The Grand Hall was a mess of broken wood. Burned stone, but to me it was perfect. The air was thick with the smell of electricity and dark magic. The foreign delegates were led into the Solar Chambers and they did not walk with the same confidence they had before. They looked like people who had seen something that scared them. They knew it could happen again.
I sat in a chair and Isabella stood behind me with a bottle of special water that was really a strong magic potion. I looked tired and pale like I had used up all my energy to save the world.
The Arch-Merchant, Silvan spoke up. "We owe you our lives, Prince Alaric " he said, his voice shaking. He looked at the hallway where Cedric had been taken away. "It's hard to believe a Paladin of the Sun could fall far."
"The darkness does not care who you are " I said, my voice quiet but firm. "It feeds on pride. My cousin had a lot of that."
The Duchess, Katerina stepped forward. Her eyes were fixed on me. I could tell she was a soldier who respected power. "The Iron Duchy does not like being in debt Prince " she said. "You saved my life today. What do you want in return?"
I leaned forward. "I do not want your money or your land " I said. "I want us to work together and share our secrets. The darkness that took my cousin is. If we do not stop it your Duchy will be next."
Katerina hesitated. She knew that sharing secrets would give me a lot of power.
"What will you give us in return?" she asked.
Elara spoke up from behind the Kings throne. "The Grand Warden of the Soul will protect your borders " she said, opening her book. The room was filled with a magical light. "I have seen the shadows moving towards the Iron Duchy and only the Warden can stop them."
Katerina thought for a moment then nodded. "Fine the Iron Duchy will sign your treaty " she said, slamming her fist against her chest in a salute. "We will share our information. You will keep the shadows away."
Silvan agreed quickly. I leaned back in my chair feeling satisfied. With one event I had gained control of the intelligence networks of two neighboring states.
I told Isabella to take the documents to the King for his signature. "He will not refuse " I said, closing my eyes.
As the delegates left the room the System spoke up.
I was left alone with Elara and the unconscious form of Cedric, who was being held in a magic field under my chair.
"The web is spun Elara " I said, my voice firm and commanding.
Elara knelt at my feet. "Yes the foreign kings think they have gained a protector " she said. ". They have just invited the spider into their homes."
I looked out the window at the setting sun. The first part of my plan was coming to an end. My enemies at home were. My enemies abroad were bound by contract. Now it was time to deal with the King.
The pressure in the Solar Chambers was no longer about politics; it was about the balance of power. The Kings fear had become a thing, a smell that filled the air. With the foreign treaties signed and my cousins reputation shattered the only obstacle left in Oakhaven was the man on the throne.
The King was not in the Grand Hall. He was in his sanctuary, a room filled with thousands of candles that never stopped burning. He was surrounded by relics clutching a golden scepter as if it were a lifeline.
I walked in my cane tapping against the marble floor. Elara followed behind me her book glowing with a magical light.
"Alaric..." the King rasped, his eyes red from crying. "The prophecy... Elara says the shadows are coming for the crown. Tell me it's not true. Tell me the Grand Warden can save me!"
I stopped in the center of the room. Let my cane fall to the floor. The sound was like a judges gavel. The end of a trial. I stood up straight. The weak prince disappeared to reveal the Sovereign.
"The shadows are not coming for the crown, Uncle " I said, my voice. Absolute. "They are already here. They have been here since you decided to hurt your family to protect your ego."
The Kings mouth fell open. He looked at Elara for help. She just stared back with cold eyes.
"Father " Elara whispered, her voice like a death knell. "The Oracle has seen the page. The Light of Solus has moved on. It does not want a scared man. It wants a leader. It wants... The Warden."
I walked towards the King each step heavy with power. The candles in the room began to flicker and die. The shadows stretched out to swallow the golden relics.
"You have two choices, Valerius " I said, leaning over him until he could see the darkness in my eyes. "You can die tonight as a king who was consumed by the darkness he feared.... You can give up the throne. You can hand the crown to me. Live out your remaining days in a safe place protected by the shadows you fear."
The King. Begged, but I just reached out and touched his forehead. I showed him a vision of his death over and over again in a thousand different ways. He saw himself rotting, forgotten and screaming in a void where even the Sun could not find him.
