The golden morning light spilled across the mansion's polished floors, but the atmosphere remained thick with the lingering terror of the previous night. Helios stood over the trembling maid, his eyes still shimmering with a faint, predatory crimson.
"Morning, Karl!" Luna chirped, her innocent voice cutting through the tension like a blade. She looked at the maid Helios had been terrorizing with genuine concern. "Morning, Lady Luna," Karl stammered, her entire body vibrating with a rhythmic shiver.
"Why are you kneeling on the ground? Are you okay?" Luna asked, tilting her head.
Helios's expression shifted instantly, the terrifying tyrant vanishing behind the mask of a doting brother. He scooped Luna up, masking the maid from her sight. "Luna, let's go outside and play," he said, casting one final, freezing glance at Karl.
"Okay, brother! Let's go to the garden!" Luna shouted, her dark thoughts forgotten as Helios carried her toward the back of the estate.
As they walked, a cold, resonant echo vibrated in the back of Helios's skull. When you're done playing house, human, come to my realm. It's time we finished our little chat.
What are you talking about now, Crown? Helios thought, but the artefact fell silent, retracting its consciousness into the void of his mind.
They reached the garden, and even Helios found himself momentarily breathless. It was a masterpiece of landscape architecture—tiers of red, purple, and white flowers bloomed in perfectly manicured beds, shaded by ancient, sprawling trees. In the centre, a marble fountain depicted a forgotten hero, the water sparkling like diamonds in the sun.
Luna jumped from his arms, her small shoes crunching on the gravel path. "I've never seen a place like this! It's beautiful!"
Before Helios could follow her, a blur of motion appeared to his left. A member of the Order of the Blackthorn knelt in the shadows of a willow tree. "Leader, a message from the central branch. A representative from the Noble Faction wishes to meet regarding the Targen incident."
Helios didn't even turn his head. "Tell Sara I have something more important to do today. I'll meet them tomorrow." With a flick of his wrist, the subordinate vanished back into the foliage.
"Brother! Why don't you come and play with me!" Luna's voice drifted from across the lawn.
Helios sighed, the weight of the "Sovereign" slipping from his shoulders. He spent the afternoon pushing Luna's toy horse through the grass, laughing at her stories, and pretending that the blood on his hands from the night before had never existed. But as the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in bruised purples and oranges, the butler appeared to call them in for dinner.
The dining hall was silent, save for the clink of silver on porcelain. A servant stepped forward to pour wine into Helios's glass, but the bottle rattled against the rim, the man's hands shaking so violently that a drop spilled onto the white tablecloth.
"Brother, why does he look so scared?" Luna asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Did you do something to him?"
Helios felt a prick of guilt, the lie tasting like ash in his mouth. "No, not at all, Moon. I did nothing wrong. He's probably just tired."
"Okay... I believe you," Luna said, though she didn't look entirely convinced. She poked at her peas, her expression turning sombre. "Brother, Mom, and Dad must be so happy to see us being happy in heaven, right?"
Helios reached across the table and took her hand. "Yes, they are happy. And they'll be even happier if you keep smiling. They wouldn't want you to be sad."
Luna perked up, a small, brave smile returning to her face. "Okay, brother. I won't be sad anymore."
Once dinner concluded and Luna was tucked safely into her bed, the mansion began to hum with the whispered gossip of the staff. From his own bedroom, Helios lay staring at the ceiling. His heightened Seeker senses picked up every word echoing through the vents.
"Master Helios... he's like a different person when the Lady is around," a maid whispered in the kitchen.
"But that pressure from earlier... I felt like I was standing before a god of death. No human should be able to make someone feel that way," a footman replied.
Helios closed his eyes, trying to drown them out. Those servants talk too much. I just want to sleep.
Human, do not test my patience, the Crown's voice boomed. Enter my realm, or you will never receive the answers you seek.
Fine. Just tell me how. Do you want me to guess?
It is simple. Close your eyes and project your consciousness into the Summon Realm. Imagine the throne.
Helios did as instructed. The world around him dissolved. The soft mattress beneath him vanished, replaced by the cold, unforgiving weight of obsidian armour. He opened his eyes to find himself back in the desolate, starlit throne room of the Veiled World. He stood up, his cape billowing in a non-existent wind, and sat upon the jagged throne.
"Why did you call me here, Crown? I have a mountain of paperwork waiting for me tomorrow, and unlike you, I actually need rest."
I called you here to discuss the 'Original Helios,' the Crown said, its voice shimmering with curiosity. The boy who stabbed himself and left his sister alone. He is truly gone. So, I ask again: Who are you, and what do you want?
Helios leaned back, his gaze fixed on the swirling nebula above. "I don't know who I am. I don't know where I came from. All I know is that I don't belong in this world. I can't even remember my own memories, let alone the ones belonging to the boy whose body I've stolen." He paused, his voice turning sharp. "But you said you knew the 'guy' who took over my body during the massacre. Tell me about him."
It is not 'your' body, the Crown corrected sarcastically.
"Shut up, or I'm going to name you 'Useless' or 'Stupid,'" Helios threatened.
No! the Crown shrieked in a panic. If you give me a name like that, I am bound to it until the day you die! A Crown's name is its soul!
"Then act like a partner, and maybe I'll give you a name worth having."
The Crown settled, its voice turning uncharacteristically respectful. Yes, Master Helios. Let us speak of the dweller in the dark. The entity within you is a 'Fallen,' an ancient being sealed within this lineage using Rune Magic. I feel a resonance from him... something from the First Era. The Era of the Sun and Moon.
"Rune Magic? Eras? Speak clearly," Helios commanded.
Rune Magic consists of spells written in a hidden, ancient tongue, the Crown explained. A language is considered 'Runic' as long as it is not widely understood. Humans think Runes are just old symbols, but they are living words. If more than ten people understand and use a specific Rune, it becomes a 'Minor' spell—its power is diluted because the energy is shared among many. But if a Rune is known by fewer than ten, it is a 'Major' Rune. It is pure, concentrated, and vastly more efficient.
"And the Eras?"
An Era is a span of ten thousand years. There are three that I remember: The Era of Sun and Moon, the Era of Eclipse, and the Era of Dawn. The first was when Seekers first manifested and chose to hide their existence from the common folk. The Era of Eclipse was defined by the Great Seeker War—a slaughter that claimed millions of our kind. We currently live in the Era of Dawn, named so because the great wars have ceased... for now.
The Crown's voice became flattering, almost pleading. I have given you the history you lacked, Master Helios. Now... please. Give me a name that reflects my station. Something... regal.
Helios smirked, looking at the dark artefact resting on the pedestal before him. Fine. You've been helpful enough. From this day forward, your name shall be.