“Izem, who’s this? Your kid?” the woman sitting behind the desk asked. I was standing on top of it, which meant she had to lean back slightly just to see my face.

  “Yes,” my father said easily, like this was the most normal thing in the world. “This is my Zolo. He wanted to watch what happens to his Royal Hiney over there.”

  I chuckled at that, a quiet, pleased sound. I liked that my father could still joke like this, especially about someone who so clearly deserved it.

  The woman raised an eyebrow. “So, what’s going on, then?”

  I turned my head toward her. “Randall is going to have to do all of his paperwork today, as far as Commander Raptan is concerned,” I said. “We’ll see how that goes. I’m very excited.”

  I pressed my small hands against the window and leaned forward, squashing my face into the glass so I could see better.

  “Careful,” my father warned. “That glass isn’t very thick. If you push too hard, you could fall straight through it.”

  I grunted in acknowledgment, but I didn’t move. I was far too invested in what was happening outside. My nose stayed pressed against the pane as I stared out, breath fogging the glass just a little.

  “Louisa,” Raptan said calmly, his voice carrying through the room without effort, “would you mind getting Goji for me? Ask him if the preparations are ready. Also, see if she’s arrived yet.”

  “I can do that,” the woman replied.

  She stood from behind the desk. From her angle, she clearly hadn’t been able to see much of anything with me planted on top of it. She slipped through a door opposite the one we had entered, leaving us alone with the window and the show beyond it.

  “So,” my father said quietly, stepping a little closer to me, “what’s happening out there?”

  I returned my attention to Randall, already imagining a dozen possible outcomes. “I can’t really hear anything yet,” I admitted. “But I can see him just fine.”

  Outside, Randall’s face was turning a deep, furious red. Raptan stood in front of him, unmoving and unbothered. The commander didn’t raise his voice or square his shoulders. He simply looked at Randall the way one might look at a particularly annoying insect that refused to leave.

  I watched Randall clutch his staff tighter. He looked absolutely ridiculous. He was wearing nothing but boxers, a thin tank top soaked through with sweat, slippers, and his floppy hat. His robe had been discarded somewhere behind him. He yanked the staff free from the cart walked back and pointed it at Raptan, his hands trembling despite his bravado.

  Raptan smiled.

  “I still can’t hear anything,” I said. “This is fun to watch, but I don’t know what’s actually being said. I can see Randall’s face, but I can’t tell what Raptan is telling him. Maybe you should crack the door?”

  My father said. squinting. “With how purple Randall’s getting from what I can see, I don’t think he’s going to notice if we do.”

  He stepped over and cracked the door just enough for sound to slip through.

  “How dare you!” Randall shouted immediately. “You stupid fool! Green skinned moron! Do you have any idea who I am? Who backs me? Do you know what’s waiting for me today? Today is my day off! I get to go into the city and not deal with these little brats for once! I was going to take them to the guild for treatment, and then Oliver and I were going to see his father! Do you have any idea what happens when he finds out his son is being delayed?”

  Raptan’s voice cut straight through the noise, calm and unyielding.

  “His son is not being delayed. You are,” he said. “You failed to complete the most basic paperwork required of you. At this moment, you do not have authorization to leave the Sea of Trees. You cannot enter the city because you have not signed the waivers. Technically, if you were to leave anyway, you would not be permitted to return.”

  He took a single step forward.

  “You have also not signed the paperwork granting you lawful entry in the first place. Until that is complete, you are locked out. That is not a punishment. It is fact. You have avoided this responsibility for years, and now that I am involved, you will not bully your way through the gate.”

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  There was a pause.

  “Do you intend to cast a spell at me?” Raptan asked mildly. “Would you like to see what happens if you try?”

  Randall’s face drained of color. He took an instinctive step back.

  I tilted my head, studying Raptan with growing interest. “Dad,” I asked quietly, “what kind of fighter is Commander Raptan, exactly?”

  My father considered for a moment. “He’s a justiciar,” he said.

  I blinked. “A justiciar?”

  “Similar to a paladin,” my father explained, “but his power comes from the law itself rather than devotion to a god.”

  “That’s… fascinating,” I murmured. “That’s a very interesting way to gain strength.”

  “It’s extremely effective,” my father said. “Raptan is terrifying when he needs to be. As long as he acts within the law, I’d say he’s easily equivalent to a platinum-ranked adventurer. Possibly higher. All of the Wall Guard commanders are like that.”

  He glanced back toward the door. “It’s a good thing he’s the one handling this. I’m barely silver. Randall, unpleasant as he is, is gold-equivalent.”

