Chapter 42: The Golden Voice

Sora Asterion—Princess of the illustrious Celestial Empire.

A power so old, so vast, so dominant in this deep and beautiful world called Fokay that even time bowed its head as they marched forward—never falling, only rising.

They were just that powerful. Just that talented. Just that ... special.

And Sora?

She was their youngest princess. A gifted girl who awakened an Origin linked to the sun and the stars. A rare affinity. But that wasn’t all—Sora was also known throughout the empire for her talent in rune craftsmanship.

She was talented. She had the background. And so she had the pressure.

Because her family demanded nothing less than perfection.

She had to be excellent. Had to be a symbol. Had to be what the people could look up to—their shining light.

But here’s the thing...

Sora was still just a girl.

A girl who wanted to do things other than training or memorizing political jargon or choking on etiquette manuals written by dead men in gold-plated robes.

She wanted friends. Laughter. Talks about meaningless little things that had nothing to do with the fate of an empire.

She wanted all of that.

But she had none of it.

Instead, she’d been given a whole castle—an entire estate built just for her—in one of their hidden domains. All for the purpose of pushing her solar abilities to the next level.

That’s why she was here. That’s why this castle even existed.

It was her gilded cage.

And at first, she trained. She obeyed. She followed orders like a good princess should.

But when enough time passed, and she realized she was truly alone—no maids, no distractions, just guards posted far beneath who wouldn’t even show their faces unless summoned—

Sora began to explore.

She started dabbling in the little curiosities she had picked up from the hushed gossip of servants.