- 6 days ago
Given a second chance at destiny, she rejects the kingdom's favored prince and chooses the mysterious half-blood prince instead. As hidden powers awaken and royal conspiracies unfold, love, revenge, and fate collide in an unforgettable fantasy romance.
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Short filmTranscript
00:03the agony of having my divine core ripped out was still tearing through my chest raw and relentless
00:08i lay sprawled across the altar as castian's fingers plunged into my chest without hesitation
00:13he carefully lifted the core fragment and presented it to the nymph before him
00:18lyana from this moment on you are a true goddess his voice carried a tenderness i had never once
00:23received if not for deceiving her into giving up half her divine core i would not have spared her
00:27a second glance he tore out my divine feathers one by one he shattered my divine bones inch by inch
00:33and lyana looked down at me from above her smile laced with poison thank you sister thank you for
00:39giving your life to make me whole in my previous life to help the man i had grown up with
00:44survived
00:44the ninefold thunder trial i carved out half of my own divine core with ausitation the first thing he
00:50did after ascending the throne of storms was drive a blade straight into my heart then darkness deep as
00:56the abyss swallowed everything i snapped my eyes open and found myself standing beneath the vast
01:01radiant dome of mount olympus lightning flickered faintly within the clouds above aurelia give me
01:06your answer who will be your king consort zeus king of the gods sat upon his golden throne hera seated
01:13on
01:13her peacock throne studied me with a gaze that pierced through everything in the center of the hall stood
01:18dozens of ambitious heirs among the divines i am aurelia daughter of apollo god of the sun and eos
01:26goddess of the dawn the most noble bloodline on mount olympus zeus had once decreed that whoever i
01:32chose as my husband would rightfully inherit the supreme throne of storms and now carrying the phantom
01:38pain of my torn heart i had returned to the very moment where fate would be decided your majesty i
01:44choose
01:46wait the arrogant voice cut me off without warning cassian stepped forward wearing the divine blade
01:51i had once begged hepneetus to forge for him the most handsome prince on all of mount olympus the man
01:56who had killed me with his own hands in my past life dropping to one noon he glanced at me
02:00with
02:01undisguised disdain father i know a verily is hopelessly infamorated with me but the only one i truly
02:05love is lyana the hall erupted into stunned whispers zeus's face darkened while the princes who had shown
02:11little interest moments ago now watched with burning intensity everyone knew what marrying me
02:16meant power dominion but i understand aurelia cannot live without me cassian adopted a tone of false
02:21generosity i am willing to show mercy and allow her to keep her title as princess and remain by my
02:27side
02:27as a consort lyana and i have already sworn a blood oath before the fates if i betray her may
02:32i fall
02:33forever into tartarus zeus flew into a rage the thunder scepter slammed against the ground shaking the entire
02:39divine hall insolence a lowy nymph who stole her place among the divines compare herself to the
02:44daughter of the sun cassian turned toward me impatience clearing his voice aria what are you
02:49waiting for i have already granted you the honor of staying by my side hurry and thank the king of
02:53gods i stared at his face my fury hardened into a cold mocking smile lyana that nymph after the titan
03:01war
03:01my mother gave birth to me on scorched land and hid me in a cave that nymph's family discovered my
03:06unawakened divine core and in their madness sent their own daughter to mount olympus disguised as
03:11a divine princess for a full century she fed like a leech on the glory and privilege that were meant
03:16to
03:16be mine it was only when the phoenix flame within my fully awakened that her lies were burned away
03:20my mother enraged had intended to bring down divine punishment lyana fell to her knees clinging to her
03:27ankle and begging for mercy and somehow managed to cling to her worthless life her parents however
03:32were later torn to pieces during a b-spawn attack in my previous life i had even felt guilty for
03:37that
03:37and yielded to her at every turn until the moment i died when she whispered in my ear with a
03:42smile
03:42the b-spawn had been lured there by her own hand to silence them the hatred was so intense my
03:48nails
03:49dug deep into my palms golden divine blood dripped onto the polished marble floor the phoenix flame within
03:55me roared my skin burning like heated iron but i forced the killing intent down death would be far
04:01too merciful for them i wanted them alive watching as they sank into endless ruin i drew a slow breath
04:06the corner of my lips lifting into a cold predatory smile your majesty i have made my choice all eyes
04:13locked onto me instantly casey lifted his chin his face full of a victor's arrogance i stepped forward
04:18to the throne etched a name into zeus's palm with divine power and conveyed my plan through divine will
04:24his pupils tightened slightly surprise flickered for only a moment before turning into cold approval
04:29since you have decided i will prepare a wedding unlike any the world has ever seen zeus's sharp
04:34gaze shifted past me and struck casey as for you return to your palace and remain confined until
04:40the wedding begins cassian lowered his head unable to hide the satisfaction curling at his lips
04:46he believed this grand wedding was a compromise made for him what he did not know was that the bride
04:52was not me it was that wretched nymph when i stepped out of the side hall cassian was still
04:58waiting in the corridor with liana clinging to his arm looking fragile and pitiful sister she said as
05:03she approached her eyes shimmering with tears thank you for your generale city for making this possible
05:09canyon immediately pulled her into his arms auroria liana's parents died because of you shouldn't you at
05:15least offer a few relic artifacts as compensation i watched the nauseating performance in silence seeing that i did
05:21not respond casting his tone softened just slightly though reluctant languid beneath it iradia i have one
