> "Some are born of prophecy. Others are born of silence. The latter tend to last longer."
—Unknown Inscription, Found in a Broken Vault
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1. Ritual of Thrones
Floating Veil Academy was designed like a labyrinth of belief—every corridor echoed with destiny, every statue exhaled myth. It wasn't just a place for training; it was a forge for stories the world would never forget.
At the heart of it stood the Ceremonial Courtyard, known as The Cradle of Thrones.
One hundred pedestals floated in concentric rings, each one imbued with a fragment of ancient myth. To sit on a pedestal was to be judged—not just by the System, but by the collective belief of generations before you.
To fail was to vanish. To succeed was to be remembered.
At dawn, they came.
Heirs of noble sects. Daughters of war empires. Sons of prophecy. Bloodlines that bent the heavens.
And in the middle of them—
A boy who wasn't in any script.
Kairo Vale.
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2. The Gathering Storm
Instructor Althaea hovered above the arena, floating on a radiant script array. Her voice boomed through the windless sky:
> "Step forward. Claim your pedestal. Let the world see your weight."
A ripple of power danced across the platforms. Names were called, one by one.
> "Selan Myris, Second Flame of Tundra Crown."
"Vaik Talon, Inheritor of Dragon-Split Sky."
"Solas Thorne, Heir to the Five-Legacy Trade Guild."
Each heir floated to a glowing pedestal. They sat, closed their eyes. The System responded.
Script-lights burst around them.
Some glowed red. Others gold. The rare few—those destined to reshape realms—glowed violet or white.
Awe. Cheers. Rankings. Boasts.
Kairo didn't move.
Zeraphina, the Empress Returned, sat beside Instructor Althaea on the observation deck. She tilted her head, eyes narrowing at the motionless boy.
> "He doesn't seem impressed."
> "He hasn't been called," Althaea said. "Or maybe the System doesn't recognize him."
> "That throne," Zeraphina said, pointing to the black one at the edge. "It hasn't glowed in centuries."
Althaea frowned. "It wasn't meant to. It was installed as a punishment. To mock the unworthy."
Zeraphina smiled slightly.
> "Watch it."
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3. The Walk of No Name
The crowd buzzed as the last names were called.
Only one throne remained.
No one approached it.
Until Kairo stepped forward.
He moved without theatrics. No flare. No power surge. Just a quiet, deliberate step past prodigies glowing like suns.
Some mocked. Others laughed. One or two watched silently.
> "Who is that?"
"No glow… no name?"
"Is this a joke?"
Kairo reached the black throne. Sat.
Nothing happened.
No light. No surge. No recognition.
Then something ancient cracked beneath the world's skin.
The statues turned.
Not metaphorically. Not symbolically.
One by one, the stone figures representing the Founding Myths of Floating Veil turned their heads toward him.
And bowed.
The courtyard froze.
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4. The System Buckles
Deep beneath the courtyard, the System's myth-layer flickered.
It didn't understand what had just occurred.
> [Unidentified signature.]
[Mythweight exceeded expected variance.]
[Belief Anchor: Unknown.]
For the first time in 200 years, the System logged a Silhouette Event:
> A myth without known script lineage has disrupted the Pedestal Balance.
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5. The Rumor Begins
Kairo stood.
No light trailed him. No title etched into the air. He said nothing. Simply left the stage and disappeared back into the crowd.
That night, whispers spread.
> "The statues moved."
"He sat on the Black Throne and survived."
"No one knows who he is."
The instructors reviewed footage. The System couldn't identify him. Even memory recall among students blurred where his name should've been.
All they could remember—
Was the hilt.
The black hilt of a saber he never drew.
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6. Aftermath
Instructor Althaea stood alone at the Throne Court.
She touched the now-still black throne. It hummed slightly.
> "You weren't supposed to respond to anyone," she whispered. "What did you see?"
Above her, Zeraphina stood in silence.
> "Find me the myth without an origin," she said.
Althaea didn't respond. Because she knew, deep down: They wouldn't find him.
He was already rewriting the records.
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End of Chapter 2: The Weightless Throne