"Yes," Jasmine said softly. "After emerging from his revenge-driven madness, the King realised his mistake."
He did not regret killing the other kings.
What broke him… were the innocents.
In his pursuit of power, cities had fallen. Lives had been erased without meaning. When that clarity finally struck him, despair followed.
And so, he chose an end.
Just as he was about to take his own life and become the final death on the Blue Planet, something happened.
A man appeared before him.
No warning. No sound.
In that single moment, the Emperor's entire view of life shattered and reformed.
"With just a flick of his hand," Jasmine said, her voice low, "the man accomplished something even the Emperor could never achieve. Not in his lifetime. Not even if our world lasted forever."
"And that thing was…"
"What did he do?" Rey blurted out. "Did he kill the Emperor? Or stop him from killing himself?"
Chop.
"Ow!"
Rey grabbed his head, while Jasmine rubbed her hand in surprise.
"…When did this kid get so sturdy?" she muttered inwardly.
"Why did you hit me?!" Rey protested.
"Because even after I told you the Emperor is alive, you still asked if he died," she snapped. "Think before speaking."
"…Sorry."
She sighed and continued.
"When the man appeared, the dead across the entire planet began to move."
Rey's breath caught.
"Bodies that were broken, crushed, torn apart… they trembled. Then they rebuilt themselves. Piece by piece."
Rey's eyes widened.
"Even the Emperor knew," Jasmine said, "that no matter how far he ascended, he could never do that."
She paused.
"Then came something even more terrifying. Souls."
Rey swallowed.
"They surged out from the man and returned to their bodies. In an instant… the entire population of the Blue Planet was revived."
Silence filled the room.
"That man also gave the Emperor his blood-controlling art," Jasmine continued, "and the forbidden method to preserve vitality. He even revived the five kings, giving them an art each too… but not out of mercy, but to bind them as subordinates."
Rey didn't interrupt.
He was too stunned to speak.
Jasmine studied him. No disbelief. No laughter. Just deep thought.
"…How do you know what the Emperor felt?" Rey finally asked.
"Because," she said calmly, "the one who told us this story… was the Emperor himself."
Rey froze.
"You… met him?"
"Yes," she nodded. "And he's nothing like the stories. He even has a sense of humour."
"…Then where was I?"
"You were there," she said gently. "Four or five years old. Standing right in front of him."
Rey's mind blanked.
"That day," Jasmine said, "changed your life. And the fate of the Dragonstorm family."
She then explained the structure of the Blue Planet.
Five kingdoms. One empire.
Dragon, Phoenix, Jade Turtle, Thunder Peak, Ice Heart.
Each ruled by a Duke family.
And above them all… Neptarion, ruled by the Vladis family. The Chosen.
"Our family," Jasmine said softly, "lost its position long ago. We were pushed aside to maintain balance."
Rey felt a strange guilt rise in his chest.
"As if it's your fault," she added firmly. "But it isn't. Never was."
He nodded, though the heaviness remained.
"Then why are the Vladis called the Chosen?" he asked.
"Because the real trial began when the Emperor met that man," Jasmine said. "The Emperor was never meant to inherit everything. He was only a caretaker."
She met Rey's eyes.
"That man said the Emperor was a seed… but not one strong enough to become a tree."
Rey felt a chill.
"So the Man revived the world," Jasmine continued, "not out of kindness… but to cultivate a successor."
Rey whispered, "…Me."
"Yes."
She took out a small black box.
"Your father told me to give you this on your eighteenth birthday."
Rey held it. It felt ordinary.
He tried to open it.
Nothing.
He pushed harder.
Still nothing.
"…So what now?" he asked.
"Nothing," Jasmine sighed. "Maybe destiny isn't ready yet."
She turned to put it away.
"Stop her."
Aiden's voice cut in sharply.
"No, seriously. Stop her."
Rey reacted on instinct.
"Mom, wait. Give it back."
She frowned but handed it to him.
As he got the box, he turned back.
"Do we still have the art that man gave our family?"
Jasmine smiled sadly.
"No. It vanished long ago. Burned… maybe stolen… or lost."
Rey nodded, hiding his disappointment.
He walked away with the box in hand.
Unopened.
Unanswered.
But waiting.