The Coronation
Lucid and Ayame walked through Vex, sightseeing. The kingdom sprawled before them, alive with color and sound. Blue banners hung from every building. Street vendors called out their wares. Children ran through the cobblestone streets, laughing.
Ayame was more calm and focused than usual. Her eyes constantly scanned the crowd, cataloging threats. Every sudden movement made her tense. Every stranger was a potential enemy.
Lucid noticed. "Hey. Not everything is a threat, you know."
She looked at him, expression blank. "In my experience, everything is."
"We are just walking. Sightseeing. Normal people stuff."
"I am not normal people."
"Yeah, well. Try to be for today."
They continued walking. Past a fountain where coins glittered beneath the water. Past a street performer juggling flaming bottles. Past a bakery that smelled like fresh bread and honey.
Lucid found himself in some weird situation. A street vendor tried to sell him a love charm. Insisted it was guaranteed to work. When Lucid declined, the vendor grabbed his arm, pleading dramatically.
"Please, young sir! Your lady friend needs this! I can see it in her eyes! She is lonely!"
Ayame's hand moved to her blade.
The vendor immediately released Lucid and backed away, hands raised.
But then something unexpected happened. A small child ran past, tripped over the vendor's display, and sent charms flying everywhere. The vendor yelped. The child apologized profusely. Lucid tried to help pick up the charms. Ayame stood there, watching the chaos unfold.
And then, for just a moment, the corner of her mouth twitched. A faint but brief smile. So small it was almost invisible.
Lucid saw it.
His stomach fluttered. Something warm spread through his chest. He had never seen her smile before. Did not even know she could.
'Was that a smile? Did she just smile?'
They continued walking. The moment passed, but the image stayed in his mind.
As they walked, Lucid saw someone familiar. A figure in a blue uniform of the academy. Blue hair catching the sunlight.
"Arthur!" Lucid called out.
Ayame looked at Lucid, noticing something like change in his tone. His posture, the way he uttered his name. But she stayed quiet
Arthur turned, recognized them, and approached. He had just finished lectures and was heading somewhere with purpose.
"Lucid. Ayame." He nodded to both.
"Where are you going?" Lucid asked.
"The speech. Have you not heard?"
"What speech?"
Arthur looked surprised. "The princess is making an announcement. At the royal palace. I thought everyone knew."
Lucid and Ayame exchanged a glance.
Arthur led them through the winding streets. They arrived at a huge gathering. Many people in front of the royal palace. Commoners and noble aristocrats. Street sellers and performers. Guards stationed every few feet. Anyone and everyone had come to see.
Finally, the princess came out. Beside her walked Lyssandra, the Sky-Sundered Saint, with her armor covering her whole body. Her hair exited the back of her helmet in blonde waves. She was an elegant figure despite the heavy plate. A line of guards, mid-tier guards belonging to the second arsenal of Vex, lined the path for the princess to walk forward.
She wore a pristine dress. White with blue embroidery. Her hair was elegantly braided, woven with silver thread that caught the light.
Two figures stood at the end of the path with a crown resting on a velvet pillow.
Lucid's eyes narrowed. 'What is this? A crowning? But there is a king.'
Even Arthur looked bewildered. His face paled. His jaw clenched.
Lucid looked at Arthur, and Arthur gave the same confused glance back.
This was a crowning. She was to become queen.
The priests and the people that oversaw the law began the ceremony. Finally, the crown went on top of her head. She immediately rose to standing, no longer kneeling.
She spoke in a formal tone. The paladins kneeling next to her. She spoke with authority and ruthlessness. Something far beyond her age.
"Citizens of Vex. Subjects of the scattered realms. I stand before you today not as princess, but as your queen."
The crowd murmured. Confusion. Shock. Some fear.
She addressed the matter of the rift. Carried out orders about repairing damages to the city. Thanked all her subjects that participated in that rift. She prayed condolences for the ones who passed on, listing names from memory. Nobles and commoners alike.
Arthur muttered something under his breath. "But her ceremony is in a week. And she promised that I would be by her side."
Lucid did not pay much mind. His attention was on the queen.
"I have urgent matters to relay," she announced, voice carrying across the square. "King Henry the Second, my father, has been found deceased in the northern territories. My paladin, Lyssandra, informed me of this tragedy while I knelt in prayer. By authority and rule, I assume the throne as the full queen of Vex."
One person shouted. Then claps. Unbelievable. Out of fear, many joined. "Hail Elara the First! Heir of Henry!"
The crowds erupted. Forced celebration. Manufactured joy.
As they died down, she continued. "Furthermore, I must address a grave matter. Evidence has come to light that certain noblemen have been involved in abhorrent experiments. Blending humans with Unfaithful. With animals. Creating abominations. I will take immediate action."
Guards surged through the crowd. Subduing noblemen. Screams echoed. People tried to run. The guards were efficient. Brutal.
"House Fenshore shall be excluded from prosecution, as their main perpetrator is deceased. However, they shall pay a substantial fine for their family's transgressions."
