The skies above the grand city of Denkou roiled with fury as a tempest of unnatural origin brewed. King Dracovis Ri'ore Denkou, a man of silver hair and piercing Emerald eyes, stood tall on the battlements, his gaze unwavering as he surveyed the chaos unfolding before him. His heart pounded with the rhythm of war drums, echoing the urgency of the moment.
"Your Highness, the Hanabaki are amassing!" a young guard called out, his voice cracking with fear.
Dracovis nodded gravely. "
Summon the heads of the noble houses. We fight together or fall apart," he said, his voice a storm within the storm.
Embreyus Isshen Gamallow, a burly man with a beard as thick as a lion's mane, emerged from the shadows of the keep, his eyes gleaming with the light of his house's industrial innovation. Esmeralda Yuliana Flonne Denkou, a graceful beauty with emerald locks that danced in the wind, joined him, her fingers dancing with the luminescent energy of her lineage. Lastly, Oberon Corneilious Urso Denkou, his fur as dark as the night, his eyes gleaming with the wisdom of his beastly ancestry, stood beside them, his fists clenched.
Nobles fighting in the streets scambling to protect the innoncent. They could only think what could cause this to happen?
The four leaders of the Royal Houses looked upon the horizon, where a swarm of monstrous creatures, the Hanabaki, writhed together, forming a terrifying behemoth that threatened to eclipse the setting sun. A Kaiju Monster, a creature of legend born from the darkest depths of their world, had come to claim what was rightfully theirs, They knew why this was happening, Dracovis had to now face his sin.
The four heads of the houses drew their weapons, each a testament to their lineage's power. Dracovis' blade shimmered with the essence of lightning, Esmeralda's staff crackled with the energy of blooming life, Embreyus' hammer hummed with the rhythm of the forge, and Oberon's spear shone with the gleam of a starless night. They knew that if they did not stand as one, the Kingdom of Denkou would fall to the merciless hunger of the Hanabaki.
The battle was fierce, as the leaders of the houses clashed against the monstrous Kaiju. Each strike was met with a roar that seemed to shake the very foundations of the world, and each spell cast sent shockwaves through the air. The four warriors danced a deadly ballet, their movements a symphony of steel and magic.
Yet, the tide of the battle was grim. The Kaiju, a creature of unfathomable power, seemed unstoppable. It swiped its colossal limbs, sending buildings toppling like dominos, and swallowed the very earth in its gaping maw. The air was thick with the scent of fear and the acrid stench of magic corrupted by the Hanabaki's touch.
King Dracovis soared through the air, his silver hair trailing behind him like a banner, as he summoned a tornado of razor-sharp lightning to cut through the horde. The screams of the monsters pierced the air as they were sliced into a hundred pieces, their essence feeding the ravenous storm. Embreyus, the Industrious House's head, rained green bolts from the heavens, each droplet exploding into a barrage of shrapnel upon impact, tearing through the Hanabaki's swarming ranks.
Esmeralda, with a grace that belied the fury in her heart, danced among the ruins, her staff a whirlwind of verdant growth. She called forth the power of the earth using her electric powers to bring life to the soil, and from the very ground, vines and thorns erupted to ensnare the creatures, pulling them into the soil to be devoured by the plants that had once adorned the city's parks and gardens. The Florescent House's power had never been so lethal.
Oberon, the stoic Head of the House of Grizzly, stood firm, his eyes burning with a golden light. He summoned forth a pack of spectral beasts, their jaws gaping and claws outstretched. They tore through the Hanabaki like ghosts through mist, leaving only howling winds and fear in their wake. The night was alive with the roars of his ancestral kin, and the streets ran red with the blood of the invaders.
The four leaders fought in unison, their powers a tapestry of destruction and defense that the Hanabaki had never encountered. Yet, as the battle raged on, they felt the weight of their own exhaustion, and the creatures grew more desperate, its hunger for magic insatiable. The fate of Denkou hung in the balance.
As they battled, the cries of a Kaiju echoed through the city streets, growing louder and more insistent. The creature was drawing closer, driven by the scent of their power. The warriors knew that if it reached the city's heart, that sustained the Kingdom's very life force, all would be lost.
The ground trembled beneath their feet as the Kaiju's monstrous form emerged from the clouds of dust and debris. Its eyes were like fiery coals, and its jaws dripped with a viscous, black ooze that sizzled as it hit the ground. The creature's cry was a symphony of despair, a call to arms for its brethren that sent shivers down the spines of even the bravest soldiers.
