The capital was alive with the sound of celebration. The morning sun had barely risen, yet already the palace grounds were teeming with life. Streets that once echoed only with the clatter of royal guards and palace servants now brimmed with vibrant stalls, colorful banners, and people from every corner of the kingdom. Today was the 60th birthday of King Eldros, a milestone that had stirred excitement throughout Lunaros. The palace gates had been opened to the public, a rare occurrence and a symbol of goodwill from the throne.
At the heart of the capital, the Elementalist Council's headquarters were a flurry of activity. Couriers darted between rooms, officials shouted instructions, and scribes double-checked scrolls of royal protocols and ceremonial schedules. Seren stood at the center of it all, motionless, her figure adorned in the crisp, high-collared robes of the Council. The silver and azure fabric shimmered faintly, a mark of her standing.
Inside her private chamber, a gentle knock preceded the entrance of two attendants. One carried a silver tray holding an ornate circlet meant for her hair; the other held a scroll bearing her scripted proposal for the King. Seren gave them both a nod, her fingers gripping the edge of the dressing table as they made the final touches.
She looked at her reflection in the polished mirror. Her long dark hair had been braided in the style of high-ranking elementalist nobility, her sea-glass eyes calm yet clouded with unease. The water spirit, Miraline—a name Seren had given, floated gently beside her, the tiny jellyfish-like figure glimmering faintly in the dim light of the room.
"You look perfect, Lady Seren," one of the attendants said with a smile before quietly exiting.
Perfect.
Seren stared at herself longer. She didn't feel perfect. Not even close.
Her thoughts drifted to the proposal she had spent the last two days rehearsing: a royal petition to initiate the second wave of the Purge. She had tried, in vain, to soften the language, to avoid the stark reality of what she was about to say before an entire court. Her voice would be used to call for a hunt against the Veyrathis, a people she had never met, never seen, and only heard of through stories told by people who already hated them.
"Why me?" she whispered.
Miraline tilted her floating form, sensing her distress. Seren reached out and gently ran her fingers through the spirit's glowing tendrils.
"Are they really monsters?" she asked. "The Veyrathis, I mean. Or are they just... people like the rest of us?"
The spirit didn't answer, of course.
Outside her chamber, the palace bells tolled, each chime sending a subtle vibration through the stone floors beneath her feet. She was expected at the ceremony soon. Seren took one last look in the mirror, forcing her back straight, her lips pressing into a determined line.
Whether she wanted this or not, she had been chosen.
She stood and took the scroll from the table, clutching it with trembling fingers. Her steps were steady as she exited the room and moved down the marble halls toward the palace grounds. As she walked, palace staff and elementalist aides nodded respectfully. Murmurs followed her.
"That's her, isn't it? The girl from Port Hane."
"She's the one who had the burst."
"They say she might be the next Master Elementalist."
Seren walked past them all, her head held high even as her heart churned.
Soon, she would stand before the King, the nobility, the Council, and the world.
And she would have to decide whether to speak the words placed in her hands... or find her own.
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The palace grounds of Theros were unrecognizable that morning. A stage of white marble and golden banners had been raised at the northern terrace, overlooking the wide-open lawns. Rows of chairs in a semi-circle formation decorated with colorful streamers lined the platform, designated for the nobility, foreign envoys, and elite elementalists. Behind this grand stage was the palace itself, its many wings cloaked in rich banners of the kingdom, flowing in the summer wind.
Crowds surged through the palace grounds, laughter and chatter rippling through the warm air. Colorful stalls and performances delighted the citizens of Theros, who had been allowed onto the palace lawns for this one day of celebration. Musicians played harps and flutes near the fountains, while dancers twirled in sparkling silks. Children pointed toward the palace in awe, some waving handmade flags of the Lunaros kingdom.
But beyond this joyful chaos, a tension simmered.
Within the palace, Seren stood in one of the waiting halls, flanked by two elemental guards. Her robes were crisp white, embroidered with water motifs in pale blue, representing her newly awakened power. Her dark hair had been pulled into elegant curls that fell down her back, and her water spirit hovered near her shoulder in its usual jellyfish-like form, emitting a soft glow. But despite her beautiful appearance, Seren's hands were cold.
She stared out of the large arched window, eyes fixed on the platform outside where the ceremony was to take place. She was to be presented as a candidate for Master Elementalist today. It should have been a great honor. Her name would be recorded in history books, her status revered across the kingdom.
And yet, her stomach twisted.
She recalled the words Elder Vaneska had told her: "We will need to make a strong proposal before the king. A renewed campaign to root out the remnants of the Veyrathi."
The Purge. A second one. Targeting people she once believed to be fairytale creatures. But now she knew better. The truth was darker, and murkier. She wasn't sure if she believed the Veyrathi were a threat anymore—or if they ever were.
Her fingers brushed against the scroll they had given her. A speech. Carefully crafted by the council. She was expected to recite it in front of the king and the entire assembly. Expected to call for the hunt.
"Is this what power feels like?" she whispered. "Heavy."
Outside, horns sounded. The crowd hushed.
From a different path than the one used by the nobility and guests, a line of golden carriages adorned with shimmering gemstones began approaching the terrace. The horses pulling them were as white as snow, their manes braided with silk cords. Trumpets blared.
The Royal Family had arrived.
The announcer's voice echoed across the palace grounds. "His Majesty, King Eldros of House Aevis, Light of Dawn and Sovereign of the Crowned Realm!"
A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowds.
The golden carriage at the front came to a stop and the door was opened by a royal attendant. King Eldros emerged, tall and dignified, dressed in a black and gold regalia that glinted under the sun. His silver hair was crowned with a laurel of platinum. Behind him, three more carriages came to a stop.
"His Highness, Crown Prince Caldreth! His Highness, Prince Vaelen! And Her Highness, Princess Meriene!"
The nobles stood in reverence. Seren, still behind the scenes, watched in silence.
The world outside felt so loud.
Inside, her heartbeat drowned everything else.