Alongside the Commander, Kevin and several soldiers advanced toward the tent where the unexpected guest was resting.

"You all stay outside."

Astaroth gave the order while approaching the entrance of the tent.

Only for Kevin to suddenly speak,

"Sir, allow me to come inside with you."

His gaze remained fixed on Astaroth as he added,

"I can determine whether he’s telling the truth or not."

Astaroth studied the young man silently for a brief moment before finally nodding.

"Understood. Come with me."

Then his eyes shifted toward the remaining soldiers.

"And the rest of you..." His voice hardened. "Remain prepared for combat."

With that, Astaroth stepped into the tent, Kevin following close behind.

The interior wasn’t particularly large, making the blond man seated at the center immediately visible.

His head hung low.

Long strands of hair concealed his lifeless eyes.

This wasn’t the first time Astaroth had seen the Flame Warden.

But he had certainly never seen him like this before.

Broken.

Exhausted.

As though every trace of vitality had been hollowed out from within him.

He resembled nothing more than the abandoned shell of the man he once was.

"What brings you here?" Astaroth asked coldly, arms crossed over his chest. "Last I remember, you were ordered to restrict your movements and remain within your County."

Carter slowly leaned back against the chair.

For several seconds, he simply stared upward at the conical ceiling of the tent.

Then, in a heavy voice, he asked,

"Astaroth... have you ever been forced to choose between your duty and your child?"

Astaroth’s eyes narrowed slightly.

But he didn’t answer.

Carter slowly lowered his gaze toward him.

"I was forced into making that choice over and over again."

A bitter exhaustion lingered in his voice.

"And now..." He paused briefly. "I’ve finally made my decision."

Astaroth suddenly snickered.

"Please tell me you chose your son," he said mockingly. "Otherwise I won’t believe a single damn word coming out of your mouth."

It was no secret how deeply Carter loved William.

For his son, the Flame Warden had repeatedly proven he was willing to cross any line imaginable.

Again and again, he had demonstrated that William stood above everything else in his life.

Which was exactly why seeing him here now...

Choosing any side other than William’s during a situation like this...

Felt almost absurd.

"I recently came into contact with two people," Carter continued quietly. "First, my son."

A brief pause followed.

"And second... His Majesty, the King."

Astaroth frowned instantly.

Meanwhile, Kevin looked visibly surprised, suddenly unsure whether he was even supposed to be hearing a conversation like this.

Yet neither of the two older men showed any concern over his presence.

Carter continued speaking calmly,

"William contacted me because he wanted to meet."

His gaze lowered slightly.

"He gave me the location where he and Emma are currently staying."

Slowly, he reached into his coat and pulled out a folded parchment.

"It’s an isolated place within the northern valleys." He extended the map toward Astaroth. "I’ve already marked the exact location."

Astaroth accepted the parchment.

But he didn’t even bother looking at it.

Instead, his eyes narrowed dangerously upon Carter.

"So you’ve really come all the way here just to feed me bullshit?"

Carter slowly lifted his head.

"You think I’m lying, Astaroth?"

The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere inside the tent shifted heavily.

Even without releasing a visible strand of Aether, the sheer pressure radiating from Carter was enough to make Kevin instinctively step backward.

And suddenly—

Astaroth was reminded of the final day they had served together in the military.

The day he had made the idiotic mistake of challenging this man directly.

Yes, Carter no longer resembled the unstoppable warrior he once had been in his prime.

But a warrior...

Would always remain a warrior.

Carter slowly sighed before leaning back into his chair once more.

The suffocating pressure radiating from him moments earlier vanished completely, leaving behind only a man who suddenly looked far older than his actual age.

Interlocking his fingers together, he spoke quietly,

"His Majesty recently visited the County..."

A faint pause followed.

"To reassure me regarding William."

Astaroth hummed softly in surprise.

"What exactly do you mean?"

He already knew the King had personally visited Carter.

What he didn’t know was the nature of their conversation.

Carter lowered his gaze briefly before continuing.

"He assured me William would not be treated like a criminal."

His exhausted voice carried faint traces of conflict.

"He said William protected the academy..." Carter’s fingers tightened slightly together. "And that someone capable of doing that should be viewed as an asset."

A bitter smile briefly crossed his face.

"A savior. Not..." He trailed off quietly.

Astaroth crossed his arms again.

"And you actually believed him?"

Kevin visibly stiffened at that question.

To openly question the King’s words so casually...

Even hearing it felt dangerous.

Carter slowly shook his head.

"Not entirely."

Then, after a moment, he added,

"But I do believe His Majesty isn’t foolish enough to blindly imprison William."

His eyes slowly lifted toward Astaroth.

"He is a rational man." Carter spoke calmly. "Someone capable of thinking for himself instead of simply following the opinions of others."

Astaroth tilted his head slightly.

"And that alone is enough for you to betray your own son?"

Carter’s shoulders shook, his eyes turned faintly moist, his whole presence felt extremely small and fragile as he muttered,

"That boy...he has always been alone, Astaroth. Always. People betrayed, cornered and abused him since he was just a boy. And now, if I don’t do anything he would always remain alone. Emma might be with him but that idiot son would leave her too if he feels his surroundings are growing too risky to have anyone beside him."

Astaroth lowered his head...the emotions he showed in his voice were heart breaking as a father.

Kevin, as well, couldn’t help but feel guilty for everything he had done to William the past two years.

After a long pause, Astaroth said, "Let me think about this and talk to His Majesty first."