ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

Moonlight bathed the polished marble floors of the pavilion, and the air carried a faint scent of exotic incense. Within, a hushed conversation took place among three figures—Kaelen, Forbes, and Kelvin—who stood slightly apart, exchanging thoughts on the cryptic statement Crown Prince Lysander had made earlier regarding the Conquest of Dawn.

As they quietly speculated on what Lysander's words could mean, a cold and piercing voice suddenly interrupted them.

"Will these three truly be worth the persuasion?"

The voice belonged to Elara, the daughter of the First Magi, her icy blue eyes scrutinizing them with undisguised skepticism. She stood beside Lysander, her presence sharp and regal, like a blade hidden within silk.

Lysander turned his head slightly, as if contemplating an answer, but before he could speak, Forbes stepped forward. His tone was neither humble nor arrogant—just steady, unwavering.

"Whether we are worth the persuasion or not is not for you to decide, Lady Elara. That answer will reveal itself in due time."

Elara narrowed her eyes, displeased by his response. Without hesitation, she unleashed a sudden wave of mana—a sharp, suffocating aura meant to suppress them, meant to force them into submission.

Kelvin's brow furrowed, and Kaelen instinctively tightened his grip on the hilt of his disguised Blade of Eternity. But then, something unexpected happened.

Forbes stood firm.

Not a single flinch. Not even a bead of sweat. He simply looked at Elara, his deep eyes calm as still waters, as if her aura were nothing more than a passing breeze.

The moment stretched long and silent. Kaelen and Kelvin exchanged glances, both inwardly surprised. Even Lysander and Alden—who stood beside Elara—watched with veiled intrigue.

'Interesting....' Alden thought with an intrigued smile now on his face. And for the first time, a flicker of surprise passed through Elara's expression.

Forbes exhaled slowly and then spoke in a voice that carried a profound weight.

"Power is a dangerous thing when wielded by those who judge too quickly. Strength is not always seen at first glance, and wisdom does not belong solely to those born into it."

Elara remained silent, her aura retracting slightly. It was unclear whether his words had reached her, but one thing was certain—Forbes Hernandez was not a man to be underestimated.

But although she accepted that Forbes wasn't to be underestimated, Elara's gaze burned with defiance as she met Forbes' calm, unwavering eyes. She refused to let his words be the final say in their brief but intense exchange. Clenching her fists, she took a step forward.

"I don't believe strength is defined solely by victory," she declared firmly. "True strength comes from standing your ground, from never yielding, even in the face of overwhelming power. Those who refuse to break—those who rise despite their losses—are the ones who are truly strong."

A flicker of amusement passed through Forbes' otherwise impassive face, as if he had heard such words countless times before. He exhaled softly, his posture unshaken.

"And yet," he responded coolly, "those who never learn from their defeats are doomed to repeat them. Strength isn't just about standing up—it's about adapting, evolving, and ensuring you don't fall the same way twice. A person who clings to defiance alone will never rise beyond their limits."

Elara's breath hitched. She opened her mouth to counter, but no words came. She realized that, at her core, she had always clung to the belief that persistence alone would make her stronger. But Forbes' words forced her to confront an uncomfortable truth—endurance without growth was meaningless.

For the first time in their exchange, she fell silent. Not out of submission, but because, deep down, she knew he was right.

'For him to actually shut this b*tch up, then that means he ain't ordinary' Alden thought with a sly smile on his face. As for Kaelen, he just kept his gaze on Forbes with an unreadable expression on his face while Kelvin stares at Elara with a venomous expression.

As the eerie silence threatened to drag on, Lysander suddenly spoke up, his voice smooth yet authoritative.

"Well then," he began, his piercing gaze sweeping over the gathered fighters. "There's no need to dwell on this any longer. You should return to your respective pavilions and think carefully about everything I've said. After all, the next phase of the battle convention is only two days away, and I expect every one of you to be prepared."

His words carried a weight that made even the most composed individuals take notice. Forbes remained calm, merely nodding in acknowledgment, while Kelvin gave a small, knowing smirk, as if the short break didn't faze him in the slightest.

But Kaelen…

A flicker of surprise crossed his face. 'Two days?' He had only regained consciousness today, meaning the entire time he had been out, the world had continued moving without him. The battle convention, the rivalries, the schemes—it had all been happening while he lay unconscious.

His fingers clenched slightly at the realization. There was no time to waste.

As the group began dispersing, Kaelen remained lost in thought. He needed to use these two days wisely. Because when the next phase of the battle convention arrived, there would be no room for hesitation.

