A Gift for a King and a Path Homeward

The failed kidnapping attempt was the final straw for King Theron IV. It was a brazen act of aggression within his own palace. The Veiled Hand agents, under a 'persuasive' magical interrogation by the Archmage, confessed everything, implicating Ambassador Cinnia and the Queendom of Saccharo directly.

The next morning, the Ambassador was summoned to the throne room, not for an audience, but for a dismissal. She found herself facing not just the King, but the entire Royal Council, Archmage Vance, Ser Kaelen, and, standing near the throne, Ren and Lyra. The atmosphere was glacial.

"Ambassador Cinnia," the King's voice was like the crack of winter ice. "Your diplomatic immunity is hereby revoked. Your actions have been deemed an act of war against the Crown and its allies. You and your retinue will be escorted to the border under armed guard. Tell your Queen that the Kingdom of Eldoria is no longer interested in 'trade.' Any further aggression will be met with the full force of our army."

Cinnia's face was a mask of cold fury, but she was smart enough to know she had lost. She had underestimated not just the farmer, but the kingdom's fierce, newfound resolve to protect him. She gave Ren a final, hate-filled glare before being marched from the hall. The diplomatic gloves were off. War with Saccharo was no longer a possibility; it was an inevitability, waiting only for a spark.

With the immediate threat handled, Ren was anxious to leave. "Your Majesty," he said, stepping forward. "Thank you for your hospitality, but I really need to get back to my farm. My wheat won't thresh itself." (It actually would, but that was beside the point).

"Of course, Master Ren," the King said, his tone shifting back to one of warmth and gratitude. "You have done our kingdom a great service, simply by being our friend. We will, of course, provide you with a full royal escort back to Oakhaven."

"That's very kind," Ren said, "but I think we'd prefer to travel light. The carriage was a bit slow." He looked at Ser Kaelen and Lyra. He had an idea.

Before their departure, there was one last piece of business. Ren had promised the King a gift of fresh bread, and he was a man of his word. He had spent the morning in the royal kitchen, which was now treated as his personal domain by a worshipful Chef Antoine.

He baked a single, large, perfect loaf of 'Sunstone' bread. But this time, as he kneaded the dough, he did something different. He focused, drawing on the steady, warm stream of Divine Energy flowing into him from the villagers of Oakhaven. He infused a small amount of that pure, benevolent faith directly into the loaf.

The resulting bread was a masterpiece. It didn't just glitter; it shone with a soft, internal golden light. The aroma was not just of bread, but of hope, of home, and of peace.

He presented it to the King in a private ceremony in the throne room. "A gift for the road," Ren said simply. "For you and your kingdom."

King Theron accepted the glowing loaf with humbled hands. As he held it, he felt a wave of calm certainty wash over him. He felt the hopes and fears of his people, the strength of his land, and a deep, abiding connection to his kingdom. It was more than food; it was a blessing, a concentration of the very concept of 'home.'

"I... I have no words," the King said, his voice thick with emotion. "This is the greatest treasure a ruler could ever ask for."

[Divine Item Created: 'Bread of Homecoming' (Unique)]

[Effect: When consumed by a true ruler or leader, grants temporary clarity of purpose and a profound connection to their people and land. When shared among the people, it inspires unity, loyalty, and resilience.]

[System Note: You literally baked him a national buff. Nice.]

With their business concluded, Ren, Lyra, and Ser Kaelen (who had insisted on personally escorting them home) prepared to leave. They stood in the palace courtyard, Ren now happily back in his comfortable farmer's clothes.

"The journey will be much faster this time," Ren announced cheerfully.

Kaelen looked puzzled. "How so? We still have to travel the roads."

"Who needs roads?" Ren replied with a grin. He walked to the center of the courtyard, found a small patch of grass between the cobblestones, and placed his hand on it. He closed his eyes and focused on his farm, on the feeling of his soil, the hum of his domain. He then drew upon his conceptual power, not over growth, but over the interconnectedness of all growing things—the 'root network' of the world.

He pictured a path, a tunnel not of dirt or stone, but of woven, living wood and leaves, connecting this small patch of grass directly to the edge of his farm in Oakhaven.

The grass at his feet began to glow with a brilliant green light. The cobblestones around it shifted as thick, smooth roots emerged from the ground, weaving themselves together with impossible speed. They formed an archway, a living, breathing doorway pulsing with life energy. Looking through the arch, one did not see the palace walls, but a clear, sunlit view of the 'Sunstone' wheat field on Ren's farm, hundreds of miles away.

He had created a 'Wayslip,' a druidic transport method that hadn't been seen in Aethelgard for thousands of years, and was thought to be a mere myth.

The palace guards, the mages watching from the Spire's windows, and even King Theron himself stared in utter, dumbfounded silence.

"What... in the name of all that is holy... is that?" Ser Kaelen whispered, his knightly composure finally and completely deserting him.

"It's a shortcut," Ren said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Saves walking. Come on, I want to check on my carrots before sundown."

He cheerfully stepped through the archway and vanished.

Lyra, who was beginning to get used to these casual displays of godhood, simply shook her head with a wry smile and followed him through.

Ser Kaelen stood frozen for a moment, looking at the portal, then back at the stunned faces all around him. He was supposed to be the farmer's escort, his guide to the world. But he was realizing now that Ren didn't operate by the world's rules. He made his own.

With a sigh that was equal parts terror and exhilaration, the Knight-Errant of Eldoria squared his shoulders and stepped through the living doorway, leaving a very confused, very impressed, and very, very nervous capital city behind him. The journey home would, indeed, be much faster than he had anticipated.