Far from the sealed chamber where the Kael'Dri family had just brushed shoulders with a god whose shadow could silence worlds, the empire itself thrummed with a completely different energy, bright, jubilant, loud enough to drown out the whispers of death.
Every street glimmered with banners and floating lanterns. Holographic displays shimmered over plazas, showing countdowns, family crests, and celebratory animations of twin stars spiraling around each other. The Naming Ceremony of the imperial twins wasn't just a cultural event; it was a full-blown cosmic holiday wrapped in mortal excitement.
And this week? It was what people would remember for decades.
Some came from the outrageously distant provinces, traveling days, even weeks, just to be here. And they arrived shouting, singing, dragging luggage, children, pets, and several questionable "good luck" charms that likely violated at least three minor magical regulations.
