The ceiling looked blurry.
With each blink, it grew clearer—sharper—until the fog in my mind began to settle. A familiar scent lingered in the air: cigar smoke. Not fresh, but recent. My lungs still carried the sting from before I passed out.
Then it hit me.
I was back.
Back in the same living room.
No more high towers. No more spiraling staircases or endless falling. The surreal world of the Trials had vanished. My surroundings had returned to normal—but the silence wasn't.
"Took you long enough, brother," a soft voice said beside me.
Letisha.
Her teasing smile hovered above me, strands of her hair gently falling to one side. Relief washed over me all at once, and I sat up with a quiet breath.
"You okay, Tia?" I asked, brushing my hand over her hair, grounding myself in her presence.
But we weren't alone.
Thorne stood across from us, arms crossed, his stare sharp enough to pierce steel. His voice cut through the room like the snap of a blade.
"You two idiots," he snapped. "What the hell did you do in there?"
He glared down at the twin boxes—gold and silver—sitting silent on the floor. Still unopened. No response. No glow. Nothing.
"This thing isn't reacting," Thorne muttered. "I either got fooled… or you two messed up the Trials."
I stood up slowly, still unsteady on my feet. My eyes narrowed at the boxes. Something wasn't right...
Then…
A faint light flickered.
The gold box shivered ever so slightly, as if it exhaled. A warm, radiant glow spread from the seams—soft at first, then growing in brilliance. Rings shimmered inside, beginning to rise in the air like they were weightless.
A shape took form.
The glow shifted—morphing, coalescing—until it formed the elegant, sweeping silhouette of a bird. A white eagle, eyes shimmering sapphire blue, unfolded its wings. Each feather was pristine white—except for the tips. Every wing's edge faded to black on one side, white on the other.
We stood frozen, the only sound now the soft flutter of wings that didn't truly flap.
A few moments ago, at the Vale of Solivern…
The sounds of guns echoed through the quiet area. Buildings rose high above in the far distance. Two shadows watched as Letisha pulled both triggers.
From the shadow of the building they stood on—far and high away—they couldn't be noticed. A pair of calm, piercing blue eyes observed from the dark. Beside him, light gold eyes glowed faintly, almost like dawnlight.
They both watched silently.
"She's not the one," the one of the figures confirmed.
The light shone on his sleek black fur, deep and dark like midnight. His blue eyes briefly shifted to the lion standing beside him — its fur white, each strand ending in a soft gold tint. The lion's eyes were pale gold, glowing faintly with quiet warmth.
"We don't need someone who stands above all," the lion said. "We seek protection."
Then, as if the world itself shifted beneath their paws, the space changed. A mirrored version of the same scene appeared before them.
This time, it was Noa — pointing the gun to his head.
He pulled the trigger.
They watched in silence as he collapsed on the rooftop, the empty sky overhead. His light blue eyes fluttered up toward the place where they stood — though the space between them was vast, his gaze locked with theirs. A quiet moment passed.
And then Noa smiled —
—and closed his eyes completely as his body gave in.
"Did he just—?" the panther murmured, stunned.
White feathers drifted downward, their tips dipped in black. One of them brushed the panther's head.
"You're here too," he said flatly, glancing up.
The white eagle stood nearby, wings spread in silence, watching over Noa. Its eyes were ancient — soft, but sharp.
"Looks like you want him to be the successor," the panther said.
"Yes, I do," the eagle replied.
"Then let's let him bear the weight," said the lion.
"Then it's decided," the panther said calmly, as their figures faded like mist — still watching Noa in the silence he left behind.
Back in the living room...
The feathers fluttered through the air. The white eagle with it's feathers black tip.stood atop the twin boxes that contained the rings. His blue eyes scanned the silent room for a long moment, solemn and still. And then he began:
"As the representative of the Fourteen Rings of the Crimson... I, Aurelian, guardian beast of the Fourteen, stand to declare my choice.
Noa Blackwood Crimson—
I acknowledge you as the rightful bearer of our legacy, and name you the Sun, Lord of this power.
May you carry the weight and the blaze of the sun upon your shoulders. To ease that burden, your Fourteen shall be permitted to draw from my power and the powers of the guardians. Know that we are with you—always. In silence, in flame, in shadow.
Trust us, so we may trust you.
If you cannot… then may you and your people be undone by your own hand.
From the moment of this bond, neither we can reject you, nor you reject us.
Noa is our master.
May your path… become our path.
Until the Day of Decision."
...
Silence lingered as the eagle remained perched on the boxes.
Thorne let out a long groan.
"I knew it. I was deceived…"
Letisha hurried over curiously, shouting, "It talked!!!"
She hovered near the eagle, eyes sparkling. "It's so close. So cuteee—would you look at those fluffy feath—"
Before she could touch him, Aurelian stretched his massive wings wide. A gust of wind blew her hair back as he took off and glided smoothly toward me.
"Woah," I murmured, startled, as he landed firmly on my shoulder.
