On a platform nearest to them sat the royal court, the scrying crystals lying dormant on the tables in front of them.
The royals stood in unison, facing the pair.
"Princess Lysandra and Prince Joshua have completed the first trial. They will be allotted twenty-four hours to rest and recover before entering the trial of memory," Vaelthar announced, his voice echoing across the field around the rift.
"Tomorrow will be the decision whether Prince Joshua Vale will be the next prince of the demon realm, or if he will die as many have befo—"
"Interesting."
A voice sliced through the chancellors like a cleave, its words carrying an immeasurable weight.
From where the citizens watched, a lanky figure with a white robe emerged. And on its back—
Wings?
Joshua couldn't look away. His body refused to draw breath.
"Royals, you may sit."
Metal clanked around the voice, two arch knights trailing behind it. They advanced like shadows obeying a single will.
Joshua glanced over at the royal court, and every one of their expressions held hints of terror, including the demon king.
What is that thing? The demon king? The royals? They listen to its words without a question.
His gaze drifted toward Lysandra, and his form went rigid. Her pupils were small as she bit her lip. Beneath her armor he could see her taking short clumsy breaths.
Terror.
In collective unison, Vaelthar, Darius, and the royal court took their seat without a word. All but one.
Without as much as an acknowledgement, Tonic stared coldly at the hooded figure, his posture relaxed.
"Overseer. To what do we owe the honor?"
The Overseer's head tilted slightly at Tonic's question, and Joshua felt the air itself recoil. Whatever this being was, it existed on a different plane of authority than anything he'd encountered.
"Honor?" The word dripped with ancient amusement. "How delightfully presumptuous, and disrespectful, of you, Warden Tonic."
Warden? Joshua's eyes snapped to Tonic, who remained perfectly still. The easy-going demon he'd met in the alley was gone, replaced by something cold and calculating.
An invisible aura vortexed around the overseer, siphoning all of the oxygen out of the air.
Collectively everyone standing fell to their knees, Joshua and Lysandra included. Everyone but… Tonic again.
The room thickened with an oppressive silence, moments stretching into infinity. Tonic's face remained a mask of serenity as he stood opposed to the Overseer, a striking contrast to the tension that crackled through the air.
"Do not mistake my presence for weakness, Warden," the Overseer's voice rolled like thunder, echoing through the chamber. "You serve a purpose, but even the mightiest mortal must heed the will of those who exist beyond your understanding. I possess the authority to end this charade."
"You cannot touch this kingdom as long as I stand here." Tonic replied, an eerie easiness in his voice.
Joshua could barely breathe, the air heavy with power as the overseer's gaze swept over him and Lysandra, pinning them to the ground.
"Yes, I see the human prince," the Overseer mused looking away from Tonic, a hint of disdain playing at the corner of its lips. "The blood of a coward sent to dwell among the proud, for a merger deemed beneficial. Amusing, indeed."
Lysandra struggled against the weight pressing on her, her eyes narrowing at the Overseer's taunts. "Everyone seems to be questioning my judgement. What about how the human has proven himself? How he has already survived until now?"
"Survival alone doesn't grant a prince a crown," the Overseer replied smoothly. "What is it that you humans say? Those who survive, thrive?"
Tonic stepped forward, a subtle shift in his demeanor igniting the atmosphere. "The Trials are meant to reveal potential, not to fuel old grudges. If you're here to disrupt that, you'll find yourself met the end of your life."
The Overseer regarded Tonic, unimpressed. "Resistance is a fleeting notion. If the girl decides his worth is chalked up to premature ambitions, this is where it will all end."
With that, it turned its attention to Joshua, who was still struggling to process the situation. "Tell me, Prince, how do you define your worth?"
Joshua inhaled sharply, summoning every ounce of will under the intensity of the Overseer's gaze. "My worth is my conviction. It's my decision to face what I fear and fight for those who can't. The ability to bridge the gap between the spoken and unspoken and stand on your two feet for those beliefs."
Freyna's voice echoed in his head.
"And the ability to keep your word, even if it might seem impossible."
His answer came out strained but with a small sense of pride behind them.
A flicker of amusement lit the Overseer's shadows. "Noble words, but hollow without the strength to back them up."
"His actions speak louder than your play of intimidation!" Lysandra shot back, her voice growing steadier, finding her own energy beneath the pressure. "He has fought against odds far greater than this."
"Indeed," the Overseer countered, its voice dangerously calm. "Yet in the end, isn't it the truth that awaits the victor? What do you believe will come forth in that trial of yours?"
The gathered demons leaned closer, drawn in by the tension wrapping around them like a thick fog. They were captivated by the exchange, held captive at the edge of their seats, fully aware that the outcome of this confrontation could reshape their future.
Mere seconds seemed to reshape into what felt like hours, every second a reminder of the stakes at play. Joshua found himself facing the Overseer, raising his chin in defiance. "Whatever happens, my life is mine to claim."
Tonic watched, a subtle smile pulling at his lips. "Choose wisely, Prince, for the game being played is more perilous than it seems. So too are the consequences."
The Overseer's front shifted ever so slightly, amusement sparking in its gaze. "Very well," it said, its voice like silk over steel. "Let this trial unfold. But be warned, I will be watching—it seems this game has only just begun."
With that, the air shimmered as the overseer took a step back, relinquishing its hold on the chamber. The pressure slowly vanished, leaving Joshua gasping for breath.
Lysandra looked at him, eyes burning with a mixture of fear and determination. "I suppose I've went and done it now. Placing all of my chips on a human that refused to die." She let out a wary sigh.
"Are you still willing to see this through with me?"
"Yes," he replied, managing a small smile despite the lingering fears pressing in his mind. "Though I don't suppose I have a choice, do I?"
She smiled back at him coldly. "I don't think either of us do."
Together, they faced the court, shadows of doubt and fear still clinging to the edges of their minds, but the bond between them solidifying into something they could wield against whatever truth lay in wait.