05:27more request liana's power is too weak she cannot withstand a divine pot i need to borrow your divine
05:35core for a brief moment my mind rang with a sharp piercing hum
05:42i was seconds away from losing control from letting the flames at my fingertips erupt and reduce them both to
05:47ash but that would be far too crude just as the tension thickened into suffocating silence a low
05:53magnetic voice cut cleanly through it princess auroria his majesty the king of gods has sent me to
05:59escort you the speaker was a young man with black hair and dark eyes tall and composed with a pair
06:04of
06:04partially formed horns at his crown a mark of a divine bloodline not yet fully awakened a symbol of
06:09his half-blood identity on mount olympus where bloodline meant everything he was branded as inferior
06:15but i remembered him lucian in my past life he had been like a cold shadow quiet withdrawal never
06:23seeking favor always lingering at the edges until the day i died while the gods stood by and looked
06:28upon my corpse with indifference only he broke through the barriers in a frenzy and dropped to his knees in
06:33the pool of my blood his trembling hands gathered what remained of me and scorching tears fell onto my face
06:38he buried me at the peak of mount olympus planted a golden apple tree then drew his sword and alone
06:43and without hesitation charged toward cassian's throne of storms he went to his death for a woman who had
06:49never once truly seen him i studied him for a long moment then the flames around me faded and i
06:54offered
06:54him a completely unguarded smile let's go stop cassian's voice cracked like a whip as he stepped forward
07:00glaring at lucian you worthless half-flood what right do you have to stand beside aurelia he is my future
07:05king consort that alone gives him the right to walk at my side i did not spare cassius even a
07:10glance
07:10instead of throwing a tantrum here you should go prepare for the ascension trial in five days
07:14try not to die in the lightning lucian stiffened for just a moment a flicker of surprise crossed his
07:19dark eyes and a faint flush crept behind his ears at the mention of the trial cassian's anger instantly
07:25gave way to arrogance a mere divine trial means nothing even without your divine core i will crush it
07:30underfoot five days from now you better be ready to become my woman i ignored the barking behind me
07:35and walked down the corridor with lucian at my side the king of god's plan i said you already know
07:40it lucian stopped then without hesitation he dropped to one knee your highness i lucian swear this oath
07:48before the fates if i ever betray you in this life may my soul essence be torn apart and may
07:53i suffer
07:53eternal torment in tartaros a blinding dark gold light burst from his brow and shot into the sky
07:59thunder roared across the heavens this was a supreme law witnessed by zeus himself a vow bound
08:05by the soul unbreakable i removed the starfall pendant from my waist it was a sacred artifact
08:09forged by selmon goddess of the moon i fastened it onto his belt with my own hands i believe you
08:15princess auroria his voice trembled horsey with emotion even if i burn my bones and blood to nothing
08:20i will never fail you my palace stood at the easternmost edge of mount olympus where it welcomed
08:26the first light of dawn each day at the center of the courtyard grew a golden apple tree nurtured by
08:32my mother from a branch of yggdrasil it symbolized home and sanctuary for a hundred years i had tended it
08:38with the light of dawn and nourished it with moonlight until it grew into a towering giant but when i
08:44stepped
08:44through the gates what greeted me was a silent ruin my maid myra stumbled forward and collapsed at my
08:50feet her translucent rings were tattered her dress stained with dirt your highness they cut down your
08:57tree i shoved the gates open the golden apple tree the one that carried a century of my devotion had
09:01been severed at its base the massive trunk lay fallen golden leaves scattered across the cold stone like
09:06divine tears of blood golden sap poured endlessly from the wound while unripe fruit fell into the dirt
09:10shriveling and rotting in moments everything was destroyed slowly i lifted my head my eyes burned
09:17red with overwhelming fury cassian stood casually in the center of the wreckage idly twirling the divine
09:23blade forged by hephaestus drops of golden sap still clung to its sharp edge his expression was relaxed as
09:30though he had nearly crushed an insignificant insect what gives you the right to touch my tree my voice was
09:35soft colder than winter wind it was just a useless tree cassian shrugged unconcerned lyanna likes lumaine
09:42rose starting tomorrow this place will be cleared and replanted with roses this is my domain you are
09:46about to belong to me cassian's expression darkened at my defiance he strode forward towering over me
09:51aurelia understand your position if you anger me i can withdraw my offer to marry you at any time when
09:56that happens even if you beg at my feet i would not spare you a glance he was waiting for
10:00fear waiting for
10:01submission but i only looked at him coldly as if i were staring at a rotting corpse cassian put away
10:07that disgusting arrogance my future husband could be a hound from hell and it still would never be you
10:11for a split second the killing intent in my eyes unsettled him then he let out a mocking laugh
10:16other than me who on mount olympus would dare marry you do not forget the king of gods personally ordered
10:22preparations for our wedding of course in his arrogance he believed that grand ceremony was meant for
10:27he could not possibly imagine that on that very day the bride waiting for him would be the monster
10:32he cherished most enjoy your last days of glory cassian i watched his retreating finger a cruel
10:37smile curling at my lips in five days i will show you exactly what it feels like to fall into
10:41him
10:42five days later the abyss of thunder a terrifying chasm carved deep within the mountains of mount olympus
10:48a scar left behind when zeus split the earth with his thunder scepter the abyss plunged endlessly into
10:54darkness the charred rock walls bore the violent marks of ancient lightning strikes while within the
