"Go on ahead," Aramith encouraged Lia, stepping aside as the door creaked open.
As Lia stepped through the grand entrance, the beauty of the Vermillion Kingdom's palace immediately overwhelmed her senses. The vast hall was a testament to unmatched wealth—red and gold banners draped over towering, gilded pillars, while the polished obsidian floor, inlaid with veins of molten gold, gleamed under the glow of perfectly arranged floating orbs of enchanted crystal. These orbs bathed the chamber in a warm, precise light, leaving only a handful of shadows, so few they could be counted on a single hand. Every detail whispered of the kingdom's absolute power and timeless legacy.
"The Princess, Lia, and Prince Aramith have arrived!"
Aramith's face paled as his name was announced, his body trembling despite himself. Lia shot him a quick glance, reading the panic in his eyes. The ceremony was for her, but even now, he couldn't shake the shadow of his past failure. After the disaster two years ago, he had vowed never to stand in front of the public again. Who had told the announcer to include his name?
For a kingdom that revered the strength of the magnificent Vermillion Bird, Aramith's manifestation of the damned attribute had been a blow to their pride. The disgust and outrage it sparked forced Henndar to spend months quelling unrest. Yet no matter how much the king reassured his people, they refused to accept Aramith as their prince. All attributes were strong, but to have someone in such an esteemed position manifest such an attribute was wrong in many ways.
The following year brought fresh hope, but even that was short-lived. Mozrael, the older princess, revealed a fire attribute, but instead of the expected vermillion hue, her flames burned a brilliant blue. While many admired its uniqueness, the Elwicks- The greatest threat to Henndar's rule over the country pounced on the opportunity. They whispered rumors of bad omens, claiming the blue flame signified a break in the royal bloodline's bond with the primordial beast. Worse still was the fact that her attribute was delayed by a year. Henndar's position weakened further under the weight of their words. No matter what happened, they wouldn't back down if a chance came for them to deface Henndar. He was part of them, but the fact that he wouldn't help them in trade, but rather opposed them fuelled their hatred and anger towards him.
Now, all eyes turned to Lia.
Unlike her siblings, Lia was adored by the people. Her innocent charm made it difficult for the Elwicks to sow seeds of doubt about her. She was their hope. She was their sunshine. She was their chance for redemption. Anytime she made an appearance, her smile alone had a calming effect.
And that was why the Elwicks had spread a new rumor: Lia would manifest the true fire, the bright vermillion flame they had longed to see.
The people's expectations soared, but it was a trap. The Elwicks knew that if Lia failed to manifest the flame attribute, their faith in the royal family would shatter completely. Henndar's popularity, though formidable, would not withstand such a blow. It was a risk they took. They could never predict what attribute she would manifest, but the fact remained that if she failed to appease the people, things would turn ugly.
Lia could feel the pressure closing in from every direction. Her family's legacy, her father's rule, and the kingdom's unity rested on her shoulders. At the tender age of twelve, she had been forced to mature very quickly. The weight of expectations, the whispers of doubt, and the silent prayers of hope had all shaped her into someone far older than her years. She clenched her hands, willing herself to be strong as she prepared for the moment that would decide everything.
Her eyes swept across the gathering, first landing on the Celestial Fang Kingdom—an undeniable presence, their dignitaries seated with the quiet arrogance of those who had never known fear. The Bone Kingdom had also sent their own, their emissaries exuding an eerie stillness, as if their very existence was an extension of the primordial beast they served. And of course, the Vermillion Kingdom. As hosts, their presence was the most commanding, their influence stretching far beyond the banners that bore their insignia. This was their domain, and even among rival powers, their authority was undeniable. As the second most powerful force, they did not need to assert dominance; their mere presence demanded it. The Myriad Depths Kingdom was present as well, their delegation was composed, as always, entirely of women—each one a vision of rare beauty. Their faces remained veiled, concealing their expressions, yet their smiles were unmistakable, lingering just beneath the fabric like secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Even those who might have hesitated had come. The reach of the great kingdoms ensured that powerful sects, noble houses, and ancient scholars gathered, drawn in by the weight of history and ambition. Some had arrived out of necessity, others for opportunity. Yet, despite the sheer number present, there were always those who remained indifferent—forces so removed from political power that the affairs of kingdoms meant little to them.
One absence, however, stood out—the Glacial Empire. It was expected. For them to appear would have spoken volumes, shaking the very foundation of the gathering. But they had not come. And that, too, made sense. As the strongest force in the world, they had no need to acknowledge the struggles of those beneath them.
