In the heart of the Sun Kingdom's capital, in the magnificant king castle, a low, dark throne stood, exuding an ancient, otherworldly energy. The throne, carved from a rare black ore no longer found on earth, seemed to devour the light around it. Its surface bore the touch of countless ages, worn smooth by the weight of history and kings long dead. Legends held that this was the very throne of Amadia, the First King of Mankind, who unlocked the magic of his soul and set humankind on a path of power.
And now, on this throne sat King Drayden, the ruler of the Sun Kingdom and elder brother to Drighter. His face, youthful and almost serene, was a stark contrast to his snow-white hair, which hung down like a waterfall of light. His eyes, sharp and knowing, scanned the shadows of his vast chamber. Beside him, a great sword stood, its tip planted into the stone floor, but the way it hovered defied logic—no hand or magic held it, yet it remained poised as if an unseen force commanded it.
The royal attendant at his side hesitated before speaking, as though the aura of the sword dampened his voice. "Your Majesty, the academy opens in a few days. The city's already filling with youths from across the kingdoms, all hopeful for their gift awakenings."
King Drayden's gaze shifted to the attendant, his calm expression masking an intensity that made even seasoned warriors uneasy. "Prepare the city guard. Double their number," he instructed, his voice steady, controlled. "Increase their patrols near the inns and squares, and post men at the main gates. I want no disruptions between those bearing old grudges."
The attendant nodded, scribbling notes with quick, nervous movements.
"Inform the council to make provisions for the influx," Drayden continued, "and make arrangements for all families attending the awakening. No soul is to be turned away for lack of space."
As the attendant jotted down the king's commands, Drayden's eyes softened, and he seemed to gaze past the throne room's high, arched windows to a distant thought. "Khaline," he murmured, his tone softened by a rare, paternal warmth. "Is she preparing for the academy?"
The attendant hesitated, shifting his weight. "Your Majesty, the Princess hasn't shown… much interest. She's been rather withdrawn."
Drayden inclined his head slightly, unsurprised. He understood his adopted daughter's reluctance. Being the Sun Kingdom's sole heir was no light burden, and for Khaline, whose birth parents had no notable gifts, the academy posed a troubling uncertainty. Despite her royal title, she feared her bloodline might fail her.
"It is understandable," he said thoughtfully, as though speaking more to himself. "She believes herself unremarkable. But the fates are unpredictable." His gaze grew distant, a small, secret smile playing at his lips. "She will be tested, but she does not yet understand how destiny works."
The attendant shifted, clearly unsettled by the king's words. "Forgive my presumption, Your Majesty, but I have been asked to inquire…" He swallowed, his face tense as he knelt, lowering his head. "Three days after the academy opens, the gifting ceremony will be held. It is custom for the families to attend, and the Chief of the Academy humbly requests to know if you will be present."
For a moment, silence blanketed the room. The king regarded the attendant with eyes that held the weight of a thousand unspoken memories. At last, he answered.
"My wife will attend."
The attendant's face betrayed his shock. For fifteen years, no one in the kingdom had seen the queen. Rumors abounded—some claimed she had fallen ill, others that she was mourning a loss so profound that she could not bear to face the sun. Her absence was felt but rarely spoken of, a wound hidden beneath layers of duty and myth.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," the attendant stammered, rising and bowing deeply, his heart pounding with excitement. The news of the queen's attendance would ripple through the kingdom like a shockwave.
The attendant backed out of the room, leaving King Drayden alone in the dim light. Drayden's gaze settled on the great sword beside him, and for a moment, he saw not the throne room but the night his son was taken from him. The memory burned into his mind with a clarity that defied the passage of time—the feel of his son's frail body, the silence after his last breath.
A soft hum vibrated from the sword, a pulse of energy like an unseen heartbeat, and a thin slash suddenly appeared on the stone floor. The mark glowed with a fierce, otherworldly light, then vanished as quickly as it had come. Drayden sighed, shoulders slumping under the weight of years unspoken. For an instant, he looked old, ancient even, as though time itself had caught up to him.
