After running outside, the trio stood near the cave, not knowing which direction to turn, but unable to wait, they agreed to move towards the Temple. As there was no point in hiding anymore, Ashiya treated his hand, "Is there a way for them to take the Lightning Sigil after Zarine's death? Shouldn't it be ten years?"

"Normally, yes, but nothing is clear with that dagger in question," Kiyeri replied.

"It's just strange that no one has tried it before. There have been many times when the country was waiting for the Sigil to return after unexpected Bearer death. Everyone stood for ten years and did nothing? I don't believe it." Ashiya argued.

"I think we all misunderstood something." Seyre interrupted.

"We don't understand a lot, which is why we are several steps behind them!" Ashiya snapped angrily.

"No," Seyre shook his head, "we ALL. And Zeni among us. If he knew what he was doing, he wouldn't have gotten into a fight during the ritual itself. Try to look at everything from their perspective:

“The ritual failed. Trying to fix everything or find the reason, Zeni experimented on you, Kiyeri, but it didn’t lead anywhere. Yes, it was quiet for a long time after you ran away, but maybe they were looking for information. Let's not forget - they were training additionally.

“After that, Zeni suddenly disappeared, now it's clear he was in the Sun Kingdom. It would seem that he was looking for answers, if not for the fact that Ruki lured everyone south. So they abandoned the original plan to take over the Sigils of our country and decided to start with the Suns. When they return home with so much power, they will still establish the order they want."

"The Sun was just a plan B or maybe, a plan for the future?" Kiyeri checked.

"Yes, that's why I say, we all don't understand something. You've heard it yourself, that story is a legend, passed down from generation to generation, after all these years, who can say how, why and what happened?"

Kiyeri countered, "I'm confused by the blood in the ritual... I'm certain he couldn't have gotten it from me."

Seyre rubbed his chin, "Maybe he used his own? But the blood didn't fit?"

Kiyeri raised his hands, "It didn't fit? Can a stone choose at all? That still doesn't explain why I was marked. I should have just died then, become a victim, like the others."

“It was different in the legend,” Ashiya joined the conversation. “Remember, only three chosen warriors and a crowd of commoners participated in the sacrifice. The chosen ones gave a sacrifice – their blood. All the commoners died without exception. And in our case, if we consider you the chosen one, everything is similar. The commoners died, and Zeni gave a sacrifice – blood and a Sigil, which is why he survived.”

“It would be logical if I were some kind of chosen one, but I don’t think so highly of myself.”, Kiyeri waved him off.

Ashiya’s steps began to slow down until they stopped completely, the other two followed suit, looking at him in confusion.

"Whats wrong?"  Kiyeri asked.

Ashiya opened his mouth as if to speak, but hesitated and the others came closer. He lowered his head,"Kiye, who is your father?"

Kiyeri was immediately confused and frowned, thinking such a question was out of place. After a moment, understanding dawned on him, he quietly blurted out, "I don't know..."

"You are too much." Ashiya continued, "For a commoner, you have too much of everything. I know you don't like this division but think about it for yourself. Your mana reserves are enormous, your manipulation is perfect, and you can write new spells for elements you don't even have. It seems that mana flows through your veins, you understand it better than anyone else I’ve met."

Seyre seconded, "It is true. Think. What do you know about your parents, about your childhood? Your talent is truly impressive; you could not have been born for two common people.

"Those three Solarians of legend seem special,” Ashiya explained. “Probably distant descendants of the first who worked with Celestial Stones. The wise priests chose them because their talents were visible to the naked eye, like yours. You were always a head and shoulders above everyone else, if you would have received Metal, you would be unmatched."

"All of one blood", echoed again in Kiyeri’s mind. He finally spoke.

"I know nothing about my mother's roots, and there was no talk about my father at all. If at least one of them or even both of them were from another country, then it is clear why. Even with everything I could do, no one wanted to recognize me, no matter how much I deserved it, but if my foreign origin had been known, I would never have set foot in the palace."

“Not just the foot,” Seyre emphasized. “Maybe your mother knew exactly what she was doing. As a member of the royal guard, I can tell you that a foreigner with that kind of talent is a threat, you two would be locked up at best, and dead at worst.”

Suddenly learning your origins would be a shock to anyone, but finding out under such extreme conditions was even harder. Kiyeri wanted to regret not growing up in a country like the Sun. Remembering his mother, he wished to talk to her with all his heart. At least one more time. Kiyeri’s body felt heavier with every step, but as he wandered through memories, a warm hand landed on his shoulder.

“Imagine! Becoming the chosen hero who defeats evil.” Ashiya laughed, part sarcastic, part sincere, then smiled, “Your mother would be proud.”

"And you always know what I'm thinking... Mom would cry that I ruined everything..." Kiyeri's thoughts weren't so happy, but he put on a smile, "Well, that hero is still too weak."

"Maybe you can't use your powers because you didn't pay the stone with blood?"- Seyre suggested.

"Probably. In the dungeon, Sonanta said there was a way to check, but she never said what it was."

"She said you could try, that means you don't have to go home and sacrifice specifically to your Stone."- Ashiya said.

"I'd say it doesn't matter which stone. They're all connected, so we can do it at the nearest Temple," said Seyre.

Kiyeri rubbed his forehead, "If any stone will do, then it's clear why they ran there. It's not because they know how to get the Sigil back, they don't want ME to do it. Or, they know I need it and expect me to come. The other two Temples are very far from here, we could head for them, but they’d raze every city in the meantime."

"That medallion." Ashiya pointed a finger at Kiyeri.

Kiyeri stared at him for a few seconds, before his face lit up, "AAAH! So she wasn’t cursing me after all!"

"I told you, she would never waste any words", Ashiya smiled.

The trio hurried back to the palace, Kiyeri burning with enthusiasm. As he ran, he explained to Seyre about the medallion, if he hadn't heard everything in the cave, and apologized, "Seyre, you helped us so much today, even after being alone in the dungeon, thank you. Without you, I don't think we would recover so quickly."