The great hall of the Human Kingdom was silent.
Hundreds of nobles stood in perfect rows beneath the towering marble pillars. Golden banners bearing the royal crest hung from the ceiling, swaying gently in the cold air.
At the center of the hall stood the royal family.
King Aldric Valeris sat upon the throne, his expression stern and unreadable. Beside him stood Queen Seraphina, her arms wrapped protectively around a small boy.
The boy was only five years old.
His silver hair shimmered under the torchlight, and his strange eyes—one golden and one crimson—looked around the hall in confusion.
This child was Prince Aurelian Valeris, the third prince of the Human Kingdom.
Today was supposed to be a celebration.
But no one was smiling.
At the far end of the hall stood the High Priest of the Divine Temple, an old man dressed in white robes. His hands trembled as he stared at the glowing crystal placed before him.
The crystal was known as the Prophecy Stone.
It revealed the will of the gods.
And today, it had spoken.
The priest slowly lifted his head.
His pale face made the entire hall uneasy.
"Your Majesty…" he said quietly.
King Aldric leaned forward.
"Speak."
The priest hesitated.
For a moment, he looked toward the small prince.
Fear filled his eyes.
Then he finally spoke the words that would change everything.
"The gods have declared a prophecy."
The hall grew colder.
The priest's voice echoed through the massive chamber.
"When the Third Crowned Son opens his crimson eye,
ruin shall walk beside him.
Thrones will fall, kingdoms will bleed,
and the world shall tremble beneath his shadow."
Silence.
The words hung in the air like a curse.
Murmurs spread among the nobles.
"Ruin…"
"A cursed prince…"
"This child will destroy kingdoms…"
The queen's grip around Aurelian tightened.
"No…" she whispered softly.
The young prince didn't understand the words.
But he could feel the fear in the room.
King Aldric's face darkened.
His eyes slowly turned toward his son.
For a long moment, the king said nothing.
Then he spoke.
His voice was cold.
"High Priest."
"Yes… Your Majesty."
"Are you certain the prophecy refers to the third prince?"
The priest bowed his head.
"The Prophecy Stone reacted to his presence alone."
The king closed his eyes.
A heavy silence fell across the throne room.
The fate of the child had already been decided.
Finally, the king stood.
His voice echoed like a hammer striking stone.
"Prince Aurelian Valeris…"
The queen's body froze.
"…has been declared a harbinger of ruin."
Gasps filled the hall.
The king continued.
"For the safety of the kingdom…"
His gaze hardened.
"…the third prince shall be executed."
The queen's breath stopped.
"No!"
She stepped forward, shielding the child behind her.
"He is only a child! He has done nothing!"
But the king did not move.
"The prophecy cannot be ignored."
Aurelian looked up at his father.
He didn't understand the words completely.
But one thing was clear.
His father's eyes held no warmth.
Only fear.
And fear was stronger than love.
Guards slowly stepped forward.
The queen's hands trembled as she pulled Aurelian close.
Tears fell down her face.
In that moment, she made a decision.
If the king would not protect her child…
Then she would.
Even if it meant betraying the entire kingdom.
And far away from the palace…
In the darkness of the ancient ruins…
Someone smiled.
A hooded figure traced a strange symbol on the stone wall.
"The prophecy has begun."
The symbol glowed faintly.
The mark of the Order of Eclipse.