stepped around the desk.

She stopped in front of her daughter and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You think he’ll outgrow us."

Lyra lowered her eyes.

"Maybe."

Aeloria smiled faintly.

"You cannot keep a wild wolf by locking it inside a garden."

Lyra looked up.

"I’m not asking you to lock him away."

Her voice became more desperate.

"I just want you to give him a reason to stay."

Aeloria said nothing.

"Something real," Lyra continued.

"Something that matters to him."

She took a breath.

"You’re the Queen. If anyone can give him a reason to build a life here, it’s you."

Aeloria studied her daughter for several seconds.

"You are approaching this from the wrong direction."

Lyra blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"You cannot trap someone like Riven with comfort."

Aeloria slowly returned to her desk.

She picked up a blank roll of royal parchment.

"You cannot offer him luxury and expect him to settle down."

She reached for a silver quill.

"You cannot offer him a title and expect him to accept a leash."

She dipped the quill into black ink.

"But you can offer him something he has spent his entire life chasing."

Lyra’s eyes widened slightly.

"Strength."

Aeloria smiled.

"Exactly."

She began writing.

"Riven doesn’t seem interested in wealth for its own sake. He doesn’t care about aristocratic status. He barely reacts to praise."

The quill moved steadily across the parchment.

"But give him access to stronger opponents."

Aeloria glanced up.

"Rare materials."

The quill continued.

"Advanced magic."

Another line.

Lyra’s expression slowly changed.

Understanding dawned in her eyes.

"Estar Academy."

Aeloria smiled.

"The very same."

Lyra stepped closer.

"The greatest military and arcane academy in the kingdom."

"One of the greatest."

Aeloria continued writing.

"You are scheduled to begin your advanced coursework there in a few years"

She paused.

"Riven will be offered enrollment under royal sponsorship."

Lyra stared.

"Would they even accept him?"

"They will if the Queen tells them to."

Aeloria’s smile became slightly sharper.

"He will have access to advanced training grounds, restricted archives, high level instructors, magical research facilities, and the academy’s network of elite adventurers and military personnel."

Lyra’s eyes brightened.

"And his missions?"

"Those will be handled separately."

Aeloria placed the quill down.

"The Crown will formally commission him for covert operations within the capital and its surrounding territories."

She began listing them on her fingers.

"Remaining syndicate cells."

"Rogue monsters."

"Border threats."

"Smuggling networks."

"Anything else that requires someone capable of operating without attracting attention."

Lyra stared at her mother.

"So he gets to keep doing what he already does."

"Precisely."

Aeloria leaned back.

"The difference is that now he will be doing it with royal backing."

She pulled another document toward herself.

Lyra smiled.

"You are turning the capital into his training ground."

Aeloria’s eyes gleamed.

"I’m giving him something far more valuable."

She picked up the royal seal.

"A future."

The molten gold wax pressed into the parchment.

The royal crest appeared.

Lyra stared at the decree.

For several seconds, she couldn’t speak.

The crushing fear that had been sitting inside her chest all morning slowly began to disappear.

Riven wouldn’t have to choose between staying and growing stronger.

The capital could give him both.

"And if he still wants to leave?"

Aeloria looked toward her daughter.

"Then we let him."

Lyra blinked.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Aeloria’s expression softened.

"If we make the capital valuable to him, he will choose to remain."

She slid the sealed decree across the desk.

"We don’t need chains."

Lyra looked down at the royal seal.

"We need something worth staying for."

Aeloria smiled.

"Now you’re beginning to understand."

Lyra picked up the decree.

Her hands were no longer trembling.

A bright smile slowly spread across her face.

"Thank you, Mother."

She suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Aeloria.

The Queen laughed softly before returning the embrace.

"Careful, little star."

Lyra pulled back, still smiling.

Aeloria looked toward the window.

Far below, the moonlit courtyard stretched beneath the towering spires.

Somewhere within those walls was a thirteen year old human who had survived slavery, monsters, assassins, and a military captain.

A boy who had spent his entire life running toward the next challenge.

Now the Queen intended to give him one worth staying for.

Aeloria’s smile became knowing.

"Let us see what you do with this opportunity, Riven."