The Royal Houses looked to each other, understanding passing between them without a word spoken. This was their final stand, and they would not yield. Dracovis leaped into the air, the magic of his heritage swirling around him, as he aimed for the creature's unguarded throat. His blade sliced through the air, leaving a emerald streak in its wake. The Kaiju bellowed in fury, the sound resonating through the city like a tolling bell of doom.
The Royal House leaders continue their unyielding battle against the Hanabaki, their exhaustion setting in. The creature draws closer to the center of the kingdom, the Kingdom's power source. Dracovis makes a daring aerial attack, aiming for a critical hit, as the city's fate rests on their shoulders.
In that moment, something unforeseen happened. The lesser Hanabaki that had been defeated began to coalesce around the Kaiju, their forms melting and merging into its flesh. The creature grew larger, its power swelling as it absorbed the essence of its fallen kin. The ground quaked beneath them as the beast took on a new, monstrous form. The four leaders watched in horror as the Kaiju transformed into a colossal abomination, a fusion of the natural world and the arcane forces they had fought so hard to protect.
Dracovis, feeling the desperation of the city and his people, reached deep within himself. His Emerald eyes began to glow with a fierce, otherworldly light. The winds around him grew calm, and in their stead, a crackling energy built, thick with the scent of magic. He had accessed this depth of power once before when he first awakened as the Beryl Sun, It scared him he never thought he would have to use this spell again, but now was not the time for doubt. The air grew taut as he called upon the ancient and unbridled force of omnipotent esoteric lightning magic, a gift reserved for those of the purest lineage of the Emerald King.
With a roar that matched the Kaiju's, Dracovis unleashed a torrent of lightning from his very fingertips. The bolts danced and weaved, striking the creature with the precision of a Arch-Shaper's baton. Each strike sent the creature reeling, but it was not enough. The Kaiju was too powerful, too hungry for the Naten that fueled it. The King knew he had to do more, had to push beyond his limits. He called upon the very fabric of the storm itself, reaching out to the heart that raged above them.
The clouds churned and darkened, and the air grew thick with the electric potential of his power. The lightning grew wilder, more intense, as he channeled the full fury of the storm into his attack. The city streets glowed a blinding Green, and the air crackled as the lightning struck the Kaiju with the force of a thousand thunderstorms. The creature roared in agony, its form convulsing as the lightning danced across its body, seeking to overwhelm it. Yet, even as the monster faltered, the four leaders knew that victory was not assured. The Kaiju was too resilient, too filled with a ravenous hunger for the very essence of their world. They had to find a way to end this, now.
Embreyus, Esmeralda, and Oberon stepped forward, their weapons lowering in a silent acknowledgment of what must be done. They reached out to Dracovis, their eyes filled with an unspoken plan. They knew the price of their power, and they were willing to pay it to save their Kingdom. The three house heads offered the last of their mana to the King, their Naten flowing through the air like rivers of light. The energy surged into Dracovis, filling him with a power that was both terrifying and exhilarating. He could feel the very fabric of reality bend and stretch under the weight of it, and he knew that he had been granted a strength that could topple gods as he felt his magic recharge.
With a shout that echoed through the heavens, Dracovis called upon the ultimate weapon of the Emerald King's lineage: Soverign's Bolt. The lightning coalesced into a single, massive bolt, its size and intensity dwarfing everything that had come before. The four leaders of the houses stood as one, their combined Naten fueling the most powerful spell the Kingdom had ever seen. The emerald blade of the King grew brighter, the beryl light of the Emerald King's power pulsing in time with Dracovis' racing heart.
The bolt of lightning streaked through the air, a blur of destruction that left a trail of thunder in its wake. It struck the Kaiju with the full might of the four leaders' combined power, and the creature let out a final, guttural roar that seemed to shake the very heavens. The ground beneath them split and cracked, and the air grew still as the lightning dissipated, leaving the creature a smoldering ruin. The Great Tree's leaves fluttered in the sudden calm, as if in a gentle sigh of relief.
The four leaders stood panting, their bodies trembling from the exertion. They had done it. They had defeated the Hanabaki, the monsters that had haunted their lands for generations. The people of Denkou would live to see another day, thanks to their unity and sacrifice. But as the dust settled, and the storm clouds began to break, they couldn't help but wonder what new trials awaited them in the wake of this victory. For with great power comes great responsibility, and the future of the Kingdom was now in their hands. They had to ensure that the legacy of the Emerald King would not be forgotten, and that the peace they had fought so hard to protect would endure for generations to come.
As they made their way back to the city, the urgent cries of a city in ruins reached their ears. The battle had taken its toll, and the once-great walls of Denkou now lay in ruins. The people needed them now more than ever. They had to rebuild, to heal the wounds of war, and to ensure that such a catastrophe would never befall them again. Embreyus, Esmeralda, and Oberon exchanged glances, their expressions grim. They knew that the real work was just beginning.
