Chapter 4: The Royal Blessing

The day of the royal blessing ceremony arrived in a flurry of excitement and celebration. The Grand Temple of Xia, a towering structure that stood as the spiritual heart of the kingdom, was adorned with banners of gold and silver. Sacred symbols of the gods hung proudly from its majestic pillars, glittering in the morning sunlight. The temple, built over centuries, was a place of profound reverence, and today it seemed to glow with a divine light, ready to receive the blessings of the gods themselves.

Inside the temple, the royal family gathered in their finest attire. King Yorin, dressed in a deep crimson robe embroidered with symbols of power and royalty, stood tall and proud. By his side, Queen Lyra cradled Prince Zhong in her arms. The young prince, only six months old, was dressed in a delicate white robe, his wide, innocent eyes gazing up at the grand statues of the gods that lined the walls of the temple. The flickering light of hundreds of torches reflected off the statues, casting long shadows that danced across the stone floor.

The crowd, comprised of nobles, priests, and common folk, filled the temple, all eager to witness the sacred ceremony. The air was thick with anticipation, as it was rare for anyone, let alone a royal child, to be blessed by the gods in such a formal and grand event. The people of Xia knew that this moment would shape not only the prince's future but the destiny of the kingdom itself.

As the temple fell silent, High Priestess Selene stepped forward. Clad in flowing white robes adorned with silver and gold, she was a figure of grace and power. Her voice, calm and commanding, echoed through the vast hall as she raised her arms to the heavens. "Today, we gather to seek the favor of the deities who watch over our beloved Kingdom of Xia," she began, her voice resonating with authority.

The crowd leaned in, holding their breath as the ceremony commenced. "We call upon you, Asta, God of War! Bless Prince Zhong with strength and courage!" Selene’s words rang out, invoking the first of the revered gods.

A gust of wind swept through the temple, and Asta appeared. His form was imposing, clad in armor, and his presence radiated power. The god of war looked down upon the child, his expression stern and unwavering. But as the crowd waited in breathless anticipation, Asta remained silent. His sword, a symbol of might and valor, remained at his side. He offered no blessing.

A ripple of confusion spread through the crowd, murmurs rising as people exchanged anxious glances. Was this a sign? Why had the god of war withheld his blessing?

Undeterred, High Priestess Selene continued. "Next, we summon you, Yuna, Goddess of Wealth! Grant this child prosperity and fortune!" Her voice echoed in the temple as the tension grew.

Yuna, radiant in golden light, appeared before the assembly. She was cloaked in shimmering robes, her form glowing with the prosperity and wealth she controlled. She gazed upon the prince, her expression distant and detached. The crowd waited, their hope hanging in the balance. But, like Asta, Yuna too remained silent. She extended no hand, bestowed no golden coin upon the prince. The absence of her blessing only deepened the tension that hung in the air.

Selene, now visibly unsettled, pressed on. "We seek you, Zhong, God of Intelligence! Bestow wisdom and clarity upon this child!" Her voice quivered slightly, but she did not falter in her duties.

Zhong, the very god after whom the prince had been named, materialized next. Wise and serene, his eyes gleamed with knowledge and understanding. Of all the gods, this one was expected to bless the child. After all, the prince bore his name. But to the crowd’s growing shock, Zhong too remained silent. No mark of wisdom was placed upon the child’s brow.

The temple was now filled with anxious whispers, disbelief spreading like wildfire among the attendees. The gods were refusing their blessings. What could this mean for the young prince? For the kingdom?

High Priestess Selene’s voice wavered, but she continued with the ceremony. "And finally, we call upon you, Zenobia, Goddess of Spirits! Bless this child with peace and a connection to the unseen!"

Zenobia, ghostly and ethereal, floated into view. Her form was graceful, almost translucent, as she moved with the air itself. The crowd watched with bated breath, hoping for at least one blessing. But as Zenobia approached the child, she too refrained from offering her touch. Her delicate hands remained still, and the expected mark of peace never appeared.

The atmosphere in the temple was thick with unease. The gods had all answered the call, but none had given their blessing. It was a spectacle unlike any the people of Xia had ever witnessed. The silence was palpable, heavy with confusion and fear.

And then, Selene took a deep breath. She lowered her arms slightly, but her voice grew steady again. "But now, we also invoke you, Morthan, forsaken god of Shadows and Secrets! Grant your blessing to Prince Zhong!"

At the utterance of Morthan’s name, a cold wind swept through the temple. Shadows flickered along the walls, curling and shifting like dark tendrils. The forsaken god emerged from the shadows, his presence both eerie and commanding. Cloaked in darkness, his eyes gleamed with an unsettling light.

Morthan's voice, deep and resonant, filled the space. "Child of the kingdom," he intoned, "I offer you my blessing, for in the shadows lies the truth and the power of revelation. You will possess the insight to see beyond the veil, to uncover secrets hidden from the eyes of men."

He extended his shadowed hand, and dark mist enveloped Prince Zhong. When the mist cleared, a swirling mark of a shadowed eye appeared on the child’s skin, symbolizing the forsaken god’s blessing.

The crowd gasped. Only Morthan, the forsaken god, had answered the call. His blessing, though powerful, was feared, for it came from a god who dwelled in secrecy and darkness. A heavy silence fell over the temple, the implications of this event weighing heavily on everyone present.

High Priestess Selene lowered her arms, her expression a mixture of reverence and concern. "Prince Zhong has been marked by Morthan, the forsaken god. His path will be unique, intertwined with shadows and secrets that could shape the future of our kingdom."

King Yorin and Queen Lyra exchanged anxious glances, their hearts heavy with uncertainty. While their son had received a powerful blessing, the absence of blessings from the revered gods cast a dark shadow over the future. What would this mean for their child? For the kingdom?

As the kingdom celebrated, though with trepidation, the work on the Diamond Castle continued. Each stone was laid with purpose, each diamond a promise of a future that now seemed more uncertain than ever before.

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