CURSE OF THE THRONE : RISE OF THE LOST PRINCE

The smoke slowly wafted out of the broken breach in the chamber wall, a constant reminder of the unchecked power Kai had unleashed. The air reeked with the harsh smell of charred stone and ozone, an unsettling counterpoint to the scented stillness of the royal chambers. A throng had congregated—nobles, princes, and guards—all their faces lit by the dancing glow of torches.

In the lead was Emperor Alden, his usually serious face inscrutable. Seraphina hovered at his shoulder, her keen eyes flicking between the wreckage and Kai, a look of concern and awe etched on her face.

Whispers abounded in the room, soft but insistent.

"How is this possible?"

"No man could have managed this…"

Kai watched them with a detached interest, stunned by the chaos left behind by the explosion. Lumina's soothing voice sounded in his mind, calmly deconstructing the moment: analyzing crowd dynamics, assessing psychological impact…

He noted the shifting expressions—shock, fear, awe. No longer did they see him as the frail, sickly prince. Now, they hesitated, uncertain. Good, Kai thought. Let them wonder. Let them fear.

Emperor Alden's voice cut through the murmurs. "What… happened here?"

Kai meets his gaze, his expression is carefully neutral. "A murder attempt, Your Majesty. A would-be assassin."

A ripple of gasps swept through the gathered nobles. Alden's eyes narrowed. "An assassin? Here? In the royal quarters?"

"Indeed." Kai gestured toward the burnt remains of the assassin's mask, now little more than a scorched husk amidst the rubble. "They were methodical."

He omitted the explosion from his account, letting the ruined chamber speak for itself. Let them imagine. Let them guess.

Alden's jaw tightened. "This is unacceptable." His words burned with authority. "Find the perpetrator. Search the entire kingdom!"

Guards moved swiftly, dispersing into the corridors. As the commotion settled, Alden's gaze bore into Kai. "You were fortunate."

Kai's lips twitched. "Fortunate, or prepared." His voice was measured, and calculated. "I believe it wise for me to remain within the Celestial Empire for the time being—to regain my strength, and to ensure this does not happen again."

Alden studied him, his gaze was sharp as a blade. "You would stay?"

"Yes," Kai confirmed. "My kingdom has fallen, but I will not allow others to dictate my fate. I will stay. And I will find those who seek my death."

For a fleeting moment, something like respect flickered across the emperor's face. "Very well. You have my permission. But hear this, Prince Kai: The Celestial Empire is no haven for the weak. You will prove your worth, or you will find yourself unwelcome."

Kai inclined his head. "I understand, Your Majesty."

As the people scattered, Seraphina came forward, worry written on her face. "You shouldn't have taken that risk," she murmured. "That power… it's dangerous."

Kai exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting to the ruined wall. "It's necessary," he corrected. "They wanted me dead. Now, they know I won't be an easy target."

Seraphina hesitated. "But to remain here?" Her voice softened. "This is a political snake pit, Kai. You'll be a target."

"I know." He allowed a faint smile to tug at the corner of his lips. "That's why I intend to learn their game." His gaze turned steely. "And then, I'm going to change the rules."

The days that followed were filled with courtly machinations. Guided by Lumina's analytical mind, Kai began unraveling the delicate threads of the Celestial Empire's politics. Every glance, every whisper held meaning. Every gesture was a move in a silent war.

And he was determined to master it.

The next day, he woke to find himself alone in an isolated training room. His breaths were regular, and his physique relaxed. He reached within himself, trying to find the stream of mana that he had sensed the previous evening.

"Lumina," he thought, frustration creeping into his tone. "I can sense it, but I can't control it."

"Mana manipulation requires precision," Lumina replied. "You must understand its flow before you can direct it."

Kai focused, extending his palm. A flicker of energy sparked—only to fizzle and dissipate.

"It's elusive."

"Patience. Mastery takes time."

A knock interrupted his concentration.

"Prince Kai?" Seraphina's voice echoed through the chamber.

"Enter," he called, wiping sweat from his brow. His pulse was still elevated from exertion.

Seraphina stepped inside, pausing as her gaze flicked over him. A faint blush rose to her cheeks. "You were training?"

"Trying to," Kai admitted, meeting her eyes. The air between them thickened, charged with something unspoken.

"You can call me Sara, you know," she said, a hint of playful irritation masking something deeper. "We're friends, aren't we?"

Kai smirked. "Of course, Princess Seraphina."

"Sara," she insisted, crossing her arms, her cheeks darkening slightly. "No more princess stuff."

"As you wish, Sara." His voice dropped to a murmur, amusement dancing in his gaze. She shifted, the scent of her floral perfume wrapping around him like a quiet distraction.

Clearing her throat, she held out a small, intricately carved wooden box. "I found something."

Kai took it, his fingers brushing against hers. A jolt—subtle but undeniable—passed between them. He ignored it, focusing on the box.

"Near the forest's edge," she continued. "Close to where the assassin might have fled. It was dropped in their haste."

Inside the box lay a single Dragon Eye Bach, its surface shimmering with an unnatural sheen.

Kai's brow furrowed. "What is this?"

"I'm not sure," Sara admitted. "But it's old."

"Lumina," Kai thought, "any information on this?"

"This 'Dragon Eye Bach' is an artifact from Talashia—your fallen kingdom. Talashia was once a beacon of wealth and dragon magic. This relic is ancient, from its golden era."

Kai's grip tightened. He looked up at Sara, his mind racing.

"Talashia…" The name was heavy with his forebears, with a lost heritage that time had erased.

The understanding fell on him, heavy and irrevocable. He slowly shut the box, breathing out. His gaze locked with hers—grateful, resolute.

"This changes everything."