On the main street of the capital, a man stood on a small wooden platform, shouting loudly:
"Citizens! Today is coronation day! The new king will begin his rule! Get ready for the event!"
People gathered on both sides of the streets. Some held their children in their arms to see the scene, while others watched the preparations with curiosity.
"Did you hear,neighbor? A new king? – said one woman to another, pointing at the platform."
"Yes,today we will see all the ceremonies. Your neighbor told me there will be fireworks in the evening," the other replied.
The workers moved quickly, putting up temporary poles, securing ropes, and cleaning the ground.
"Make sure the flags are fixed properly!"shouted one supervisor.
"Yes, sir, everything will be ready before the king arrives," answered a worker, looking at the sky.
Nearby, a man watched the preparations, looking nervous:
"Will everything be ready before noon?"
Another replied with a smile:
"Don't worry,we have practiced every detail. Nothing will go wrong."
People began taking their assigned seats; some discussed their seating arrangements with each other.
"Where is our spot?"asked an old man.
"Just like at the mosque.We will have the front seats," answered one of the elders.
The atmosphere was full of activity; everyone knew their role and worked quickly. Children ran through the crowd, some shouting with joy:
"I want to see the king!I want to see him!"
"Be patient,he will appear soon," replied a father, smiling.
Flags fluttered in the wind, the celebratory music gradually grew louder, and the drums beat with a steady rhythm, announcing the start of a new day full of official ceremonies.
Elios woke up in his room to a faint sound from afar. He sat on his bed feeling a strange tension wrapping around his heart. He took a deep breath and then went out to the hall, where his father was standing near the window, looking outside.
When he saw his father, he approached him.
"Father..."
Orestos turned slowly, placing his hand on his son's shoulder:
"Our new king is awake.How do you feel?"
Elios nodded but didn't say anything at first. Then he took a deep breath and said:
"I feel bad.I haven't found a speech to give yet. Is that bad?"
The father smiled a sarcastic smile, but tried to show confidence:
"You're cooked.You'll mess things up."
Elios paused for a moment, then looked at his father suspiciously but with a grin on his face:
"Cooked?Where did you learn that word?"
"When I was on my trip with Advisor Aplos in the Fourth Kingdom. I heard a child say it to his friend after he bumped into me."
Elios stopped laughing for a moment, then asked his father:
"Speaking of Aplos... My mother warned me about them."
Orestos's expression changed slightly,and his voice became more serious:
"She is right.The Advisors always have their own interests. They will try to take advantage of you because you are just a child."
Elios nodded slowly, then said cautiously:
"Do you think I can handle them?"
His father smiled, his hand touching his son's shoulder again:
"You have to handle them.After all, you are the king. And the people need a king who tries. if you can't do it, well... like I said a moment ago, you're cooked."
Elios laughed for a moment.
"Will being king make me crazy like you?"
Orestos nodded:
"Pretty much yeah."
Elios smiled and headed towards the kitchen, then turned back to his father.
"You've eased my anxiety. Thank you, father."
The capital's square stretched out before everyone. Its floor was made of polished stones that reflected the light with every step, surrounded by tall public buildings and huge stone columns. The king's high platform stood out in the middle of the square, decorated with red and golden fabrics flying in the wind.
The audience was filled with nobles, elders, military leaders, and townspeople. Each wore their formal clothes; some carried small family symbols or flags, while others watched with anticipation. From a distance, celebratory music played through horns and drums, each beat increasing everyone's feeling of grandeur and anticipation.
On the platform, the new king appeared. He walked slowly down the aisle reserved for him, surrounded by his majestic guards and city council members. In his hand was the symbol of civil power: a staff made of carefully engraved gold, shining under the sun, followed by the eyes of the audience.
One of the guard leaders approached him and said:
"The King will enter now.Be ready for obedience and respect."
