[House Veyrath — The Following Morning — Azram’s Chamber]
CHIRP! CHIRP!
The morning birds sang beyond the carved bronze lattice of Azram’s chamber.
Golden sunlight slipped through the narrow openings, painting thin patterns across the sandstone floor. The curtains swayed gently as the morning breeze wandered through the chamber, carrying with it the scent of date palms and blooming desert flowers.
Upon the great bed lay a tiny figure.
Seyra was sprawled across the blankets on her stomach, one leg half outside the covers, her curls scattered across the pillow; she was completely unaware of the world and completely peaceful.
Until a beam of sunlight touched her face.
Seyra’s nose wrinkled, her brows furrowed, and then she groaned and buried her face deeper into the pillow. A faint laugh echoed through the chamber.
"She will awaken because of you." The voice was deep and ancient.
The sunlight upon Seyra’s face suddenly brightened, and then a shadow stretched across the opposite wall.
It moved, not like an ordinary shadow. It crawled upward across the sandstone, twisting into the shape of a long finger; the fingers reached toward the curtains.
SWISH—
The curtains closed, the sunlight vanished, and the chamber returned to its dim morning glow.
Another voice spoke; it has an amusement in the voice. "I am her guardian as well. She should feel the warmth of the sun."
A faint golden glow flickered somewhere beyond the bed; the shadow immediately recoiled.
"And I say she should sleep." A third voice, this one was quieter, sharper, and almost irritated.
The first voice gave a low chuckle. "You always say that."
"Because you always disturb her sleep."
The golden light flickered again.
"Enough."
The word came from nowhere; the air itself seemed to tremble, and for one heartbeat the room became unnaturally still.
The curtains stopped moving; the shadows froze. Even the morning birds outside fell silent, then another voice whispered through the chamber.
"Someone approaches."
Silence.
The unseen presences immediately disappeared.
The golden light faded, the shadow withdrew into the wall, and the air became ordinary once more. Nothing remained except the sleeping child.
Seyra shifted beneath the blanket, and she yawned. Then, with absolutely no awareness of the strange beings who had been arguing over her sleep, she muttered—
"Five more minutes..."
The chamber door creaked open.
CREAAAAK—
Mira stepped inside carrying a small bronze basin and a folded set of clothes. She stopped when she saw Seyra still buried beneath the blankets, and a soft smile touched her face.
She placed the basin upon the table and walked toward the bed.
Mira placed the basin upon the table and walked toward the bed.
"My lady Seyra."
Seyra’s fingers tightened around the blanket, but nothing. Mira sighed softly before changing her approach. "Your chamber is ready, Lady Seyra. Would you not like to see it?"
Seyra’s eyes snapped open; she immediately sat upright.
"Let’s go!"
Mira blinked, then she covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "Yes, my lady. But perhaps we should freshen up first."
Seyra stared at her for a moment.
"...Fine."
She climbed down from the bed, her tiny feet touching the cold sandstone floor; the moment she stood, the shadow upon the wall moved. It stretched slowly across the carved stones, reaching toward the place where Seyra stood.
A deep voice emerged from it.
"As a soul from another world...she behaves like a child only when she remembers to."
The air beside the flower vase stirred; a few petals trembled as another voice answered.
"She is four years old." The air curled around the vase. "And yet her soul carries memories that do not belong to this world."
The shadow became still, and for several heartbeats, neither guardian spoke. Then the first voice lowered.
"Her previous life wounded her; that is why she sometimes forgets her age." The air whispered through the chamber. "She learned to survive before she learned to trust."
The shadow slowly withdrew; neither guardian noticed that Seyra had paused near the doorway. She looked back, and for a heartbeat, her violet eyes seemed strangely distant.
Then Mira called her.
"My lady?"
Seyra blinked.
"Coming! They talk too much."
"Who, my lady...?"
"No one."
The moment the door closed behind them, the chamber became silent. Then—
WHOOSH.
A warm radiance gathered near the window; golden light spiraled through the air. It grew brighter and brighter until a figure emerged from the radiance.
He was tall and graceful, dressed in a flowing ivory robe embroidered with golden rays. An amber mantle rested over one shoulder, secured by a golden clasp shaped like a rising sun. A broad golden belt wrapped around his waist, its surface engraved with ancient symbols.
Layers of gold chains rested across his chest; around his neck lay a jeweled solar collar. Long golden hair flowed freely down his back, catching the morning light with every movement.
Upon his forehead rested a delicate golden diadem, but it was his eyes that revealed what he truly was. They burned with a strange mixture of amber, orange, and radiant gold.
The King of Light.
Sola.
He stepped toward the window and looked down toward the courtyard and far below; Seyra was walking beside Mira. The little girl was talking animatedly about something, her hands moving as she spoke.
Sola watched her in silence, then his expression softened.
"We must follow the words of the Twin Gods."
The air stirred behind him as the shadow appeared upon the opposite wall. Sola’s golden eyes remained fixed upon Seyra.
"She must be protected."
The shadow answered quietly. "Even from herself?"
Sola’s gaze darkened. "Especially from what sleeps within her."
The air suddenly went still; even the elemental guardians seemed cautious. Sola turned away from the window.
"The Seven must remain unseen." His voice became solemn. "Until the time comes."
A faint golden light gathered within his palm, and for one brief heartbeat, an ancient symbol appeared within it—
A symbol older than House Veyrath, older than the Imperial Throne, and older even than the Temple of Seven, then it vanished.
Sola looked toward the door through which Seyra had disappeared; his final words were barely a whisper.
"Her powers need to be controlled..."
The chamber fell silent as the Elemental King of Light, Sola, looked at the empire from the window.
