Chapter 44 — The Tournament of Heirs
The palace bells rang a second time.
Deeper. Slower. Commanding.
Their resonance crawled through marble corridors and golden arches, echoing into every wing of the royal palace. Servants froze mid-step. Guards straightened. Nobles abandoned conversations halfway through whispers.
A royal summons.
Not a request.
---
The Gathering
The Throne Room filled in waves.
First came the First Queen's faction.
Queen Althea Evercrest entered with measured grace, her spine straight, her expression carved from ice. Prince Cedric walked at her side, chin lifted, arrogance radiating from every step. Princess Lyra followed slightly behind—beautiful, quiet, observant, her eyes already measuring the room.
Next arrived the Second Queen's faction.
Queen Isolde entered calmly, her presence gentler but no less commanding. Princess Elara walked beside her, composed and dignified. Behind them came the twins, Corin and Finn, identical smiles hiding vastly different temperaments—one calculating, the other reckless.
Then, finally—
Elizabeth.
Leslie.
Daniel.
They entered together.
Not formally announced. Not ceremonially heralded.
And yet, heads turned.
Whispers followed.
The Third Princess walked confidently beside Leslie, holding her arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Leslie, dressed in modest royal attire, still carried an air of discomfort—but she stood straighter than before.
Daniel followed half a step behind them.
Calm. Silent. Observant.
Queen Althea's gaze sharpened.
Queen Althea (thought): So close already…
Queen Isolde noticed as well, her lips tightening for a fraction of a second.
Queen Isolde (thought): Elizabeth has no mother. She doesn't understand what this means to us.
To them, it was unsettling.
Elizabeth's closeness to Leslie felt… wrong.
Not because Leslie was unworthy.
But because she represented something painful.
A reminder that while they were queens—wives chosen by politics, alliances, bloodlines—the King had once chosen someone else.
Not for power.
But for love.
And standing beside her was the proof of it.
---
The King Appears
The doors behind the throne opened.
All conversation died instantly.
King Orean Evercrest stepped forward.
No crown today.
Only the weight of his presence.
The room bowed.
Even the queens inclined their heads.
King Orean: "Rise."
Everyone obeyed.
He scanned the room once, his gaze lingering briefly on Daniel—then Leslie—before returning forward.
Daniel felt it.
Sensei: He is steady. No hostility detected. Purpose-driven.
King Orean: "You may be wondering why I summoned you all."
A pause.
King Orean: "Relax. This is not an emergency."
The tension in the room eased—slightly.
King Orean: "There are movements beyond our borders. Quiet ones. Political ones."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
King Orean: "Valoria's relationship with Thalgrun and Eryndale has been… strained."
Murmurs.
King Orean: "Yet war benefits no one."
He raised a hand, and the room stilled.
King Orean: "Thus, the rulers of all three nations have agreed upon a solution."
He turned slightly.
King Orean: "A celebration of strength. Of heritage. Of culture."
Daniel frowned faintly.
Sensei: This is larger than internal politics.
King Orean: "We will host an event known as—"
His voice echoed.
King Orean: "The Tournament of Heirs."
The words hit the room like thunder.
---
The Rules of Power
King Orean: "Once every year, one kingdom will host the tournament."
King Orean: "All heirs of royal blood from the three nations will participate."
Gasps.
King Orean: "Combat. Skill. Strategy."
He turned slowly.
King Orean: "The goal is simple."
King Orean: "To determine who among the next generation stands at the pinnacle."
Prince Cedric smirked.
Prince Cedric: "So we crush them."
Queen Althea did not stop him.
King Orean continued.
King Orean: "This year, by draw, Valoria will host."
A ripple of pride moved through the hall.
King Orean: "Which means—"
His eyes swept across his children.
King Orean: "You hold the advantage."
King Orean: "No travel. No foreign terrain."
King Orean: "Train."
His voice hardened.
King Orean: "And make our ancestors proud."
Silence.
Then—
Daniel raised his hand.
Every head snapped toward him.
Prince Cedric laughed.
Prince Cedric: "Of course you would ask."
King Orean turned.
King Orean: "Speak."
Daniel: "What if someone does not wish to participate?"
The silence deepened.
Prince Cedric laughed louder.
Prince Cedric: "Light-elemental problems."
Daniel did not look at him.
King Orean studied Daniel for a long moment.
King Orean: "Participation is compulsory."
Daniel: "Even if one does not seek the throne?"
King Orean: "If you are of royal blood, and above ten years of age—yes."
Prince Cedric: "What can light do in combat anyway?"
Elizabeth stepped forward.
Elizabeth: "Shut up."
The room froze.
Cedric stared at her.
Elizabeth: "Father is still speaking."
Cedric clenched his jaw—and fell silent.
King Orean nodded once.
King Orean: "You are dismissed."
---
A Quiet Warning
Most of the hall emptied.
But Queen Isolde remained.
She waited.
Daniel felt it before she spoke.
Sensei: She intends to speak privately.
Queen Isolde gestured subtly.
Daniel approached.
Queen Isolde: "You intend to participate."
Daniel: "Yes, my Queen."
Queen Isolde: "That breaks what you told me."
Daniel: "With respect—no."
She narrowed her eyes.
Daniel: "The King did not say the victor becomes Crown Prince."
Queen Isolde: "Politics are rarely spoken aloud."
Daniel: "I understand."
A pause.
Daniel: "But if I refuse, my mother becomes a joke."
Queen Isolde closed her eyes briefly.
Daniel: "I will not allow that."
Queen Isolde studied him again.
Then nodded.
Queen Isolde: "Then fight."
She turned away.
Queen Isolde: "And survive."
---
The Weight of Reality
That night, Daniel stood alone in the training hall.
The echo of footsteps long gone.
Sensei manifested faintly.
Sensei: You are aware of the difficulty.
Daniel: "I am."
Sensei: Royal bloodlines. Trained elemental combatants. Foreign heirs.
Daniel: "And me."
Sensei: Light alone will be insufficient if used conventionally.
Daniel exhaled.
Daniel: "Then we make it unconventional."
Sensei paused.
Sensei: Clarify.
Daniel: "Healing isn't passive."
Sensei's tone shifted—interested.
Sensei: Continue.
Daniel: "Light restores. Reinforces. Accelerates."
Daniel clenched his fist.
Daniel: "Why can't it sharpen?"
Silence.
Then—
Sensei: Weaponized light…
Sensei: Difficult. Dangerous.
Daniel: "Teach me."
A pause.
Sensei: …Very well.
---
Training Begins
Across the palace—
Prince Cedric trained in firestorms, burning the air itself.
Princess Lyra practiced precision lightning, silent and deadly.
Princess Elara focused on control—water shaped like glass.
Corin and Finn sparred endlessly, one reckless, one calculating.
Elizabeth trained alone—no element revealed, no witnesses allowed.
And in a quiet hall—
Daniel learned to bend light into form.
Not to destroy.
But to endure.