Esmarelda would place her hand on the should of the king as she spoke to him with joy and relief in her voice.
"It's done, your child is born.. Wait.. there are two of them, My King... What did you do?"
In the Royal Chambers, Queen Onohall felt the first contractions. Her labor had come upon her like a sudden storm, as fierce and unyielding as the battles her husband had fought. The midwives and healers rushed to her side, their faces a mix of excitement and fear. Twins were a rare and powerful omen, and the birth of the next generation of the Royal House was not to be taken lightly. They worked tirelessly to ease her pain, chanting ancient incantations that had been passed down through the generations.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in a soft glow. Dracovis, weary but victorious, finally arrived. His eyes searched the chaos for his beloved wife, and when he found her, his heart swelled with joy and trepidation. The twins were coming. Two little lives that would carry the weight of the Kingdom on their tiny shoulders. He took her hand, whispering words of encouragement, his own power bolstering her strength.
► Show Spoiler
As the entourage of Urso entered the Sacred Chamber where the princes lay sleeping, a thick silence washed over the room. Across from their line of vision would be the noble house of Flonne. To the Right, The Innovative House of Gammalow. Esmeralda, the Current head of the Flonne, stood next to Queen Onnohall, as she had just as assisted in the Queen's delivery of the twins. The only person aside from the Queen and King to be allowed to touch the babies. This distinction alone gave clarity that something otherworldly was at play here, purposely decerning who would be allowed even to approach the princes. On the Twin Thrones' respective sides would be the Arch Weaver and Shaper, who are also mother and father to the current crown bearers. To the King's side, poised with a position and stance due to his predestined stature, Myos, the Eldest of the now trio of brothers, stood with arms folded.
"I Find it now high time that we begin the Royal Siren. As your king and brother, I welcome you, noble pillars, and thank you for your urgent response."
A low yet gentle voice vibrated through the core of the room. A man no larger than 6'1 yet spoke with the grit of an immovable fortress caused a rumble in the room. His Majesty's voice was always terribly deep as if his voice was that of thunder itself. Usually, the weavers and shapers head these meetings. However, such an occasion called for the direct speech of his Lordship to be heard firsthand. Almost as if his voice concreated the depth of this movement in Denkou's history. It was the marking of a milestone for the kingdom.
"I Meet you all under the Hand of Fulgora’s embrace"
This soon followed with a slight bow and every single soul in attendance readily followed suit before breaking the customary response.
" Under the loving eye of the Cosmic Unifier, we return this embrace."
As it was spoken, Evant would rise slightly faster than the rest and find himself emboldened by the number of people here today. It was rare to see all four noble houses gathered in their entirety. What was galvanizing about this for Evant was that they all served loyally under the Emerald King's rule... under the guidance of Dracovis himself. It was at this moment that Evant truly began to understand. What it would mean to be the Head of his household. His gaze would soon meet his father, who was already looking at him. A faint smile would be found as he already knew the flame being stoked in his son's heart. It was much the same way his flame was lit when he saw the transference of power from the former King to the present day. Dracovis was the first king in almost two centuries to possess the Emerald Soul.
"I would now like to speak upon this most conspicuous occasion. As you all were informed...my better half has brought life to a pair of twin boys. The weavers have divined that one possesses a birthright...but one that has been thought to be lost deep within the crevices of history ...while the other one bears the faintest traces of Denkou magic."
The entirety of the room remained silent. Faces scowled at the uncertainty of it all. One born with a separate birthright? In the eldest of Denkou tomes, there spoke of the origins of the Denkai, an entity known as the ruby queen. However, she was considered an anomaly, for even eons after her death, no heir with her power was ever seen again. At least...till today. The Denkai is known for chasing after the lost remnants of a time that is no longer relevant for the main kingdom. To the Denkou, there has always only existed the undisrupted power of the Emerald King, yet none in attendance could deny the thick crimson hue of the aura surrounding the red-haired child. What was even more baffling to behold was a direct descendant of the king being born with minor magic. The other Ri'ore would surely see this as an embarrassment to their house and even more so to the integrity of the Denkou name. The Queen, barely lucid, sensitive to the emotions of her people, rose slightly despite the warnings from her helpers.
"Here me now, brethren, family. I know this kind of change causes you all to worry *Cough*... but I beseech you, not as your queen...but as Kin. I know you aspire to love my children as I have loved yours. Denkou is not measured by the amount of magic they can muster but by the valor of their hearts. The Lucio of their spirits..."
