Chapter 40 — The Crystal and the Crownstorm
Volume 1 Finale
The bells of Phoenix Spire rang twelve times.
Each chime rolled across the capital like a decree from the heavens, announcing not just a ceremony—but judgment.
Carriages lined the radiant avenues leading to the palace, their crests flashing beneath floating lanterns powered by solar crystals. Nobles descended in silks and enchanted armor, council members in robes heavy with sigils of authority, dukes and marquesses surrounded by guards whose presence alone bent the air.
Tonight, everyone who mattered was here.
And that alone made the night dangerous.
---
Leslie Evercrest
Leslie stood beside the King.
Not behind him.
Not below him.
Beside him.
Yet her hands trembled.
Her dress—simple compared to the queens', elegant but unadorned—felt heavier than any armor she had ever worn. Every whisper in the hall felt aimed at her back.
A housemaid.
A mud-flesh woman.
A whore who climbed into a king's bed.
She could almost hear the words without them being spoken.
Leslie lowered her gaze.
Then—
"Leslie!"
A familiar voice cut through the noise.
She looked up and froze.
Baron Dean Saint John was approaching, Octavia at his side, Aurelia practically running ahead of them.
Before Leslie could even think, Octavia pulled her into a hug.
Octavia: "You look beautiful."
Leslie's breath caught.
Dean clasped her shoulder, his smile warm and genuine.
Dean: "I told you once—you belong among good people. Nothing changes that."
The tension in Leslie's chest cracked.
Aurelia grabbed her hands, eyes shining.
Aurelia: "Aunt Leslie! I was so worried. Where's Daniel? He didn't come with you?"
Leslie smiled, a real smile this time.
Leslie: "He'll be here. Soon."
Aurelia nodded eagerly, scanning the hall again.
---
The Hall of Radiance
One by one, the great houses arrived.
The Marquess Stormcrest, Alistair and Vivienne, with Rosalind and Brienne watching everything with sharp, curious eyes.
The Earl Graves, Leoric, his wives and children filling half a wing with their presence alone.
Then the Duke of Evergreen Reach, Magnus Blackwood, entering like the land itself had chosen to walk among men—his wives and heirs flanking him, their eyes calculating, measuring.
All of them noticed the same thing.
No Daniel.
Whispers began.
"Is he hiding?"
"Perhaps he lacks the courage."
"Or the King overestimated him."
From her throne, Queen Althea smiled faintly.
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
---
Somewhere Else — Daniel
Daniel stood alone in a quiet chamber beneath the palace.
A crystal floated before him—smaller than the ceremonial one, but just as sensitive.
Daniel: "Sensei. Again."
Sensei: Breath steady. Mana circulation restricted to the light channel only.
Daniel placed his hand near the crystal.
It glowed faintly.
White.
Pure.
Then flickered.
Daniel clenched his jaw.
Sensei: Careful. Emotional spike detected.
Daniel exhaled slowly.
Daniel: "I know."
He pulled his mana back—locked every other affinity behind layered seals Sensei had designed with ruthless precision.
Sensei: Remember. First nothing. Then light. Not a fraction more.
Daniel nodded.
When he turned, servants were waiting.
They dressed him in a royal suit of deep midnight blue, threaded with subtle silver. No crown. No insignia. Just presence.
When Daniel stepped into the corridor, even the guards straightened unconsciously.
Sensei: Your appearance will cause distraction.
Daniel: "Good."
---
His Arrival
The doors to the grand hall opened.
Conversation died.
Daniel stepped inside.
For a heartbeat—no one breathed.
He looked unreal.
Tall, composed, eyes calm yet sharp. Crimson hair tied neatly, catching the light like living flame. Not arrogant. Not submissive.
Noble.
Daughters of dukes and marquesses whispered without realizing it.
"She's right… he's handsome."
"Is that really the housemaid's son?"
"How does he walk like that?"
Aurelia saw him.
And the world vanished.
Relief flooded her face, followed by joy so bright it hurt to look at. When Daniel met her eyes, he smiled softly.
Just for her.
Daniel approached Leslie first.
Daniel: "Mother."
Leslie's eyes filled instantly.
She touched his cheek, grounding herself.
Leslie: "You look… so grown."
Daniel chuckled lightly.
Daniel: "I had a good teacher."
Then he turned—to the Baron and Baroness.
Daniel bowed.
Daniel: "Thank you. For everything."
Dean clasped his arm.
Dean: "You will always be family here."
---
The King Speaks
King Orean rose.
The hall fell silent.
King Orean: "Tonight, I welcome you not only as sovereign…"
He looked at Leslie.
King Orean: "…but as a husband."
Gasps rippled.
King Orean: "This is my wife. Leslie Evercrest."
Silence. Then murmurs.
King Orean: "And this—"
His hand rested on Daniel's shoulder.
King Orean: "—is my son."
No doubt. No hesitation.
He personally led Daniel to every great house—introducing him not as a secret, not as an accident, but as blood.
Queen Althea's nails bit into her palm.
---
The Dance
Music swelled.
Before anyone could react—
Daniel stepped toward Aurelia.
Daniel: "May I?"
Her heart nearly stopped.
Aurelia placed her hand in his.
When they began to dance, time slowed.
They moved as one.
No lead. No follow.
Only harmony.
The hall watched, stunned.
Even Prince Cedric's earlier dance with Aurelia—carefully practiced, rigid, political—was erased from memory.
This was different.
Alive.
When the dance ended, the hall erupted.
Applause thundered.
Someone whispered, awed:
"I've never seen anything like that."
Cedric's face twisted.
He leaned toward his mother.
Cedric (low): "Now."
---
The Crystal
Queen Althea stood.
Queen Althea: "What better moment… than to witness the future of the realm?"
The Affinity Crystal was brought forth.
Its surface shimmered, ancient and absolute.
Queen Althea: "Prince Daniel. Step forward."
Daniel felt Aurelia's fingers tighten briefly.
He smiled at her.
Then stepped forward.
Sensei: Proceed.
Daniel placed his hand on the crystal.
Nothing happened.
Murmurs.
Someone laughed.
A voice rang out, sharp and cruel.
"No affinity? No wonder—mud-flesh blood!"
Leslie flinched.
Daniel's control wavered.
For a fraction of a second—
The crystal exploded into color.
Fire. Water. Earth. Air. Light. Dark.
The hall froze.
A collective breath caught.
Seraphina.
Fear slammed into the room.
Sensei: NOW.
Daniel slammed the seals shut.
The colors vanished.
White light remained.
Soft. Harmless.
Light.
The hall erupted into chaos.
"Did you see that?"
"All affinities—"
"No, only light!"
"Was it a reflection?"
"Or a glitch?"
Queen Althea's smile froze.
King Orean stared.
Daniel withdrew his hand calmly.
Daniel: "Is that… sufficient?"
Silence.
Then scattered laughter.
"Light magic? Support only."
"No threat."
"Overhyped."
Yet fear lingered.
Because for one heartbeat—
They had seen everything.
The hall buzzed with confusion, fear, dismissal, and doubt.
But one truth remained—
For a moment, the world had seen the impossible.All Affinities
And it would never forget ...Now every one scared that is He Seraphina's Reincarnation
To be continued…
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Somewhere, Far Away
Someone closed the book after completing it
She smiled.
Seraphina (softly): "Interesting."