As Forbes, Kaelen, and Kelvin stepped out of the pavilion, they were immediately met by Castaneda and Garvyn, who had been waiting for them. Garvyn, his sharp eyes gleaming under the midday sun, wasted no time in motioning Kelvin toward him.

"Come on, kid," Garvyn said, his voice firm but not unkind. "We're heading back."

Kelvin nodded slightly and began walking toward him without hesitation. Meanwhile, Castaneda placed a firm hand on Kaelen and Forbes' shoulders. "Let's go," he said, leading them toward the Soaring Dragons Pavilion.

As the two groups began to separate, Kaelen suddenly called out.

"Kelvin!"

The name carried through the air, causing Kelvin to pause mid-step. He didn't turn around. His posture remained rigid, his dark aura subdued but ever-present.

"What do you want?" Kelvin asked, his voice distant, indifferent.

Kaelen clenched his fists tightly. He could feel something slipping further away, something that had once been whole but was now crumbling. After a deep breath, he finally spoke, his voice carrying a rare weight of sincerity.

"You're taking the wrong path in this."

A tense silence stretched between them. The wind whistled softly through the courtyard.

For a brief moment, it seemed like Kelvin might respond with anger, but instead, he simply chuckled—low, bitter. "Wrong path?" he murmured. Then, without turning around, he gave his reply.

"I lost my way a long time ago."

With that, he stepped forward, following Garvyn without another word. His figure disappeared into the distance, leaving Kaelen standing there, watching.

Forbes glanced at Kaelen, but he said nothing. Castaneda, too, remained silent, merely giving Kaelen a look of quiet understanding before continuing toward the pavilion.

Kaelen exhaled slowly, his fingers loosening. He had tried. But Kelvin's road was his own to walk.

As they began soaring through the sky, gliding across the kingdom toward the Soaring Dragons Pavilion with Castenada's wind magic, the cool night breeze carried a heavy silence between them. Forbes, ever perceptive, noticed the slight gloom in Kaelen's expression. His usual battle-hardened focus had given way to something more contemplative—perhaps even troubled.

Forbes drew closer, his deep, steady voice breaking the silence. "You're thinking about Kelvin, aren't you?"

Kaelen turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable, but he didn't deny it. Forbes sighed before continuing. "I get it. He's a difficult person to deal with. But let me tell you something, or someone which is Valir to be precise—Valir. You know, he wasn't always like this."

'Valir?'

Kaelen listened intently as Forbes continued. "The Dark Prince of the Pacesetters Academy… That title wasn't given to him because of his strength alone. His family, the House of Valir, was once one of the most feared families in Eldoria, a true menace. They were ruthless, ambitious, and sought power by any means necessary. Many believed they would rise to challenge the great families and even the Academy itself."

He paused, his expression darkening. "But that never came to pass. The House of Bowel was wiped out overnight—erased from existence by forces too great for even their dark magic to resist. Valir was the only survivor. I found him wandering through the ruins of his home, barely alive, lost in grief and rage. He could have become a monster, a vengeful spirit destined to destroy everything around him. But instead, I took him in. I brought him to the Pacesetters Academy, where he could start anew."

Kaelen absorbed Forbes' words carefully, understanding the weight behind them. Valir, the arrogant, prideful dark mage, had been saved from the very destruction his family once sowed. It was a strange thought, but it made Kaelen rethink Valir's actions.

Forbes looked at him meaningfully. "You see, Kaelen, there are some people who walk paths darker than most. Valir still believes he's the strongest wielder of dark magic, and his loss to another dark magic user shook him to his core. But that doesn't mean he's beyond redemption. And right now, he is on his way on being reborn."

A small gust of wind blew past them as Forbes placed a hand on Kaelen's shoulder. "I don't know what kind of past Kelvin has, but if you truly believe there's a way to lead him toward the right path, then don't give up. The easiest thing in the world is to abandon people when they disappoint you. The hardest thing? Staying and helping them find their way."

Kaelen clenched his fists for a moment as he absorbed all the words that came out of Forbes mouth, then exhaled, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. "Thanks, Forbes," he said with newfound resolve.

Forbes gave a rare smile. "No problem. Now, let's get back before Castenada decides to scold us for wasting his magic."

With that, the two continued gliding toward the Soaring Dragons Pavilion, the night sky stretching endlessly above them. But there was a thought which now lingered in Kaelen's mind as he glanced at Forbes.

'I wonder what his past is like'