The council chamber of the Celestial Empire was not built for mortals.
Twelve seats carved from twelve divine elements—light, shadow, flame, wind, ocean, stone, metal, void, thunder, nature, blood, and dream—encircled the center of the great hall. Each throne shimmered faintly with the aura of its ruling kingdom, forming a perfect circle of creation and destruction.
At the heart of that circle stood Emperor Raelis Veyra, Aru's father—his golden eyes unreadable, his power cloaked but undeniable.
The air itself bent under the pressure of his will.
"Bring them in," the Emperor ordered softly.
The great silver doors opened, and three figures entered: Staryo, Aru, and Kaelith. Their steps echoed faintly, the sound swallowed by the vastness of the hall.
Every ruler of the Twelve Kingdoms of Arunae watched.
From the Oceanic Dominion of Nephra, the blue-haired Queen Sirenia's gaze was calm but sharp.
From the Infernal Empire of Solvarn, Lord Darius smirked behind the flicker of his flame.
From the Kingdom of Sylvenra, the elves watched silently, their eyes reflecting forest light.
And from the Shadow Domain of Vexra, a woman cloaked in darkness leaned forward, her whisper barely audible:
> "So… this is the one who defied the Celestial Flame."
Even among rulers, the name Staryo now carried weight.
Aru stood slightly behind him, fingers curling near her robe. She didn't fear the assembly—but she feared what her father might reveal.
The Emperor rose. "Twelve Kingdoms gather today under one banner… not for war, not for alliance, but for warning."
He stepped down from his throne. His gaze moved from one ruler to another, then settled on Staryo.
"The Gate… has begun to awaken."
A low murmur rippled through the hall. Even Kaelith's composure cracked slightly.
Aru's pulse quickened. "Father… what do you mean?"
The Emperor raised his hand, and a projection shimmered into the air—a grand door suspended in the void, its surface etched with celestial runes that pulsed like living stars.
"Thousands of years ago, this Gate sealed away the remnants of the Abyssal Ones—creatures born from chaos before creation took shape. We, the rulers of the Twelve Kingdoms, maintain that seal through our unity."
He turned, eyes cold as starlight. "But last night, the seal trembled."
Gasps filled the chamber.
Kaelith clenched his fists. "You mean… the Abyss Monsters could—"
"Yes," Raelis interrupted. "If the Gate truly weakens, this world may once again drown in darkness."
He paused… and then looked directly at Staryo.
"That is why we called you here."
The silence was suffocating.
Staryo met his gaze calmly, though inside, something ancient stirred again—like an echo of a voice he didn't remember but somehow knew.
Raelis's tone softened, though his authority never faltered.
"You carry power foreign to this realm, boy. Power that defied the Celestial Flame, survived the Mirage, and subdued your own shadow. The seal responds to you… as if it knows you."
A faint shimmer passed through Staryo's eyes—a flicker of that cosmic nebula light.
Aru stepped forward before her father could continue.
"Father, you can't mean to use him! He just completed the trials—his soul hasn't even recovered!"
Raelis's expression wavered for the briefest heartbeat. "Aru… this is not about worthiness. It's about survival."
The rulers murmured their agreement.
> "If the seal breaks, none of us will stand."
"His power may be the key."
"Or the cause…"
Whispers spread like wildfire.
Kaelith looked between them, his rival instincts clouded by confusion. Is Staryo truly the savior… or the threat?
Raelis raised his hand again, commanding silence.
"I will not force what destiny demands. But Staryo—if the Gate truly resonates with your soul, then you must be prepared. Should the Abyss stir again… the Twelve Kingdoms will fall unless someone faces it."
The moment froze.
Aru's heart pounded. "There must be another way."
But Staryo simply nodded once, calm and certain.
"If the world trembles, I will stand."
For an instant, his presence—his mere existence—seemed to steady the air, as though reality itself recognized him.
Raelis studied him closely, then turned away. "Very well. The council is adjourned."
The rulers began to vanish, one by one—flames, waves, shadows, and winds dissolving into sparks of their elemental essence.
As the hall emptied, Aru turned to her father, eyes wet.
"Why him, Father?"
Raelis's voice was low. "Because destiny doesn't ask permission."
---
Later that night, in the garden beneath the moon, Aru stood beside Staryo again. The world was silent—but not peaceful.
She whispered, "Do you ever feel like the world's watching us?"
Staryo looked up at the sky—twelve moons, one for each kingdom, glowed faintly across the heavens. "Maybe it is," he said softly. "Or maybe it's waiting."
"Waiting for what?" she asked.
He smiled faintly. "For the real story to begin."
Aru's heart fluttered. The quiet around them felt heavier than before—like the calm before the storm.
And far away, in the deepest void beyond the Gate…
A single eye opened.
> "He lives… again?"
The voice was neither male nor female—just ancient. And hungry.
The abyss stirred, whispering through the cracks of forgotten worlds.
---
The Gate will whisper once more.
An attack will strike the Academy itself.
And Staryo's path as both student and warrior will begin anew—under the shadow of destiny.