The great hall was filled with important people. The walls were covered in golden banners, and the air was heavy with silence. This was the day a new king would be crowned.

  Aric stood in the center. He was the one chosen to sit on the throne. But he knew the truth—he wasn’t meant to rule. The Hidden Council made all the decisions. Every king before him was a puppet, just a face for the people while the council secretly controlled everything. Today, Aric was supposed to become one of them—another ruler who had no real power.

  The council members sat in the shadows, watching him. Their leader, the High Seer, spoke the ancient words that were meant to make Aric lose himself—to take away his thoughts and make him obey without question.

  But something was wrong.

  Aric felt a strange energy inside him. The words of the ritual pressed against his mind, but instead of fading away, his thoughts grew stronger. His fingers twitched. His heart pounded. He wasn’t being controlled. He could still think.

  A sharp cracking sound echoed in the hall.

  Everyone turned to see a piece of the altar break off and fall to the floor. It glowed faintly in the dim light. Gasps spread through the room. The council had performed this ritual many times—but nothing like this had ever happened before.

  The council members exchanged nervous looks. The ritual had failed.

  The High Seer quickly spoke again, his voice sharper now. “Swear your loyalty to the Hidden Council, King Aric,” he ordered.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  The hall grew silent.

  Aric felt a deep pressure on him. If he obeyed, he would live a quiet life as a puppet king. If he refused, he could throw the entire empire into chaos. He had two choices—obey or fight back.

  Before he could answer, a stranger stepped forward from the shadows.

  The man was tall, mysterious, and wore a silver cloak. His face was hidden behind a mask covered in strange symbols. He walked slowly toward Aric, stopping just a few feet away. The man didn’t speak loudly, but Aric heard him clearly.

  The words were simple.

  But they changed everything.

  The noblemen whispered, confused. Even the council looked uneasy. Who was this man? Why was he here? And why had he spoken to Aric at this moment?

  A deep gong echoed through the hall, making the torches flicker. Aric turned his head toward the large tapestry behind him. The pictures on it showed the long history of the empire. But for a split second, the patterns seemed different, as if telling a new story—one about betrayal and war.

  The High Seer stepped forward. His voice was firm. “You must swear the oath now.”

  The pressure around Aric grew stronger. This was the moment. He had to choose.

  He glanced at the masked stranger. The man’s hidden eyes stared at him, waiting. A thousand thoughts ran through Aric’s mind. Could he truly fight against the council? Did he even have a chance? And if he resisted, what would happen to the empire?

  With a deep breath, Aric opened his mouth to speak.

  But before he could say a single word—

  The torches flickered, the room darkened, and the hall fell into silence.

  Something had changed.

  And nothing would ever be the same again.