10:59eternal black violet gold lightning slithered and hissed like venomous serpents the gods had gathered
11:04zeus sat upon the supreme throne at the edge of the abyss the twelve principal gods arrayed on either side
11:10their presence pressing down like a raging sea unexpectedly liana had dared to come as well
11:16she wore a flowing white gown her golden hair adorned with lumina roses clinging delicately to cassian's arm as
11:22though she were already a crowned queen cassian caught sight of me from afar and immediately
11:26strode over with liana a confident calculated smile on his face auroria today's trial will depend
11:32on the divine core within you i answered his shamelessness with silence then his gaze shifted
11:37past me and froze luian stood quietly at the edge of the abyss he wore plain black leather armor his
11:42posture straight as a blade at his waist hung the starfall pendant glowing softly with moonlight how does a
11:48mung like you possess the starfall pendant cassian's veins bulged at his temples fury nearly consuming his
11:54reason lucian did not even bother to draw his weapon he simply met cassian's gaze cold and distant as
11:59though looking at a speck of dust sensing the tension liana quickly pressed herself against cassian's arm
12:03my love do not be angry that pendant must be a cheap imitation i really found a lowly half-blood
12:08like him
12:08would probably turn to ash before surviving even the first strike of lightning cassian regained some of his
12:13arrogance and let out a cold snort casting me a finna warning glance before tumming away
12:19the trial began the son of aries was the first to leap into the abyss a deafening roar followed as
12:25violet gold lightning crashed down upon him his scream tore through the air as he was hurled violently
12:30against the rock wall the sound of shattering bones echoed clearly he barely survived the first
12:35heaven's judgment before losing all ability to continue the challengers that followed fared little
12:40better the strongest among them managed to endure only three strikes of lightning a shadow darkened
12:47zeus's gaze cassian at last it was his turn cassian strode into the center of the abyss with absolute
12:55confidence and to everyone's shock liana gathered her skirts and followed him gasps erupted across the
13:00crowd even the original force of the abyss could tear a fragile ninkth apart in an instant do not be
13:05afraid my love cassian caressed her cheek with aurelia's divine core protecting me i will not
13:10let you suffer even the slightest harm liana closed her eyes deeply moved then she opened her mouth and
13:15forcibly adjusted her life core it was a thumb-sized crystal glowing faintly green the moment it left
13:20her body her once radiant skin rapidly withered turning dull and lifeless her golden hair faded to
13:25gray and deep wrinkles spread across her face like crack bark liana have you lost your mind cassian
13:29shouted and scrawled for you i would give everything she gasped weakly forcing a fragile sorrowful smile
13:35completely moved by this twisted display of devotion cassia's eyes reddened he took the green crystal
13:41and fused it into his own heart then he raised his head and spread his arms toward the sky he
13:47intended
13:47to summon all nine strikes of the trial at once the heavens were instantly swallowed by storm clouds as dark
13:56as ink violet gold lightning transformed into colossal dragons ringling through the sky the destructive
14:02pressure bore down so heavily that even the assembled gods struggled to breathe has he lost his mind
14:09zeus rose to his feet the thunder scepter blazing with light to invoke all nine heavens judgments at once
14:14this has never happened in all the history of mount olympus at the center of the storm cassian locked his
14:19gaze onto me his eyes filled with desperate hunger and expectation laria give me your divine core help
14:25me through this trial my response was to stand there arms crossed cold and unmoving the phoenix flame
14:32within me lay still like a silent abyss offering not even a trace of protection cassian's smile frozen
14:38auraria what are you doing are you still throwing a tantrum do you not want to marry me anymore
14:46for the first time the arrogance etched into his face began to crack panic spread through him like
14:51poison if all nine strikes fall i will be annihilated will you really just watch me die i remained
14:59moanless like a flawless marble statue a thunderous explosion shattered the sky the first heaven's
15:06judgment fell the violet gold lightning enveloped cassia instantly amid the deafening roar his scream tore
15:11through the storm blinding arcs of electricity scorched his golden hair and pierced straight through
15:16through the armor forge by hepatius he coughed up a mouthful of blood streaked with flecks of gold
15:20the lightning was destroying his divine bloodline from within
15:25a more horrifying scream followed because liana's life core had been fused into cassian the destructive
15:31force of the heaven's judgment surged back through the blood oath and struck her as well
15:35the fragile crystal cracked with a sharp snap fractions spreading across its surface before it shattered
15:41completely her life force drained away like a broken floodgate in mere moments her youthful body collapsed
15:47into that of a shriveled old woman her skin wrinkled and grotesque no do not look at me my face
15:54cassius
15:54save me she wailed rizzling on the ground in despair but cassius could not even save himself
16:02he dropped to one knee like a dying beast his armor shattered his body torn open with wounds deep
16:08enough to expose bone there was nothing left of his former pride he struggled to lift his head the
16:13arrogance had vanished from his bloodshot gray blue eyes replaced by raw primal fear valeria save me
16:20at last i moved the sound of my heels echoed against the marble as i walked forward one step at
16:28a time
16:28toward the edge of the abyss hope flared wildly in cassian's eyes then before his desperate gaze i
16:34turned cleany away and walked straight toward lucian i took his hand large and rough and laced my fingers
16:40with his raising them high for all to see my voice amplified by divine power rang clearly across the entire
16:47abyss of thunder who said i would marry this worthless man the only one worthy to be my king concord
16:53is
