Chapter 26 - THE FIRST KING’S FINAL BETRAYAL
Aurion attacked Elara with the full strength of his stolen power.
Golden lightning struck the palace steps.
Stone pillars shattered.
The celestial flames on Elara’s wrist flared as she struggled to defend herself.
Kael rushed forward.
The First King struck him aside with a wave of light.
Elara screamed.
“KAEL!”
The Prince crashed against a broken column.
Asteria raised her hand.
Silver chains of light wrapped around Aurion’s sword.
The spectral king roared.
“YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE ME!”
Asteria looked at him.
“Then let the people judge.”
She opened her palm.
The ancient crown rose from Aurion’s head.
For the first time in centuries, the stolen celestial light became visible.
Inside the crown floated a small white star.
The missing part of the Boundary Guardian.
Aurion struggled.
“If you take it, everything I built will be forgotten!”
Elara stared at him.
“No.”
The First King froze.
She stepped closer.
“People will remember the kingdoms you founded. The wars you won. The cities you saved.”
Aurion’s expression softened slightly.
Elara continued.
“And they’ll remember the lives you destroyed.”
His face darkened.
“History must preserve the greatness of kings.”
Elara shook her head.
“History must preserve the truth.”
Aurion screamed and broke Asteria’s chains.
He lunged toward Elara.
Kael struggled to his feet.
Aldric intercepted the strike.
His sword shattered beneath the blow.
The commander fell to one knee.
Aurion raised his weapon again.
Elara felt the six flames surge through her body.
She could destroy him.
She knew it.
The power was there.
All she had to do was release it.
But she remembered the Guardian of Embers.
Power mattered most when one was willing to surrender it.
Elara lowered her hands.
Aurion stopped.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving you a choice.”
The First King stared.
Elara approached slowly.
“You can surrender the stolen light and let the Boundary Guardian heal.”
Aurion’s expression twisted.
“Or?”
“You can continue fighting until nothing remains of the kingdom you claim to love.”
The First King looked toward Valtherion.
The streets were filled with terrified people.
The palace was burning.
The Devourer hovered above the city.
For the first time, Aurion seemed to see the cost of his reign.
His hands trembled.
Then he looked toward Asteria.
“Will they remember me?”
She answered quietly.
“Yes.”
He swallowed.
“As a monster?”
Asteria lowered her eyes.
“As a man who did both great and terrible things.”
Aurion closed his eyes.
For centuries, he had demanded worship.
Now he was being offered something far more difficult.
Truth.
He slowly lowered his sword.
“I was afraid.”
Elara said nothing.
Aurion continued.
“I thought if I could control everything, I could prevent every loss.”
Asteria’s expression softened.
“And instead, you created more.”
The First King looked toward the crown.
Then removed it.
He held it before Elara.
“My descendant.”
She approached carefully.
Aurion’s voice trembled.
“Do not become me.”
Elara accepted the crown.
The stolen white star emerged from its center.
Aurion’s golden armor began dissolving.
His spectral body grew transparent.
The First King looked toward Asteria one final time.
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
Then Aurion vanished.
The crown fell to the floor.
Asteria caught the white star in her hands.
For the first time in three centuries, the missing light was free.
But above the palace, the Devourer sensed its return.
The creature screamed.
Its enormous wings struck the mountains.
Asteria turned toward Elara.
“Now comes the hardest part.”
Elara looked at her.
“What?”
“We must persuade the Devourer to accept the light.”
Kael approached, blood running from his forehead.
“And if it refuses?”
May you like
Asteria looked toward the black sky.
“Then the world ends.”
