Ashes of Crown end Claws

Everyone believed only humans and forces existed in the world. But behind seals and mist, clans existed. Thousands of years ago, the four ruling clans ruled in the favor of all. In amity and peace, the realms existed. Until the arrival of the dark clan. The last string of trust snapped between the clans. Wars. Enmity. Distrust began to grow among the clans of the universe like a bond was never there. They became sworn enemies. Everyone believed there was good and bad, but no one really understood the existence of darkness. Somewhere in the middle of the world, it dwelled. It roamed. Corrupting clans, destroying alliances, possessing cultivators. This has called for the division of clans. Somewhere in the human world, the clans existed, unseen to them but definitely felt by them. Kehjyans, once they become youths are sent as messengers to the human world to serve before returning to their clans. The Cat clan of centuries, used to live as one. Suspicion arose that darkness had come again, between them and they shall no longer stay together. Gradually and silently, they broke apart to the farthest path ever known. Years after years. Centuries passed, generations passed, the clans remained divided. The birth of a royal heir should have been a joyous occasion for the Neven empire, yet despair hung over the palace like a dark cloud. Inside the Queen’s chamber, the cries of labor had long since faded. Silence so loud that no one dared say a word. The carved wooden doors slid open, the head of the northern pride clan stepped in. Every person in the chamber immediately dropped to their knees, forehead pressed to the cold floor. “Your majesty”. The midwife stepped forward carefully, cradling a newborn wrapped in white silk. The King stood tall, unmoving, his overwhelming spiritual pressure filling the room. “The Queen has sacrificed her spirit essence to bring life to the child” the midwife said softly. For the first time, an expression crossed the king’s face. He took the infant in his arms as the baby reached out instinctively, tiny fingers curling around the King’s finger. White spiritual essence flowed between the fingertips of the king like smoke. Ancient runes flickered briefly before sinking into the child's forehead. Everyone watched and prayed for the king’s expression. The infant slowly opened her eyes, but— nothing happened. No trace of the royal bloodline “Human?” he thought. He retreated his fingers, his hand falling beside him “Take the child away” he said as the midwife approached. Then- A sharp crystalline note rang through the chamber. The sound of magic. The sound of an awakening. The newborn’s left eye shimmered with an unnatural glow of gold. Gasps erupted from the room and soon ceased at the glare of the King “A hybrid? Impossible”. The child should not have possessed a mutated bloodline. Not in the pride clan especially. The room was dead silent and without another word, the King handed the child back to the midwife “Leave”. The command echoed through the chamber. No one dared hesitate. They left immediately with the child, leaving the King in the room. News spread across the palace before sunrise. The royal heir was flawed. A hybrid, a curse. Everyone knew the fate that awaited the child born with such impure bloodline. The King of the pride clan stepped out of the room, the wind slowly brushing through his raven black hair with some fallen over his shoulders. He walked through the palace gates, his golden robes sweeping across the stone floor “Your majesty” a minister called “What are your orders regarding the child?”. The king’s gaze hardened as he glanced once more at the child in the midwife’s arms “That is not my blood” his cold voice swept across the premise. “Dispose of it” the words came out easier than expected. Several officials paled. No one except one person. The imperial Jinnyan, stepped forward, carrying the newborn in her arms. The little bells hung around her neck chimed as she walked across the officials of the palace “Your majesty” she called calmly “you must not”. Rage flashed through the eyes of the King “Are you countering my orders?” he roared. Everyone’s face fell to a bow. The old woman looked down at the infant. Then, she spoke the words that would haunt the kingdom for years to come. “When the snow turns red, the flawed child shall make the demon king fall to his knees…” the atmosphere trembled “…and strip the Pride King of his sight.” The King’s face darkened, the hatred towards the child grew stronger at the prophecy. “Enough!” the pride king roared, his spiritual essence erupted across the hall. The king pointed a finger at the child “Take that thing away from this palace!”. The Jinnyan remained unmoving. The bells on her hat chimed again. Gentle. Ancient “The heavesn have spoken”, she pressed her finger on the child’s forehead. A silver mark appeared briefly before banishing. “The child shall live” she replied with a faint smile “And she will be called Elyan- child of prophecy”. Years passed within the walls of Neven palace. Elyan grew up alongside her sister Elia. Unlike, Elyan, Elian possessed the pure blood of the pride clan. She was celebrated as the crown princess, adored by the court and showered with luxury the empire could offer. Elyan, however, lived like a shadow. After the deathe of the Pride king, few dared to acknowledge her existence. The servants ignored her, the nobles mocked her, even the palace guards looked at her with pity. The orange sun moved down to the earth, casting shadows upon the earth like a veil. Elia stood in the courtyard lined with blooming plum trees “Everyone curses the day you were born, Elyan” Elia said coldly “If not for you, Neven would have remained pure”. Elyan lowered her gaze, her hands held behind her. Such words no longer hurt as much as they once had. She had heard them her entire life. Following the Pride King's death, governance of the kingdom fell to his younger brother, Prince Regent Duncan. The regent ruled wisely, but tension lingered throughout the court. One evening, while wandering the palace corridors, Elyan overheard voices behind the regent's chamber doors. A foreign king had arrived. The conversation was hushed, but she managed to catch fragments. Alliance. Marriage. Kael. Curious, Elyan later asked the senior midwife about what she had heard. The old woman merely sighed. "Some truths are not yet yours to know, Princess." Not long afterward, the royal decree arrived. For the sake of peace between kingdoms, Elyan would be wed to King Kael. The entire palace buzzed