16:53lucian the starfall pendant stands as witness silence fell over everything then in the next
16:59instant an uproar more deafening than the ninefold thunder itself erupted throughout the entire divine
17:03hall the daughter of the sun chose a half flood look that is the starfall pend of the moon goddess
17:09gasps of shock rippled through the gods one after another at the bottom of the abyss cassian seemed to
17:14collapse entirely as if the strength had been stripped from his bones he lay there in despair
17:19no that is impossible the one you loved was me above the second heaven's judgment had already taken
17:25form it was no longer violet gold but a deep violet black the true color of chaos lightning a force
17:32of
17:32absolute destruction his final scream tore out of him like the last cry of a dying beast
17:42the second strike fell the violet black storm swallowed him whole his screams were so agonizing
17:49they sounded as though they came from the deepest fires of hell when the lightning finally dissipated
17:54the entire assembly drew in sharp breaths the once radiant prince now lay like a charred husk in a pool
18:00of
18:00blood his golden hair had turned to ash his armor melted into his flesh his limbs twisted at unnatural
18:05angles and it was impossible to tell whether he still clung to life zeus let out a disappointed sigh
18:10with a light tap of a scepter the storm clouds man vanished instantly spare his life he still carries
18:17the blood of the divines the king of gods delivered his cold judgment to everyone's surprise cassian's will
18:22to survive flared violently dragging his shattered body he crawled towards me through the blood each
18:27movement left a grotex trails at behind him then with a dull thud he collapsed to his knees at my
18:32feet the man who had once carved out my heart and killed our unborn child now knelt before me like
18:37a
18:38broken animal aurelia i was wrong his voice rash like sand scraping against stone please i swear i will
18:45only love you from now on i looked down at him the ocean of hatred from my past life surged
18:49within me
18:50transforming into a cruel sense of satisfaction without hesitation i lifted my boot and kicked him to the
18:54ground he fell onto his back his clouded eyes went with disbelief i bent down gracefully my face close
18:59to his ear the stench of burnt flesh nearly made me recoil but i maintained a cold smile cassian
19:04i whispered softly so only he could hear when you carved out my divine core in our last life did
19:10you
19:10ever imagine you would end up like this his pupils shrink to pinpoints confusion turned to shock and then
19:16to a terror so deep it seemed to drag him into an abyss at last he understood he was not
19:21the only one
19:22who had been reborn you you also came back from that future his teeth chattered uncontrollably
19:28i straightened without answering he collapsed completely trembling in the pool of blood
19:39i turned and took lucian's hand firm and warm pulling him towards the center of the abyss go this
19:47time i will stand with you but his feet did not move he remained at the edge as if rooted
19:55in place
19:55what is it i asked turning back behind us cassian suddenly burst into vicious laughter clinging to his
20:01last shred of hope a coward you chose a worthless man who does not even dare enter the trial lucian
20:07ignored him completely he lowered his gaze to me those dark eyes deep as endless night
20:11filled with a kind of quiet overwhelming tenderness i had never seen in anyone in any lifetime your
20:16highness this time i want to do it myself he said his voice low and steady i froze the fury
20:22of the
20:22lightning will damage your divine core i will never allow your foundation to be harmed his thumb
20:26brushed lightly across the back of my hand sending a faint shover through me before i could argue
20:31he released my hand then he turned like a warrior stepping onto the battlefield and walked straight
20:35into the abyss of thunder when lucian's tall dark figure stepped into the golden pool at the
20:40bottom of the abyss murmurs rippled through the stands a half blood with impure rensity how many
20:45strikes could he possibly understared i heard none of it every sense i had was locked onto the man
20:50standing below he stood at the center of the abyss like an unwielding war god he removed his heavy
20:54black leather armor and cast it aside leaving only a thin linen shirt clinging to his body the golden
20:58water soaked through the fabric outlining the powerful planes of his chest and the sharp definition
21:02of his abdomen a form so perfect it would have left even the greatest sculptors in awe he
21:06closed his eyes fists clenched at his sides allowing the power within him to break free of
21:10its restraints above storm clouds gathered once more but this time there was no wild lightning
21:16instead a suffocating stillness spread through the sky as if some ancient beast slumbering for tens of
21:22thousands of years was slowly opening its eyes only one bolt a god scoffered the laughter died instantly
21:27what formed in the clouds was not ordinary lightning it was a pure black bolt that devoured all light
21:32like the primordial darkness at the birth of chaos
21:37there was no thunder no roar only absolute destruction as it descend space itself tore apart
21:42revealed fractures of shifting color beneath reality primordial lightning
21:45zeus rose abruptly from his throne his expression shaken this is lightning from the dawn of the universe
21:51i have not seen it in tens of thousands of years the black bolt struck lucy and squarely across the
21:58back there was no explosion no flame only darkness swallowed him whole seconds later the darkness
22:04receded lucian still stood he had not moved a single step his soaked linen shirt remained intact
22:10as if what had struck him was nothing more than a passing breeze silence fell then the entire assembly
22:16erupted not a single injury that is impossible on the ground cassian's face twisted grotesquely with envy and
22:23the fear of despair lucian did not open his eyes his jaw remained tight the second strike
22:29two bolts of primordial lightning descended together he stood unmoving the third three bolts intertwined
22:35the fourth four converged strikes the fifth five massive black bolts wove into a net of destruction
22:41enveloping the entire abyss of thunder even the unbreakable rock walls began to collapse at last
