"I never wanted this crown, yet it rests upon my head."
"His Majesty the Emperor and Prince Arcanist have collapsed! Quickly, call the healers!"
Within the grand temple, Tavon's thunderous voice echoed, nearly piercing the ears of everyone inside. I stood frozen amidst the chaos, my eyes locked onto the tragic scene unfolding before me.
The acolytes reacted swiftly, lifting Grandpa's frail body along with Uncle Arcanist and carrying them into a medical chamber for immediate treatment.
Just hours ago, several members of the imperial family who had refused to become Mana suppliers for the ritual suddenly changed their minds. Perhaps they preferred to lie weak after the ceremony rather than risk their lives on the battlefield.
But alas, Grandpa had already been too disappointed. In his pride, the old man had coldly turned away the imperial family members who had come to offer their Mana sacrifice.
Grandpa, known for the sheer thickness of his Arcana Codex and abundant Mana reserves, should have had no trouble performing the ritual. The imperial family members offering their Mana could control the amount they released. Most of them, however, lacked the proper skill to regulate their Mana during a sacrifice, leaving them vulnerable to Erode Syndrome—a condition where pages of their Arcana Codex deteriorated from overexerting their Mana beyond its limits. However, such a flaw should not have been applied to Grandpa. He was a veteran in the art of Mana control.
Yet today was different.
During the sacrifice, Grandpa visibly winced in pain. Seeing this, Uncle Arcanist, who had just arrived, immediately leapt forward to participate in the offering—even if it was already too late.
But then, something unnatural occurred.
A strange vibration rippled through the air when Grandpa and Uncle Arcanist poured their Mana into the Mana Stone. The sacred stone glowed far brighter than usual, pulsing erratically with flashes of brilliant blue light.
Then, the sound came.
A heartbeat.
It was not the familiar resonance of Mana or the usual hum of a ritual. It was rhythmic and heavy, a deep pulse that rattled my very bones—as if something within it was alive, responding to the sacrifice.
Grandpa, who should have been able to control his Mana flawlessly, suddenly lost his balance. His body trembled, and his Arcana Codex began to shudder violently.
The ancient symbols, once vividly inscribed upon its pages, started to fade, drawn into the swirling energy emanating from the Mana Stone. The invisible pages of his codex tore apart as though some unseen force was ripping them away.
Before anyone could react, fresh blood trickled from the corner of his lips, and his body collapsed to the ground.
The temple Hierophants barely had time to process what had happened when the same thing struck Uncle Arcanist. His muscles tensed, his face contorted in unbearable pain. Before he could pull away from the Mana Stone, his body slumped to the floor, his breaths ragged, and within moments, both of them lost consciousness.
I shook my head violently, trying to push the memory away.
Now, I stood outside the temple's medical chamber, waiting for any news about them.
"Nio?!"
Zura burst through the temple's entrance, running toward me. Beside her was a tall, broad-shouldered man with fiery red hair—Finnian. "Are you okay? How's the Emperor?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but another voice cut in before speaking.
"Tch."
Finnian stood a short distance behind Zura, his fists clenched, his jaw tight. His sharp gaze bore into me, not with concern but with anger. "Why is he the first one you're worried about?" His voice was laced with irritation. "That brat didn't even do anything while Grandpa and Arcanist were on the brink of death!"
Zura turned to him, her brows furrowed, but Finnian was already stepping forward, his fury directed straight at me.
"Answer me, Elenio. Why did his majesty collapse?"
I swallowed hard. I didn't know. Everything had happened too fast—faster than I could comprehend.
"What really happened in there?" he pressed, his voice shaking with restrained emotion. "Someone with perfect Mana control like Arca and Grandpa wouldn't just collapse from a mere Mana sacrifice."
I lowered my head, too afraid to meet Finnian's burning gaze.
"I could understand if it happened to our younger siblings, like Lucan, who still struggles with Mana control, or even Soren and Sylas, who never take their magic studies seriously. But His Majesty? Arca? It doesn't make sense."
Who would know?
Did I have Mana to understand what happened?
I could only scream these words in my heart.
"Finnian, that's enough," Zura said, her voice tense.
But he ignored her.
"You know what's worse?" His voice rose, brimming with frustration. "The Emperor and the only real pillar of strength in our family—both unconscious at the same time, in the same place, while you were there! Tell me, who is supposed to lead the Empire while they're like this?"
His eyes burned with accusation, his breath coming in sharp, angry bursts as if he was just looking for an excuse to lash out.
I had no answer.
How could I explain something I didn't even understand? The strange pulse from the Mana Stone, how their Arcana Codex was drained, and how they lost control of their Mana… None of it was something I could put into words.
I parted my lips to speak, but before I could utter a single word, Finnian took another step closer, his voice dropping into a sharp, cutting whisper.
"You were there, and yet you did nothing. As always."
