Chapter 258: Elaris
In the next moment, Morgan was drawn into a different memory.
Morgan found himself standing before thousands of cheering citizens.
Flowers filled the streets.
Children smiled as Modric rode past on horseback, greeting ordinary people by name.
Suddenly he was back on the moonlit balcony.
Morgan grimaced slightly, raising a hand to massage his throbbing temple.
"The speech...of course..." he mumbled, nodding his head slightly.
Of course, the prospect of a speech was quite unsettling.
In truth, it was down right terrifying.
Giving a speech in front of the citizens of a bygone prosperous city was still a daunting task even if most of the people that lived here in this mirage of the past conjured by the black mist were probably if not entirely dead in his time at least.
What did it matter?
What was perhaps even more unsettling was just how it was happening.
All of it should have been impossible and yet it was happening.
Morgan turned his gaze to Lysara next to him.
A moment later, he drew closer gazing down at the beautiful woman somberly.
Her eyes widened slightly, her lips parting in surprise.
"Your Highness... is sometyjing wrong?"
Morgan stared at her for a few moments then turned away.
"How could this be possible?"
The woman standing beside him was all too real.
And deep down, he felt a love for this place. For his people. His friends.
One that was unmistakably genuine.
These emotions were not his own.
Yet they felt utterly genuine.
Morgan clenched his fist, sucking in a breath then turned away.
"Forgive me, Lady Lysara. I wanted to confirm for myself."
The slow trickle of events and place continued to enter his mind even after the dam had burst at the initial flood of memories.
And for now at least, even though everything was happening was a consequence of the black mist, for the time being, the people here were real.
"Let’s get going then, shall we, Your Grace?" Lysara said with a smile.
Morgan nodded returning her gentle smile with one of his own.
"After you..."
Following beindung the jade eyed beauty, the memories came faster now.
Council meetings.
Diplomatic banquets.
Arguments with stubborn nobles.
Morgan followed a step behind Lysara as they left the balcony, a small escort of royal guards silently falling into formation around them.
Their ceremonial armor shimmered beneath the warm glow of enchanted lanterns, polished white steel chased with delicate veins of gold. Deep azure cloaks flowed behind them, each bearing the ancient crest of a great serpent coiled around a radiant sun.
The palace itself had transformed.
What had been magnificent by day had become almost ethereal by night.
Long corridors of pristine white marble stretched endlessly before them, illuminated by floating crystal lanterns suspended effortlessly in the air.
Their gentle golden light danced across polished floors like rippling water, while moonlight streamed through
towering arched windows overlooking the city below.
Servants stepped respectfully aside, placing clenched fists over their hearts.
"Your Highness. The festivities await."
Morgan returned their greetings almost instinctively.
Every movement felt strangely natural.
As though another part of him had repeated these same motions countless times before.
They descended a sweeping staircase that wound gracefully toward the palace gates.
With every step, another memory surfaced.
The memories no longer came a violent flood.
Instead, they trickled steadily into his mind, settling naturally beside his own.
The great palace doors slowly swung open.
A cool mountain breeze greeted them.
Morgan stepped outside.
Then stopped.
His breath caught in his chest.
Thousands upon thousands of crystal lanterns illuminated every street, every bridge and every rooftop, their warm golden glow transforming Elaris into something almost dreamlike.
The mountain itself glittered beneath the moonlight.
Silver-leafed trees lined the broad avenues, their branches hung with tiny glass ornaments that chimed softly whenever the wind passed through them.
The canals reflected the countless lights above, turning the flowing water into ribbons of molten gold.
High overhead, floating crystal obelisks drifted silently through the night sky, casting broad circles of pale azure light across the city.
Beyond them...the stars.
"Beautiful..." he murmured.
The heavens were astonishingly clear, every constellation shining with breathtaking brilliance above the ancient capital.
Lysara smiled as she watched him absorb the sight.
"You’ve seen this every year since you were a child."
She laughed softly.
"And yet you always stop here."
Morgan could only nod.
"I suppose..."
He smiled faintly.
"...I understand why."
The streets below were overflowing with life.
Families wandered between colorful market stalls draped in silk banners bearing the royal crest.
Artisans proudly displayed intricate sculptures carved from crystal and obsidian.
Children darted through the crowds laughing as they carried glowing paper lanterns shaped like serpents, stars and soaring birds.
The scent of roasted meat drifted through the cool night air, mingling with sweet pastries, fresh herbs and warm spiced wine.
Musicians occupied nearly every plaza.
Some played elegant stringed instruments whose melodies floated effortlessly above the bustling crowd.
Others performed with long silver flutes that produced hauntingly beautiful notes, accompanied by deep ceremonial drums echoing softly through the city.
Dancers in flowing robes spun gracefully around enormous bonfires, their sleeves trailing ribbons of shimmering light that lingered behind them like tiny comets.
Morgan slowly descended the palace steps alongside Lysara. Almost immediately, the people noticed them.
"Prince Modric!"
A little girl broke free from the crowd, stopping just short of the royal guards.
She held up a tiny crystal lantern with both hands.
"I made this!"
Morgan crouched instinctively.
The lantern had been clumsily crafted.
Its serpent was slightly crooked.
One eye sat noticeably higher than the other.
He smiled.
"It’s beautiful."
The girl’s face lit up.
"I knew His Highness would like it!"
Her parents hurried forward, apologizing profusely before bowing.
Morgan simply chuckled.
"There is nothing to apologize for."
He gently handed the lantern back.
"Take good care of it."
As the family disappeared into the crowd, Morgan watched them go, his chest tightening unexpectedly.
These people...their joy.
Their laughter. Their quiet hopes.
He knew them.
Or rather...Prince Modric did.
Lysara glanced sideways at him, a knowing smile touching her lips.
"I was beginning to worry."
Morgan looked at her curiously.
"Worry?"
"You’ve seemed... distant lately."
She paused, studying the sea of lights stretching across Elaris.
"I’m glad to see our prince smiling again."
Morgan didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he lifted his gaze toward the countless lanterns illuminating the ancient city.
For a fleeting moment...he forgot this was only a memory.
It felt real. Painfully real.