Chapter 101 The First Queen Awakens

Chapter 101 The First Queen Awakens

Chapter 101

Sable's POV

The crack spread across the crystal with a sound so soft that it should have been impossible to hear.

Yet every person inside the Palace of Creation heard it.

Silence swallowed the room.

No one moved.

No one even breathed.

Another crack appeared.

Then another.

The crystal prison that had held the First Queen for seven thousand years slowly began to glow from within.

A warm silver light escaped through the fractures, wrapping around the chamber like moonlight given life.

My heart pounded painfully against my ribs.

The woman inside...

She looked exactly as she had in my memories.

Long silver hair floated around her like silk beneath water. Her hands rested peacefully over her chest.

She looked as though she were merely sleeping.

Not imprisoned.

Not dead.

Just... waiting.

Moros smiled as he watched everyone's expressions.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

No one answered him.

The King took one hesitant step forward while his hands trembled.

For the first time since I had met him, the legendary ruler looked completely vulnerable.

"...Sera."

His voice cracked.

"I searched for you."

Another crack echoed through the chamber.

The First Queen's fingers twitched.

Leonidas quietly stepped beside me, his hand finding mine. I squeezed it instinctively.

"I don't know why..."

I whispered.

"...but I'm scared."

Leonidas looked at the

crystal.

"I know."

He wasn't lying.

The entire palace felt different.

The Heart of Creation beat louder with every passing second.

Thump...

The light intensified.

Thump...

The crystal continued breaking.

Thump...

Then, the First Queen slowly opened her eyes.

Silver.

Brighter than the moon itself.

The light exploding from them forced everyone to shield their faces.

A wave of ancient magic swept through the palace.

Outside, the bells of Elysium rang all at once.

The Guardian Kings fell to one knee.

Noctis lowered her head.

Even Azrael, standing beyond the palace walls, closed his eyes in silent acknowledgment.

The First Queen had awakened.

The crystal shattered into countless fragments that dissolved into silver dust before touching the floor.

For several long moments...

Sera simply stood there.

She looked around the chamber slowly.

At the Heart.

At the King.

At Aster.

At Sol.

Tears filled her eyes almost immediately.

"My family..."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

The King crossed the room in an instant. He stopped only inches away from her.

Neither of them spoke.

Seven thousand years of grief stood between them.

Then Sera gently lifted her hand and touched his face.

"You've gotten older."

The King laughed through his tears.

"I've had the time."

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"I see."

Without another word, she wrapped her arms around him.

The King embraced her tightly.

The entire palace remained silent, allowing the reunion to unfold without interruption.

After what felt like forever, Sera pulled away.

Her smile faded.

She looked directly at Moros.

The warmth disappeared from her eyes.

"I remember."

Moros folded his hands behind his back.

"I expected you would."

"You murdered my parents."

"No."

"You murdered an era."

The air became heavy.

Sera slowly raised one hand.

The Throne of Creation answered immediately.

So did the throne within me.

For the first time...

The two thrones resonated together.

Silver light surrounded both of us.

Sera turned toward me.

Our eyes met.

She smiled gently.

"So..."

"The throne chose you."

I nodded uncertainly.

"I think so."

She walked toward me until only a single step separated us.

Then...

She did something none of us expected.

She knelt before me.

"My Queen."

The chamber erupted in shocked gasps.

I stumbled backward.

"No... please don't."

Sera smiled warmly.

"I promised."

I frowned.

"Promised who?"

Her eyes glistened with tears.

"My future."

Before I could ask or understand what she meant—

The Heart of Creation suddenly let out a deafening crack.

Not one.

Hundreds.

Golden light burst from its center.

Eden's smile disappeared.

"Oh no..."

He looked toward the ceiling.

"We're too late."

The Heart...

was breaking apart.