I wasn't angry—perhaps I didn't even dare to be. Maybe I had long grown used to the anger of the imperial family, always searching for a flaw to bring me down. If anything, I was simply exhausted from trying to muster the courage. Even meeting their gazes filled me with dread. The imperial family and almost everyone who opposed my coronation as crown prince.
"But now is not the time for blame," Zura said firmly, though her eyes still held traces of concern. "Right now, all we can do is wait for news from the healers inside."
The commotion from the medical chamber gradually faded as the healers worked tirelessly. The tension inside the temple thickened, and everyone waited with bated breath, hoping for good news.
Suddenly, Tavon emerged from the medical chamber, accompanied by several temple healers. After exchanging brief words and letting them leave, his face remained pale, as if he bore the weight of terrible news.
Finnian immediately stepped forward when the healers left, his stance tense with urgency. "How are Arcanis and the Emperor?"
Tavon hesitated, glancing at me with evident concern as if searching for the right words to deliver the grim news. He took a deep breath before speaking. "The Emperor is in critical condition. As we know, Erosion Syndrome is no trivial illness. Though the healers have stabilised him, his recovery will take a long time—if he fully recovers."
A heavy silence fell over the temple, the kind that gnawed at the heart. Finnian's gaze flickered with worry as he looked at Tavon. "And my brother, Arcanis?"
Tavon shook his head slightly, his expression growing even darker. "Prince Arcanis is in a similar state. Though not as severely as the Emperor, he lost several pages from his Arcana Codex."
Finnian clicked his tongue in frustration, his breath carrying traces of unspoken fear. "See? We have no choice but to entrust everything to this incompetent heir." His golden eyes gleamed with fury as they locked onto me. "And this time, there won't even be the Emperor or Arcanis to rein him in."
Tavon sighed and turned to me. As if knowing what he was about to say, I could only take a deep breath in resignation. "Finnian is right, Your Highness. It is time for you to take full control of the empire."
"And you agree with this, Tavon?"
"Do we have a choice, Prince Finnian? His Highness Elenio is the crown prince, the rightful heir of Midgaria. If anything happens to the Emperor, the crown prince must take action." Tavon tried to quell Finnian's lingering outrage.
Silence once again filled the room. Finnian seemed to struggle with his thoughts, his lips trembling as if he wanted to argue further, but no words came out.
Meanwhile, I sat in silence, my emotions swirling in chaos. The weight on my chest grew heavier with each passing second.
Fear of responsibility crashed over me like a tidal wave. I knew the burden I was about to bear would be immense, especially without the magic power expected of a ruler. And yet, there was no other choice in a moment like this.
With a voice that trembled but held a newfound determination, I said, "Uncle Finnian, I know you might not trust me because I have no magic and have always moved in my grandfather's shadow. But I don't want to give up. I ask for your trust—just a little. I will do my best not to let it go to waste."
"Hear this, the burden of the empire! A ruler's duty isn't just about sitting behind a desk but protecting the people! Are you sure you can do that with your frail body and lack of Mana?!" Finnian's voice thundered with anger, and I could only swallow nervously.
He was livid, but Tavon placed a firm yet gentle hand on his shoulder. "This isn't just about strength or weakness, Finnian. It's about trust and responsibility. Prince Elenio has already been appointed as the crown prince. In an emergency like this, we must follow the line of succession and uphold the traditions passed down."
Finnian shook his head in disbelief. "This is absurd. How can someone as weak as him bear the responsibilities of an emperor? How is he supposed to protect all of us?"
Tavon stepped forward, gripping Finnian's shoulder reassuringly. "A true leader's strength isn't measured solely by power. The Emperor may be incapacitated right now, but we still have the crown prince. Let Elenio try, Prince Finnian."
Zura also stepped closer, her voice calm but firm. "We all know this situation is far from ideal, but we must stand together and support Elenio. Only through unity can we overcome this crisis."
Silence fell upon the room. Finnian was clearly struggling with his thoughts, his expression twisted in reluctance. It was evident he couldn't accept the idea of someone as inexperienced as me taking on such an enormous responsibility. Yet what choice did he have? Allowing me to rule in the Emperor's stead was a far better option than plunging Midgaria into civil war, just as Tavon had warned.
The red-haired man exhaled sharply, his face still contorted with deep-seated resentment. "I'll try to believe that you can be relied on, so don't break that trust, you crippled prince!"
With a slow nod, I accepted the challenge. "I will do my best. For our empire, for the Emperor, and for Uncle Arcanis."
Zura stepped forward and took my hand firmly. "We're here with you, Elenio. We'll get through this together."
Tavon looked at me with something akin to pride. "Very well. We will begin preparations for the Astral Voyager summoning ritual. Let's show that we remain strong, even in adversity."
With uncertainty looming over the empire and the threat of chaos hanging over our heads, we had no choice but to work together to preserve stability and ensure the success of the summoning ritual. I didn't know what awaited us, but one thing was certain—I would do my best and not give up.