The obsidian throne was cold. It was the first and most overwhelming sensation. It felt less like a seat of power and more like a block of ancient ice, sucking the warmth from his body. Shin sat perched on the very edge, his hands clasped tightly in his lap, feeling like a child who had wandered into a giant's empty chair. The sheer scale of the room, the silent, watching tapestries, the cosmic dome above—it all conspired to make him feel infinitesimally small. He was a fraud, a ghost playing king in a castle of ghosts.
Luna stood beside him, a vision of serene confidence in the ethereal light. She seemed to sense his discomfort, a soft, knowing smile playing on her lips.
"My husband, you will be astonished by this," she said, her voice a gentle melody in the stillness. She raised a delicate hand, pointing towards the painted dome above them.
Shin followed her gaze. The mural of the cosmos was so realistic it felt like he was looking through a glass ceiling into the actual night sky. The two moons, one of shimmering silver and the other of soft, milky pearl, hung in the velvet darkness, surrounded by swirling nebulae of deep violet and gold. They were beautiful, but they were a reminder of the terrifying night he had just endured.
As he watched, the moons began to change.
It started as a gentle pulse, a soft throbbing of light that matched the beating of his own heart. Then, they began to move, not across the sky, but towards each other. A low, resonant hum filled the throne room, a sound that vibrated deep in his bones. The silver and pearl lights began to swirl, creating a beautiful, hypnotic vortex of stellar energy where the two moons had been. The nebulae around them seemed to brighten, feeding the cosmic dance.
The vortex contracted, growing brighter and more intense until Shin had to shield his eyes. Then, with a silent, magnificent explosion of pure, warm light, the vortex blossomed.
It was a sun.
A brand new sun of brilliant, life-giving gold now hung in the center of the dome. Its rays were not harsh, but gentle and warm, spilling down into the throne room. The light chased away the deep shadows in the corners, made the obsidian throne gleam like polished jet, and illuminated Luna's face, making her silver hair shine with an almost divine radiance. The entire atmosphere of the room shifted from cold and imposing to warm, vibrant, and full of life. It was the most beautiful, wondrous thing he had ever seen.
A thought, sudden and stark, cut through his awe.
"Wait a minute..." he said, his voice filled with dawning realization. He turned to Luna, his eyes wide. "So that means... it was night!"
Luna let out a soft, melodic laugh, the sound echoing gently in the now-bright room. She looked at him with an expression of pure, adoring amusement, as if his mortal, logical conclusion was the most charming thing in the world.
"The Rite is always performed under the light of the twin moons," she explained, her smile softening. "A symbol of duality—power and mercy, king and queen. It is a ritual of the night, to give way to the dawn of a new reign."
She reached out and took his hand, her touch warm and reassuring. The last of his awkwardness and fear melted away under the golden light of the new sun and the warmth of her smile. He was still just Shin, the man from a rainy city, but he was also a king. And for the first time, he felt like maybe, just maybe, he could be both.
The night was over. The reign of King Shin had truly begun.
The golden light of the new sun filled the room, chasing away the last of the shadows. It was warm, beautiful, and utterly mesmerizing. But as the adrenaline from the Rite and the awe of the celestial event began to fade, a different sensation crept over Shin.
A wide, uncontrollable yawn overtook him. He rubbed his eyes, which suddenly felt heavy and gritty.
"Ugh... why do I feel so sleepy all of a sudden?" he mumbled, his words slurring slightly. He felt like he'd just pulled an all-nighter, which, in a way, he supposed he had.
Luna's smile was soft as starlight. She reached out and gently stroked his hair, her touch a soothing balm.
"That is to be expected, my love," she said, her voice a gentle melody. "In your world, the cycle is simple: night is night, and day is day."
Shin blinked, his mind struggling to process the beautiful, warm sun that now filled the room. "But... it's different here, isn't it?"
Luna leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper that was both intimate and profound.
"Here, my king..." she said, her eyes sparkling with ancient secrets. "Night is day, and day is night."
He stared at her, his sleep-addled brain trying to unravel the paradox. "Wait, so... this sun means it's actually nighttime? And when the moons come out, that's our morning? How are we supposed to get anything done?"
Luna laughed, a sound like delicate silver chimes. "Your body will adjust. The divine energy within you will see to it. But for now... you are right. It is the time for rest."
She stood and took his hand, her grip firm and reassuring. She gently pulled him to his feet, away from the cold, imposing throne.
"Come, my king," she said, her voice now filled with a soft, inviting warmth. "Your first day—your first night—on the throne is over. Let me show you to our chambers."
He let her lead him from the throne room, his exhaustion now mingled with a new, thrilling sense of anticipation. The night was for rest. But what, he wondered, would the day bring?
The journey through the castle was a blur of opulent shadows and soft, ethereal light. Shin's feet dragged on the marble floors, each step feeling heavier than the last. The grand hallways, which had seemed so intimidating earlier, now just felt long. He leaned heavily on Luna, his head lolling against her shoulder. She was his anchor, the only solid thing in a world that had spun completely off its axis.
"Almost there, my love," she murmured, her voice a soothing balm to his frayed senses.
They stopped before a pair of doors carved from what looked like mother-of-pearl, shimmering with the same light as the new sun. They swung open silently, revealing a room that took Shin's breath away, even through his exhaustion.
It was a massive chamber, but it felt cozy. The far wall was a single, panoramic window looking out over the sunlit city of Astera. A huge, four-poster bed dominated the room, draped in silks that shimmered like liquid starlight. But they didn't make it that far.
Just as they passed the foot of the bed, Shin's legs finally gave out. He stumbled forward with a soft groan, not towards the soft mattress, but into Luna. His head found the crook of her neck, his body going limp against hers as sleep finally claimed him.
Luna caught him effortlessly, her divine strength making his weight feel like nothing. She held him for a long moment, his soft, even breaths warm against her skin. She looked down at the man who was her king, her husband, her chosen partner. He looked so peaceful, so innocent in sleep, all the weight of his new crown lifted from his shoulders.
A wave of profound, ancient love washed over her. She had been alone for eons, a silent observer of countless worlds. And now, here he was. A man from a forgotten little planet, whose only remarkable quality was the unshakeable kindness in his heart.
She gently maneuvered them towards a plush chaise lounge by the window, settling them both onto it. Shin curled up against her, his head resting on her chest, his hand unconsciously clutching a handful of her silk dress. Luna wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.
She began to stroke his hair, her fingers threading through the soft, dark strands. She looked from his sleeping face to the magnificent city outside, a city that would soon flourish under his gentle rule.
"This is the reward for a good person like you, dear." she whispered into the quiet room, the words a sacred vow.
The new sun shone down on the sleeping king and his goddess queen, a silent promise of the dawn to come.