She mildly collapsed back into a resting position. Though her voice was frail and faint, there wasn't a single Denkou who did not take her words to heart. Even those still abstinent from the change at least keep their emotions and feelings more contained, fearing they might impact their Queen further. Dracovis looked at his wife, smiling at her grace and strength. However, the first-born inheritor of the throne, Myos, did not take his mother's words nor share the rest of their philosophy. As far as he was concerned, a creature with no bite was useless. What he felt in his body was conflict, confusion, and disarray. Siblings? The thought was overwhelming. Part of him felt glad to have children he could play with around his age. The other felt them as threats for reasons he was conflicted about sharing. Despite this, he could no longer remain silent by his father's side.
What use do we for a Ri'ore who cannot live up to the name? Would our enemies, the myriad of foes lining at the base of our homeland, share these ...heartwarming sentiments?
"I'm Afraid I must embellish the FIRST Prince's words."
The sly voice came from the House of Flonne. It was Meridian, a powerful shaper and second seat of the Research and Health department. He was incredibly known in the kingdom and through Maidera for his brilliant work regarding the correlation of Naten and Vescrutian neurology. He was also known to have a relatively superior demeanor. Most of the Flonne did, but he was beyond rancid...borderline xenophobic. At least they never refused to heal anyone despite magical affluence or a lack thereof. He believed that the Denkou should have minimal connectivity with the outside world and that the kingdom's integrity is based on the magnitude of its magical prowess. A prince with barely any magical talent was completely out of the question for him when a borderline Emerald royalty already resided in their midst. It was unheard of for the King to bear another heir let alone two additional children...twins? Preposterous. He would not stand for this mockery of the order that the first king set in stone.
"We have withstood the test of time due to one thing and one thing only."
He was decorated in decorum that spoke volumes of his political standing. Hair patterned with speckles of crimson red. Ornaments laced his wrist, which was cut with unpurified stones. It was Flonne's ideology not to alter the natural way of things. This was part of their fashion, choosing the most natural path possible.
"The esoteric glory that is the Rai-Father might...YOUR might, my King..."
He said, making sure to bow slightly as he addressed King Dracovis.
"A might that would be soon inherited by your firstborn son...so truly, and my queen, with all encouraging respect for the phenomenal birth you have wrought...."
His eyes narrowed
"So, truly...what are we doing here? It is obvious that this summons determines the fate of these...entities."
Onohall's eyes became dagger-like for but a moment. Dracovis would place his hand gingerly on his wife's shoulder calming her festering storm. The Emerald King looked out in the room of his charges. He knew there were common threads of thought in the realm that shared these sentiments. After all, he had sown many of these seeds early in his rule after the tension between Denkou and the neighboring realms began to rise. The constantly looming threat beneath the sea of the Atlanteans and the titans that roamed the Jaida coast and its highlands. However, he...lamented the current state of power-crazed dynamics that have grown from his brazen displays of might. So enamored with making them untouchable, he ordered these hearts with entitlement. It has caused his realm to value might and magic over love and community. It was apparent...they were drifting apart... How was he to mend this?
By addressing it here and now.
Prince Na'lumerie Jhunei Ri'ore Denkou is the one with crimson hair. One of Beryl's hair is Dalazar Ains Ri'ore Denkou.
He stepped down the gilden path leading to the center of the room where the Flonne stood—dwarfing the man several times over.
Meridan would tug at his collar before kneeling
"Of course, we are here to discuss the prince's fate. Correct?"
Evant observed how quickly one took a knee when approached by the King. Meridan held abstinence toward the twin's birth, but the King ensured that regardless of the collective choice made here today, respect for their rights as nobles was observed and revered. The young Urso cub tugged at his faster hand... he had a question to ask him.
"Papa, why are the Flonne so upset? What does he mean by deciding their fate? Aren't we just going to send them to the Astral?"
His father did not address his concerns right away. He was unsure whether this was the proper time to teach his son the harshness of Denkou nobility's politics. He had only seen it in practice once, and it was harrowing enough for even him never to wish to witness it again. However, for his son to one day shepherd his fellow Urso, this truth needed to be revealed. He eventually relented; this was the perfect time to teach him.
"We Urso have stood by the side of the main house since its inauguration. We are their sworn guard and closest friends. The bloodline of the Emerald King is rare and saturated with magical energy that trumps all of the other houses by eons. However, we cannot know whether the gene containing the power can be passed to multiple children at once. Could you imagine the chaos? For a litany of beings to possess the same level of magic as the sovereign? To make sure that it is never even a possibility, each King is only able to sire one a child per reign during the solstice of Sigil...any other is...."
