The entire kingdom of Elysium stood in stunned silence.
The revelation echoed through Kael's mind like a storm that refused to calm.
"You are the Eighth Sovereign."
Those words had changed everything he thought he knew about himself.
For eighteen years, he had believed he was powerless. Then he discovered he was the heir of Elysium. Shortly afterward, he learned that he carried the power of the Echo Crystal.
And now?
He had just been told that his true power was something even the Seven Sovereigns feared.
The Seven Sovereigns, ancient beings who ruled over existence itself, had spoken with fear in their voices for the very first time.
"Kill him before he awakens."
"He must never become complete."
"He was never meant to exist."
Those words continued to echo within his mind.
Kael slowly raised his head and stared at the floating temple beyond the golden bridge.
The Temple of Eternal Echoes awaited him.
"You must leave immediately," Seraphina said, her expression more serious than ever before. "If the Sovereigns truly fear your awakening, then they will not hesitate to destroy Elysium."
"They won't have that chance," Orion replied confidently. "The Forsaken Legion and I will protect the kingdom while Kael completes the First Trial."
Arven frowned.
"Can we trust you?"
The mysterious prince smiled bitterly.
"I've spent eighteen years searching for my brother. The last thing I want is to watch him die before we've had the chance to become family."
Kael looked toward Orion for several moments.
He still didn't know whether he could trust him.
The echoes had warned him repeatedly.
"Trust no one."
Yet Orion had protected him more than once since revealing his identity.
The truth remained unclear.
Suddenly, one of the ancient guardians rushed toward them.
"Your Highness!"
"What happened?" Seraphina asked.
"The western barrier has completely collapsed!"
The guardian's face had gone pale.
"Thousands of Shadowborn creatures have appeared outside the kingdom."
"What?" Arven exclaimed.
"That's impossible," Seraphina replied. "The Shadowborn should not be able to enter Elysium."
The guardian shook his head.
"Someone is controlling them."
Before anyone could ask another question, an enormous roar echoed throughout the sky.
A gigantic dragon made entirely of black flames descended from the clouds.
Its wings stretched across the heavens, casting a shadow over the entire kingdom.
Kael immediately drew his sword.
"Another Sovereign?"
"No," Orion answered quietly.
His expression suddenly darkened.
"That dragon belongs to the Sovereign of Flames."
The dragon landed outside the kingdom's walls and lowered its massive head.
Upon its back stood a young woman dressed in crimson armour.
Her silver hair danced with flames as her crimson eyes surveyed Elysium.
She looked no older than Kael.
"So," she said with a smile, "the rumours were true."
The young woman leaped from the dragon's back and landed gracefully before the kingdom's gates.
"The Eighth Sovereign has finally awakened."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"And who are you?"
She smiled proudly.
"My name is Astra."
No one recognized the name.
However, Seraphina's expression immediately changed.
"No..."
"What is it?" Kael asked.
"The Flame Princess."
The kingdom immediately fell silent.
"The Flame Princess?" Orion questioned.
Seraphina nodded slowly.
"The only mortal ever acknowledged by the Sovereign of Flames."
Astra smiled mischievously.
"That's quite the introduction."
She casually pointed toward Kael.
"I've come to challenge him."
"What?" Kael asked.
"The Sovereigns have agreed upon something."
"Which is?"
"The First Trial has changed."
Everyone present frowned.
"Changed?"
Astra nodded.
"Since the Eighth Sovereign has finally appeared, the Temple of Eternal Echoes has created a new condition."
She looked directly into Kael's eyes before continuing.
"The First Trial is no longer a trial of strength."
"What kind of trial is it now?" Kael asked.
The smile on Astra's face slowly disappeared.
"It is a trial of life and death."
Silence followed immediately.
"If you fail," she continued, "you die."
The atmosphere instantly became heavy.
"And if I succeed?" Kael asked.
"You will obtain the First Fragment of the Echo Crystal."
The floating temple suddenly released a massive wave of golden light.
Ancient words appeared throughout the sky.
> THE FIRST TRIAL HAS BEGUN.
> ONLY THE WORTHY SHALL SURVIVE.
> ONE SHALL ENTER.
> ONE SHALL AWAKEN.
The final sentence caught everyone's attention.
"One shall awaken?" Kael whispered.
The echoes within his mind immediately became louder.
"Do not believe the temple."
"The First Trial has never been fair."
"The temple remembers the sins of kings."
Kael suddenly felt a strange pain in his chest.
A vision flashed before his eyes.
He saw himself standing before seven enormous crystal thrones.
Yet he wasn't alone.
Someone stood beside him.
A young woman with golden eyes smiled at him before saying:
"The Eighth Throne has always belonged to you."
The vision disappeared almost immediately.
"Who was that?" Kael asked himself quietly.
His mother's voice suddenly returned.
"Kael, listen carefully."
"Mother?"
"The Temple of Eternal Echoes does not merely test its challengers."
"What does it do?"
"It reveals the truth hidden within their souls."
The revelation caused Kael to freeze.
"If you carry darkness within your heart, the temple will expose it."
"If you carry secrets, it will reveal them."
"If you carry regrets..."
"It will force you to relive them."
His expression immediately became serious.
"Then why did Father never tell me about it?"
"Because your father feared what the temple might reveal about your true nature."
Kael slowly clenched his fists.
"What am I?"
For the first time, his mother did not answer immediately.
Finally, she spoke.
"The answer has slept within you since the day you were born."
The connection suddenly disappeared once again.
Before anyone could continue the conversation, the floating temple released another wave of energy.
This time, the golden bridge connecting Elysium to the temple slowly began collapsing.
"The trial begins in one hour," Astra announced.
"If the challenger fails to enter before then, the First Fragment will disappear for another one thousand years."
"One thousand years?!" Arven exclaimed.
Kael looked toward the floating temple once more.
He finally understood something.
This was more than just a trial.
The Temple of Eternal Echoes had been waiting for him.
Waiting to determine whether he deserved the power hidden within the fragments.
Yet the greatest mystery remained unanswered.
Why were the Seven Sovereigns afraid of his existence?
And what exactly would awaken if he succeeded?
Far within the floating temple, eight crystal thrones surrounded an ancient chamber.
Seven of them had already been occupied by the Seven Sovereigns.
Only one remained empty.
The eighth throne slowly began glowing with golden light.
Then an ancient voice echoed throughout the chamber.
> "The Eighth Sovereign approaches."
> "Will he become our greatest ally..."
> "Or our final calamity?"
To be continued...