THE LAST BLOOD SOVEREIGN

CHAPTER 36: THE MEETING OF TWO HEIRS

The Desert of Echoes had fallen silent.

The golden flame that carried the Fourth Sovereign's spirit had disappeared, leaving behind only a glowing crystal platform.

Kael stood at the center of the chamber.

Four inheritances.

Four revelations.

But instead of feeling stronger...

He felt heavier.

The truth had changed everything.

The man he wanted to destroy had been the man who protected him.

The enemy he hated had carried his father's final wish.

Kaelor approached slowly.

"I know what you're thinking."

Kael looked at him.

"Do you?"

The prince nodded.

"You're wondering how someone can spend eighteen years believing a lie."

Kael looked away.

"My whole life was built around that hatred."

Kaelor gave a bitter smile.

"Mine too."

He looked down at his hands.

"I spent years trying to become the son my father wanted."

"I thought strength meant proving myself."

"But now I realize..."

"We were both children carrying the mistakes of our fathers."

The words stayed with Kael.

For the first time, he did not see Kaelor as the Emperor's son.

He saw him as someone else who had been trapped by history.

Aurel walked toward them.

"The Fourth Shrine is complete."

"But the journey is not."

Kael looked at him.

"The Fifth Shrine."

Aurel nodded.

"Before you reach it..."

"You must return to the Imperial Capital."

Everyone became quiet.

Selene frowned.

"Return to the place where Malachar waits?"

Aurel nodded.

"The truth you seek is there."

Kael looked toward the distant horizon.

"And the Eighth Seal."

"Yes."

"The final battle is moving closer."

The group left the Desert of Echoes at sunrise.

Veyron carried them across the skies.

The journey back was different.

Before, Kael travelled with anger.

Now...

He travelled with purpose.

But peace did not last.

On the third day, the sky suddenly darkened.

Veyron stopped mid-flight.

Aurel looked upward.

"We have company."

Black clouds gathered above them.

Not Abyss creatures.

Not Imperial soldiers.

Something else.

A single figure descended from the clouds.

A woman.

She wore dark silver armour and carried a long spear.

Her eyes were cold.

But not cruel.

She landed on Veyron's back without making a sound.

Everyone prepared their weapons.

Selene raised her sword.

"Identify yourself."

The woman looked at Kael.

"My name is Lyra Voss."

Kael's expression changed.

"Voss?"

She nodded.

"The Eclipse Commander Lucien Voss was my brother."

Everyone became alert.

Caelan gripped his spear.

"You expect us to trust you?"

Lyra ignored him.

She looked only at Kael.

"I did not come to fight."

"I came to warn you."

Kael narrowed his eyes.

"About what?"

Her expression became serious.

"My brother was not acting alone."

"Someone inside the Empire has been controlling the Eclipse Legion."

Selene frowned.

"Who?"

Lyra looked toward the Imperial Capital.

"The Emperor's closest adviser."

Aurel's expression changed.

"Impossible."

"Who?"

Lyra whispered one name.

"Lord Varyn."

Silence.

Kaelor's face turned pale.

"No..."

"You know him?"

The prince nodded slowly.

"He raised me after my mother died."

"He was my father's most trusted adviser."

Lyra shook her head.

"He is not loyal to your father."

"He is loyal to something much older."

Kael felt his Blood Sovereign Mark burn.

The fourth ring reacted.

A vision flashed.

A man standing before the Eighth Seal.

Lord Varyn.

His hands covered in black energy.

Whispering to the darkness.

"Soon..."

"The final key will arrive."

Kael opened his eyes sharply.

"He is connected to the seal."

Lyra nodded.

"Yes."

"And he has been waiting for you."

Meanwhile...

Deep beneath the Imperial Palace...

Lord Varyn stood before the Eighth Seal.

He was an elderly man with gentle features.

The kind of face people trusted.

The kind of person no one suspected.

He placed a hand against the ancient gate.

"My Lord..."

"The Blood Sovereign has awakened four inheritances."

A voice answered from the darkness.

"Excellent."

Varyn smiled.

"Everything is proceeding as planned."

Behind him, the eighth chain trembled.

CRACK.

The old adviser smiled.

"Soon..."

"The world will finally understand."

"The Blood Sovereigns were never its saviours."

"They were the lock."

The darkness behind the gate stirred.

"And Kael..."

"Will be the key that opens it."

Back in the sky...

Kael looked toward the Imperial Capital.

The place where his past began.

The place where his family's fate was decided.

The place where the final truth waited.

He tightened his grip on Dawnbreaker.

"I am going home."

Selene looked at him.

"Are you ready?"

Kael looked ahead.

"No."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"But I don't need to be."

The silver eagle.

The purified dragon.

And the warriors beside him moved toward the horizon.

Toward the empire.

Toward Malachar.

Toward the truth.