Golden flecks sparkled in King Eolan's eyes as he regarded the newcomers. He let out a heavy sigh, the glow in his violet eyes dimming.

"What is this, William?" His deep voice, echoing through the hall, starkly contrasted with his youthful appearance. He cast a displeased glance at William and his companions. Elizabeth's eyes widened; she didn't know how to behave—should she bow or something? She froze on the spot, sensing that their presence was less welcome than William had claimed, that it would be a safe place.

"Your Majesty," William began, lowering his gaze, "I understand, but—"

"And our agreement?" the king interrupted, his tone growing more irritated. "Have you forgotten it?"

"I haven't forgotten, Your Majesty," William's voice wavered slightly. "But these two faced grave danger."

"I will not tolerate any more humans in my kingdom!"

"I've taken all the precautions. My people wanted to execute them. But they are innocent. I couldn't let them die."

But it seemed King Eolan wasn't listening. "I foresaw this happening. If we allow humans, they will bring more of their kind."

"Please, allow me to explain everything!"

"It is already an unfortunate inconvenience that my daughter brought you and Edward here. Their love was forbidden, and now my grandchildren—my heirs—are of mixed blood!" He finished with a hard gaze at William, as if blaming him for his misfortunes.

"These two are not of our world..."

"But they are humans, and that alone defines their nature." Eolan's eyes began to blaze with golden fire. His words were swift and cutting. "Humans are harbingers of violence and destruction. Your constant wars have already scorched half of my ancient forest!"

Defiance ignited in William's eyes. "It's easy to pass judgement from a position of safety, Eolan. Your people hide here, behind these mountains, shielded from threats, while humans who reject violence must defend themselves without such refuge!"

Eolan's brow lifted at William's boldness. His grip tightened on the arms of his throne as if he were restraining himself from rising. The golden sparks in his violet eyes intensified with escalating anger.

Elizabeth's spine tingled with dread—this confrontation could spell disaster for them.

"What if the danger you fear is already breaching your borders?" William said, not yielding.

King Eolan rose abruptly from his throne. "What exactly are you suggesting?"

"Something evil transforms humans into bloodthirsty monsters. They say this happens after the bite of a mysterious black snake. And I killed one in your forest."

The king narrowed his eyes. "And what makes you think this was not a common snake?"

"Have you ever encountered a snake with eyes like flames that turns into dark mist when slain?"

Eolan's features shifted into a sombre expression. He fell silent. His earlier anger turned to grave concern.

"I'm here to request your help," William said. "We are desperate. All we can do is kill those who were once human to protect the others. I believe your wisdom and knowledge could be of immense value."

King Eolan's gaze grew distant, as though he were looking through the veil of time. His hands, once steady, now trembled subtly. "In our world of Mystgard..." Eolan's voice trailed off, and a heavy silence enveloped the room, thick with foreboding. The rest shared uneasy glances. At last, the fairy king spoke, "In our world, there was only one force known to cause such transformations..." His words hung ominously in the air, sending shivers down their spines. "She... But I thought they had defeated her for good..."

After his words, a gust of wind swept through the hall, snuffing out the lanterns and plunging the room into dim, eerie gloom. The king flinched and looked around with unease, a flicker of fear in his eyes. Elizabeth glanced at the king apologetically, as if they had brought something sinister to this serene realm.

"She?" William's brow furrowed. "Who are you talking about?"

Eolan continued as if William's question had gone unheard. "For humans, and even for fairies, to face her alone would be a formidable challenge. We need help from powers beyond our own."

"But who do you suspect? Who is she?"

The fairy king only shook his head. "Not now, William. I must reflect on this, consult with my kin, and read ancient parchments—the legacy my father left behind."

The king then turned to Elizabeth and Dan. "Now, William, tell me how you encountered these two. Why are they incapable of wielding a weapon?"

"They come from a world vastly different from ours."

"I want to know more about your world," the king said, addressing Elizabeth and Dan directly.

They looked at William, unsure, but he encouraged them with a nod. Then Elizabeth took the lead, recounting the unexpected sequence of events that had brought her and Dan into this unfamiliar world. She shared glimpses of their homeland, a reality completely different from Eolan's realm.

Dan, for his part, remained silent, taking in the ongoing conversation. His distrustful gaze settled on Eolan and the unfamiliar surroundings. To him, everything felt alien and threatening. Yet, deep down, he grappled with the possibility that William might be right about this place's safety. Still, Dan's sharp eyes constantly searched for the slightest hint to prove otherwise.

"Our world," the king said, "contains hidden gateways to unknown realms. It seems the same is true for your world. You might have unwittingly stepped through one such passage."

"Can you help them return home?" William asked with concern in his eyes as he looked at his companions.

"Unfortunately, it is beyond my power," Eolan admitted. "Even we fairies, despite all our magic, do not command space and time." At this revelation, deep disappointment appeared on Elizabeth's and Dan's faces. The possibility of being stuck forever in this foreign world was terrifying.

"However," Eolan continued, "I shall deliberate over your predicament. For now, you may remain here. But know this: if you prove to be a threat to my people, I will not hesitate to banish you from my kingdom."

Elizabeth sighed with relief at the king's mercy, while William expressed his gratitude to King Eolan with a respectful bow. At the very least, the fairy king had granted them temporary refuge in a land protected from the deadly monsters.

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