The palace had always been a place of power, but today, it felt like the walls themselves were trembling.
Adrian had been summoned by his father, the Emperor, to witness something he hadn't expected: a confrontation between himself and Simone, the 5th Prince, now the Crown Prince. Adrian had heard whispers of Simone's growing power, but none of the rumors had prepared him for what he was about to face.
The Emperor, ever the strategist, believed the only way to truly prove Simone's worth as Crown Prince was to force him into direct competition with Adrian, the one who had long been seen as the natural heir. It was a test—a sparring match. The Emperor believed it would show everyone that Simone had earned his position, that his powers were truly worthy of the title.
Adrian's stomach churned with a mixture of anger and disbelief as he entered the training room. His eyes scanned the darkened space, the shadows stretching and dancing in the corners like whispers of a secret he wasn't meant to know. His father, ever the orchestrator, stood in the center, his cold gaze focused on Simone. The air felt thick with tension, an oppressive heaviness that seemed to hang between them.
Adrian wasn't sure what he had expected, but it wasn't this. Simone, the shy, overweight, timid boy he had once known, now stood in the darkness like a figure from a nightmare. His posture was relaxed, but his presence was undeniable. There was an aura of danger around him—something fierce, untamed, and far too powerful.
The Emperor's voice broke the silence. "Adrian, Simone. Spar. Show me why Simone deserves the crown."
Adrian's jaw tightened. He couldn't believe his father was making this choice. He had spent years preparing to ascend the throne. He had been the one to train, to fight, to prove himself worthy. And now, his younger brother—who had spent most of his life hiding from his own power—was being thrust into his path as if the throne could be handed over without consequence.
Simone didn't move at first, his eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. He had always been a mystery to Adrian, a figure he had never fully understood. The boy who had chosen to hide his power, to live like a commoner at the academy, was now standing here, in front of him, as the Crown Prince.
Adrian took a step forward, his posture steady and commanding, ready to show his father that he was the one who deserved to wear the crown. "I'll show you, Father," he muttered under his breath, the tension in his muscles coiling like a spring.
Simone's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk. "I'm not here to convince you, Adrian," he said, his voice barely a whisper, almost lost in the dark.
Adrian's confusion was cut short as the Emperor's voice rang out. "Begin!"
Without hesitation, Adrian launched himself forward, drawing on the power of Light. He summoned a shield to protect himself, then unleashed a beam of light, powerful and bright, aimed straight at Simone's chest. But the beam was swallowed by the darkness in an instant, and Adrian found himself thrown off balance by a sudden surge of energy.
It was like fighting a shadow. Every movement Adrian made was met with resistance, but the more he attacked, the more he was swallowed by the darkness. He couldn't see his opponent, couldn't tell where Simone was. His every instinct told him to retreat, but he couldn't stop himself from advancing.
Then, in a blur of motion, Simone was upon him.
Before Adrian could react, he felt a force slam into him from all directions. A gust of wind—no, not wind, something far stronger—pushed him back. His shield flickered and died, the beam of light dimming to nothing in the overwhelming darkness. And then, just as quickly, the world around him was engulfed in shadow.
Simone's presence was everywhere, his power suffocating, suffusing the room like a living thing. Adrian barely had time to raise his guard before he was knocked to the ground with brutal force.
In less than a second, it was over. Simone stood over him, his eyes glowing faintly in the darkness, his expression unreadable. The power that radiated from him was overwhelming, and Adrian could feel it pressing against his chest like a vice, threatening to crush him.
The Emperor, who had been watching from the sidelines, was knocked off his feet as well, the force of Simone's power ripping through the air with terrifying force. The darkness had swallowed them both, leaving them helpless and disoriented.
Finally, the lights flickered on, illuminating the training room. The shadows receded, and for the first time, Adrian saw Simone clearly. He was standing tall, his figure sharp and imposing, the darkness still clinging to him like an aura. His breathing was calm, controlled, while Adrian lay on the floor, gasping for air, his body still reeling from the force of the attack.
Adrian's eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the sight of his younger brother. Simone's body had changed—his posture, his strength, his very presence. He was no longer the timid, overweight boy Adrian had once known. He was something far more dangerous, something Adrian couldn't even comprehend.
Simone's gaze met his, a cold, almost detached look in his blood-red eyes. "Is that enough, Adrian?" he asked, his voice tinged with a bitterness that seemed to echo through the room.
Adrian scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. The shock of what had just happened was too much to process in one moment. But one thing was clear: Simone had changed. He was no longer the boy they had underestimated. He was a force—primal, untamed, and far more powerful than any of them could have imagined.
Simone turned away from him, his steps echoing in the silent room. "I didn't ask for this," he said, his voice low and steady, like a whisper in the dark. "But if this is the crown you want me to wear… then I'll wear it. But don't expect me to bow down to you, Father."
The Emperor, still recovering from the shock of the battle, could only stare in stunned silence. He had made a terrible mistake—one he would regret for the rest of his life.
And Adrian… Adrian was left standing in the darkness, his world turned upside down. The power he had always believed to be his birthright had now been claimed by someone else. His younger brother had surpassed him in ways he couldn't even begin to understand.
The throne was no longer his.
And for the first time, Adrian realized that Simone had never wanted it.