The old man took the cane and turned around, signaling Fang Hong and Prince Aleph to step forward.
At that mont, the Light of the Morning Star rose, right above the high platform, its brilliant silver glow flooding into the vision of both—Fang Hong couldn't help but look up at the scene. On the high platform, there was silence, as the King of Sand sat quietly on his throne, with every courtier, prince, and consort behind him calmly watching the scene.
No one spoke, yet within their hearts, it seed like a mighty bell was resonating. They understood what this scene ant for Istania and this land. Nineteen years ago, and in tis even further past, this scene had repeatedly played out, and each ti, it marked the alternation of the old and the new.
But what puzzled them more was the mysterious identity of the young man beside Prince Aleph.
The strange situation on the high platform quickly spread to the square below.
The tourists at the square, though unable to understand the scene, were among natives who recognized its significance.
"The order of blessing has changed!"
"Why Prince Aleph?"
Such whispers circulated among the crowd, quickly sparking greater commotion. Amidst the turmoil, rumors about the King of Sand's imminent succession spread silently and differently, from natives to Invokers, as tourists widened their eyes watching the scene.
This was a spectacle rarely seen once in a decade, a sentint of regret imdiately spreading among the crowd. Unfortunately, the communication system was unusable; otherwise, recording this mont would be invaluable historical footage.
However, another smaller voice also gradually spread among the crowd:
Who is that other young man?
Two Kings of Sand?
Saisheer looked at the approaching Fang Hong and the prince, nodded with a smile and extended his cane, tapping gently on each of their shoulders.
Then he softly closed his eyelids and began chanting an obscure blessing—similar to the incantation previously recited by the Master of Ceremonies, also derived from the ancient language of Istania. As the old man chanted, Miss Tata quietly translated for Fang Hong in the Mind World, the gist being a plea to Androma to bless the people, and a prayer for good weather on this land in the year ahead, etc.—
Finally, the old man opened his eyes and extended his hand towards Aleph, signaling the prince to grasp his hand.
Aleph, evidently prepared, stepped forward and extended his right hand to shake hands.
A pale golden light blinked on the back of Count Vaisu's hand; the old man's wise gaze fixated on Aleph, then he smiled slightly: "I see the future ruler above the Sand Sea—"
Aleph was montarily stunned.
Upon hearing this blessing, Barbaltan nearby relaxed, as if heaving a sigh of relief.
Yet he slightly lowered his head, suddenly rembering the blessing he received nineteen years ago—
'Starfall upon the Sand Sea—'
Due to his father's intention to suppress the results of that Star Ceremony, apart from him and the long-deceased previous Master of Ceremonies, no one knew the secret of this blessing.
Aleph released his hand, seemingly still failing to react, while Saisheer, with his gaze, signaled him to let Fang Hong step forward. Only then did the prince return to his senses, turning around and signaling Fang Hong to step forward with his eyes. He was a native of Istania and naturally knew the details of the Star Ceremony.
Observing the two's prior movents, Fang Hong too understood the aning and hesitated before stepping forward.
The old Clan Leader smiled slightly and extended his hand to him.
And as Fang Hong clasped the old man's hand, an unexpected event occurred—
A long, sharp scream seed to echo within his mind.
The scream was hauntingly familiar; overwhelming darkness surged forth, instantly veiling all starlight before him, as if casting the entire world into a deep abyss of darkness in an instant.
At that mont, he seed to return to Traveler's Rest, looking up at the Dragon Horn Hall's do and Nikopolas's horns—his entire soul's world was gripped by the power of darkness, engulfing his perception of everything around him, from sound to sight, touch to sll.
He saw dark wings blocking the sky, Dragon Roar rising from the deepest parts of his soul.
But this ti, no golden pupils appeared from the depths of darkness.
In profound fear, he only saw a strand of light born from the darkness—
An azure light.
Like Verdant—
The light gently descended from the heavens.
Like a green teor piercing through layers of black clouds, its brilliant light penetrates the mist, gradually falling into the distant horizon.
The endless dark field, at the edge of the sky, only a long streak of green light.
Yet in that paused mont, he suddenly felt a slight warmth in his chest; a warm current surged forth from the pin on his chest—that was the amulet Anser gifted him, within the Mind World, a silver Light Wings seed to split the heavens, carving a long fissure through the dark world.
In an instant, it felt as if the entire world collapsed along the fissure, tides of external perception rushed back into his body.
He heard terrified screams echoing around, seemingly plunging into chaos.
He reflexively lifted his head to look.
He found himself still on the terrace outside Kashan Palace, while above the high platform, the blinking Light of the Stars was disintegrating, then it thunderously plumted below like a burning teor, crashing into the dark waters before Kashan Palace, completely consud by blazing flas.
The bonfires in the square were extinguished at that mont.
Suddenly, darkness engulfed everything around.
Not just him.
Aleph, and the old Clan Leader before him, all watched in shock.
In nearly seven hundred years of Istania's history, never had a Star Ceremony witnessed such an occurrence. Apart from the screams of won and children, most seed dumbfounded, montarily unable to comprehend what transpired. Until a terrified scream echoed across the square:
"The Star fell—!"
That day, the Star fell upon the Sand Sea.
...
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