Night had fully settled over the Royal Kingdom.
The towering castle stood beneath the pale glow of the moon, its tall walls and silent towers watching over the land like ancient guardians. The chaos that had filled the palace during the birth of the royal twins had finally faded.
Servants moved quietly through the halls.
Guards stood at attention along the corridors.
The kingdom was slowly returning to calm.
But inside the royal chamber, the atmosphere remained heavy.
Queen Elina rested peacefully upon the large royal bed. The pain of childbirth had exhausted her completely, forcing her into deep sleep.
Beside the bed stood two cradles.
Inside them lay the newborn princes of the Grimheart bloodline.
The first cradle held the elder twin.
Leon Grimheart.
Even as a newborn, the child's breathing was calm and steady. His tiny hands were clenched, as if he already possessed the pride and strength of the royal family.
In the second cradle lay the younger twin.
Ragna Grimheart.
Unlike his brother, the newborn's breathing was weak and uneven.
Each breath sounded fragile.
As if the child was fighting quietly just to remain alive.
Standing beside the cradles was the ruler of the kingdom himself.
Kaal Grimheart.
The Monarch.
The man who had conquered countless lands and united them beneath his rule.
Yet tonight, his expression carried a rare weight.
His eyes moved slowly between the two children.
Two sons.
Two futures.
But suddenly—
A violent tremor ran through his body.
Pain surged through his chest without warning.
Before anyone could react—
Kaal's body dropped to one knee.
THUD.
The sound echoed loudly across the chamber.
"My king!"
The nearby guards rushed forward immediately.
But the moment they stepped closer—
BOOM.
An overwhelming pressure exploded from Kaal's body.
A terrifying aura surged through the chamber like a raging storm.
The air twisted violently as the Monarch's mana flooded the room.
The guards froze instantly.
Their instincts screamed danger.
Some of the knights felt their legs weaken beneath the crushing pressure.
Others instinctively lowered their heads.
Standing this close to the Monarch felt like standing before an awakened dragon.
"My… my king…" one knight whispered.
They had seen Kaal's power on battlefields before.
But experiencing it this close was completely different.
It was suffocating.
Terrifying.
Unbearable.
Kaal pressed his hand against the stone floor and forced himself to breathe steadily.
Slowly, the violent pressure began to fade.
"Stand back," he ordered calmly.
Even while kneeling, his authority filled the chamber.
The knights obeyed instantly.
Inside Kaal's mind, a deep ancient voice echoed.
"So even your body has begun to protest."
Kaal's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Infernos."
The ancient presence within him responded calmly.
"For years you have carried powers that were never meant to exist together."
"Astra… my flames… and the many forces you claimed during your conquest."
"Even a Monarch's body cannot contain such power forever."
Kaal slowly rose to his feet.
The moment of weakness passed, but the truth remained.
His body had limits.
Even for him.
He walked slowly toward the cradles.
His eyes first settled on Leon.
The child slept peacefully.
Strong.
Stable.
Then Kaal looked toward the second cradle.
Ragna.
The fragile newborn struggled quietly for breath.
Inside his mind, Infernos spoke again.
"The first child is strong."
"If my power were given to him, he would grow into something extraordinary."
Kaal remained silent.
Then he reached down and gently lifted Leon from the cradle.
The newborn stirred slightly but did not wake.
Kaal held the child carefully in his arms.
Instead of answering Infernos, he raised his hand.
A warm golden light began to gather around his palm.
The energy was calm.
Steady.
Royal.
The knights in the room felt the change immediately.
The violent pressure from earlier disappeared, replaced by a warm radiant presence.
Inside Kaal's mind, Infernos spoke quietly.
"Astra…"
The ancient royal power tied to the Grimheart bloodline.
Kaal looked down at the child in his arms.
His voice was calm.
"Leon Grimheart."
"You will inherit Astra."
The golden light slowly flowed into the child's small body.
For a brief moment, the chamber glowed like the rising sun.
The power merged smoothly with the newborn.
Then the light faded.
Leon remained asleep.
But the royal power of Astra now rested within him.
Kaal gently placed the child back into the cradle.
The knights watched in stunned silence.
They had just witnessed the Monarch pass the royal power to the first prince.
The future protector of the kingdom.
But as Kaal stepped back—
His body swayed slightly.
His vision blurred.
The transfer had clearly weakened him.
He placed one hand against a nearby pillar to steady himself.
His breathing grew heavier than before.
The knights noticed immediately.
"My king—"
Kaal raised his hand again.
The gesture stopped them.
"I am fine."
Inside his mind, Infernos spoke calmly.
"You divided your power."
"Your body will suffer more now."
Kaal ignored the voice.
His eyes slowly moved to the second cradle.
Ragna Grimheart.
The fragile newborn still struggled for breath.
Silence filled the chamber.
Then Kaal turned toward the guards.
His voice carried absolute authority.
"Send word across the kingdom."
The knights straightened immediately.
"Summon the sealing mages."
For a moment, the room became completely silent.
One knight hesitated.
"Your Majesty… sealing mages?"
Kaal's gaze returned to the cradle.
"Yes."
His voice remained calm.
"Every sealing mage."
"From every tower… every academy… every order within the kingdom."
The knights were shocked.
That command would summon hundreds of powerful mages.
But none of them dared question the Monarch.
They immediately knelt.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Within minutes, royal messengers left the castle.
Some rode through the night on horseback.
Others used magical communication towers.
Across the vast lands of the Royal Kingdom, a single message spread rapidly.
The Monarch had issued a command.
Every sealing mage had been summoned.
None of them yet knew the reason.
Inside the chamber, silence slowly returned.
Queen Elina continued sleeping peacefully.
Leon rested calmly inside his cradle.
But the second cradle remained different.
Ragna's breathing was still weak.
Kaal stood beside the fragile child.
The most powerful man in the world…
Standing beside the weakest life in the room.
Inside his mind, Infernos spoke softly.
"So this is the path you have chosen."
Kaal did not answer.
Outside the castle, the night wind moved across the vast lands he ruled.
The world believed the future of the kingdom had already been decided.
The first prince carried Astra.
The royal heir.
But far away, sealing mages were already answering the Monarch's call.
And when they finally arrived at the castle—
The fate of the second twin would begin to unfold.
Because the destiny of Leon Grimheart had already begun.
But the destiny of Ragna Grimheart…