Koharu's heart pounded in her chest.
But when she closed her eyes, the roar of the crowd faded like mist.
Only a single image remained within her:
Mikail's Spear.
The power of its light soaring into the heavens.
When she reached the final step, every gaze was upon her.
The crowd held its breath, waiting for her to kneel before the spear.
As Koharu approached Mikail's Spear, the entire courtyard plunged into silence.
On both sides of the steps, the royal family watched her intently.
The princess knelt, placing her palms upon the altar.
The cold marble trembled beneath her hands.
The High Priest declared in a resonant voice:
"Speak your first vow."
Koharu's lips parted.
> "My name and my blood belong to the Light.
By Mikail's name, my breath is bound to Aurora."
Golden rings flared around the spear.
Lines of shimmering light rose like thin pillars toward the sky.
Gasps of awe rose from the crowd.
The High Priest spoke again:
"Your second vow."
Closing her eyes, Koharu continued:
> "My hands and my shadow shall serve the peace of this land.
Where the light begins, my darkness ends."
The glowing rings expanded, and the humming in the courtyard swelled with excitement.
Banners fluttered, wind chimes rang high into the sky.
But in that moment—Koharu saw it.
At the spear's core… in the center of its radiance…
a dark shadow.
At first, it was only a speck.
Then it twisted, stretching outward,
slipping through an unseen fissure within the spear,
and drifting toward her like a thin smoke.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Can't they see it?
She glanced sideways at the crowd—
they stared in admiration at the light.
The High Priest bowed his head,
the king straightened with pride,
her siblings snickered.
No one saw the shadow.
The High Priest signaled the final step:
"Speak your heart."
Beads of sweat formed on Koharu's forehead.
She tried to steady her voice as she spoke the third vow:
> "My heart, my soul, and all that I am… belong to Mikail's lig—"
She stopped.
Because the darkness shot forward like an arrow and pressed itself onto her chest.
A cold imprint burned beneath her skin.
The crowd erupted in cheers: — "The light grows stronger!"
— "The princess is blessed!"
Her siblings' laughter echoed across the steps.
Her sister whispered mockingly:
> "Finish your vow—let the humiliation be complete."
Koharu struggled for breath.
This wasn't light… it was a curse.
The High Priest shouted:
"Complete the oath!"
The king leapt to his feet in fury:
"Kneel and finish your words!"
But Koharu could no longer bear the weight of the shadow lodged in her heart.
She pulled her hands away from the altar.
The golden rings shattered.