Chapter: A Stage Built for Judgment
The invitations left the capital like a spreading wildfire.
Gold-sealed letters bearing the royal sigil were delivered by griffin riders, phoenix hawks, and armored envoys to every corner of Valtheria.
Barons.
Counts.
Earls.
Marquesses.
Dukes.
Council Elders.
Heads of Academies.
And every individual whose presence mattered.
The message was the same everywhere:
> A Royal Homecoming Ceremony
Celebrating the return of Queen Leslie Evercrest and Prince Daniel Evercrest
Hosted in Phoenix Spire, Helioscrest
No explanation.
No agenda.
Just an order disguised as celebration.
---
Silver Lake Town received the news with shock.
Baron Dean Saint John stared at the letter twice before lowering it slowly.
Baron Dean: "A homecoming… in the capital?"
Octavia leaned over his shoulder, reading the seal.
Baroness Octavia: "For Daniel and Leslie…?"
Aurelia was standing near the window when she heard it.
Aurelia: "Daniel…?"
Her heart skipped.
She turned, eyes shining.
Aurelia: "Father, does this mean… we are going to the capital?"
Baron Dean nodded.
Baron Dean: "Yes. The Queen herself has issued the invitations."
Aurelia clasped her hands to her chest.
Aurelia: "I thought… I thought I wouldn't see him for years. Not until academy."
Her voice trembled with excitement she couldn't hide.
Aurelia: "I can't wait."
Octavia watched her daughter quietly.
She saw it clearly now.
The way Aurelia smiled when Daniel's name was spoken.
The way hope bloomed in her eyes.
Baroness Octavia (softly): "Careful, my love."
Aurelia: "Mother?"
Baroness Octavia: "The palace is not like Silver Lake."
Aurelia nodded… but she didn't care.
For the first time since Daniel left, fate had opened a door.
---
In Helioscrest, Queen Althea Evercrest stood before her inner circle.
Her faction.
Powerful nobles.
Senior mages.
Political architects of the throne.
Queen Althea: "Everything is proceeding as planned."
She unfurled a silk scroll.
Queen Althea: "The Affinity Crystal will be presented publicly."
A murmur rippled through the room.
Minister of finance Valen: "You're certain?"
Queen Althea: "Absolutely."
Her lips curved into a cold smile.
Queen Althea: "The boy has no magic."
Mage Lord Tharos: "If that is revealed—"
Queen Althea: "—he becomes a laughingstock."
She closed her fan with a sharp snap.
Queen Althea: "A prince without affinity is worse than a commoner. The council will never support him. The people will forget him."
She leaned forward.
Queen Althea: "And fear will return to its proper place."
---
Far above the city, in a private solar chamber, King Orean Evercrest listened in silence.
His trusted shadow-knight, General Kael, knelt before him.
General Kael: "Your Majesty, Queen Althea is moving openly."
King Orean: "I know."
General Kael: "Shall I intervene? Warn Queen Leslie and Prince Daniel?"
The King stared at the constellation-painted ceiling.
King Orean: "No."
General Kael hesitated.
General Kael: "My King?"
King Orean's voice was calm—unyielding.
King Orean: "If the boy truly carries my blood… he will endure this."
A pause.
King Orean: "Interference would only confirm Althea's suspicions."
General Kael: "And if he is humiliated?"
King Orean: "Then he learns."
His eyes hardened.
King Orean: "A prince who cannot survive humiliation has no place near the throne."
---
Queen Isolde received her invitation in silence.
She read it once.
Then smiled—not with amusement, but concern.
Queen Isolde (to herself): "So this is how she plans to do it."
She summoned a messenger immediately.
Queen Isolde: "Send word to Prince Daniel."
The messenger hesitated.
Messenger: "Your Majesty… directly?"
Queen Isolde: "Yes."
Her gaze sharpened.
Queen Isolde: "Tell him I do not feel comfortable about this celebration."
She folded the letter carefully.
Queen Isolde: "And remind him—I trust his words."
Her voice lowered.
Queen Isolde: "But trust does not blind me to danger."
---
Princess Elizabeth found Leslie in the palace gardens.
Leslie was kneeling beside a bed of white lilies, hands dusted with soil.
Elizabeth approached hesitantly.
Elizabeth: "Lady Leslie?"
Leslie looked up and smiled warmly.
Leslie: "Yes, dear?"
Elizabeth clasped her hands.
Elizabeth: "May I… may I call you mother?"
Leslie froze.
Then slowly, she reached out and pulled the girl into a gentle embrace.
Leslie: "Of course you may."
Elizabeth's voice broke.
Elizabeth: "Thank you…"
They sat together beneath the shade of the crystal trees.
Elizabeth looked up, eyes serious.
Elizabeth: "Mother… the homecoming party."
Leslie's smile faded slightly.
Leslie: "Yes?"
Elizabeth: "Queen Althea means to hurt Daniel."
Leslie stiffened.
Elizabeth: "She wants to expose him. In front of everyone."
Leslie closed her eyes briefly.
Leslie: "I suspected as much."
Elizabeth grabbed her hand.
Elizabeth: "Please be careful. Both of you."
Leslie squeezed her fingers.
Leslie: "Thank you for telling me."
---
That night, Daniel sat on the edge of his bed.
Sensei's presence was unusually active.
Sensei: "Multiple hostile indicators confirmed. Affinity Crystal deployment imminent."
Daniel exhaled slowly.
Daniel: "So it's happening."
Sensei: "Yes."
Daniel: "If I show nothing…?"
Sensei: "Public disgrace. Political vulnerability. Increased hostility toward Leslie."
Daniel clenched his fist.
Daniel: "Then that's not an option."
Sensei: "Correct."
Daniel: "One affinity, then."
Sensei: "Optimal."
Daniel looked up.
Daniel: "Which one?"
A pause.
Sensei: "Light."
Daniel smiled faintly.
Daniel: "Support magic. Healing. Non-lethal."
Sensei: "Perceived as weak. Non-threatening. Low future potential."
Daniel: "Perfect."
He leaned back.
Daniel: "They'll laugh."
Sensei: "And underestimate you."
Daniel: "Exactly what we want."
He closed his eyes.
Daniel: "Now tell me how to trick the crystal."
A brief silence.
Then—
Sensei: "I have a method."
Daniel opened his eyes.
Sensei: "We will isolate your mana flow to a single channel."
Daniel: "And suppress the rest?"
Sensei: "No."
Daniel frowned.
Sensei: "We redirect."
His heartbeat quickened.
Sensei: "The crystal will see what it is allowed to see."
Daniel's lips curved.
Daniel: "A lie told with truth."
Sensei: "Precisely."
Outside, the capital glowed under artificial suns.
And unknowingly—
The world prepared to judge a boy who had already decided how that judgment would end.