"Stop! Please! Make it stop!" he screamed, falling from his chair and clutching at my boots.
"Then give it to me " I commanded. "Give me the crown. Give me the kingdom.. I will give you the peace you crave."
The King, the man who had ruled Oakhaven for forty years broke. He crawled to his desk. Signed the Decree of Abdication naming me as the Regent Sovereign.
As the King slumped to the floor his spirit completely broken Elara stepped forward. Picked up the golden crown that had fallen from his head. She brought it to me kneeling and holding it up as an offering.
"The Sun has set, Master " she said.
I took the crown in my hands. It felt heavy, but cold. I did not put it on my head yet. The crown was a symbol for the people. The real power was already inside me.
"Isabella," I called out.
Isabella emerged from the shadows her eyes wide with the realization of what had happened. "Yes, my King?"
"Prepare the coronation for tomorrow " I said. ". Tell Baron Vane to prepare the 'Blessing'. I want the people to see their new Sovereign rising from the ashes of the world."
I looked at Elara and Isabella kneeling before me. The war, at home was over. The game had just expanded to the world.
The night was filled with the smell of candles that were out and the cold smell of the Void. The King was a shaking mess on the floor. A man who had given up his power for a quiet death.
The City of Glass woke up the morning to a sound that had not been heard in a very long time: the deep and sad ringing of the Bell of Transition.
A rumor spread quickly through the streets of Oakhaven. The King had seen his death and with the help of the Holy Oracle Elara had stepped down to save the kingdom from the darkness that had taken over his son, Cedric. The Suffering Prince, a miracle in the North was to be crowned Regent Sovereign.
I was in the dressing room of the High Cathedral surrounded by the three people of my secret group.
Isabella was putting a cloak over my shoulders. Elena, who had traveled all night from the Valerius estate was putting gloves on my hands.. Elara was standing by the door her purple book now connected to the Cathedrals own power.
The nobles are ready I was told by Elena, her voice full of pride. Every Duke, Count and Baron from the south to the west coast is in that hall. They think they are here to see a coronation.. They do not know they are here to be marked.
[System Notification: Coronation Event Started.]
[Target: The High Nobles of Oakhaven.]
[Ability Mass Parish Branding. Needs 3.0% Divinity.]
I walked out of the room. I did not need my cane anymore. I did not cough anymore. I walked with the power of a god in a body.
As I entered the Great Hall of the Cathedral the thousands of nobles were shocked into silence. They expected to see the Alaric but they saw a Sovereign with eyes as cold as the stars.
Baron Vane stood at the High Altar his book open. To the crowd he was giving a blessing.. To me he was the main connection.
Kneel, Baron Vanes voice boomed, echoing off the stone.
All the nobles dropped to their knees at the time. The sound of their clothes and jewelry was like leaves falling.
I walked up to the altar. I did not wait for Baron Vane to put the crown on my head. I took it myself. Held it high.
The Sun has seen your sins I said, my voice made louder by the Eye of the Overseer.. It has turned away.. I have seen the darkness and I have controlled it. From on you do not serve a man. You serve the Order of the Void.
[System: Starting Mass Parish Branding...]
[Divinity Output: 100%.]
A wave of light came out of the crown and spread through the hall. It went through the bodies of the kneeling nobles and into their souls.
Each of them felt a chill in their chest. A small purple spark appeared in their heart. The Shadow Brand. From on I would know their thoughts, where they were and if they betrayed me. Oakhaven was no longer a kingdom it was a group. I was the one, in control.
Long live the Sovereign Baron Vane cried out his voice full of excitement.
LONG LIVE THE SOVEREIGN the nobles repeated, their voices empty their wills already starting to follow the brand.
I sat on the Solar Throne, the gold pressing into my skin. Isabella and Elena stood on either side of me while Elara stood at the foot of the throne ready to write down the start of the era.
I looked out at my kingdom. The City of Glass was mine. The Inquisition was mine. The Royal Bloodline was mine. Now it was time to look at the neighboring kingdoms. They had signed my treaties because they were scared. Soon they would kneel because they had to.
The world is a library, Elara I whispered, looking at the horizon. It's time we started getting rid of the books we don't like.