Fairy Tail: Lost One-Chapter 25: Moving Forward

Rudra followed Alea as they made their way toward the palace. The streets buzzed with life, but the people's attention kept drifting toward him. Their gazes lingered, not on him exactly, but on the lances floating around him. Some whispered among themselves, curiosity evident in their eyes.

Noticing this, Rudra turned to Alea with a smirk. "You never actually told me why I'm being dragged to the palace."

Alea glanced at him before replying, "I reported everything to the kings, but they want to hear from the witness directly."

Rudra let out a small chuckle. "Oh? So they want a firsthand account from me, huh?" He stretched his arms lazily. "Well, I was curious to see the palace anyway. Might as well make the most of it."

Alea shot him a sideways look. "Are you seriously not upset? You don't mind being summoned just like that?"

Rudra grinned. "Why would I be? This is fun."

Alea scoffed. "You have a strange definition of fun."

Before Rudra could respond, a figure approached them—a tall elf with long black hair, her steps precise and graceful. She stopped in front of Rudra, her expression unreadable.

Rudra raised an eyebrow. "Something I can do for you, miss?"

The elf gave a small nod before speaking, her voice even. "Thank you for saving Alea."

Rudra waved a hand dismissively. "No big deal."

Before the conversation could go any further, a voice called out from ahead. "Ava, get to your position."

The black-haired elf—Ava—glanced in the direction of the voice. "Understood." With a final nod to Rudra, she stepped back and moved to her assigned spot.

Their group continued forward until they finally arrived at the palace gates—massive, ornate structures guarded by elves clad in silver armor. The towering walls stretched high above them, and beyond the gates, the sprawling palace loomed in all its regal splendor.

Rudra let out a low whistle. "Well, I'll give them this— they don't hold back."

Alea smirked. "Impressed?"

Rudra shrugged. "I'll let you know after I see the inside."

Barion, who had been leading them, turned to the guards. "We have an audience with the kings."

The guards exchanged glances before nodding and stepping aside, pushing open the grand gates.

As Rudra stepped through the towering palace gates, he couldn't help but grin. "Alright, let's see what all the fuss is about."

The grand hall before him was nothing short of breathtaking. Massive pillars stretched toward the high ceiling, adorned with intricate carvings of past rulers and legendary battles. The floor gleamed under the light of enormous chandeliers, and banners representing different factions hung proudly from the walls.

But what caught Rudra's attention the most was the sight at the far end of the hall. Instead of a single ruler, three kings sat atop grand thrones, each exuding an air of authority. Their eyes bore into him as he approached, yet his focus remained elsewhere.

The moment he stepped forward, the lances surrounding him suddenly knelt, their gleaming forms lowering in reverence. But Rudra? He stayed standing, completely unfazed.

Barion, who had been leading the group, turned to him sharply. His voice rang out like a whip crack. "On your knees, peasant! You stand before the three major kings of Dicatian!"

Rudra barely spared him a glance before rolling his eyes. "Shut the fuck up, man. You're ruining the palace's scenery."

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A heavy silence fell over the room. Gasps echoed, and some guards tightened their grips on their weapons. Barion's face twisted in rage as he reached for his sword. "Watch your mouth, peasant—"

"Stand down, Barion," one of the elf kings commanded, his voice firm.

Barion stiffened, muscles tense, but after a moment, he reluctantly stepped back.

The elf king turned his gaze to Rudra. "We've received Alea's report. You saved her and killed the monster that slaughtered her squad. You possess great power. Serve us, and you will be greatly rewarded."

Rudra tilted his head. "Let me get this straight. You dragged me here to offer me a job?"

The human king nodded. "With your strength, you could rise above all. Wealth, influence, the finest warriors under your command—everything you desire."

Rudra smirked. "Sounds like a leash with extra steps. I'll pass."

The dwarf king scowled. "You dare refuse us? Then perhaps you need persuasion. You have no choice but to serve!"

Rudra let out a slow breath, his smirk turning sharp. "Oh, I have a choice. And if you push me, I might just kill every single one of you in this room."

The air grew thick with tension. The guards bristled, hands tightening on their weapons. The kings exchanged wary glances.

"You overestimate yourself, human," the elf king said, though there was a hint of hesitation in his tone.

Rudra stepped forward, his floating lances shifting with him, their tips gleaming menacingly. "Do I? Then why are you sweating?"

A flicker of fear crossed the human king's face before he masked it. The dwarf king slammed his fist against his throne. "Enough! Guards—"

Rudra sighed, shaking his head. "Man, you guys are idiots if you think I'd ever work under you."

