The man slammed his Umbracraft sword into the ground with a deafening crash, sending a shockwave rippling through the throne room. The air itself seemed to tremble under the force, and the stone floor cracked with the impact. The blast knocked all three of them to the ground—Lucielle, Varithra, and Caelum—sending them sprawling. The dust swirled around them, blocking their vision for a brief moment.

  Before the haze could settle, a chill ran down Caelum’s spine. The man had already moved. He was standing directly in front of him, his hand closing around Caelum's neck with a brutal grip. The man's fingers were like iron, pressing against Caelum's throat as he lifted him off the ground.

  Caelum gasped for air, his lungs burning as he tried to pry the man’s hand away. The weight of his grip made every breath feel like a battle. His heart pounded in his chest as he struggled, his limbs feeling heavier with each passing second. His eyes were wide, panicked, and his vision blurred as his throat constricted. He barely managed to rasp out, "You can't kill me. It won't work."

  The man’s sinister smile widened, a gleam of dark amusement in his eyes. "I don’t have to kill you," he said with a low, mocking chuckle. His voice was cold, cutting through the air like a blade. "You will die eventually, but it won't be by my hand. Not today."

  Without any warning, he yanked Caelum toward the throne, dragging him across the cold stone floor. The roughness of the stone scraped against Caelum’s skin, and his breaths came in shallow, panicked gasps. He was helpless, but he wasn’t giving up. He twisted his body, trying to break free, but the man's grip was unyielding.

  With a sickening thud, the man shoved Caelum’s face into the seat of the throne. The cold stone felt like ice against his skin, and the acrid scent of blood—his own blood—lingered in the air. The man didn’t let up. He brought his Umbracraft sword up, its dark edge glinting ominously, and he pressed the blade against Caelum’s face. A swift slash, and Caelum’s cheek was cut open, a small line of blood trickling down, dripping onto the throne.

  Caelum gasped in shock, his mind racing. “What are you doing?” he croaked, thrashing in the man’s grip. He could feel his body weakening, but his determination was stronger. He refused to show fear. He refused to let the man see him break.

  The man laughed, low and menacing. "The seal has been unlocked," he declared, his voice echoing through the empty chamber. "All the cursed beings shall witness the truth soon enough, and ‘The Complete’ will remain as the absolute being."

  Caelum’s heart skipped a beat, his confusion growing. "What are you talking about?" he hissed, struggling against the iron grip.

  The man didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he released Caelum’s neck and lifted him by his arms, throwing him effortlessly toward Lucielle and Varithra as if he were discarding a ragdoll. Caelum landed hard, his body skidding across the floor, but he quickly scrambled to his feet, fueled by adrenaline. He could feel his blood pumping, the anger bubbling inside him.

  The man let out a low, triumphant laugh, his voice booming in the throne room.

  Caelum wiped the blood from his face, his expression cold. His Aetherforged sword materialized in his hand, the blade glowing with brilliant light. With a battle cry, he charged toward the man, his steps heavy with determination. He was done being a victim.

  "You shall see the truth of the First Horn," the man sneered, his voice mocking, and before Caelum could even reach him, a golden aura erupted around the man. The light was blinding, shimmering like liquid gold, and it spiraled around him in a twisting vortex.

  Caelum raised a hand to shield his eyes from the dazzling light. It hurt, searing his skin as if the light were alive, burning with intent. He squinted, trying to focus on the man, but before he could react, the golden aura flared, and the man disappeared.

  "What?!" Caelum exclaimed, his voice a mix of disbelief and confusion.

  Lucielle’s voice cut through the silence. "It’s Celestemancy," she said, her tone grim. "He can use it to teleport. He must have another one of his kind nearby."

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  Caelum shook his head, frustration flaring in his chest. "Celestemancy? They can teleport now? That’s unfair!" He clenched his fist, the words burning his tongue. He hated feeling so helpless.

  Lucielle shrugged, her expression unreadable. "I’m not the one giving out the blessings," she said with an air of indifference, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of the man’s reappearance.

  Caelum huffed in frustration but walked over to both women, offering his hand to help them up. Varithra stood, a grim look on her face, but to Caelum’s surprise, Lucielle accepted his hand as well. He had expected her to swat it away or brush him off, but instead, she let him help her to her feet. Once everyone was standing again, Caelum couldn’t hold back his curiosity. "So what was that all about?"

