The Temple of Eternal Echoes trembled violently.
For over a thousand years, it had remained silent, acknowledging only one royal bloodline—the heir destined to inherit Elysium. Yet now, two ancient thrones glowed with overwhelming power.
Kael Arwyn.
Orion Arwyn.
Both carried the blood of Elysium.
Both possessed powers that should not exist.
And both had been acknowledged by the temple itself.
The ancient guardian stared at the two glowing thrones in disbelief.
"This has never happened before," he whispered.
Kael looked at the crystal throne that had awakened moments ago. Questions flooded his mind.
If Orion was truly his brother, why had no one mentioned him in the royal records? Why did the temple recognize him as an heir? Most importantly, which one of them was destined to rule Elysium?
Suddenly, the temple's ancient voice echoed throughout the chamber.
> WARNING.
> TWO HEIRS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED.
> THE ROYAL SUCCESSION HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.
The entire temple shook once again.
"Royal succession compromised?" Kael asked.
The guardian's expression immediately darkened.
"That is impossible."
"What does that mean?" Orion asked as he finally entered the chamber.
The guardian slowly turned toward both princes.
"It means the temple cannot determine who the rightful heir of Elysium is."
Silence filled the chamber.
For the first time in the kingdom's history, the temple itself was unable to make a decision.
"The prophecy only spoke of one ruler," the guardian continued. "There has never been a case where two heirs possessed equal qualifications."
The glowing symbols upon the temple walls suddenly began moving.
Ancient inscriptions that had remained hidden for centuries revealed themselves.
Kael stepped forward and carefully read the words engraved upon the crystal walls.
> When two heirs rise beneath the same stars, one shall save the kingdom, and one shall change the world.
"What does that mean?" Kael whispered.
"No one knows," the guardian replied. "That prophecy was erased from the royal archives over a thousand years ago."
Orion frowned.
"Why would someone erase it?"
"Because they feared it."
The temple suddenly released another surge of golden light that engulfed both brothers.
Countless visions appeared before their eyes.
Kael saw himself sitting upon the throne of Elysium as its king.
The kingdom flourished under his rule. Peace spread across the land as dragons and humans lived together once again.
Then the vision changed.
He saw Orion standing above countless kingdoms beneath a sky filled with stars. Seven ancient beings knelt before him.
But neither vision showed darkness or destruction.
Both futures were glorious.
"How is this possible?" Kael asked.
The guardian smiled bitterly.
"Perhaps neither of you was destined to become a villain."
Before anyone could speak further, another vision appeared.
This one caused the entire temple to fall silent.
Kael and Orion stood side by side upon a battlefield surrounded by darkness.
Before them stood an enormous shadow that devoured the heavens themselves.
The Seven Sovereigns had fallen.
The Echo Crystal was shattered.
Entire worlds burned beneath a crimson sky.
Yet what terrified Kael most was not the destruction.
It was the figure standing behind him.
A silhouette covered in golden flames.
The figure possessed eight glowing wings and sat upon a throne unlike any he had ever seen.
Its voice echoed throughout the vision.
> The final Sovereign has awakened.
Kael immediately froze.
"Final Sovereign?"
The guardian looked horrified.
"That throne..."
"What is it?" Orion asked.
The guardian slowly fell to one knee.
"It does not belong to the Eighth Sovereign."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
"What do you mean?" Kael asked.
The guardian's body trembled as he answered.
"According to the ancient records, there was never supposed to be an Eighth Sovereign."
Silence followed.
"There was only ever meant to be one final ruler."
Kael frowned.
"The final ruler?"
The guardian looked directly into his eyes.
"The Sovereign of Sovereigns."
The revelation shocked everyone present.
The Seven Sovereigns did not rule existence.
They answered to someone else.
Someone who had never awakened.
Someone whose throne had remained empty since the beginning of time.
Suddenly, the temple bells began ringing violently.
Ancient symbols appeared across the sky once more.
> EMERGENCY ALERT.
> THE THIRD ROYAL BLOOD SIGNATURE HAS BEEN DETECTED.
The chamber became deathly silent.
Kael blinked in confusion.
"Third?"
Orion's expression immediately changed.
"That's impossible."
"There are only two surviving members of the royal bloodline," Kael said.
The temple repeated its warning.
> THIRD ROYAL BLOOD SIGNATURE CONFIRMED.
> ACCESS GRANTED TO THE TEMPLE OF ETERNAL ECHOES.
The guardian's face turned pale.
"No..."
Kael slowly reached for his sword.
"What's wrong?"
The guardian looked toward the entrance of the temple with fear in his eyes.
"If a third heir exists..."
"Then one of two things has happened."
"And what are they?" Orion asked.
The old guardian took a deep breath before speaking.
"The royal family has been hiding another surviving prince for eighteen years..."
He paused for several seconds.
"Or someone who carries the blood of Elysium has finally returned from the dead."
The massive crystal doors of the temple slowly began opening by themselves.
Heavy footsteps echoed throughout the ancient halls.
Neither Kael nor Orion could sense the approaching person's mana.
Yet the temple itself had acknowledged them as royal blood.
A shadow appeared beyond the temple doors.
Then an ancient voice echoed throughout the chamber.
> Welcome back...
> Your Majesty.
Kael's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Your Majesty?"
The mysterious figure stepped forward and smiled.
"You've both grown up nicely."
Neither Kael nor Orion recognized the face standing before them.
But for some reason...
The necklace that once belonged to Queen Elara began glowing violently around Kael's neck.
The stranger looked directly into Kael's eyes and said something that made his heart stop.
"I knew your mother well."
To be continued...