Shadow Over the Heavenly Throne

Sylphia sat at the edge of her chair, tapping her fingernail against the table. The candle beside her flickered, casting irregular shadows on the wall. She was still processing her conversation with her mother. Was it really normal for a three-year-old girl to study politics, economics, and strategy as if she were about to ascend the throne?

"Isn't this a bit strange?" she muttered at last, looking up at Veynessa.

The queen, engrossed in her documents, raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you mean?"

"That instead of playing with dolls, I’m analyzing the kingdom’s budget. Don’t you think children should… I don’t know, have a childhood?"

Veynessa smiled coolly. "Childhood is a privilege, not a right. And only those who have the luxury of being useless get to have one. You, Sylphia, are someone with a future to secure."

Sylphia frowned. "So I’ll never get to be a normal child?"

Veynessa regarded her with something that might have been a hint of tenderness. "You were never treated like a normal child, and you don’t behave like one either, my dear."

Sylphia sighed, leaning back in her chair. Her mother’s words were harsh, but there was truth in them. She knew this wasn’t an ordinary life. She was a princess. And only by proving her worth and uniqueness could she survive.

"Go rest," Veynessa finally instructed, setting aside a document. "And don’t overthink. That, too, can be dangerous."

Sylphia nodded and stood. She wasn’t fully satisfied with the conversation, but she knew she wouldn’t get more from her mother.

***

By the time she reached her chambers, night had already fallen. Moonlight seeped through the windows, casting a soft glow over her room. The faint scent of floral oils lingered in the air, a sign that someone had already prepared her bath.

Moments later, she entered the bathing chamber, where Shion was already waiting. The girl stood silently in the spacious, marble bathhouse, where warm steam rose above the grand stone basin. The water rippled gently as droplets fell, and the rich scent of precious oils filled the air. At the sight of Sylphia, Shion gave a small curtsy.

"Your bath is ready, Your Highness."

Sylphia gazed at her for a moment, feeling a strange pang in her chest. After her conversation with her mother, she couldn’t shake the thoughts of Shion’s past. Had anyone ever prepared a bath for her? Had anyone ever treated her as someone worthy of care?

"Shion." Her voice was quiet but firm. "We’re bathing together."

Shion blinked in slight surprise but nodded. "Of course. If Your Highness wishes, I can wash your back."

"That’s not what I meant." Sylphia pulled off her dress and tossed it aside. "I want us to bathe together."

Shion stiffened. Something unreadable flickered in her crimson eyes, as if she was trying to understand the meaning behind those words.

"You don’t have to be a servant all the time." Sylphia gave her a small smile. "Right now, I’m just Sylphia, and you’re just Shion. That’s all."

Shion didn’t respond immediately. After a moment of hesitation, she slowly nodded.

"Alright."

Sylphia stepped into the warm water, letting the soothing heat embrace her body. She glanced at Shion, who remained rigid at the edge of the bath, as if unsure whether she truly belonged there.

"Come on, Shion," Sylphia encouraged, shifting to make space. "It’s just a bath."

Shion gave a small nod and carefully dipped her feet into the water before slowly sinking deeper. Sylphia watched as the girl moved with caution, as if she weren’t used to such comfort.

"I brought hair oils for treatment," Shion murmured. "I can… I can help wash Your Highness’s hair."

Sylphia rolled her eyes but smiled slightly.

"First of all, I told you to call me by my name. And second…" She reached out, gently taking Shion’s hand and pulling her forward. "This time, I’m washing yours."

Shion froze, staring at her in disbelief.

"That’s… that’s not necessary…"

"But I want to," Sylphia replied firmly. "So hush and let me."

Without waiting for further protest, she reached for the silky oil and carefully worked it into Shion’s hair. The crimson strands were soft yet lacked proper care, as if no one had ever paid attention to them. Sylphia moved with gentle precision, untangling knots with her fingers before pouring warm water over them.

Shion sat still, experiencing something entirely foreign. Sylphia’s touch wasn’t commanding or mechanical. It was… warm. Genuine.

She had never felt anything like it before. For a moment, her entire body seemed to freeze, unsure of how to react.

"You have beautiful hair," Sylphia said suddenly, a gentle smile on her lips. "Maybe you should take better care of it."

