“They summoned… me?” Alessia’s voice wavered—not weakly, but in stunned disbelief—as Eryx handed her the scroll sealed with the three royal sigils.
 Her sigil.
 Ariadne’s sigil.
 Priam’s sigil.
 And beneath them, the seal she had only ever seen in textbooks: the Tri-Imperial Crest—three interlocking crowns representing Solaris, Lunaris, and Noctis.
 Ianthe’s expression darkened. “This is far too soon.”
 Kael stepped beside Alessia, eyes fixed on the scroll. “Open it.”
 Seraphine hid behind Eryx, trembling. “W-What if it’s bad? Like… really bad?”
 Eryx exhaled slowly, “It’s already bad; might as well know how bad.”
 Alessia broke the wax seal. The parchment unfurled with a soft crackle, ink shimmering like molten gold.
 She read aloud: “By decree of the Three Thrones of Luminary—the Sun Throne of Solaris, the Moon Throne of Lunaris, and the Night Throne of Noctis—Princess Alessia Keren Endymion is hereby summoned to appear at the Imperial Conclave in seven days’ time for judgment, recognition, and ascension review.”
 Seraphine’s knees buckled. “Ascension?! Princess Alessia is sixteen!”
 Eryx groaned, “They’re out of their minds.”
 Ianthe paced, cloak shimmering with irritation, “They want to test her. Probe her. Measure her power like she is livestock.”
 Kael’s voice dropped. “Or eliminate her if she looks too dangerous.”
 Alessia swallowed hard. “Judgment, recognition, and ascension. What does that even mean?”
 Ianthe stopped pacing. “It means,” she said, “they want to decide if you are a threat… or the future Empress of all Luminary.”
 The words crashed over Alessia like a tidal wave. “Empress… of all three Empires?”
 Seraphine squeaked so loudly a guard outside the gate jumped. “The prophecy—it’s really happening!”
 Kael’s jaw set. “This is no ceremony. It’s a trap cloaked as diplomacy.”
 “But the Three Thrones rarely gather,” Eryx said. “The last Conclave was… what? Forty years ago?”
 “Sixty,” Ianthe corrected. “And that ended in two wars and the assassination of a king.”
 Seraphine slapped her own cheeks. “No. Stop! Why do these historical stories always get worse?!”
 Alessia stared at the scroll, heart pounding. “Why… now?” she whispered. “I don’t understand.”
 Kael answered softly, “Because you awakened. Because you broke the mark. Because the gods reacted.”
 Ianthe added, “And because every throne-holder fears what you represent.”
 Alessia looked up, voice trembling. “What do I represent?”
 Ianthe met her gaze—sharp, unyielding, “Unity.”
 Eryx stepped forward. “And power.”
 Seraphine whispered, “And hope.”
 Kael finished quietly, “And change.”
 Alessia clenched the scroll. “But I’m not ready. I just learned to balance my cores. I can’t stand before three emperors—three armies—three nations!”
 Kael lifted her chin gently with one gloved fingertip. “You won’t stand alone.”
 Her breath caught. He continued quietly, “I will be beside you.”
 Eryx stepped forward. “And me.”
 Seraphine raised a shaky hand. “A-And me!”
 Ianthe sighed heavily. “And me, obviously.”
 Alessia stared at them. “You’ll all come?”
 Kael met her gaze. “We’re not letting you walk into a Conclave alone against three nations and ancient gods.”
 Seraphine nodded fiercely. “They’ll have to get through us first.”
 Eryx drew his sword slightly, smirking. “And I’d like to see them try.”
 Ianthe muttered, “Idiots, the lot of you,” but her voice was softer than usual.
 Alessia’s chest tightened. She feels fear, pride, and gratitude. She didn’t know what to feel first.
 “But what will I even say to them?” she whispered. “How do I face the Three Thrones?”
 Ianthe stepped forward and tapped her forehead lightly.
 “With truth.”
 Eryx tapped her shoulder. “With strength.”
 Seraphine hugged her arm. “With kindness.”
 Kael placed his hand over her heart. “With power.”
 Alessia felt tears sting her eyes. “Okay.”
 She exhaled slowly. “Okay. I’ll go.” She looked at each of them. “I’ll face the Three Thrones.”
 Kael nodded. “Then your training begins now.”
 “Now?” Seraphine squealed. “She just balanced Dual Essence!”
 Ianthe smirked. “Perfect time to push her further.”
 Eryx clapped his hands once. “Formation training. She’ll need to appear regal and controlled.”
 Seraphine bounced anxiously. “Dress fittings—hair ornaments—formal shoes!”
 Alessia groaned. “Not the shoes!”
 Kael ignored them all and stepped closer, “Alessia.”
 She looked into his eyes—dark, intense, unwavering. “This Conclave will shape your destiny.”
 Her pulse raced. “You will be watched by kings, generals, and gods.”
 She swallowed. “You must be more than powerful.”
 He gently touched her cheek. “You must be undeniable.” Her breath hitched. “O-Okay…”
 And for the first time, she felt the faintest spark of confidence, not because she was ready but because she wasn’t facing it alone.
 Ianthe turned sharply toward the palace. “Prepare her rooms. She needs ritual cleansing.”
 Seraphine gasped. “Ritual what?!”
 Eryx groaned. “I’ll call the royal tailor…”
 Kael stepped close to Alessia’s side. “I’ll train you,” he said softly. “As long as you let me.”
 She nodded. “I trust you.”
 The air shifted. All four of them froze. A messenger sprinted through the gate a second time, panting. “P-Princess, urgent news!”
 Eryx rolled his eyes. “Seriously? More?”
 The messenger bowed frantically. “The Summoning has already spread across the Empires. And—”
 “And what?” Ianthe demanded.
 The messenger sighed. “Each Empire… has already chosen what they will present at the Conclave.”
 Seraphine squeaked. “Present? Like… gifts?!”
 The messenger shook his head violently. “No. Not gifts.”
 He looked at Alessia with wide, fearful eyes. “Challenges.”
 Alessia’s blood ran cold. Kael’s grip tightened on his dagger.
 Eryx snarled. “Challenges? For a princess?”
 Ianthe’s voice dropped dangerously low. “They dare challenge Lunaris blood?”
 The messenger nodded shakily.
 “Yes. Solaris, Lunaris, and Noctis each demand the Princess prove her worth through three trials.”
 Alessia whispered, “Trials again?”
 The messenger trembled. “They call them…”
 He hesitated as he looked at them one by one, then spoke: “The Trials of Fate.”