In the grand hall of Aurelia, sunlight filtered through the tall stained glass windows, casting golden hues across the marble floors. The air held a quiet tension, the kind that had settled over the palace in recent months. Chris Elysionsonn, the young king, stood with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the sprawling city below. He looked thoughtful, but there was a shadow behind his blue eyes, a weariness born of responsibility. Beside him stood Rena Lumius, his most trusted ally. Her expression was calm but carried the same heaviness. Together, they awaited the day's updates.

The heavy doors swung open, and a messenger rushed in, his footsteps echoing in the vast chamber. Though breathless, he kept his composure, bowing deeply before speaking. "Your Majesty," he began, "we've received urgent news—Crixuc, the Greater Titan of the Ooze, is heading toward Thalassea.”

Rena’s eyes narrowed sharply. “Crixuc… the titan made of poisonous ooze?” She stepped toward the polished table at the center of the hall, where dossiers and reports lay strewn. Lifting one of the parchments, her frown deepened. “The reports have been increasing. Titan activity has been growing ever since the incident in Aetheris.”

She rolled out a scroll resembling a map, its surface marked with the current positions of various factions under the Order of Equilibrium. Her finger traced a route toward Thalassea, stopping at a cluster of marks nearest to the target. “Send word to the Aegis Enforcers immediately,” she murmured. “They’re closest to the threat.”

The messenger bowed again and hurried out. The sound of the closing doors left Chris and Rena in a silence that felt even heavier than before.

Chris turned back to the window, the sunlight casting faint golden streaks across his face. His voice broke the silence, laden with sorrow. “It’s been twenty-seven years since Neil’s death,” he murmured. The weight of the past hung heavy in his tone, the years doing little to dull the pain.

His words pulled him back to that fateful moment in Aetheris. The memories surged like a tide he could never escape. He could still see it—the smoldering battlefield, Coeus towering above with unrelenting menace. But what stayed with him more than the chaos was the expressions of the students: Hans, Martin, Flo, and Ika. Fear and disbelief etched into their faces as they faced not only the overwhelming power of a Primordial Titan but the betrayal of someone they had trusted.

“They were just kids,” Chris whispered, his voice almost breaking. “They had no idea what they were walking into. Not the betrayal. Not Coeus. Not Neil’s...” His words faltered, unable to continue.

He could still remember arriving at the scene. The air had been thick with smoke and despair. Neil’s lifeless form had been a blow—not just to him but to the young team who had depended on him for strength. The loss of their mentor wasn’t just devastating; it shattered their sense of safety and trust.

Chris’ gaze hardened as he recalled the revelation that followed. The betrayal that had unraveled everything.

Rena’s voice broke through his thoughts, quiet but tinged with her own guilt. “We had our suspicions,” she said, her eyes distant, “Neil and I. We thought Lorenzo was the traitor. He was the obvious choice, wasn’t he?.”

Her voice trembled slightly. “It was Rem. She planned everything so perfectly, hiding in plain sight, and we missed it.” She paused, the bitterness of regret lacing her words. “I’ll never forget the moment when we delivered them the truth. The shock on the remaining third year students’ faces—on Lorenzo’s, Marge’s, everyone’s. That mission should’ve marked their transition into their final year, their future as leaders. Instead, it turned into a blood-soaked tragedy.”

Chris nodded silently, his expression grim. He thought of how that day had reshaped their lives. They had faced the unthinkable—loss, betrayal, and a Titan’s devastation—and somehow emerged on the other side, changed but unbroken.

“They persevered,” he said finally, his voice resolute. “Despite everything, they turned that pain into strength. It’s why they are who they are today.” A faint glimmer of pride colored his tone, though it was tempered by the weight of what had been lost.

Rena’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Perhaps,” she said, her voice subdued. “Some have even become squad captains.” Her words carried the unspoken burden of what it had cost. “But sometimes, I wonder... have we asked too much of them?”

Shaking off the lingering weight of their shared grief, Rena turned her attention to the map spread before them. Her voice steadied. “I’ve sent word to Flameheart as well. Ai Ignis has answered the call. She’ll head to the capital once her business in the Infernal Waste is finished.”

Chris blinked, surprised. He chuckled softly, his weariness momentarily lifted. “Ai Ignis,” he mused. “It’s hard to believe. I still remember when little Ai visited the capital with her mother, Lady Casseia. She was what—seven years old? Always hiding behind her mother’s skirts.” His smile broadened. “And now, she’s one of the Emperor Ring bearers. Who would have thought?”

Rena allowed herself a small smile in return. “The Emperor Rings have their ways of surprising us,” she said, rubbing the band on her finger absentmindedly. The gleaming artifact felt heavier than usual, as if it sensed her unease. Her smile faded slightly, replaced by a thoughtful expression. “But their awakenings… they’re not random. When the rings begin to stir, it’s a sign. A storm is brewing, and it’s likely stronger than anything we’ve faced before.”

Chris regarded her carefully. “The prophecy,” he murmured, his tone now serious.

Rena nodded. “Yes. ‘In times of greatest turmoil, the rings will gravitate toward one another.’ We’ve seen it before. And if this is the beginning, we need to be prepared for whatever is coming.”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Chris’ gaze returned to the cityscape outside. The golden light now seemed less warm, more foreboding. “Then we’ll prepare,” he said firmly. “Together, we’ll stand against whatever lies ahead.”

——

Far to the south, beneath the stunning azure sky of Thalassea, the warm sun kissed the crystal-clear waters of the famous Blue Lagoon. The seaside resort town was alive with energy—tourists lounged along the sandy beaches, merchants called out to passersby from their colorful stalls, and fishing boats bobbed gently in the distance, their sails catching the golden sunlight.

