A cold, endless darkness stretched on forever. No light, no sound. Then, a single flicker broke the silence, a candle lighting on top of a tall, black crux.
Then another.
And another.
Eight candles lit, casting pale halos over ten massive thrones arranged in a wide circle.
Each throne was carved from black stone, each with a candle burning gently on its crux.
Six were filled by humanoid figures made of moving smoke and shadows. Their eyes were the only feature that stood out.
Each pair glowed a different color: blue, red, yellow, orange, green, and white.
Then the eighth candle flared.
On the throne beneath it sat a young girl. Her skin was pale like untouched snow. Long white hair flowed gently behind her, and her purple eyes glead softly.
Elven ears poked through her hair. She looked peaceful, almost kind, with a motherly calm gaze. She was the only one fully visible.
No matter where one stood, her position made it feel like she was facing them directly.
She smiled.
"One is pleased to see you all," she said gently. Her voice was soft and warm, but filled the room as if whispered beside each listener.
"One has missed the warmth of this gathering. And though a candle may still burn in another room, One must look ahead. The winds have changed, and it’s ti to decide their direction."
A silence followed.
The blue-eyed figure stirred first. A calm, feminine voice spoke.
"There’s no need to speak at length. The Gilded Maw ruined everything. That’s the reality. He provoked the Ravager and broke what we were building." This was the Crimson Bloom.
The red-eyed figure snapped next.
"Then soone must answer for this. Who called this eting? Who brought us to this point?"
The white-eyed shadow answered, slow and low.
"She did."
He was referring to the girl, but the red eyed shadow didn’t even turn to the girl. As if the answer didn’t exist.
"Who started this? Soone must be held responsible."
The yellow eyes glared. The Gilded Maw.
"You’re all blaming . But he wouldn’t have turned if he didn’t see the truth about humans. He had to witness their flaws. That’s what pushed him. It was necessary."
A regal voice followed from the orange-eyed figure.
"You chose to act without the council. My daughter warned you. You failed. And you even failed to die to appease him. That alone should be punished."
The Gilded Maw growled.
"Your daughter couldn’t sway him either, Devourer. She barely did anything."
"Better to fail trying to join him than to make him our enemy. You ruined everything. How will you atone for that?"
The white-eyed figure sighed.
"None of this changes the gospel. The Ravager’s betrayal ans little. The capital is blocked by the ancient mage’s blessing, so the throne cannot be taken. Our next step must be the boy."
The Crimson Bloom chuckled lightly.
"Of course you’d say that. You waited too long, and the day you decide to move, the only living being able to keep us from reaching the throne pull up. Isn’t that as punishable as the Gilded Maw’s sin?"
"Irrelevant. The boy must fall before he awakens fully. We cut this wing and we won’t have to bother with the mage."
All eyes drifted to the center.
The girl with purple eyes remained calm, smiling.
"One believes both paths have rit. The Hero glows brighter each day. But the seal remains vulnerable. One thinks you may split your efforts."
The Crimson Bloom nodded.
"Castella is where the Sacred will go. That battle will be worth our ti."
The Devourer, the orange-eyed shadow, leaned back.
"The seal is the gospel’s simplest step. It should be our first step."
The shadow with red eyes agreed, stern as ever.
"The gospel must not bend. We go by the book."
The Gilded Maw raised his voice.
"In my case, I lost everything. I need ti. Let rebuild outside the kingdom and prepare the next step."
"Coward," the Crimson Bloom muttered.
"Disgrace," the Devourer hissed. "You started this situation. You don’t get to retreat. You’ll fight every step. Die, if you must, and let your blood settle the Ravager’s anger."
The Gilded Maw clenched his fists.
"Enough!"
But the white-haired girl interrupted gently.
"One believes the Gilded Maw did what he thought best. Surely, it was a mont of confusion. One is sure he will give all he has now, to restore balance."
She leaned back, her dragon-like pupils falling on him.
"One knows he will fight until his last breath."
The Gilded Maw flinched.
"You can’t say that!"
"One can."
Another pause.
"But one won’t insist. You were tired. A little overwheld. One sympathizes."
He stood partway, anger trembling in his shadow.
"Stop deciding for like a child!"
A dead silence followed. The candles stopped flickering.
No one moved, all eyes turned slowly toward the Gilded Maw.
Even he, stiff and hunched, seed to realize the weight of what he’d just done. His anger had crossed a line, spoken too loud, pushed too far.
A thick, suffocating tension wrapped the chamber.
Then ca a sound.
The girl clapped softly. Once, twice.
"How honest," she said. "One appreciates that. Emotion must be expressed. Thank you, Mammon."
The air thickened.
His na.
No nas had been spoken before.
The Crimson Bloom froze.
The red eyed shadow tilted his head.
The white one opened one eye.
Even the one with green eyes, silent till now, seated between two empty thrones, had his eyes glowing.
Mammon’s eyes widened. His shape curled slightly, as if smaller.
The girl put her hands together.
"Such courage in defeat. One expects great things from you, Mammon."
His na echoed again. A whisper sharper than a scream.
He sat down slowly, jaw tight, eyes down.
"One only supports her family," the girl said. "Please, share more when you feel like it."
But Mammon had nothing more to say.
The girl turned.
"The capital is sealed. The throne is beyond reach for now. But the Hero and the seal are not."
She looked toward the trio of thrones at the far side. Only the center seat was filled. Green eyes shimred within the shadow.
"And you?"
The answer ca after a long pause.
"I prefer watching. For now."
She bowed her head lightly.
"Then, One hopes your path leads you well."
She sat back.
"So to Castella. So to the seal. Be cautious. The Ravager walks with purpose. But each of you is a star. So, shine bright."
The candles extinguished one by one. Each fla vanished, and with it, each throne.
The last to go was the purple candle. It faded gently, with a soft, satisfied hum.
And the space went dark once more.
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