Location: Imperial Palace — Inner Sanctum
The Imperial Palace stood silent beneath the night sky.
Moonlight reflected across towering spires of white stone and gold, the symbol of absolute authority visible from every corner of the capital.
Inside its deepest chamber…
Power gathered.
Kael walked forward between two lines of Royal Guards.
His steps were steady despite the lingering pain in his body.
Aria walked beside him.
General Raethon led the way in silence.
No one spoke.
Because beyond the final doors…
Waited the most dangerous man in the Empire.
The Emperor.
The massive golden doors slowly opened.
A deep, resonant hum filled the chamber.
The Throne Room.
Pillars carved with ancient runes rose toward a domed ceiling painted with scenes of celestial wars and divine beings bowing before a crowned figure.
At the far end—
Upon a throne forged from sunsteel and dragonbone—
Sat the Emperor.
Emperor Solaris.
Kael's father.
The air itself felt heavier with each step closer.
Not from magic alone.
From presence.
Authority.
Dominance.
This was a man who had conquered kingdoms before Kael was even born.
A ruler feared across continents.
And…
A father who had never once shown him affection.
The guards stopped.
Raethon bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty. The First Prince has arrived."
Silence followed.
The Emperor studied Kael without speaking.
Golden eyes sharp as blades.
For several long seconds…
The room felt frozen in time.
Then—
"Leave us," the Emperor said.
The command carried absolute authority.
Everyone obeyed instantly.
Even Aria hesitated only briefly before stepping back with the others.
The doors closed.
Now only two figures remained in the vast throne chamber.
Father and son.
Kael met his gaze calmly.
The Emperor leaned slightly forward.
"…Show me," he said.
Kael didn't pretend to misunderstand.
Silver light flickered faintly beneath his skin.
For a brief moment—
The pressure in the chamber spiked.
The Emperor's eyes narrowed.
Recognition flashed within them.
"…Divine resonance," he murmured.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Kael noticed immediately.
He already suspected.
Interesting.
The Emperor leaned back slowly.
"When did it awaken?" he asked.
"Recently," Kael replied.
Another pause.
Then—
A question that changed everything.
"…Do you remember?" the Emperor asked quietly.
Kael's heart skipped once.
That question had layers.
Memories of his past life as a fallen god.
Or memories of childhood inside the palace.
Kael answered carefully.
"…Fragments."
The Emperor studied him for several seconds.
Then—
He laughed.
Not loudly.
But with unmistakable satisfaction.
"I wondered how long it would take," he said.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…You knew."
The Emperor didn't deny it.
Instead, he spoke words that shook Kael to his core.
"You were never weak," the Emperor said.
"I sealed you."
Silence crashed into the chamber.
For the first time since his rebirth—
Kael felt genuine shock.
"…Why?" he asked.
The Emperor's gaze hardened.
"To keep you alive."
A wave of pressure spread through the throne room.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
For a brief moment, Kael sensed it clearly.
His father…
Was not merely human either.
"There are forces in this world," the Emperor continued,"that hunt beings like you."
A pause.
"The moment your power awakened as a child… they noticed."
Memories flashed in Kael's mind.
Faint.
Broken.
Pain.
Ritual circles.
Darkness.
Sleep.
The Emperor's voice cut through them.
"So I sealed your divinity."
"Buried it beneath mortal limitations."
"Let the world believe you were useless."
Kael's fists clenched slightly.
A lifetime of humiliation.
Mockery.
Isolation.
All… intentional.
"You sacrificed my reputation," Kael said quietly.
"I sacrificed your pride," the Emperor corrected.
"To save your life."
Their gazes locked.
Neither yielding.
Neither backing down.
Then the Emperor spoke again.
"And now," he said calmly,
"the seal is breaking."
A pause.
"The Fallen Ones have moved."
Kael felt cold certainty settle in his chest.
"…Raven," he said.
"A pawn," the Emperor replied.
"The real enemy has not appeared yet."
Silence lingered again.
Then—
The Emperor's expression changed slightly.
Not softer.
But… heavier.
"You have two choices," he said.
"Remain here under imperial protection."
"Or step into the war that is coming."
A faint smile touched Kael's lips.
"There was never a choice," he said.
For a moment—
Pride flickered in the Emperor's eyes.
"Good," he said quietly.
Because the next words carried the weight of destiny.
"The gods are not the only ones who can fall."
A pause.
"And not the only ones who can rise."
Kael turned to leave.
But before he reached the doors—
The Emperor spoke once more.
"…Kael."
He stopped.
"…You are my son," the Emperor said.
"No matter what you were before."
It wasn't affection.
It wasn't warmth.
But it was the closest thing to acknowledgment Kael had ever received.
He didn't reply.
He simply walked forward.
The doors opened.
And the world beyond them…
Was already changing.