The next day, the ceremony began with everyone already in place within the throne room.
It resembled a cathedral more than a seat of power, with high arched ceilings and tall stained-glass windows that bathed the chamber in hues of violet and gold. At the far end stood two thrones beneath a golden arch, but between them towered a statue of the Goddess of Brilliance, carved from pale moonstone, crowned with a crystal halo, and holding a glowing orb of light that hovered in her open palm. Everything about the room, from the sunburst tiles beneath their feet to the reverent silence it commanded, made it feel more like a place of worship than a royal court.
Nobles from across the kingdom lined each side of the central carpet, dressed in their finest garments. The dukes sat at the front, while the barons were placed toward the back, seated in strict order of authority. Guards stood along the walls at precise intervals, 1 meter apart, clad in full plate armor that gleamed beneath the stained-glass light.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate many occasions," the king began, his voice powerful and echoing through the grand hall. "The Demon Lord, a curse and triumph upon our history, has been defeated!"
The nobles erupted in cheers, the sound reverberating off the vaulted ceilings as they celebrated the long-awaited victory. Once the hall quieted again, the king continued.
"We have many to thank for this achievement, but none can compare to Aurelia, the Saintess of the Goddess of Brilliance. Step forward and receive your reward."
Aurelia stepped forward, dressed in a flowing silver gown with gold accents that shimmered with every step. The colors complemented her auburn hair and lent her an almost divine presence as she approached the throne.
"By the Goddess's decree, I crown you Queen of the Kingdom of Brilliance," he announced, his words echoing through the chamber and stunning the crowd into silence.
He and the current queen then removed their crowns, placing them gently into a ceremonial box held by a priest. Inside rested a different crown, more delicate in design, its silver frame shaped like rising sunrays and adorned with a single radiant green gem at its center.
He removed the crown and placed it upon Aurelia's head, who bowed slightly as a symbol of acceptance. He stepped aside, allowing Aurelia to take center stage while he and his wife moved to stand at the edge of the platform. His face held a relieved smile, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
"By the Goddess's decree, I accept this honor, and as my first act as queen, I shall reward the following individuals for helping defeat the Demon Lord."
"To Emberlyn, personal guard to Cyrus Phoenixhart, and Elyra, shadow to Bastion Diamondhart, who bravely stood against the demon worshipers with unwavering courage, I reward you with 10 magic crystals each."
The crowd of nobles gasped in awe at the luxury of the reward. Most of them barely earned that much in a century; it was a significant sum.
"To Cyrus Phoenixhart, heir to the Phoenixhart Dukedom, and Bastion Diamondhart, heir to the Diamondhart Dukedom, for your courage, leadership, and unwavering resolve in the face of darkness, I reward you with one hundred magic crystals each."
The crowd felt their scalps go numb from the sheer wealth being casually handed out.
"You will also, effective immediately, take up the full responsibilities and authority of your respective ducal titles."
"Finally, to my friend Seraphina Phoenixhart, who stood by my side as we fought the demon worshipers and the Demon Lord, I reward you with one hundred magic crystals and the Codex of Alchemical Arts from the Goddess's personal library."
A priest beside Aurelia took out a large book, almost the size of a table, and placed it on the ground with a heavy thud. There was no fear of damaging it, considering its origins.
Seraphina stepped forward and stored the book in a magic ring she wore before smiling brightly at Aurelia, who gave her an enthusiastic hug.
Suddenly, the doors to the throne room burst open, accompanied by a waft of noxious green fumes and a decrepit old man who looked ready to die.
The guards immediately stepped forward, weapons drawn, but stopped short as a sense of weakness washed over them, barely allowing them to move in their own heavy armor. It wasn't just the stench of rot or the pallor of his skin; this man carried something else with him, a corruption that made the very light in the stained-glass windows dim.
He staggered forward, hunched beneath a tattered cloak, each step leaving faint green scorch marks on the polished floor.
"I am Erasmus, the Pale Alchemist, the last head priest of Baslock the Great One, and I have come with a final wish."
