Ash and Vaeloria stood outside the Lesser Chamber dressed like royalty carved from night itself.
Ash wore a high-collared coat of midnight black, the fabric woven from threads of solidified starlight. Golden runes crawled along the cuffs and hem like living ember, pulsing faintly with every breath. Beneath it, a sleeveless vest of deep crimson clung to his frame, leaving his arms bare to show the sculpted power he now carried. A single thin chain of black gold looped from shoulder to waist, holding a small obsidian pendant shaped like a cracked crown.
Vaeloria, hanging possessively on his arm, wore a flowing dress of liquid shadow that shifted between deep violet and absolute black. The neckline plunged daringly, framed by black fox-fur that reflected no light. Ten magnificent tails flowed behind her, each tip glowing faint white, swaying like living constellations. A thin circlet of black crystal rested on her forehead, the full moon mark glowing softly beneath it.
"Now that the eighteen months are up," she purred, voice velvet and dangerous, "what's the plan? You never told me."
Ash's smile was slow, wicked.
"Isn't it better to see than to be told?"
They vanished from the violet meadow.
Outside, six months had passed in Elaris, and the world had not waited quietly.
The Solace Kingdom had already begun their plan of expansion. Seventy-five thousand kilometers had become eighty-five thousand, taken not through war but through wagers. They challenged neighboring kingdoms to duels of champions: land and resources on the table, winner takes all.
And, they never lost.
Aster orchestrated every match like a chess master, poisoning three rival generals the night before their duels, bribing referees, spreading rumours that broke enemy morale before blades were even drawn.
Shia fought with cold, surgical grace, her twin swords carving through knights while her smile never reached her eyes; every victory was another step toward the throne she believed was hers by right.
Draven laughed as he shattered shields and spines alike, treating each duel like a tavern brawl, his spear drinking blood until the arena floors ran crimson.
And Nia… Nia burned like a falling star. Her Celestial Emberlight bloodline turned battlefields into graveyards; entire formations knelt or died when she stepped forward, with golden flames licking the sky.
Yet even that wasn't enough.
In the throne room, the royal family stood around a lesser projection stele, faces grim. Fresh blood still stained their clothes from the latest wager.
The projection showed devastation: three kingdoms conquered, banners burned, capitals kneeling.
Kale's face filled the stele, smiling, A-rank aura blazing like a second sun.
"He conquered three kingdoms?" Aster's voice cracked. "In six months?"
"And reached A-rank," Shia whispered, fists clenched so tight her knuckles turned a bit white.
"Fighting him now means annihilation," Aster continued.
Lyssandra closed her eyes. "We can only pray his demands aren't monstrous."
Draven spat on the marble floor. "Father, where's that trash prince? I need to break something."
Caelum shook his head. "Somewhere in the palace, I assume."
Nia opened her mouth to protest—
The throne room doors creaked open.
Ash walked in wearing his old frail form, bony shoulders hunched, dull gold eyes downcast. On his shoulder perched a tiny abyssal-black fox with ten flowing tails and a full moon glowing on its forehead.
"Ashy?" Nia breathed, heart slamming against her ribs.
Caelum frowned. Aster scoffed. Shia rolled her eyes. Lyssandra's gaze lingered. Draven laughed, loud and cruel.
"Haha! Speak of trash and trash appears!" He rolled his shoulders, cracked his knuckles, and summoned his spear in a burst of crimson light. Nia seeing all of this wanted to move, but when she seen the way Ash looked at Draven, she couldn't help but pause her movements.
Ash looked at Draven with the grin of a starving wolf.
He parted his lips.
|Eros Whisper|
Ten percent of his mana vanished. A faint pink thread spider-webbed through the air, latching onto every soul in the room except one. Every single person froze mid-motion. Weapons clattered. Knees buckled. Eyes went glassy with devotion.
Ash strolled forward, footsteps echoing like judgment.
"My little Nia~" His voice was the sweetest lullaby ever sung. "I kept my word, you know." Nia stared, confused, aching, until the frail illusion shattered.
Bones lengthened. Muscle bloomed. Skin ignited with inner light. In a heartbeat the broken prince was gone, and in his place stood six-foot-two of sculpted ruin and beauty, midnight coat flaring, golden-pink eyes blazing like twin suns. Shimmering black-and-white hair fell to his neck. Power rolled off him in waves that made the air itself kneel.
[Nia Solace Affection 99 %]
[Shia Solace Affection 1 %]
[Lyssandra Solace Affection 52 %]
'Eh?' He thought seeing his mother's affection, but he quickly pushed it for later. Because right now
"A-ashy.... you can cultivate?" Nia asked as her body trembled looking at his transformation. He walked straight to Nia, cupped her chin, thumb brushing her trembling lips, and kissed her long and deep in front of the entire frozen royal family.
The tiny fox on his shoulder nipped his neck in protest.
He smiled against Nia's mouth, pulled back just enough to meet her wide, tear-filled eyes.
"Yes, little Nia. I can cultivate now."
His voice dropped to a possessive murmur that promised ruin to anyone who ever hurt her again.
"And from now on, I will be the one protecting you."
Then he turned to the statues that had once been his family, smile sharpening into something lethal.
"Now… what to do with you lot…"