His eyes closed before looking deeply into his child's eyes...
Glorious gilden orbs, he could scarcely deny his child the truth when he gazed deeply into the innocence they claimed. Knowing full well that innocence must bear witness to that cold-hearted truth.
That all that glitters is not gold...
"My Golden cub, my youngest pup...in our world are billions of lifeforms. They all carry something that makes them special, something...that makes them unique. A soul is often determined by what is most important to them."
His gaze left his son's and drifted over to King Dracovis himself.
"But out of the billions of lifeforms out there. That man is standing before you. Your chieftain and ruler. He stands adjacent to those billion...in a league of his own. That power is held deep within his heart, a legacy carried by his blood. So special that we dare not dream of what would happen should two ever be born in the same lifetime..."
Evant's line of sight was also on the king. Widened by the sheer admiration with which his father spoke of the Emerald Ruler. Evant could feel his pride bustling and growing, like a storm in his heart. He looked back at his father to find a look on his face that he never wanted to witness again. Pain, regret, terror, anger...were some of the emotions his father's expression gave to him.
"Because of this... many measures are taken to prevent unsanctioned pregnancies, but nothing is 100 percent. Should the King sire another child during their reign...that child..."
At that moment, as the firstborn prince was about to finish his sentence, Mios stood near his mother.
"They must be executed!"
His voice was light, but the self-imposed authority it carried shook the staleness of the atmosphere. It rattled the senses of the more passive members of the court who, despite their honor to tradition, dared not to witness the end of two barely born babes. Mios did not share their sympathy. Despite the part of him that might have liked to know what it would be like to have siblings, it was the Denkou way for the firstborn to remain as such. As far as he was concerned, even allowing them to live was null and void. Their coming would spell the end for Denkou's culture abroad. The one bearing red hair, Na'Lumerie, carried exceptional magical power that felt almost akin to that of the Emerald Soul he was said to inherit soon. That made him exceptionally dangerous as well.
" My Son..."
He stared at his mother so deeply in the eyes. Deep enough for her to glimpse the bustling storm in his heart. He was set, his mind finite on the matter.
"Is this the common thread of thought amongst you all? Heh, of course it is. It has always been our way."
Dracovis spoke, and Evant watched last the stern faces of the Royal counsel. Esmeralda, the head of the Flonne family, did not speak, though her presence was more than known. She stood beside the twins and the queen, delivering the duo herself.
"Papa...they can't...they wouldn't."
He could not comprehend why something like this was amongst a flock of people who professed the mission to save Denkou's blood.
"Denkou cannot slay Denkou...that is our most sacred law, right Papa?!"
Little Evant cried out, his tears of empathy echoing through the silent hall as most of the Royals in attendance raised their hands to confer that they all felt that execution was the best route. Many also had an aligned thought: why was the Emerald King, whose namesake and legacy the twins posed the greatest threat against, so calm about this entire thing? It was not like the Emerald Ruler was actively trying to dissuade them, merely keeping the peace rather than carrying opinions and grievances. The Queen seemed exhausted, almost begging for peace among them...what did they know that the others did not? Tears in his eyes, the Urso heir observed the Rio're headed further. His father made eye contact with his Charge, His King. Dracovis gazed back at him, his eyes showing an unyielding resolve...absolute conviction. And then...
He smirked
It was a small gesture that completely shattered Evant's father's apprehension. He smirked before stepping forward with his hand raised, relaying the same sentiments to his son.
"I, Oberon Corneilious Urso Denkou, Head of the House of Grizzly, now give my sole vote in favor of Royal execution...The twins cannot be allowed to live."
Evant's eyes bucked; he could not believe his father had agreed to this...at first. Then he thought back to what he observed from both the King and Queen. Esmeralda was usually much more talkative than she had been this entire meeting. They all must have known something the rest of the council did not. They expected the pushback...but they seemed unbothered by the decree. Although...that look in his eyes made Evant feel like there was nothing to fear. That is why those who did not think so highly of the stone-aged traditions needn't worry... the change was about to come. In truth, it had already arrived.
Embreyus: I, Embreyus Isshen Gamallow Denkou, Head of the Industrious House of Gamallow, hereby present my vote in favor of Royal Execution. In ordnance of our desire to protect our King's legacy...though it never does my heart to send young to their deaths. The sanctity of our bloodline must persevere. I am sure the other heads would agree.