On the lagoon itself, a small boat floated lazily, its shadow dancing over the rippling waves. In the water below, Hans Nimbersonn swam effortlessly, his lean, sun-bronzed body gliding with the ease of someone utterly at home in the water. The lagoon’s gentle embrace felt like an escape, the waves carrying away his worries, if only for a moment.

On the boat stood Jun’de Liu, dressed in the flowing robes of a monk, their pale, sun-dappled folds swaying lightly in the breeze. Despite having long since left the Cloudspire Monastery, Jun’de still donned the attire of his former life, perhaps out of habit—or mischief. Next to him was Ellie Camberwell, her silver hair pulled into its usual no-nonsense bun. Her sharp eyes scanned the horizon, ever alert, even in this paradise.

“Hey, Hans! Are you planning to sprout gills and join the fish permanently?” Jun’de called out, his tone teasing as he leaned lazily against the boat’s railing. “I hope they’ve got room in their schools for a know-it-all water boy!”

Hans surfaced with a grin, shaking droplets from his hair. “It’s called appreciating nature, Jun. You should try it. Maybe it’ll help you figure out your own nature—like why you keep acting like a pest!”

Jun’de smirked, brushing imaginary dust from his robe. “Oh, come on, you love the attention. Admit it.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping into an exaggeratedly sultry tone. “I’d be the best catch in this lagoon, you know.”

Hans snorted, swimming to the edge of the boat. “Shouldn’t monks be more... I don’t know, decent?” His eyes flicked over Jun’de’s robe as he hoisted himself out of the water.

Jun’de grinned wickedly. “Ex-monk,” he corrected, wagging a finger. “You’re looking at the free-spirited Jun’de Liu now. I’m a rogue monk—dangerously irresistible and fully off the leash.”

Hans rolled his eyes, grabbing a towel to dry off. “You’re also insufferable. Who keeps wearing monastery robes after quitting, anyway? Trying to trick people into thinking you’re holy?”

“It’s called style, Hans. You wouldn’t understand,” Jun’de shot back, flipping the hem of his robe with a dramatic flourish.

Ellie, ignoring the banter, let out a quiet sigh, though her lips betrayed a small smile. She had grown used to the duo’s antics, finding their arguments more entertaining than bothersome.

Before Hans could deliver his next comeback, a beeping sound broke through the air. Ellie reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a sleek messenger pager. Its screen flashed with a single blinking icon—a new message.

“Well, looks like you’ve got mail, Hans,” Jun’de teased, his grin widening. “Must be your legion of admirers trying to track you down.”

Ellie handed Hans the device, arching an eyebrow. “It’s not for him. The sender is labeled ‘HQ.’”

Hans took the pager, reading the short but urgent text. His smile faded. “It’s from the Order of Equilibrium,” he said, his tone serious now. “We’ve got new orders.”

Jun’de’s playful smirk softened, though he couldn’t resist one last jab. “Duty calls, Captain Nimbersonn. Better dry off before you save the world again.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Hans muttered, shoving Jun’de lightly as he passed. The camaraderie between them, however playful, had a warmth that even their teasing couldn’t hide.

Jun’de leaned against the railing, his arms crossed and his usual smirk replaced with a thoughtful expression. “So,” he started, glancing at the pager in Hans’s hand, “what’s the verdict? Trouble in paradise?”

Hans tapped a button on the pager, scrolling through the incoming message again. His blue eyes narrowed as the words solidified into meaning. “Crixuc,” he said grimly, the single word enough to send a ripple of tension through the trio. “It’s heading straight for Thalassea.”

Jun’de’s expression darkened. “Crixuc,” he said grimly, stepping closer. “The Ooze Titan. That thing’s destruction isn’t just chaos—it’s contamination. Entire ecosystems wiped out in its wake.”

Ellie nodded, her violet eyes fixed on the serene horizon as though she could already sense the approaching threat. “The very same,” she confirmed, her tone sharp. “And it’s headed straight for Thalassea.”

Hans, still holding the pager, let out a low curse under his breath. His shoulders stiffened, and for a brief moment, his gaze flickered toward the distant shoreline where the town of his childhood rested. “We’re always reacting to these things,” he muttered, stuffing the device into his pocket. “The townspeople don’t even know what’s coming.”

Ellie stepped closer, her gaze softening as she looked at Hans. She knew what Thalassea meant to him—his hometown, the place where he had grown up surrounded by the sea’s endless embrace. There was a depth of worry in his expression that she hadn’t seen before, a weight that came from knowing what they stood to lose.

“We’ll stop it, Hans,” Ellie said quietly, her voice steady and reassuring. “We’ve faced worse before, and we’ve come through every time. This time will be no different.”

Hans met her eyes, her calm demeanor grounding him. He gave a small nod, though the concern didn’t entirely leave his face.

Jun’de straightened, his posture now rigid with purpose. “Then we make sure they’re ready,” he said firmly. “No one’s going to outrun this thing if it hits the town full force.”

Ellie gave a curt nod, already moving to secure their gear. Her actions were quick and precise, her demeanor as controlled as ever. Meanwhile, Hans strode toward the boat’s controls, determination etched into his features.

“Let’s move,” Hans ordered.

The boat’s engine roared to life, breaking the stillness of the lagoon as it surged forward. Ellie gripped the railing, her silver hair streaming behind her in the wind, while Jun’de braced himself beside Hans, scanning the horizon.

The once-lazy boat now carved through the tranquil waters, leaving a trail of urgency in its wake. Ahead, Thalassea’s vibrant shores came into view—its pristine beaches and bustling streets oblivious to the monstrous shadow drawing closer with each passing moment.