Letisha went starry-eyed with a gasp. "No waaay!"
By the time the eagle rested on me, she was practically vibrating in place.
Thorne groaned again, this time louder, dragging a hand down his face in exasperation.
I turned to him slowly, eyes locked.
No change in my face. No scowl. But something subtle lingered in my gaze. Something sharp and quiet—
...Bastard.
Thorne turned just in time to catch my stare. His lips curved into a smirk.
"What's wrong, Noa? Aren't you happy? You're the lord now."
I forced my expression into something light, plastering on a totally believable fake smile.
"Nothing, sir. Just… why didn't you tell us before giving us the boxes that there would be a trial?"
He only kept smiling back.
"Well, Noa, I'm not allowed to."
Aurelian nodded on my shoulder.
"If he had mentioned it," the eagle said, voice low and clear, "his head would've gone flying."
"No Sun—nor any member not assigned directly by the Lord of Crimson—is allowed to interfere with its affairs."
I looked back at him as he finished. "You're here alone?"
He turned his head away with a sharp motion, a silent huff that somehow screamed 'hmph.'
I was about to ask about the others I had seen before—
Meow.
The soft sound cut my thoughts short.
It was faint, high-pitched, and coming from Letisha's arms.
I turned to her—and sure enough, nestled just under her forearms, was a very small, black kitten. Its eyes were a glowing, deep red. It was so tiny, it could almost fit entirely in one hand.
"Tia… you brought a kitten home?"
Letisha, was so enthralled by the eagle on my shoulder, hadn't even noticed the small creature.
She flinched. "Waaohh! What's with today?!"
Thorne just leaned back on the couch, lighting a fresh cigar without comment.
Aurelian shifted his talons and spoke calmly from my shoulder.
"We could not disregard her overwhelming power. As one whose strength rivals—even surpasses—my current master… we have left her a gift."
He paused, then turned slightly to Letisha.
"That kitten is born from our powers and yours, Lady Letisha Blackwood of the Crimson."
"As per our pact, the lady shall hold authority over the guardians of the Rings—but not the holders themselves—in the event that anything happens to our Master."
Thorne let out a slow exhale, watching the whole thing with a bored face.
"This is becoming a damn zoo," he muttered as smoke curled from his lips.
___
Letisha held the kitten in her hands, unable to stop cooing over her.
"Aww, so cute!" she squealed, gently rubbing her cheek against the little creature.
When I saw her that happy, I didn't even mind being pushed into becoming the lord.
"Tia, that kitten is yours. A gift from this guy," I said, nodding toward Aurelian, still perched on my shoulder.
"It's mine? Really??!" Letisha lit up even more, her joy blooming.
"Yes. Take good care of her," I answered, watching the way her eyes sparkled.
"Thorne Avelion of the Ironclad."
Thorne flinched ever so slightly at the sound of his full family name when Aurelian suddenly called out to him.
"Give the two remaining rings—the Sun and Moon—to my appointed master. Now," Aurelian commanded, his gaze sharp as he looked directly at Thorne.
"Oh yes, yes, I almost forgot…" Thorne muttered, clearing his throat and reaching into his coat.
He pulled out a box containing two rings that looked nothing like the ones I had seen before.
One of the rings had a gleaming gold band that shimmered faintly. It widened toward the front where a yellow diamond rested, glowing brighter the deeper it went toward the center. Even from a distance, the warmth it radiated could be felt.
The second ring had a pale silver-gray band, with fire-like engravings curling around its design. It held a deep sapphire-blue diamond—light at the edges, gradually darkening as it reached the core.
Both rings rested side by side in a red velvet-lined box, nestled atop a dark black silk interior.
"Put on the gold ring," Aurelian instructed. "It is the symbol of your title as Sun."
I hesitated, my eyes glancing toward Letisha, now softly rocking the kitten in her arms.
Knowing I wasn't ready for this—being pushed into it without warning, and now even dragging Tia into it—I could only think one thing:
We don't have a choice. If we want to survive… for now, let's just go with the flow.
I reached for the box. Even before touching it, I could feel the weight—an unseen pressure pressing lightly against my hand. There was no turning back.
As my fingers closed around the golden ring, I took it out carefully… and my eyes widened.
A warmth flooded through me like a gentle tide, wrapping around my chest, my limbs—my heart. It felt like being held. Protected. Safe.
It was so gentle, so deeply comforting, I almost smiled without realizing it. I even laughed quietly under my breath. I wanted everyone to feel this. This was a warmth that had no name, no beginning or end.
The weight I had felt earlier disappeared entirely.
"Always remember this feeling… and make others feel it too."
A husky, hoarse voice echoed faintly in my ears. It shocked me for a moment, but I closed my eyes and leaned into the feeling. Let it soak into me completely.
Uncle… so this is what you left for me after all?
Thank you.
As time passed, the warmth began to fade, slowly retreating… leaving behind a longing I hadn't expected. I missed it already.