The crowd roared with delight as King Eldros stepped onto the platform. With regal poise, he stood at the center, dressed in embroidered gold and navy robes that shimmered with every movement. Behind him, the princes and princess followed, each adorned with their royal colors. The sun glinted off the crown atop the king's head, its jewels refracting prisms of light across the excited faces of the crowd.
All those gathered—nobles, elementalists, and foreign dignitaries—rose to their feet in reverent silence, bowing as one to the figure they revered.
King Eldros walked towards the nobles and guests and exchaged small talk with them.
He walked to the nobles first and thank them for attending the event. The nobles looked enchanted. This was their king, thanking them for such a small thing. In their eyes, he was the epitome of a perfect king. And the king's actions had just consolidated those belief of theirs further.
King Eldros walked to the foreign dignitaries next who were bowing before him. He thank them quietly as well. To some, he even asked if their stay had been up to par, or if they had encountered any difficulties during their stay at Lunaros. The foreign guests looked satisfied at the king of Lunaros' act of benevolence.
The elders of the Elementalist Council all bowed before the king after he was done entertaining the foreign guests. The king acknowledge them. Light, but enough for the Council's Elders.
Then, King Eldros walked to the centre of the platform. He raised a hand, and a magical amplification orb floating beside him lit up, projecting his voice clearly across the palace grounds.
"People of Lunaros," the king began, his voice deep and resonant, "on this day, I celebrate not my age, but the endurance, strength, and unity of our great kingdom. For sixty years, I have watched this land grow, shaped by the efforts of every citizen, from the humblest merchant to the most accomplished elementalist."
He swept his gaze across the crowd.
"Today, we are joined by esteemed guests from our neighboring realms, whose presence is a testament to Lunaros' rising influence. To you, I offer my gratitude and friendship."
The crowd clapped, some cheered, and the magical orb adjusted to keep the sound crisp.
Then his tone shifted slightly, a spark of pride warming his words.
"And today, we also celebrate the birth of a rare star among us—a new elementalist who has undergone the phenomenon known as the Elemental Burst. An event not seen in forty years."
The crowd erupted. Cheers. Gasps. A few hands clutched over hearts in astonishment.
"Seren of Ime," the king said, smiling. "You have brought renewed hope to our council and our kingdom."
The applause was deafening.
Then, from the side, an attendant from the Elementalist Council approached and respectfully handed the king a parchment. He took it, unrolling the scroll with ceremonial grace.
His eyes scanned the contents. For the briefest moment, a flicker of surprise crossed his expression. But it vanished quickly beneath a mask of composure.
"Now," he continued, raising the parchment high, "it is with honor that I announce the candidates for the position of Master Elementalist—the guiding star of our magical future."
The crowd leaned forward, breath held.
"Our first candidate: Seren of Ime."
The palace grounds exploded with sound.
But then the king raised a hand again. Silence fell.
"And our second candidate... Alarion."
A confused murmur spread like wildfire. Guests exchanged glances. Some whispered to one another.
Alarion?
From the Elementalist Council's side, Elder Halien remained motionless, but his eyes glittered with quiet satisfaction. Elder Vaneska's smile grew tight.
The celebrations had just become a battlefield unknown to anyone outside the council.
Seren and Alarion stepped forward on the grand platform, the people cheered.
Seren was nervous, so nervous in fact she could feel sweat dripping on her back. She secretly glanced at the man who was walking besides her. Tall, golden hair and eyes. His shoulders were straight and his gait was confident. It was almost as if he had been diligently trained for this moment.
Seren knew she couldn't act like a scared little rat besides him, as that wouldn't have been a good look for those who had her back. So she masked her expression.
The candidates approached the king who stood on the central platform, their expressions serious as King Eldros activated the voice-amplifying orb.
"Today marks an unprecedented moment," the king began. "For the first time in Lunaros's history, our candidature for the Master Elementalist have two names, and they will deliver proposals—to prove not only their power, but their vision for the future."
He gestured. Two attendants brought a scroll to each candidate. Seren and Alarion bowed and handed theirs over. The king opened Seren's scroll first, eyes tracing the densely written words.
But then... he paused. Next moment, the king deactivated his voice amplification orb.
The murmurs rippled before he spoke.
"Seren of Ime," the voice held a steady clarity. "Is this truly your intention? You propose launching a second purge, a public excecution—one that would undoubtedly terrify the citizens, unsettle the realm, and create panic among the innocent. Is the cost worth the claim of purity?"
A hush descended. The people at the scene wondered what the king was saying to the new elementalist. It seemed quite serious, as King Eldros' eyes were as sharp as a newly crafted sword. Even Alarion looked like he wanted to hear the bits of their conversations.
Seren swallowed hard, her throat dry and after a long moment, she nodded.
"It is what the Council has asked of me, Your Majesty. I... I stand by the proposal."
The throne lingered, tension stretching. A bead of sweat trickled down the king's temple. He seemed ready to rebut—but then, a sharp clang echoed through the hall. Heads snapped up.
All eyes turned to the marble walkway where an unexpected silhouette appeared.
Seren's heart pounded. Alarion stiffened.
No one moved at first. The king's guards immediately surrounded him, the silence pressing.
Then… the ceremony froze—shocked, enchanted, the crowd hushed by the abrupt intrusion.