Solace Stood before the grand entrance of the Solara castle, his body drenched in blood. Without hesitation, he raised his foot and kicked the towering doors open, the impact echoing through the halls like a war drum. Guards flinched at the sight of him—soaked in crimson, his expression unreadable—as he strode across the castle grounds. His heavy steps left a trail of red in his wake, staining the pristine floors until he reached his destination.
He pushed open the door to Alastair's study, stepping inside before running a hand through his blood-matted hair. With a deep sigh, he finally spoke.
"What the hell happened out there?" Alastair's voice cut through the tension, his gaze narrowing at his son.
Solace exhaled sharply, his ruby eyes scanning the dimly lit room. "A lot." His voice carried an edge of exhaustion, but his next words were laced with cold finality. "Celestia... is gone." He let the weight of the statement hang in the air before continuing. "I found her body. But it was too damaged to recover."
Solace's lips curled into a smirk, though there was no amusement in his eyes. "And the Blackheart family is gone." His voice was as sharp as a blade. "Every last one of them. We are now the rulers of this land—whether by choice or by force."
He took a step closer, his presence suffocating. "Now, I've upheld my end of the contract. Hand it over." His voice dropped into a low growl as his gaze flickered around the study, searching.
Duke Alastair remained still, absorbing the weight of his son's words. The blood. The loss. The victory. His eldest daughter was now dead.
"Bastard."
Solace's voice was laced with venom as he strode forward, his movements deliberate. Without hesitation, he ripped the crown from Alastair's head, rolling his shoulders before cracking his neck. The weight of his next words settled over the room like a storm.
"As per the contract, I am now the Duke of these lands. But since there is no one left worthy enough to challenge me…" He smirked, the flicker of triumph dancing in his ruby eyes. "That makes me Emperor of Blossom's Bloom."
Without another word, he turned on his heel, leaving Alastair in stunned silence as he walked out of the study. His presence flickered—and in the next instant, he reappeared in the heart of the capital.
The towering castle that once belonged to the previous Emperor loomed over the city, bathed in the light of the setting sun. Solace exhaled, a slow grin forming on his lips as he took a step forward.
The streets trembled beneath his presence.
Guards rushed toward him, blades drawn, but before they could even lift their swords—their bodies withered. Skin cracked, flesh aged in an instant, and their armor clattered to the ground as they crumbled into nothing but brittle bones and dust. The wind carried away what remained of them, scattering the last traces of resistance.
His boots echoed against the stone as he walked through the capital's emptying streets. Those who saw him approaching ran. And those who were too slow… simply ceased to be.
By the time he reached the castle gates, no one dared to stop him.
Solace rolled his neck, stretching his fingers before pressing his hand against the grand iron gate. The moment his palm met the cold metal—it groaned open of its own accord, as if bending to his will. The instant he stepped inside, the gates slammed shut behind him with a resounding finality.
The silence was deafening. He went up the stairs to the large golden doors before walking in.
With each step through the abandoned halls, white flames flickered to life along the candlelit chandeliers, casting eerie shadows that danced in his wake. The once-proud banners of past rulers lined the grand corridors, their insignias a reminder of the history that had once governed this land.
He barely spared them a glance.
With a wave of his hand, the white flames spread—licking up the fabric, consuming the banners one by one until the faces of past kings were reduced to nothing but ash.
By the time he reached the throne room, not a single flag remained.
Standing before the golden throne, he turned, taking in the vast chamber before him. A slow, satisfied smirk curled at his lips as he lowered himself onto the seat of power, crossing one leg over the other.
"Now then…" He rested his chin against his knuckles, his ruby gaze gleaming with dangerous intent.
Celestia rode through the winding woodlands of Blossom's Bloom, the earthy scent of flowers, towering trees, and the soft gurgle of rivers filling the air. She followed the course of a river, winding it towards the vast ocean. Hours passed as she journeyed on Eclipse, her black horse, the white stripe on its face gleaming against the sunlight. The ocean air grew stronger as she approached her destination. Soon, the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the shore reached her ears, signaling the nearing port.
Blossom's Port, a bustling hub of trade and intrigue, lay ahead. Known for its rich sea life, skilled sailors, and a marketplace brimming with advanced ships for sale, the port was a place of both opportunity and danger. The scent of saltwater mixed with the smell of fresh fish. Celestia took a moment to inhale the crisp, refreshing air before dismounting Eclipse. She secured him with a rope to a nearby post and strode into the port, her emerald eyes scanning the area.
