The Queen raised her hands. Brilliant light flared around Damon. Hexagonal patterns spun into reality, locking into a glowing dome around him.
"Stay back!" she commanded. Her voice cut through Damon's groans like a war commander.
The dog barked once, skidding behind Hazel. Even she, usually fearless, looked shaken, her wings flickering erratically.
The Queen ordered Hazel to fetch Dr. Tolrex.
"Mom—what's happening to me!?" Damon groaned, clutching his chest. His skin pulsed underneath with radiant, crack-like lines, each one shining gold.
"This is my fault," the Queen whispered. "All of it."
"What do you—aghhh—!" Damon's voice broke.
Before he could finish, a blur shot through the doors. Dr Tolrex stormed into the throne room, Hazel trailing behind him.
He placed a strange disc on the floor, pressing glowing runes along its edge. A second dome unfolded, shimmering with dark energy.
"That should hold the release," he said through gritted teeth.
Inside the twin domes, Damon screamed. The golden light inside him didn't want to be contained. It pulsed, twisted, begged for freedom. He fell to his knees, fingers digging into the ground as his bones lit up like glass.
For a moment, Damon wasn't sure if the power inside him was his… or something trying to escape.
Then—silence. The light dimmed. He breathed again, shallow but alive.
Tolrex exhaled. "The containment is stable. He should—"
The words died in his throat.
A sharp boom echoed from inside the dome. Light exploded outward, brighter than before.
"Step back, Your Majesty!" Tolrex shouted.
Too late.
The domes shattered, fragments scattering like shards of raw light. Falling like fired bullets, some as slow as rain.
The Queen stood still, courageously unwavering as she flicked away a fast piece of the dome that hurled to her eyes. Though worry and concern still painted her face.
Hazel was thrown backward into the throne, the impact echoing through the chamber. Tolrex slammed into the steps before the throne, the dog tumbling beside them with a startled yelp.
The light faded. Dust settled.
In the center, Damon knelt. His shirt burnt, skin steaming, eyes dull, golden energy still humming beneath his skin.
He lifted his head slowly, vision blurred. Then he stood, unsteady but determined.
A golden star shaped mark glowed on his chest, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. Then its light dimmed.
"I'm done," he said, voice low and steady. Breathing heavy. "No more waiting. I've heard your stories. Now you're answering my questions."
He looked around, saw Hazel's broken chair, then sighed and sat on the floor. "Feels… better," he muttered. "My bones feel free."
"Good good. That's good." Hazel said as she struggled to get up.
Tolrex approached cautiously. "My prince, you might want to stay still—"
"What do you m—me—" Damon's body jerked violently.
Light surged through his veins, tracing every bone. He tried to grip his other arm, but pain forced him to swing, and his fist connected with his own face.
Darkness swallowed his sight.
Later...
The world was quiet when he opened his eyes.
Soft golden light flickered beside him, warming the ceiling. The sheets were impossibly smooth, the air scented faintly of scented sprays and polished wood. A few glowing devices along the walls added a gentle glow.
He sat up slowly.
The bedroom was large and regal, its deep blue walls trimmed with ornate gold patterns. Empty picture frames hung neatly along the walls, carved beautifully but holding no images. A grand chandelier cast warm light over everything, catching on the gold accents that decorated the furniture. It was captured starlight in a glass.
Behind the bed stood a tall arched window with stained glass, moonlight filtering through it in soft colours. A small balcony sat just beyond it, barely visible from inside.
Beside the bed was a small stool‑like drawer, and a little further away on a different side of the room, a matching table and chair with gold‑etched edges. A tall wardrobe stood against the wall, and another door led into what looked like a bathroom because of a sink and mirror.
The whole room felt unreal — too elegant, too deliberate.
He glanced toward the window, then at the long mirror closer to the bathroom door. A reflection stared back at him. It was him… but not quite. His eyes carried a faint golden tint now.
My eyes… is that gold?, he thought.
The door creaked open. His mother peeked in, Hazel floating above her shoulder.
"You're awake," the Queen said. "How are you feeling?" She asked with motherly concern.
"I'm fine. I feel normal, except for my eyes that look a bit different."
The dog darted in first, tail wagging, leaping straight onto the bed.
"He didn't want to leave your side," Hazel said, perching on the dog's head with her arms crossed. "What's his name anyway?"
"I… don't know," Damon said. "Natsuki was supposed to name him, but… I don't think she did."
The dog barked proudly. "She just called me 'Good boy.' It didn't bother me because she had smooth paws."
Damon almost smiled. "Guess she forgot to choose, huh?"
Hazel fluttered down onto his head.
"How is she?" the Queen asked softly.
Damon's smile faded. "She's fine," he said quietly. "But that's the last question I'm answering."
The Queen sat on the edge of the bed.
"You said Eterna can be powered by emotions to an extent, yes?" Damon asked.
She nodded slowly.
"Then… does all this," he gestured to the very tiny gold in his blue eyes, "have anything to do with you faking your death?"
Her lips tightened. "Yes."
He turned his head, silent.
"I did it so that you could awaken your eterna which was sealed in you. The seal could only be broken by extreme emotional fallouts." she continued.
