Drums began to echo.
BOOM… BOOM–BOOM… BOOM…
The guards moved in perfect formation, circling outward with precision.
"We are the shield, we are the flame," they chanted, their voices low yet powerful.
"Bound by honor, bound by name—
Taytozena… rises!"
Fairies released glowing sparks into the air.
Wizards raised their staffs, magic pulsing in harmony with the rhythm.
"Through storm and shadow,
Through night and sorrow,
We carry strength for tomorrow!"
Soft harmonies drifted from the magical beings surrounding them.
"Ahh… light of the kingdom…
Ahh… rise, chosen heart…"
The guards raised their spears skyward.
"Rise, Heart of Taytozena!
Stand firm, son of the crown!
Let courage be your armor—
Let mercy be your vow!"
The drums intensified.
The very ground seemed to tremble beneath their unity.
"Rise with the dawn!
Rise with the flame!
Your destiny calls—
We honor your name!"
With a final, resounding stomp—
BOOM!
Golden lights spiraled upward, filling the sky like fireflies.
And then—
Silence.
King Liam stepped forward.
Beside him walked Prince Abenator.
Proud.
Composed.
Watching.
At once, the entire courtyard fell to its knees, bowing deeply before their king.
Liam raised a hand, signaling them to rise.
"My people…" he began, his voice strong—yet touched with something heavier. "We have gathered here today to witness one of the most anticipated ceremonies in the history of Taytozena…"
He paused.
His gaze softened.
For just a moment, the king was not a ruler.
But a man who had lost his queen.
"…the Knighting Coronation."
A quiet hush fell over the crowd.
"And as we all know…" he continued, his voice lowering, "this moment would not be as grand… without the guidance of one remarkable woman…"
His words faltered.
His composure cracked.
"…Queen Cara."
A wave of emotion rippled through the courtyard.
"May her soul… rest in peace."
And just like that—
Celebration and sorrow stood side by side.
Prince Kabul stood among the knights.
Clad in gleaming armor that reflected the morning sun, he looked every bit the warrior the kingdom expected him to be. Yet beneath the polished steel, his heart carried a weight no armor could shield.
His hands tightened around his chestplate.
Memories of his mother flooded his mind—her voice, her warmth, her final smile.
For a moment, the world around him blurred.
Tears threatened to fall.
But he held them back.
He had to.
After the tribute to Queen Cara, something began to stir within the courtyard.
Something grand.
Something inevitable.
Something that would shape the destinies of her two sons.
Fairies rose into the air, their wings shimmering as they circled above the gathering. Their wands traced glowing patterns through the sky.
"Aethera Lux! (Light of the heavens awaken)"
Their voices rang out in harmony.
At once, the stacked tree trunks around the courtyard burst into magical flames—bright, controlled, and mesmerizing.
Drums thundered.
BOOM… BOOM… BOOM…
The knights stepped forward, their armor gleaming with pride as they made their grand entrance.
At the center of it all, King Liam sat upon his throne—watchful, composed, yet carrying the quiet sorrow of loss.
One by one, the knights approached.
One by one, they bowed.
One by one, they received his blessing.
Then—
Prince Kabul stepped forward.
His posture was steady.
His gaze humble.
"May I ask for your blessing… my King?" he said softly.
King Liam rose.
He lifted his sword high into the air, the blade catching the sunlight.
Then slowly, he lowered it—first to one side, then the other.
"You may rise," he said, his voice filled with quiet pride. "My Prince… and my Knight."
"Abracadabra!"
The fairies' chant rang out once more.
Fireworks exploded across the sky in brilliant cascades of light.
Dwarfs scattered flowers into the air, filling the courtyard with color and fragrance.
For a moment—
It was beautiful.
Perfect.
Whole.
But not for everyone.
From the edge of the celebration, Abenator watched.
His fists clenched.
His jaw tightened.
"I've tried everything…" he muttered under his breath. "Just to be seen…"
His eyes burned as they followed Kabul.
"But they refuse to see me."
His voice darkened.
"All this time…"
"I've been nothing but a shadow to you."
Kabul turned.
He saw it.
The anger.
The hurt.
The storm brewing behind his brother's eyes.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Abenator's shoulder.
"Don't sweat it," Kabul said softly. "Your time will come."
He pulled him into a brief, brotherly embrace.
Abenator's body stiffened.
His veins pulsed beneath his skin.
For a moment, it felt like something inside him might break free.
But instead—
He smiled.
"I know," he said.
The words sounded calm.
But they weren't.
Kabul gave him a reassuring pat before stepping away, unaware of the darkness festering behind that smile.