ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

At the mini hall in the Pavilion right next to the Royal palace, the tension in the air was palpable as Lysander, the Crown Prince of Valoria, stood before Castenada and Garvyn with an air of regal authority. Flanking him were Alden, his enigmatic cousin, and a serene young woman with an otherworldly aura, identified as the First Magi's daughter.

Lysander spoke with measured respect. "Chancellor Castenada, Headmaster Garvyn, I humbly request your leave for a brief moment. My companions and I would like to have a private discussion with three of your representatives—Kelvin Bowel, Kaelen Dragonyx, and Forbes Hernandez. Rest assured, this will not take long."

Garvyn's expression brightened, his demeanor immediately deferential. "Of course, Your Highness. Anything you need." He bowed slightly and gestured to the doors, ready to comply without hesitation.

Castenada, however, remained still, his sharp eyes narrowing as he folded his arms. "How long is 'not too long,' Your Highness?" he asked, his tone courteous but tinged with suspicion. "My students have little time to spare for distractions at this stage of the tournament."

Lysander offered a faint, disarming smile. "I promise you, Chancellor, this discussion will be brief. We have no intention of interfering with their preparations."

The young Crown Prince's composed assurance seemed to soften Castenada's guarded stance. After a moment of contemplation, he gave a reluctant nod. "Very well, Your Highness. But only because you've assured me this won't take long."

With that, both Castenada and Garvyn exited the mini hall, though Castenada's shoulders were visibly tense, his departure slower than Garvyn's eager retreat.

Once the doors closed behind them, Lysander turned his gaze toward the top three participants in the melee individual class battles—Kelvin, Kaelen, and Forbes—his calm yet commanding demeanor unchanged. Alden's smirk grew, and the First Magi's daughter remained unreadable, her sharp eyes flitting between the trio for a brief moment as if weighing their worth before she averted her gaze elsewhere.

As soon as Castenada and Garvyn exited the hall, an air of unease lingered briefly. Lysander, ever composed, seized the moment to address the three young men standing before him.

"Congratulations to the three of you," he began, his voice rich with authority and faint admiration. "Being the top contenders in the melee individual battles at the convention is no small feat. You've proven yourselves worthy of Valoria's attention."

Kaelen, Forbes, and Kelvin stood attentively, though Forbes gave a curt nod while Kaelen remained silently observant. Lysander gestured slightly toward Alden, who smirked smugly, and the girl beside him, who exuded an air of quiet dominance.

"Allow me to formally introduce ourselves. I, as you know, am Lysander Alexandria, Crown Prince of Valoria. This is my cousin, Alden Alexandria. And lastly..." he gestured to the girl, whose presence was as imposing as it was graceful, "this is Lady Elena Magister, daughter of the First Magi."

At the mention of her name, both Kaelen and Forbes stiffened slightly. The title of "First Magi" carried immense weight in the kingdom, and being the daughter of such a figure elevated her status to an almost untouchable level. However, their reactions were subdued compared to Kelvin's.

"The First Magi's daughter?"

The moment the words left Lysander's mouth, Kelvin's entire demeanor shifted. A bone-chilling murderous intent erupted from him, blanketing the room like an oppressive storm. It was as though the air itself had turned hostile, heavy with malice, as his cold, burning gaze locked onto Elena. The intent was so palpable that even Lysander's expression hardened in response, though he didn't interfere.

'Huh? What has gotten into Kelvin?' Kaelen thought in shock as he took a few steps away from Kelvin in vigilance. As for Forbes, he quietly stared at Kelvin with a pensive look on his face.

Elena, however, remained eerily unshaken. Her piercing, emerald-green eyes met Kelvin's with a calm that bordered on disdain. Then, with a slight, almost imperceptible tilt of her head, she addressed him in a voice as cold and cutting as ice. "You dare? A mere shadow of rage dares stand before the light of my lineage?"

With no visible movement, an overwhelming aura burst forth from Elena. It was raw, refined power that pressed down on Kelvin like the weight of an entire mountain range. His knees buckled instantly, slamming him to the ground. The murderous intent he exuded was snuffed out in an instant, swallowed whole by the suffocating dominance of her aura.

'What..... is this? How..... is she..... strong?'