"It was never important..." Shion whispered.

"It is now," Sylphia replied firmly, finishing washing her hair. "Because now you have someone who cares."

She looked at the damp, crimson strands of Shion’s hair and smiled warmly. "From now on, you have to let it grow."

Shion stared at her in surprise. "Grow it?"

"Yes!" Sylphia twirled a few strands between her fingers, sliding them gently. "Even now, with your red hair and crimson eyes, you’re beautiful. But if you let it grow... I can’t even imagine how breathtaking you’ll be."

Shion lowered her gaze, visibly moved. No one had ever told her she was beautiful before. No one had ever told her that anything about her was worth admiration. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

Something clenched in her chest. It was an unfamiliar feeling. But it was warm. And yet, so foreign that she struggled to find the words.

"Thank you... Sylphia," she finally whispered.

Sylphia’s smile widened.

"Now that sounds better! And now it’s your turn—help me with my hair."

Shion gave a small nod, then reached for the scented oil and carefully began washing Sylphia’s silver hair. Her movements were hesitant at first, as if afraid of making a mistake, but with each passing moment, she grew more confident. Warm water cascaded over the princess’s short strands as Shion focused on massaging the oil in, trying to do it as gently as possible. Sylphia closed her eyes, letting the touch signify the growing bond between them.

Sylphia smiled to herself. Maybe this was the first step. Maybe this quiet touch, this moment of closeness, would allow Shion to bloom like a hidden flower and reveal her true beauty to the world. She knew that years of trauma wouldn’t vanish overnight. But if she could help, if she could be the one to teach Shion—step by step—what warmth and care truly meant, she would do it.

***

The mist in the labyrinth thickened without warning. Deymos tensed, instinctively reaching for his weapon. Something was wrong.

"Do you see that?" Kaelrith whispered, pointing ahead.

The space before them... cracked. As if the very air had been slashed apart by an invisible blade. From the darkness, something emerged—something unnatural.

It was tall, grotesque, as if it had been stitched together from various creatures that were never meant to exist as one. Its eyes gleamed with a crimson glow, and its cracked skin revealed pulsing, sinewy muscles beneath.

"What the..." Maelthorn took a step back, feeling an icy shiver run down his spine.

The creature didn’t move immediately. It stood still for a moment, as if trying to adjust to this world. Then its glowing eyes locked onto them.

And then—it attacked.

"Watch out, it's attacking!" Deymos shouted, leaping back as the creature’s massive arm slammed into the ground with a force that sent a shockwave through the air.

Kaelrith was already drawing his sword, but before he could strike, the creature’s body shifted. Its limbs stretched unnaturally, and where there had been a single arm, now there were four, each ending in razor-sharp claws.

Without hesitation, Kaelrith dodged, rolling to the side before counterattacking. His sword gleamed with pale light as it slashed through the air, aiming for the beast’s shoulder. The blade struck true, severing one of the monstrous arms in a clean cut. Kaelrith landed lightly, preparing for another strike—when suddenly, the creature’s body convulsed. Where the severed limb had been, something pulsed, and in the blink of an eye, a new arm grew in its place as if it had never been lost.

"Damn it..." Kaelrith hissed, staring at the fully restored limb. "This thing... it doesn’t regenerate normally."

He instinctively took a step back, watching as the creature’s body pulsed unnaturally. They had to act fast. The beast let out a distorted wail before lunging at them again. Kaelrith tightened his grip on his sword, dodging its attack with fluid precision before slashing toward its legs. His blade cut through the air, but before it could land, the creature’s shape warped, its limbs extending as it jumped back at an inhuman distance.

"Aim for the spots where it doesn’t shift as fast!" he shouted, analyzing its movements.

The beast howled and charged at Kaelrith again, but he used his reflexes and precise movements to evade its strikes. In one moment, he was on the defensive, in the next—striking with ruthless efficiency, searching for a weak point.

Deymos, watching Kaelrith battle the monster, studied its every move. The creature’s body changed in real time, adapting to Kaelrith’s attacks as if it were learning from the fight itself. His eyes narrowed, and his heartbeat quickened as he began to see a pattern in the swirling Qi surrounding them.

That Qi. It was the same as the energy in the guardian’s lair.

This thing... was created from that same force.