Draconic Ascendance: The King Selection

Let The Games Begin!

Trumpets blared in the air and the cheering of the noble women filled the stadium as the participants of the King Selection entered the ring. On the bleachers, watched some of the villagers and the married couples who wished to witness the becoming of the King of Fontana. Some families of the royal blood, came too, to witness the grand event.

The queen's knights entered the stadium, all who wished to marry the radiant and intelligent, Queen Eurydice. They have been training their entire lives to dedicate themselves to fighting alongside the Queen. Every knight of Fontana wishes to stride along the battlefield with the Queen, who was known to never miss a war. And in every battle, there is, as long as the Queen is present and raises her sword, their enemies would tremble at the sound of her name.

The Queen was immensely powerful. Not only because she is Queen, but was also known to have the gift of casting arcane and ancient magic. Though she rarely showed her magician side when war came- people knew how powerful she was simply by seeing her use magic to summon the rain in times of drought.

But for now, the Knights have been relaxing for far too long. Fontana has not been challenged again since the Sixth War of the Nations and will probably remain that way until a military country suddenly emerges and becomes a threat to Fontana.

The Queen's wizards prepared the venue of the Trial, ensuring that the bystanders would not be injured as the Trial begins. High-grade spells were used to create a container for the participants to freely roam.

The Trial will determine the ones who will be able to proceed in the three games. Others already had some dubious plans on their sleeves to finally exit the game, some had agreed to pretend failing in order to be exempted. However, there were some who were genuinely eager to finish the three games.

The officials of the King Selection- and also the judges, who were composed of the nations' power congress could not blame the participants if they wanted to leave anyway. The entire event was merely the Queen's agenda to have fun.

Out of the thousands who were inside the stadium, there were four of them who traveled far lands to marry the queen. They were foreigners, madly captured by the lovely Queen Eurydice. Princes, to be exact.

The participants gathered in the middle. Some were nervous, some were grateful. Some graceful and gallant. Some were desperate to become kings. Others formulated some cheats, but the queen does not care. In her opinion, that too, is a strategy to win. It was dirty, but it was a part of life.

First, the aristocrats were introduced. Most of them were older than the queen for two years. Icarai decided to chat with the queen as she watched from the sidelines, preparing for her entrance.

"I heard we have some interesting participants today." he informed her and pointed to a man in the ring. "That man over there is Prince Xavier of Valonia, he purposely turned down his marriage with another princess to ask for your hand, My Queen."

She observed the prince and smirked. The Kingdom of Valonia is a well-known civilization in the Far East. The Queen has always wanted to conquer countries separated to them by seas, but she has no choice, that ambition of hers would have to wait. "I must say, he is quite attractive and looks quite responsible. However, I hope he perishes today so that I may have the chance to conquer his country."

"I..." Icarai sighed, knowing there was no point in even expressing his take.

The queen stared at the men on the battlefield, thinking deeply while moving her pinky in a circular motion. 'What should I summon today?' she ruminated.

Icarai interrupted her thoughts with a much more important element of the announcement to discuss.

"Do you have any plans for the compensation this year, My Queen?" Icarai asked, troubled. He had been bugging the queen about that for days. It was supposed to be announced before the selection, but the queen delayed it.

"Every part of the army will be promoted one rank above if they participated. As for the nobles, just do whatever you used to do every year. They only want my autograph, don't they?"

"I suppose you can make it a little bit better?" Icarai risked to suggest. "Perhaps sign on their swords or shields?"

The queen rolled her eyes, snobbishly. "Will that encourage them to join?"

"Everyone wants a memento of you, My Queen."

She shrugged her shoulders. "I will consider that then. You may announce the compensations."

Icarai cleared his throat as he walked towards the floating podium. The audience gasped in awe as the queen signature flower sigil glowed in the air. It was a transparent floating platform, allowing them to see what was underneath. They triumphantly walked above, uncaring and nonchalant, meanwhile, the men underneath them were nervous and sweating.

"Settle down, folks!" Icarai took the microphone and boldly announced. "I know everyone is just as excited as I am to finally see who will become the awaited King of Fontana! I will be your overseer and host today, Icarai Megistrus. And with my introduction out of the way, allow me to welcome Our Radiance, everyone, please give her a round of applause, Queen Maximillia Eurydice von Kranel!"

This stadium roared with clapping. The men from underneath stared with dreamy eyes as the queen rose from her throne. Her face was calm as ever, hiding the smirk she would soon display if the trials began.

The knights, the villagers, the princes from other countries basked in the queen's ethereal and unique beauty. Prince Herbert of Elyseis, Prince Xavier of Valonia, Prince Yue of Xinyan, and Prince Kael of Tibel all gazed at her with admiration.