Though her tone turned motherly, her face expressed regret. "The ring your father gave you acted as a trigger, in case the seal didn't break fully. It wasn't anything special. I'm… sorry, Damon."
Damon stared at his hand, where the ring once sat. "I knew there was something up with that ring." He clenched his fist. "Why did you seal my Eterna in the first place?"
Her gaze fell as her expression softened and saddened. "Because the day you were born, Gamishi tried to kill you. He learned I was with child, perhaps from a spy. Your father died protecting us, protecting Woewyn. But before he fell, he passed everything into you through his core. Which contains his power. His fighting experience. His eterna energy. Though it was dangerous."
Damon blinked, stunned. "Why would that be dangerous?"
Dr Tolrex, standing quietly near the door, stepped forward. "Because transferring one's core requires mutual love. A bond both ways. So not only was it dangerous, it was risky."
"But I wasn't even born."
The Queen's voice softened. "The only explanation is that you develop consciousness earlier, even in the womb, perhaps because you are the Chosen One. You must have loved him, Damon. He always spoke to you, you know."
Damon exhaled through a quiet laugh. "He must've been a playful guy." A warmth he didn't expect tugged at his chest.
Queen Thessa smiled faintly. "He was. I ruled from the throne, but he… he ruled the hearts of our people."
Tolrex cleared his throat, handing a blue glass thick sheet showing graphical data to her. "His readings are stable, Your Majesty. The resonance between his core and released seal has aligned. Your powers are still dormant Damon, but you have them, unlocking them properly will take some time."
Damon looked away. "Hey, Tolrex… sorry. For threatening you before."
The doctor gave a weary smile. "I've experienced worse, my prince."
"Still..." Damon murmured, scratching the back of his neck.
The Queen stood, holding the glass. "Your father's power wasn't the only risk, Damon."
The dog groaned. "Here we go again."
Hazel elbowed him. "Shh."
She continued, "When he transferred his energy, it overflowed. Your body began absorbing Eterna before you were born. You grew too fast in my womb. To save you — and me — they called a Sealer to contain your power during labour. When you were born, she had to reinforce the seal. So many layers that even I lost count."
Damon looked at her for a long moment, eyes unreadable. Though hers still read regret and sadness, and as if searching for the slightest hint of forgiveness in the eyes of her son.
The Queen's hands trembled, bracing for the words she feared.
"I hated you," he said finally. "And loved you at the same time. For those months you were 'dead'... all I wanted was to wake up and see you cooking while I wished you'd take it all back."
Her voice wavered. "Damon—"
"No," he said softly as his face cloned his tone. "I get it now. The fate of two planes of existence depended on it. So you made your son live the kind of nightmare no one should ever go through."
The room went silent.
He rose from the bed, faint gold light tracing his palm before fading again, as if it'd be the last time he'd see it. In the mirror's reflection, the star‑shaped mark on his chest caught the setting sunlight.
He ran his fingers over it, feeling the warmth, the pulse of his heartbeat.
"Is it normal to feel stronger now?" he asked quietly.
Tolrex nodded. "Based on your readings… yes. Before, we estimated your combat instinct matched your father's at age seven. Now, after the resonance, you've unlocked his hand to hand skill at eighteen."
Damon froze. "Eighteen…" he whispered.
His mind flashed with Gamishi's face. His father's last stand. Imagine his full strength. If even that strength hadn't been enough…
He clenched his fists. "I guess I'll need to get stronger."
Hazel grinned from his bed. "That's the spirit."
The dog barked. "And I need food."
Hazel tossed him a biscuit, then poked his nose playfully. "I don't feel like eating you anymore for some reason," the dog muttered. Hazel squeaked and hugged his snout instead.
The Queen smiled faintly at the sight.
"Mom, what's this mark on my chest?" Damon asked, placing a finger on the unknown icon.
The Queen seemed hesitant in her reply, subtle shyness of a mother.
"Well... its a mark for people who'll only love one person in their lifetime. It's quite rare. It doesn't mean you can't stop loving them, if something like that is even possible. It just means if you do love another it won't be as powerful."
"One person...?" Damon asked in shock though he remained calm.
That explains why I couldn't get over Natsuki. But still... Its not like I want to get over her... Well I have known her for a while and I loved her before this marked appeared. I don't want to stop loving her... What am I thinking? He facepalmed as the thought ran through his mind.
"It doesn't prove your attachment to Natsuki, if that's what you're thinking. Think of it as a prophecy rather than a statement or command. Its practically predicting the future." His mom reassured.
Then Damon turned to her. "I have to see Natsuki."
Her expression faltered. "You can't leave Eternum yet."
"I have to." His tone was quiet, but firm.
She studied his eyes, noticing its new tiny touch of gold, full of determination and love that almost hurt to look at.
Finally, she sighed. "Very well. But Hazel goes with you."
He frowned in confusion. "How am I supposed to walk around with a fairy floating next to me?"
Hazel gasped "You do realise it's rude to talk about someone in the third person while they're in your presence, right?"
The Queen turned, her robes trailing softly as she left.
"Then I suggest you go at night," she said over her shoulder. "And eat something first. We still have much to discuss."
Damon exhaled, watching the candlelight flicker. The dog licked his hand. Hazel yawned.
Somewhere deep inside, the mark on his chest glowed once more. Faint, warm, and alive.