The prince was ready to take the vow, but the world wasn't.
--At the Duskthorn House--
"So, it's the vow day of the prince, huh?" A man, wearing a thick coat over his pirate clothes scoff as he recieves the news of Shin Dynasty.
The servant nods in nervousness. The man takes off his legs from the table and places the glass of wine on the table, his dark eyes adorned with kohl.
"Well, we'll see. What comrades Shin Dynasty will send..."
--The Shin Dynasty-
"So, the honourable His Highness will start reading the Majestic Vow!"
The crowd cheered and applaud at the announcement. Xiang's pulse quickened. He shut his eyes, and took a long deep breath, as his mind flew back to the memories of the past,
"Mom, will I take the vow too, someday?" Little Xiang Kang asks to his mother, his little eyes filled with pride as he saw his acquaintance read the vow in the castle.
"Of course you will, my sweetie." Jia Xue smiled, looking at her little son who had dreamt of taking the Majestic Vow.
She pampered his head, as little Xiang continued to watch the Vow being taken. In his little heart, he had already decided, that he will take the vow someday.
"Xiang!" Hue Kang interrupted, bringing Xiang Kang into the reality. He apologized, before starting to take his vow:
"Under the watchful gaze of my ancestors and the boundless heavens above, I, Xiang Kang, son of the Shin Dynasty, humbly kneel before the sacred altar of my forebears. Beneath the jade-green canopy of the Imperial Pavilion and upon the earth tilled by generations of my people, I offer my pledge." Xiang Kang read,
"By the wisdom of the sages inscribed in bamboo scrolls, by the strength of the tiger's claw, and by the purity of the lotus bloom, I vow to embark upon this journey. I shall tread the paths of fire and frost, through winds howling and waters whispering, seeking the Shattered Crown that holds the fate of all."
"With the Four Virtues—benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom—guiding my heart, I will confront the trials set before me. I shall not falter before beasts of shadow nor yield to rivals of steel. Each step I take will honor the Mandate of Heaven bestowed upon my house."
"For the Shin Dynasty, I vow to restore the harmony of yin and yang, to unite the scattered lands, and to shield our people from the claws of war. Should my blood stain the sacred soil or my breath fall silent beneath the heavens, may the gods know I sought peace with all my being."
"May the spirits of the Nine Dynasties witness my oath, and may the crown serve as a beacon of unity, not division. So I vow, so let it be written in the annals of time."
"By the grace of heaven and the will of the earth, I pledge this with my life."
Xiang Kang had understood this vow, and the consequences he had to face. But he was all ready for it.