22:47blood appeared black arcs scorched his bronze skin leaving terrifying marks crimson seeped through his
22:54clothing his brow tightened his teeth clenched clearly enduring agony that tore at the soul itself yet he
23:00did not make a sound the fifth strike ended i thought he would stop there just as he had in
23:04my previous
23:05life enduring five heavens judgments alone was already enough to elevate him among the greatest on mount
23:10olympus but he did not move he stood like an indestructible blade embedded in scorched earth
23:16i stepped forward before i realized it a tremor in my voice i did not recognize lucian he opened his
23:22eyes slowly and looked at me from afar blood streaked across his sharp features yet he gave me a faint
23:27smile
23:27wild and gentle at once your highness i can still fight
23:34the sixth heaven's judgment descended with catastrophic fury six bolts of primordial lightning merged into a
23:39single pillar of darkness as vast as a column holding up mount olympus itself and crashed down
23:45the space around it groaned under the strain the beam swallowed him entirely and my heart clenched
23:51violently when the light faded lucian was on one knee his body was torn with deep jagged wounds blood
23:57poured from him staining the golden pool a dark crimson his face was pale his muscles trembling from
24:03exhaustion yet he planted his hands against the ground and forced himself upright he did not fall
24:07six strikes of primordial lightning a feat unmatched in thousands of years among the divines zeus
24:12trembled with excitement upon his throne good excellent this is the true brilliance of the
24:17divines lucian breathed heavily though his movements were slow he maintained the dignity of a warrior my
24:22thanks your majesty turning towards zeus he bowed his head he began to leave the abyss dragging his
24:26blooded body behind him wait i loosened my outer robe and stepped past the boundary of the abyss without
24:31hesitation entering the battlefield he stood in your highness for the first time fear appeared in lucian's
24:39dark eyes i walked straight to him and took his burning hand ignoring the blood that covered him
24:44do not be afraid i looked up at the storm clouds still churning above three strikes remained aria
24:50have you lost your mind zeus's voice thundered overhead the fire within you is the origin of
24:57divine flame if it is damaged i ignored him closing my eyes the phoenix flame within me erupted like a
25:04waking volcano golden red fire surged into the sky forming a great phoenix that spread its wings
25:10around us shielding us both the seventh heaven's judgment roared as it descended
25:17seven bolts of primordial lightning merged into a monstrous dragon its abyssian jaws wide as it
25:23roared and plunged downward lucian instinctively tried to pull free from my grasp to shield me with
25:27his body but i tightened my hold our fingers locked together this time we face it together the black
25:34lightning dragon swallowed us whole pain beyond words tore through every nerve primordial lightning
25:40rampaged through my veins clashing violently with the divine flame at my core it felt as though my bones
25:44were being crushed piece by piece i bit down hard enough to taste blood driven by sheer will the
25:49phoenix flame surged wrapping itself around the destructive force and forcing it little by little
25:53into submission when the lightning faded we were still standing our hands still tightly joined
25:59lucian's voice was hossy with pain
26:03your highness your hand i glanced down dark charred cracks had spread across the back of my hand
26:10golden divine blood seeping through i wiped the blood from my lips without concern it is nothing
26:16two more remain the eighth heaven's judgment descended eight bolts of black lightning wove
26:21together into a vast net of darkness sealing off the sky as it crashed down
26:27the pain was ten times worse than before a sharp fracture rang from my divine core as fine
26:32cracks spread across it the phoenix flame flickered violently on the verge of collapse my vision blurred
26:38but i did not let go lucian's grip tightened around mine like iron a force both fierce and strangely
26:44gentle surged through our joined hands pouring into my body we endured the eighth strike my skin was
26:51covered in fractures like shattered porcelain luian was worse drenched in blood as though he had risen
26:58from a crimson abyss yet when he looked at me his eyes burned like living stars
27:05the ninth strike the final judgment the storm clouds contracted violently compressing all their
27:11destructive power into a single point what emerged was a thread-like black needle so fine
27:16it was nearly invisible zeus rose abruptly his expression shaken that is the needle of chaos
27:24auraria leave the abyss immediately i did not retreat instead i stepped forward placing myself
27:30slightly ahead of lucian the black needle pierced through the phoenix flame effortlessly it tore
27:37through my flesh and bone driving straight into my core fragment a sharp crack echoed fractures spread
27:44through my divine core like a collapsing canyon pain surged like a tidal wave overwhelming everything
27:52at the moment my core was about to shatter completely lucidian let out a wild roar
28:00he pulled me into his burning embrace pouring all of his soul and power into me his strength was fierce
28:07yet impossibly gentle wrapping around my breaking core forcing it back together reshaping it he was
28:15willing to drain every drop of his divine blood to keep me alive the ninefold thunder trial was broken
28:22the storm clouds vanished in an instant replaced by a radiant golden light that pierced the heavens
28:29it was zeus's blessing divine power flowed over us like long-awaited rain repairing our bodies within my
28:35restored divine core surged a terrifying new strength lucian's transformation was even more astonishing
28:41the small horns atop his head grew rapidly forming majestic dark gold crown horns his tattered clothing
28:48turned to ash replaced by a suit of black armor etched with flowing ancient runes an ancient primordial
28:55pressure awakened within him a presence powerful enough to rival zeus himself
29:02the gods fell into stunned silence even harrah's eyes flickered with unease and shock in the distance
29:08cassian lay collapsed like a lifeless husk his spirit utterly broken this was no inferior half-blood