Before he could continue, the dwarf king slammed his fist against the armrest of his throne, the impact echoing through the hall. "Watch your mouth, peasant!"

Rudra smirked, shifting his gaze to the furious dwarf. "And what are you gonna do, shortstack? Stomp on my foot?"

The dwarf king's face turned crimson, veins bulging on his forehead. His guards stepped forward, ready to act on their ruler's fury. But before they could move, Rudra's eyes landed on a seemingly unremarkable black cat sitting quietly on the floor. His smirk widened.

"Well, well... if it isn't you. Didn't expect to see you here, pussycat winsdom."

The moment that name left his lips, the atmosphere in the hall changed.

The three kings visibly tensed, their hands gripping their thrones. Beads of sweat formed on their brows as an unspoken fear spread across their expressions. The realization hit them all at once, and a single thought surged through their minds—

We're going to die.

A heavy pressure settled over the room. And then—

The black cat moved.

Its fur shimmered for a brief moment before shifting and expanding. In mere seconds, where once sat a small feline, now stood a man. His long black hair cascaded down his back, his golden eyes sharp and unreadable. He gazed at Rudra, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, but before he could speak—

"Lances! Attack him now! We want his head!"

The three kings roared in unison, their voices filled with barely restrained panic.

Immediately, the guards surged forward, hands flying to their weapons. The tension snapped, and the grand hall was on the verge of chaos—

But then, Winsdom raised a single hand.

"Stop."

The word was spoken softly, yet it carried a weight that silenced the entire room.

The kings froze. The lances hesitated mid-draw. Even the guards, who had been mere seconds away from engaging, stiffened, their hands hovering over their hilts.

Winsdom turned to Rudra, his gaze unreadable. Unlike the kings, there was no rage in his eyes. No threat. No desire for retribution.

Only understanding.

"You can go now, stranger."

Winsdom's voice was calm—almost dismissive—but laced with something deeper. Acceptance.

He had known the moment he first saw Rudra in the plaza. This was not a man they could control. If a battle broke out here, countless lives would be lost. And with the war against Alcaryen looming on the horizon, Winsdom knew they couldn't afford unnecessary bloodshed.

For all their pride, the three kings had made a grave mistake. They had treated Rudra as if he were just another soldier to command, another pawn to move on the board. But men like Rudra weren't pawns.

They were storms—unpredictable, uncontrollable, and utterly destructive when provoked.

Rudra studied Winsdom for a moment, then chuckled. "Smart choice, pussycat."

Without waiting for a response, he turned his gaze toward Alea. She stood stiffly, her hands clenched at her sides, an uncomfortable expression on her face.

She had known this would happen.

Even after she warned the kings about Rudra's strength, they still tried to force his hand—to make him bend the knee. Fools. She had spent days with him, watching, learning. And if there was one thing she understood, it was this:

Rudra bowed to no one.

He smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Well, Alea, it was nice meeting you. Good luck with the upcoming war."

The moment those words left his mouth, the air in the room shifted.

A ripple of tension surged through the hall. Nobles and lances stiffened, their faces turning deathly pale. Whispers broke out, frantic and hushed.

Only the kings and their most trusted warriors were supposed to know about the war.

Alea's eyes widened. "How do you know that?!"

Rudra glanced at the kings, their expressions twisting into shock and barely-contained fury. He smirked.

"It's a secret."

The dwarf king shot up from his throne. "You bastard—!"

But before he could finish, the air around Rudra distorted.

Alea barely had time to react before space itself seemed to twist, bending and warping like ripples on water. Rudra's form wavered—as if reality itself rejected his presence. In the blink of an eye, he had used Dimension Shift and vanished, leaving behind only a faint shimmer in the air.

And then he was gone.

Silence filled the grand hall.

For a long moment, no one spoke. No one moved. It was as if the entire palace had been frozen in time, still reeling from what had just transpired.

Then—

"FIND HIM!" the elf king roared, slamming his fist onto the armrest of his throne. "FIND HIM NOW!"

Lances scrambled into action, knights surging out of the hall in a frenzy—

Only to be halted by Winsdom's voice.

"No need."

The human king turned sharply, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean, my lord?"

Winsdom exhaled slowly, his gaze lingering on the spot where Rudra had stood. His next words were simple, yet they carried a finality that sent a chill through the room.

"You can't find him. He has left this world."

With that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the stunned silence.

Rudra had vanished.

And in his wake, he left only chaos.