The rest of the night proceeded in much the same way as entertainment filled the silence that came from those who ate while conversations were had. With Reza’s naming day coming to a close, there was still a crucial element of the ceremony to be addressed. That being where those of her family spoke of their admiration for her. It was here that many believed that King Antares would announce his desire to wed her thus uniting the north and south. All nobles continued to steal glances at the Stygian King waiting patiently for when he would make his move, even the monarchs of Aurum found themselves doing the same. All attention had slowly moved towards Antares and yet the king continued to enjoy his dessert in silence, unbothered by what was occurring around him. His mind toiling over a great many thoughts and the consequences of them.

  The first to rise and speak of Reza’s praises was King Saturn. He spoke of the many things he had come to love about his sister and the fond memories that he had shared with her dating back to her early youth. There were cheers and applause as he wrapped his speech with a great many words of love before he returned to his seat. It was the same with Queens Roderika and Enrieta as well as feisty Prince Mars. Who in his speech looked to challenge any who would dare object to his love for his older sister. All laughed along as the boy inadvertently softened the mood with his declaration. Next it was Lady Tereza who spoke of her dear daughter and regaled those gathered here with stories from when Reza could barely walk, it was here the Crown Princess finally relented and allowed the tears to roll down her face as she smiled both embarrassed and appreciative of such kind words from her mother. All she had ever wanted was to prove herself in her eyes and to finally see such acknowledgement, made her feel a kind of love she did not think she deserved but all the same was happy to experience.

  At last it was Emperor Nero’s turn to praise his youngest daughter and he did so in such flowery language it moved all gathered. As always his command of words and the ears of all gathered showed why he was emperor. He spoke of a great many triumphs and moments he and his home had to overcome, all failing to compare to his love of his children and of his youngest daughter. He spoke not as an emperor but a man who had done all he could to ensure that his children have all they could ever desire. They were his greatest prize and nothing could compare to the joy he experienced with them. All this day had done was further show him how proud he was of his dear daughter.

  Antares was rarely impressed, be it because of the life he lived or a natural inclination to believe that anything could be possible given the right circumstance. However as he listened to Nero’s speech, the King of Iliad found himself feeling the atypical sensation. For yes Nero’s words were moving, worthy utterings for a man who claimed to love his children. But Antares’ Akashic Eyes had shown him an entirely different fact, the real truth of Nero’s feelings towards Reza. However it was more accurate to say the lack thereof of such feelings. While the others spoke, he saw the truth in their words, how their soul and nature coalesced and vibrated in a frequency of colors matching their words, he could see the love they had for Reza. Even Enrieta that he doubted so readily, he could see her wrestle with her true feelings for her sister. He found it admirable. However, with Nero, with him he saw nothing.

  No, it was more accurate to say the Emperor’s soul emitted nothing, as though he were speaking about some stranger he had never met before and not his youngest daughter. Who they were all in Talterra for. Antares did not know it was possible for a parent to feel nothing for their child as though they did not exist. He had summarized that Nero had seldom visited Reza as she grew through the years, but for no connection to have been formed between them, sickened him. He recalled Tereza’s plea to him the first night he arrived. She herself did not know what the emperor was planning but as Antares gazed into her, he knew her concerns held merit for the restlessness within her at the mention of her daughters safety was all the assurance he needed to know she believed harm would come to her.

  He was aware there was more to Nero and Enrieta’s desire for him to marry Reza, he was not sure what it was but he could feel it in the air, his instincts for violence warned him something foul was afoot. It was no easy thing, at least he believed, to offer one's kin away even if it was meant to achieve an ultimate goal. A price far too many would not even attempt. Yet for Nero, discarding his daughter was no different than disposing of a used cloth. A life born from him, to be used for him. Everything about this man disgusted him and the King of Iliad struggled to finish his dessert as it soon lost its flavor in his mouth. Was Nero’s goal truly that great that he would throw away his daughter’s life to achieve it? Or was that the conviction required to achieve what it was he desired? It was not his intention but Antares found himself comparing his desire for the Grimoires to the Emperor of Aurum. Was this the kind of certainty he needed to realize his dreams, willing to discard parts of himself to climb even higher? Even his own little brother, who wished him dead, despite it all, he still loved him deeply, to a fault many would say. So what could cause Nero to discard Reza so effortlessly?