A man whose voice was rarely heard, but the calculating nature of his often very stone stoic face was palpable. He was even more seldom seen as much of his time was occupied by his endeavors to push the Denkou to the next phase of progression as a Kingdom. Its internal structure, outside trade and marketing, and everything else was a branch of his oak-like demeanor and tenacity. The Head of the Gamallow also agreed and had complete conviction behind his words. To express that even one as cold and meticulous as he did not hold any joy from this choice...but understanding the stakes of allowing not only one but two potential wielders to survive. The balance would be thrown totally out of order. Dracovis closed his eyes, making his way back to his throne. Two of the four houses had spoken. Esmeralda hadn't said a word. She stood there clasped still in the same garments she wore to assist the Queen in birthing the twins. She was stained with blood and sweat. Usually, she never allowed herself to be seen in such a worn state. However, after what she witnessed, this siren dictated that she forgo casual decorum, which required her immediate attention.
I, Esmeralda Yuliana Flonne Denkou, Head of the Florescent House of Flonne, hereby present my vote in favor of Royal execution. To take lives so young....to bring life and return all its potential back to the primordial ocean of souls. That has always been the creed of Denkou. The youth of the Denkou tree should take precedence in fostering and cultivating the Emerald Soul so that we might continue to grow and flourish like well-cultivated fruits. I mourn this decision… for in all my years as a stewardess to the Nobility of this house, I have never encountered such a miraculous pair of children.
Myos's nostril flared. He was the most potent and most prolific child ever to be born to the House of Ri'ore; all the houses, including the Flonne, said it. She'd change her tune soon...
Dracovis heaved a heavy sigh.
Three of the four House had given their votes. Looking into the collective eyes of his most trusted retainers. His personally chosen Household members. He looked back to his father, and the two exchanged a solemn nod of understanding. He looked to his wife, his glorious bride who gave way to such a powerful birth. Her strength to remain conscious after delivering two children and still address her court. He loved every moment he got to spend with her. Now...he, as King, needed to act.
I have heard your decrees...I am honored to know how much such loyal retainers would go to ensure the sovereignty of the Emerald Soul is clung to and preserved...truly, I am honored. And thus...
With that being said, he took his axe, The Legendary Vessel, Fulgur in hand, raised it, and sent the glare of the Emerald Kings light.
"I, Dracovis Siegfried Ri'Ore Denkou 4th Emerald King, Chieftan of the Beryl Sun, herby give my vote in favor of Royal execution!"
A thunderous boom soon followed after Dracovis hit the hilt of his axe against the ground as if it were a gavel. The verdict had been given. Myos would be found with a gruesomely satisfied smirk on his face.
No one could have foreseen a smirk that was extremely short-lived for what occurred next. Save for those present during the twin's birth. Dravocis would lay Fulgur to the side before walking over to the carriage where the twins were being held. He looked to his spawn. So tiny was Dalazar, much smaller than his brother; such a small, faint magic signature. Then there was Na' Lumerie, whose power was so bold and brazen.
"Normally, such a thing would be held in private with only the Heads of the royal families to be present to observe the fulfillment of the law. However..."
The room was soon engulfed in an insidious emerald light. The king was its origin point, and his hands crackled with a bright electrical force. The air vibrated with an almost insufferable vigor that caused the hairs of all those in attendance to stand. Not every day, one got to see the King show a display of power.
" To dispel the voices of those who believe that I have begun to stray from the king's path, I will execute the twins before the faces of all the royal house. Let it never be said that anyone else stained their hands of innocent blood other than their king..."
The queen, who stood beside the twins the entire time, looked Dracovis sternly in the eyes...for a moment, her faith faltered. He, though, would be seen smiling, as if telling her to trust his actions would work out. She stood aside, taking Esmerlad's hand. The faces of both Meridian and Myos were stained with excitement...the legacy would prevail. Myos would still be the only child of the strongest King ever. Evant grabbed his father's hand. Oberon did not look away and encouraged his child to do the same. He needed to see this...the first stone in the change of Denkou's legacy.
"Soverign art: Bannishing bolt of bane!
With that invocation, The full brutality came down as a thunderous bolt of lightning struck the twins. The four heads of the family had placed force fields of magic to protect everyone else from the magical backlash of such terribly potent magic. Many turned their heads...they could not believe he would smite his children in such a barbarous manner. Myos did not look away, reveling in the brutality of his father's might. Even though he had never thought of seeing such ruthlessness from his father, it was refreshing to know he had not softened entirely. The room was enveloped in dazzling green light as dust and debris soon settled...what was seen...shocked the entire court.
The king's power had been nullified.
The carriage was completely unharmed, not a single hair on the twin's head had been swayed. Covering them was a magic barrier of crimson nature. Magic that was just as old as the Emerald soul and just as powerful.
Evant stared in amazement...what did this mean? That there was a force greater than the Emerald King...were the twins...immortal?
