Fates and Thrones

Council

The nagging voice of my sister pierced my ears the moment I stepped into the meeting room. "You're running out of time, Athenrún," Bradite chided, her tone sharp as always. "It's time you announce whether you've made any progress."

I sighed, feeling the weight of her impatience, but I kept my expression neutral. There was no point in engaging in an argument. Not today. I crossed the room swiftly and slid into my seat. "I apologize, Bradite. I had to wait a few weeks after they agreed to be my champions. The situation had to be just right." I paused, giving her a quick glance before focusing on the others. "Now they're in the woods. They've passed the test of intellect."

Nekrosyl rose from his seat at the head of the table, and the murmurs around the room fell silent instantly. His presence always had that effect. "These two are strong candidates for what we need," he said, voice calm but firm. "We've been trying for millennia, and this is our last chance."

He didn't need to remind us of the failures that came before. We all knew the history. Our children had failed, time and again. I could feel the unspoken tension rise around the table.

Bradite wasn't finished, though. "Our children have failed these tests countless times," she added, her voice dripping with frustration. "But these twins... they give us hope. They represent what we need."

I leaned forward, placing my hands on the table as I met her gaze. "I know, Bradite. Believe me, I know what's at stake. These twins are different. They've already done more than any before them, and if anyone can finish this, it's them."

She narrowed her eyes, arms crossed, still clearly unimpressed. "Potential means nothing if they don't succeed. We need results, Athenrún."

"I understand that" I replied, trying to keep my patience intact. "But they're not just potential. They've already proven themselves. They've passed the first test, and right now, they are on their way to the Den of the Forgotten for the second part of this test."

Nekrosyl nodded, leaning back in his chair. "We may be running out of time, but we must trust the process. These twins have defied odds we thought impossible."

I exhaled slowly, resisting the urge to bite back at Bradite's unrelenting pressure. The weight of millennia rested on my shoulders, but for the first time in ages, I felt a glimmer of hope. These twins were our best chance. Our last chance. And I wasn't about to let them slip away.

As I stood to leave, a firm hand grasped my arm, stilling me. I turned quickly, ready to unleash on the fool who dared touch me. But when I met his eyes, my breath caught. Alfatherus. My father.

I bowed my head quickly, forcing my hands to unball from the fists they had made. His gaze held me in place, heavy and unreadable.

"I understand that this is hard for you," Alfatherus began, his voice surprisingly gentle. "This is hard for me as well. I hate seeing you and Bradite carrying the extra weight, in addition to your own duties. But you need to face the facts. Nekrosyl cannot do his job and Mimrion'. Just as Gaia cannot do hers and Yala's."

His voice hardened at the mention of Gaia. That old wound between them was still raw, no matter how much time had passed.

"Yes, Father."

"You have two more months before you and Bradite will take their places. It will be much easier to replace the two of you, considering you are already grooming your replacement."

I sucked in a sharp breath, shaking my head. "I'm sorry, Father. I just wanted to be prepared, in case something happened."

"Do not lie to me, child," Alfatherus's eyes darkened, and his grip tightened. "You wish to join your uncle." His words struck like a blow. I froze, unable to respond. The truth I had kept buried, even from myself, now laid bare. "And I can understand that, but we have a duty to uphold."

He reached out handing me a pure golden sword before turning on his heel and leaving. The metal felt burning hot as I stared at it. I ran from this side of myself as often as I could, but Father was telling me this time there is no avoiding it.

The cough behind me snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned sharply to find Hermes standing there, his usual carefree grin nowhere in sight. His eyes, normally full of mischief, were serious as he glanced from the sword in my hand to my face.

"You're going to need that," he said, nodding towards the blade. "The Den of the Forgotten... it's no simple task. If they fail there, we lose everything."

"I know," I replied, my voice low. The weight of the sword in my hand matched the weight in my chest. "But it's not just them. It's us. We've been through this countless times, and each time, we come closer to losing everything. This time has to be different."

Hermes studied me for a moment before speaking again. "You believe in them. I can see that. And maybe, just maybe, they'll succeed where others haven't."

"I have to believe in them," I said, gripping the sword tightly. "They're not just another pair of champions. They're my champions. And they've made it this far."

Hermes stepped closer, his voice softening. "Athenrún, I know you've put everything into this. But remember, they have their own journey to walk. You can guide them, but you can't carry them."

I nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. I had done everything I could to prepare them, but ultimately, the fate of the realms rested on their shoulders now.

"Nekrosyl was right," Hermes continued. "This is our last chance. If they fail... there won't be another."

The tension in the room seemed to thicken as those words settled in the air. The fate of the gods, of the mortals, of everything, hinged on two young souls who had only just begun to understand the power they wielded.

"I'll do my part," I said, more to myself than to Hermes. "But the rest is up to them."

He gave me a small, encouraging nod before turning and disappearing down the hall, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the golden sword in my hand. The heat of the metal had faded, but the responsibility it symbolized burned hotter than ever.

I didn't know if the twins would survive the Den of the Forgotten, or if they were strong enough to face what lay beyond. But for now, all I could do was trust them.and trust that this time, after millennia of failure, we'd finally found the ones who could succeed.