The emperor sat in his study, the weight of the realm pressing down on his shoulders. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the knots of tension that had formed there. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a moment of peace. Every decision felt like a dagger aimed at his back, and every ally seemed to harbor hidden agendas.

With a weary sigh, he picked up a small silver bell from his desk and rang it. The soft chime echoed through the room, and almost immediately, a young beastkin girl entered, her ears twitching slightly as she bowed deeply.

“Yes, my lord,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, her gaze fixed on the floor. Her presence was a small comfort in his world of treachery. Trust was a rare commodity.

“Bring Corthus in. I know he’s waiting,” the emperor commanded, his voice carrying the authority of his station.

“Yes, my lord.” She bowed again, even deeper this time, before swiftly exiting the room.

Moments later, a thin young man stepped through the doorway. His dark blue eyes were a stark contrast to his pristine white robe, which seemed to shimmer in the dim light of the study. He held a staff in his left hand, topped with a skull that added an air of ominous power to his presence. The staff stood a head taller than him, a symbol of his rank and knowledge.

“My Emperor,” Corthus greeted, bowing with the same deference as the girl. “What is the verdict? Will we need to dispatch troops?”

“I’m not starting a war, not yet. They know it was a human who destroyed their gate, but they can’t prove it,” the emperor replied, his voice heavy with the burden of leadership. Every word he spoke felt like a balancing act on the edge of a blade. One misstep, and the realm would plunge into chaos. He inhaled deeply, trying to steady his thoughts, and sighed again. “We’ll have to placate them and allow the use of the gate.”

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“Is that wise, sire? They could destroy ours…” Corthus’s voice trailed off, concern etched on his face.

“It’s the only way to prevent an attack right now. We’ll have to…” The emperor’s words faltered as a sudden, inexplicable sensation prickled the back of his neck. Something is wrong. His instincts, honed from years of surviving court politics, screamed a warning. His attention snapped to the eastern wall, his instincts screaming that something was amiss.

He turned to look out the window, his eyes widening in shock. A giant plume of smoke and magical energy was rising over the eastern provinces, growing larger and more intense with each passing second. The sheer amount of mana being released was unlike anything he had ever seen or felt in his entire life.

“Sire…” Corthus began, his voice trembling.

“What could cause such force?” the emperor asked, more to himself than to his advisor.

“I…” Corthus stammered, clearly shaken. “I can think of only a few things…”

“Well? Spit it out, man!” the emperor exclaimed, his patience wearing thin. He strode over to Corthus and grabbed him by the collar, shaking him slightly.

“There are stories of ancient dragons possessing that much magical energy, or perhaps a legendary item, but…” Corthus’s voice trailed off, his brow furrowing in deep thought.

“What is it?” the emperor demanded, his grip tightening.

“It can’t be…”

“What!” the emperor shouted, his frustration boiling over.

“It’s been a long time since one happened, but I could be wrong…”

“Get to the point, boy!” the emperor barked.

“Are you familiar with Divine souls and their stages?” Corthus asked, his voice barely a whisper.

“Of course. Are you saying that is…”

“Yes. It looks like an Awakening,” Corthus confirmed, his voice filled with a mix of awe and dread.

The emperor’s mind raced as he ran to his desk and pressed a button carved into the wood, sending a signal to his commander. A Divine soul awakening! This was unprecedented. An opportunity beyond imagination. They would need to dispatch troops immediately. If he could capture and train the individual, he would have a powerful asset to control the other countries. With one Divine under his command, he could dominate the basin. His eyes lit up with excitement as he envisioned the possibilities, the future of his empire unfolding before him in a series of triumphant victories.