Welcome higher beings, today I have another story for you. This story is about a man who wore a crown drenched with blood, betrayal and coldness. Although he never chose this life. He was now inheriting the worst throne imaginable. Every day filled with challenges and terror. Terror so deeply entrenched in his daily life that even a moment of silence was suspicious. Like a calm before the storm.
In the lands of Valeria . Were 11 kingdoms competing in the race for supremacy. But one stood out from the rest. The Kingdom of Stella. After a massive overwhelming victory the age of peace arrived. Where commerce and science had the most priority rather than war.
And it was a very great day for the people of Stella. For a new king was going to inherit the throne. A king well devised in many subjects politics, art, science, commerce and war.
His coronation was proponed as the King became gravely ill.
His condition had worsened over many years. And his wish was to see his child sit on the throne before his inevitable death . The coronation was supposed to be held on the day after tommorow.
It was a very joyful day for thr citizens. Since a king was going to take thr throne who truly cared about the his subjects. His name was being taken by every citizen. The new King Arthur Pendragon.
In the ever growing darkness of the throne room as the night reigned over the world. Arthur pendragon stood before the throne. He was determine his own worth as he still considered himself to be growing and he might not be able to be handle his relationship as a king.
His eyes grew concerned as he questioned himself aloud. He gently touched the armrest attached to the throne
" I've yet so much left to learn and explore. To live to my father's expectations. Am I truly ready to carry this weight".
Behind him an orange yellow light was being emitted from a burning flame. Radiating heat in the cold and grandeur halls.
Feeling this heat penetrate his skin Arthur looked behind and saw his mother. Standing behind him with a lamp in her hand and a small book by her side.
She had heard everything and could sympathize with Arthur.
She affirmed him " You would be a truly great King. Your father didn't have much but he has managed to make our kingdom a better place".
Hearing this instead of being relived the weight of expectations had just increased upon Arthur's shoulders.
He turned to see his mother who's clothes were hidden in the darkness still visible by a faint glow of light.
"I've been your father side always as a queen and his wife, but he has always put the Kingdom and his legacy before everything else" the Queen added more to her statement.
" You should sleep, you have a long day tomorrow" said the queen concerning for her child.
"Yes mother" Arthur complied with her request and walked down the hallway. He could hear slight voices which were faint but audible enough. Even they were talking about the shift in the regime.
Arthur entered his heavily decorated room with a large bed, bed so soft that it might absorb you inside the bed. Pillows minting their hardness while confirming the head. The bed frame so sturdy that it geld the bed together in place.
Arthur changed to night clothes and finally went to sleep.
Arthur's head were full of thoughts and with each passing minute it seemed a new thought was coming. So much that Arthur was tossing and turning in anxiety during his sleep. But finally he was asleep after an hour of trying.
And after a few hours the day finally dawned upon the Kingdom. And so did everyone with the sun rising from the west. The night guards finally passed their baton to regular guards and left the palace. The farmers started their day early as usual. Shopkeepers started preparing to open. Bakers started making their daily bread and fulfilling the orders they had received. The blacksmith lit their furnace and preparing their tools. Everyone played a small part in keeping the Kingdom running.
Arthur kept tossing and turning in his bed and was sweating a lot so much that the bedsheets beneath him had been drenched in sweat. In his dream he could see his kingdom burned to ashes and every citizen blaming him for the demise. Pointing fingers at him and degrading his status to a lowlife. He had tightly clutched his blanket and finally woke up with full force and breathing heavily.
He turned his face to see outside the window where warm and soothing sunlight gently fell upon his skin and slightly warmed him. He realized that he was seeing a dream all along. He took a deep breath of relief as the maid entered his room with a bowl of warm water. He used the water to wake himself up and wash his face. As well as clean his teeth.
He wore his princely clothes which were very neatly and with colour coordination arranged in his cupboard. He wore the best combination his butler had suggested him. As Arthur left the room he was met with his right hand man Sieg a master in commerce, statistics and politics and an advisor to be King.
Arthur calmly and dryly asked " What's pending today".
Sieg doesn't like to interfere in anyone's personal life. And he always maintained a professional conduct and the best thing was that unlike other employers the crown prince never seeks to disturb his persona. That's why he likes to work under him.
" I believe you have a meeting with the chamber of commerce today, then a meeting with Minister Holstein regarding current affairs and finally you have a meeting with your fiance this evening". Sieg saw the lethargic reaction on Arthur's face.
" I shall postpone the both the meetings with minister Holstein and Chamber of Commerce after your coronation.
But your Fiance is beyond my capabilitie" Sieg said in a cold and sarcastic tone.
Arthur was relieved " Thank you Sieg, if not for you I would have been buried under work". Even after hearing a formal reply by Sieg was issued "My pleasure". With this Arthur's schedule had been partially cleared. And he could rest for a while but before he could make any plans further. A guard came by and informed Arthur's that his fiancé had now arrived via her carriage.
