Where is the Edge?

The room was thick with tension, the air crackling with the remnants of Heise's magic as the tendrils of light still shimmered faintly around Ru's trembling form. Ru's scream had barely faded when the heavy doors to the laboratory burst open with a resounding crash. The sound echoed through the chamber, startling Kaero, who leapt from his perch on the table, his golden eyes widening in surprise.

Heise froze, his hands still outstretched, the glow of his magic flickering uncertainly. His sharp gaze snapped toward the entrance, and his breath caught in his throat. There, framed by the doorway, stood the monarch—tall, regal, and his aura radiating a darkness. The monarch's piercing eyes scanned the scene with a mixture of fury and concern.

"Your Majesty?" Heise stammered, his voice uncharacteristically unsteady. He took a step back, his hands dropping to his sides as the light around them dimmed. "You... what are you doing here?"

The monarch didn't answer. Instead, he strode forward with purpose. His gaze locked onto Ru, who was slumped in the chair, his body still trembling from the pain. The monarch's expression softened for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes, before it hardened again.

Without a word, the monarch reached out and shoved Heise aside with surprising force. Heise stumbled, his back hitting the wall as he stared in stunned silence. The monarch didn't spare him another glance. He moved to Ru.

"Ru," the monarch said, his voice low and urgent. He leaned down, his hands gripping the arms of the chair as he examined Ru's face. Ru's left eye was still glowing faintly, the remnants of the sigil flickering like a dying ember. Tears streaked his cheeks, and his breath came in shallow, uneven gasps.

The monarch ripped the chair's straps free, freeing Ru's limbs. A moment of hesitation followed, his gaze shifting to the black leather of his gloves. There was a gleam of uncertainty in his eyes, a fear of doing more harm.

"You are safe now," he murmured, his voice a surprising contrast to his imposing figure, soft. He reached out, his touch tentative, almost feather-light as he gently brushed a lock of dark hair from Ru's face. The tension in his shoulders remained, a silent testimony to the ordeal, but his touch carried a deep, almost protective affection. "I am here," he repeated.

Heise watched the scene unfold before him with gritted teeth. His usual composure had been shattered, replaced by a rare uneasiness. He straightened, his eyes narrowing as he took a cautious step. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice firm, "it's not what it seems. It's just—"

"Silence," the monarch interrupted, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. He didn't even look at Heise, his focus entirely on Ru. "You've done enough."

Heise's eye twitched, but he said nothing. His hands balled into fists at his sides, the faint glow of his magic flickering and then disappearing completely. He looked at Kaero, who was watching the scene with wide eyes, his tail wagging nervously. Ironically, he needed Kaero's testimony.

"Tell him," he said, conveying his request to Kaero's mind without speaking. Kaero looked at him seriously, for a moment seeming to approve. But suddenly he yawned.

"Ooaaaaah!"

A murmur came from Ru's mouth—he was still singing in his dream. "Gray Shadow, why do you sing?"

The monarch heard the melody, trying to understand it, when Ru froze with a smile on his face. His head suddenly fell on the monarch's shoulder.

The monarch's hands remained just above Ru's back, without making any contact. But they couldn't stay like this. The monarch hesitantly grabbed Ru and made him lean back against the chair.

Then the monarch straightened up, his expression darkening. "You shouldn't have had to endure this," he said, his voice low and filled with a quiet rage. He finally turned his gaze to Heise, his eyes blazing with accusation. "What were you thinking?"

Heise met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "I was trying to free him," he said, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. "There was a seal on his left eye that bound him to the ancient creature, and I was removing it."

"By torturing him?" The monarch shot back, his voice rising. He took a step toward Heise, his presence overwhelming. "You think this is how you help someone? By tearing them apart?"

"It was necessary," Heise said solemnly. He was as tense as a bow, unable to move forward or backward. "That sigil had to be removed, no matter the cost."

The monarch's gaze narrowed, causing the room to momentarily become still. Then, with a sharp exhale, the monarch turned his attention back to Ru. Without another word, he lifted Ru into his arms, cradling him carefully as if he were a delicate bloom that might bruise at the slightest touch.

At that moment, Ru's trembling hand, small and pale, reached out and tightly grasped the monarch's jacket, his knuckles white against the dark fabric. It was a desperate, almost instinctive gesture, a silent plea for reassurance in the face of the overwhelming unknown.

The monarch felt the tremor in Ru's grip, the frantic pulse beating against his own chest. His gray eyes, usually sharp and commanding, softened, a tenderness flickering within their depths. "Do not be afraid," he murmured, his voice a low, soothing cadence that vibrated against Ru's ear. "You will be safe, I swear it." He adjusted his hold, drawing Ru closer, until the warmth of his body enveloped him, a comforting shield against the chill of fear. "I would sooner break my own bones than allow harm to come to you," he whispered, his breath ghosting across Ru's temple, a promise as soft as a caress.

Meanwhile, jealousy stuffed a poisoned apple into Heise's throat, making it impossible for him to breathe.

The monarch pivoted and confidently walked towards the door. Kaero trailed behind them, casting a wary glance back at Heise before disappearing into the hallway.

As the heavy door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the lab like a death knell, Heise let out a long, slow breath, a ragged exhale that did little to ease the burning in his chest. He ran a trembling hand through his usually meticulously styled hair, dislodging a few strands, his usual confidence replaced by a rare and unsettling uncertainty.

A low growl rumbled in his throat, a primal sound of frustration. He slammed his fist onto the worktable, sending a cascade of delicate glass vials and meticulously labeled jars crashing to the floor. The sharp scent of spilled potions mingled with the metallic tang of his own anger. He kicked a nearby stool, sending it skidding across the polished stone floor, the legs scraping against the surface with a jarring screech. He swept his arm across the cluttered surface of the table, sending beakers and scrolls flying, a chaotic ballet of destruction fueled by the venom of jealousy. His breath came in short, ragged gasps, his chest heaving as he fought to contain the storm raging within him.

In the storm of emotions, his logic finally won out. Heise's gaze fell to the chair, the runes carved into its surface still faintly glowing. He clenched his fists, his mind racing.

"Necessary," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. "It was necessary."

But even as he said the words, a flicker of doubt lingered in his eyes. He couldn't shake the image of Ru's trembling form, the pain etched into his face, the way he had clung to the monarch as if he were the only anchor in a storm. Heise's gaze sharpened, his mind calculating moves like a chess master. Ru's contact with the monarch was dangerous—more dangerous than Heise had anticipated.

Closing his eyes, Heise reached out telepathically, his mind brushing against the familiar presence of Amunet. Her voice echoed in his thoughts, calm and measured, as if she had been expecting his call.

"Stop the monarch," Heise commanded, his mental voice sharp and urgent.

There was a pause, and then Amunet's reply came, laced with her usual dry humor. "You could say please."

Heise's eyebrow twitched, but he didn't have time for her games. "This isn't a joke, Amunet. The monarch has Ru. If he gets too close—"

"I know, I know," Amunet interrupted, her tone shifting to one of seriousness. "I'll handle it. But you owe me for this."

Heise didn't respond. He severed the connection, his mind already racing ahead. He turned toward the door, his movements quick and decisive. He couldn't afford to wait. The monarch had Ru, and Heise had no idea what he planned to do with him. The sigil was gone, but Ru was still vulnerable—still caught in the web of power and politics that Heise had tried to free him from.

Heise's mind swirled with thoughts as he stepped into the hallway. He had acted out of necessity, but now he wasn't so sure. The doubt that had flickered in his eyes earlier now burned brighter, a nagging question that he couldn't ignore.

Had he done the right thing?