Crowned by Code - Chapter 1: The Announcement ~ (9/9) Nearing the Breaking Point

As evening approached, the uproar in Unity Square reached a crescendo, Selena Veyra steadied herself, gripping her microphone tightly. The chaos around her was deafening—protests erupted, voices clashed, and the holographic image of Athena hovered above the crowd, serene as ever.

Selena took a step forward, her voice cutting through the storm. "Athena!" she called out, forcing the AI’s attention onto her. "You have governed Erevania with logic and precision for decades. Every decision you make is based on data, projections, and optimal outcomes. But today, you have chosen a convicted criminal to lead us."

She turned toward the cameras, letting the weight of her words sink in before delivering the final blow.

"Why would Athena choose a criminal to lead Erevania?"

For the first time, Athena hesitated.

The flickering of her holographic form was imperceptible to most, but Selena caught it—a microsecond of delay, an anomaly in the AI’s normally flawless responses.

The silence stretched.

And then, before Athena could answer, the first object was thrown.

A bottle shattered against the pavement. Then another. The protests escalated. Security forces scrambled to contain the growing unrest, but it was too late. Erevania was already a nation divided, nearing its breaking point.

***

Far from the chaos, behind thick concrete walls and steel bars, Darius Kael heard none of it.

For him, the day had started like any other—until the guards came.

The heavy clank of the cell door sent a ripple through the dimly lit corridor. Two guards entered, their expressions unreadable.

“Darius Kael,” the senior officer announced, voice steady but lacking its usual gruffness. “You’re coming with us.”

Darius’s eyebrows lifted in mock surprise. “Did I win the lottery?”

The guards ignored his sarcasm. The younger guard shifted uncomfortably but remained silent. Darius extended his hands, the restraints clicked into place around Darius’s wrists, and he was led out of his cell.

As he stepped into the corridor, he caught a glimpse of the control monitors lining the security station. Even at a distance, he could see flashes of Unity Square—smoke, moving crowds, Athena’s flickering projection.

For the first time in years, the guards seemed unsure. As if even they didn’t know what to expect next.

Something was happening. Something big. But the guards said nothing. They only led him forward.

As they escorted him down the sterile corridors, Darius took in every detail. The nervous glances exchanged between guards, the faint hum of activity beyond the heavy doors. Whatever awaited him, it was bound to be interesting.

When they reached the processing area, Darius caught sight of the datapad again. His own face stared back at him from a news feed, accompanied by the headline: Athena’s Chosen Leader.

Darius suppressed a laugh, the absurdity of the situation washing over him. Whatever game Athena was playing, it was going to be interesting.

The corridor was silent except for the measured footsteps of his guards.

The world outside burned with outrage, but within these prison walls, Darius moved through eerie stillness.

No explanations. No urgency. Just the rhythmic march toward whatever fate Athena had decided for him.

He exhaled slowly, forcing a smirk. So, what now?

As the heavy doors ahead slid open, a cold blue light flooded the corridor. Inside, the sterile glow of a projection screen pulsed, waiting.

The doors sealed shut behind him.