Lin Yue's trembling hands dropped to her sides as the silence closed in around her.
The once-grand hall, alive with chaos mere moments ago, was now eerily still.
The jade pendant glowed faintly against her chest, its warmth a sharp contrast to the chill that seeped into her bones.
She looked around, her breath hitching at the emptiness.
The Emperor's towering presence, General Wei Han's steady resolve, Lady Zhen's sharp glare—all gone.
Even the intruders, with their ominous cloaks and deadly blades, had vanished like smoke on the wind.
But the voice—that voice—lingered.
"You must choose," it said again, deep and resonant, as though it came from the very walls of the palace.
Lin Yue pressed a hand to her chest, where the pendant pulsed like a heartbeat. "Choose what?" she whispered.
There was no response, only the faint hum of energy that now filled the air.
The hall seemed larger than before, the shadows stretching impossibly far, their shapes twisting and writhing like living things.
She took a tentative step forward, her slippers brushing against the cold stone floor.
The lanterns that had once lit the hall were extinguished, leaving her bathed in the ethereal glow of the pendant.
The jade light revealed carvings on the walls she hadn't noticed before—intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer and shift under her gaze.
"Where is everyone?" She murmured, her voice barely more than a breath.
The silence answered her, heavy and oppressive.
Her pulse quickened as she approached the throne, its gilded surface now dull and lifeless.
She reached out, her fingers brushing against the cool metal, and a sudden rush of images flooded her mind—visions of battles, of blood-streaked banners bearing the jade emblem, of a woman with eyes like hers standing atop a crumbling palace wall.
Lin Yue staggered back, clutching her head as the visions swirled and blurred.
The woman's voice rang out, clear and commanding:
"The throne was stolen, but the bloodline remains. You are its last hope, child."
"No," Lin Yue whispered, shaking her head. "This can't be real."
But even as she denied it, the pendant flared brighter, and the carvings on the walls began to glow in response.
The light traced patterns of dragons coiling around lotus blossoms, their scales shimmering with jade and gold.
The air grew thick with power, and Lin Yue felt it pulling her forward, toward the throne.
Her hand moved of its own accord, reaching out to touch the carved armrest.
The moment her fingers made contact, the ground beneath her feet trembled.
"Lin Yue."
She spun around, her heart leaping at the sound of her name.
Standing at the edge of the hall was a figure cloaked in shadow, their face obscured.
But there was something familiar about their presence, something that stirred a deep ache in her chest.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her.
The figure stepped closer, their movements slow and deliberate.
As they emerged from the shadows, the light of the pendant revealed a face that sent a shock of recognition through her—a face that mirrored her own, though aged and weathered by time.
"I am what remains of your lineage," the figure said, their voice soft yet powerful. "The last fragment of the Jade Throne's legacy."
Lin Yue's knees nearly buckled. "You're... you're my ancestor?"
The figure nodded. "The blood of the throne runs in your veins, though you have been kept from the truth for so long."
"But why?" Lin Yue asked, her voice breaking. "Why now? Why me?"
"Because the time has come," the figure said, their gaze piercing. "The balance of this empire hangs by a thread. The Emperor's reign is built on the ashes of our dynasty, and his enemies will stop at nothing to claim the throne for themselves. You are the key to restoring what was lost."
Lin Yue shook her head, tears prickling her eyes. "I'm not a ruler. I don't even understand this world. I'm just... I'm just me."
The figure's expression softened, and they stepped closer, their hand reaching out to rest gently on her shoulder. "You are more than you realize, Lin Yue. The jade does not choose lightly. It has seen your strength, your heart. It has chosen you because you are worthy."
Before Lin Yue could respond, the ground beneath her trembled again, more violently this time.
The figure's gaze snapped to the far end of the hall, where the shadows seemed to ripple and writhe.
"They are coming," the figure said, their voice urgent. "The ones who seek to claim you for their own. You must awaken the power within you before it's too late."
Lin Yue's heart raced. "How? I don't know what to do!"
The figure gripped her shoulders, their eyes locking onto hers. "The pendant holds the key. Focus on it, feel its energy, and let it guide you. Trust in your bloodline, Lin Yue. Trust in yourself."
The shadows at the far end of the hall coalesced into dark forms, their shapes indistinct but menacing.
The air grew colder, and Lin Yue felt the weight of their presence pressing down on her chest.
The figure began to fade, their form dissolving into the jade light. "Remember, Lin Yue: the throne is not just a seat of power. It is a responsibility, a legacy. Protect it, and it will protect you."
And then they were gone.
Lin Yue was alone once more, the shadows closing in around her.
She clutched the pendant, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty.
But amidst the chaos, a spark of determination flared within her.
She closed her eyes, focusing on the warmth of the jade against her skin.
The light grew stronger, and she felt the energy within her stir, rising like a tide.
The shadows lunged, their forms twisting into clawed hands and fanged maws.
Lin Yue opened her eyes, and the pendant erupted with a blinding light, casting the hall into a searing brilliance.
When the light faded, the shadows were gone, and Lin Yue stood in the center of a shattered hall.
The throne was cracked, the walls scorched, and in her hand, she held a blade of pure jade, its surface etched with glowing symbols.
But the voice in her mind returned, cold and unyielding:
"They will come again. And next time, they will not be so easily defeated."
...
To Be Continued...