Sieg was aware that his fiance was not easy to predict. And since it was the final day before his coronation. She would surely want to meet him. Sieg left his higness's side and started focusing on other things.
Arthur while walking down the aisle finally came face to face with his fiance. She was the most beautiful women in the entire kingdom her hair were ordained with many differently colored flowers. Her eyelashes were perfectly trimmed her skin was perfect and smooth. And she was going to be the next Queen once she gets married to the prince.
She held Arthur's hand softly and looked in his eyes. " Tommorow's a big day are you ready". Arthur looked in her deep blue eyes and whispered " I am but is the Queen ready yet". She blushed and pushed him away slightly.
Afterwards they settled in the gardens where they were served tea and snacks alongside it. Both were served in synchronization of their taste. Prepared in such a way that the flavor of the tea and the snacks now deflect each other's taste.
"Arthur how is your father" his fiance asked and Arthur replied " He's not doing well these days". "I hope he will get better". "I'm sure he will be relieved once he sees you sit on his throne". "But if you think that you're still now good enough, don't worry I will always be with you"
"Whatever happens I shall always stand besides you, even if it mean that we lose everything". She gazed deeply in Arthur's eyes showing the sincerity and seriousness in her words
"I have chosen you after all not the throne". Such sincere words melted Arthur's heart. As he was warmed and delighted to hear that someone has his back. Even if the entire world turn against him.
After a few more words she left as she herself had to prepare for his coronation. In the night where darkness reigned supreme. It found Arthur once again looking towards the Throne but this time not with fear but determination.
His eyes were burning with confidence and he was not afraid of thr authority of the throne.
*My son, what do you think of the throne " Arthur turned around to see his ailing father barely standing on his feet. Draped in royal cloak and despite being severely ill he still exuded the royal aura. His wisdom being exuded from his whitened hair all across his face. The light in his eyes had dimmed so he couldn't see much further. But in turn his hearing and touch sensation had increased.
"I was afraid of the responsibility at first, that I shall be the bane of the kingdom. but I have found determination".
"I see" these were the only words he spoke he neither affirmed not denied the answer. "Walk with me" just as he said the King turned around and started walking. He dispersed the guards releving them from their duty for today.
He turned towards a door leading to the basement. And he stood before the door with his eyes devoid of any emotions.
"Do you wish to know the truth of this kingdom" asked the King whilst being devoid of emotions. He further continued
"This question shall have no bearing on your coronation".
Arthur was stunned by the sudden serious environment.
And the question his father had asked. "Truth of the Kingdom I don't understand Father".
The King still wouldn't budge and won't make a statement. He was waiting for Arthur's decision. As he started deep into Arthur's eyes and peering into the uncertainty. While Arthur was deep in thought.
Arthur analyzed his father statement and what could be hidden in the kingdom that only the King might know?. Many question erupted but he couldn't answer any of them without knowing what was the question. But still Arthur made up his mind. He wanted to know what lied behind his father's words.
"Yes, I want to know the truth" Arthur took his stand firmly.
Hearing this his Father took up an oil lantern nearby and opened the door to the basement. And asked Arthur to follow him inside. As both of them descended their footsteps started reverbrating throughout the basement.
Arthur had never been to the basement since it would be locked all the time. He made sure that there were none tailing them from behind. There was silence both of them spoke nothing just walked ahead.
Finally the staircase ended and before them was a huge door which held something behind it but it was too dark to see anything and the oil lantern could only shed light on so much.
"Before we move forward, let me tell you a story".
"Our kingdom was on the brink of ruin centuries ago. Other nations had everything development, magic and might and commerce but ours was failing at every turn."
" Other kingdoms always had the capability to finish us off at every turn but they enjoyed watching us bleed"
"Our ancestors wished upon a miracle that could help us survive and they were answered as a comet fell upon these lands. A gift from God himself". As he continued his story he passed mana through the gate and the gates which were covered with dust and cobwebs came back to life and finally swung open.
And behind them was a cave of lustrous and star like crystal also known as the Stellarium. A crystal which changed colour's every few seconds and was growing throughout the cave.
"This is Stellarium, a crystal which is the blood of this kingdom. You must have read about this in your studies".
It is said that Stellariun is a very very rare element to only found in Stella but here was Arthur seeing heaps upon heaps of steallrium. More than he had seen his life.
Stellarium is an element which is used in lights, for magic and creating weapons granting them unique abilities after attuning.
"Only the King can open the door to the cave and get Stellarium. And as my successor you will be inheriting everything I have"
And concluding the King said something so unexpected that Arthur's ears perked up.
"Congratulations on inheriting stellarium, as from today your name shall be known all across the lands as the
King of Traitors"