Chapter 108: Welcome king of Lystra
Raphael's POV
The journey to the Fae District was a quiet one. Everyone's mind was occupied.
Gwen rode with Anastasia at her side, their hushed conversation blending with the hoofs steps of our group.
Caleb rode beside me, ever watchful, his gaze always switching between me and Drogon, who led us through the winding paths of Lystra.
The dragon moved with ease as if he had walked these streets many times before. For someone that had been locked like Gwen I had told me, he seems very familiar with everything.
Which even I, the king am not.
Lystra was a kingdom built with power and wealth. Gold filled its treasuries, and silver flowed into the hands of its people. Every district was granted a coin to ensure the well-being of its citizens.
I had seen to it myself. Or so I had believed.
As we stepped past the grand stone arch marking the boundary of the Fae District, a strange hush fell over us.
It was as if the air in here was harder to breathe in. A bitter wind blew through the streets, carrying with it the smell of rot, cold, and something else I couldn’t quite name.
Then I saw it.
The streets, lined with broken cobblestone and half-buried in dirt, stretched before me. Houses, if they could even be called that, stood in a crooked manner, their roofs falling off, their walls cracked.
Some of the houses bore signs of desperate repairs, patched with mismatched wood, metal scraps, and anything that could hold them together.
Others had long been abandoned, reduced to emptied-out houses that served as little more than shelter from the elements.
Figures stood in the shadows. Gaunt faces peered from the doorways, some with tired eyes, others with expressions too weary to care.
Children sat in the filth, their small frames wrapped in ragged cloth, their stares dull and lifeless.
The absurd way in which the environment looks sent a punch to my gut. What is this? I don't understand. A-and these people are called gods on Lystra?
No. This was not how Lystra was meant to be. I turned to Caleb, but he only looked ahead, his face unreadable. He wasn't looking at me. Expressing my shock. He knows something I didn't.
Drogon chuckled under his breath. “Oh dear. You seem surprised.”
I ignored him. I didn’t need his amusement right now.
“What is this?” I asked, looking at Caleb for answers, my voice calm, far from what I was feeling inside.
“This,” Drogon gestured to the crumbling ruins, to the broken people, “is what you failed to see.”
The accusation in his tone made my blood boil, but I kept my anger in check.
“The ministers of each district receive gold and silver to care for their people. I made sure of it.”
Drogon let out a slow, mocking sigh. “And yet, here we are.” He spread his arms wide. “It seems your trust was misplaced.”
Gwen, always quick to defend, stepped forward. “That’s not fair. Raphael is a good king. He wouldn’t have let this happen if he knew...”
Drogon turned his gaze on her, his eyes softening. “A good king? To some, perhaps. But certainly not to all.”
The words struck deep.
I had built this kingdom with my own hands, shaped it with power and war, and ensured that none would suffer under my rule. And yet…
I had not seen this. I had not known. I would have taken of this mess if I did.
Caleb, just looked ahead. He didn't speak. Even Anastasia said nothing, her usual sharp tongue stilled by what lay before us.
I breathed out slowly, pushing away the chaos in my mind. “This is not why we are here.”
Drogon smirked. “No. It is not. But it is something you should remember.” The others suddenly gasps as they looked between me and him.
I clenched my jaw but said nothing. I will have this man dealt with after my mate is back. Until then, I will keep letting his tongue glide as much he wants.
We pressed on, moving deeper into the district. The further we walked, the worse it became.
The filth, the sickness, the silent resentment gazes that they threw our way. And of course, the fear.
Some of them looked at us with fear. Others with resentment but the fear and disgust at me was most visible.
The Fae had not lived. They had survived. Barely. I have failed yet another set of people. I am doing such a terrible job. I rub my hands across my face in frustration.
My fell on a girl, no older than ten, who sat at the base of a crumbling wall, her arms wrapped around a younger child.
Her eyes, dull and tired, looked into mine. For a brief moment, I saw something in them. Not hatred. Not anger.
Just emptiness. I looked away. Too guilt ridden to look more. I hear small muffled sobs. I turned and it was Gwen. She was crying.
How are these people going to agree to help us now? Councilor Atticus is the one in charge of finance. He has a lot to answer to.
If the Fae were to help us, I needed to give them something first. Not words. Not promises. Actions, and I know just what to do.
" What do we do?" Gwen asked, as her eyes continued darting around. Unable to hold herself back anymore, she came down from the horse.
Put her hands into her pocket and brought out a fur coat and some food inside her magical space. We all stood waiting for her as she ran to the almost lifeless girl that was gazing at us.
When she got to where she was sitting, the girl doesn't look at her. " Hello," Gwen said in a small voice. The little still didn't look at her.
I read through her thoughts. ' Where is my brother?" She was crying inside her mind but no tears were dropping on her face.
I came down from my horse... " My king, we must..." I ignored Caleb. I was just too angry.
I walked towards them. Gwen just stood there silently crying, her hands still outstretched towards the little girl. When I stood in front of her. Her eyes finally met mine.
They were still lifeless but at least she was gazing at me. It's something.
" Hi, Marissa." At the sound of her name, a little glimmer of life seeps through her eyes.
" I am Raphael, king of Lystra." At that, she bit her lips, as she looked around and then at me. The others, also stood up. They began looking at me.
" I will find your brother for you. I promise you. So stop crying." At that she immediately starts crying.
Gwen looks at me with the expression of ' see what you have done now' I ignore her. I took the things from her and gave them to her.
For a moment, I thought she wouldn't take them but she finally did after a while.
" You promise?" She asked in a tiny voice. I smiled at her.
" With everything I have." I opened my arms and she runs into them. Sobbing. I just pat her back gently.
" Welcome king of Lystra."
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