ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

"Where... am I?" Kaelen muttered in confusion when he finds himself in darkness that seems to have no end.

But amidst the infinite darkness, Kaelen's system suddenly rang out in his mind, its mechanical voice breaking the eerie silence.

[System Notification: You have recovered to a stable state. Consciousness is being restored...]

Kaelen's senses gradually returned as he felt the warmth of the world seep back into him. Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open, his gaze settling on a dimly lit room. His mind took a moment to process his surroundings before he realized where he was.

He was lying on his bed in his room at the Soaring Dragons Pavilion in Valoria Kingdom. The faint scent of lavender hung in the air, calming his still-tense nerves. Turning his head slightly, he noticed someone seated beside him.

It was Lila. She was leaning forward, her head resting on her folded arms on the edge of his bed. The soft rise and fall of her shoulders showed she had fallen asleep while keeping watch over him.

Kaelen stared at her for a moment, a strange mixture of emotions swirling in his chest. He had never seen her look so vulnerable, her usual fiery spirit replaced by a serene calmness.

But before he could dwell on the sight, Lila began to stir. She shifted slightly, letting out a soft murmur before she slowly opened her eyes. Blinking the sleep away, her gaze met Kaelen's.

The moment she realized he was awake, her eyes widened with joy. "Kaelen!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with relief. Without hesitation, she leaped up and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly as if afraid he might disappear again.

"I was so worried," she said, her voice trembling slightly, though it was full of love. "Don't scare me like that again."

Kaelen was momentarily taken aback by her reaction, but he eventually smiled softly and placed a reassuring hand on her back. "I'm fine now, Lila. Thanks to you."

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Lila pulled back slightly to look at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "You better be. Next time, don't push yourself to the point of collapsing, okay?"

Kaelen chuckled lightly. "I'll try to keep that in mind."

The two shared a quiet moment, the bond between them growing stronger in the aftermath of the trials they had endured. Not long after though, Kaelen finally sat on his bed, his posture relaxed but his expression pensive. Lila stood by his bedside, a subtle smile on her face as she updated him on the latest events of the battle convention.

"It's official," she began, her tone neutral but carrying a hint of hesitation. "Kent Harrow has claimed the title of the top mage in this year's battle convention. As for the melee fighters, Kelvin Bowel has secured the top spot."

Kaelen's hand subconsciously tightened on the edge of his blanket. Though he maintained a calm exterior, there was a flicker of bitterness in his eyes. "I see," he replied evenly. "It's unfortunate... but I can't let it get to me. There's always another battle to fight."

Lila nodded approvingly, sensing his resolve. "That's the spirit. You've come far, Kaelen. Don't let one setback define you."

Just as Kaelen was about to reply, the door to his room creaked open, and in walked Vice Chancellor Reeves and General Cao. Their faces were lit with relief and delight upon seeing Kaelen awake.

"Well, look who's finally decided to join us!" Reeves exclaimed, his voice carrying a light-hearted tone. "It's good to see you up and about, Kaelen. You gave us quite a scare."

General Cao crossed his arms, his stern face softening slightly. "You've shown great resilience, lad. The Pacesetters Academy is proud of what you've accomplished so far. But I trust you're not going to rest on your laurels?"

Kaelen managed a small smile, bowing his head respectfully. "Thank you, Vice Chancellor. General Cao. I won't stop here; there's still much to prove."

Reeves placed a reassuring hand on Kaelen's shoulder. "That's the attitude we like to see. But right now there are urgent matters you need to attend to so hurry up and get ready"

"Urgent matters? What's that?" Kaelen asked with a bewildered look on his face. Lila was initially confused of kind of matters Kaelen had to tend to, but it didn't take long before she seemed to remember something as realization dawned on her.

"The crown prince demands an audience with the top 3 melee combatants in the Battle convention which obviously you are one of them. But because you were unconscious, the meeting had to be on hold till you regained conciousness" Reeves replied with a light smile on his face.

"The crown prince!?" Kaelen slightly exclaimed in surprise, but his expression quickly turned to confusion as he asked. "How long have I been unconscious for?"

"Well I would say today is making it a week" General Cao replied with a pondering look on his face. But a wry smile quickly appeared on Kaelen's face as soon as he heard what General Cao said

"So do and get yourself ready. We will go now to inform our Chancellor and the dignitaries that you have awoken and the meeting could take place" Reeves said as he patted Kaelen's shoulder. And right after, both him and General Cao turned and left the room.

As the two left the room, Kaelen exchanged a glance with Lila. Though the weight of the recent events lingered, the spark of determination in his eyes had grown stronger.

––––

At a majestic pavilion adorned with golden arches and intricate carvings, the grandeur of the structure exuded a regal presence that made Kaelen pause momentarily. The pavilion wasn't far from the Royal Palace, and its proximity only added to its importance. Standing there with Chancellor Castenada and Forbes Hernandez, Kaelen felt the weight of the upcoming encounter with the crown prince. The thought of meeting someone of such high standing stirred an unfamiliar unease within him.

