Chapter 16: The Golden City

Kena stood there on the wide, dusty plain, her boots sinking a little into the dry, cracked ground.

The shadow monster's dark, wet puddle got smaller and smaller behind her as she walked away, shrinking until it was just a tiny dot, then gone completely.

She kept her eyes forward, not turning her head even once. In front of her, the golden city stood tall and bright, like something from a story she'd heard as a kid.

Its big walls glowed soft and warm under the odd purple sky that stretched out above.

The towers poked up high, so high they cut through the fluffy white clouds, and colorful flags waved back and forth in the breeze that brushed her face.

Her chest felt tight, like a big rock was sitting right on her heart. Justice Veldric was somewhere in that city, hidden behind those shiny walls.

He was her ticket home, her one shot to fix everything. But after all she'd been through—the fights with monsters, the nights full of fear, the long days of walking with no end—she didn't know what was in her head anymore.

Was it hope pushing her on? Or was she just too tired to stop?

"It's beautiful," she said, her voice coming out quiet, almost swallowed up by the wind that blew across the plain.

Hope, standing right beside her, tilted his head in a slow nod. "Yes. It is. But it's not kind. Not even a little."

Kena turned to look at him, her eyebrows scrunching up in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

"You'll find out soon," he said, his voice flat and plain, like he was just stating a fact.

He tugged his cloak tighter around his body, the rough fabric making a soft rustling sound, and started walking toward the city.

Kena stared at his back for a moment, then hurried to catch up. Her boots hit the hard dirt with loud, heavy thumps, the noise echoing a bit in the big, empty space around them.

The gates of the city grew bigger as they got closer, tall and wide and fancy.

They were made of pure gold, so smooth and shiny they almost hurt her eyes to look at.

Pretty swirling shapes were carved deep into the metal, twisting and turning like vines.

Guards stood way up on top of the walls, their armor sparkling in the light, flashing bright like tiny stars.

One guard leaned over the edge, his helmet shining as he called down, "Who are you? What do you want here?"

Kena tipped her head back and shouted up, "I'm Kena Rae! This is Hope! We need to see Justice Veldric!"

The guard squinted down at them, his eyes getting small as he tried to figure them out. "Why? What do you want with him?"

Kena stopped for a second, her hand sliding into her pocket. She pulled out the old photo she'd carried forever, its edges all bent and worn from being held so much.

"I have to talk to him," she said, lifting it up high so the guard could see it. "It's really important."

The guard laughed, a big, rough sound that made her feel small. "Good luck, girl! He doesn't just meet anyone who walks up!"

But then he waved his hand, a quick, lazy flick, and the giant gates made a loud groaning noise as they started to open, creaking slow and heavy.

Kena grinned at Hope, a little burst of pride swelling in her chest. "See? I told you I'm smart. I knew this would work."

Hope didn't say a word back, but his eyes crinkled at the corners, like he was smiling under that mask he always wore.

They stepped forward together, walking side by side through the gates and into the golden city.

The streets hit her like a wave—loud and busy, full of people and movement. Everyone wore bright clothes, colors popping like flowers in a field.

Carts rolled past, their wheels glowing a soft blue, moving all on their own with no horses or ropes pulling them.

Kids ran through the crowd, giggling and shouting as they chased kites that floated way up high, drifting free without any strings holding them down.

The buildings were huge, their golden walls sparkling in the light, their windows so clear they looked like big, perfect mirrors.

Kena's jaw dropped as she stared, her head spinning left and right to see it all.

"This place is wild," she said, her voice full of awe. "So much better than home. I've never seen anything like this before."

Hope stayed quiet, his head turning slow as he looked around. His eyes moved over the people, quick and sharp, like he was watching for something.

Kena saw folks staring at him, their heads turning as he walked by.

They whispered to each other, pointing at his mask, the dark shape of it standing out against all the bright colors.

She nudged him with her elbow, her arm bumping his. "Hey, are you famous here or what? They keep staring at you."

"No," he said, his voice low and soft. "I'm just different. That's it."

They kept going until they reached a market, the air thick with sounds and smells that filled her nose.

Stalls lined the street, stacked high with stuff she couldn't even imagine—fruits that sang little songs in high, sweet voices; cloaks that shimmered and changed colors when you blinked; swords that hummed quiet and low, like they were breathing.

Kena stopped at one stall, her eyes locking on a necklace. It glowed with a soft green light, pulsing slow and steady, just like the stone she kept in her pocket.

"Cool," she said, reaching out to touch it, her fingers brushing the smooth, warm surface.

"Careful," Hope said, his voice cutting through sharp and fast. "Magic always has a price. You don't want to pay it."

Kena pulled her hand back quick, her face getting hot. "Okay, okay. I won't touch it. Where's Justice Veldric at anyway?"

Hope pointed straight ahead, his finger steady and sure. "The palace. That's where he is."

A giant building sat right in the middle of the city, all gold and glowing, with big round domes and pointy spires reaching up to the sky. "That's the place," he added.

Kena's stomach flipped, a nervous twist knotting up inside her. "Alright. Let's go then. No reason to stand around."

They started walking again, heading right for the palace. The crowd got smaller as they went, the noise dying down behind them.

Guards marched along the streets, their armor clanking loud, their eyes hard and serious.

One stepped right in front of them just before they got to the palace gates, his hand up high.

"Stop. Tell me why you're here," he said, his voice rough and deep.

"I need to see Justice Veldric," Kena said, standing up straight. "It's important. Super important."

The guard frowned, his mouth turning into a thin, flat line. "He's busy. Too busy for you. Come back some other time."

"No," Kena shot back, her patience all gone. "I can't wait. Tell him Kena Rae is here. Right now."

The guard raised one eyebrow, looking her up and down like he wasn't sure about her, but he turned and walked off, his boots clicking loud on the stone path.

Kena tapped her foot fast, her hands twisting together as she waited.

Hope stood next to her, still as a rock, his hand resting easy on the handle of his sword.

After a minute, the guard came back, his face blank and empty. "He'll see you," he said. "Come with me. Don't waste his time."

Kena flashed a big, proud grin at Hope. "See? Easy. I told you I could make it happen."

They followed the guard through the palace gates, stepping into a place even crazier than the city outside.

The inside was massive—floors made of smooth, white marble that shone like a still lake, golden statues of people and animals standing tall along the walls, chandeliers floating way up high with no strings or chains to hold them there.

Kena's eyes got huge, her breath catching in her throat. "This is insane," she whispered, her voice bouncing a little in the giant space.

The guard kept moving, leading them down a long hallway and into a big, open room. A man stood there, waiting for them.

He was tall, with dark hair and eyes that felt like they could cut right through you. It was him—Justice Veldric, the guy from her photo.

He wore a long black robe that moved like shadows around him, and his face was cold and hard, like it was made of stone.

"You're Kena Rae?" he said, his voice sharp and loud, filling up the whole room. "What do you want from me?"

Kena swallowed hard, her throat feeling dry and tight. "I need your help," she said, pushing the words out even though they felt heavy. "I'm cursed. I need… a kiss. Just one. To break it. To go home."

Justice stared at her, his eyes locked on hers, not blinking. Then he laughed—a big, mean laugh that hurt her ears.

"A kiss? From me? You're kidding, girl. You have to be," he said.

Kena's face burned, a mix of shame and anger bubbling up inside her. "No. It's real. I'm not making it up. I'll die if you don't help me."

He stepped closer, his boots clicking loud on the marble floor, his eyes narrowing down to tiny slits.

"I don't care," he said, his voice low and icy. "Get out of my palace. Now."