---
Meanwhile, in a lavishly decorated chamber on the castle's eastern wing, Princess Khaline lay sprawled across a massive bed, the canopy draped with silks and jeweled curtains. She was deeply cocooned in the duvet, fast asleep, until the door creaked open, and two figures tiptoed in.
"Khaline, you can't be dreaming of princes, can you?" teased a voice as light as air. Mimi, a lively girl with an impish grin, leapt onto the bed, shaking the covers playfully. Her companion, Ceecee, let out a laugh, swatting Khaline's shoulder.
"She'd be dreaming of sleep before a prince!" Ceecee chimed in, giggling as she joined the mock assault. "She does nothing but sleep!"
Khaline groaned, pulling the duvet over her head. "Stop, you two. I wasn't sleeping—I was meditating."
Mimi snorted. "Meditating? On what? The art of napping?"
Khaline finally peeked out, glaring playfully at her two closest friends. Despite her royal title, she treated Mimi and Ceecee as sisters. They'd been inseparable since childhood, when they were merely orphaned girls navigating the streets together. Even after she'd been adopted into the royal family, they had insisted on joining her as maids, though Khaline never treated them as such.
She threw a pillow at Mimi, who dodged it with a laugh. "You're insufferable, both of you," Khaline said, running a hand through her hair. She was strikingly beautiful, with finely sculpted features and pointed, delicate ears that added an ethereal edge to her face. Her eyes, a sharp, molten gold, sparkled with intelligence and a trace of mischief, though a hint of tension was visible today.
Mimi plopped down beside her, fixing her with a knowing look. "Khaline, the academy's almost here. Aren't you at least a little curious about your knack?"
"Curious, maybe," Khaline replied, sighing. "But also worried. I mean… I'm the Sun Kingdom's princess, and all I know is that my parents weren't exactly… gifted."
Ceecee rolled her eyes. "Khaline, everyone knows knacks don't follow any strict rules. Your bloodline has nothing to do with it."
"That's easy for you to say," Khaline said with a faint smile. "You're not under pressure to inherit an entire kingdom."
Her friends exchanged a glance, sensing her deeper fears. Mimi reached over, giving her hand a comforting squeeze. "At least you don't have to deal with the Baine brothers from the Moon Kingdom. All three of them, Khaline! It's said they could shatter mountains just by breathing."
"Don't forget Annabel and Bella," Ceecee chimed in, her tone filled with admiration. "I heard the Moon Kingdom's princesses are more beautiful than starlight. Annabel's gifts are said to be on par with warlocks."
"Oh, and what about the kingdom of Zar?" Mimi whispered, leaning close. "Their prince and princess are assassins, or so they say. I heard they're so skilled they can vanish like shadows in the night."
Khaline raised an eyebrow. "Layla and Kaylie? They're just as nervous as we are, if you ask me. Besides, I'd rather have the Moon Kingdom princes over any assassin siblings."
The three laughed, sharing rumors and stories of the powerful families they would soon be meeting at the academy. Yet beneath her laughter, Khaline's worries lingered. Compared to those royal heirs, she felt like a mere shadow of her title.
A knock interrupted their gossip. Outside the door, a messenger cleared his throat. "Princess Khaline, may I enter?"
Khaline bolted upright, eyes wide. "One moment!" she called, scrambling out of bed as her friends helped her straighten her gown and fix her hair. When she looked sufficiently presentable, she gave Ceecee a nod, and her friend opened the door.
A young guard stepped inside, saluting respectfully. "Your Highness," he said, bowing low. "I bring a message from Her Majesty the Queen."
Khaline froze, her heart skipping a beat. Her mother? She had never seen the queen, never heard so much as a whisper from her in all the years since her adoption. The news left her speechless.
"Yes… go on," she managed, trying to sound composed.
"Her Majesty requests your presence for breakfast"