The morning at the Veyron estate had continued peacefully. After their time in the gardens, Noah, Lysandra, and Adrian returned to the manor. Ethan had suggested exploring another part of the estate, but Noah quickly abandoned the idea when he learned that the path stretched for several kilometers. Kael, meanwhile, had stayed in the greenhouse with Darius for a while before eventually joining the others. The rest of the day seemed destined to remain quiet. At least, that was what they thought. In the early afternoon, the sound of approaching hooves suddenly echoed beyond the estate's great gates. Several horses were coming closer. The guards at the entrance immediately straightened. Darius, who was standing in the courtyard with several Black Raven knights, turned his head. His expression changed slightly. “They're back.” Kael, who had just stepped outside the manor with Ethan, stopped. “Who?” Darius didn't answer immediately. The gates opened. A small group of knights entered the courtyard. Their armor bore the colors of the Black Raven Order, but unlike the men already stationed at the estate, their equipment showed clear signs of a long journey. At the head of the group was an older man. Despite his age, he was tall and imposing. His hair was almost completely white, and he wore dark armor with several pieces that had clearly been repaired over the course of many battles. A long scar crossed his left eyebrow. He dismounted without difficulty. The knights behind him immediately followed. Darius stepped forward. “Commander.” The old man gave him an amused look. “Valen. Still as serious as ever.” Darius allowed himself a faint smile. “You're late.” “And you're still just as insolent.” A few knights quietly laughed. Then the old man turned toward Kael. His expression changed. He walked forward. Every knight in the courtyard immediately stood at attention. The old man stopped in front of Kael. He placed a fist against his chest and bowed deeply. “Patriarch Veyron.” Kael returned the salute. “Commander. Welcome back to the estate.” The old man remained silent for several seconds. He looked Kael up and down. Then he slowly raised his head. A huge smile appeared on his face. And without warning, he burst into laughter. “HAHAHAHA!” Everyone froze. Noah blinked. Lysandra looked at Adrian. Adrian simply watched the scene with particular interest. The commander opened his arms wide and walked toward Kael. “My little Kael!” Kael remained perfectly still. “…Commander.” “Look at you! You've grown so much!” The old man placed both hands on Kael's shoulders, looking at him with an almost emotional expression. “The last time I saw you, you were only this tall!” He held one hand around his waist. Noah slowly turned toward Darius. “Did he really just call him my little Kael?” Darius answered without even looking at him. “Yes.” “And Kael is just letting him do that?” “He's known him his entire life.” Kael glanced toward Darius. “You could help me.” “No.” The commander burst out laughing again. “Still the same!” Darius shook his head. Kael sighed. “You haven't changed.” “And neither have you!” “I just said you haven't changed.” “Exactly!” Ethan, who had been watching the scene a few steps away, laughed. “It’s been a long time since I've seen him this relaxed.” The commander turned his head. “Ethan!” Ethan stepped forward. “Commander Aldren.” Aldren quickly pulled him into a brief embrace. “You've grown too. I'm starting to feel old.” “You are old.” Silence. Darius immediately looked away. Noah struggled not to laugh. Aldren stared at Ethan for several seconds. Then he burst out laughing. “Hahaha! The Veyron children have certainly changed!” Kael shook his head. “I see your mission went well.” Aldren's smile became calmer. “Yes. We finished what needed to be done.” His gaze briefly moved toward the knights who had returned with him. “A few problems on the way back, but nothing the Black Raven couldn't handle.” Darius nodded. “How long were you gone?” “Almost two months.” Noah, who had remained quiet until then, finally spoke. “Excuse me… but you're actually the commander of the Order?” Aldren turned toward him. “Actually?” Noah straightened. “I mean… officially.” Darius answered for him. “Aldren Valcrest. Commander of the Black Raven Order.” Noah's expression immediately changed. “Oh.” He looked at Kael. Then at Aldren. Then at Darius. “But… Kael is the Supreme Commander, isn't he?” Aldren nodded. “Exactly.” Kael explained calmly. “Supreme command belongs to the patriarch of House Veyron. The commander leads the Order on a daily basis and handles its operations in the field.” Aldren added, “Kael has the final authority. I make sure nobody does anything stupid with the soldiers.” Darius intervened. “And I make sure he doesn't do anything stupid himself.” Aldren looked at Darius. “See? That's why I kept him as my second.” “You didn't really have a choice.” “I could have dismissed you.” “You never did.” “Because you're useful.” “Exactly.” Noah looked at Lysandra. “Are they all like this in the Order?” “I hope not,” she replied with a smile. Adrian, meanwhile, hadn't taken his eyes off Aldren. He had noticed something. The old man was completely different around Kael. He might have been the commander of one of the most powerful orders in Eldoria, but he didn't seem to see Kael solely as his superior. There was something much older in their relationship. As if he had known Kael long before he knew the patriarch. As if he knew the child before he knew the commander. --- A little later, they all gathered in one of the estate's sitting rooms. Aldren had removed his armor and was now wearing much simpler clothes. He settled comfortably into an armchair. Kael sat nearby. “So,” Aldren asked, “how is the academy?” “Fine.” “Only fine?” Kael slightly raised an eyebrow. “Very good.” “Ah! That's a more interesting answer.” Noah immediately joined the conversation. “He has lots of friends.” Kael gave him a look. “Noah.” “What? It's true.” Aldren smiled. “Friends?” Lysandra answered calmly. “Yes.” Aldren looked at Noah, Lysandra, and Adrian. Then he turned back toward Kael. His smile became softer. “That makes me happy.” Kael remained silent. Aldren looked at him. “Your parents would have liked seeing you like this.” The atmosphere changed slightly. Ethan lowered his eyes. Darius remained silent. Kael looked down at his hands. Aldren seemed to realize that he had touched upon a more sensitive subject. But he didn't take his words back. “They would have been proud of you.” Kael raised his eyes. “You knew them well.” “Yes.” Aldren smiled. “Your father was far too serious. Your mother, on the other hand, was much more dangerous than she let people believe.” Kael raised an eyebrow. “My mother?” “Oh, yes.” Darius gave a quiet laugh. “He's right.” Kael turned toward him. “You knew that?” “Everyone knew.” Aldren laughed. “She could silence ten knights with a single look.” Noah's eyes widened. “Lady Veyron?” Ethan nodded. “Absolutely.” Kael let out a small laugh. “I didn't know that.” Aldren smiled. “There are many things you still don't know about your parents.” For a moment, his gaze seemed to drift into the past. Then he looked back at Kael. “But you have time.” Kael slowly nodded. He didn't ask any more questions. Not today. --- Later, when the sun began to sink behind the trees, Kael stepped onto the terrace. Aldren joined him a few minutes later. They stood side by side. “You've changed,” the old commander finally said. Kael looked toward the horizon. “Everyone keeps telling me that.” “I wasn't talking about your height.” Kael smiled faintly. Aldren placed a hand on his shoulder. “You carry a lot now.” Kael didn't answer. “But you don't have to carry everything alone.” The patriarch turned slightly toward him. Aldren smiled. “Your father was my commander. Your mother was my friend. And you…” He gently tapped Kael's shoulder. “You're my little Kael. That won't change just because you've become the patriarch.” Kael remained silent for a few seconds. Then a genuine smile appeared on his face. “I'm glad you're back.” Aldren smiled in return. “Me too, little one.” Behind them, Darius watched from the entrance. He said nothing. He didn't need to. The Black Raven Order had just welcomed back one of its oldest pillars. And, for the first time in a long while, Kael had found someone who still remembered the child he had once been.

The Commander's Return