As dawn kissed the red sands of the kingdom, a hushed anticipation filled the air. From the eastern gates to the misty ridges of the Vermilion Mountains, commoners and nobles alike held their breath, waiting for a sign.
Then, with the trumpet of a conch shell and the clattering of iron-shod hooves, the mighty stallion of the Racing Horse Ritual returned—untouched, unchallenged, and wearing the royal silk on its flanks.
The people lined the streets with garlands and burning incense as the sacred beast trotted through the capital's main avenue.
Old Emperor Kai, once feared and revered, now followed the horse like a lowly servant. His once-golden robes had been replaced by simpler silks bearing the new crest of the King family—a roaring storm cloud above a mountain. He held the ceremonial staff with humble obedience, never letting the horse out of his sight.
Whispers ran through the crowd like wildfire.
"No one dared to stop the beast…"
"The era of the Kai family is truly over…"
