CHAPTER ONE: REVELATION

The emperor, Gilbert, summoned Aeonius, head of seers, into the empress chamber. His voice filled with reverence and anticipation and he requested that Aeonius unveil the secrets of what lay ahead for the unborn child carried within the empress, Laura.

Aeonius look at the weak Laura who is already drained of almost her power and the reason is still unknown. Suddenly, his eyes transformed into a luminous shade of green, emitting a mystical aura. He fixed his gaze upon the Laura's belly, as if peering into a realm unseen. After a few moments, blood trickled from his nose, and then Gilbert sensed something amiss. Acting swiftly, he employed his own powers to bring Aeonius back from the intense energies, restoring him to normal, but heavily breathing. Resting for some minutes, he then face Laura and say what he saw,

"You are carrying a child imbued with the formidable powers of six dragons, and he shall be known as the seventh. This child shall wield immeasurable strength, unseen since the departure of the 10th emperor. He possesses the potential to become a benevolent ruler, yet his path will be stained with the shedding of much blood. However, he will not sire any offsprings."

Amongst all that Aeonius unveiled, Laura's ears caught hold of one particular phrase: "will not sire any offspring." With a sense of urgency, she turned to Aeonius, seeking clarity on this perplexing statement. Aeonius, ever the bearer of truth, enlightened her by explaining that while the child would be blessed with many blessings in life, the ability to bear offspring would not be among them.

Then, Gilbert, visibly perturbed, responded, "How can a future ruler not have an heir? Such a circumstance will surely foment discontent and uprisings against him." His tone carried a weight of concern as he contemplated the potential implications. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but that is the extent of what I can foresee," Aeonius replied, his head bowed slightly in remorseful acknowledgment.

Laura, desperate for a glimmer of hope, implored Aeonius if there was anything they could possibly do to alter this fate. Aeonius pondered for a moment, mulling over the possibilities, before responding, "I believe there might be a solution to this predicament, but it will certainly present challenges.The unborn prince carries a potent fire energy within him, making it incredibly challenging for any woman to conceive his child. Since the war that transpired centuries ago, the ice manipulators and water manipulators have been locked in enmity, burdened by a curse that hinders their union, let alone marriage. Your Majesty, if there is a way to reconcile this feud and break the curse, a solution may lie in uniting an individual with the power of ice and another with command over water. It would be ideal if they hail from pure lineages, such as the son of Lord Marcus, the esteemed leader of all water manipulators, marrying the daughter of Lady Mirabelle, the notable head of all ice manipulators. By combining these two forces and employing ancient spells, an ancient immortal being could be created, capable of bearing the prince's child." Aeonius proposed, offering a potential resolution to the dilemma.

"That is a simple solution," Gilbert interjected eagerly. "We can just summon Lysara back and to lift her curse."

However, Laura, expressing her concerns, quickly responded, "But Your Majesty, summoning an immortal who has retired for many centuries goes against the rules, and Lady Mirabelle will never approve of such an action."

Gilbert, feeling defensive, retorted, "So you mean I am the foolish one without any respect? When I summoned my grandfather to help us find a solution to the impending darkness, I didn't mention anything about disrespect. I am still facing the consequences of summoning a retired immortal, and none of them is bearing the punishment for me, so why shouldn't they also do something for me as well?" Determined to move forward in this matter, Gilbert called for Elsa, the imperial messenger, to summon Lady Mirabelle.

***The Throne Room***

The Emperor settled upon the throne and commanded all court maids and guards to depart, leaving him alone with Aeonius and Lady Mirabelle. Gilbert proceeded to explain everything to her, but Lady Mirabelle vehemently refused to summon Lysara. This refusal, Gilbert asserted, would be seen as going against the throne, as they were undertaking these actions for the sake of the future ruler. Gilbert felt compelled to reveal a crucial piece of information that was initially intended to be disclosed upon the child's birth. "The child has been given a name, and his name has appeared in the sacred water at the temple," Gilbert disclosed.

"Sacred water? That signifies he is the next emperor?" Lady Mirabelle inquired, her questioning gaze fixed upon the Emperor, who nodded in affirmation. "So, what do I need to do?" Mirabelle inquired.

"Nothing much. As a direct descendant, I will need a part of you," Aeonius explained.

"Are you requesting my flesh?" Mirabelle asked, surprised. "Well, you can bring your flesh if you want, but what I need is a part of you," Aeonius clarified.

Mirabelle then cut a small piece of her hair and handed it to him. Aeonius began to summon Lysara, reciting,

"Oh, mighty spirit of the ethereal realm, with humbled gratitude, I beseech you to harken unto my call. I hereby summon the spirit of the ancient Lysara to our humble presence. Aswanastra epicoris simphrina."

As the chant echoed, a sudden stillness filled the room, the air growing dense. Lady Mirabelle's eyes darkened, her aura shifting. The room fell into an eerie silence as Lysara possessed Mirabelle.

"Where am I?" Lysara asked. "You are in Astoria palace, my lady," Aeonius replied.

"Why am I being summoned here?" she yelled at him in anger. Aeonius quickly turned to Gilbert.

"I requested your presence. Do not blame him," Gilbert said. "You must be the current emperor? Do you think that gives you the power to summon a resting immortal?" Lysara questioned. "We can talk later, but first, reverse your curse. Then I'll answer your questions," Gilbert demanded.

