The grand dinner was over, the echoes of cutlery and conversation replaced by the heavy silence of the night. Within the sprawling palace, every resident had retreated to their chambers, surrendering to the embrace of sleep.

  Far from the tranquil walls of the Chenwongo estate, atop the highest, most jagged peak of the Obsidian Range, a lone figure broke the deep, crystalline sheen of the moonlight. A beam of lunar silver caught a black silhouettehorn

  The figure, cloaked in shadows, gazed upon the tiny, glittering cluster of lights that was the Chenwongo estate. A voice, low and resonant, yet utterly devoid of warmth, carried on the mountain wind.

  "The time is not yet," the figure whispered, the words a promise of doom. "But when the time comes, this kingdom is to burn down."

  With a silent, powerful thrust, the magnificent beast launched itself into the sky. Its massive wings caught the air, and in an instant, the black figure and the eagle-beast vanished over the horizon, leaving the mountain to its silent vigil.

  The shift from the mountain's menace to the palace's warmth was abrupt. Morning arrived not with a roar, but with a gentle, persistent glow. The first rays of the sun, filtering through the high, arched window of his room, reflected directly off Jai's

  He rose and went to his basin. The water he poured was not from a common pitcher; it flowed cold and clear from the mouth of a blue water artifact

  Refreshed, he settled into his usual spot: a high-backed, cushioned chair in the small, ornate balcony attached to his room. The chamber was steeped in a deep, contemplative silence, a quiet cocoon before the day’s monumental events.

  A soft, hesitant knock

  "Who are you?" Jai asked, his voice still heavy with the morning.

  The door opened, and Mablewhite dress

  In her hands, she carried a cup, its contents steaming faintly. She placed the coffee cup

  Mable studied her son, her usual vibrancy muted by worry. "Are you nervous, dear? Did you sleep enough? Today is your big day," she asked, her voice deliberately kept low, a ripple of concern beneath the surface.

  Jai didn't answer her question directly. Instead, he pointed out her visible exhaustion. "Mom, did you not sleep? There are black spots around your eyes."

  Mable offered a tired, strained smile. "Yes, of course, I didn't sleep! How could I? I am worried about my son. Since the day you were born, I haven't been separated from you for a single day. It surprises me, truly, because I thought I had given you birth only yesterday. And now, my baby has grown so big, ready to take on matters that concern the entire world."

  Jai reached across the table and patted her hand. He offered his most reassuring smile, though it felt slightly forced. "Mom, don't worry about me. Miss Beatricebracelet

  Mable paused, gave him a long, maternal look, and then silently obeyed, closing the door behind her.

  Even with the smile he’d given his mother, a profound heavinessBeatriceChenwongo

  Shaking off the anxiety, he quickly finished getting ready, pulled his traveling cloak tight, and headed down to the great hall for breakfast.

  The dining hall held an atmosphere charged with novelty. Jai was accustomed to his breakfasts being private, or at most, shared only with the immediate family of his mother and grandmother.

  Today, however, was different. Seated at the massive, polished table were two people who had not been allowed to grace these halls in years: his uncle, WilliamRena

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Jamesoutsiders

  The sheer arrogance of his question hung in the air, instantly drawing a sharp, dangerous glance from Beatrice. The grand matriarch, known for her stoic control, suddenly allowed a wave of her suppressed spiritual pressure

  The maids in the hall instantly knelt

  Beatrice spoke, her voice low but laced with a searing anger that cut through the pressure. "My brother," she began, fixing James with a fierce glare, "who put in place that shitty rule

  She rose from her seat, her white dress rustling like a banner of defiance. "Today, as the representative of the Chenwongo family head, I am going to change the rule

  A collective gasp of relief and joy spread through the dining hall. William's parents, his mother and father, rushed to him instantly, embracing their son after years of enforced distance. They sobbed into his shoulder, their voices thick with regret. "Son, we always loved you! But because of this shitty rule, we lost you. We always wanted to meet you, but that rule made us fear even the thought of it."

  William, overwhelmed, was soon caught up in the tears as well. "Thank you, Mom and Dad," he choked out. "I thought I was going to die alone, separated from my own family forever." He pulled back, his eyes shining with energy. "And thank you, Miss Beatrice, for ending this dreadful rule!"

  Seeing the genuine happiness of his family—the tears of relief, the heartfelt embraces—erased the last of the heaviness in Jai’s own heart. He smiled fully, genuinely happy for the reunion.

  The joy of the morning gave way to the practicalities of the journey. Jai and James gathered their things, their final preparations complete. At the grand, marble-pillared entrance of the palace, their parents waited to see them off.

  MableEdwardone lakh ZuoJames's parentsone million Zuo

  Mable then pulled Jai aside, her tone turning grave. "Jai, after your awakening of the Emperor Dominatrix powersmust

  She looked at James. "James, you too. You cannot travel as the second prince of Chenwongo."

  Both cousins immediately accepted the necessity of the disguise. Mable reached into a small pocket and retrieved two items—two perfectly smooth, deep veridian green

  "These are Tier 6 Disguise ArtifactsVeridian Chrysalisdo not run into any people stronger than Tier 6

  Jai and James nodded, pocketing the artifacts. Jai, ever the planner, immediately adopted his new persona: Arthur BernyClement Berny

  With their final goodbyes exchanged—promises to return safely, last-minute worries about food and rest—the boys activated the Chrysalis artifacts. A faint, cool-white light washed over them, and in an instant, the two recognizable princes of Chenwongo were replaced by two nondescript young men in traveling clothes.

  They left the palace, their true selves masked, and walked into the capital city.

  The initial destination was the Dwarf Kingdom

  "If we're going to the Dwarf Kingdom, we have to travel east," Jai, now Arthur Berny, stated as they walked through the bustling streets. "That means we have to pass through the Whispering Jungle

  Before facing the wilds, they made a detour, ducking into a cluttered, pungent artifact shop

  "Do you have any artifact that can detect any creatures around us?" Jai asked the wizened shopkeeper.

  The shopkeeper, his eyes bright with avarice, reached under the counter. "Yes! We have just the thing." He produced a silver-colored stone shaped like a beetle

  Jai’s eyes widened slightly. "I know this artifact," he said, holding the object up to the light. "This is a Tier 10 Noise Specter

  Impressed with its utility, Jai entered into a spirited round of bargaining, knowing that in this world, the power of an artifact directly dictates its exorbitant price. After a sharp back-and-forth, he purchased the valuable Noise Specter for a steal: 300 Zuo

  Meanwhile, James approached the counter. "Do you have any artifact that can advance Space Elemental powers

  The shopkeeper shook his head sadly. "Sorry, sir, we don't have any Space artifacts in stock. If you want, we have a very fine Ice artifact

  James rejected the offer immediately, and they left the shop.

  "Why didn't you ask him about your air elemental advance artifacts?" Jai asked as they walked down the street.

  James adjusted his carpenter's pack. "I want to advance the space element

  It was a core principle of cultivation for those with multiple elemental affinities: if a person awakens more than one element, they must advance all their elements to the same tier simultaneously

  Their conversation lapsed as they approached the towering, dense canopy that marked the boundary of the Whispering Jungle. The air immediately became heavier, cooler, and filled with the distant, unsettling sounds of the wild.

  Jai slipped the Noise Specter into an inner pocket and looked at the wall of trees ahead. He and James exchanged a silent nod.

  Taking a deep breath, they stepped together across the forest line.

  The new journey starts now. Will the boys, stripped of their titles and facing a hostile world, become the strongest, or will the darkness waiting in the jungles and in the shadows of the world consume them?