"There she is..." A commoner, who happened to participate, crooned. "Ah! The lovely Queen Eurydice!"

The princes looked at one another, sparking rivalry as they drew their blades. They were dressed in expensive robes and covered with shining silver armor. The Queen's eyes met their gazes briefly for a split second and looked away to check the rest of the crowd. She seemed to be finding someone.

"My country needs a queen who can bring victory simply by existing," Prince Herbert, who was described as a tall lean man with bright blonde hair and green eyes, mumbled. "She is my perfect one."

Prince Xavier closed his eyes and replied, "You only wish for her intelligence and not because of her heart?" he opened his polar blue eyes and narrowed over to him. "Give me a break."

"Aren't you the simpleton who is rejected by the queen twenty times? What are you even doing here?"

"I wish to prove my worth once and for all." Prince Xavier glared at him. "She will choose me."

Prince Xavier's intention to become the queen's husband sparked the other princes' hearts. They too, yearn for the day that the queen would make them a part of her life.

Just standing alongside the most powerful and beautiful Queen on the continent makes their hearts wring. She is a woman who surpasses all standards of men and maybe, even a little excess. They could not even think of losing the opportunity to let go of her. This was the closest they could ever be to being close to her.

"Queen Maximillia Eurydice von Kranel has decided the compensations and consolations for those who attend today's event," Icarai beamed through the microphone. "She is to reward a member of the knights and any part of the army with a one-step promotion. This applies to all the lower caste guards and higher."

"The civilians especially you labourers, who were only forced to participate, will be rewarded with a hefty sum to be claimed upon exit."

"As for the noblemen, the queen had decided to reward you something different this year. As thanks for your participation, she will affix her blessing on your sword and shields as a reminder of your patriotism and loyalty to Fontana. This affixed blessing is guaranteed to become a lucky charm, useful for your future battles."

Eurydice rolled her eyes at Icarai's dramatic way of announcing. Her signature of blessing does have a positive effect in battle. As the queen of war, everything that is imbued by the queen is desired by many. Mottos, bracelets, trinkets, and charms- All those which are rumored to bring good luck in the battlefield.

Perhaps it was the good morale and motivation brought by the very thought of having the Queen's presence exist in trinkets and charms? Or was it truly the queen's powers?

Nobody knows.

The queen wandered her eyes across the crowd, looking for someone. Finally, her eyes laid upon Ares, who watched the trials so intently. The Queen chuckled at his current expression. He looked incredibly curious.

"Icarai," She called out to him. He turned his back to her and lowered his head, listening. "Since the rewards are far too valuable this year, I decided that the trials must be a little challenging too."

Icarai broke into sweat after hearing this and turned pale. Last year the queen summoned golems from the Earth who slaughtered and targeted those who fled first. Based on the consensus, only 115 passed the trial. However, in the first game, their numbers decreased to 60, for the second game 20 and then none passed the final.

The games would change per year and there's no telling what the queen would do this time.

Eurydice's eyes met Ares, and the commoner stared back, trying to figure out what she is plotting this time. She smiled sweetly at him and the lone outcast angled his thick eyebrow.

"He must die," She whispered, sending chills down Icarai's spine, who was silently unrolling a script he was about to say. The dogman gulped and wiped the balls of sweat forming on his forehead with a handkerchief.

Queen Eurydice looked at him. "What are you delaying for? Hurry up so that this ends quickly. Poor villagers want to break free so badly. You're just tormenting them."

Icarai slowly nodded and cleared his throat, a wind wafted through the microphone creating that piercing sound in the air.

"I must announce the rules, before commencing the trials. First, Qualifications. Only these specifications are allowed to enter the selection. Please listen carefully. One, You must be 23 years old to 33 to enter."

"Second, You must not be married nor must not have a child. Your body must be healthy with little to no bruises or scars, no disease and any long-term illness, not weak and you should be able to provide Fontana an heir to the throne. "

Icarai rolled the scroll. "If you do not meet these standards, you may exit this stadium now. You will be investigated by the royal mages to confirm your answers. If it is found out that you are qualified but lied and withdrew from the competition, you will be accused of unpatriotism for ruining the King Selection and will be sent to the mines. Is this understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!" the men boomed with their deep voices in unison.

"Now then," The Queen lifted her finger, unable to contain her excitement.

Thirteen thousand and more qualified men clenched their jaws and whispered prayers into the wind.

They did not want to be in the Selection. Most of them regretted not marrying early to escape this hellhole. It would have done them better to marry a woman they did not know, than lose a limb forever and be worthless.

Eurydice sang in the air and sweetly danced, like a demon dancing merely seconds before the rise of dawn. Her wyvern-like eyes were hypnotizing and her small child-like figure twirled in the platform.

She was the calm before the storm.

"Let the trials of the King Selection, begin!"