2024-12-07 18:00:24"Then how do you explain the bloody handkerchief? You took it while I was wounded in the forest!" Calen shouted, his voice cutting through the tense air.
"One of my men saw you being chased by a lion. He wanted to help, but by the time he got close, he saw the lion attacking you. He thought it was too late to save you, so he picked up the handkerchief that had fallen on the ground and brought it back. We truly believed you had been killed and devoured by the beast," Elias said.
A murmur spread through the crowd until one voice rose from the sea of nobles. "How is it possible that he has no wounds on his body? He’s so weak! How could he have survived an attack by a lion?"
Elias raised his hands to address the doubters. "We don’t know how he managed to return unscathed, but one thing is clear—we did not commit the murder he accuses us of!" His gaze locked onto Calen, his tone laced with feigned hurt. "Calen, we accepted you into our family as our son-in-law, even though you’ve contributed nothing of value to us. And this is how you repay us? By tarnishing our name with baseless accusations."
Calen turned sharply to Lila, his eyes burning with accusation. "Lila! Speak the truth! You've been pale as a ghost since I arrived. Tell me, were you part of this plot to kill me? Is this all because you want me to divorce you?"
Gasps rippled through the assembled nobles. The Frost family was one of the most influential in the kingdom, and an accusation of this magnitude sent shockwaves across the hall. All eyes turned to Lila Frost, Calen’s wife, standing among the gathered nobles.
Lila's face was ashen, her lips pressed tightly together to hold back a gasp. Her hands trembled, and she swallowed hard, her throat moving visibly. She clutched the folds of her elegant gown, her knuckles white. For the first time in her life, Lila Frost—known for her composed and imperious demeanor—looked utterly shaken.
“Calen...” she whispered.
Calen’s gaze shifted to her, a mixture of pain and determination in his eyes. “You knew, didn’t you, Lila? You knew they wanted me gone. Tell me, did you stand idly by? Or did you help them plan my death?”
“Enough, Calen!” Evan Drake stepped forward, placing himself squarely between Calen and Lila, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room.
Calen’s gaze turned icy as he looked at Evan. He knew full well that Evan coveted Lila and intended to marry her once Calen was out of the picture. Evan, renowned as the strongest and most skilled candidate for Aerondale's highest generalship, was everything Calen had once been expected to become—and more.
“Step aside, Evan! This doesn’t concern you!” Calen barked, his voice echoing through the grand hall.
“This is my concern,” Evan replied with a smug smile. “Lila is my future wife, and I won’t stand by while you intimidate her like this!”
“Lila is still my wife!” Calen shot back, his voice a mix of anger and defiance.
“Your wife?” Evan laughed derisively, and several nobles joined in, their laughter filling the room. “You’re nothing but a pathetic failure, Calen. Your supposed death wasn’t even worth the mourning. You’re less valuable than a peasant from some remote village. The court has already declared you dead—look here!” He held up a parchment bearing the king’s seal. “This is the royal decree confirming your death. As far as Aerondale is concerned, you’re gone, and Lila is now a widow. So why don’t you just do us all a favor and stay dead?”
King Ryan Ashford, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke. “Evan is right, Calen Storm. Your return is highly suspicious. You claim you survived a lion attack without a single scratch, and now you accuse the Frost family—who have shown you nothing but generosity—of attempting to kill you. You bring disgrace upon yourself with these baseless accusations.”
The king’s voice grew sterner. “The Frost family is one of the most honorable in Aerondale, and I will not tolerate their name being tarnished. Your death has already been declared, and this kingdom has no place for you anymore. You will leave Aerondale immediately and live out your life in exile.”
“What?” Calen whispered, disbelief clouding his face.
Evan smirked, crossing his arms. “You heard him. It’s time for you to crawl away, Calen.”
But Calen’s expression hardened. “I will prove myself. Give me a chance to fight for my honor!” He turned to face Evan, his voice firm. “Let me duel you, Evan. If I win, you can’t exile me or take away what’s mine.”
The room erupted in laughter, Evan’s booming voice rising above the rest. “You? Duel me? What sort of joke is this?” He sneered, his eyes gleaming with contempt. “A weakling like you doesn’t deserve to stand in the same ring as me!”
“Are you afraid?” Calen countered.
Evan’s smile faltered briefly, his pride pricked by the challenge. The crowd quieted, eager to see how the mighty Evan Drake would respond.
