(S1) Chapter 7 - The Throne Hall
The carriage slowed as it approached the floating castle.
Wind rushed past Henry as the winged horses descended through the clouds. The enormous structure hung in the sky like a monument carved from time itself.
When the carriage touched down on the marble courtyard, Reginald stepped down first.
The butler adjusted his white gloves before opening the carriage door with a practiced motion.
“Your arrival has been eagerly anticipated, sir,” he said politely.
Henry stepped out and immediately froze , looking at the towering castle above him.
Ancient stone walls rose hundreds of feet into the sky, their surfaces etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly with mana.
Massive towers spiraled upward like spears piercing the clouds, the air crackling with energy.
It felt like standing inside a thunderstorm that had not yet decided to strike.
Henry let out a quiet breath. “I can’t believe I forgot how beautiful this place is…”
Reginald tipped his head politely.
“Right this way, Henry. His Majesty is expecting you.”
The butler walked forward with quick, efficient steps.
Henry followed behind him across the courtyard, boots tapping softly against the polished marble.
They approached the massive double doors at the castle entrance. Each door was carved from dark oak and reinforced with bands of silver steel.
Despite their immense size, Reginald pushed them open with one hand, shocking Henry.
Walking through the door Henry expected to be in the castle’s courtyard.
Instead—
The moment he stepped through the doorway, the world shifted.
He was suddenly inside the castle.
They stood within a vast corridor of polished stone illuminated by floating lanterns.
Behind them, the doors had vanished.
The butler removed his hat calmly and walked toward a tall mirror standing beside the chamber doors.
“Before entering the throne hall,” he said, “please ensure that you look presentable.”
Henry turned toward the mirror and took a step closer—— the world came to a complete stop.
Please select a starting race from the available options.
? Elf
? Human
? Dwarf
Three choices appeared before the mirror.
Henry studied his reflection and imagined an elf, mirror shifted his image instantly.
His frame grew slender and graceful. His ears lengthened into elegant points, and his features sharpened into an almost unnatural beauty.
A panel appeared beside him.
Race: Elf
Racial Bonuses
+5 Agility
+5 Intelligence
-5 Constitution
Racial Passive – ?? Whisper of the Wild
While in forests or natural environments:
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
? +5% Movement Speed
? +5% Critical Chance
? +10% Stealth Effectiveness
Henry examined the reflection thoughtfully.
“Yeah… that’s why everyone picks elves.”
They were beautiful. Fast. Naturally suited for magic and stealth classes.
But that wasn’t his style.
His form shifted again.
His ears returned to normal as his body returned to its original proportions.
Race: Human
Racial Bonuses
+2 Stat Points
+5% XP Gain
+5% Reputation Gain
Racial Passive – Adaptive Potential
Every 50 total stat points invested grants:
? +1% All Damage
or
? +1% Pure Damage Reduction
Maximum Bonus: 20%
Henry’s eyes lit up.
“That’s actually… really good.”
The passive would grow stronger the longer he played.
And the bonus experience gain meant he would level faster early on.
He wasn’t entirely sure what the reputation bonus would do, but it sounded useful.
“Human feels right,” he murmured.
He briefly considered the final race.
Dwarf.
He smiled faintly. “Already tried that life.”
You have selected the Human race. Are you sure?
YES / NO
“Yes.”
The message vanished.
His reflection returned to normal.
Layla spoke again. “Would you like to customize your appearance?”
Henry stared at himself in the mirror.
His shoulders slumped slightly. His hair was messy. Dark circles rested under tired eyes.
He grimaced.
“Yes.”
His reflection stepped out of the mirror and stood before him like a living duplicate.
Henry circled around it slowly.
With a simple thought, changes began.
The bags beneath his eyes vanished.
His stubble disappeared.
His posture straightened.
He stood taller.
More confident.
He hesitated when he considered changing his age.
Warning
You are attempting to alter your apparent age.
Minimum appearance age allowed: 20 years old.
Your real age will remain visible in your player profile.
Henry waved the warning away.
“Twenty will do.”
His reflection shimmered, as pixels rippled across the figure like water as the transformation completed.
A younger version of Henry stood before him.
Strong.
Confident.
It looked like the man he had once believed he would become. The reflection stepped forward and merged with him.
A strange sensation rippled through his body as the game recalibrated his posture and balance.
Henry rolled his shoulders.
He felt lighter.
Stronger.
More alive.
He turned back to the mirror. A twenty-year-old version of himself looked back.
Henry smiled, as time resumed around him.
Reginald stepped away from the mirror and approached a set of enormous golden doors.
With a smooth motion, the butler pushed them open. “His Majesty will see you now.”
Henry stepped inside. The throne chamber was breathtaking.
Sunlight poured through towering stained-glass windows that stretched nearly fifty feet high. The polished floor reflected the golden glow of the hall.
Massive paintings lined the walls.
One showed a hunter drawing his bow as a massive bear charged toward him.
Another depicted a mage standing atop a tower, lightning dancing between her fingers.
A warrior faced an enormous orc with shield raised and sword ready.
Above the throne itself hung the largest painting.
The mage.
The hunter.
The warrior.
All three battling a colossal dragon together.
Henry walked slowly across the chamber in amazement. His footsteps echoed through the enormous hall.
At the far end sat a man upon a massive golden throne shaped like a lion. The lion crest carved into the king’s armor looked almost alive.
Henry could swear the creature’s eyes moved.
Watching him.
Judging him.
Reginald knelt first.
Henry followed his lead.
“King Titus, live forever,” Reginald said. “I have brought the traveler as requested.”
“Well done, Reginald.”
The king’s voice rolled across the chamber like distant thunder.
“You may both rise.”
Henry stood.
King Titus leaned forward slightly.
“Welcome, traveler. I am King Titus, appointed by the gods to welcome those who arrive in our world.”
He snapped his fingers.
A door opened beside the throne.
Three figures stepped out.
A hunter.
A mage.
A warrior.
They knelt before the king.
“Rise,” the king commanded.
They stood and turned toward Henry.
“These are my most capable soldiers,” King Titus continued.
“You may choose to learn from one of them before beginning your journey.”
“Choose carefully, traveler.”
“For this world holds great treasure… but greater danger.”
The world froze again, with a message appearing before Henry.
Choose Your Starting Class
Mage
Warrior
Hunter
Henry ignored the message.
Instead, he walked toward the throne.
Everything remained frozen.
But when he glanced at the king’s armor—
The lion stopped pacing.
Its eyes locked onto him.
A silent warning.
Henry kept his distance.
He walked behind the throne.
Just as Colin had told him.
There.
Behind the throne.
A door.
But it wasn’t silver.
It was painted in gold.
Henry frowned.
“Did Colin remember it wrong?”
He searched the entire chamber again.
No silver door.
When he attempted to leave the hall—He walked straight back into the throne room again.
Like the chamber itself refused to let him go. Henry returned to the throne.
He studied the golden door painting once more, reaching out to touch it.
The surface rippled before the painted door dissolved into a swirling golden portal opening in its place.
Henry stepped back in surprise.
“Well… that escalated quickly.”
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward.The portal swallowing him.
Behind him, King Titus leaned back in his throne. A faint smile crossed his lips.
“So,” he murmured quietly.
“Another one.”
He turned to watch the portal fade. “Will this traveler fall like the rest…”
His golden lion crest flicked its tail.
“Or rise above them?”
The king’s smile deepened.
“We shall see.”
