Dancing Flames of Zypath

Chapter IV - The Knowing

'It-it's her! She's the one who saw me on that boulder!' He suddenly feels relieved because he can now convince the Zypathi that he is telling the truth and that the woman he is speaking to is the one who brought him here. "Why do you bother to come?" Eevi tried to cover his upset expression and folded his arms in front of his chest, "You see, I am currently interrogating this trespasser." He hinted with a sense of annoyance.

"Eevi, why do you persistently hold out hope that you will get something from him?"

"How do we know that he is not sketching out something dangerous to us? He is from the outside world." Aaliyah stares at his desperate face and to the Umier who looks glad and scared at the same time. 'Father should know about this since this is the first time I let a mortal enter.' She crossed her arms back again and went on about her business.

Umier witnessed another glory.

The woman's wings suddenly appeared at her back and her hair turned white gold coloured, he also gaped as her two hair sticks turned into big daggers locking them on the back of her wings. She gave him a slyish gaze and flew off. He was still left in amazement when Eevi closed his mouth shut. "The name is Aaliyah, the daughter, eldest child of the Siviro lineage."

The old man turned his gaze at the Zypathii again. "Siviro... Lineage?" Eevi smirks proudly like a child bantering the poor old man stuck in the middle of the Gracen Waters.

________

Palace of Ziriam

The pleased General turned to his fellow patriots and the practitioners, "We have already checked it, Your Majesty, they are all ready for cultivation." The Emperor nods and takes the sword with his bare hands. His Highness, Avante Dravos II, bestowed his almighty grandeur after a brief time of fulfilling the Gods' will, and he blessed the practitioners and cultivators with the divine light embodied in his sword. The very same weapon that housed hundreds of emperors before him.

"Such day has come to us!"

The Emperor bowed again and cut himself with his sword, with his blood on its blade, he bestowed it to his son, Crown Prince, Nicholai Vassilis Dravos. The future house power of the Ziriam. He gallantly kneeled and accepted his father's blessing. Then the Queen graciously stepped forward to declare her remarks.

"My son, Nicholai, along with our noble patriarchs and our General, Bastian, will lead our great future warriors." All of the aforementioned men raised their swords and pointed them toward the shrine of Zypathim, the Goddess of Light and Divinity, and their Living God.

"SERVE AND HONOR THE KINGDOM OF OUR BIRTH AND THE GOD WHO MADE US. You are all blessed and shall prosper."

At that very moment, the beginning of a new sovereignty has started...

'

The will is becoming...'

________

The celebration began right after the ceremony, hundreds of people and nobility shared blessings and celebrated with the Dravos Family. Nobles from neighbouring kingdoms also came to witness, along with thousands of Ziriamii people outside the palace walls.

There was dancing and food everywhere, people were joyous and contented. The Cold War had just ended, and they earned their victory with the allegiance of the other kingdom and powerful clans in Ziriam. The kingdom has reached its glory and has grown into an empire once again with the most powerful army on the continent. To begin the feast, the Emperor and Empress along with other nobility sat down at the long table. As the banquet is served, the music adjusts to suit the at-ease but joyful atmosphere.

"We're here to commemorate yet another peak of our power. Ziriam evolved further. My husband, the Emperor-" The Empress raised her glass gently. "I raise this toast to you."

As night fell at midnight, Nicholo leaned on the railings of the royal balcony while the party continued. He took a sip from his favourite, a decade-old red fine wine. He felt a tremendous burden on his shoulders when he pondered his status as the throne's inheritor. They have built their monarchy into an empire once again. The Queen is now an Empress, and the King, the Emperor. Before ascending to the seat of power, he envisioned what it would be like to travel over enormous lands. He occasionally did, albeit with some slight constraints because he is the lone descendant of the Dravos Lineage.

Power is not new to him. It doesn't quite surprise him anymore, he was born with it and he knows what it feels like. To trample the weak and reign over them. To win against enemies by merely showing a muscle. Every bit of his life overwhelmed him until it didn't anymore.

"Are you feeling well, Your Majesty?"

Daerys enters the scene with a moonlit vibe. Both of them gazed upon the moon. The woman turned to her side to peek at His Highness's visage. Nicholo's face was bathed in moonlight, she was awed in silence.

The young lady had a strong affection for him ever since the first time she saw him. Built a bond with him, close enough to witness his every move. Although he has different perspectives towards her, she never gave up on the thought of being in his arms.

"You should enjoy the celebration. It is for you and the Kingdom"

The man sighed and cast a downward glance, the emotions on his face remained unprovoked. He took a sip from his glass of wine again, but this time, he gulped it all and harshly swallowed it. He swiftly adjusted his collar and turned back to the door.

Just before he could leave, he felt a tight grip on his wrists. He knew who it was so he did not bother to look and removed her hands.

"Where are you going?" Daerys tried hard not to show annoyance in her tone and face. She was always aware of his cold character, and while it concerned her greatly, it wasn't enough to make her stop liking him.

"Inside."

She watched as he faded into the dark halls of the palace.