  “Enough of my ramblings,” Emperor Nero laughed as the crowd joined him. “Once again thank you all for joining my family on such a special day.” He returned to his seat to great applause, not before he kissed Reza on the crown of her head.

  Once again the banquet hall fell into hushed whispers. Soon it would be over and all would be allowed to retire for the night or move on to other parts of the castle to appreciate the scenery. Yet as they spoke among themselves, only one thought passed through their minds: what of King Antares decision? The question loud enough that even the very stars themselves were sure to hear. All the same, the Stygian King remained seated, consumed by his own thoughts. Much of his life had been met with expectation, to live up to the memory of his mother, of his elder brother and of what Nykolas had believed of him. However Antares had felt he had failed them all and many more. His very presence here in Talterra was proof of this, orchestrated by others, moved by the whim of others. Once again he found himself on the precipice of a decision that would shake the very foundations of his home, of Aurum and he was unsure if he had the power to face the consequences again.

  Many believed the powers of the Lords of War were absolute, unbreakable in what they could achieve, but the King of Iliad had quickly learned that even he had limits. He was unlike Hyperion or their father who were capable of holding the world in the palm of their hands. How could he compare, after all he allowed his mother to die. He could not stop his brother from leaving. His failure as a friend led to Nykolas dying and Faye no longer being his. At every turn he continued to experience defeat. He who had always believed himself unworthy. Please accept my Reza's hand in marriage. Please protect her King Antares, that was Lady Tereza’s words to him the first night he had arrived. If she truly knew of him, she would not have asked such a thing of him. But in truth it was not him she was asking, it was not him she saw when she looked into his eyes.

  So be it, he thought.

  It is as he had always seen himself, he was a vessel for the will of others, is that not what it meant to be king? He would only need to hold out until Hyperion returned, he would fix his many mistakes. As he came to a decision, King Antares Xerxes, the once exiled prince, the Lord of War, the kin slayer, a Storm Lord, rose. Sealing the fates of millions across the continent. However most importantly of all, his own.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Immediately all conversation ceased. A type of silence permeated through the hall similar to that of the death chambers below the Church of Multitude. All held their breath as he walked around the table, his footsteps as silent as the very night itself. The anticipation reached levels of near delirium upon what was to be said. None dared to look away or blink, or they would miss something too small to recall. He caught a glimpse of the monarchs as he made his way to the center of the stage, all but Lady Tereza and Faye could not meet his gaze. He stood at the center and looked out to those gathered, his eyes resting on his family, who all smiled proudly. Accepting whatever his choice would be. In their presence he found comfort.

  “I can still recall in great detail the morning my brother left,” his words echoed with resounding authority breaking the silence. “We had spent all night eating Crescent Cakes as we spoke about our favorite books. My list was quite short as I was only ten, and most books I read I could not finish at the time.” He chuckled as he rubbed his chin. “But Hyperion on the other hand had read many, countless really. He was as voracious a reader as my late mother was, something I am grateful we inherited from her.”

  There were nods of appreciation throughout the crowd as all had been hooked by the soothing voice of the Stygian King.

  “He told me of books from Avalon and their fairytales, of Ichika and their many texts of poems. Of Lunaelia and their tomes on nature and their great Everwood Trees. Vistoria and their books on the ancient dragons, as well as Neith and their terribly dull books on accounting.” Many laughed along with him. “He spoke of Laconia and Vanaheimr and the personal journals of their people as they sought their own way. Of the Storm Islands and their novels about how they tamed the sea and the storms. And of course about Talterra, the cradle of human civilization and how it came to be.”

  Antares paced back and forth as the memories returned, stronger, more potent than they had been in years.

  “I listened for what must have been hours, transfixed on his words; it felt as though I was transported to each realm and I could see all he said. Experience all he had said. The beauty of our home, of what our father fought so valiantly to protect from ruin. That cost him so much.” Antares fought back tears, he would not let them stain this moment. With all his might he pushed past them. “Not long after, as like all things, his stories came to an end. And as we sat side by side he gazed out to Akkad that stirred down below. It was quite sometime before he said anything, but when the sun crept over the beautiful mountains of our home, he finally spoke. My brother–a man of as few words as my father, said, ‘Antares protect them’... In my recollection of that morning, I realize that was the last sunrise I shared with my big brother.”

  There was a long silence before anything was said. In truth no one could muster the strength to say anything, all just lowered their heads as they waited for the King of Iliad to continue.

