All Chapters of Luminous: The Throne: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

"This is pointless!" Alessia yelled into the empty training ground, her words echoing off the stone walls. She clenched her teeth and clutched the hilt of her sword tightly, staring at the tiny glow of her bright magic dancing around her hand. No matter how hard she tried, it refused to accept her directions and remained in its weakest form. It was as if the light insulted her efforts, taunting her for its slow growth. She swung her sword in frustration, the blade slicing through the night air with a harsh hiss. Her movements were accurate and well-practiced, yet they lacked the strength she desired. "Why can't I get stronger?" She whispered, her voice breaking as she lowered her blade. Although the sweat streaming from her brow irritated her eyes, she barely noticed it. She'd been practicing relentlessly for weeks. She spent hours studying literature, listening to her teachers, and practicing drills, but nothing seemed to change. Her luminous stayed constant, no matter how hard

"I never thought I'd see you alive again, your highness," Aera stated, her voice shaking with devotion. Her fragile hands caressed Alessia's face, their touch warm yet unsteady. "Goddess Nova truly watches over you." Alessia felt a sense of shame as she peered into the old woman's teary eyes. Aera had always been a constant in her life, a modest source of consolation throughout her darkest moments. "I owe you more than you'll ever know, Aera," Alessia whispered gently, her voice full of sorrow. "I should've come back sooner." She told. "No," Aera replied, shaking her head. "You did what you had to. You survived. That's all I prayed for." Alessia took a hesitant breath, remembering how many times she had sought safety in this simple cottage. The first time she stumbled into Aera's arms was when she was just ten years old, bruised and shattered from another of her father's disciplinary actions. "Aera," Alessia whispered, scarcely audible. "Aera, you have done so much for me, even

"You've been avoiding me, Raizel," Alessia murmured as she entered the garden. Raizel sat alone on a stone seat beneath the shadow of a towering oak tree. Her voice was quiet but full of determination. Raizel tensed at the sound of her words. He stood hastily, his customary stoic face fading. "I have duties to attend to," he murmured, averting her stare. "Stop," Alessia said firmly, stepping forward. Her voice softened as she said, "Please. I just want to talk." Raizel paused, his jaw hardening as he looked aside. "There's nothing to talk about." "That's not true,"Alessia said, moving in front of him to prevent his escape. Her vivid turquoise hair, which she had recently dyed to conceal her identity, glowed in the morning light. Alessia keeps on changing her hair color to avoid getting caught by the Endymion empire. "You have avoided me ever since Aera said... what she said. Raizel, I am not here to judge you. I want to understand." Raizel flinched, his hands tightening into

"Cheers to Lady Alessia!" Sirena's voice boomed out above the happy chatter, her cup held high. "The one who survived our test and proved she's more than ready for the battlefield!" The knights gathered in the large dining hall let up a chorus of shouts. Alessia stood towards the head of the long wood table, her cheeks flushed—not from the wine in her hand, but from the overwhelming sense of community that surrounded her. She looked down at her black gown, simple yet exquisite, with silver embroidery outlining the hem and cuffs. It was designed for ease, with a high neckline and long sleeves, but it nonetheless exuded the subtle elegance of royal dress. A tiny pendant shimmered softly around her neck, a gift from her uncle, Duke Andro, who stood next to her. The Duke looked magnificent in a dark velvet tunic emblazoned with the Carrios Dukedom's silver emblem. His towering stature and severe expression softened only a little amid the warmth of the evening's festivities. The kni

"You're telling me months of searching, and still nothing?" Priam's voice sounded harsh and threatening as it echoed across the great hall. His piercing red eyes, colder than the marble floors beneath him, stared into his two sons, Eryx and Olimpio. Eryx, tall and broad-shouldered, stood stiffly in a crimson tunic embroidered with the imperial insignia. Despite his noble bearing, his face revealed the strain that gripped him. Besides him, Olimpio, the younger of the two, nervously adjusted his sword belt, his thinner build and gentler features making him appear like a shadow in his brother's commanding presence. "Father," Eryx started, his tone calm but tinged with impatience, "we have been looking ceaselessly, but the marshlands, forests, and ruins have produced nothing. I still know she's dead. I witnessed it with my own eyes. Olimpio was also there. The knight struck her down." Priam's expression hardened. "Then why have you not brought me her body?" His voice was low and nas