Chapter 22: A Thousand Years of Regret

The Hidden Sovereign: Beyond Fate

The entire city of Nox Aeterna stood frozen.

The feared ruler of the Black Legion...

Lord Zarek...

...was kneeling before Abster.

No one spoke.

No one understood.

Even the ancient guardians looked at one another in disbelief.

---

Abster slowly walked toward Zarek.

"You called me..."

"...your oldest friend."

Zarek nodded.

"I did."

Abster's voice was calm, but firm.

"Then stand."

"I don't want my friends kneeling before me."

For a brief moment, Zarek's crimson eyes widened.

Then a faint smile appeared on his face.

"...You really haven't changed."

He rose to his feet.

---

Caelum immediately stepped between them.

"My King!"

"You cannot trust him!"

"He led the Black Legion!"

"He attacked the kingdoms!"

Zarek didn't argue.

He simply lowered his gaze.

"You're right."

"I did."

"But never without reason."

Helena narrowed her eyes.

"Then explain."

---

Zarek raised his hand.

The air shimmered.

A giant sphere of light appeared above the plaza.

"Words alone will never convince you."

"So..."

"I will show you."

The sphere expanded until it displayed a moving vision.

---

A thousand years ago...

Nox Aeterna stood at the height of its glory.

Humans, elves, dwarves, beastfolk, dragons, and spirits lived together.

Children laughed in the streets.

Markets overflowed with life.

At the center of the city...

A younger Abster Valen Zorlav stood beside Zarek.

Both were smiling.

"They were brothers..." Lyra whispered.

"Not by blood," Caelum corrected.

"But by choice."

---

The vision changed.

The sky suddenly darkened.

A massive golden gate appeared above the kingdom.

From it descended twelve radiant figures.

"The Twelve Gods..." Helena whispered.

Their leader stepped forward.

The God King, Aurelius.

His voice echoed across the city.

> "The Hidden Sovereign has grown too powerful."

> "The balance of the world has been broken."

Abster watched in silence.

"...The gods..."

---

The vision continued.

Abster stepped forward peacefully.

"I have no desire to wage war."

Aurelius answered coldly.

"You don't have to."

"Your very existence threatens heaven."

Without another word...

The gods attacked.

A rain of divine spears fell from the sky.

Buildings collapsed.

The city burned.

Countless innocent people died.

Elena covered her mouth in horror.

"They attacked first..."

---

The image shifted once more.

Inside the royal palace...

The former Abster stood with Zarek, Caelum, and several royal mages.

A small child cried in the background.

Zarek slammed his fist against the table.

"We can still win!"

Abster slowly shook his head.

"If we fight..."

"The world will be destroyed."

One of the royal mages stepped forward.

"There is another way."

"A forbidden reincarnation ritual."

Abster looked at the ancient spell.

"It will erase your memories."

"It will send your soul beyond this world."

"You may never remember who you are."

Silence filled the room.

Finally...

Abster smiled.

"If sacrificing myself..."

"...can save everyone else..."

"Then do it."

---

The vision ended.

The plaza was silent.

No one could find the words to speak.

Abster stared at the ground.

"So..."

"I chose this."

Zarek's voice trembled.

"I couldn't accept your decision."

"I wanted to fight."

"But you stopped me."

He closed his eyes.

"I failed to protect you."

"For one thousand years..."

"I blamed myself."

A single tear fell from his face.

"I'm sorry..."

"...my friend."

---

Abster walked forward.

Without saying a word...

He embraced Zarek.

The Black Legion gasped.

The ancient guardians stood speechless.

Zarek froze.

Then...

Slowly...

He returned the embrace.

"It's over," Abster said quietly.

"You don't have to carry that burden alone anymore."

For the first time in a thousand years...

Lord Zarek wept openly.

---

Not everyone accepted the revelation.

A voice echoed from the city wall.

"Touching."

Everyone turned.

A man dressed in white robes stood atop the ancient gate.

Golden wings of light spread behind him.

His silver eyes glowed with divine power.

"I was wondering when the truth would finally surface."

Helena's face turned pale.

"A Divine Apostle..."

The stranger smiled.

"My name is Cassian."

"I have come..."

"...on behalf of the Twelve Gods."

He pointed toward Abster.

"The Sovereign's exile ends today."

"By the decree of Heaven..."

"You are ordered to surrender."

Abster looked up calmly.

"And if I refuse?"

Cassian's smile disappeared.

"Then Heaven will finish..."

"...what it started one thousand years ago."

The sky above Nox Aeterna split apart.

Hundreds of pillars of golden light descended from the heavens.

The gods had made their move.

---

End of Chapter 22

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