The air was thick with anticipation—and something else. A strange, almost imperceptible hum that seemed to vibrate beneath the surface of the floor.
Lia sighed and stepped forward, sensing the hostility from the other side. She turned to Aramith, giving him a quick nod of reassurance. His presence—unwanted by the masses—stayed a respectful distance behind her. Though his figure was cloaked in shadows, she could feel the strength emanating from him. And yet, she had to endure the cold glares of those who would rather see him gone.
The eruption of cheers from the crowd surged like a wave as the people expressed their love for the little princess. Lia smiled widely, waving at them, yet the weight of the unspoken still pressed at her chest. They didn't know her, not fully. None of them did.
She could feel the many eyes that sized her up, people from different parts of the world, she guessed. She was to walk forward to meet the King and Queen standing with all their magnificence. The people whispered as they welcomed Lia, but it was obvious they wanted to know if Aramith would enter as well.
Henndar and Kethra stood straight, smiling as Lia walked calmly to their side. They wore magnificent robes of red and gold, their crowns gleaming. The distance between Lia and them felt endless, yet every step seemed to draw her closer to a destiny she had never asked for.
She kept glancing back to see if Aramith would enter and felt her spirit dampen but didn't let it show. Her gaze faltered as she arrived before the King and Queen, her smile faltering only slightly. Henndar raised his hand, and the place fell silent. You could hear a pin drop.
Kethra stepped forward, her charm making the room fall into greater silence. All eyes focused on her. "Today marks an important day to all of us, especially Lia. Today, she joins us! Today, she enters the world of cultivation. You have all supported us in many ways that are immeasurable. Thank you for that. Today, our beloved Lia would—"
Lia could feel her heart threatening to jump out of her chest, her thoughts scattered like autumn leaves before the wind. Her mind was muddled, and she didn't know it was her turn to speak until the words broke the silence.
"...would like," she heard Kethra's voice from behind her, and with a gentle press on her shoulder, Lia stepped forward.
What I would like? Lia thought, suddenly unsure.
"Cakes! And lots of presents!" she blurted out.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The silence felt unbearable, until the room burst into laughter, Kethra chuckling while Henndar smiled and shook his head. The atmosphere lightened, and Lia's face flushed with embarrassment.
"Your mother said hearing her voice is something we would all like." Henndar's voice was warm, though he couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh, sorry," Lia muttered, her face turning a deeper shade of red.
Even though it was a mistake, her words made the people smile, raising her stature in their eyes. The princess had spoken—innocently and joyfully.
"Then let us begin," Henndar spoke with a gracious smile, and he procured a flaming torch. The gesture, though simple, made the crowd look at him in awe.
Lia hesitated, the torch seeming so ordinary in her hands, yet the weight of the moment pressed heavily on her. She took it from him, her fingers brushing against his for just a second. The warmth from the flame didn't comfort her. It felt different.
As Lia approached the brazier, the chamber fell into a stillness that was thick, almost tangible. She held the torch with steady hands, but her heart was pounding. The flame flickered nervously, and the room held its breath. The moment felt… wrong.
When she raised the torch toward the brazier, something unexpected happened. The flame leaped—not just a spark, but a wild, untamed arc of light, stretching from the torch to the brazier as though it were drawn by an unseen force. It wasn't like any fire she had ever seen, nor was it simply the result of an ordinary torch. It seemed alive like it recognized her.
The brazier flared into a blaze, the fire curling higher and brighter than anyone had anticipated. It was as though the flames responded to her as if they were welcoming her.
Gasps rippled through the crowd, some falling to their knees, murmuring words of reverence. To them, it was a sign—a divine sign. But Lia knew the truth. She could feel it deep within her—the surge of power that leaped from her chest, something ancient and unknown, something she had always hidden from the public.
A whisper of something ancient, something forgotten, brushed her mind. "You are ready."
For a brief moment, the fire was no longer fire. It was light, pure and brilliant, wrapping her hand in its warmth. She gasped, her breath catching in her throat, her grip tightening on the torch.
The crowd remained silent, unsure whether they should kneel or rejoice. Some of the more experienced cultivators exchanged uneasy glances. The flicker of power was unmistakable, but the source remained a mystery. Only a few noticed the faintest glow of energy surrounding Lia as if her very soul had reached out to the flames.
Henndar smiled, though there was an unreadable glint in his eyes. "And with that, we begin!" he announced, his voice breaking the strange stillness. The music started, filling the space with a celebratory tone.