⛓️ When a God Kneels
They found her kneeling at the gates of the Undying Court.
Alone.
Unarmed.
Wearing nothing but a flowing veil of starlight and gold.
Lucien watched from atop the bone-keep, eyes narrowed. He didn't need a crown-glimpse to feel her divine nature. The earth beneath her feet had forgotten how to decay. Even death bent to her.
"She's not cloaking her power," Nerexa said softly. "That's no saint. That's a high goddess."
Kaelira's voice was hard. "So why is she kneeling?"
Velka didn't answer.
Because gods didn't kneel unless they wanted something no war could earn.
✉️ The Messenger
Lucien descended the steps slowly, his court behind him.
The goddess raised her head.
Beautiful was too small a word. Her body radiated grace beyond human measure—tall, golden-skinned, adorned in divine filigree that shimmered with ancient hymns. Her eyes were galaxies.
She spoke, her voice echoing in ten tongues.
"I am Elysera, the Bound Star. Emissary of the Everlight Pantheon.
I come not to destroy… but to parley."
Lucien blinked.
"Parley?"
"I bring an offer. One you cannot refuse."
"You're wrong," Lucien said. "I refuse already."
But then she opened her palm.
And the thing she offered made his breath catch.
🪞 The Mirrorheart
A glass sphere hovered above her hand. Inside it: a perfect version of Lucien's realm.
The Undying Court—alive.
His queens—mortal, uncorrupted, laughing.
Ardana—alive again.
The world—untainted.
Lucien himself—unscarred, unburdened, happy.
A world that could have been.
"This is a seed of reality," Elysera said. "A true alternate world. The gods offer it to you. A chance to live this life… without blood. Without war. With Ardana."
Lucien stepped forward slowly, as if under a spell.
"It's fake."
"It's real. If you take it. Merge your soul into it… and forget all this pain. No more fighting. No more dying. Just peace."
💔 The Seduction of Peace
He saw it.
He felt it.
His fingers touched the Mirrorheart. It pulsed with his soul.
Serael's hand grabbed his shoulder. "Lucien… don't."
Velka's voice was venom. "It's a trap. Even if it's real—it's surrender."
But Kaelira just looked at him.
No words.
No judgment.
Just trust.
Lucien turned to Elysera.
"If I refuse?"
She didn't flinch.
"Then the gods will unleash the Third Sun. And it will not be a warrior…
It will be a child.
A newborn star.
One that feeds on time and grows with every soul it burns."
"It cannot be killed.
Only starved.
By sacrificing what you love."
Lucien froze.
"So choose," she said sweetly. "Fantasy… or fire."
⚔️ Refusal
Lucien raised his hand.
The Mirrorheart shattered.
Glass burned into light.
Elysera's expression didn't change—but her eyes darkened.
Lucien's voice was clear.
"I've died a hundred times to win this life. I won't trade it for a lie. You want a war of time? I'll give you one."
Elysera stood slowly.
"So be it."
She leaned close.
Whispered against his ear.
"The child is already born.
You hear its heartbeat.
Every night."
Then she vanished.
Not with magic.
But by ceasing to exist.
🧠 The Coming Fire
Later, in his chamber, Lucien sat alone with Velka.
"She was right," he muttered. "I've heard it. In my sleep. Something growing."
Velka didn't argue.
"It's not a sun. It's a godseed. The gods are creating something that doesn't just destroy—it rewrites existence as it grows."
Lucien clenched his fists.
"And to starve it…"
Velka nodded. "You'd have to sacrifice the living. And the dead. Even us."
Lucien's voice was cold.
"Then we kill it before it learns to feed."
🖋️ End of Chapter 13
📣 CTA (Call-to-Action)
Would you take the Mirrorheart and live in peace? Or choose war and legacy?
💬 Comment your choice: Fantasy or Fire?
🔜 Next Chapter: "Heartbeat of the Starborn"
Lucien journeys into the dream-realm to find the godseed's heartbeat… and discovers it's not a what. It's a who.