Wielder Of Time

Bella was the first to break the heavy silence. "Why do you believe the Isles will be destroyed, Your Majesty?"

Queen Nereia's gaze darkened slightly as she exhaled, as if recalling something distant yet deeply unsettling. "Because I have seen it."

Khione and Bella exchanged a glance, but the Queen continued before they could speak.

"I saw a vision," she said, her voice measured yet firm. "Whether it was of another world or a time yet to come, I cannot say. But in this vision, the Isles of Azeroth were engulfed in flame. The banner of our nation flew high in the sky, proud as ever—until the fire reached it. The wind carried the flames, devouring everything in its path. When the fire died, there was nothing left. No life. Only ruins."

A shiver ran down Khione's spine at the imagery. It was one thing to hear a warning of war or unrest, but another to hear it spoken like a prophecy—like something inevitable.

The Queen folded her hands together. "You may think this is merely a bad dream," she admitted. "A fleeting nightmare. But I know in my heart… this was the future. Not a possibility, but an eventuality."

Khione and Bella absorbed her words in silence.

Finally, Khione spoke. "If you truly believe this, why haven't you told anyone else?"

The Queen looked at her with a knowing expression and, instead of answering, posed a question of her own.

"Tell me, Lady Khione, how does a Queen tell her people that they are destined for destruction?"

Khione faltered, realizing the weight of those words.

The Queen continued, her voice steady. "If I were to declare this vision as truth, they would call me weak. Incompetent. A ruler who has lost faith in her own nation's future. They would strip me of my title before I could even begin to act. And then, with no one guiding them, the Isles would collapse even faster."

Khione had no response. She knew how political struggles worked—weakness was an unforgivable trait in rulers. Even if the Queen's vision was real, no one would listen. They would dismiss it as paranoia or use it as an excuse to dethrone her.

Bella, however, leaned forward slightly, her sharp eyes locked onto the Queen. "Then why tell us?"

The Queen smiled faintly, as if she had been waiting for that question. "Because you are not like the others. You are Asterians."

Khione and Bella exchanged another glance.

The Queen continued, "There is a reason the Asterios Empire has remained so strong, despite existing for millennia. Nations rise and fall with the passage of time—this is the way of the world. No kingdom lasts forever. None have exceeded 600 years before crumbling into history. And yet, Asterios has remained standing."

Khione felt a strange unease settle in her chest. "What are you saying?"

Bella crossed her arms, her expression contemplative. "Are you implying that there's something… unnatural about our Empire's longevity?"

The Queen chuckled lightly. "Not unnatural. Simply… blessed."

Both Khione and Bella frowned at the same time. "Blessed?" they echoed.

Queen Nereia gave them a knowing look. "You have heard of how individuals can receive blessings from the Gods, correct? Powerful warriors, seers, rulers… they are touched by the divine, granted extraordinary gifts beyond normal magic. But what many do not realize is that blessings are not limited to individuals."

She paused, letting her words sink in.

"A nation can be blessed as well."

Khione inhaled sharply. "You're saying a nation can receive divine favor… like a person?"

"Exactly," the Queen confirmed. "A blessing granted to a ruler can strengthen a kingdom, allowing it to prosper. But a blessing granted to an entire nation… that is something far greater. It is a power that defies time itself."

Bella's brows furrowed. "And you believe that Asterios has been blessed?"

The Queen's emerald eyes gleamed with certainty. "How else could your Empire have stood for so long, when all others have fallen?"

Khione's mind raced. She had never once questioned why Asterios had endured where other great nations had not. It was simply an accepted truth—Asterios was powerful. It had always been powerful. But had it really been mere strength that kept it at the top for millennia? Or was there something more?

She swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Where… do these blessings come from?"

The Queen gave her a knowing smile.

"Who else?" she said smoothly. "The Gods themselves."