"Follow the light…."
Victor snapped open his eyes with a frown as he gazed at around him. 'What was that…?' He mumbled inwardly as his light amethyst eyes narrowed, looking around the room; clearly, he was all alone.
But that whisper… he felt as if the whisper didn't come from outside but from within himself. But he shook his head. "I must be daydreaming," he mumbled aloud, rubbing his forehead. Surely, someone cannot hear a whisper from within.
Rising to his feet, Victor walked towards his bed, where his ceremonial dress was waiting for him.
It was a militaristic-style long black coat with golden embroidery that matched his hair color, the symbol of royal blood.
He eyed the dress for a few moments, the weight of the decision he was about to take weighing on him. 'I don't know what to choose yet,' he confessed. It was a big decision that will not only define his future but that of the entire kingdom.
If he could, he wished to postpone it, at least until he was sure what to choose. But his enemies won't wait for him. "Those bastards are really creeping up on our lands!" He cursed with rage, his face twisting in contempt.
This was the prize of indecisiveness: getting trampled and looked down upon by others.
With a heavy sigh, Victor changed his attire, donning the ceremonial uniform. It fit him perfectly; the smooth cloth provided insulation from the outside weather, keeping him warm at all times.
He then walked over to his mirror, standing in a corner, adjusted his hair that reached down to his shoulders. He was about to return back to his seat when someone knocked on the door.
"Your Highness, it's time," the voice said. Victor was familiar with the voice; it was his personal maid, one that had taken care of him since he was a child.
"Coming, Martha." Victor replied, his back straightened while his gaze turned sharp as he walked towards the door.
Opening the door, he could see a woman in her forties, wearing a maid uniform, standing in front of him, with a small smile on her face.
"You look handsome, my prince." She complimented.
"Thank you, Martha." Victor said with a smile.
Martha then guided Victor down the long hallway, adorned with large chandeliers at each step and wide windows to his left.
Various paintings of men and women decorated the walls on his right, each radiating regality and opulence. These were Victor's ancestors, the rulers of this kingdom, the ones who ruled these lands for more than a millennium.
Victor gazed at these paintings as he walked, his gaze radiating with respect. Each one of them was a great monarch, one who took care of their people as if they were their own children.
Of course, not all of them were saints. But none dared to become tyrants in fear of their gods. Gods who promised retribution against the corrupt.
Suddenly,
"Follow the light…"
Victor froze in his steps, his gaze snapping towards Martha, who was walking behind him. "Did you say something now, Martha?" He asked.
"No, Your Highness," Martha replied, shaking her head.
Victor's brows creased together; once might be a daydream, but it cannot happen twice. Not while he was actively walking.
Noticing his expression, "Are you okay, Your Highness?" Martha asked, worrying that something might not be right.
But Victor shook his head. "It's nothing…" he muttered before he resumed walking, his brows still knitted with a frown.
Soon they reached the end of the hallway, and the duo continued walking while taking a turn, which was followed by another few before they reached their destination.
It was a large black door, etched with depictions of six people, each with three pairs of wings on their back. In the center was a woman, holding a sword high in the air, its light radiating everything, including the five others who surrounded her.
She was the goddess Theia, the goddess of light and the leader of their pantheon.
"His Majesty and Her Majesty are waiting for you inside, Your Highness. His Highness Prince Hubert, along with Her Highness Princess Lilianna, is also present." Martha informed.
Victor winced at the mention of Hubert, his half-brother and his rival. Still, he nodded his head with another sigh. "Alright, let's enter."
The large doors creaked open as Martha pushed them, and without wasting a moment, Victor stepped in. But the moment he did so,
"Follow the light…." The whisper was back again, startling him. Victor flinched at the voice, now more than just a whisper.
He halted for a moment, clenching his fists, his mind raking up as he wondered just what that voice was. But still, he didn't linger long.
Continuing to walk towards his family, who were standing before a series of statues, 'Just what the heck is that voice?!' He exclaimed inwardly.
Reaching his family, he greeted his parents, the King and the queen of this land, "Father, Mother."
His mother, a woman with a kind face, smiled at him, "Good morning, Victor." She greeted back while his father nodded and asked, "Are you ready?"
Victor hesitated for a beat, his eyes flinching before he nodded stiffly, "...Yes."
His father had noticed this, but didn't point it out, instead, he turned his back towards him, now facing the six statues—their gods.
They were just like the one on the door at the entrance, each with three pairs of wings on their backs, and each carrying a weapon.
The King then knelt in front of goddess Theia's statue, the one in the middle, followed by the queen and Victor, and then by the prince and princess who were standing a distance away from Victor.
Clasping his hands, the King whispered a prayer, closing his eyes. The rest followed suit, praying to the gods for their protection.
After a few minutes, the king and his family rose to their feet, while Martha brought a wooden case to him, with a symbol of a golden sword and six pairs of wings on its back.
The king then turned to Victor, "Have you decided?" He asked, his voice now firm and filled with authority.
Victor's eyes flickered as he turned to Martha, his heartbeat slowly rising as the maid opened the case.
The case held six vials, each radiating brightly in a different colour, each granting him a different power.
Victor gulped as indecision creeped into his mind, a different power? A different responsibility, a permanent responsibility. And he didn't know which to choose.
Yet, he had to, he had no other choice but to choose.
"I…" his voice trembled slightly, his heartbeat rising. But just then,
"Follow the light….."