  “I apologize for quite a somber story during such a lovely time, but there is a point to it if you would bear with me a moment longer?” he laughed as he ran a hand through his hair.

  Soft nods appeared throughout the crowd.

  “At the time I did not think too much of it, of course I would protect Akkad, and Iliad and all within her territory. I was to be Crown Prince and inherit it all, much to my own feelings of inadequacy.” The authority in his voice returned. “However it was not until I grew older, experienced more of what our world had to offer. To lose and rise again, just to lose all the same. Did I start to understand what it was my brother meant by those words. That who he was referring to was not the people of Akkad or Iliad, or Ichika or Avalon, or Laconia or Neith, or Vanaheimr, or Lunaelia or Talterra. But Aurum herself, our beautiful home that is inhabited by so many that have known nowhere else. That is what we as Stygians have done for so long, given ourselves over and over to whenever the moment called for it.”

  Those who came from the north with him nodded in greater validation than others.

  “Yet I had forgotten this, that is until I gazed at Crown Princess Reza Altieri for the first time.” He turned to face her with a warm smile, just as all did the same.

  The princess turned a deep red as she could only look at her hands in dismay.

  “She whose siblings are monarchs that sit upon three of the nine thrones of Aurum. She whose mother is the great Tereza Altieri, former Queen of Lunaelia and hero of the Third Great War. She whose father is Emperor of Aurum. She who is a witch... Who else embodies all of us, who represents all the beauty and wonder of our home, who else is worthy of the title of 'Princess of Aurum'?”

  All nodded with varying levels of agreement, their anticipation reaching unprecedented levels as they waited for him to make his declaration.

  “As my brother and father have done before, as my ancestors have done so for tens of thousands of years. Here in front of you all I make a proclamation, to give my life and my entire being to protect the heart of Aurum, from any that would threaten this peace we have so desperately forged together.” King Antares turned back to her hand outstretched. “Crown Princess Reza Altieri, will you allow me to honor my brother’s last words to me. Will you give me the privilege that so many seek, to be yours and you mine, as we stand together as King and Queen of Iliad, protectors of our home, and all who inhabit it? Will you be my wife for now and evermore?”

  Reza struggled to her feet, her legs as heavy as the very mountains themselves. Much of what he had said she struggled to remember as the beat of her heart reverberated through her head. She took care to place one foot in front of another, each step she took towards him sealing her fate. Such a similar feeling at her ritual ceremony earlier in the day as it seemed like the weight of all of Aurum were upon her shoulders and she struggled to breathe under a burden that she felt no human should have to bear. Before she had realized it she was in front of him, her gaze slowly raising until she saw his outstretched hand.

  She hesitated at first as a myriad of emotions welled inside of her, hope, guilt, expectation, fear, uncertainty. All of it greater than the last one, but with all the might she could muster she reached for his hand. And as she placed it on his cool palm, all the force that sat on her shoulders dissipated, all doubt vanished, along with any thought but one. A singular idea that burned across her mind as she gazed into his sunset eyes as violet and gold mixed around under the watchful gaze of thunderstorms. A beauty she found incomparable throughout all the nine realms. In this moment without any reason as to why, she would only come to understand the sensation years from now when the threat of its destruction was all too real for her to handle. Only then would she understand why in this very moment as her hand rested on his cool palm did she feel as though this was who she had always been destined to marry, that his side was the only place she would ever wish to be. That her heart would only ever belong to him.

  “Yes.” She replied, her eyes lost in his.

  The room erupted into thunderous applause that shook the very walls around them and the stage they stood on. However neither of them reacted to the praises, as though spellbound by each other. Thousands roared in delight and elation having borne witness to a historic event that would be etched into the halls of Aurum alongside a great many feats across recorded history. There was relief in the cheers, there was doubt, there was envy, sadness, jealousy and even hatred if any bothered to check for it. Nevertheless none of that mattered, Aurum was headed to a new age brimming with uncertainty. One none in this banquet hall would be prepared for. Be it the Stygians, the humans, the Beastmen, nor the Nephilim or even the emperor. Or the greater forces that were not here to see this union, despite playing a role in its formation. Not even the two now joined could be prepared for what destiny had in store. Much would be taken from them, more than Fate had any right to, nor would it ever be able to repay them for what they lost. And yet through all the tragedy and revelations that would come of their marriage. All would come to know the boundless love Antares Xerxes had for his wife Reza Altieri, the Black Witch that slew Fate.

  Black Witch Queen starts here.