King Gemma's eye fell on his first son. First prince Viktor, kneeling before the crown prince, his eyes widen in shock and humiliation. His body shook with barely contained rage, but the crown Prince didn't seem to mind it.
Slowly, Prince Kaelin walked past, away from the first prince's kneeling spot, taking slow strides and stopping feet away from the king.
''Reign longer, father!'' He gracefully bowed his head, gloved hand clapped at his chest, his expression stoic. The king nods once.
''Greeting, Queen Namerie.'' He added, his voice strained like the greeting was a force.
On this count, all the offspring of the king, every human connected to them, bowed on their knee.
''May the spirit, light and nature guide you! We greet the emperor!!''
Tension hangs heavy in the air. Only two were on their feet, the emperor and his heir. At the moment, King Gemma only saw the offspring of his late queen, the only child he anticipated, the child whose birth took his mother's life, the one child he couldn't hate nor love.
Kaelin Darkdorm, the Crown Prince.
The moment was gone as soon as it began. The king ordered them to rise, and they all proceeded to the ritual room.
The grand hall was filled with an air of solemnity as the Royal family made their entrance for the cleansing ritual.
The sound of soft chanting and the scent of incense wafted through the air. Kaelin walked to join his fourth brother, his eye briefly meeting with Lyra's, but as she struggled to communicate with him, he turned away.
Several feet away, the first prince had risen to his feet, still cringing at the glance lured at him. As he turned around, he was met with the king's presence, forced to bow again.
''Reign longer, father.''
''You chose to serve him,'' King Gemma spoke. Viktor's lips felt dry from the words that seemed like a question and a confirmation.
''You swore to be the sword of the throne.'' The king reminded.
Viktor's lips shook, and he gulped.
''I have yet to meet the crown prince until today, yet he seems to have resentment stored for me...'' Viktor began to choose his words carefully, but the king cut him off.
''You're the execution Lord of the void, the king walked past him. ''You killed his maid's father.''
Viktor's eyes widen in realization. He had executed on orders of the emperor and had somehow offended the young heir. Somehow, the humiliation he faced was partially explained.
He hurried to join the king, getting into step behind him.
''Viktor,''
''Yes, father!''
''As you have witnessed, the crown prince is daring, but still immature.''
''What would you have me do, father?''
The king halted before the gate of the ritual hall, being pulled open by the guards.
''Stay by his side, and watch him...for this kingdom.''
He bowed.
''Your order is my way!''
As the king stepped into the hall, all the royal families began following behind.
Behind them moved a circle of witches clad in deep emerald and midnight blue, their hands tracing delicate signs in the air, faint glimmers swirling around their palms.
The air smelled of incense and earth — a sacred mixture for the cleansing ceremony. Ornate altars stood ready, draped in silver cloth with ancient runes glowing faintly. Candles flickered, casting alive shadows that flickered like silent whispers.
Kaelin's family members gathered, their presence commanding yet strained, as they prepared to wash away the kingdom's shadows, hoping this ritual would bring peace—and perhaps cleanse the deeper darkness that clung to their lineage.
As they reached their designated positions, the High Priestess, a tall woman with piercing green eyes, began to speak. "Let us begin the ritual of cleansing. May the spirits of the land guide us and purify our household."
The Royal family bowed their heads in unison, their voices murmuring in harmony as they began to recite the ancient words.
High Priestess (raising her hands to the heavens):
"Ye spirits of Solareth and shadow, keepers of root and river, flame and sky — hear us."
Royal Family (in unison):
"We call thee, guardians of the realm. We bend knee to thy light, thy law, and thy leaf."
High Priestess:
"Wash away the rot that clings unseen; bind again the threads of kin and crown."
Royal Family:
"Let our blood be as the rivers, pure and ever-flowing. Let our breath be as the wind, ever true."
High Priestess:
"In the name of Aethereia, first light and last flame, we yield our hearts to the pact eternal."
All through this, Kaelin never bowed, nor did he speak. He just stood, like a third party observing a show.
The witches, dressed in flowing white robes, moved in synchronization, their hands weaving intricate patterns as they channeled the elemental energies. The air seemed to vibrate with energy, and the atmosphere grew heavier with anticipation.
The words were recited thrice.
The ritual reached its climax, and the High Priestess raised her hands to the heavens.
"May the Royal household be cleansed of all impurities.''
''May the blessings of the spirits be upon us."
''May the law of nature guide us.''
''May the light of Aethereia lead our path.''
The Royal family echoed her words.
"May the Royal household be cleansed of all impurities.''
''May the blessings of the spirits be upon us."
''May the law of nature guide us.''
''May the light of Aethereia lead our path.''
Their voices grew louder as they concluded the ritual. Kaelin remained unresponsive throughout the ritual.