  Lucielle sighed, brushing some dust off her clothing as she stood tall. "As I said before," she began, her voice quieter now, "their goals are still unknown. But that man..." She shook her head. "He’s not like anyone we’ve ever faced before."

  Just then, a radiant light exploded from the throne, bathing the room in blinding illumination. The light was so intense that for a moment, Caelum and the others couldn’t see anything but pure brightness. They braced themselves, instinctively dropping into combat stances, ready for whatever was to come.

  When the light finally dimmed, the figure of a man stood before them. This time, however, he wasn’t wearing a hood to conceal his face. Instead, he was dressed in elegant, fine clothing—a rich, royal attire that suggested nobility. His hands were clasped behind his back, his stance poised and confident. His golden hair shimmered in the light, and his golden eyes, reminiscent of Lucielle’s, glinted with an otherworldly power.

  He was gazing intently at the throne, his gaze fixated on the blood that still stained the seat where Caelum had bled. He didn’t seem to notice them at first, lost in his own thoughts.

  "Who are you?" Caelum demanded, his voice sharp and commanding. He wasn’t about to let this man intimidate him, no matter how powerful he might appear.

  "Are you the Celestemancer?" he asked, though he didn’t expect an answer. To his surprise, the man’s lips curled into a smile.

  "No, child," the man replied, his voice smooth and calm. There was no malice in it, but it sent a chill through Caelum nonetheless.

  Lucielle, her eyes narrowed in suspicion, took a step forward. "Who are you, then? And why are you here? Are you....from Luminara" she demanded.

  The man tilted his head slightly, a look of confusion crossing his features. "Luminara? That’s a new name I’m hearing," he said thoughtfully. "What is that, child?"

  Lucielle blinked, taken aback by his ignorance. "What? Luminara is our home planet! It’s the name of our planet!"

  The man smiled gently. "So that’s what it’s called now. I’m glad to hear that people survived the Cataclysm," he said with an almost wistful tone.

  Lucielle was momentarily stunned. "What are you talking about? The Cataclysm? And who are you?" She stepped forward, her brow furrowed.

  The man seemed to realize his slip-up, straightening his posture. "Ah, yes. Where are my manners?" He gave a small bow, though it was more of a gesture than a true sign of humility. "I am Aureon. Some of my people used to call me ‘The Radiant King.’"

  Lucielle’s jaw dropped in shock. She couldn’t believe it. "You think I’m a fool?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.

  Aureon didn’t seem offended by her outburst. In fact, he smiled kindly, as though amused by her reaction. "Maybe you’ll recognize me like this?" He raised his arms, and a brilliant golden aura enveloped him. His appearance shifted as his body grew luminous. White wings unfurled from his back, and a halo hovered above his head. His transformation was breathtaking, and it filled the room with an overwhelming sense of awe.

  Lucielle’s knees buckled beneath her, and she dropped to the floor, her eyes wide with awe. "What…?" she whispered. "This can’t be… this…" She shut her mouth quickly, bowing her head in reverence. "Please forgive me, my King. I shall receive any punishment you deem fit," she said, her voice trembling.

  Varithra remained frozen in place, her eyes wide in disbelief, while Caelum stood motionless, his expression impassive.

  Aureon smiled warmly at Lucielle. "Please, child, rise."

  Lucielle hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted her head, still on her knees. "My whole family worships you, Your Excellency," she whispered, her voice reverent.

  Aureon smiled again, though this time it was more approving. "I can see that," he said softly.

  He turned his attention to the throne, and his face shifted. His smile faded, replaced by a frown as he stared at the bloodstains on the seat where Caelum had been held. "The thing I feared has come, The seal has broken" he said, his voice heavy with concern.

  Caelum furrowed his brow. "What’s the problem? What seal?"

  Lucielle gasped, her voice rising in urgency. "Caelum, show some respect!" she snapped.

  Caelum shrugged, unconcerned. "It’s not like I worship these gods," he muttered under his breath.

  Aureon gave a soft chuckle, as if amused by Caelum’s defiance. "Be at ease, child," he said to Lucielle. He turned his gaze back to Caelum, and his expression softened. "Yes, the seal has been broken. By your blood," he said, his tone heavy with meaning.

  Caelum looked confused. "My blood? Why? Because I’m cursed?"

  Aureon’s expression became one of gentle confusion. "Cursed? You are the only one who is whole in this room, my child," he said softly. Then he pointed toward Lucielle and Varithra. "It is them who are incomplete. It is they who are, in your terms, ‘cursed.’"