The silver light illuminating the eastern horizon remained visible long after the Crystal Throne had emerged.
Across the continent, every kingdom, sect, empire, and hidden organization turned their eyes toward the mountains.
No one knew what had happened.
Only one thing was certain.
The world had changed.
...
Imperial Academy.
The symbol on Aren's hand slowly faded until it became almost invisible.
He stared at it in silence.
"A shield..."
The deep voice had disappeared.
Around him, students were still discussing the pillar of light.
"Could it be another ancient ruin?"
"I heard the Royal Army has already been dispatched."
"My uncle said every kingdom is mobilizing."
Aren barely heard them.
His thoughts remained on the question.
**Will you protect those who cannot protect themselves?**
Before he could think further—
"AREN!"
He turned.
Lyra and Selene were running toward him from the Grand Library.
Both looked unusually serious.
"What happened?" Aren asked.
Lyra grabbed his wrist.
"The symbol."
Aren's eyes widened.
"You can see it?"
Selene nodded.
"Only faintly."
"But yes."
Aren slowly revealed the back of his hand.
The silver shield briefly shimmered.
Lyra exchanged a glance with Selene.
"It really chose someone..."
"What chose someone?" Aren asked.
Instead of answering, Lyra handed him the ancient manuscript.
The page had changed once again.
This time, only a single sentence remained.
**The Shield Throne seeks the one who carries others before himself.**
Aren read the sentence twice.
Then laughed awkwardly.
"...This has to be a mistake."
"I'm not special."
Selene immediately shook her head.
"That's exactly why it chose you."
Aren looked confused.
"I don't understand."
Lyra smiled faintly.
"You remember the Kingdom War?"
Aren remained silent.
"I remember."
"You stayed behind."
"You knew you couldn't defeat the enemy."
"You stayed anyway."
Images flashed through his mind.
Broken walls.
Burning houses.
Children crying.
Soldiers retreating.
And himself...
Standing alone with nothing except a cracked shield.
He hadn't fought because he thought he would win.
He fought because someone had to remain behind.
Aren lowered his head.
"I was terrified."
Lyra answered gently.
"So was everyone."
"Courage isn't the absence of fear."
"It's choosing to stand despite it."
For the first time since the war...
Aren smiled.
A genuine smile.
Not forced.
Not awkward.
Maybe...
Just maybe...
He wasn't as ordinary as he believed.
...
Thousands of kilometers away.
The Crystal Throne continued floating above the mountain.
Ancient runes slowly awakened across its surface.
One after another.
Until seven symbols became visible.
A shield.
A sword.
A star.
A flame.
A wave.
A crown.
An eye.
Six remained dormant.
Only the shield glowed brightly.
The Throne had acknowledged its first candidate.
Not its master.
Its candidate.
A long journey still awaited.
...
Meanwhile...
Inside the Imperial Palace.
Princess Seraphina stood alone upon the highest balcony.
The wind gently moved her crimson cloak.
Her eyes never left the distant silver light.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
The Emperor approached quietly.
Unlike the magnificent image he presented before his people, only exhaustion remained on his face.
"You already know."
Seraphina nodded.
"The ancient records were true."
"The Thrones exist."
The Emperor sighed.
"I hoped they didn't."
Seraphina looked at him.
"Why?"
The Emperor remained silent for several moments.
Finally...
"My grandfather told me a story."
"He said whenever the Thrones awaken..."
"...the world stands at the edge of destruction."
The Princess looked toward the distant mountains once more.
"So another Great Calamity is coming."
"No."
The Emperor's voice became heavy.
"It has already begun."
...
Deep beneath the World Tree...
Kael had reached the end of another corridor.
Unlike the previous doors...
This chamber contained nothing.
No books.
No memories.
No cities.
Only a single mirror.
Its surface reflected nothing.
Not even Kael himself.
The Traveler spoke quietly.
"The Fourth Lock."
Kael frowned.
"A mirror?"
"The Third Lock asked whether you could remember others."
"The Fourth..."
The mirror slowly rippled.
"...asks whether you remember yourself."
Kael stepped closer.
The empty reflection slowly changed.
Not into the Kael standing before it.
Into a young boy.
Around ten years old.
Messy black hair.
Bright silver eyes.
Simple village clothes.
The boy smiled warmly.
A smile Kael hadn't seen in thousands of years.
"...Hello."
Kael froze.
His breathing stopped.
He knew that face.
Not from ancient memories.
Not from the Garden.
From before everything.
Before the Academy.
Before becoming the Last Heir.
Before the world had chosen him.
It was...
Himself.
The boy tilted his head.
"Do you still remember my name?"
Silence.
Kael opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
His memories...
Stopped.
His heart began beating faster.
His mind searched desperately.
The face was familiar.
The voice was familiar.
The feeling was familiar.
But...
The name...
Was gone.
The boy's smile slowly became sad.
"I knew."
He gently placed a hand against the inside of the mirror.
"You remembered the whole world..."
His silver eyes quietly lowered.
"...but you forgot the child you used to be."
The mirror suddenly cracked.
A deafening sound echoed through the empty chamber.
The Fourth Lock...
Had begun.