Bastion had no idea why no one was moving to take this madman down. They all seemed perfectly content to allow this charade to continue. In the end, he concluded that he was just an Apprentice Knight in a room full of Rank 2 combatants. There was also Aurelia, the Queen, who was most likely the strongest in the room, so he watched along as well.
"And what wish might that be?" Aurelia replied.
"Revenge!" he said with as much vigour as he could muster.
His stomach started bulging and growing unnaturally. His skin became tight from the expansion, showing sickly green veins, likely filled with poison. He was turning himself into a poisoned bomb set to explode within the throne room.
Bastion could predict he would likely die from this poison. It had the familiar hints of the poison he had almost drunk as a child. He managed to connect the dots that this was likely the alchemist who had almost killed him at the age of five.
"Monarch's Protection! Sanctuary of Brilliance!" Aurelia declared while using her skills.
From the throne itself, a shield wrapped around everything. It covered the guards, nobles, floor, walls, chairs, and even the ceiling. Then, the Goddess's aura descended upon the throne room, covering everything in resplendent golden light. It healed the guards of their affliction and even strengthened them.
Erasmus exploded into a sickly green mist that bathed the hall in noxious poison as melted faces materialized and started attacking everything. A curse, it seemed, that would have guaranteed death if anyone succumbed to the poison.
Fortunately, Aurelia's defenses managed to hold, preventing even dust from being moved. The green mist then started dissipating, unable to last long against the Goddess's radiance in her sanctified ground.
Once the throne room was cleared of poison, leaving only Erasmus's disgusting remains, Aurelia finally addressed the crowd.
"It seems the interruptions haven't ceased," Aurelia said, her eyes glowing gold, likely another new skill as Queen. "We will have to continue with the rest of the ceremonies tomorrow."
She then walked through the throne room, stepping over the mess and ignoring the stains on her dress as she made her way outside to the balcony overlooking the city. The nobles followed, curious about what their new Queen had seen, and gathered at the balcony as well.
Once they reached the balcony, the nobles froze from the horrid sight before them.
In the narrow veins of Aurenthal's alleys, barrels burst open in violent flashes, sending plumes of sickly green gas spiraling into the air. The poison rolled out in waves, curling low to the ground, hugging cobblestone streets and creeping beneath doors.
Roofs and spires disappeared behind the spreading fog. Market stalls were abandoned mid-transaction, baskets of fruit overturned in the chaos. A horse shrieked and bucked wildly before crumpling beside its rider. Everywhere the gas touched, life recoiled.
It seemed Erasmus was hellbent on dealing as much damage to Aurenthal as he possibly could.
"Queen's Domain! Brilliant Cure!" Aurelia whispered.
A golden light swept across Aurenthal as the Queen's Domain unfolded, washing over the city like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. Moments later, flecks of radiant energy shimmered into existence, dancing through the air before settling over rooftops, streets, and alleyways.
The green gas froze mid-creep, its toxic advance halted. Then, as if recoiling in fear, it began to retreat. It shrank back into the shadows before thinning out entirely, vanishing into the glow.
Those affected by the poison were immediately cured. Though the damage to their health was evident, they had survived and would recover fully with only a few hours of rest. In fact, even those suffering from severe status conditions unrelated to the poison found themselves completely healed.
Once the poison was completely removed from the city, Aurelia canceled her skills and nearly fainted from the mana depletion. Fortunately, Tobin was there to catch her fall.
The former king then stepped forward to drive the guests away, giving the current queen time to rest.
-----
Bastion, meanwhile, met up with Seraphina and quietly asked, "Did you know she could do that?"
"I had no idea. It must have been her new class. It was never mentioned in the game." She crossed her arms, eyes narrowing in thought. "There were just credit images that flashed showing her coronation. This Erasmus guy might have done something after, but it was never shown."
"He might have even died before that."
"True," Seraphina said with a shrug, then nudged him with her elbow. "Anyway, are you ready for tomorrow?"
Bastion blinked. "What's happening tomorrow?"
She raised an eyebrow, lips curling into a grin. "Our wedding, of course."
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