Elias walked through the rows of knights, soldiers, and servants standing in perfect formation, and stepped into the carriage.
Along the way, he stared blankly at the passing scenery.
His mind was flooded with thoughts—he had died just hours ago, and yet here he was.
It felt like the dream could end at any moment.
As they entered the main road, the people of the city greeted him with joyful cheers.
Elias had forgotten that this city had once been so full of life and energy.
One of the knights approached the carriage:
"You seem deep in thought today, Your Majesty."
Elias turned. It was Commander Alexander, clad in his ceremonial armor, black hair tucked beneath his metal helm. Seeing that familiar, long-lost face brought a smile to Elias's lips.
Alexander noticed and asked:
"What brings a smile, Your Majesty?"
Alexander had once been Elias's mentor—
and later, one of the closest people in his life.
Elias had always believed he'd be by his side forever. But Alexander was one of the first he lost.
During a royal hunting ceremony, assassins had targeted Elias. Alexander had appeared suddenly and said:
"I'll hold them off. You must go."
Elias had fled like a coward.
He sent soldiers to help, but they returned with Alexander's lifeless body.
Elias looked at the commander still standing by the carriage window:
"Commander…"
Alexander bowed respectfully:
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
Elias smiled:
"Thank you for being here."
They finally arrived at the temple.
The entire structure was built from large and small stones carved in the earliest years of the kingdom's founding. Several priests in long white robes, their bodies hidden beneath the fabric, stood before the iron gate. As Elias stepped out, they all spoke in unison:
"Hail to the Emperor of Neyora!"
Elias, accompanied by Commander Alexander and a few guards, followed the priests. They entered a square courtyard surrounded by buildings, with an open yard at its center. By tradition, the coronation ceremony had to be held in the sacred chamber and led by the High Priest.
Elias thought to himself how powerful the temple must be— even the emperor was summoned from his palace to stand here.
As they crossed the courtyard toward the main gate, a figure suddenly blocked their path. A teenage boy with short red hair and a long priestly robe spread his arms and shouted:
"You cannot enter!"
Alexander stepped forward.
"Do you realize what you're saying?"
The boy, who looked to be Elias's age, pointed directly at him:
"I won't let you bring him into the sacred place."
"What did you say?"
One of the priests rushed over, apologizing:
"Jackson! What are you doing? That's the emperor!"
But Jackson didn't move. He kept staring at Elias:
"He… he's dead."
Several gasps filled the air—including Elias's own.
The commander drew his sword:
"You're crossing the line."
Elias raised a hand to stop him. He turned to the priest:
"Who is this boy?"
The priest answered nervously:
"My deepest apologies. This is Jackson—one of the temple's members. He sometimes says strange things… because he can see people's auras."
Auras? Elias knew this boy.
Jackson had once been a candidate to succeed the High Priest, but ultimately failed.
They said he had a special gift. So this was it.
The priest grabbed Jackson's arm:
"Don't worry. I'll take him away right now Come on, you foolish boy!"
Jackson resisted:
"Believe me! He's already died… He's a corpse! He shouldn't enter the temple!"
The priest, dragging him away, snapped:
"Death doesn't make someone impure, idiot!"
The gates opened, and they stepped into a stone corridor. At the end of the path lay the sacred chamber— where blessings were given, rituals like coronations were held, and prophecies were received.
Elias stopped, remembering something. Of course—why hadn't he thought of it sooner?
At birth, each person received a prophecy revealing a key part of their destiny. All it took was a payment to the temple to retrieve it.
Alexander asked:
"Is something wrong?"
Elias couldn't recall the exact words of his prophecy, but he was sure it contained something important. He turned to the commander:
"Send word to the palace. Have them bring my prophecy. I want it in my hands when I return."
Alexander looked surprised, but nodded.
Elias turned and continued walking. Unlike the grand gate they had passed through, the door to the chamber was plain. It opened.
From here on, he had to go alone. As he stepped inside, he heard the door close behind him.
He remembered how mysterious and enchanting this place had once felt. But now, his eyes were fixed only on the priest standing at the far end.
The room was lit only by two candlesticks flanking the priest. Rumors said the prophecies were written on the walls, which was why the chamber was always kept dim.
The priest raised his hands:
"Come forward, my child. The time has come."
Elias approached and knelt. The priest recited a few prayers, then sprinkled drops of sacred water on Elias's shoulders and head.
Finally, he spoke loudly:
"O goddess Mercia, protector of this land, bless this child and do not withhold your grace."
Elias thought:
Why does he shout like that when no one else is here?
The priest continued:
"Do you swear to dedicate all your abilities—mind and body—to this nation?"
Without hesitation, Elias said:
"I swear."
"Do you swear that all your actions will serve to protect this land?"
"I swear."
The priest lifted a crown from the table and placed it on Elias's head:
"With this crown, the authority to rule this land is granted to you."
Then he handed him a sword:
"With this sword, the power to protect its people is entrusted to you."
He gestured:
"Rise."
Elias stood. He looked at the priest's face—aged, with eyes full of wisdom. This was the man who had crowned both his father and grandfather. Elias knew this would be the last ceremony he performed, for he would soon pass on and be replaced.
The priest smiled:
"You are now the Emperor of Neyora."
He bowed respectfully:
"Hail to the Emperor."
Elias was surprised. The High Priest hadn't acted this way in the past. He replied softly:
"Thank you."
Then he turned and walked toward the door.
As it opened, everyone waiting outside bowed.
"Hail to the Emperor!"
Elias said to himself:
"That's right… I am the emperor of this land.
And I swear to protect it."