29:16this was the purest direct lineage of the primordial god uranus older and more noble than any bloodline
29:22present zeus descended from his throne something he had never done before and approached the edge of the
29:28abyss my child from this day forward you are the first heir to the throne of storms your grand wedding
29:35with aurelia will be held in three days lucian dropped to one knee offering a flawless night salute
29:42i submit to your will your majesty i stood beside him watching as the man who had once lingered in
29:48shadows finally stepped into his rightful light the frozen weight of hatred that had bound my heart
29:54across lifetimes quietly melted away undone by his unwavering devotion and quiet resolve three days later
30:01mount olympus welcomed the most extravagant wedding in thousands of years the entire divine mountain
30:08shimmered beneath radiant magic in the courtyards golden fragments of starlight hung from every branch
30:13while garlands woven from lumina roses and laurel leaves stretched for miles the fates themselves
30:18appeared in divine form to bestow their blessing and the nine muses played golden harps their voices
30:26carrying songs of eternal love i wore a wedding gown woven by my mother from the very first light
30:33of dawn its long trail burned with sacred golden fire borrowed from my father's chariot of the sun
30:40dazzling beyond words at the far end of the crowd lucian walked toward me with steady steps
30:46he wore a sharply tailored black suit the starfall pendant resting at his waist in his dark endless eyes
30:53there was no trace of gods or power there was only me
30:59he knelt before me gently lifting my hand my princess will you allow me to be your blade and
31:06your shield and walk eternity at your side i clasped his hand in return my fingers brushing the
31:12callies on his palm i will the moment our vows were sealed a rain of golden light poured from the
31:18heavens
31:19fate itself had been rewritten the celebration lasted for three days and nights the laughter of
31:25the gods nearly shaking the stars themselves on the final night lucian took my hand and led me away
31:30from the noise into the palace gardens i stopped suddenly covering my lips in disbelief where ruin had
31:35once stood a new golden apple tree had grown already taller than both of us beneath the silver glow of
31:42the
31:42moon it shimmered softly its branches full a few young golden fruits already beginning to form
31:48i went to your mother and asked for a new branch of yugdara lucian wrapped his arms around me from
31:52behind resting his chin lightly against my shoulder his breath carried a faint trace of wine his voice
31:56quieter than usual almost shy i am sorry i used all my strength and this is as far as i
32:01could grow it
32:02my princess can you wait for it to grow taller memories of the past flooded my mind the shattered
32:09golden leaves the tree that had been cut down without mercy and now this man had rebuilt it with
32:15his own hands he had given me a home again i turned wrapping my arms around his neck rising onto
32:22my toes as
32:23i pressed my lips to his he froze instantly rigid as stone but after a brief moment restraint gave way
32:29his
32:29hand slid to the back of my head pulling me closer while his other arm tightened around my waist
32:34drawing me firmly against his chest as the kiss deepened beneath the newborn golden apple tree even
32:40the stars faded into the background when the kiss ended i rested against his chest listening to the
32:46powerful rhythm of his heartbeat i like it he said nothing he simply buried his face in my hair and
32:54held me
32:55tighter as though i were something he had lost once and finally found again all the defenses i had built
33:01all the
33:02sharp edges i carried quietly fell away within his embrace
33:07the seventh day after the wedding i reclined langely on a chaise in the courtyard sipping divine wine from a
33:12crystal
33:12glass every morning lucien would nourish the golden apple tree with his powerful chaos energy in just seven days it
33:17had already grown several feet taller your highness
33:20to be the best cassian and that liana have come they have been kneeling in the mud out outside the
33:24palace
33:24gates for an hour i swirled the amber liquid in my glass a cruel smile curling at my lips at
33:30last drag them
33:31in moments later two miserable figures wrapped in tattered black cloaks were thrown into the courtyard like refuse
33:39cassian reeked barely able to stand lyon lay sprawled on the ground like a lump of decay
33:46the skin at her neck shriveled and lifeless beneath her cloak kneel properly my voice was cold cassian
33:54stiffened instinctively his old arrogance flickering for a moment before collapsing his knees slammed onto
34:00the marble liana did not even dare lift her head cassian trembled as he pulled back his hood the face
34:08that
34:08had once captivated countless admirers was now ruined his golden hair had nearly all fallen out what remained
34:14thin and ragged his pale skin had turned a sickly gray green and from his neck to his cheeks slick
34:20scales had begun to grow the heaven's judgment had not only destroyed his divine core it had twisted his
34:26bloodline he was devolving into something base something like a fish cassian suddenly snapped
34:33yanking liana's hood away aurelia i was cursed by this wretched woman liana let out a shrink scream
34:40desperately trying to cover face too late her face was that of a withered corpse skin cracked like dead
34:46bark sparse white hair clung to a markled scalp her clouded eyes bulging outward in a grotesque stare
34:55cassian shouted frantically it was her she cast a vile love cursed on me clouded my mind the one i
35:02truly
35:02loved has always been you auraria he struck liana across the face sending her flying then he lunged
35:09at her like a mad beast fists raining down if it were not for you i would not have lost
35:15everything
35:15die die you are lying cassian you said it yourself if i helped you trick a varian to giving up
35:22her
35:22divine core you would make me queen liana curled on the ground spitting blood mixed with broken teeth
35:27her voice is truly with hatred shut up cassian roared panic flooding his voice she screamed back
35:33what did you say when you were on top of me you said avrilio was nothing but a tool to
