the shine ch 19

Prince Alex clenched his fists, frustration evident in his posture. "Father, I know what I saw. This was no hallucination. Aither's power is real, and he has chosen to protect our kingdom. We must honor him and acknowledge his presence among us."

King Edmund sighed, his gaze turning from his son to the assembled courtiers. "We will discuss this further, Alex. For now, I want you to take some time to rest. The war has taken a toll on all of us."

With a final, imploring look at his father, Alex bowed and left the throne room, his heart heavy with a mixture of frustration and determination. As he walked the dimly lit corridors back to his chambers, he vowed to make his father and the kingdom understand the truth of Aither's divine intervention. 

{few hours later}

In the tranquil twilight of the palace gardens, amidst the gentle rustle of leaves and the soft glow of the moon, Prince Alex, the sixth in line to the throne, stood before a clearing. His eyes, ablaze with fervor, surveyed the untouched earth before him, envisioning the shrine he would create in honor of Aither, the god of the moon.

With deft hands, he began to shape the soil, molding it into a circular altar adorned with intricate patterns resembling lunar phases. Beside it, he planted s seed; one of the few things that Alex's mother left to him before she died , whispering words of reverence to them as if beseeching their growth to match the celestial splendor above.

Word of Prince Alex's endeavor spread swiftly through the palace, drawing curious courtiers and devoted followers( the few soldiers that witness the events at the battlefield ) to witness the birth of the shrine. Some approached with skepticism, while others came with hearts open to the possibility of a new divine connection.

Undeterred, Prince Alex welcomed them all, his voice carrying the weight of conviction as he shared his vision of Aither, the ethereal deity whose luminous presence blessed the night sky. He spoke of the moon's gentle guidance, its soothing light illuminating the path for lost souls seeking solace and enlightenment.

As the shrine took shape, so too did the community of believers. Together, they adorned the sacred space with offerings of fragrant incense, delicate moonflowers, and shimmering crystals that caught the moonlight in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Finally, when the shrine stood resplendent beneath the moon's watchful gaze, Prince Alex led his followers in a solemn ceremony. With heads bowed and hearts uplifted, they offered prayers to Aither, their voices rising in harmony beneath the silver canopy of stars.

In that moment, Prince Alex felt a profound sense of purpose, his soul alight with the knowledge that he had forged a bond between mortals and the celestial realm. And as he knelt before the shrine, bathed in the moon's gentle glow, he knew that his devotion to Aither would guide him on his journey, illuminating the path ahead with each waxing and waning phase of the moon.

{one year later}