The World Above

Chapter 36: Execution, Exile And War

As we stepped through the portal into the past, we were struck by the stark transformation of the Palace of Magix.
Once a beacon of light and joy, the palace now loomed ominously against the darkening sky.

The vibrant colors that had adorned its walls were replaced by a muted, somber palette. Vines of decay crawled up the stonework, and the air was thick with an oppressive sense of dread.

Gone were the cheerful smiles of the palace's inhabitants, replaced by grim, hollow expressions. The corridors, once filled with laughter and music, echoed only with the sound of hurried, fearful footsteps.

Servants moved quickly, heads bowed, avoiding eye contact as if the mere act of looking up could bring about their doom.

At the top of the grand balcony, the newly widowed Empress Eve stood draped in black, her face a mask of cold resolve.

Beside her stood her son, the new Emperor Aaron, his youthful features etched with the burden of newfound power. He seemed to waver, the weight of his crown pressing heavily upon him.

Held firmly by the guards was Prince Arliss, his voice ringing out in desperate pleas. "Aaron, please, you must listen! Mother is not guilty! You must think about this!"

Aaron's eyes flickered with a mixture of sorrow and confusion. He took a hesitant step forward, his mouth opening as if to speak, to perhaps heed his brother's pleas. But before he could utter a word, Eve's hand shot out, gripping his arm with a steely determination.

"No, Aaron," she said, her voice a chilling whisper that cut through the air like a blade. "This is necessary. Do not falter."

Aaron's shoulders slumped under the weight of her words, his resolve crumbling as he turned away from his pleading brother. The guards tightened their grip on Arliss, whose desperate cries echoed through the palace halls.

I watched the scene unfold with a mix of sorrow and frustration. The past we had come to this time was more tragic and fraught with darkness than I anticipated.

The once majestic Palace of Magix now seemed a graveyard of hopes and dreams, its halls haunted by betrayal and sorrow.

The celestials, their forms radiant with an ethereal glow, watched the scene with deep regret, sorrow, and a flicker of anger.

The atmosphere was heavy with tension, the weight of their emotions pressing down on the gathered crowd like a storm about to break.

Veda, the goddess of wisdom, stepped forward, her usually serene face marked by concern. Her voice, gentle yet firm, cut through the oppressive silence. "Your Majesty," she began, her eyes meeting Eve's. "Perhaps we are rushing into this. There must be another way to-"

Eve's harsh voice interrupted, slicing through the air. "You are the ones who decided she should be executed," she snapped, her eyes blazing with a mixture of fury and pain. "Why are you backing out now?"

Veda's lips pressed together, her words stifled by Eve's vehement response. The other celestials shifted uneasily, their collective regret and guilt palpable.

They had indeed played a part in the decision, their judgment clouded by the tumultuous events that had led to this moment. Or maybe it was something else.

Veda and the others looked slightly confused when Eve accused them.

Aaron, torn between his duty and the pleas of his brother, glanced helplessly at Veda, then back at Eve. His hesitation was clear, but he remained silent, unable to defy his mother's will.

Held tightly by the guards, Prince Arliss's voice rose above the tension, raw with desperation. "Mother, please! You know in your heart that she is innocent. You cannot let this happen!"