Morning arrived over the First World.
Golden sunlight bathed the ancient capital, reflecting from crystal towers and rivers of shimmering starlight.
For the first time in thousands of years...
The Hall of Stars was full.
Guardian leaders from every corner of the First World stood in a great circle around the throne.
Kael looked at each of them.
A crystal dragon.
A stone giant.
The Sky Guardian captain.
The Flame Guardians.
The Tide Guardians.
Each carried the weight of an ancient civilization.
Lyra stepped forward.
"The Council of Guardians is now in session."
A deep silence followed.
Then the crystal dragon spoke.
"The Devourer fleet will arrive soon."
The stone giant crossed his massive arms.
"Our walls will not hold forever."
The Sky Guardian captain shook her head.
"Then we must not fight alone."
Kael frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Orion walked toward the great star map.
"There were once twelve Guardian Kingdoms."
He pointed to several dim lights scattered across the galaxy.
"Only one has awakened."
Kael understood immediately.
"The others..."
"May still survive."
Hope spread through the chamber.
"If we can awaken them," Lyra said, "our chances improve."
"But time is against us."
Aetherion suddenly interrupted.
"There is another problem."
The Hall became quiet.
"The beacon did more than reveal our location."
"It awakened something else."
Every light in the room flickered.
The star map changed.
A single golden symbol appeared at the far edge of known space.
Orion's expression froze.
"No..."
Kael noticed immediately.
"You know what it is."
Orion looked away.
"I hoped it would never wake."
The symbol slowly expanded across the map.
Even Aetherion remained silent.
Finally, Kael asked,
"What is it?"
Orion answered in a whisper.
"The Eighth Throne."
Silence filled the hall.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"That can't be possible."
"I thought it was destroyed."
"So did I."
Kael looked from one face to another.
"No one ever mentioned an Eighth Throne."
Aetherion's voice grew heavy.
"Because there were only supposed to be seven."
The room fell deathly quiet.
Outside the palace...
The sky darkened.
Far beyond the clouds...
A single golden star began to shine.
One that had been dark for ten thousand years.
And somewhere beyond the edge of the universe...
Someone smiled.
"They've finally noticed me."