He looked down at the pale Queen, then at the glowing seed in the bowl, his laughter echoing off the cold stone walls. In his mind, he wasn't a failure or a monster, he was the forefather of a new era. His people wouldn't just be saved, they would be reborn.
Erik didn't need to shout, his voice, carried by the lingering thrum of mana in the room, reached his children wherever they were in the palace. "Eldrin, Alinar. Come to me." He spoke the command into the cold air and waited, his gaze never leaving the seed.
When the heavy doors to the laboratory finally creaked open, the two heirs entered, presenting a stark contrast in their demeanor. Eldrin, the Crown Prince, walked with a stride heavy with frustration, his brow furrowed in a permanent scowl of annoyance. Behind him, Alinar, the first daughter, followed with a serene smile pn her face.
