Morning arrived over the Veyris Empire.
The red moon had disappeared, replaced by rivers of golden sunlight flowing across the sky.
Inside the Imperial Gardens.
Sun Wukong stood on top of a giant crystal platform with his staff raised dramatically.
WELCOME!
TODAY IS THE FIRST GREAT FAMILY TRIAL!
Silence.
Kaelignis Veyris blinked.
I thought you said you made that up yesterday.
Wukong coughed.
Details.
Nearby, Kael's wives sat beneath crystal trees watching.
Ignisia crossed her arms.
Umbryssia smirked.
Genesisra quietly watched.
Abyssia narrowed her eyes with interest.
At the center of the arena stood:
Kaelignis Veyris
Lyra's Kaelry
Elyrion Veythera
Veyloria Kaelthera
Seralyth Veyris
Wukong pointed dramatically.
The goal is simple!
Reach the star crystal first!
Far above the arena floated a glowing crystal.
Ancient symbols rotated around it.
GO!
Instantly.
Kaelignis exploded forward with dragon-star flames.
Lyra rushed ahead with silver energy around her sword.
Elyrion created floating platforms beneath her feet.
Seralyth flew upward with celestial wings.
But Veyloria simply stood there.
Silence.
Kaelignis shouted from a distance:
VEYLORIA! MOVE!
Veyloria blinked.
Then quietly whispered:
Void Calm Domain.
The world around her became still.
Not frozen.
Calm.
The rushing winds slowed.
The unstable energy around the crystal became peaceful.
The crystal itself drifted...
slowly...
toward her.
Absolute silence.
The crystal gently landed in Veyloria's hands.
Wukong stared.
Lyra stared.
..
Kaelignis pointed dramatically.
THAT COUNTS?!
Elyrion rapidly wrote into her book.
New discovery:
Veyloria solved competition through maximum laziness efficiency.
Nearby.
Kael's wives started laughing.
Even Ignisia covered her mouth.
Umbryssia looked extremely proud.
Then a familiar hand rested on Veyloria's head.
Kael Veyris had appeared.
He looked at her calmly.
Well done.
Veyloria looked up.
...I won?
Kael nodded.
You used your own power your own way.
That matters.
For the first time.
Veyloria smiled a little.
A very small smile.
But everyone noticed.
Far above the Empire.
the Hidden Resonance symbols flickered once.
Growth acknowledged
Individual identity strengthened
And somewhere beyond the stars.
the mysterious Watcher spoke quietly.
Interesting...
The quietest star moved everyone.