with excitement. Kael was known throughout the cultivation realms. Handsome. Powerful. Talented. Countless noblewomen dreamed of becoming his wife. For the first time in years, Elyan felt a spark of hope. Perhaps she could finally be useful. Perhaps she could finally belong somewhere. So she accepted. But Heaven had other plans. The day of the wedding arrived. Elyan stood before a bronze mirror, dressed in magnificent crimson wedding robes embroidered with gold. The sight felt unreal. For once, she looked like a true princess. For once, she mattered. Then the doors opened, Elia entered. Standing beside her was Kael, their fingers were intertwined. Elyan froze. Her heart sank. "Elia..." she whispered. Her sister smiled. It was not a kind smile. "Elyan," Elia said lazily. "I didn't realize you were this clueless about your place in this clan." She wrapped her arm possessively around Kael's. Elyan stared at him. "Kael.. Her voice trembled. "What is the meaning of this?" Elia raised a hand, her countenance changed. Crimson spiritual essence erupted from her palm. Before Elyan could react, an invisible force seized her throat, lifting her off the wooden floors of the chamber, backwards, till her back dashed against the wall A painful groan escaped her mouth. Even as she struggled, the pressure tightened. "I've told you countless times," Elia said. "You do not belong here." With a flick of her wrist, the robe sleeves following the fling of her hand, Elyan was hurled through the chamber doors. She crashed onto the stone floor outside. Pain exploded through her body. The surrounding servants watched, but not one stepped forward, not one dared help her. "Kael!" Elyan cried. Her voice echoed through the hall. "Weren't you supposed to marry me?" Kael slowly emerged from the room. His handsome face carried not an ounce of remorse. "I was never interested in you." His words struck harder than any weapon. "You're of no use to me, Elyan." Silence followed. The last fragment of hope within her shattered. Elia descended the palace steps gracefully. "This is my kingdom," she said. "And you are no longer welcome in it." "Lies," Elyan snapped. "Father raised us both here." Elia laughed. "You are not a true heir." Her crimson robes swayed behind her. "I am." Elyan forced herself to stand. "You cannot banish me." Elia's eyes narrowed. For a moment, killing intent flashed within them. "I've waited years for this day." Her smile widened. "Do you know why you're still alive?" Elyan remained silent. "Because Father and Uncle protected you." The smile became cruel. "But they're gone now." At that moment, a palace guard approached. His sword stained and dripped with fresh blood. He dropped to one knee before Mei Lin, other guards followed in the same action Elyan's eyes widened. "No..." The guard lowered his head. "The Regent is dead, Your Majesty." A chill swept through Elyan, she looked up slowly. "You killed Uncle?" Elia merely chuckled. Then Elyan understood, everything about the marriage, the betrayal, the throne, It had all been planned. Before she could speak, Elia's spiritual power seized her once more. Elyan was dragged forward by her throat. Her neck caught between Elia's hand. Elyan's hands wrapped around her sister's wrist. "Never mind," Elia said softly. "I should simply kill you myself." Sharp claws extended from her fingertips. The squelch of claws digging into her skin, a sickening sound echoed through the courtyard. Elyan cried out. Blood streamed from the wounds carved into her neck. "Elia." Kael grabbed her wrist. "She's not worth your effort." He glanced toward the guards. "Let them handle it" Elia released her, her former predatory eyes returning back to its normal state . Elyan collapsed onto the ground like a discarded doll. The stony floors bruising her arms. She wrapped her hands around her neck as blood flowed through her fingers, she watched her sister turn away. Neither Elia nor Kael looked back. Her sling began to turn dark, slowly from her neck The guards took her soon and dragged her beyond the borders of Neven. Far beyond the imperial territories. Far beyond civilization. The snowstorm swallowed everything. Without ceremony, they threw her into the frozen wilderness and turned their backs on the former heir to the throne. Elyan stumbled forward. The icy wind tore through her robes. There were no villages, no shelters, no roads. Only endless snow. The poison in Elia's claws had already begun spreading through her body. She coughed violently. Blood splattered across the white snow. One step. Two steps. Three. Her legs gave out as she fell into the deep snow of the frozen wastelands The wound on her neck continued to bleed. Crimson spread beneath her, her hair stuck to her neck with trials of blood down her skin and clothes. The snow slowly turned red. Just as the prophecy had foretold. Elyan lay motionless, her eyes fixed to the clouds Snowflakes settled upon her face as the world began to blur. Her skin had become pale as frost. So this was her fate. The flawed child, the unwanted daughter, the hybrid princess. Darkness crept into her vision. The howling wind faded, slowly. The cold disappeared. Everywhere felt still and silent Then— A distant melody drifted across the heavens. Soft. Ancient. Beautiful. It sounded like a celestial flute echoing beyond the clouds. Elyan's eyes fluttered open. A figure stood above her. Long white hair flowed like moonlight. Snowflakes circled around him but never touched him. Ancient pipes played slowly as his robes shimmered with faint golden light. He seemed less like a man and more like a being who had stepped out of the heavens themselves. "Elyan." His voice was gentle. Yet it carried the weight of eternity. Was he salvation? Or death? She could not tell. Her eyes are frozen in place. The immortal lowered himself before her. His fingers lifted her chin. The moment their eyes met, countless silver bells rang across the sky. Clear and Sacred. The heavens themselves seemed to tremble. A spiral of snow rose around them. The storm became a vast white vortex. The golden divine essence flowed from the immortal. A golden round essence emerged from within the light. Slowly, it entered Elyan's body. Her eyes flew open. Purple radiance erupted from them. The immortal's golden eyes shone in response. "From this day onward," he said, his voice echoing through heaven and earth, "Lumina, is who you are" The storm ceased instantly. Silence fell upon the world. Then a voice descended from beyond the clouds. Ancient. Unfathomable. Absolute. "Fate has been rewritten."