The Summit
The summit hall of the Four Kingdoms was a marvel of ancient craftsmanship.
Built high upon a mountain peak, its blue-marble spires overlooked a vast silver lake below. Hanging gardens cascaded with vines and blossoms, and waterfalls streamed from the cliffs into the valley. Inside, the great chamber gleamed with polished stone and towering windows that bathed the round table in light.
This was the place where rulers decided the fate of the world.
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The heavy doors opened.
King Rauf of the Human Kingdom entered first, flanked by his daughters, Princess Fiza and Princess Izza. His face was calm, unreadable, though the tension in his jaw betrayed him.
Next came the delegation of the Angel Kingdom. King Daimon, regal and stern, with navy-blue eyes that seemed to pierce through souls. Beside him walked Queen Leonor, her long blue hair flowing like water, her dark eyes sharp with quiet judgment. Following them was their eldest son, Prince Cassius, composed as ever, radiating divine authority.
From the opposite entrance arrived King Hidalgo of the Elf Kingdom, youthful and elegant despite his centuries, his green eyes sharp as blades. At his side was Queen Catherine, beauty and wisdom in equal measure, and with them their only child—Princess Isha. A faint bruise still marked her cheek from when Azeon had hurled her into a tree, though her posture remained proud.
Finally came King Ethos of the Dwarves, a stout and weathered man with a long grey beard, his presence booming like thunder. His wife, Queen Lavinia, stood at his side, dignified in her age.
The rulers took their seats upon velvet-backed chairs around the colossal white-marble table. The air was thick with silence, until the minister of the Human Kingdom rose and proclaimed in a commanding voice:
"The Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Second Summit of the Four Kingdoms shall now begin. Today's topic: the matter of Prince Atta of the Human Kingdom. He stands accused of killing an angel guard within Siant Athepia, while Prince Ethan of the Angel Kingdom inflicted grievous injuries upon him."
The chamber stirred. All eyes turned to King Rauf.
Rauf rose slowly, his voice even, almost detached:
"First… I apologize for my son. As you know, the duty of the Human royal line is to keep the demon Azeon sealed. But the seal is failing. He stirs… and grows stronger. We have already bound him with the most powerful magic known to all four kingdoms. Yet it is no longer enough."
The words fell heavy.
King Daimon leaned back in his chair, one brow raised. His voice was stern, cutting.
"King Rauf, you understand the weight of this, do you not? We are speaking of Azeon—the First Sorcerer. The being who created every spell we use today. He was sealed because he could not be controlled."
King Hidalgo leaned forward, his voice sharp but thoughtful.
"Our ancestors passed down the truth. Azeon was not good, nor evil. He was arrogant. He acted on whims. Yes, he gave the world magic… but he also destroyed without reason. Does anyone here forget the Mermaid Kingdom?"
The hall darkened as his words carried them into the past.
---
Flashback:
An underwater city, shimmering with crystal towers, mermaids tending to children, fishfolk laughing in coral markets. Then—a shadow. A figure, tall and slender, with eyes that glowed like embers in the abyss. Azeon.
The water boiled as he struck. With one hand, he punched through a fishman's chest, tearing out the still-beating heart, grinning as he crushed it in his palm. Screams filled the ocean. Blood blossomed into clouds, dyeing the waters red. The massacre was endless, merciless—so vast that even now, five millennia later, the Lake of Derona remained forever crimson, a monument to slaughter.
---
The vision shattered. Back in the summit hall, silence weighed heavy.
King Rauf exhaled, his voice quieter now.
"I know these stories. I know the terror of Azeon. But hear me well… if he grows stronger despite our seal, it is not by our failure. It is because he cannot be contained any longer."
King Ethos slammed a thick fist upon the table, his deep voice rumbling.
"Then kill the boy. End him before the demon within awakens fully. A prince's life is nothing compared to the safety of our kingdoms."
Rauf stiffened. Fiza and Izza both tensed, their fists clenching, rage burning behind their eyes. One word too sharp, and this chamber could turn into a battlefield.
Ethos smirked, then clapped his hands.
"Bring the boy in."
The doors creaked open.
Guards marched forward, dragging Prince Atta in chains, shackled like a criminal. His clothes were torn, his face still swollen and broken, his crimson eyes dull with exhaustion.
He looked up, his gaze meeting his father's.
Helpless. Lost.
And utterly alone.
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To Be Continued...