THE LAST BLOOD SOVEREIGN

CHAPTER 33: THE ROAD TO THE DESERT OF ECHOES.

Three days had passed since the battle of Skyhaven.

The floating kingdom had survived, but everyone knew the attack was only the beginning.

The Abyss was no longer hiding.

The world had entered a new age.

An age of awakening.

Kael stood at the edge of Skyhaven's highest tower, watching the endless horizon.

The crimson crystal of the Fourth Inheritance rested in his hand.

It was beautiful.

But it also felt heavy.

Not because of its power...

Because of the responsibility it carried.

"Still trying to understand it?"

Selene's voice came from behind him.

Kael turned.

She walked toward him carrying two cups of tea.

He smiled slightly.

"You always bring tea when you want to have a serious conversation."

Selene handed him one.

"Because serious conversations are better with tea."

For a moment, they simply watched the clouds.

Then Kael spoke.

"Selene."

"What if I'm not enough?"

She looked at him.

"The Blood Sovereigns before me were legends."

"They defeated armies."

"They changed history."

He looked down at his hands.

"But I still struggle."

"I still make mistakes."

"I still feel afraid."

Selene remained quiet.

Then she smiled.

"Good."

Kael looked confused.

"Good?"

"Yes."

"Because a person who believes they cannot fail becomes dangerous."

She stepped closer.

"The greatest rulers in history weren't those who never feared."

"They were those who carried fear..."

"...and still moved forward."

Kael looked at the horizon again.

For the first time in days, his doubts became quieter.

The journey to the Desert of Echoes began that evening.

The group had changed.

They were no longer simply searching for power.

They were searching for the truth.

Kael.

Selene.

Caelan.

Elara.

Prince Kaelor.

And Aurel, who had decided to guide them through the desert.

They travelled on the back of the purified Abyss Dragon.

The creature was now called Veyron.

Its black scales had become silver at the edges, showing the corruption had been completely removed.

Caelan looked at the dragon beneath them.

"I still cannot believe we're riding an Abyss Dragon."

Elara smiled.

"You were complaining about flying three days ago."

"I was complaining about a normal eagle."

"This is different."

"You know..."

Caelan looked down.

"We are literally sitting on something that used to destroy kingdoms."

Veyron released a low growl.

Caelan immediately sat straight.

"I meant that respectfully."

Everyone laughed.

Even Kaelor.

It was the first time they had heard the prince laugh freely.

After five days of travelling...

The landscape changed.

The green forests disappeared.

The rivers dried.

The air became hot and heavy.

Ahead of them stretched an endless sea of golden sand.

The Desert of Echoes.

A place where voices from the past could still be heard.

Aurel stood at the edge of the desert.

"We continue on foot."

Kael looked at the endless dunes.

"Why?"

"Because the desert accepts no shortcuts."

"The Fourth Sovereign built this place to test those who seek truth."

"What kind of test?"

Aurel looked toward the horizon.

"The desert will show you what you desire most."

"And what you fear most."

Caelan sighed.

"Why do ancient trials always involve suffering?"

"Because easy paths create weak people."

Everyone turned.

Aurel looked at Kael.

"The Fourth Sovereign believed a king should understand pain before carrying the pain of others."

They entered the desert.

For hours, nothing happened.

Only sand.

Only heat.

Then...

Kael heard a voice.

"Kael."

He stopped.

Everyone continued walking.

He looked around.

"Did you hear that?"

Selene frowned.

"Hear what?"

The voice came again.

Closer.

"Kael..."

He turned.

Standing behind him was a young boy.

A younger version of himself.

The child wore the same torn clothes Kael had worn in Black Hollow.

The boy looked scared.

"Why did you leave me?"

Kael froze.

The others could not see him.

Only Kael could.

"I don't understand."

The child looked at him with sadness.

"You became strong."

"You became a king."

"But you forgot me."

Kael stared.

"I didn't."

The child shook his head.

"You did."

"You forgot the boy who only wanted a family."

"You forgot the boy who cried alone."

"You forgot the boy who lost everything."

The words struck deeper than any weapon.

Kael lowered his head.

Because they were true.

He had spent so much time becoming a Sovereign...

He had forgotten the wounded child he once was.

The child stepped closer.

"You don't need to become someone else."

"You only need to accept who you already are."

A tear fell from Kael's eye.

The illusion faded.

The desert became silent again.

Aurel watched from a distance.

"Interesting."

Selene looked at him.

"What happened?"

Aurel smiled.

"The first trial has begun."

Far away...

In the Imperial Capital...

Emperor Malachar received a report.

"The Blood Sovereign has entered the Desert of Echoes."

The Emperor closed his eyes.

After a long silence, he spoke.

"Then the truth can no longer remain hidden."

The servant hesitated.

"Your Majesty..."

"Should we stop him?"

Malachar looked toward the sealed chamber beneath the palace.

"No."

"Open the Imperial Archives."

The servant froze.

"Those records were forbidden."

"I know."

The Emperor's expression became sorrowful.

"But my son deserves to know."

"After all..."

"He has spent his entire life hating the wrong person."

Beneath the Black Citadel...

The Eighth Seal trembled.

And for the first time in eighteen years...

One of the ancient chains began to loosen.