The Duke of the Sapphire Coast made the final, fatal mistake of his life. Emboldened
by the High Priest's mention of a "relic," he stepped toward Jee-shahn and spat at the
boy's feet. "See? He's silent now! The little 'Emperor' is scared! Give up the toy, boy,
and—"
Jee-shahn didn't let him finish. The "noise" of the Duke's arrogance had finally
crossed the line.
CRUNCH.
The Duke didn't even have time to scream. In a terrifying display of raw, crushing
weight, the Duke was instantly imploded into a dense, bloody sphere no larger than
an apple. His guards were ground into the crystal floor until they were nothing but
metallic dust and a dark smear. The Duke—the powerful ruler of the coast—was now a
"marble" rolling across the obsidian table.
The room exploded in a diferent kind of noise. The other Lords scrambled back, their
faces twisted in a mixture of paralyzing fear and white-hot rage. "You... you monster!"one shouted, though he hid behind a pillar. The High Priest stood trembling, his eyes
burning with anger at the desecration of his hall, yet his legs refused to move forward.
Jasmine was hyperventilating, her azure-crystal staff clattering to the floor. The
silence that followed was sufocating until her father, the High Priest, took a long,
shaky breath. He looked at the bloody marble, then at the Duke's father—the Elder
Lord—who was staring in horror at the remains of his son.
"Well," the High Priest spoke, his voice vibrating with suppressed emotion. "It seems
we no longer have a candidate to challenge for the Trial of the Deep Current."
He looked at Jee-shahn with a gaze full of hidden fury and fear. "I do not care who this
boy truly is, or what name he steals. For me, he is simply the one my daughter claims
to love."
The High Priest turned his sharp gaze toward Jasmine. The remaining Dukes and her
brothers all turned as one, their eyes boring into her. "Jasmine," her father prompted,
his voice like a tightening noose. "Do you still love this... boy? Is he still your
choice?"
Jasmine was trembling so hard her mismatched stockings seemed to vibrate. She
looked at Jee-shahn, who was casually picking a piece of Duke-meat off his sleeve,
and then at the angry sea-lords. She gave a frantic, jerky nod. "Y-yes! I love him! More
than life itself!"
The High Priest turned back to the Elder Lord, placing a hand on the grieving man's
shoulder. "I understand the pain of losing a son. I feel truly for you. I apologize for
what my... 'son-in-law' has done. I am certain your son's soul has already reached the
highest heavens and found a peaceful place there."
The Elder Lord could only choke out a sob, too terrified to disagree.
The High Priest then turned a cold, sharp look on Jee-shahn and Jasmine. "See? She
loves him. So, for the audience outside, we shall pretend nothing happened. Jasmine!
Take him away and change his outfit immediately! I will not have my son-in-law
looking like a fool and a commoner at his own wedding!"
Jasmine didn't wait for a second command. She lunged forward, grabbed Jee-shahn's
arm with a grip of pure iron, and began dragging him toward the dressing rooms at a
full sprint.
"Wait, the fruit!" Jee-shahn protested, his heavy robes flapping as he was hauled
away. "I didn't finish the pears! If I'm getting married, I demand a snack-break!"
"Shut up and run!" Jasmine squeaked, her voice cracking. "We have to get you into
silk before you kill anyone else!