Chapter 13: Shadows Across the Kingdoms
751 Words
The chamber remained silent long after Aster's departure.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The weight of his words lingered in the air like an invisible storm.
"When next we meet... you will choose."
Azul couldn't shake the feeling that the message had been meant for him alone.
---
Master Kael turned toward the old guardian.
"We deserve the truth."
The old man nodded slowly.
"You do."
He walked to the center of the chamber and rested his hand upon the floating Crown of Aether.
"For centuries, the kingdoms have believed that the Six Founders united this continent."
He paused.
"That... is only half the truth."
The chamber grew still.
"There were seven founders."
"Aster was the greatest warrior among them."
"The others believed that only through unity could the continent survive."
"But Aster believed peace could only exist if every kingdom answered to one ruler."
Cassian folded his arms.
"So he wanted an empire."
"Yes."
"And he was willing to wage war to create it."
King Aldren frowned.
"The other founders opposed him?"
"They pleaded with him."
The old man's voice became heavy.
"But when words failed..."
"They fought."
---
Brakus looked at the ancient guardians.
"They sealed their own brother?"
The old man closed his eyes.
"With broken hearts."
"The battle lasted seven days."
"None of them truly won."
"They sealed Aster beneath the Sanctuary and scattered the truth, fearing that future generations would follow his path."
Bashan remained unusually quiet.
Liora noticed.
"You've hardly said a word."
Bashan stared at the ground.
"I keep wondering..."
"If he truly believed he was saving the continent..."
"Was he really a villain?"
The question echoed through the chamber.
No one answered.
Even Master Kael couldn't.
---
Later that evening, the Royal Vanguard gathered on the palace balcony overlooking the Endless Stream.
The city below had returned to its celebrations.
The people knew nothing of what had happened beneath their feet.
Taren leaned against the railing.
"It's strange."
"What is?"
"They're celebrating peace..."
"While we're talking about another war."
Nyx looked toward the distant mountains.
"Peace is always quiet."
"War announces itself."
---
Princess Seraphina joined them carrying six wooden cups filled with warm herbal tea.
"I thought you could all use this."
Brakus accepted one gratefully.
"You're a lifesaver."
She smiled.
"I've been called worse."
Everyone laughed softly.
Even Bashan managed a faint smile.
Seraphina noticed.
"You've been thinking about Aster."
Bashan nodded.
"He wasn't completely wrong."
Azul looked at him.
"No."
"He wasn't."
Everyone turned.
Azul continued quietly.
"He wanted unity."
"His mistake wasn't the dream."
"It was believing people should be forced into it."
Seraphina smiled to herself.
That answer told her exactly why Azul inspired so many people.
---
The next morning, another delegation finally arrived.
This one bore banners unlike any the Royal Vanguard had seen.
A silver wolf stood proudly upon a field of emerald green.
"The Kingdom of Eryndor," Master Kael announced.
Leading the procession was a young queen, no older than twenty-five.
She carried no weapon.
Yet every knight around her treated her with absolute respect.
As she stepped from her carriage, she immediately noticed the gathered members of the Royal Vanguard.
Her gaze lingered on Azul...
Then Bashan...
Then the others.
"So these are the heroes everyone is talking about."
Before anyone could respond, a palace messenger came sprinting across the courtyard.
His face was pale.
He dropped to one knee before King Joseph.
"Your Majesty!"
"What is it?"
The messenger struggled to catch his breath.
"We've just received word from the northern border."
The courtyard fell silent.
"A village has been destroyed."
King Joseph's expression darkened.
"By whom?"
The messenger swallowed hard.
"The survivors..."
He hesitated.
"They all gave the same description."
Master Kael stepped forward.
"Speak."
"They said..."
"...the attacker wore black armour with a crimson crystal in his chest."
Every member of the Royal Vanguard froze.
Aster.
He hadn't disappeared.
He had begun moving.
Far away, in the smoking ruins of the village, Aster stood atop a broken watchtower.
Around him, frightened survivors huddled together.
Yet none of them had been harmed.
Instead, Aster looked toward the distant horizon.
"They still call me a monster."
He closed his eyes.
"Very well."
"If history refuses to remember the truth..."
"I shall rewrite history myself."
Behind him, dozens of cloaked warriors wearing the crimson emblem of the Crimson Order emerged from the forest.
One by one, they knelt before him.
For the first time in centuries...
The Seventh Founder had an army.
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