The Sovereign's Curse

Ardyn stepped closer to Xander, his staff glowing faintly as if responding to the gravity of his words.

"The Mantle of the Sovereign is not just a title," Ardyn began, his voice steady and filled with reverence. "It is a responsibility. A power forged to protect the balance of the multiverse. Those chosen to bear the Mantle are rare, for it is no simple burden—it demands strength of spirit, clarity of purpose, and the will to endure trials that would break lesser beings."

Xander's expression hardened. "Why me? What makes me worthy of something like that?"

Ardyn's gaze softened. "You were not chosen by accident, Xander. Elarion recognizes not who you are now, but who you have the potential to become. Your mother, Danielle Hawthorne, saw this within you long ago. It is why she created Aeternis."

At the mention of his mother, Xander's breath hitched. "Aeternis? That's the sphere Lucian's after... What does it have to do with all this?"

"Aeternis is more than a device," Ardyn said, his voice lowering with gravity. "It is alive in its own way, bound to the Sovereign and designed to evolve alongside its bearer. As you grow stronger—physically, mentally, and spiritually—Aeternis will grow too. It will guide you, teach you, and become a weapon like no other. But only you can unlock its full potential."

Xander rubbed his temples, overwhelmed. "So, this thing... it's tied to me? And Lucian—he wants it for himself."

"Indeed," Ardyn said. "In the wrong hands, Aeternis is a tool of unimaginable destruction. But in yours, it is hope. It will amplify your power, help you navigate the trials ahead, and forge a path to victory. You and Aeternis are connected by purpose, Xander. Together, you can restore balance to worlds on the brink of collapse."

Xander's jaw tightened. "And what about now? What about Lucian? What happens to Elaine?"

Ardyn paused, his gaze firm but compassionate. "Elaine's fate hinges on your decision. If you stay here, your path ends, and Lucian will take everything. But if you accept your role, I will ensure that time resumes only after I've set events in motion to protect her."

Xander's fists clenched. "You're saying I have to leave her behind?"

"I am saying you must trust that your choice will save her in the end," Ardyn said.

Ardyn reached into his robes and pulled out a shimmering sphere—Aeternis. Its surface glimmered like liquid light, shifting and pulsing with a faint energy. He placed it in Xander's hands.

Xander stared at it, his heart racing. "This was in the... How did you—?"

"I retrieved it when I stopped time," Ardyn said simply. "It belongs to you, and no one else. As long as you carry it, Aeternis will guide you. But beware, Xander—it will demand as much from you as it gives. Are you ready to embrace that responsibility?"

Xander's gaze shifted from Aeternis to Elaine's frozen figure. "I don't know. I don't even know what I'm supposed to do."

Ardyn gestured to the swirling portal of golden light that had appeared behind him. "That portal leads to a world in dire need of help. Its people are lost, oppressed by forces they cannot overcome. Their cries for salvation have reached the Mantle, and the Mantle has chosen you. This is where your journey begins."

Xander turned toward the portal, the golden light casting an ethereal glow over the room. His heart pounded as he took in the enormity of the choice before him.

"And if I fail?" Xander asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ardyn placed a firm hand on Xander's shoulder. "Failure is not the end—it is a lesson. But you must not fear it, for the multiverse depends on your strength. If you succeed, you will save not just Elaine, but countless others across realms you cannot yet imagine."

Xander clenched Aeternis tightly in his hand, the sphere responding with a faint hum. He swallowed hard, his gaze shifting from Elaine to the glowing portal. A part of him wanted to run, to reject this impossible responsibility. But another part—the part that burned with the need to protect those he loved—forced him to take a step forward.

Ardyn nodded approvingly. "The trials will not be easy, Xander. But remember this: every great Sovereign began their journey with doubt. What matters is that they chose to move forward."

With one final glance at Elaine, Xander stepped through the portal, the golden light engulfing him as he disappeared into the unknown. Aeternis hummed in his hand, and for the first time, Xander felt its presence as more than a tool—it felt alive, waiting to reveal its secrets.

---

The golden glow of the portal faded, leaving Ardyn alone in the room with Lucian, the unconscious Elaine, and the Shadow Spawn, whose glowing eyes reflected the tension now filling the air.

Ardyn twirled his staff, the faint hum of energy rippling through the air as he reversed the effects of time. The room shifted subtly; Elaine's quiet groans resumed, the Shadow Spawn began to stir, and Lucian blinked, suddenly aware of the presence of someone new.

Lucian's eyes narrowed as they landed on Ardyn. For a moment, there was only silence, thick and charged. Then Lucian's expression darkened. "You…" he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "A Seer of Elarion. What are you doing here?"

Ardyn's calm demeanor betrayed no fear as he stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly. "Did you truly think we wouldn't be watching the boy, Lucian? That we wouldn't notice the moment his powers began to awaken?"

Lucian's lip curled into a sneer. "So, you've been spying on me, then?"

Hardin chuckled dryly. "Not just you. We've been watching everything. From the moment Xander began having those dreams, we knew it was only a matter of time before you made your move. And now here we are."

