A World Between Realms

The Light king and The Shadow king

As everyone settled down for the evening, Sophie and Pita returned to their shared room, a familiar sanctuary amid the academy's bustling activity. Mia, as always their close friend, joined them. The room, with its stone walls and sparse furnishings, felt unusually quiet, the atmosphere heavy with the weight of the day's revelations.

Sophie closed the door gently behind them and turned to Pita with an expression of mixed awe and concern. "I still can't believe it, Pita. You're the Oracle now," she said, her voice a whisper, as if saying it louder might make it less true.

Pita sat on the edge of her bed, her usual calm demeanor replaced by a thoughtful, slightly overwhelmed look. "Neither can I," she admitted, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns of the blanket. "It's all so sudden. One moment I was just another student, and now..." Her voice trailed off as she looked up at her friends, seeking a semblance of normalcy in their eyes.

Mia, ever the supportive friend, moved closer and sat beside Pita. "But think about it, Pita," she said with an encouraging smile, "maybe this was meant to be. You've always been the one among us who understood things on a different level. Maybe you were chosen because you're exactly what the kingdom needs right now."

Sophie nodded in agreement, her mind racing with the implications of their friend being the conduit for divine prophecies. "It's just a lot to take in. The prophecy, the future of the kingdom, and now this new role of yours." She paused, then added with a supportive smile, "But we're with you, every step of the way."

The three friends spent the rest of the evening dissecting the events of the day, especially the cryptic phrases of the prophecy. Pita and Mia took it upon themselves to explain to Sophie the intricacies of the monarchy, as it was crucial to understanding the current situation.

Mia began, "You see, the present king, Solarius, was actually the spare king. He assumed the throne after his older brother, King Relius, died under tragic circumstances."

Pita added, "It was back in the year 2000. King Relius, the queen, and their heir to the crown were all killed in an assassination. The palace was set on fire, and it happened so suddenly that no one from the royal family was saved."

Sophie listened intently, absorbing the details about the monarchy that Pita and Mia shared. Given that she was still on level 1 for her history class and unfamiliar with the ways of Navaria, this was all new information to her. The phrases from the prophecy—about the spare king's fall, the heirs to the throne, and the celestial hints of the crescent seeking its other half—now took on a more poignant significance, intricately linked to the kingdom's turbulent past.

Sophie listened closely, eager to understand more about the kingdom's enigmatic past. "So, how about the Shadow and Light King?" she asked, her curiosity piqued by the cryptic prophecy.

Pita, who had been at the academy the longest and had read extensively in the library, took a deep breath before diving into the lore. "Long time ago, according to myths," she began, her voice steady with the weight of the knowledge she carried, "the kingdom was ruled by two kings: the Light King and the Shadow King. But as time passed, it was the lineage of the Light King that continued to rule the monarchy."

She paused, noting the intrigue on her friends' faces, then continued, "There's a lot of speculation about what happened to the lineage of the Shadow King. Some say it disappeared, others believe it went into hiding, biding its time. The details are murky, but these stories have always swirled around the darker parts of our history."

Sophie nodded, absorbing the stark contrast between the two lines described by Pita. "And the prophecy mentioned heirs from both lines could claim the throne," she reflected aloud. "This could mean that the Shadow King's lineage might still be around, possibly ready to emerge and claim power."

Mia leaned in, her interest deepening. "Exactly, and with the prophecy talking about the crescent seeking its other half, it sounds like the kingdom itself might be fragmented, like it's waiting for these two halves to come together again?."

Pita agreed, "And don't forget the ancient decree mentioned in the prophecy. It could be a key piece of our history that dictates how these heirs are chosen or tested, which might resolve or reignite the old conflicts between these two lines."

Mia, trying to piece together the implications of their history with the prophecy, turned to her friends with a thoughtful expression. "So, if the heir of the Light King's throne died, does that mean the heir of the Shadow King would take over the throne?" she asked, voicing a logical conclusion given the absence of a direct heir from the ruling lineage.

Pita nodded slowly, considering the possibility. "It could be," she replied. "If there's no direct heir from the Light King's lineage, the throne might indeed fall to the Shadow King's line, especially if there's an ancient decree or some form of succession law that supports such a claim. However, it's also possible that the prophecy's reference to two claimants means there might be a contest or a challenge for the throne, rather than an automatic succession."

Sophie leaned forward, her interest piqued by the complexities of their political system. "That would make sense," she mused. "Especially since the prophecy talks about the selection for the throne unfolding as foretold by the joining of realms. Maybe it's not just about who has the right by lineage but also who can prove themselves worthy through some kind of trial or test."

Mia's eyes widened with realization. "That would definitely stir things up," she said. "It would mean that even if the Shadow King's heir is in line for the throne, they might still have to earn it, perhaps even competing against others who believe they have a rightful claim."