Chapter 41: Echoes Beneath the Light
For several heartbeats after the crystal dimmed, the world forgot how to breathe.
The affinity crystal—ancient, revered, trusted by empires—stood quietly at the center of the ceremonial platform, its surface now glowing with a soft, steady white. Light. Pure and singular. Innocent.
Yet no one spoke.
Because everyone there had seen it.
For a fraction of a second—so brief it felt like a trick of the eye—the crystal had fractured into every color known to magic. Fire-red, ocean-blue, emerald-green, storm-white, abyssal-black, radiant-gold… all of them overlapping, clashing, harmonizing—
Then gone.
Like a dream violently erased.
A ripple of murmurs spread through the hall, low and uncertain.
Council Member: "Did… did anyone else—?"
Noble Lady: "I swear I saw—"
Elder Mage: "Impossible. That phenomenon hasn't—since—"
The name no one dared to say aloud lingered in the air like a curse.
Seraphina.
Daniel stood motionless before the crystal, his hand slowly withdrawing, fingers still faintly numb. His heart hammered, not with fear—but with restraint.
Inside him, Sensei's voice was calm, precise, razor-sharp.
Sensei: "Mana spike successfully suppressed. All secondary signatures concealed. Visual anomaly probability reframed as crystal instability."
Daniel: "Barely."
Sensei: "Barely is enough. You're still breathing. That means we won."
From the edge of the crowd, Aurelia pushed her way forward.
Her silver-grey necklace caught the light as she moved, the blue gem hairpin Daniel had given her glinting like a piece of the sky trapped in her hair. Her face held no fear, no doubt—only warmth.
Aurelia: "Daniel."
Her voice cut through the noise.
Aurelia: "Congratulations."
He turned, surprised—not by the words, but by the sincerity behind them.
Daniel: "You're… not worried?"
She tilted her head, confused.
Aurelia: "Why would I be? Light magic is beautiful. It suits you."
She smiled. The kind of smile that didn't question, didn't doubt, didn't search for hidden meanings.
For a moment, Daniel forgot about crystals, prophecies, queens, and bloodlines.
Daniel (softly): "You're… too good, you know that?"
Aurelia blinked. "What?"
Daniel shook his head. "Nothing."
Inside, something warm tightened in his chest.
I really am lucky, he thought. Luckier than I deserve.
---
King Orean Evercrest watched everything with narrowed eyes.
He had felt it.
That instant. That surge.
A spike in mana density so sharp, so vast, it had made his old scars itch—the kind of sensation only someone who had wielded power for decades could recognize.
For less than a second, it had felt like the world had leaned closer.
Then silence.
King Orean: "…Interesting."
He rose from his seat, raising a hand. The murmurs faltered, then died.
King Orean: "There appears to have been a momentary instability in the crystal."
His voice was calm, authoritative—unyielding.
King Orean: "Artifacts this old are not infallible. What matters is the final result."
He looked directly at Daniel.
King Orean: "Prince Daniel Evercrest has awakened Light affinity."
A pause.
Then—
King Orean: "Congratulations, my son."
Applause followed. Hesitant at first, then growing louder as nobles took their cue from the Crown.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
From the front row, Baron Dean Saint John stepped forward, pride plain on his face.
Baron Dean: "Light is a noble element, Your Highness. One that saves far more lives than it takes."
Beside him, Baroness Octavia smiled warmly.
Baroness Octavia: "We are very proud of you, Daniel."
Behind them, Leslie covered her mouth, tears spilling freely.
Leslie: "Thank the gods…" she whispered. "Thank the gods…"
She had carried this fear for years—fear that her son would inherit nothing, that he would be forever lesser in a world obsessed with power.
Now, even if it was "only" Light…
To her, it was everything.
From across the hall, Queen Isolde lifted her glass slightly, her sharp eyes meeting Daniel's.
She did not smile.
She acknowledged.
Daniel inclined his head just enough to be respectful.
Inside, Sensei murmured.
Sensei: "Second Queen satisfied. Trust level unchanged. Observation ongoing."
Daniel: "Good."
---
Not everyone was pleased.
Queen Althea was already gone.