35:37you
35:38that once you had her divine core you would snap her neck with your own hands
35:43cassian's face drained of all color his fists fell harder striking her again i will kill you you lying
35:50wrecked i watched the farce with mild interest until boredom crept in enough the word was quiet yet
35:59carried absolute authority cassian stopped immediately he crawled toward me on his knees like a beaten animal
36:05aurelia you heard it all i am innocent give me another chance let me stay by your side lifting his
36:11scaled face and desperate feet he reached out with those webbed repulsive hands trying to grasp the hem of
36:18my dress these were the same hands that had driven a blade through my chest the same hands that had
36:24held another woman while mocking me i lifted my foot clad in golden armor and crushed it down on the
36:31back of
36:32his hand the crack of breaking bone rang out followed by his scream cassian do not hide behind talk of
36:41curses that magic only worked because your heart was already twisted by greed for power you did not love
36:46her and you never loved me you only desired my divine core in this life you have loved no one
36:52but
36:52yourself his face turned ashen his body trembling as though plunged into ice no that is not true i
36:59withdrew my foot and wipe my boot with a silk cloth in disgust get out you and your precious nymphs
37:04can rot
37:05together in the mud tormenting each other until there is nothing left i waved a hand throw them out spread
37:11the
37:11word anyone who dares approaches my palace again will be executed the guards dragged them away roughly
37:18auroria you cannot be this cruel cassian's screams echoed through the corridor lucian stepped out from
37:24the shadows and with practiced ease pulled me into his broad warm embrace his thumb brushed lightly
37:32against the back of my neck did that disgust you i leaned into his chest and let out a quiet
37:37breath
37:38i was just thinking in my past life he never once spoke of love to me now that he has
37:44fallen from
37:44everything he suddenly can't stop saying it lucian's voice was low and cold because those cheap lies are
37:51all he has left only cowards beg with false tears after losing everything i tilted my head up to look
37:57at him his sharply defined jaw was tense his dark eyes devoid of any hunger for power there was only
38:02an
38:02intense unyielding possessiveness towards me will you always love me i looped my arms around his neck
38:09he lowered his head and pressed a burning kiss to my forehead until the universe collapses and time itself
38:18ends that night i dismissed everyone and entered the heavily guarded divine treasury alone carrying a
38:26lantern moonlight filtered through the glass dome above illuminating rows of divine artifacts these
38:32were all items i had once bestowed upon cassius now reclaimed after his fall the blade forged by hephaestus
38:40sacred water from athena the golden apple of aphrodite my fingers taste lightly over the cold
38:45metal before finally stopping on a chain that glimmermed with a chilling silver light
38:50the god's bear chain a tool used to bind and torment lesser divines once cassian had asked me for it
38:58claiming it was for liana's protection i lifted the chain weighing it in my hand then deliberately
39:04placed it in the most visible spot near the ventilation opening the next morning myra rushed in
39:10flustered your highness someone broke into the treasury last night it was that old witch liana she stole
39:16a silver chain is that so i set down my golden cup a knowing smile curling at my lips let
39:21her take it
39:22the bait has been taken three months later a scandal swept across mount olympus like a storm
39:28cassian was dead he died in a remote barren ditch granted to him by zeus his body was found floating
39:34in the foul water completely decayed reverted to its base form a palm-sized golden carp covered in
39:39resting soils the remnants of his divine core had been forcibly carved out the killer was liana
39:44the powerless nymphs had under the cover of night used the stolen god's bond chain to strangle
39:51cassian until he stopped breathing then she tore open his chest and dug out the ruined core attempting
39:58to devour it to restore her beauty and power but she was a fool cassian's core had already been
40:04destroyed by the ninefold thunder trial saturated with violent chaotic energy the moment she swallowed
40:10it that power erupted within her tearing her apart from the inside she died
40:17her corpse reverted to its true form a grotesque water spirit she sprawled in the foul mud by the
40:22stream its shriveled scales falling away hollow eyes staring blankly at the ashen sky its mouth and
40:26nose filled with filthy slum it was said that when she died she still clutched the god's vein chain in
40:30her hand the barbs had pierced deep into her bones fused with her rotting flesh impossible to remove it
40:36was also said that as she drew her final breath in the mire she cried out for her mother the
40:40very
40:41mother she had once lured beasts from to devour just to bury her own lies when i heard the news
40:47i was
40:47resting in lucian's arms beneath the lush canopy of the golden apple tree myra described the gruesome
40:51scene in vivid detail her tone filled with satisfaction lucian set aside the parchment in
40:55his hand and looked down at me what are you thinking my princess i met his gaze my smile bright
41:00as dawn
41:00i was thinking of a joke there is a flower in the mortal world called lumina rose lyana loved
41:05adoring herself with it lucian raised a brow slightly and i have already sent people to plant fields of
41:11lumina roses all around the muddy pit where she was buried he paused then a low rich laugh escaped his
41:17chest the expression in his eyes softened filled with indulgence he reached out and ruffled my hair
41:23my princess you grow more resistible by the day i smiled and closed my eyes resting my cheek against his
41:29warm chest sunlight filtered through the golden apple tree and his embrace felt warmer than the
41:33sun itself the hatred that had clung to me across lifetimes finally faded away within this quiet
41:38peaceful world time passed swiftly to the gods a century was no more than the blink of an eye
41:42the golden apple tree once regrown from a single branch had long since surpassed its former glory
