Chapter 7: The throne that chose her
552 Words
The chamber became silent.
No...
It was more than silence.
Even the air had stopped moving.
Nysera stood before the empty throne.
Its black stone looked older than the palace itself.
Tiny cracks glowed with soft golden light, as if something inside it was still alive.
Behind her, Prince Kaelor tried to push open the stone door.
It did not move.
"What kind of place is this?" he whispered.
The twelve stone kings did not answer.
Instead, they slowly lowered their heads...
To Nysera.
Her heart pounded.
"Please..."
"There must be a mistake."
"I am only a servant."
The statues spoke together.
"You were never a servant."
"You were hidden."
"You were protected."
Nysera stepped backward.
"No."
"I don't believe you."
Suddenly...
A drop of blood fell from her hand onto the floor.
She had cut herself during the battle.
The blood rolled across the ancient stone.
It reached the empty throne.
The moment it touched the throne—
BOOM!
The whole chamber shook.
Golden light burst from the cracks.
The empty throne slowly rose from the floor.
Kaelor shielded his eyes.
"What is happening?"
The statues all knelt.
Not to a king.
To Nysera.
Then a voice echoed through the chamber.
Gentle.
Ancient.
Filled with sorrow.
"At last..."
"The last child has come home."
The throne began to change.
Black stone became shining gold.
Broken carvings repaired themselves.
A forgotten royal symbol appeared across its back.
A crown surrounded by thirteen stars.
Nysera stared in disbelief.
"I've seen that symbol before..."
Suddenly—
Another memory flashed through her mind.
She was five years old.
Someone placed a tiny golden crown on her head.
A woman smiled through her tears.
"You must never tell anyone who you are."
"If they find you..."
"They will kill you."
The memory vanished.
Nysera fell to her knees.
Kaelor caught her before she hit the floor.
"Nysera!"
"I'm fine..."
But she wasn't.
Tears rolled down her face.
Not because she was afraid.
Because the woman's voice had felt like home.
Then...
Footsteps echoed behind them.
Slow.
Heavy.
Impossible.
Kaelor turned sharply.
"No..."
The stone door had never opened.
So how had someone entered?
A tall old man stood in the shadows.
His robes were white.
His long silver hair touched the floor.
His eyes were completely black.
He smiled.
"I've waited five thousand years to meet you."
Kaelor drew his sword.
"Who are you?"
The old man ignored him.
He looked only at Nysera.
"My Queen."
The words froze the room.
Nysera slowly stood.
"You have the wrong person."
The old man laughed softly.
"No."
"The world has the wrong history."
Before anyone could move—
Prince Zepharion burst into the chamber.
His face was colder than ever.
His sword pointed directly at the old man.
"Step away from her."
The old man's smile grew wider.
"So..."
"The First Prince still remembers."
For the first time...
Fear appeared in Zepharion's eyes.
"You..."
"You were supposed to be dead."
The old man nodded.
"I was."
He raised one finger.
Every candle in the chamber went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Only Nysera's eyes still glowed.
And from somewhere in the darkness...
A child began to laugh.
But there were no children inside the Hall of Silent Stars.
Only the living.
And those who should never have returned.
- Writer
