Chapter 17: King
"Ethan Blake... heir of Eldranor. The one who awakened me and carries divine energy within his body. For ages, I waited for someone like you."
Her voice was soft; there was something almost maternal in the way she spoke. Ethan nodded with a brief smile.
"So... it really worked," Ethan murmured. "Eldranor truly belongs to me now."
"The ancient rulers are dead," the Guardian replied. Her voice was firm, deep, echoing through the vast empty hall. "It is not my place to rule this land, but the least I can do is pass the leadership to someone who holds divine energy."
She turned and, with slow yet determined steps, led Ethan toward the main hall of the central palace. The doors, carved with symbols of ancient gods and forgotten kings, opened before them without the Guardian needing to touch them. She commanded the place with nothing but her presence and thought.
The main hall was magnificent: tall columns rose until they disappeared into the golden dome above; on the walls, bas-reliefs depicted battles against dragons, pacts with gods, and ancient coronation ceremonies. In the center, a large polished stone platform where lines of mana formed a complex circle.
"This is where they ruled," said the Guardian, stopping by the circle. "The throne was merely a symbol. The true power lay here."
Ethan followed her gaze, noticing the soft blue glow that ran along the lines of the circle. "How does it work?"
"The divine energy in your body is the key," she explained, her voice gentler now. "Focus it and extend your will. Eldranor will hear you and respond."
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, and let the mana flow through his body until it became something more: something pure, almost warm, divine energy. When he opened his eyes, his pupils reflected a faint golden glow.
He extended his hand toward the circle.