The Grand Solar Temple - One Day Before the Ascension
The grand solar temple was an intimidating building of Redstone. It was an imposing structure that seemed to shine golden in the last light of evening. It was said to have been carved from a single, massive block of Redstone by the power of the sun god himself. Whether anyone actually believed that or not, it was undeniable that the place was an architectural marvel.
Elliott walked along a high-ceilinged hallway, the High Priest keeping pace beside him as they spoke. Since the ascension ritual was to start early tomorrow morning, they were finalizing the last details of the process.
Tradition dictated that the night before the ascension, the main descendant slept in the temple- alone. No attendants, no family. Which was why Elliott was still here as the evening crept in.
Aiden had stayed all day, but in the end, he'd had to return to the palace for something that required his input. The priests had also urged him to go- it was considered inauspicious for anyone except the High Priest and the descendant to be present in the inner chambers the night before the ritual.
Aiden hadn't looked thrilled to leave, but with Elliott's reassurance- and the fact that his presence was needed at the palace- he had gone.
Elliott nodded periodically as the older priest droned on about ceremonial adjustments, religious significance, and other details. The temple didn't need lamps, even now. It had an intricate system of mirrors positioned so that sunlight illuminated it during the day, and moonlight washed it silver at night.
"-and we've replaced saffron with sandalwood, consulting the scriptures considering Your Majesty's limitations. The procession in direct sunlight has also been shortened, given Your Majesty is still recovering-"
Elliott nodded absently. This was the third time the old man had repeated that.
Just as they turned a corner into the outer chambers- the temple now closed to the public, so the usually bustling hallways were eerily empty- a figure stepped into their path.
He was tall. Pale-skinned. Midnight-blue hair fell in a sleek wave, framing cobalt eyes as deep and unreadable as a stormy sea.
Carlson Veyth.
Aiden had mentioned him yesterday evening- after confirming with Gabriella- that he was the guildmaster of the Myraethra Guild.
The High Priest, oblivious to the familiarity between them, stepped forward with an eager smile.
"Ah! Your Majesty, allow me to introduce Guildmaster Veyth- a rather generous patron of the temple. In fact, the new orphanage in the south of the capital was constructed and funded by him. Guildmaster Veyth must have been here to finalize the paperwork."
Carlson bowed- a picture of deference without submission. Respectful, but not so low as to grovel.
"An honor to finally meet you, Your Majesty."
Elliott's smile was polite, perfectly mirroring Carlson's. "Guildmaster Veyth. It's a pleasure to meet you as well- I've heard a lot about you."
"I'm honored," Carlson replied smoothly. "I have also heard much about Your Majesty- the tales of your kindness and empathy are not unfamiliar to anyone."
So. They were pretending the last meeting never happened.
Fine. So be it.
"As the High Priest said, I came here to finalize some matters. But I must say, meeting His Majesty was a rather pleasant surprise." Carlson's voice was like silk over steel. "Allow me to offer my sincerest congratulations on your ascension tomorrow. I'm sure your radiance will shine as bright as the sun itself."
The words dripped with flattery, though Elliott was certain he caught the faintest smirk behind that perfect smile.
"The city is alive with anticipation," Carlson added, "and many visitors from the west have arrived for the occasion, too."
A jab- clear as daylight.
The High Priest, confused by the seemingly random note about western visitors, stayed silent.
"Your kindness is appreciated," Elliott replied evenly, accepting the congratulation without taking the bait.
A beat of silence followed. Elliott wasn't as wary of Carlson as Aiden had been. The man wasn't a friend, certainly, but neither was he an enemy. The temple extended personal invitations to vital organizations like the guild- it was only natural that Carlson would have received one too.
To fill the quiet, Elliott asked, "The ritual tomorrow. Will you be attending?"
Carlson's smile curved just a fraction wider. "I hadn't planned to, initially..." He let the pause linger. "But I can't possibly refuse now, can I? Not when I've been personally invited by the Emperor himself."
The High Priest seized the moment. He'd been hoping to have the guildmaster attend- Carlson's involvement with the temple over the past year had encouraged merchant donations to flood in. He had extended an invitation, but the guildmaster was famously critical of nobility, and the High Priest had assumed he wouldn't attend.
Now, with the Emperor's remark... things looked different.
"Wonderful!" the High Priest said, beaming. "The Myraethra's presence at the ritual would be greatly appreciated, Guildmaster."
Elliott's face stayed neutral as Carlson replied politely to the priest. Inside, though, his thoughts were moving fast. He wasn't unsettled- but the man was still a puzzle. Why was he here now, when Elliott was? Coincidence? Or a part of some bigger scheme? And the sudden donations- what were they really for?
Just what game was Carlson Veyth playing?
Carlson's eyes met his, cutting through the speculation with nothing more than a steady gaze.
A charming smile followed, and he gave a short bow.
"Well. Until tomorrow, then, Your Majesty.
And just like that, he was walking out of the temple.
A carriage waited for him at the base of the steps, the guild's sigil painted in clean silver lines along its door. Elliott and the High Priest stood at the top, watching as Carlson descended the temple's staircase. By now, the moon had risen, casting a pale, silken light over the courtyard- soft enough to make the redstone glow faintly, like embers under ash.
"Hair as dark as the night, skin as pale as moonlight, and eyes like liquid night- that is how the moon descendants are described in the scriptures, Your Majesty," the High Priest said suddenly. "Guildmaster Carlson matched that description, doesn't he?"
Elliott was... momentarily stunned.
It hadn't even crossed his mind. But those exact words- he knew them. Corvette heirs had been described that way.
The High Priest went on, tone casual, as though voicing nothing more than idle musings. "But then again, the Corvette line is believed to be lost. Besides, Guildmaster Carlson is a Vellurian citizen. Perhaps the features are simply common- Prince Aiden also shares them, does he not?"
For a moment, Elliott could only blink. But he couldn't deny it- Aiden did share those features.
"That... is true," he admitted quietly.
The High Priest nodded, his expression wistful. "Maybe they are just common. After all, pale skin is no rarity in our empire. Still, my heart wonders- how wonderful it would be, had one of them been the Corvette heir. Or anyone, for that matter. Just someone alive. Someone who could end Cyrus' reign of terror. But perhaps that's only an old man's wishful thinking. Had it been a true Corvette on the throne, such a situation of war would have never come to pass."
As they spoke, Carlson reached the temple gates. They could still see him in the distance- he was just about to climb into his carriage when he stopped. The coachman glanced back in confusion, but Carlson didn't move to enter.
Instead, he turned his head, scanning the grounds. His hand lifted briefly, rubbing at one eye, as though trying to clear it. For a second, his gaze lingered- focused on something that wasn't there. Then, just as suddenly, he seemed to dismiss it, stepping into the carriage without a word.
Watching that, Elliott felt an unwelcome tug of recognition. It was just like the shadow Aiden had claimed to see in the marketplace. But that had been a hallucination... right?
Maybe Carlson had simply experienced something similar. It was late, after all. The night could play tricks on the mind.
The High Priest didn't notice any of it. Instead, he looked up at the sky. "Ah- it is night already. Let us go inside, Your Majesty. You must retire early; the ritual begins at dawn."
"Let us do that," Elliott said.
Carlson's carriage was gone now, vanishing into the dark streets beyond the gates. The path outside the temple lay empty and still.
Elliott tore his gaze away and followed the High Priest back into the quiet halls. He told himself it was probably nothing. He believed it enough to walk on without looking back- yet his chest felt heavier all the same.