“To all those gathered here on this day, you are witnesses to this- the Royal Crowning.” He faced me. “Kneel my King.”

Taking a knee I bowed my head.

“Maki Bright of BrightEarth, you kneel bare before the Spirits, you are no longer our Prince.”

I fought back a shiver at the odd tone of power in his voice. The crowd was eerily silent.

“Maki, do you swear to uphold the good of the Four Great Kingdoms of Elementaya, the wellbeing of the people, to be just and fair? Do you swear to protect the Kingdom with your last breath?”

Say no- I didn't want to do this-

“I do.” I said loudly pleased my voice didn’t tremble.

“Then I offer you to the Spirits… Oh Divine Spirits of Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Dark I show you a new candidate to join the ranks of rulers past, please pass your judgement on him.” He fell silent waiting.

Everyone was waiting.

I held my breath dizzy for who knew what anymore but as I started to hope that I wasn't accepted, a strong wind whipped my hair- a random shower came raining on me and the watching crowd- then the torches around the steps roared high into the sky followed by the largest cloud coming from seemingly nowhere to block out the sky, before finally the ground rumbled underneath me. Travis inhaled sharply and I heard him mumble something in the Old World tongue.

Looking down I saw the faintest glow of my marking and knew Travis had hidden it once again. But why was it glowing now?

“The Divine Spirits have approved!” Travis said, making the crowd cheer. “Then by the power vested in me as Head Researcher of the Realm, I crown you from this day till your last as King of BrightEarth!”

He placed the crown over my head where it hovered before resizing itself to my head fitting perfectly.

Standing next to Travis he took my hand lifting it high making the people cheer louder.

“Long live King Maki! Long live BrightEarth!” They called.

My smile slowly twisted into a grimace as a strong cough rattled its way out. It started as a simple cough that grew till I had to pull my hand from Travis’s to cover my mouth, warm wetness splattered on my palm and looking up I saw Travis could see it too. Everything blurred and with a stumbling backwards step I watched people reach for me as the world went black.