"The truth?
Tell me what you know!"
Uta's voice trembled as she rushed at Kairos Flint, nearly grabbing the front of his coat.
"Sir," Gordon cut in, stepping between them, "I am grateful you helped Uta, but an entire pirate crew has landed. You should leave at once. Uta, come—this place is dangerous."
Whether because of Shanks's request for secrecy or simply out of fatherly concern, Gordon would not let Uta hear more. His words amounted to a firm dismissal of Kairos.
"King Gordon," Kairos replied evenly, "do you really think white lies and half-truths protect Miss Uta? She isn't a child. One day the deception will hurt far more than the facts. An open wound heals; a hidden one festers."
Gordon fell silent. He knew it was true. The real story was cruel—too cruel, he feared, for Uta to bear.
"I want the truth."
Uta faced Gordon, eyes blazing. "I deserve to know why Shanks abandoned me—why Elegia was destroyed."
Gordon's shoulders sagged. "Shanks did not destroy Elegia," he managed softly. "He left you with me to keep you safe."
But Uta's frown deepened. He was still hiding something.
She turned to Kairos. "You know more, don't you?" Then she hesitated—he'd never given his name.
"My name is Kairos Flint," he said with a small smile.
"Kairos… please. Tell me everything."
"I will," he answered.
"No—!" Gordon tried again.
"King Gordon," Kairos cut him off, "Uta has the right to know. Shielding her won't change what happened."
"The truth is cruel," Gordon whispered.
"A true warrior faces a cruel truth," Kairos said calmly, "and I believe Uta is a warrior."
Gordon had no answer. He could hardly claim she was not strong enough without wounding her pride. At last he fell silent.
Uta took a steady breath. "Tell me."
"Very well." Kairos began. "What really happened is simple. Years ago, you were tricked by the Sing-Sing Demon. Under its influence you sang the forbidden score that released it—Tot Musica. Once free, the demon ravaged Elegia. Shanks fought it, but he was too late; the kingdom was already lost.
"Shanks hid the truth because he didn't want you crushed by guilt. He made it look as though he destroyed Elegia for treasure and abandoned you—then left you in Gordon's care."
As Kairos finished, shock washed over Uta's face. The truth struck hard—too much to process all at once.
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