Confused didn't even explain the collective befuddlement that filled the room.
"I do not understand this...how are they still alive?"
The firstborn prince said with teeth gritted and fist balled. He walked past his father, ignoring the face of his mother and focusing solely on the twins. The power emanating from Na'Lumiere had also covered his brother.
"You must've held back; nothing surpasses the Emerald King's power. It is a singularity; no other force in the kingdom's bloodlines could stand up to it. So how?! HOW IS IT THAT THIS HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO STAND?!
So deep was his anger, so unfathomable was his rage but in many ways, it was the thought process of all those who had also condemned the birth of the twins. Almost as if Myos was possessed. It also inspired much confusion and even some notions of fear. However, it is known that the origins of the Ruby Queen are indeed etched into the history of the Denkai's ancestry. No one has wielded her magic since Astral Queen herself walked the land of the living. They had always thought the Emerald Soul in so many ways to be esoteric nigh omnipotent, yet...it had faltered?
Dracovis would fall to one knee...drained of magic power. And yet, he was smiling.
"Do you think I would suffer the looks of taking my entire kingdom through the motions of killing children just to insult that decree by not giving such a thing my all? I can assure you, young prince. I brought the full might of my magic down upon them."
Onohall rushed to his side. She would help him up and immediately begin casting healing magic on him. Aside from his magic being nullified, the power protecting the twins sent whatever malic presented towards them back to the caster. He felt the full force of his spell sent back at him.
Meridian: Ho-how can this be? What forces within the Denkou blood can stand up to that of the Beryl Sun?!
Esmerelda would stand in front of her subordinate. She knew full well what had occurred...
What you have just witnessed now is the resurrection of a power once thought to be long lost to the Denkou blood..yet it is a force that is the very hope and dream of the Denkai kingdom...The counterpart to the Asharin, birther of the Emerald Soul....what you've just seen is the power of the Masharin, The power of the Ruby Queen.
a large collective gasp, silence...then myriad inaudible whispers and yells.
In the cacophony of voices, the firstborn prince would be heard.
" NO! 3RD TIER CONFIGURATION: LIGHTNING BEAST MIMICRY: BLISTERING MAW OF THE LION EMPEROR!
The entire room was ignited with magical energy once more. Third-tier magic from a child? The massive and voracious lion-shaped blast was sent forth. The force was absorbed as soon as it made contact with the twins, but the harm that would have been done to the princes was instead done to Myos. Physically, he received no wounds, but the "feel" of the magic's harmful intent radiated through his body, causing him incredible mental and spiritual anguish as if his very soul could break. He would fall unconscious and hit the ground. The aids rushed to his side to care for him.
Dracovis looked in disappointment at how readily his child was willing to try and execute his brothers. Though Myos had always had a temper, recently, the King has taken note of how his attitude has been changing. He was slowly becoming more ruthless, even in their training. Like a beast possessed. Though also worriedly impressed that he was capable of such ridiculous magic power at such a young age. Now the point was completely made...the twins were blessed by the protection of the Masharin; they could not be harmed by any outside force whose power did not supersede the ancient deity's might.
As the reality of what just occurred sunk in, The emerald light grew dimmer as the room was filled with a sense of disbelief. The Head of the Houses looked at each other, some in amazement and others in fear. The power that had been lost for millennia had just manifested in the newest addition to the Denkou Royal family. This revelation had split the room in two, those who were loyal to the Emerald King's lineage and those who saw potential in the twins.
The whispers grew into murmurs, and soon, shouts echoed through the chamber. Some of the helpers stood, calling for order, while others took sides, raising their voices in either support or protest of the twins. The room was a tumult of emotions, and the Queen, though exhausted, had to stand firm to keep the peace.
"SILENCE!" Her voice boomed, a power in her cords she had never used before. The room grew still as she turned to the King.
"You knew," she said, her voice firm and unwavering.
Dracovis nodded.
"Yes, I knew. I could feel the Marashin's presence during your pregnancy. I knew that we had been granted a gift, a second chance to balance the scales.Why this happened, I have spoken to the Gods and they said this is what must be."
"
What are we to do with this information, my love?" she asked, her eyes filled with hope and fear.
"We must prepare," he said, his voice strong and steady.
"For the emergence of the Ruby Queen's power will not go unnoticed. It will be the spark that ignites a civil war within our lands."
The room grew even quieter as the gravity of his words settled in. The four houses of the Denkou Kingdom had always been united under the Emerald Soul, but now, with the return of the Ruby Queen's line, that unity was at risk.