The King stepped forward to his designated spot. At a specific moment, the most senior city leaders approached the platform, carrying the city's crown, made of decorated and metallic branches, shining in gold and silver colors. One of the leaders slowly raised the crown and said:
"We place this crown on your head,as a symbol of wisdom, courage, and responsibility towards your people."
The King placed the crown on his head. His hair under the gold looked neat, his eyes shining with confidence and determination. Then he turned to the audience and raised his hand before everyone:
"I pledge to protect the city,to lead its people with justice and courage, and to work for its elevation and prosperity..."
Elios put his hands down, then looked at the entire kingdom—no, at all the kingdoms—and spoke:
"My dear people of the Neveria Galaxy, my coronation as your king today is the best thing that has ever happened to me."
He paused for a moment, then raised his voice again:
"My age might be young. I may not be the strongest king who has ever lived, or the wisest. But a wise person once told me that none of that matters, because the people need a king who tries for his people."
He shifted his gaze to his father, whose eyes were filled with pride. Then he looked back at the people.
"And from this platform, I promise every single person here that I will try. I promise you that I will not let you down."
The audience replied with one voice, loud and full of cheers:
"We believe in you and support you!"
"We believe in you and support you!"
After that, an official stepped forward and handed Elios the symbols of rule: the shining state sword, the scepter of power, and the gilded city seal, each one carrying its meaning of civil and legal power. The King took each symbol firmly in his hands.
Then the final procession began. Elios walked slowly around the square, greeting the people lining the sides of the road, their hands waving in greeting and joy. Fireworks shot into the sky, their colors exploding in the air, and colored smoke filled the space above. Children screamed with joy, and adults smiled and raised their hands in salute.
"Look! The fireworks have started!" shouted one of the attendees.
"The King looks confident!This is a great day!" said a woman beside him.
In the First Kingdom.
In a special viewing area, Diva was with Koran and Timo, watching the event on the big TV. Their eyes shone with admiration and worry at the same time.
"Do you see him?"Koran whispered.
"Yes, everything seems to be going well," Diva replied with a brief smile, but she couldn't hide the worry in her eyes.
Timo pointed at the screen and said excitedly:
"Look at the platform,the new King is raising his hand... he looks great."
Koran smiled:
"Bro,you're just a glazer."
Diva intervened calmly, her voice full of caution:
"Koran,you must respect the King, even if he is a child."
Koran nodded quickly, then looked at the screen again:
"Look,it's Neva there. The King's sister, she looks beautiful!"
Diva laughed a little, trying to lighten the tense mood:
"Yes,she is beautiful. but you know your chances with her are less than zero? They're in the negatives."
Koran looked at his mother:
"I actually like her mother more."
Diva sighed, then answered in a stern tone:
"She is my age.Are you crazy! do you like older women or what?"
Koran nodded slowly and seriously:
"Yes."
Diva replied:
"Yes! You've become a naughty child."
Koran looked at his mother after they were quiet for a little while:
"Mom,are we staying here for the whole procession?"
Diva smiled calmly:
"No,in a little while we're going back home. You have school tomorrow."
After Koran returned to his room, he lay on his bed but didn't feel sleepy. His eyes stayed open, and his thoughts circled around the coronation ceremony and everything he had seen on TV.
He suddenly heard the faint sound of crying from the floor below. He got up quickly, put on his clothes, and headed towards the source of the sound. Going downstairs, he found Diva sitting on a chair in the hall, her eyes red, tears falling down her cheeks. On her lips was one sentence:
"Why did you leave us alone?"
Koran immediately noticed, through her suppressed sadness, that she was talking about his father.
"Mom..." he said in a low voice, approaching her.
Diva lifted her head, tried to wipe her tears quickly, but she couldn't hide it all. She smiled at Koran sadly:
"Are you not asleep yet, dear?"
Koran stood beside her, and didn't say anything. He just sat on the floor next to her and hugged her. She was silent for a moment, then gave in to crying, leaning on his chest.