  “Do you have a core?” I asked suddenly.

  “Yes,” my father replied. “Of course I do.”

  I almost told him then. About my own core. About choosing tin deliberately, not as a trainee’s stepping stone, but as a foundation. I wondered how he would react to that choice.

  Before I could speak, Randall’s voice cut in again.

  “Fine,” he snapped. “I’ll do it. Just get me the paperwork. All of it. The faster we finish, the faster I leave, and the faster I never have to see your ugly goblin face again.”

  “Very good, sir,” Raptan said pleasantly. “If you would follow me, your paperwork is secured.”

  He paused, just long enough to be cruel.

  “It is only about thirty thousand pages.”

  Randall’s jaw fell open.

  “Don’t worry,” Raptan added. “I removed all redundant forms. You’re welcome.”

  He turned and gestured down the corridor. “Now, come with me.”

  After Randall and Raptan left, Louisa returned a few moments later.

  “Izem,” she said, leaning around the doorway, “you’re all clear. Goji says everything’s ready, and she’s there.”

  “All right,” my father said, smiling as he turned to me. “Come on, son. I’ve got a surprise for you, and I think you’ll like this one even more than the last.”

  After everything I’d just seen, I wasn’t sure my heart could handle much more.

  “I think I’ll survive,” I said.

  He lifted me off the desk with ease, settling me against his side, and together we walked toward the door Louisa had come through.

  “You two have a good day,” Louisa said. “I’ll be here if you need anything. And… honestly? I’m a little sad I didn’t get to watch. Royal Hiney has been a pain in my own hiney for years.”

  I laughed softly. “I’m sorry. I wish you could have seen it too.”

  “It’s all right,” she said, waving it off. “I’m just glad to know he finally got what was coming to him.”

  My father chuckled as we walked. “So,” he asked, “what’s your favorite food? We’re going to get lunch.”

  “Bananas,” I said instantly, without thinking.

  He blinked. “Interesting. I suppose that does count.”

  Only then did I realize how quickly the word had come out. It slipped free before I could even think to stop it. I wasn’t sure whether it was instinct, memory, or something else entirely.

  Or maybe the influence of a god.

  Either way, it felt right. Bananas really did seem like the most divine of fruits.

  As we approached the barracks’ mess hall, I expected noise. Laughter. Movement. Instead, the space felt strangely quiet. The room was large enough to seat dozens, but only one table was occupied.

  There were three chairs.

  One sized for a child.

  One empty.

  And one held a woman.

  The moment I saw her, my chest tightened. Tears spilled out before I could stop them.

  I slipped from my father’s grip and ran.

  She knelt just in time to catch me as I threw myself into her arms.

  “Mom,” I sobbed.

  She held me tight, spinning me once as she laughed through her own tears. “Oh, my little Zolo. It’s so good to see you. You’re so skinny. Are they not feeding you here?”

  “I eat a lot,” I said quickly. “Like… an absurd amount.”

  My father joined us, smiling softly.

  “I was going to tell you later,” I said, then hesitated. “But since you’re both here… I got a tin rank core from a monster. I chose to start at tin instead of copper. I know it’ll be harder, but I think it’ll be worth it in the long run. That’s what Greta says, at least.”

  My father’s smile didn’t fade. If anything, it grew stronger.

  “That’s a good choice,” he said. “I’m proud of you. You have time, and if you want help gathering cores, we can do that.”

  I looked between them, uncertainty creeping in. “Can you afford that? I’m not trying to be… speculative, but the house I was born in wasn’t exactly in great shape.”

  My father shook his head. “That village is far from the Wall. Our home is closer. Your mother only stayed there out of caution.”

  “Yes,” my mother said gently. “That was my mother’s house. All the children in my family were born there. It felt right for you to be born there too. I didn’t want to risk breaking that tradition.”

  She squeezed my hands. “And you’re still with us. That’s what matters.”

  I swallowed hard. “I promise that when I’m strong enough, I’ll repay you for everything. A thousand times over.”

  She laughed softly. “You silly boy. That isn’t what parents ask for.”

  “I know,” I said. “You’re doing what parents should do. I just want to do what a good child should do for parents who love him.”

  I looked at both of them. “When I’m powerful enough, I’ll make sure your lives are filled with safety and happiness. Both of you.”

  Then I turned to my father. “You’re strong. You’re a wonderful father. I want you to live a long, healthy life. So, if you’re willing to help me advance faster… I won’t refuse. But I will repay you.”

  “For every drop of love, you’ve given me.” I took a breath. “I will give you an ocean.”

  I hugged them both as tightly as I could.

  “I love you.”