41:47its massive trunk required three people to encircle it its dense canopy stretching wide enough to block
41:52out the sky the golden fruit it bore shimmered beneath the sunlight like countless miniature suns
41:56over the past hundred years lucian as the first heir to the throne of storms had worked decisively
42:02alongside zeus to restore order to mount olympus with overwhelming strength and unyielding justice
42:07he earned the respect and awe of every god even hera known for her sharp tongue once declared before
42:13the pantheon lucian is more worthy of that supreme throne than any other
42:19the mystery of his origins had also come to light
42:23his mother was no mortal woman but the last sacred guardian of the lineage of the primordial god
42:29uranus to escape those who hunted her she hid among mortals with lucian in her arms until zeus's
42:36vengeance we discovered them as for me my power had undergone a transformation after enduring the
42:41primordial lightning alongside lucian my phoenix flame and his chaos lightning fused perfectly evolving
42:47into something entirely new thunder flame it carried both the endless vitality of rebirth and the
42:53absolute destructive force of chaos the storm phoenix every spring in the mortal world lucian
42:59and i would leave behind the rigid formality of mount olympus and wander as we please sometimes we
43:04searched hidden valleys for trace of lumita roses other times we simply sat side by side atop a solitary
43:09snow-covered peak sharing a flask of divine wine as we waited for the sunrise whenever i grew drowsy against
43:14his shoulder he would gently pull me into his arms shielding me from the cold winds with his cloak
43:18you are the future king of gods i teased him more than once why do you spend your days like
43:24a wandering
43:25poet each time he would press a soft kiss to my temple and give the same answer no throne weighs
43:31more
43:31than being by your side one day i stood beneath the towering golden apple tree gazing up at the fruit
43:37that glittered like stars lucian came up behind me without a sound his strong arms wrapping firmly
43:43around my waist his chin resting against my shoulder the scouts have returned he said his voice low and
43:50warm in the eastern continent the lumina roses are in full bloom this year entire mountains covered
43:57like a sea of violet stars do you want to go see them
44:03i turned to meet his glaze a hundred years had left no mark upon his perfect features
44:09only deepening the calm authority that came with power yet the way he looked at me had never changed
44:17it was the same as it had been on that long day in the abyss of thunder intense unwavering certain
44:23of course i said with a smile we became two streaks of light cutting through the layered clouds of mount
44:29olympus crossing the vast rolling waves of the eegean sea and finally descended into a quiet name
44:35main valley eastern continent just as the scouts had said lumina roses bloomed wildly across the
44:39mountains under the soft glow of moonlight their violet petals shimmered with a dreamlike radiance
44:44like a flowing galaxy the evening breeze stirred the endless sea of flowers into gentle waves
44:48their soft rustling like a lullaby whispered by the earth itself lucian held my hand firmly as we
44:53walked deeper into that violet dream aurelia he suddenly stopped his voice carrying a rare tension
45:00what is it he turned to face me the pale moonlight traced a silver edge along his tall powerful form
45:06then the man who commanded the awe of all gods knelt before me carefully almost nervously he drew
45:12out a ring from within his inner robe it was not a divine relic adorned with jewels it was a
45:17simple
45:17band shaped from wood its surface carved with two overlapping leaves i cut a branch from the golden
45:23apple tree and carved this myself his ears had turned faintly red and for once he avoided my glaze
45:30it has been a hundred years i still owe you a real wedding ring i read the records of mortals
45:35in their
45:36world a ring represents eternity without beginning nor end at last he lifted his eyes to meet mine
45:42they burned with sincerity and quiet longing auroria will you marry me again not for the throne of storms
45:49not for the alliance of the divines only because i am lucian and you are auroria i looked at the
45:55simple
45:55wooden ring in his hand it held none of the brilliance of the starfall pendant none of the sharp perfection
46:00forged by the god of craftsmen
46:04it was only a piece of wood shaped with patience and care into a circle that symbolized forever and yet
46:10in that
46:11moment it was more precious than any crown in existence i slowly extended my left hand my voice
46:16trembling with emotion i will his fingers shook slightly as he slid the ring onto mine the rough
46:21grain pressed against my skin warm with his touch in the next instant he rose and pulled me tightly
46:26into his arms his hand firm at my waist as he kissed me deeply it was a kiss that bound
46:29soul and flesh
46:30together around us the lumina roses swayed gently their violet glow surrounding us like a tide of light
46:36the moon hung high above the stars bearing silent witness far away the lights of mount
46:40olympius fleckered against the night the gods might still be celebrating the muses still singing the
46:44fate still weaving their endless threads and i after enduring betrayal pain and fire had finally found
46:49my eternity in the arms of the man before me later my maid myra once asked me your highness
46:54me you and prince lucio planted another golden apple tree in the mortal world why does it never grow
46:59any taller i looked at the wooden ring on my finger and smiled because it does not need to grow
47:04anymore
47:04why not she asked puzzled never told her the answer but i knew it well because a true home is
47:12never a
47:12cold palace nor a towering divine tree a home is a person the one who will draw his blade and
47:19stand
47:19alone against the throne of gods when the world casts you aside the one who will protect your shattered
47:24soul even at the cost of his own destruction the one who after gaining everything will still carve a
47:29simple for you with his own hands the one who promises to love you for a hundred years a thousand
47:33years ten thousand years and proves it with his life
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