Lucian's grip on his revolver tightened. "The Mantle of the Sovereign is wasted on him. He's just a boy, untested and ignorant of what he holds. I need the key to return to my world—Xander is nothing but an obstacle in my path."

Ardynn tilted his head slightly, his gaze piercing. "You think your desires outweigh the balance of the multiverse? That your selfish pursuit justifies the chaos you would unleash? You've fallen far, Lucian."

Lucian's sneer deepened. "Don't lecture me, Seer. You hide behind your sacred 'balance' while I claw my way through a shattered existence. You can't possibly understand what it's like to lose everything."

Ardyn's eyes softened, though his stance remained firm. "You're wrong, Lucian. I understand loss better than you think. But the path you've chosen will only bring more destruction—to others and to yourself."

Lucian's voice rose with anger. "Save your sanctimonious drivel. I don't care about your balance, your prophecies, or your warnings. I will get the key, one way or another. And when I do, not even the Seers of Elarion will be able to stop me."

Ardyn let out a weary sigh. "You're blinded by your desperation. Aeternis isn't simply a 'key.' It's bound to Xander, and only he can unlock its full potential. You can chase him across worlds, but you will never wield what doesn't belong to you."

Lucian took a step closer, the Shadow Spawn at his side growling lowly. "Then I'll destroy him before he has the chance to realize that potential. The multiverse may think he's its savior, but to me, he's a threat. And threats need to be eliminated."

Ardyn's staff flared with light, causing the Shadow Spawn to recoil momentarily. His tone grew sharp. "You're treading a dangerous line, Lucian. The Seers of Elarion will not stand idly by while you tip the scales."

Lucian smirked darkly. "Let them come. I've faced worse than your precious Seers. And when I return home, none of you will matter."

The two men locked eyes, the air between them charged with unspoken tension. Ardyn's voice softened, almost sad. "Your pride blinds you, Lucian. You've lost your way."

The air between them remained tense, crackling with latent energy. Ardyn's staff flared brighter, the hum of magic growing louder as Lucian's fury reached its peak.

"I've tolerated enough of your interference," Ardyn said, his voice steady, but his presence exuding an unyielding authority. "Your obsession has already wreaked havoc across worlds. It ends here, Lucian."

Lucian scoffed, his grip tightening on his weapon. "You can't stop me, Seer. You think your illusions and parlor tricks can hold me? You underestimate how far I'm willing to go."

Ardyn's expression turned grim. "I don't need to stop you forever. Just long enough for the Sovereign to fulfill his purpose."

Before Lucian could react, Ardyn thrust his staff into the ground. A wave of golden energy burst outward, rippling through the room like a tidal wave. The Shadow Spawn lunged forward, snarling, but their movements slowed as the golden energy wrapped around them like chains. Lucian struggled, his body encased in glowing tendrils of light.

"What are you doing?" Lucian growled, his voice distorted by the magic enveloping him.

"I'm sending you to the Timeless Expanse," Ardyn said, his voice laced with finality. "A prison beyond the flow of time itself. There, you will remain until those who sent you deem otherwise. You'll have no power, no influence, and no means to escape."

Lucian's eyes widened, a rare flash of fear crossing his face. "You can't—"

Ardyn raised his staff higher, cutting him off. The golden tendrils tightened around Lucian and the Shadow Spawn, their forms becoming translucent as if fading from existence.

"This is the mercy I grant you, Lucian," Ardyn said, his voice heavy. "Use your time there wisely. Reflect on the path you've chosen."

With a final burst of light, Lucian and the Shadow Spawn disappeared, their presence erased from the room as if they had never been there. Silence fell, broken only by Elaine's labored breathing.

Ardyn turned to her, his expression softening as he knelt beside her. He waved his hand over her wounded leg, a gentle golden glow soothing the pain, though the injury itself would still take time to heal.

"Elaine," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "You've been strong for so long. Now, I must ask you to be even stronger. Xander will return one day, but until then, he will face trials that will shape him into the man he's meant to be."

Elaine winced but nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I don't understand. Why him? Why now?"

Ardyn placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes filled with compassion. "Because he is the one chosen by the Mantle of the Sovereign. His destiny is tied to the balance of worlds, and he holds the key to something far greater than any of us."

He paused, as if weighing his next words. "You must keep the Hawthorne family strong. Be the pillar they need in his absence. And when the time comes, be the strength he needs when he returns."

Elaine blinked back her tears, her jaw tightening with resolve. "I will. I'll do whatever it takes."

Ardyn smiled faintly. "I know you will. And when Xander returns, he'll need you more than ever. Trust in him, Elaine. He is stronger than he knows."

Rising to his feet, Ardyn glanced at the spot where the portal had vanished. The faint glow of magic still lingered in the air. He tapped his staff against the ground, the golden energy receding as the room returned to its previous state.

"Your brother's journey has begun," he said, almost to himself. "May the Sovereign's light guide him."

With that, Ardyn turned, his cloak billowing behind him as he walked toward the shadows, leaving Elaine to process the weight of his words and the monumental task ahead.