Chương 93: Chapter 92:  Voyage to the Sea of Eternity

The sky remained stained crimson. The blood-red eclipse hung above the continent like the eye of an ancient god, watching every kingdom, every battlefield, and every soul. Atlas' final warning echoed in the minds of the chosen.

"One walks the path of extinction." No one knew who the ninth candidate was. No one even knew if it was human. Yet... Everyone felt it. Somewhere in the world... Something had awakened. Something the world itself feared. The battlefield outside Ayanor slowly returned to life. Neither the Continental Alliance nor the Black Sun attacked. The Trial had changed everything. The war for kingdoms no longer mattered. Now... The fate of the world rested upon nine chosen candidates.

Auriel folded her obsidian wings behind her.

"The First Trial has begun."

"There is no reason to continue this battle." Mordren frowned.

"But Lady Auriel—" She raised one finger. Silence. Even the mighty Black Sun General immediately obeyed. Kael looked toward Rayan.

"It seems destiny wishes us to meet elsewhere." Rayan tightened his grip on the Dharma Dragonblade.

"The next time we meet..."

"I won't let you leave." Kael smiled faintly.

"I hope not." Black mist swallowed him. One after another... The Black Sun warriors vanished into portals of darkness. Within seconds... The battlefield was empty. Only the wounded and the dead remained. As the silence settled over Ayanor, Rayan turned toward his father. King Dasrath was leaning against a shattered pillar, his breathing shallow. The healing light from Lyra had closed many of his wounds... But not all. Royal physicians rushed toward him. One of them lowered his head.

"Your Highness..."

"The King's Astra Core is fractured." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"There is nothing more we can do." The words struck like a hammer. Rayan knelt beside his father.

"There has to be a way." Dasrath smiled weakly.

"My son..."

"Don't waste your strength trying to save an old king." Rayan clenched his jaw.

"I refuse to lose anyone else." The King placed a trembling hand on his shoulder.

"Listen carefully."

"The world needs the Dharma King..."

"... more than it needs the King of Ayanor." That evening... The royal palace became a hospital. Every hall overflowed with wounded soldiers. Nobles worked beside commoners. Children carried water. Merchants distributed food freely. For the first time in history... No one cared about status. They only cared about survival. Rayan quietly walked through the palace. Every soldier he passed saluted. Not because of his title. Because of hope. Cassian caught up with him.

"You've been avoiding everyone."

"I've been thinking."

"Dangerous habit." Despite everything... Rayan laughed. A small laugh. But genuine. Cassian smiled.

"There he is."

"Our prince." Later that night... A war council gathered inside the damaged throne room. Present were: King Dasrath Rayan Lyra Cassian Siena The Guardian Michael A massive map of the continent lay across the table. Michael pointed far beyond the western ocean.

"The Temple of the First Flame..."

"... lies here." Everyone stared. It wasn't on the continent. It rested upon an isolated island surrounded by a sea marked with ancient warning symbols.

"The Sea of Eternity." The Guardian sighed.

"I hoped we'd never have to cross it." Cassian raised an eyebrow.

"What makes it special?" The Guardian answered quietly.

"No ship has ever returned." The room fell silent. Michael continued.

"The sea isn't dangerous because of monsters."

"It's dangerous..."

"... because it remembers." Rayan frowned.

"Remembers what?"

"The greatest regrets of anyone who enters." Lyra stepped toward the map.

"There are only three known routes."

"The Northern Current."

"The Abyss Channel."

"And..." She hesitated.

"The Silent Passage." The Guardian immediately shook his head.

"Absolutely not." Siena looked confused.

"Why?"

"Because no one who entered the Silent Passage..."

"... was ever seen again." Rayan folded his arms.

"Which route is fastest?" Michael pointed toward the Silent Passage.

"Three days."

"And the safest?"

"The Northern Current."

"How long?"

"Twenty-one days." Cassian groaned.

"The Trial only gives us seven." Silence filled the room. There was only one realistic choice. The Silent Passage. The following morning... The harbor of Ayanor bustled with activity. Engineers repaired the largest royal warship. Blacksmiths reinforced its hull with Astra Steel. Mages carved protective runes into every mast. The ship itself bore a legendary name. The Dawn Sovereign. It had once belonged to the Founding King. No one had sailed it in centuries. Before departure...

King Dasrath called Rayan to the palace gardens. The flowers had somehow survived the invasion. The old king looked toward the rising sun.

"When you were a child..."

"You once asked me why kings wear crowns." Rayan smiled faintly.

"I thought they made people stronger." Dasrath chuckled.

"And what do you think now?" Rayan looked toward the ruined city.

"They remind kings..."

"... how heavy responsibility is." The old king nodded proudly.

"You've learned." He removed his own crown. Without ceremony... Without witnesses... He placed it into Rayan's hands.

"I'll wear it when I deserve it." Rayan whispered. Dasrath smiled.

"No."

"You'll wear it..."

"... when the people need it." A loud horn echoed from the harbor. The ship was ready. Thousands of citizens gathered along the docks. Not to celebrate. To pray. As Rayan walked toward the Dawn Sovereign, every knight struck their fist against their chest. Every citizen bowed. Children held handmade banners reading:"Bring Back the Light." Rayan stepped onto the deck. Cassian leaned against the railing with his usual grin. Siena adjusted the magical compass guiding their route.

Lyra stood quietly at the bow, gazing toward the endless western horizon. Michael remained above the mast, wings folded. The Guardian whispered ancient prayers beneath his breath. The anchors rose. The sails unfurled. The Dawn Sovereign slowly left the harbor. As Ayanor disappeared behind them, thick silver mist began spreading across the ocean. Within minutes... The sea became unnaturally calm. No waves. No wind. No sound. Only silence. The Silent Passage had welcomed them. Far beneath the motionless water...

A colossal eye slowly opened. It watched the ship without blinking. Then... A deep voice echoed through the darkness below.

"Another Dharma King..."

"How many more must drown before destiny learns?" The sea stirred for the first time in a thousand years. And something impossibly ancient began following the Dawn Sovereign from the depths. To Be Continue....