She soon spotted a ship dealer's shop and made her way over. The clatter of sailors and merchants filled the air as she entered the shop, and a man with a welcoming smile approached her.
"Welcome to Blossom's Port of Ships. Do you know what you're looking for?" he asked, his voice warm.
"I'm not exactly sure, but I need a ship that can take me all the way to Nyxterra. Is that something you can provide?" Celestia replied, her gaze briefly wandering to the fishermen pulling in their catch from the ocean.
"We have quite a few ships that can make that journey," the man said, walking closer. "At the moment, three are available for such a long voyage. Would you like to see them?"
"Please," Celestia said, following him outside to the docks.
The three ships rested side by side, each one impressive in its own right. The dealer pointed to each, listing their attributes.
"These are the only three available for such a journey, and each will cost three gold pieces."
Celestia's eyes lingered on the first ship, its tall masts and sturdy frame promising a smooth ride. She stepped onto the deck, her boots creaking softly against the wood. She surveyed the ship, noting the stairs leading up to the helm. She also noticed below, was a large wooden door leading to the wheelhouse, Intrigued, she walked inside, where she found a spacious workroom, four beds neatly arranged—two on each side of the room. More stairs led her further down into the belly of the ship, where barrels and boxes were neatly stacked, no doubt filled with provisions for a long journey.
"I assume these are the food supplies?" Celestia mused aloud, admiring the ship's functionality. Satisfied, she made her way back up and jumped back onto the dock.
"I'll take this one," she said with a smile, her voice calm and assured. She activated her [Manipulation] skill, using it to subtly twist the man's will. "You'll give it to me for free, won't you?"
The man blinked, his expression shifting as if he were losing himself in her presence. "Of course, it's a special deal today. Free boats... right, right," he muttered before hastily leaving.
Celestia stood on the dock, satisfied with the turn of events. She stretched, her arms reaching for the sky before yawning. "That settles that."
Her eyes scanned the area until she spotted a group of five sailors gathered together. One of them wore a distinctive hat with a crossed sword insignia. Curiosity piqued, she walked over to them.
"By any chance... are you all for hire to help me with a trip?" she asked, her tone calm and measured.
The man with the hat glanced over at the others before placing an arm over the shoulder of a man who looked to be his twin. "I'm not sure about the others, but my brother and I are available. I'm Zoan, and this is my brother Bril." The others seemed uninterested and wandered off, leaving the two behind.
"They were just telling me a funny story about a city here—seems like their lord passed away during the night. Bad security, apparently," Zoan added with a chuckle, wiping a fake tear from his face.
Celestia muttered under her breath, "That security was a pain in the ass…" She turned back toward the ship. "We'll be taking that one."
"That's perfect," Zoan said with a grin.
Bril eyed Celestia, his expression curious but cautious. "Aren't you… more like a noblewoman? Where are your guards? And shouldn't you have a ship of your own?"
Celestia smiled innocently. "Oh, no. You must be confusing me with someone else. I'm just here on some business before heading out to Nyxterra."
"Nyxterra?" Zoan raised an eyebrow. "What's so important there? Not many people make that journey... but I don't mind going, just curious."
"Eh, just some business I need to take care of," Celestia replied with a shrug, then walked over to Eclipse, untying him from the post. "Let's get going then?"
Zoan exchanged a glance with Bril. "Something feels off about this. You want to do this, or should we bail?" Zoan asked in a low voice.
Bril sighed, his gaze lingering on Celestia. "She's hiding something, but... 'Don't ask questions, just get paid and leave,'" he muttered, quoting the old saying. "Let's get it done, get paid, and leave."
Zoan placed his hand on his chin, still feeling uneasy, but ultimately relented. "I'll put my gut aside for now. We'll see how things go."
The group boarded the ship, and once the ropes were released, Zoan took the wheel. The sails unfurled, catching the wind as the ship began to pull away from the docks.
"So, how long will this take exactly?" Celestia asked, her eyes watching him from the deck.
"To make it to Nyxterra, we'll need to go around the entire Blossom's Bloom," Zoan shouted over the winds, steering the ship westward to avoid the main island.
"If the winds stay perfect," Zoan added, adjusting the ship's course, "it'll take us about a month and a half just to get around Blossom's Bloom. After that, another three months to reach Nyxterra, give or take. But that's if nothing else interferes."
Celestia nodded, her mind already far ahead of their journey. As Zoan set the course, she leaned over the side of the ship, watching the waters as the vessel cut through the waves.