three years later

- K A L I - A L I -

"How are you feeling, Kali?"

I put on my best poker face, nodding slightly to her in the mirror. "As ready as I'll ever be, Mom," I manage, applying the last bit of foundation with precision.

She walks up behind me, laying a hand on my shoulder. I glance at her in the mirror, watching her put on a sympathetic expression. "It's a big day for you," she says softly. "A big one for all of us, I mean."

I smile lightly. "More like the biggest day of my life," I nervously laugh as I set my brush down, turning around to face her. "I'm going to wear the Kamar. It's a little stressful."

A flash of anxiety crosses her face before quickly making way for sympathy. "Your father has prepared you for this, though. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better mentor than the King." She offers a smile before giving me a bear hug.

     - ~ -

"Just some water, please," I say lightly to Klen.

"Of course, Kali," Klen says with sympathy in his face. I've known Klen my entire life; he had been our royal family's butler ever since I could remember. He's seen me with a lot of stress on my plate, but this is a new peak for me. I wish I could talk to more people about it, but only my father had gone through this ritual before. He'd offered as much support as he reasonably could, but no amount of reassurance will suffice for such an important moment.

"You have every reason to be scared, Kali," Klen says, pouring me a water as the sound of the crowd grew louder outside the tall windows. "But, between you and me, there's no one I'm more confident in right now than you."

I smile as he hands me the glass, complete with two ice cubes. "Thank you, Klen," I say before taking a sip. It's been 27 years since the last Kamar ceremony. The entire world would be watching; it feels like a new Pope is being chosen. "I don't think I've ever been this nervous before."

"Change is scary," Klen adds, setting a cloth on the small side table next to a rather ornate lamp. "But later today, when you've worn the bracelet, and we're celebrating you, you'll look back to this moment and think," he shrugs with his hands slightly in the air, "'Look what I've done.'"

I nod, hearing the door open to my right, and the crowd's cheers begin. I offer a smile to Klen, steeling my resolve and standing. I could hear my father outside, speaking to the crowd from the balcony.

"27 years ago, I wore the Kamar and officially continued the legacy of our family, the Ali's," his voice echoes across the massive courtyard. "It gives our nation the power of the sun. It gives all of us, the people of Al Kamara, a special position in this world. It safeguards our families, our livelihoods, and-"

As my hands begin to tremble, I lose track of the speech and notice my mother beckoning for me to walk to the balcony. I stand, focusing on not fainting or losing my balance. As royalty, I'm no stranger to massive crowds or important events, but this is in a league of its own. She reaches for me, patting my shoulder and looking at me. That hint of anxiety remains, though.

"I love you, Kali," she smiles, hugging me once again. "Go show them what you're made of."

That line puts a smile on my face, to my surprise. "I will," I say confidently, turning and facing the open double-door to the balcony.

"My daughter, my pride and joy, and the heir to the Ali family. Kali, come," My father smiles, his right arm outstretched to welcome me to the balcony. I walk towards him, adjusting my eyes to the sunlight.

Below are easily fifty thousand people. The far edges host numerous cameras, no doubt streaming this event to the rest of the world. My father's ritual had been the most-watched broadcast in world history, and I'm sure mine would break the record. To my left, the western shore of the Caspian Sea reflected the late-evening sunlight in the distance. To my right, the Caucasus Mountains stood like sentinels, nearly cradling the sun.

The impressive scene challenges my confidence, but I push the nervous thoughts to the back of my mind and turn to my Dad. He smiles at me, setting a hand on my shoulder. "Kali," he says, not into the microphone this time. "Are you ready?"

"Of course," I state firmly, nodding my head. His smile gives me my confidence back as he reaches for his left hand, unclasping the onyx bracelet, the Kamar, from his arm and presenting it.

"This is yours now," he says, pride brimming from his face. The nerves try to kick in as I reach my arm for it, but I again keep them at bay as I take hold of it. As I hold it, I notice the previously cheering crowd has fallen silent. The gravity of the event has taken over everyone, and I can feel the eyes of the entire world staring at me right now.

"Thank you," I smile, locked into the surreal moment as I slide the Kamar over my left hand. I can feel the energy from it, brimming as if inside was a convict desperate to escape. I know that, once I close the clasp around my arm, my body would take the entirety of the energy of the Kamar. I would have the power of the sun at my fingertips.

That power, though, is only available to those rightful heirs of the Ali family. If anyone other than us wore the Kamar, it would burn them from the outside in, quickly killing them.

And now, I would wear it.

I take a deep breath, fixing the clasp and closing it around my wrist.

The shock causes me to double over, falling on one knee while holding my newly donned wrist with my right hand. I yelp in surprise, watching the veins in my arm turn a bright orange as the power finds its way through my body.

'The immense energy would quickly overcome you, but your heritage would stabilize the effect,' I remember my father saying. Through the mixture of pain and power, I take a deep breath, trying to focus on my body. I can feel the power venturing inside, being coursed through my veins by my rapidly beating heart.

Finally, a wave of calm washes over me as I realize I'd done it. I'd absorbed the power, and now my body would...

     Burn.

     My calm disappears as I feel my entire body rapidly rise in temperature, and I open my eyes to see steam begin to emanate from my arms. Around the Kamar, my skin begins to turn a bright orange, and grill marks etch next to the clasp. My veins turn to molten wire. I try to remain strong, but the pain only ramps up as I fall to the floor, eventually screaming.

"Kali!" my father screams, looking at me. I try to look back, but the steam from my burning face clouds my vision. Through the haze, I watch as the King's face goes from anxiety to dread in seconds. I see my mother rush out, screaming my name.

Suddenly, the burning all over my body begins to fade, and my screams begin to lessen. I'm helped to my feet by royal guards, and I look out at the crowd. Pure shock is visible on all their faces, and the last thing I see before passing out is the stare between my terrified father and my crying mother.