Kelvin struggled against the crushing force, his veins bulging, his teeth gritted in defiance, but it was no use. The difference in power was as clear as day. Despite his pride and determination, he could barely raise his head to glare at her.

Elena stepped closer, her calm, almost mocking gaze locked onto him. "If you can't endure my aura, how do you intend to face me or anyone like me in the future? Consider this your first lesson in insignificance and use it to know your place."

Forbes's eyes narrowed slightly, and Kaelen clenched his fists, the tension in the air making it difficult for either of them to step forward. Lysander, however, raised a hand subtly, signaling them to stay back.

"Enough, Elena," Lysander said evenly, though there was an unmistakable undertone of authority. "Let him rise. There is still value in him. Besides, I didn't summon him here just for him to be suffocated by your aura"

"He has a point Elena" Alden suddenly chimed in with a nonchalant look on his face.

After hearing what both Lysander and Alden said Elena held Kelvin's gaze for a long, agonizing moment before withdrawing her aura entirely, as though it had never existed. Kelvin gasped for air, his body trembling as he rose shakily to his feet, rage and humiliation flickering in his eyes.

Kaelen watched the scene unfold, his mind churning with questions and unease. Kelvin's murderous intent, Elena's overwhelming response, and the strange, almost casual dominance she displayed—there was far more to this encounter than met the eye.

Not long right after Kaelen, Kelvin, and Forbes finally composed themselves, their earlier tension subsiding into quiet curiosity. Lysander, sitting at the most exalted seat in the hall, steepled his fingers on the chair arm and regarded the trio with a measured gaze. The faint flicker of the chandelier's candles danced over his composed face.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I've called you here," Lysander began, his tone steady but laced with intrigue. "What I'm about to discuss transcends this battle convention. What I want to know is if you're prepared to step onto a much grander stage."

Kaelen's brow furrowed. "A grander stage? I thought the battle convention was already the pinnacle."

Lysander allowed himself a small, knowing smile. "The battle convention is merely a stepping stone. The real challenge—the true test of strength, skill, and strategy—is something called The Dawn of Conquest."

Forbes, ever composed, leaned forward slightly. "I've heard whispers of it... but I thought it was just a myth. You're telling us it's real?"

"Not only is it real," Lysander replied, his voice rising with conviction, "but it is the single most significant event in determining the balance of power in this world. It occurs once every five years—a colossal battle royale that pits the four dominant races against one another: the elves, the orcs, the hybrids, and us humans. It's not just about individual might but about proving the superiority of our race in this era."

Kelvin's eyes darkened, a slight smirk tugging at his lips as he was secretly stealing glances from Elana. "A battle royale between races? Sounds... Interesting." Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

"It is," Lysander confirmed. "The Dawn of Conquest is not for the faint-hearted. Those who participate are the elite—the chosen warriors of their kind. The battles are unforgiving, the stakes are unimaginable, and the glory... eternal."

Kaelen felt a rush of adrenaline at Lysander's words but masked his excitement with skepticism. "Why are you telling us this? What makes you think we're ready for something of that scale?"

Lysander chuckled, his gaze sharp. "The three of you have proven yourselves in this tournament, rising above countless others. But this is only the beginning. If you wish to stand among the best of our race and represent humanity on the grandest stage, you must continue to grow, to conquer."

Forbes remained silent, but the gleam in his eyes betrayed his intrigue. Kelvin tilted his head back slightly, exhaling. "So, what's the catch? Why involve us now?"

"There's no catch," Lysander replied smoothly. "I'm merely offering you the opportunity to prepare. The Dawn of Conquest is still some time away, but those who wish to participate must be chosen from among the strongest in events like this one. You've caught the eye of powerful figures—perhaps even more than you realize."

Kaelen quickly exchanged glances with Forbes, while Kelvin had a pensive look on his face. The weight of Lysander's words hung heavily in the air, but there was no denying the allure of such a challenge.

"This... Dawn of Conquest," Kaelen finally said, his voice steady, "sounds like more than just a competition. It sounds like war."

Lysander nodded solemnly. "And wars decide the future of kingdoms, the fate of races, and the rise of legends. The question is: are you ready to fight for it?"