THE KING WHO NEVER DIED

THE FIRST KING...

The air shuddered with his presence.

The figure stood at the entrance, wrapped in robes of pure light, his aura pressing down on Elias like the weight of an entire kingdom.

He was tall, his face partially obscured by a golden hood, but his eyes—blazing white like stars—pierced through the shadows like they were alive.

Seraphina whispered, "Who… who is that?"

Varian, still bound in golden chains, exhaled sharply. "The first Arcane King," he murmured.

Elias's breath caught.

The first? That was impossible.

The Arcane King had ruled centuries ago. No human—no mage—could live that long.

Unless…

He had never died.

A heavy silence filled the chamber as the First King stepped closer.

Then he spoke, his voice like a storm contained within a whisper, low and commanding.

"Elias."

Elias flinched as the very sound of his name rippled through his body, awakening something deep inside him.

Something that recognized this man.

Something that remembered.

THE PRICE OF IMMORTALITY....

The First King took a measured step forward, his glowing robe barely brushing the stone floor beneath him.

"Elias," he repeated, his tone carrying weight beyond mortal comprehension. "You have come far. Perhaps further than I anticipated."

Elias forced himself to stand firm despite the overwhelming presence. "Who are you?"

The First King tilted his head slightly, as though amused by the question.

"I am what you will become."

Seraphina stiffened beside him, her voice edged with defiance. "What does that mean?"

The First King's glowing gaze flickered toward her, and for a brief moment, the golden flames of the torches lining the walls dimmed, leaving shadows in their wake.

When he turned back to Elias, his expression softened, but his voice held an unrelenting certainty.

"I have come to see if you will succeed where I failed."

Elias felt the words cut through him like a blade.

Varian let out a bitter, hollow laugh. "So it's true. You really didn't die."

The First King inclined his head in acknowledgment. "I was never meant to die."

He locked eyes with Elias.

"And neither were you."

THE CURSE OF POWER...

The words landed like a blow.

"You don't just carry the power of the Arcane King," the First King continued.

"You carry his soul."

A chill crawled down Elias's spine.

Seraphina's sharp intake of breath filled the silence. "You mean—"

"He is me," the First King interrupted. "Just as I was the one before me. And the one before him."

Elias shook his head, disbelief clawing at him. "No. That's not possible."

The First King's gaze burned brighter, unyielding.

"You've already felt it, haven't you? The whispers. The knowledge of magic you never studied. The power that wasn't meant for a mortal body."

Elias's heart thundered in his chest.

He had felt it.

Ever since he had spoken the forbidden Word of Power, something foreign had stirred within him—a presence that wasn't entirely his own.

It wasn't just magic.

It was a will.

VARIAN'S FINAL WARNING....

Varian, still bound by golden chains, spoke sharply. "Elias, don't listen to him."

The First King's glowing gaze shifted to the chained headmaster.

"You fear the truth, Varian. But denying it will not change what's coming."

Elias turned to Varian, his voice trembling. "You knew," he whispered. "You knew all along."

Varian's golden eyes softened, heavy with regret. "I tried to protect you."

Seraphina's voice was tight with anger. "That's why the Watchers erased you, isn't it? To keep this from him?"

Varian nodded slowly. "They believed if you discovered the truth too early, you might resist it."

His eyes flickered toward the First King. "Or worse… you might embrace it."

Elias's fists clenched at his sides. "So what? I was never meant to have a choice?"

Varian shook his head. "No."

His voice hardened.

"But understand this, Elias. This isn't about your life."

His golden eyes burned with an intensity that matched the First King's.

"This is about the survival of the world."

THE CHOICE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING...

The First King stepped forward, his glowing presence filling the chamber.

"You stand on the edge of fate, Elias," he said softly, his voice almost kind.

"There are only two paths before you."

He raised his right hand, radiant with golden light.

"Embrace your destiny—and become the ruler this world was meant to have."

Then his left hand darkened, shifting into a void of consuming shadows.

"Or reject it—and risk the chaos that follows."

The chamber trembled under the weight of his words.

Seraphina stepped forward, her voice defiant. "He doesn't have to choose either."

The First King's glowing eyes fixed on her, unreadable.

"He already has."

Elias's breath caught in his throat.

Because deep down, he knew the First King was right.

There was no escape.

No freedom.

Only a throne waiting to claim him.

THE WATCHERS STRIKE...

Before Elias could respond, the chamber trembled violently.

A deep boom echoed through the air, sending cracks rippling through the stone floor.

Varian's golden chains flared, and the sigils on the ground blazed with energy.

Seraphina spun toward the entrance, panic in her voice. "What was that?"

Elias didn't need to look. He already knew.

They had been followed.

A smooth, familiar voice echoed through the darkness.

"How unfortunate."

A figure emerged from the shadows, his silver eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

Aldric.

Behind him, ten Watchers cloaked in shadow followed, their glowing eyes like distant moons in the dark.

But this time, something was different.

The Watchers weren't just here to observe.

They were here to destroy.

Aldric smiled, tilting his head. "You weren't supposed to come this far, Elias."

His gaze shifted to the First King, his smirk widening. "And you—" He gestured lazily. "I must say, I'm surprised you decided to show yourself. It's been centuries since you meddled in our affairs."

The First King remained still, unshaken.

"And yet," he said quietly, "here I stand."

Aldric sighed dramatically. "A shame. I had hoped Elias would accept his fate without interference."

He lifted his hand.

And the chamber erupted into chaos.

THE BATTLE OF LEGACIES...

The air was torn apart as the Watchers unleashed their power, beams of silver light streaking toward the center of the chamber.

The First King raised his hand, and an immense golden barrier erupted, absorbing the attacks with ease.

"Do not falter, Elias," he said, his voice calm despite the chaos.

Seraphina drew her sword, its edge igniting with blue fire. She stepped in front of Elias. "Stay behind me!"

Aldric's laugh echoed across the chamber. "Protecting him is futile, girl."

He raised both hands, and the sigils beneath Varian exploded with blinding light.

Varian screamed as the chains tightened around him, pulling him to the ground.

"No!" Elias surged forward, but the First King held him back with a single, commanding gesture.

"This is not your fight yet," he said, his glowing eyes fixed on Aldric.

"But it will be soon."