***
[Later—Seyra’s Chamber—House Veyrath]
DA—DAA—DDDDMMMMM—!!!
Seyra stood frozen at the entrance of her new chamber, her mouth hung open, her eyes widened, and her soul...left her body.
Behind her stood Azram Vaerum Veyrath, arms folded across his chest, his expression as cold and composed as ever, except for the faintest amusement hiding within his silver eyes. Captain Kharzen stood nearby, maintaining the expression of a disciplined knight.
The maids were trying very hard not to laugh. Mira had already failed.
Seyra slowly stepped into the chamber.
She looked left. Pink vase.
She looked right. Pink curtains.
She looked up. Pink canopy.
She looked down. Pink carpet.
Then...she saw the bed.
Pink.
The pillows.
Pink.
The blankets.
Pink.
The wardrobe.
Pink.
A small table.
Pink.
And sitting proudly upon the bed, a giant pink teddy bear.
Seyra’s eye twitched; she slowly turned toward Vaerum.
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE SEVEN HELL IS THIS?!"
The maids immediately lowered their heads. Kharzen coughed. Vaerun remained completely unmoved as he looked around the chamber and then back at Seyra.
"Your chamber."
"I CAN SEE THAT!"
Seyra pointed at the bed. "Why is it pink?!"
Vaerun glanced toward the bed. "Because you are a girl."
Seyra stared at him in disbelief. "That is not an explanation!"
Vaerum’s eyebrow lifted. "It is sufficient."
"It is NOT!" She marched farther inside, pointing accusingly at everything she saw. "The curtains are pink! The pillows are pink! The wardrobe is pink!"
Then she spotted the teddy bear, and her expression became one of personal betrayal.
"AND THAT THING IS PINK TOO!"
The teddy bear sat peacefully upon the bed, apparently guilty of nothing. Vaerun looked at her. "You appear dissatisfied."
"Dissatisfied?!" Seyra placed both hands upon her cheeks. "I look like I have been swallowed by a flower garden!"
Mira covered her mouth. Kharzen turned away, and one of the younger maids whispered to another,
"My lady must really hate pink."
The other whispered back, "Apparently."
Seyra huffed and turned back toward Vaerun and narrowed her eyes. "You did this on purpose."
Vaerum’s lips curved slightly. "Perhaps."
"WHY?!"
He stepped closer; his towering figure stopped before the tiny girl, and then he calmly asked, "Am I hearing a ’thank you’ in another language?"
Seyra’s jaw dropped. "Thank you?! I am not a flower to get this chamber!"
Vaerun nodded thoughtfully. "You are certainly loud enough to frighten one."
A few maids immediately looked away to hide their laughter. Seyra puffed her cheeks, then Vaerun leaned casually against the doorframe, his arms folding again, his silver eyes gleaming with quiet mischief.
"Call me Papa." Seyra froze as Vaerun continued. "And I will have the entire chamber changed."
. . .
. . .
Silence.
Seyra’s face slowly tightened; she knew exactly what he was doing, and she looked away. Vaerun’s smirk deepened.
"Then the chamber remains as it is."
Seyra’s eyes widened.
"You wouldn’t!"
"I would."
"You are cruel."
"I am Azram."
"That’s not an excuse!"
"It is in this house."
Seyra groaned dramatically and covered her face. "Ughhh! You’re a bully!"
Vaerun pushed himself away from the doorway and walked toward Seyra; she immediately looked suspicious.
RUSTLE.
His large hand landed gently upon her head as he ruffled her curls once and twice. Seyra’s hair immediately became a mess.
"Hey! You should not touch a female’s hair after the comb."
She tried fixing it.
Vaerum looked down at her.
"It suits you."
"What does?"
"The chaos."
Seyra glared. Vaerun turned away, completely satisfied with himself, and behind them, the maids exchanged whispers.
"I have served Azram for six years. I have never seen him tease anyone."
"Neither have I."
Another maid whispered, "I’ve seen him return from battle covered in blood."
The first maid nodded.
"Same."
They both looked toward Vaerum, who was now calmly watching Seyra fight with her own hair; the maid lowered her voice.
"But this...is somehow more frightening."
Renn stood nearby, listening to the conversation with a faint smile. His gaze moved toward Vaerun, and his smile deepened.
He watched as the Azram reached down and gently poked Seyra’s nose.
"There."
Seyra immediately wrinkled her nose. "Stop that!"
Vaerun’s lips curved faintly, and for a moment, Renn simply watched them. The great halls of House Veyrath had always been quiet, and now it’s different; perhaps this was what they called—peace.
Vaerun leaned down slightly, resting his arms against his knees so he was closer to Seyra’s height as his voice softened.
"It is all right." Seyra looked up at him. "You may call me Papa whenever you feel ready."
Seyra blinked.
Vaerun paused for a moment, then his silver eyes narrowed slightly.
"But..."
Seyra immediately became suspicious. "Don’t ask me to do anything strange."
Vaerum stared at her with a perfectly straight face. "I am not that bad."
Seyra scoffed.
"Yes, you are."
A few maids nodded in agreement, then Vaerun’s expression slowly changed, the amusement disappeared, and his voice became quieter.
"Then tell me one thing." Vaerum looked directly into her violet eyes. "Who hurt you before you became my daughter?"
Seyra froze as she stared at him for a moment, seemingly trying to understand the weight behind his question.
"Are you going to punish them?"
Vaerun’s expression remained still, but his silver eyes darkened; the air around him seemed to grow colder as his voice came low.
"I will chop them."
Silence.
Every single one stopped breathing. Seyra simply stared at him because every person in that chamber knew one thing.
Vaerun Veyrath was not joking.
The Azram had found the people who had hurt his daughter, and he intended to make them answer for it.