As the ceremony ended, the family members began to disperse, their faces serene and composed. Kaelin lingered, his eyes fixed on the floor, before he turned to Aiden and whispered, "It's over. Can Kaelin leave now?"
Aiden frowned.
''What do you mean. It's just beginning. We have to go into the inner hall. Just the offspring.''
Kaelin glanced around.
Truly, as the members related to the royal family slowly disperse, the princes and princesses remain rooted in their spot.
The royal procession moved into the inner cave hall, the air growing heavier, charged with ancient power. This space was darker, the walls lined with shadowy tapestries. All were instructed to remove their shoes—a mark of respect for the sacred ground they now entered.
The only sounds were whispers and the faint scrape of footwear sliding off. Kaelin's crisp footsteps echoed as he moved with a slow, deliberate pace.
Kaelin stepped into the cave, halting abruptly at the first step. He felt an odd sense of familiarity wash over him, like a distant memory stirring in the shadows. Goosebumps crawled up his skin, and his shadow came alive, shifting deliberately.
He staggered, clasping his face. The cool, damp air wrapped around him, and the flickering torchlight danced on the rough stone walls, as if the cavern itself whispered secrets only he could hear. His eye color flickered with the torches.
Aiden, beside him, noticed the change. He whispered as he walked.
''Control it.''
His disoriented gaze lingered around the cave, and he stepped in, staggering slightly.
The air was cool, tinged with incense and the faint earthy scent of old stone. Bright torchlight flickered from sconces, casting long shadows that danced like spirits.
At the center stood a stone statue of the god Aethereia. The Royal family made a circle around it. The emperor, empress and thirteen offspring.
The priestesses again began to swirl around in rhythm, shaking tambourines, as the high priestess chanted.
High Priestess, raising her hands higher, she rang a bell.
"Atrae sil'vanor… thren malai ethrua!"
(Hear us, spirits of light and shadow)
Royal Family (echoing):
"Naelor vah-thien, lunarae sevrith."
(Bind crown and kin beneath eternal law)
High Priestess:
"Varune kel'dara… ishtrael mehra'suun."
(Cleanse the blood, mend the root of the line)
Royal Family:
"Shai'thra… shai'thra… ael'murae."
(We yield, we yield, to the guiding flame)
High Priestess:
"Eris valeir, aen sothra naelith —"
(In the name of the first flame and last light —)
Royal Family:
"Thraevor! Thraevor! Et'laer shuun!"
(So is it sealed! So is it bound!)
The words stung Kaelin's ear. Suddenly feeling agitated, he let out a gasp of heavy breath. No one notices. They all had their eye closed.
The priestess continued to swirl and chant in languages that Kaelin found disturbing, but the silence of the high priestess was even more alarming. The bell had stopped ringing.
He turned.
As Kaelin's gaze locked onto the High Priestess, she was already staring at him.
Not him, but his shadow stretching across the flickering light.
Her eyes seem to widen in surprise.
Not a surprise, but a growing horror.
The bell slipped from her fingers, falling to the stone floor with a soft clang. The sound echoed through the cavernous space, momentarily breaking the spell of the ritual.
All the royals flinched, opening their eye to stare at her.
The High Priestess's eyes, once piercing green, now seemed to hold a mix of fear.
She dared to look at him, and that got her staggering.
She took a step back, her hands faltering in their intricate pattern. The priestesses around her slowed their movements, their eyes darting nervously between Kaelin and their leader.
Kaelin's gaze never wavered, his crimson eyes burning with an intensity that seemed to bore into the High Priestess's very soul. The air around them seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken tension.
Aiden, standing beside Kaelin, noticed the sudden change in atmosphere. He followed Kaelin's gaze to the High Priestess, his brow furrowing in concern.
The High Priestess's face paled, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came forth. The silence between her and Kaelin was oppressive, a living, breathing thing that seemed to pulse with power.
''He,'' she pointed, avoiding his gaze. ''He cannot be king...no, he must not be king!''
The royal family gasped, words already rising. The king's brow furrowed thoughtfully.
She staggered again, holding her head, like she had seen something terrible. One of the priestesses came close to hold her, but she resisted, suddenly wary of everyone.
''High priestess,'' King Gemma's voice brought an eerie silence. ''What did you see?''
''I can't explain it, your Highness,'' she fell on her knee, clutching tight to her ceremonial robe. ''However, you must never make him king.''
All eyes snapped to Kaelin, who only stared back in confusion.
''He will ruin this empire, the high priestess continued to speak. He will destroy everything. If he's king, nothing will stop...No, that won't do,''
She rose suddenly and approached the king with intense speed.
''He's not human! Taking the throne from him won't stop him,''
She grasped the king's shoulder, earning a gasp from the people present.
''Have him...executed!''
TBC....