Far above the hall, in her private chambers, she stood before a mirror, fingers clenched so tightly her nails bit into her palms.
Queen Althea: "All affinities… for a second."
Her reflection stared back—cold, calculating.
Queen Althea: "If that was real… I could have ended him tonight."
She exhaled sharply.
Queen Althea: "But Light."
She laughed softly, bitter.
Queen Althea: "Worthless. Harmless."
Still…
Queen Althea: "Check the crystal. Every rune. Every inscription. I want to know whether that anomaly was a glitch… or a warning."
Her eyes hardened.
Queen Althea: "And if it wasn't a mistake… I'll make sure he is gone."
---
Back in the hall, Prince Cedric approached Daniel with an easy smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Prince Cedric: "Light, huh?"
He chuckled. "That's… cute."
Daniel bowed politely. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Prince Cedric: "Fire and Dark decide wars. Light heals the survivors."
He leaned closer, voice dropping.
Prince Cedric: "Looks like your future's already decided."
Daniel met his gaze calmly.
Daniel: "If you say so."
Sensei: "Hostility detected. Ego wounded. Recommend disengagement."
Daniel: "Already doing it."
Cedric straightened, smile stiffening as Daniel simply… stopped paying attention.
From the corner of his eye, Cedric saw something that irritated him far more than words ever could.
Others were approaching.
The Marquess, the Earl, even the Duke himself.
Duke Magnus Blackwood's voice boomed warmly.
Duke Magnus: "Light affinity at such a young age. Commendable, Prince Daniel."
His daughters stood behind him.
One of them—Princess Cordelia—stepped forward.
---
She was tall for her age, posture flawless.
Her hair fell in smooth waves of deep chestnut, threaded with natural gold that caught the chandelier light. Her eyes were a striking amethyst violet, sharp yet curious, like a scholar's gaze wrapped in a dancer's grace.
Her dress—lavender silk with silver accents—flowed effortlessly as she moved.
Princess Cordelia: "Prince Daniel."
She offered a graceful curtsy.
Princess Cordelia: "Your dance earlier… with Lady Aurelia."
She smiled faintly.
Princess Cordelia: "It was extraordinary."
Aurelia stiffened slightly beside Daniel.
Princess Cordelia: "Would you… honor me with a dance as well?"
The hall quieted.
Sensei: "Social opportunity. Refusal may escalate factional tension."
Daniel sighed inwardly.
Daniel: "It would be my pleasure, Princess."
They moved to the floor.
The music shifted.
Their dance was elegant, controlled, perfectly executed. Daniel led with confidence, Cordelia followed with effortless precision.
From the outside—it was flawless.
From the inside—empty.
There was no shared breath, no unspoken rhythm, no spark.
Still, the crowd applauded when it ended.
Princess Cordelia (smiling): "Your lead was impeccable. Thank you, Prince."
She curtsied again, then left.
Aurelia forced a polite smile—but her fingers curled at her side.
---
Minutes later, Daniel felt a familiar tug.
He turned.
Aurelia was already walking away.
Daniel followed, catching her wrist gently and guiding her to a quieter balcony.
He handed her a small, wrapped box.
Daniel: "I… found this while shopping."
He scratched his cheek. "Thought it might look good on you."
She blinked, surprised.
Aurelia unwrapped it slowly.
Inside—a dress. Soft fabric, elegant cut. Perfectly her.
Her breath hitched.
She didn't say thank you.
Instead—
She leaned forward, pressed a quick kiss to his cheek—
—and ran.
Daniel stood frozen.
Hand still half-raised.
Face warm.
Heart pounding.
He laughed softly.
Daniel: "…Wow."
From the shadows, Prince Cedric watched.
His jaw tightened.
Prince Cedric: "So that's how it is."
His smile vanished, replaced by something sharp and ugly.
Prince Cedric: "Fine."
He turned away.
Prince Cedric: "If being underestimated makes you shine…"
His eyes burned with malice.
Prince Cedric: "Then I'll make sure the whole world learns to hate that light."
And somewhere in the Crowd ....A single individual was observing everything and now after witnessed something that he should be reporting to "HIM" as soon as possible..He decided to leave the party