King Darius:
The princes arrived at the royal training ground, King Darius was already there, seated on a carved throne at the far end of the field, his eyes sharp despite the sickness that withered his body.
Beside him stood AlchemistLysander, draped in dark robes,His long hair was tied back.
The moment the three sons entered, the king straightened in his chair. "Ah, my sons," Darius said, his voice carrying both pride and command. "You've done well today in the ceremony. But there's something else I must know… something colors alone cannot tell me."
Aziel bowed slightly, his expression composed. "What would you have us do, Father?"
The king's lips curved into a faint smile. "Your chi mastery levels," he said simply. "Lysander will examine them. I want to see the measure of your true power."
Dahlen's chest tightened. He swallowed hard, glancing at Rian, who smirked in amusement. Rian leaned close and whispered just loud enough for him to hear, "Try not to embarrass yourself again, little brother."
Dalen ignored him, keeping his gaze on the ground.
Lysander took a slow step forward, the air growing heavier with each movement. He clasped his hands behind his back. "Stand still," he murmured. "Do not resist the flow."
He began with Aziel. "Crown Prince," Lysander said softly. "Focus your energy." Aziel obeyed, exhaling slowly. The air around him shimmered, bending slightly with pale blue light. Lysander's eyes flickered in approval.
"The fifth tier," he announced. "Refined, stable, and precise. As expected from the heir of Arcadia."
King Darius smiled faintly. "My son never disappoints."
Then, Lysander turned to Rian, who was already standing confidently with his arms crossed. "Your turn."
Rian closed his eyes and summoned his chi. A golden hue pulsed faintly around his body,strong, but erratic at the edges. Lysander observed quietly, then nodded. "Third tier," he said. "Impressive control, but your chi flow lacks balance."
Rian's smile faltered. "Balance comes with victory," he muttered under his breath.
Finally, Lysander turned to Dalen. "Prince Dalen," he said, his tone calm but weighted. "Release your chi."
Dalen hesitated. He could feel his brothers' eyes burning into him, their expectations heavy like chains. He clenched his fists, inhaled deeply, and tried to gather the energy within him.
The air stirred faintly,only faintly. A weak, almost invisible shimmer rippled around his shoulders and vanished. Lysander said nothing for a long while. He only studied Dalen's trembling form, his expression unreadable.
At last, he spoke. "First tier," he said quietly. "Dormant chi flow. Weak."
Aziel glanced at Dahlen with pity. Rian scoffed openly. "First tier," he said mockingly. "Even peasants rank higher than that".
Darius finally stood, his robes dragging across the floor. "That will be all for tonight. You may leave," he said coldly. "Aziel, remain behind."
The other two princes bowed and began to leave, but not before Rian whispered as he passed Dalen, "You should've stayed in the shadows where you belong."
Dalen said nothing. He only clenched his jaw and kept walking, the sting of humiliation cutting deep into his chest.
Behind him, his father's voice echoed faintly through the hall. "Only one of you is worthy to inherit Arcadia," the king said. "And tonight has made that clear."
Dax, lifted a torch and led the way. Aziel silent and followed.
They passed through the empty yard, down a path behind the armory, where vines had overgrown the walls. The King stopped before an old stone slab embedded in the ground. Dax pressed his palm against the stone, and it shifted with a grinding sound, revealing a stairway spiraling down.
Aziel frowned. "I didn't know there were tunnels beneath the palace."
King Darius gave a thin smile. "There are many things a king keeps from his sons… until the time is right."
They descended in silence. The air grew colder, the torches crackled against the damp walls, and the sound of dripping water echoed faintly through the tunnel.
At last, they reached the bottom a great iron door carved with strange sigils. Dax pushed it open, and the cold air rushed past them. The flicker of the torch revealed a vast tomb chamber.
And there, standing in the center of the room,was a woman.
She was already waiting.
Vanya inclined her head slightly, acknowledging the king, though there was no trace of fear in her gesture. She exuded calm authority, the kind that comes only from those who have mastered power and survived through their own cunning ways.
It was said that a woman could never become an Arcanist or Alchemist in Arcadia,forbidden by nature, dismissed by tradition. But Vanya had refused to be bound by such rules. From a young age, she had been captivated by the intricate balance of Chi and the transformative potential of Alchemy. While other girls learned healing, she studied the flow of energy,the patterns of elemental forces. She invented her own methods, experimenting in secret, defying what everyone told her was impossible.
"Your reputation precedes you," King Darius said, his voice echoing softly against the stone walls. "It is not common for an Alchemist to be summoned in such circumstances, much less a woman. And yet here you stand."
Vanya's voice was quiet, precise, but every word carried weight. "I have spent my life learning, my lord. Hidden, yes, but not idle. What I have mastered, I have mastered because I chose to."
Darius's lips curled into a thin, measured smile. "And the art you have chosen… the AlchemyofSouls. Few dare to speak of it. Fewer still dare to attempt it. Yet I trust you have perfected it?"
Vanya's expression remained neutral. "I have studied it and practiced it,That is enough."
Even Dax's hand tightened on his sword, though he did not move.
King Darius nodded slowly, as if satisfied. "Very well. Time is short. You know what must be done."
"I must remind you," Vanya said, her voice low and steady, "the path you seek does not come without a price."
"And I'm ready to pay," the king replied.
Vanya's lips curved into an evil grin. "Very well. I trust you've made up your mind then… let us proceed."