"Which curse?" Lysara asked. Aeonius intervened, "The one you placed on both the ice and water manipulators. " And why do I have to do that?" Lysara questioned

"I understand, your ladyship, the pain of your past love lingers, but the innocent shouldn't bear the brunt of your heartbreak. I hereby implore you to assist in breaking this curse. Once accomplished, you can gracefully retreat to your abode and continue dreaming about the man whose love eluded you," Gilbert declared with frustration.

Feeling the tension in the air, Aeonius intervened, "Perhaps it's best if you two discuss this matter privately." He moved to depart but found himself halted by a unified objection from both Gilbert and Lysara.

"What if I refuse? What exactly are you going to do?" Lysara retorted with an air of arrogance.

"Then you will leave me with no other options," he declared, Gilbert, undeterred, swiftly advanced towards her, locking eyes for a moment and his eyes glow. Then Lysara, bowing her head in submission, responded, "I will obey your command immediately, but I need the blood of a pure descendant of the water manipulators."

Gilbert promptly summoned Lord Marcus, instructing him to provide his blood without hesitation. With Lord Marcus's blood, Lysara broke the curse. As clarity returned, she bewilderingly asked, "What did I just do?" Lord Marcus calmly stated, "You lifted the curse."

Fueled by anger, Lysara demanded, "What did you do to me?" Gilbert swiftly ordered, "Send her back immediately." Lysara attempted to rush at Gilbert, but her spirit was cast away from Mirabelle's body before she reaches him.

Summoning the maids, Gilbert directed them to escort the unconscious Lady Mirabelle home, also instructing Lord Marcus to leave. Alone in the aftermath, Gilbert asked, "The curse has been lifted, what's next?" Aeonius advised, "You just need to arrange the marriage of Lord Marcus's son and Lady Mirabelle's daughter. Then, I will seek the necessary spell."

Curious, Gilbert inquired, "Which spells are you searching for?" Aeonius responded, "The ones that will summon an ancient immortal for the prince." Gilbert, incredulous, exclaimed, "Are you saying you do not know the spell?" In a burst of frustration, he rushed at Aeonius, lifting him by his clothes. "Tell me, which spell are you talking about again?" Gilbert demanded.

"Your majesty, calm down. The spell is not lost; I know where the book containing the spells is, it is hidden in my home. I will search for it," Aeonius assured, prompting Gilbert to release him. " But Your majesty, summoning an ancient immortal takes time. You will need to be patient," Aeonius advised as Gilbert exited the throne room.

***Royal Fish Pond***

Consort Beatrice, the emperor's first consort and his favorite, was feeding fish when she was abruptly interrupted as her maid, Cara, who hurriedly whispered something in her ear. "What about Aeonius?" she asked. "I saw him leaving not long ago," Cara replied. Beatrice handed the fish food to her maid and proceeded to the Empress's chamber. However, upon arrival, she learned that the empress was neither in her quarters but at the pavilion. Undeterred, Beatrice made her way to the pavilion where she encountered the 7th consort, Diana, who was openly mocking and jesting at her expense.

"Do you know who I am? I am the mother of the first prince of Astoria realm. How dare you look at me like that?" Consort Diana mimicked Beatrice, and Laura laughed.

Observing the situation, Beatrice remarked, "It seems you are discussing an important matter here. Can you please share with me? I am really curious about what is making Consort Diana smile. Well, I am not going to blame you much since you have no one to smile with, not even a child."

"Beatrice!!!" Laura called her name in amazement, shocked by her audacity. Beatrice, unapologetic, expressed her shock at Diana using her filthy mouth to talk behind her, expecting repercussions for such behavior. Laura apologized, claiming responsibility for everything and insisting Diana was not at fault.

"No, your majesty, I am to blame for saying all those things," Diana admitted, quickly dropping to her knees. "I was very foolish. Please forgive me, your highness."

"It is fine. Why are you trying to make me look like a bad person here? There is no need for you to go to such an extent. You can get up," Beatrice said, displaying unexpected leniency. Diana thanked Beatrice and left the pavilion, leaving Laura and Beatrice alone. Laura, cautious, questioned Beatrice's motive for being there.

Beatrice, dispelling any notions of trouble, stated, "Why are you talking as if I am here for trouble? Is it wrong for me to visit you? I am merely here to check on you. I heard a lot about how weak you are getting day by day, and I am really worried about you and the child."

Laura expressed gratitude for the concern but assured Beatrice that she was well and fine. Curious about Beatrice's own experiences, Laura asked, "How does it feel when you are pregnant with Luther?"

"Well, it feels normal to me. I don't feel any pain, nor do I feel weak or show any symptoms unlike your own. And they do not even need to call Aeonius to ask for anything. Throughout my pregnancy, I was always admired by the people, and my face doesn't look like a dead body," Beatrice explained with a tone of self-assuredness.

As Laura realized that Beatrice was geared for another confrontation and she was in no condition to engage, she summoned her maid, Irene, for assistance. As she made her way to leave, she turned to Beatrice and declared with a firm tone,

"Do you know one thing you will never have throughout your miserable life? My crown... you will never have it." She declared in a firm tone.