Chapter 21 - THE FIRST KING’S TRUE SIN
Malrec stood before the final seal, surrounded by black fire.
Lyanna struggled above the altar.
Elara raised her marked hand.
“Release my mother.”
Malrec laughed.
“You still don’t understand.”
Theron stepped forward.
“Then explain.”
The sorcerer looked toward the six glowing flames on Elara’s wrist.
“Do you believe Aurion created the covenant to protect mankind?”
Elara hesitated.
“I’ve learned he committed terrible acts.”
“Terrible?”
Malrec’s laughter echoed through the chamber.
“He stole the power of eight guardians and called himself their master.”
Elara remembered Aethros’s warning.
Asteria.
The forgotten Eighth Guardian.
Malrec raised one skeletal hand.
An ancient image appeared above the altar.
Eight celestial beings stood within a circle of white fire.
At their center was a woman wearing a crown of light.
Asteria.
She held open a gateway between worlds.
Beyond it moved countless stars.
Then King Aurion entered.
He was not yet crowned.
He wore battle-scarred armor and carried a sword forged from black metal.
Malrec spoke.
“Aurion discovered the guardians’ power during the War of Endless Night. He offered to help them defend the boundary between worlds.”
The vision shifted.
Aurion stood beside Asteria.
They appeared to be allies.
Perhaps even friends.
Then Aurion drew the black sword.
He struck Asteria from behind.
Elara gasped.
The celestial woman fell.
Her crown shattered.
Aurion seized the seven flames from the remaining guardians and bound them to his bloodline.
Malrec continued.
“He used their power to establish his kingdom.”
Elara stared in horror.
“Why would he do that?”
“Because he wanted an empire that could never be challenged.”
The vision changed.
Asteria stood imprisoned beyond a wall of celestial fire.
Aurion commanded the seven guardians to maintain the barrier.
But something dark had begun growing beyond it.
The Devourer.
Malrec lowered his hand.
“Aurion’s betrayal corrupted the boundary. The Devourer was born from the hatred and broken magic left behind.”
Theron shook his head.
“Then why do you serve it?”
Malrec’s skeletal face twisted.
“Because I was there.”
The chamber fell silent.
Malrec removed his iron crown.
For a moment, his shadow body became transparent.
Beneath it stood a young man wearing celestial armor.
Elara stared.
“You were one of the guardians.”
Malrec nodded.
“My name was Maelor.”
Theron’s face drained of color.
“The Eighth Guardian’s brother.”
Maelor’s expression hardened.
“Aurion stole my sister’s power. He condemned her to centuries of isolation. And the world worshipped him for it.”
Elara felt something shift within her.
For the first time, she understood Malrec’s hatred.
It had begun with a genuine injustice.
But the things he had done afterward were no less monstrous.
“You want to free Asteria,” she said.
Maelor nodded.
“And destroy Aurion’s prison.”
“Then why do you need my mother?”
“Because the final seal requires both the stolen bloodline and the original covenant.”
Elara looked toward Lyanna.
“You’re hurting innocent people.”
Maelor’s face darkened.
“Innocent people worshipped Aurion while my sister suffered.”
Elara stepped closer.
“That doesn’t give you the right to make others suffer.”
Maelor laughed.
“Spoken like a descendant of the thief.”
He raised both hands.
Black chains surged from the altar.
Lyanna screamed.
The Sixth Flame on Elara’s wrist began flickering.
Kael drew his sword.
“STOP!”
Maelor looked toward him.
Then smiled.
“The Prince still carries the Shadow Crown’s mark.”
Kael froze.
Black veins appeared beneath his skin.
Elara rushed toward him.
“Kael!”
Maelor whispered a single word.
“Awaken.”
May you like
The Prince screamed as the darkness inside him returned.
And the final seal began to break.
