Strongest Kingdom: My Op Kingdom Got Transported Along With Me

High above the pines, the wind whips past in steady currents, tugging at cloaks and hair. Alix soars through the air with practiced ease, the mana beneath his feet shimmering faintly, his figure a streak of movement against the night sky. Gander flies beside him.

For a while, neither of them speaks.

Then, Alix glances to the side and says, "Let's swing by somewhere first."

Gander adjusts his altitude slightly to match. "A detour?"

"Yeah," Alix replies, voice calm. "I need to pick someone up before we head back to the capital."

Gander doesn't hesitate. "Understood."

They tilt slightly, banking toward a distant forested region now glowing faintly under the moonlight. The stretch of trees thickens below, dark and layered, broken only by the occasional glint of torchlight from a hidden village or roaming patrol.

Alix's eyes scan the horizon, narrowing with familiarity. "It won't take long. She's not far from here."

Gander blinks, briefly puzzled. "She?"

Alix doesn't elaborate, just continues flying. "You'll see."

Gander doesn't press further.

Minutes pass, the air thinning as they shift altitude, then descending in a sharp, clean dive toward a clearing veiled by trees and mist. A faint trail winds toward a small collection of quiet huts built into the forest's edge, nestled near a low ridge. It's peaceful—too peaceful for most to find on their own.

They land softly near the edge, mana dispersing in quiet pulses beneath their boots. The scent of damp wood and wildflowers greets them.

Alix starts walking immediately, familiar with the path.

Gander looks around but keeps pace.

The brush shifts up ahead—then a small, familiar figure appears at the edge of the path.

Ruva.

She's holding a small woven basket and blinking up at them, eyes wide with surprise. Her ears twitch, then perk fully when she sees who it is.

"Big Brother?"

Alix's face softens. "Hey, Ruva."

She drops the basket and runs straight into him.

He kneels as she flings her arms around him again, clinging like she never let go the first time.

"You came back," she mumbles into his coat. "You said you would."

"I keep my promises," Alix murmurs, ruffling her hair gently.

Ruva pulls back, wiping her eyes before grinning up at him. "Are you here to take me with you?"

Alix nods. "Yeah. It's time."

She hugs him again—quicker this time—and then scurries to grab her small bag near the hut entrance.

Gander watches the exchange quietly, a flicker of realization crossing his face—but he still doesn't ask.

Alix rises and glances toward him. "Her name is Ruva."

Gander inclines his head respectfully. "Understood. Hello little princess."

Ruva stops mid-step, her ears twitching at the word.

She glances up shyly, clutching her bag to her chest. "Uhm… I'm not a princess…"

Gander lowers himself slightly to her level—though the gesture is polite, his scary form and voice still can make anyone have a cold back. He tries to speak softly, but his gravel-edged tone makes even calm words sound like a growl from deep within a cavern.

"If you want to become His Majesty's little sister," he says, tilting his head, "then you are a princess. That is how it works."

Ruva's tail flicks behind her nervously. Her cheeks flush, caught between confusion and flustered. She peeks at Alix uncertainly, as if to confirm whether Gander is being serious.

Alix pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs, though there's a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'll explain it to you later."

He places a hand gently on her back, guiding her toward the path.

"But first," he adds, looking toward the village, "I need to speak with the elder."

Ruva nods, quiet again.

They walk together through the village, back toward the elder's home. As they pass, some of the Lamari had welcomed them, give respectful nods or warm glances toward them, moved by hid return.

Inside the elder's dwelling, the air smells faintly of dried herbs and carved wood. The old Lamari elder sits near a low fire, leaning slightly on his staff as they enter. He looks up slowly, his weathered features calm.

"You've decided," he says without preamble.

Alix nods. "I'm taking her with me."

The elder doesn't react with surprise. He studies Ruva, then Alix, then finally speaks.

"She has spirit. She'll carry her tribe's memory with her."

"She'll have more than memory," Alix says firmly. "She'll have protection, and a place to belong."

The elder inclines his head slowly. "Then go with the blessings of this grove. And thank you, Alix, for keeping your word. Many don't."

Alix dips his head in return. "And thank you for protecting her. I'll return if the need arises."

A silence falls between them. One not of awkwardness, but of quiet understanding.

Then Alix turns, and Ruva steps closer to his side.

