The chamber was colder than before.
Not from ice - but from truth.
Elder Solarin stood in silence, holding the child. The pendant glowed faintly in his palm, pulsing like a heartbeat long thought ended.
One of the kings finally spoke.
"Is this true?" asked the King of Ice.
"You... were one of the Asharim?"
Solarin looked up. His eyes were calm, but the weight in his voice was deeper than time.
"I was a child.
I knew nothing of bloodlines.
I didn't even know my name."
Murmurs swept the thrones. Even the God-King leaned forward.
"Then how did you survive their purge?" asked the King of Space.
Solarin's fingers tightened on the pendant.
"The same way the Eight survived.
I was sent away."
A ripple passed through the kings. For the first time, they realized something terrible.
They didn't even know where the Eight were.
They knew only this: eight were born. Then vanished. Just like Solarin.
"So," said the King of Storm, "you lived among us... and we never knew?"
"You never asked," Solarin replied.
"Not when I rose in power.
Not when I guided your wars.
Not even when I became the one you feared most.
You saw only what you wanted - and ignored the rest."
The Angel King stepped forward.
"Why now? Why tell us this?"
Solarin's voice turned quiet.
"Because if the Eight are like the Asharim...
If they grow powerful and choose kindness -
If they protect the weak and question your crowns -
You'll do what you did before."
He turned slowly, facing each throne.
"You'll erase them."
Silence.
No denial.
No defense.
Only the weight of old sins returned.
"You didn't fear Asharim because they were strong.
You feared them because they treated everyone as equals.
Because they didn't need you to rule."
He looked down at the baby girl in his arms - Isara.
And his voice, for the first time, shook with emotion.
"So ask yourselves:
Do you fear this child because of her blood?
Or because her kindness might undo your reign?"
The King of Lightning scoffed, but his voice was uneasy.
"You speak like one of them."
Solarin met his eyes. Without flinching.
"I was one of them.
I still am."
End of Chapter 7 - The Blood He Couldn't Bury