BOOK THREE: THE FALL OF THE FIRST KINGDOM
Chapter 5: The Trial of the Covenant
White light swallowed everything.
The magnificent Hall of the First King disappeared.
The Six Heirs could no longer see one another.
They could no longer hear one another.
Each stood alone.
The First King's Trial had begun.
---
Riva's Trial
Riva opened her eyes inside the orphanage where she had grown up.
Everything looked exactly as she remembered.
The old wooden walls.
The tiny beds.
The garden she used to clean every morning.
Children laughed outside.
For a moment...
She forgot everything.
A familiar voice called her name.
"Riva."
She turned.
The matron stood in the doorway, smiling exactly as she had years ago.
"You came back."
Riva's eyes filled with tears.
"But..."
"You're gone."
The matron simply smiled.
"Am I?"
Before Riva could answer...
The room changed.
The orphanage became surrounded by darkness.
Black mist slowly approached the children.
The matron looked at Riva.
"You can only save one."
"The children..."
"...or your friends."
Silence.
The children cried for help.
Far away, she could hear Lucien shouting her name.
The choice seemed impossible.
Riva closed her eyes.
When she opened them again...
She smiled.
"I refuse."
The illusion froze.
"I won't choose between family."
"I'll find another way."
The darkness shattered like broken glass.
A calm voice echoed through the sky.
"First Trial Cleared."
---
Lucien's Trial
Lucien found himself standing inside a magnificent throne room.
A golden crown rested upon a pedestal.
His father stood beside it.
"Proud of you, my son."
The kingdom cheered.
"You've become King."
Lucien looked around.
Everything was peaceful.
No wars.
No suffering.
His father smiled warmly.
"All you have to do..."
"...is leave your friends behind."
The throne room became silent.
Lucien laughed.
Then he walked past the crown.
"I'd rather be a friend..."
"...than a king."
The crown cracked.
The illusion disappeared.
"Second Trial Cleared."
---
Eva's Trial
Eva stood inside an endless library.
Every mystery.
Every forgotten truth.
Every secret ever hidden.
All of it surrounded her.
A voice whispered,
"Take the books."
"You'll know everything."
Eva slowly reached toward the nearest shelf.
Then stopped.
"If I know every answer..."
"I'll stop asking questions."
The books vanished.
The library smiled with light.
"Third Trial Cleared."
---
Parna's Trial
Parna stood inside the world's most beautiful forest.
Every flower bloomed.
Every animal gathered around her.
The forest whispered,
"Stay."
"You can protect us forever."
She smiled sadly.
"I love you."
"But nature isn't meant to be hidden."
"It belongs with people too."
The forest bowed.
Leaves surrounded her.
"Fourth Trial Cleared."
---
Aarvi's Trial
Aarvi opened her eyes inside her uncle's workshop.
He looked exactly as she remembered.
He laughed while carving another wooden bird.
"You finally came home."
Tears filled Aarvi's eyes.
"I missed you."
"I know."
He smiled.
"You can stay."
"No more adventures."
"No more pain."
"No more loss."
Aarvi hugged him tightly.
For a long time...
Neither spoke.
Finally...
She stepped backward.
"If I stay..."
"I'll never meet everyone who became my family."
Her uncle smiled proudly.
"You've grown."
He slowly disappeared.
Only the wooden bird remained.
"Fifth Trial Cleared."
---
Orion's Trial
Orion stood upon an endless battlefield.
Thousands of enemies surrounded frightened civilians.
A sword appeared before him.
A voice whispered,
"Destroy your enemies."
Another voice whispered,
"Protect your people."
He couldn't do both.
Orion dropped the sword.
Instead...
He raised his shield.
"I became a Guardian..."
"...to protect."
The civilians disappeared.
The battlefield dissolved.
"Sixth Trial Cleared."
---
The six trials ended simultaneously.
White light surrounded the Six Heirs.
One by one...
They returned to the Hall of the First King.
The Chancellor stood exactly where they had left him.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
"You passed."
---
The six smaller thrones disappeared into the floor.
Only the great crystal throne remained.
Above it floated the ancient white book.
Its pages turned slowly.
Golden words appeared.
"The Covenant has been judged worthy."
The Hall trembled.
The mysterious seventh figure seated upon the floating throne slowly became clearer.
Still...
Its face remained hidden behind brilliant white light.
The figure stood.
The Hall itself bowed.
Even the Chancellor lowered his head.
Riva noticed.
"You know this person."
The Chancellor answered quietly,
"I served them."
---
The figure slowly descended from the floating throne.
Every step caused ancient memories to appear around the Hall.
The founding of Aurelia.
The creation of the Gates.
The Promise of Six.
Then...
One memory appeared that no one had ever seen.
A king placing his crown upon the crystal throne...
Then walking away without it.
Lucien frowned.
"He left the crown behind."
The Chancellor nodded.
"He always did."
---
The mysterious figure finally spoke.
Its voice sounded neither old nor young.
Neither male nor female.
It echoed like countless voices speaking as one.
"You seek the truth."
"You believe the First Kingdom fell because of betrayal."
A long silence followed.
Then the figure raised one hand.
The ancient white book opened to its very first page.
Across it appeared a sentence written in silver fire.
"The First Kingdom did not fall."
Everyone froze.
Eva's compass slipped from her hand.
Riva stared at the page.
Lucien couldn't speak.
Parna whispered,
"Then..."
"What happened?"
The figure slowly looked toward the endless darkness beyond the Hall.
Its answer sent chills through every soul present.
"The First Kingdom... disappeared by its own choice."
The Hall fell completely silent.
The greatest mystery of history had only just begun.
End of Chapter 5