The empress stood before the councils once more, determination hardening her resolve. "Elders, it pained me to say this but my son decided that we must proceed with the sealing ritual," she declared, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.

The Elders exchanged glances, a mixture of relief and apprehension passing among them.

Duke Kaelis stepped forward, his expression grave. "We will do what we must to protect him and the empire. But you must understand, Your Majesty, this is not a simple task. The seal will bind his powers, but it will not erase them. He will still be vulnerable."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a somber light in the chamber, the ritual began.

The Elders chanted in unison, their voices rising and falling like the tide. A shimmering barrier formed around Avaxion, glowing with an ethereal light. The warmth of his power pulsed within him, fighting against the encroaching seal.

Kneeling in the center of the chamber, Avaxion felt a profound loss wash over him as the warmth began to fade.

Avaxion glanced to his side, catching the sorrow etched into his mother's face.

"I'm okay," he murmured, the weight of his choice pressing gently but firmly on his heart. "This is my decision, Mother." The words carried a quiet resolve, for deep down, he knew this was the only path—one that would shield those he cherished from the storm raging inside him.

The energy that once surged like wildfire dwindled to embers, and with it, a part of his spirit felt extinguished. Yet he knew it was a necessary sacrifice.

The ritual concluded with a final flourish, and the light faded, leaving the room in a heavy silence. The Elders looked at one another, a solemn understanding in their eyes.

"Your Majesty," Countess Mira began, her tone steeped in reverence, "this seal will suppress his powers, but it will change him. Once he is older, we can release the seal, but for now, he must grow strong—strong enough for his body to wield the full force of his abilities."

The duke stepped forward, his voice a steady counterpoint. "As I mentioned earlier, the seal will bind his powers, but it won't erase them. He will remain vulnerable, even without his abilities unleashed."

"However, with his powers sealed, he will no longer endure suffering—and he can steer clear of any dangerous energy surges," another elder asserted, his tone heavy with conviction.

The Empress's heart pounded with fear and uncertainty. The thought of her son, powerless yet still exposed to danger, left a gnawing dread in her chest.

Even with the seal, he would not be truly safe. Her gaze drifted, catching sight of Avaxion's retreating figure in the distance, and the weight of the moment pressed down even harder.

"Stay vigilant," Elder Kaelis warned, his tone somber.

"For the sake of the empire—and the crown prince. "As the Empress left the chamber, her heart was heavy with the knowledge of what had transpired.

She went to Avaxion's chamber, finding him sitting in silence, staring at the wall as if the vibrant world outside no longer held meaning.

"Avaxion," she said softly, kneeling beside him. "I'm here." He turned to her, a steady resolve in his eyes.

"Thank you for allowing me to make my own decision, Mother," he said, a faint smile touching his lips, though his eyes remained blank and hollow. In their depths, he saw the guilt and heartache reflected in her gaze.

"I don't have regrets, Mother, and neither should you," he declared, and her heart swelled at his words.

"I will choose to protect those around me, and now I can begin to grow strong enough to embrace this tremendous power," he declared with newfound determination, his expression void of emotion.

Unable to bear the sight of her son's emptiness, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into an embrace, desperate to bridge the distance that had grown between them.

As they held each other, the weight of uncertainty loomed like a storm cloud. Avaxion's journey was far from over, and the road ahead was strewn with challenges. Yet, for the first time in days, a flicker of hope ignited within him. 

In that moment of acceptance, he managed a bittersweet smile, realizing he was not defeated; he had chosen to safeguard those he loved. Together with his mother, they would navigate the tumultuous seas of emotion, learning to wield the very fire that defined him—sealed but resolute.

To be continued...