The morning after the chaotic and glitter-covered "Capture the Flag," silence reigned over Liria Palace—or so it seemed. Inside the grand throne room, Emperor Magnus sat upon his mighty carved chair, trying in vain to peel shimmering silver sparkles from his robes and whiskers, a small frown tugging at the corners of his usually booming laughter.
Around him, the Eight Nation Leaders gathered, a rare moment of uneasy calm hanging thick between them. Despite the surprising outcome of the game, none dared to outright challenge the boy's overwhelming power… yet.
King Alden and Queen Mira stood quietly beside the throne, their faces a mix of pride and weariness. Prince Caelum himself sat cross-legged on the polished floor, eyes bright with curiosity but flickering occasionally with fleeting, almost imperceptible flashes of the invisible "admin interface" only he could see.
"Your Majesty," Lady Pyrra finally broke the silence, her voice sharp but tempered, "this boy's control over powers—even those native to the Eight Nations—is something we've never witnessed before. He is no ordinary prince."
"Indeed," echoed Lord Umbra, stepping forward as shadows curled around his feet like smoke. "He doesn't just hold power — he is power's source code. If we don't understand it soon, we risk being overwritten."
A murmur swept through the room.
Emperor Magnus leaned forward, tapping his scepter thoughtfully. "Very well. If the boy is an operator of the system that sustains our world, then we must… study him. Not simply as rulers, but as students. I propose a special council."
King Alden looked alarmed. "Study him, Your Majesty? Surely the boy needs freedom to grow. He is just a child."
"Child or not," Magnus smiled faintly, "the fate of the empire weighs on his small shoulders. We will assign tutors—each a master of their own power—to teach and guide his development while we learn what this Admin Authority truly means."
Queen Mira watched Caelum closely. The boy's eyes flickered with an unreadable depth. "And if he refuses?"
Caelum suddenly stood, the faint glow of his aura pulsing around him like gentle waves.
"Refuse? I like to learn," he said simply, his voice cheerful yet carrying the weight of limitless potential.
The council exchanged wary glances.
"Then it is settled," Emperor Magnus declared. "Tomorrow, the first lessons begin. But be warned—the boy's power is not like any before. We must all keep our wits and prepare for the unexpected."
Later that day, in the palace courtyard...
Caelum sat cross-legged beneath a sprawling ancient oak, surrounded by the Eight Nation Leaders, each trying their best to look stern and authoritative.
Lady Solaria approached first, extending a hand glowing with golden light. "I will teach you about the light element — its virtues, its limits."
Caelum reached out and gently touched Lady Solaria's hand. A soft beam of radiance passed between them, shifting colors and shapes as if reacting to an unseen source code.
Next came Sir Zephion, who whistled sharply. A breeze swirled playfully around Caelum, tugging at his hair and making leaves dance in rhythm, but when the wind reached the boy's hands, it slowed to an almost syrupy halting stop.
"Interesting," Zephion muttered, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
As each leader stepped up to teach their craft, subtle phenomena began to occur. Shadows flickered paradoxically; flames twirled into tiny orbs of harmless fireflies; earth beneath Caelum's feet shifted gently as if responding to a new command line.
And all the while, Caelum's face was alight with wonder and amusement.
Back in the throne room, Emperor Magnus confided quietly with his court mage.
"Have you seen it? The way the boy rewrites the elements themselves? There is no comparable force in history."
The court mage nodded slowly. "It's as if the world's magic system is no longer governed by natural laws but by an invisible code—one that the boy is starting to master."
"Then we must prepare. The Empire is on the cusp of a new era," Magnus whispered. "Whether it brings salvation or chaos, only time will tell."
Closing scene
Under the ever-watchful sky of Valyria, Prince Caelum lay awake, the gentle hum of the system softly whispering to him like a lullaby.
Update available. New commands unlocked.
He smiled softly in the dark.
Tomorrow, the real game begins