The once peaceful Kingdom of Denkou was now on the brink of a war that could tear it apart. Some would seek to harness the twins' abilities for their own ends, while others would fight to maintain the status quo. The air grew thick with tension, and the once joyous occasion of the twins' birth had become a harbinger of strife and conflict.
The council members shifted, glancing at each other nervously. The implications of this revelation were vast, and the decisions they made now would determine the fate of the kingdom. Dracovis stood, placing a hand on the hilt of Fulgur.
"We must ensure that the twins are kept safe and that their power is used wisely. We cannot allow it to be used for ill intent."
He looked around the room, his gaze landing on the twins.
"Our ancestors gave us this gift so that we may continue to thrive. We must ensure that their legacy is honored and that the Ruby Queen's power is not used to bring about our downfall."
The council nodded in agreement, though some had looks of greed in their eyes. The Queen, however, knew that her husband had made a decision that would not be easy to carry out.
The chamber quieter as the council members took their seats. The room was still, the only sound the gentle cooing of the twins, oblivious to the turmoil their existence had just brought forth.
The King and Queen knew that they had to act quickly to prevent chaos from engulfing their kingdom. They had to find a way to unite their people, to show them that the twins were not a curse but a blessing, a second chance for the Kingdom to rise above their limitations.
"
We will announce the birth of the twins in one week's time," the Queen announced, her voice resonating through the grand chamber.
"A ceremony of unprecedented scale will be held to celebrate their arrival. All leaders of the Denkou houses and their fractions are invited to attend and bear witness to the dawn of a new era."
The room erupted in a flurry of activity as the council members discussed the preparations for the grand event. The air was electric with excitement and the scent of ambition. The palace would be adorned with the finest silks and illuminated by the glow of a thousand candles. The sound of scribes's quills against parchment filled the air as they began drafting the invitations to be sent across the kingdom.
In the midst of the bustle, Na'lumire and Dalazar lay in their golden cradles, swaddled in crimson and emerald fabrics. Their eyes remained closed, but their chests rose and fell with the steady rhythm of new life. Their existence was a secret known only to a select few, and their fate would soon be revealed to the entire kingdom.
The twins' nursery was a sanctuary, a place where the eyes of the outside world were muffled. In this quiet space, the Queen and her trusted advisors, including the wise ArchShaper and Second Emerald King Luvian Nocturne, plotted and strategized. They knew that the revelation of the Ruby Queen's descendants would be met with trepidation. The balance of power was about to shift, and they had to be ready.
The twins grew stronger each day, and with their strength showing glances of their power. The Queen could feel the ancient magic coursing through their veins, a gentle breeze hinting at the hurricane that was to come. She knew that their fate was tied to the fate of the kingdom and that the choices they made would resonate through the annals of time.
The day of the ceremony grew closer, and the anticipation grew stronger. The Denkai Kingdom was a place of tradition, and the birth of Na'lumire with the power of the Ruby Queen was an event that could either unite or divide them. The Queen and King had to tread carefully, ensuring that the delicate balance of power remained intact.
During the week of preparation, the Queen spent hours with Na'lumire, the one whose power had been revealed. She held him close, whispering stories of his ancestors and the legacy he was born to carry. She hoped that her love and guidance would be enough to shape him into a just and wise ruler, one who would not succumb to the darker impulses that had plagued their lineage.
The palace was a whirlwind of activity. Craftsmen worked tirelessly to construct a grand stage adorned with emerald and crimson, the colors of the Ruby Queen and Emerald King. The air was filled with the scent of exotic flowers and the sound of musicians tuning their instruments. The Queen's own seamstresses had been tasked with creating the most magnificent gowns for the twins, ones that would symbolize the unity of the kingdom and the hope that they brought.
As the day of the ceremony approached, the tension grew palpable. Guests from all corners of the kingdom began to arrive, each bringing their own entourages and agendas. The air was thick with the scent of ambition and the whispered rumors of the twins' power. The Queen's advisors were on high alert, ensuring that every detail was perfect, every guest attended to, and every potential threat neutralized.
Finally, the day dawned, a brilliant sun casting emerald and crimson hues across the horizon. The twins were dressed in their finery, and the Queen held them tightly as they were carried to the grand hall. The room was packed with the most powerful and influential people in the kingdom, all eager to lay their eyes on the new heirs to the Ruby Throne. The ceremony began with the melody of ancient hymns, sung by the royal choir, their voices echoing off the gleaming marble walls. The Queen took her place beside the King, her heart pounding in her chest as she awaited the moment she would present her sons to the world.
"Are you ready my Queen?" Dracovis said as he took the hand of his wife as she laid the infants in the ruby and emerald basketnettes .
She would nod and they would turn to face the masses.
The team