SON OF THE HERO KING

While the world seemed to have gone full-on insanity mode over Nefertiti and what her ascension to the next level meant, the girl or rather phoenix in question, on the other hand, found herself surprisingly calm as she opened her eyes in her inner world settled deep within her mind.

“How distasteful.” She muttered gently while looking at what was supposed to be the reflection of her inner self.

It was a world filled with mirrors. Thousands upon thousands of mirrors, all reflecting her at different times of her life. From the moment she was born to the day she met Sol.

“I did not expect that my true self was such a narcissistic bitch.” She chuckled and started advancing, ignoring the reflections. She understood well what this meant.

This twisted inner self was once her truth. The realization that she was, in the end, nothing but a honey trap. Born with no authority on her own. Not even the authority to dictate her own life. A puppet of fate, whose road had already been established before she was even born.

Her steps stopped as she was about to leave the forest of mirrors. Her limbs were caught in dozens of chains, inanimate objects binding her to this accursed place.

The reflections in the mirrors were all smiling at her. A fake smile that was made to hide all the emotions they felt within. A mask worn to protect themselves from the harsh reality of the world.

“Truly. It is so very pitiful. You seem to be misunderstanding something,” Nefertiti stopped herself from trying to leave, and with a wave of her hand, she broke one of the mirrors close to her. “I do not fear myself.”

For the next few minutes, her inner world was overwhelmed with the noises of shattering mirrors.

The Nefertiti who smiled while receiving a humiliating training in how to please men.

The one who smiled while being wooed by possible fiancés.

The one who smiled while discovering that she was just one of the many phoenix experiments conducted by her grandmother.

Smile. Smile. Smile.

Slowly, methodically, carefully, she broke one mirror after another, shattering them entirely and leaving only fragments of their existence.

She did not try to leave but instead walked toward the centre. The closer she inched towards the centre, the expression on the face of the Nefertiti inside the mirrors became that much more distorted.

From smiling, they changed to anger then fear, and finally unbridled sadness.

“You are finally starting to show a good expression.” She laughed as she broke another mirror.

“Do you know, I believed I was an actor and that life was nothing but a large stage.” She stopped as the chain started tightening around her neck. “I wore a mask to fool the world and even myself.”

She moved her arm. The chain around screeched, digging into her flesh and drawing blood. But in the end, it was unable to struggle further, breaking under her might.

“It was you right? My beloved mask.” The expressions in the few remaining mirrors faltered.

“When I was angry, you were smiling.” She broke the chain binding her right leg.

“When I was sad. You still kept on smiling.” She destroyed the chain binding her waist.

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“You were like a veil I hid myself under.” She ignored the pain as she snapped the chain around her neck.

As she did so, all but one of the mirrors were destroyed.

“It must have been hard. Right?” Nefertiti placed her hand on the mirror, looking down at the ugly person who was next to her. A misshaped face and body, akin to an abstract painting. This was the accumulation of all the expectations placed on her. The accumulation of all the dozens of masks she wore while hiding her envy, pettiness, jealousy, wrath, bitterness, and the plethora of negative emotions that dictated and showcased her life, her very existence. ȐÀ𝐍𝙤𝐛ĚS̈

The result of such action was understandable.

“Truly. Despite my beauty, I had the ugliest heart. I might have broken down if I did not meet my beloved.”

She gently caressed the mirror, muttering to herself.

“You don’t have to suffer anymore you know. He told me it’s alright to be myself.”

The ugly reflection looked back at her.

“When I am angry, I wish to be able to scream. To laugh when I am happy and cry when I am sad.”

The reflection in the mirror started changing, and soon, what stood in front of Nefertiti was a woman with long flaming golden hair as bright as the sun and two beautiful rainbow-coloured eyes.

“I am Nefertiti. Both the ugly and the beautiful are me, just different parts that constitute who I am. I do not fear my ugliness for He will accept all of who I am and will become.”

The mirror broke.

“My desire goes beyond Servitude as well. My lord does not wish for his wives to be servants. I am nothing but a humble believer. This is why, from now on, I will not spread Servitude.”

“I will become Faith itself.”

A new Concept was etched on her soul. One that was superior to even the power of Servitude.

Faith.

One of the strongest concepts in existence, the basis of divinity itself.

“It’s time for me to acquire my Name and become a King.”

A name appeared in front of her, frail and flimsy.

Ishar. The Queen of Heaven. A powerful True Name she had obtained because of her sense of competition against Isis.

Thinking about it now, it truly was a childish and useless competition and she was glad to be friends with Isis now.

“This name suits me no more.” She had changed so much since all those events. She had no wish to stand as a fake Queen nor did she wish to rule heaven. The only one who had such a right was none other than her Lord.@@novelbin@@

But then, what should she do?

She thought deeply, filling her mind with all the actions and words of Sol and one of his greatest catchphrases.

“Let there be light, he said.” Her resolve was found. Her Lord was the All-Seeing Radiant Lord.

How could she not share the qualities of her Lord as his emissary?

“All I wish is to become a being akin to the one that has guided me to this crossroads. I will be the one standing at the forefront. Bringing forth the Light and sharing it with the world. I… Will become Light!”

The world sang praise at her decision. Powerful mana flowed in her body, sweeping away all the remains of the broken mirror leaving place to an entirely white space filled with endless light.

A new name formed in her mind. One that was the perfect fit for all her beliefs.

Theia. [1]

The name resonated within her heart. A name bringing forth the full power of the primordial light and a desire to open the eyes of all people roaming the world. To the truth of her one true Lord.

Realizing this, Nefertiti laughed. One full-blown laugh as if venting all the negative feelings that had been accumulating in her heart throughout her wretched existence.

Her True Name could only be described as ironic. After all, thanks to this, she might be able to move even faster than Nent, whose Name and Concept were related to lightning and speed.

But beyond even a simple comparison to Nent, Nefertiti felt elated. The connection between her and Sol had greatly strengthened and she had a feeling she was even closer to him than any of his contracts could ever hope to become.

From this day, the Emissary of the Light would walk the earth, spreading the guidance and truth of her Lord.

[1]: The ancient Greeks believed Theia, sometimes referenced as Thea, to be the goddess of sight and light. Thea translates to sight. The ancient Greeks believed they could see because of light beams emitted from their eyes. This belief is perhaps why Theia was associated with light and with sight. She was also seen as the mother of the light to the sun, moon, and dawn.

I really worked hard on this name, lol, since it suits the All Seeing Radiant Lord title of Sol.