The chancellor, ever composed, noticed Kaelen's contemplative silence and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You've faced worse, Kaelen. The crown prince is but a man—nothing more," Castenada said with a calm yet firm tone, breaking Kaelen's train of thought.

Forbes, on the other hand, wore his usual air of confidence, his third-place finish in the melee individual class battles doing little to dampen his sharp demeanor. "Relax, Kaelen," he said casually. "You've survived more dangerous things than royal formalities. If anyone should be nervous, it's probably them."

Kaelen smirked faintly at Forbes's remark but couldn't shake off the looming tension. Just then, movement from the pathway leading to the pavilion drew his attention. Kelvin Bowel, the dark prodigy of Valen Military Academy, strode toward them with an aura of authority that matched the pavilion's regal setting. By his side was Garvyn, the headmaster of the Valen Military Academy, who carried himself with a smug air, clearly relishing the moment.

As Kelvin and Garvyn drew closer, Kelvin's dark eyes flicked briefly toward Kaelen, locking on him for a heartbeat. The intensity of that gaze felt more like an unspoken message than a simple glance. There was no malice, but the weight of it was palpable. Yet, before Kaelen could decipher its meaning, Kelvin averted his gaze, his expression unreadable, and continued walking.

The exchange left Kaelen baffled. 'What was that look for? Was it a challenge? A warning? Or something else entirely?' Forbes, standing beside him, seemed to notice the silent interaction and leaned slightly toward Kaelen. "Seems like he's noticed you," Forbes muttered under his breath with a smirk. "Whatever that means."

Kaelen narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Kelvin disappear into the pavilion with Garvyn. He couldn't decide if the encounter was insignificant or if it held deeper implications. One thing was certain, though—Kelvin's presence, along with that of the crown prince, would undoubtedly add another layer of intrigue to the day ahead.

'Well I just have to put up with it' Kaelen thought as he walked into the Pavilion alongside Castenada and Forbes, his thoughts still lingering on the odd exchange with Kelvin earlier. However, those thoughts were abruptly shoved aside as soon as they stepped inside. The Pavilion's grand interior was as opulent as ever, but the atmosphere felt more charged than usual.

Sitting comfortably at the high seat in the Pavilion was none other than Crown Prince Lysander himself, exuding a calm but commanding presence. His royal insignia gleamed in the faint golden light of the crystal chandeliers, a reminder of his authority.

Seated slightly below him was Alden, whose ever-present smirk gave off an air of smugness. He leaned back lazily, his sharp eyes scanning the room, no doubt ready to make some pointed remark at anyone who caught his interest.

But it was the third figure that stole Kaelen's attention. A girl, seated beside Lysander, radiating an air of mystery and quiet power. Her posture was composed, her features refined, and her aura faintly tinged with an unearthly presence. There was something striking about her, but not in a loud or ostentatious way. She seemed to belong to a world far removed from the mundane.

Castenada's sharp eyes immediately darted to the girl. His brows furrowed slightly before he quickly masked his expression. Forbes, ever calm and observant, glanced briefly at Kaelen to gauge his reaction before settling his gaze on the girl.

Kaelen, however, could feel a strange weight in the air. He couldn't place why, but the girl's presence unsettled him in a way that wasn't exactly negative—it was more of a quiet, inexplicable intrigue.

Lysander broke the silence with a faint smirk. "Ah, Chancellor Castenada, our first runner up Kaelen Dragonyx, and the esteemed Forbes Hernandez. Welcome." His voice was steady, but the sharpness in his tone was unmistakable.

Castenada bowed slightly, maintaining his composure. "Your Highness, it is an honor for them to have a meeting with you here. I must say, I did not expect them to be graced by such distinguished guests this evening." His gaze lingered briefly on the girl before returning to Lysander.

Lysander's smirk deepened as he gestured toward the girl. "This is Selene, a friend and confidant. She's here to observe, nothing more."

Kaelen's eyes narrowed slightly. Selene. The name was unfamiliar, but something about her presence demanded respect, as if her mere existence carried weight.

Alden, noticing Kaelen's scrutiny, chuckled darkly. "I wouldn't stare too long, Dragonyx. She's not someone you want to get on the bad side of. Trust me."

Selene, for her part, didn't react to the exchange. Instead, she turned her gaze to Kaelen, her piercing eyes meeting his. For a brief moment, it felt as if she could see right through him, as though she knew things about him that even he didn't fully understand.

"Kaelen," Forbes whispered under his breath, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Keep your wits about you."

Kaelen nodded subtly, forcing himself to refocus. Whatever Selene's connection to Lysander and Alden was, it was clear she wasn't just an ordinary observer. For now, all he could do was play along and wait to see what the night would bring.