Lucid looked around. Alaric was gone. He had been here moments ago.
'Good for him,' Lucid thought.
The queen raised her hand. Silence fell.
"And now, I shall speak of the Transcendence."
Arthur leaned toward Lucid. "What is the Transcendence?"
Lucid shook his head. "No idea."
The queen's voice rang clear. "The Transcendence is a sacred event held once every century across the scattered realms. Every kingdom, every empire, every faction is called to participate. It is governed by a force beyond our comprehension. Beyond the laws of nature itself."
"Governed by what?" Arthur muttered.
Lucid frowned. "She said beyond nature. What does that even mean?"
"There are rules," the queen continued. "First, no contestant may assassinate another. The force that governs the Transcendence places a divine barrier around each participant. Any attempt at murder will result in immediate disqualification and death."
"Wait, death?" Lucid whispered.
"Disqualification by death sounds redundant," Arthur whispered back.
"Second," the queen said, "if a ruler loses a formal duel or perishes through legal means, their accumulated merit transfers to the contestant ranked directly below them."
"Merit?" Arthur asked quietly. "What is merit?"
"I think it is like points," Lucid muttered. "Or influence."
"Third, duels may only occur if both parties consent. No forced combat. No coercion."
"So it is voluntary," Arthur said.
"Until it is not," Lucid replied.
The queen gestured to the white-robed figures. "The Holy Church of Ater, following the teachings of the Luminari Covenant, has granted me the blessing to enter this sacred race."
The white-robed individuals stepped forward and began chanting. Golden light enveloped the queen, pulsing with energy. The world trembled. The ground shook beneath everyone's feet.
A voice echoed. Not from any direction. From everywhere at once. Inside their minds.
***
"The Queen Elara has entered the Transcendence and possesses sufficient merit to begin."
***
But something was wrong. This voice sounded different from the monotonous system voice Lucid was used to. This one had weight. Presence. Power.
"Each ruler begins with a base amount of merit," the queen explained. "Merit is earned by spreading influence. By conquering territory. By converting followers. By achieving great deeds that resonate across the realms."
"So we are supposed to conquer?" Arthur whispered, confused.
"Or convert," Lucid muttered. "Or perform miracles. This sounds insane."
"When sufficient merit is accumulated," the queen continued, her voice growing colder, "Mother Fate Alisia herself shall descend from Celestia. She will extend her divine hand and bestow upon the victor the Holy Grail."
"The Holy Grail?" Arthur said under his breath. "I thought that was a myth."
"Apparently not," Lucid replied quietly.
The queen's voice sharpened. "However, there is one absolute rule. Under no circumstance may the Empire Materna, ruled by the Empress of Crepuscula, claim the Holy Grail. If she succeeds, the entire scattered realms will fall under her dominion. She has attempted this for four hundred years. She has failed every time. She will fail again."
"Four hundred years?" Lucid muttered. "How old is this empress?"
"Very," Arthur whispered back.
The queen spread her arms wide. "I call upon my subjects! Those who embark on pilgrimages in my name shall be rewarded! Those who undertake expeditions to spread my influence shall receive titles, land, and wealth beyond measure!"
The crowd cheered. Some genuine. Most coerced.
"Though," the queen added with a small smile, "I have already selected three individuals for the most critical expedition."
"What?" Lucid muttered, louder this time.
Guards swooped in immediately. Hands grabbed Lucid's arms. Grabbed Ayame's shoulders. Grabbed Arthur's wrists.
Lucid immediately spoke to Ayame. "Let it happen. Do not fight."
Ayame's eyes flashed red. Her muscles tensed. The transformation began.
"Ayame. Trust me."
She stopped. Forced herself to calm. Let the guards restrain her.
Arthur struggled against the hands holding him. "What is the meaning of this? I am your knight! You promised I would stand by your side at your coronation!"
"Silence," one of the guards said, striking him across the face with a gauntleted fist.
Arthur's head snapped to the side. Blood trickled from his split lip. He fell quiet.
Across the palace steps, as people scrambled and screamed, the queen looked directly at Lucid.
She smiled. Small. Cold. Victorious.
Her lips moved, forming words only he could read.
"Checkmate."
Lucid's jaw clenched. His hands formed fists despite the restraints digging into his wrists.
'She planned this. All of it. From the very beginning.'
The guards dragged them away. Through the panicking crowd. Past nobles being arrested, crying out their innocence. Past children watching their parents taken, confusion and fear on their young faces.
Arthur kept looking back at the queen, betrayal carved into every line of his face.
Ayame stayed silent. But her eyes never stopped moving. Tracking every guard. Every exit. Every potential threat.
Lucid kept his gaze forward. His mind raced through possibilities, consequences, ways out.
'The Transcendence. The Holy Grail. Three individuals. She is sending us on an expedition against our will. Using us as pawns. Again.'
They were dragged through the palace gates. The crowd's noise faded behind them. Only the sound of boots on stone remained.
And somewhere above, on the palace steps, Queen Elara the First watched them disappear with that same cold smile.