The massive silver doors of the Cathedral swung open. Kaelen stepped out into the blinding sunlight, the Blade of Dawn sheathed at his waist. From a distance, he looked like a god descended to earth. His posture was perfect, his chin held high, and a calm, confident smile played on his lips.
The crowd erupted. "Long live the Solar Prince! The Void shall tremble!"
But inside his armor, Kaelen was dying. Each step felt like walking on broken glass. His skin, hidden by his silk tunic, was covered in a cold, indigo sweat. Every time his hand brushed the hilt of the sword, he felt a sharp, agonizing suction—the blade was no longer a weapon; it was a hungry leech, pulse-feeding on his life force.
"I have to hold it..." Kaelen thought, his vision blurring for a split second before he forced it clear. "If they see me stumble, the kingdom falls. If I show weakness, the prophecy breaks."
He raised his hand, waving to the cheering masses. His fingers trembled so violently he had to ball them into a fist. He could feel the Indigo Threads of Fang Yuan's influence wrapping around his heart, whispering that his strength was a lie.
Suddenly, a figure pushed through the golden-armored guards. It was a woman with wild eyes and a staff that hummed with a strange, dark frequency.
Lia.
Kaelen's heart skipped a beat. In his dreams, he had seen this woman. She was supposed to be his guide. But as she approached, he didn't see the "Light of the Sage" in her eyes. He saw a violet shimmer that matched the cold emptiness in his own soul.
"My Prince," Lia said, bowing low, though her smile didn't reach her eyes. "The sun is high, but the shadows are growing. I am here to... stabilize your radiance."
Kaelen looked at her, his confident mask nearly cracking. He felt a wave of relief and terror. Relief that someone finally saw his pain, and terror because she didn't look like she was there to save him. She looked like she was there to manage him.