Alix glances at her, then up at the night sky. The wind picks up again, rustling the trees. He knows she can't fly—not yet—and carrying her mid-flight across leagues of forest isn't an option. So he lifts one hand and opens his inventory with a thought.

A soft shimmer of light flickers in his palm. A small, metallic object drops into his hand—no bigger than a brooch, shaped like a miniature carriage with strange, arcane etchings across its surface.

Ruva tilts her head, curious. "What's that?"

"You'll see," Alix says with a small smile.

He flicks the item into the air.

The moment it leaves his fingers, it begins to glow. Magical sigils bloom across its surface in elegant loops. The item hovers for a heartbeat—then, with a low hum and a pulse of light, it expands in a flash, growing larger and larger until a full-sized carriage now floats before them.

It's sleek and elegant, shaped like a crescent moon, with silver trim and deep navy panels. Instead of wheels, it hovers slightly above the ground, suspended by silent arcs of magic beneath it. There's no beast pulling it—no need. Magic hums along its frame, and runes glimmer faintly at the joints. The doors open smoothly with a hiss of compressed mana.

Ruva gasps and stumbles back a step, eyes wide. "Waaah…! It got big!"

She circles around it once, ears twitching, tail swishing back and forth in excitement. "It's floating! It's really floating!"

Alix opens the door for her. "Come on. Inside."

She steps up carefully, peeking in—and her mouth drops open again. "It's… it's bigger inside?!"

The interior looks nothing like what the compact exterior suggests. Cushioned seats, polished wood floors, and a softly glowing crystal chandelier overhead give it the look of a small, cozy room. There's even a tea set on a low table and a pile of soft blankets tucked into the corner.

"It's like a tiny house!" Ruva says, spinning around as she steps in fully. "It's so warm, too…"

She turns and beams at Alix. "This is so cool!"

Alix chuckles and climbs in after her. "Glad you like it."

Gander steps in last, ducking slightly to fit. The door closes behind them with a gentle thrum, and the carriage hums to life, rising silently into the air. Outside, the forest slips away beneath them.

Ruva presses her face against the window, marveling at the stars and trees as they drift into the sky.

Alix watches her for a while, her small figure silhouetted against the glass, nose pressed close, eyes sparkling. Then he exhales slowly and leans back into the cushioned seat across from her.

"Ruva," he says softly.

She turns halfway, ears flicking. "Mm?"

"There's something I should tell you," he begins, his voice calm but serious. "About who I really am."

Ruva blinks, her tail curling around her ankles. "You're… Alix," she says slowly, confused. "My big brother."

Alix smiles faintly at that. "Yes. But… there's more."

He waits until she sits down fully, facing him now, small hands folded in her lap.

"I'm a king," he says. "A real one. With a throne, a capital city, and a kingdom."

Ruva's mouth parts slightly. "...Huh?"

He nods. "The people I protect… the ones I lead… they're like us. Monsters. Beastkin. Creatures the world has pushed aside."

"You're… a monster king?" she asks slowly, tilting her head.

"In a way," Alix says, smiling again. "But I don't rule over monsters—I rule over people. People who were cast out, hunted, or feared… just because of what they are. I gave them a place where they could live without hiding."

Ruva stares at him, stunned into silence. She shifts, looking from his calm face to Gander, who is seated quietly in the corner, watching without interrupting.

"You're… not joking?" she whispers.

"No."

After a moment, she shifts from her seat and crawls into his lap, curling against his chest like a kitten.

"…Okay," she whispers. "But you're still Big Brother. Even if you're a king."

Alix wraps his arms around her, holding her close. "I wouldn't want to be anything else."

Gander sits quietly across from them, one arm resting on the windowsill, the other across his lap. His green eyes follow the faint stars streaking past outside, but they aren't truly watching the sky.

Ruva's small frame rests peacefully against Alix's chest, her breathing even as the hum of the carriage fills the space. Alix remains quiet, one arm around her, the other resting lightly on the armrest. His expression is softer than Gander has ever seen it—gentle, unguarded.

He remembers the cold, ruthless version of his king—the one who raised cities, struck fear into armies, and never once hesitated. That version never showed weakness, never paused to care, never smiled unless it served a purpose.

But this… this is different.

His majesty speaks to her with patience.

He holds her like she matters.

And above all, he lets himself be seen.