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Evan sneered, stepping closer to Calen until they were nearly nose to nose. “Afraid? Why would I be afraid of a pathetic worm like you? You dare to challenge me? Fine. I’ll crush you under my boot like the insignificant insect you are!”The room erupted into laughter and jeers, the nobles and courtiers treating the challenge as a source of great amusement. The idea of Calen—Aerondale’s greatest disappointment—facing Evan, its most promising warrior, was nothing short of absurd to them.Even King Ryan chuckled, his voice booming over the crowd. “This will indeed be an entertaining spectacle. Very well, Calen. I will allow this duel. Let us see what shred of honor, if any, you have left.” He paused, his lips curling into a mischievous smirk. “But let’s make this interesting. If, by some miracle, you win, not only will you avoid exile, but I will reinstate your honor. You will take your place in the military as a captain—or even a general!”The hall exploded in laughter, the nobles doubl
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Evan laughed, his voice booming across the arena. "Just because you managed to dodge one swing doesn’t mean you’ve won, Calen!" He gestured at the ground, where his massive blade had left a deep scar in the earth. "You haven’t even seen a fraction of my true strength."The crowd cheered wildly, shouting for Evan to end the duel quickly. “Finish him, Evan!” someone yelled, while others laughed and jeered at Calen.Calen tightened his grip on his sword, his voice cutting through the noise. “Then stop holding back. Show me everything you’ve got!”Evan’s grin widened, his teeth flashing like a predator about to strike. "You dare challenge me, you worm? I’ll crush you like a cockroach beneath my foot!"The crowd erupted in cheers, chanting Evan’s name as he raised his massive sword high. The muscles in his arms tensed, his aura sukirging with raw power. The ground beneath him cracked as he launched himself forward with terrifying speed, his blade slicing downward with enough force to shatt
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The murmurs among the crowd grew louder, disbelief rippling through the arena.“This cannot be!” the king bellowed, descending from his elevated throne with a face flushed red with indignation. His voice carried authority, but beneath it, there was a tinge of unease.Calen, standing over Evan, kept his composure. “I’ve defeated him. That is the undeniable truth,” he declared, his voice cutting through the noise. He turned his sharp gaze toward Evan. “Now keep your word, Evan. Kneel, as you promised.”Evan’s fists trembled with fury as his jaw clenched. “I won’t kneel to you, you cheating scum!” he spat. “You didn’t win fairly. There’s no way someone like you could defeat me without trickery!”Calen raised an eyebrow, his grip on his sword unwavering. “If you’re so confident that I cheated, then prove it,” he challenged.The king stepped into the center of the arena, his cape billowing in the faint breeze. He raised a hand to silence the restless audience. “Enough!” he commanded. “This
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The arena erupted in gasps, followed by a wave of stunned silence. Even the king looked momentarily taken aback.“That’s impossible!” Evan shouted, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief. “They must have missed something!”The lead mage’s gaze was stern. “Our magic cannot be deceived. The results are irrefutable.”Calen stepped forward, his sword still in hand. “Now, Evan,” he said calmly, his voice filled with authority, “will you keep your word, or will you tarnish what little honor you have left?”Evan’s face twisted with rage as the crowd waited in breathless anticipation for his response.“Your Majesty, this is utterly impossible!” Elijah Frost declared, gesturing toward Calen. “No disrespect to your esteemed mages, but surely there must be some trick at play. It’s inconceivable that a man of Calen’s… caliber could defeat Evan without some form of deceit or external aid.”Evan, seizing the opportunity, added with a sneer, “He’s right. There’s no way Calen suddenly became stron
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Lila Frost sat on the edge of her bed, her eyes staring blankly at the luxurious brocade drapes of her room. Frustration still consumed her heart after yesterday’s events. She clutched a small pillow tightly, letting it absorb her emotional turmoil, while wondering how she could face the outside world now that everyone was likely talking about her.“I can’t go out,” she muttered softly, almost whispering to herself. “Everyone must be calling me a cheater.”Her thoughts were interrupted when she began to hear voices outside her window. At first, it was just faint murmurs, but soon the conversation became clearer.“Have you heard?” A man's voice rang out enthusiastically. “Calen Storm has completely changed. People are saying it’s as if he’s possessed by his father’s spirit!”Lila immediately perked up. That name, Calen Storm. She moved toward the window cautiously, parting the curtain slightly to peek outside. A group of soldiers was walking past the pavilion, their voices filled with
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Calen’s fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his body began to emit faint sparks of electricity that crackled and danced across his skin. The static energy intensified, and within moments, arcs of lightning coursed around him, illuminating his soaked figure with an almost divine brilliance.The air grew heavy, charged with an ominous electricity, and the sky outside the hall darkened unnaturally fast. A deep rumble of thunder echoed, causing the walls to tremble slightly. Soldiers who had been mocking him moments ago froze in place, their faces turning pale as they exchanged nervous glances.“What’s happening?” someone whispered.“It’s him,” another said, trembling. “It’s Storm. He’s—he’s doing this.”Evan’s smirk faltered, his expression shifting from arrogance to unease. He took a step back, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. The other soldiers who had joined in his mockery began retreating, their confidence crumbling under the sheer for
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Astra stood motionless as Calen walked away, his figure disappearing into the distance. Her heart thudded in her chest, a mix of gratitude, admiration, and something she dared not name. Despite his cold demeanor, the memory of him standing up for her filled her with a warmth she hadn’t felt in a long time.She quickly averted her gaze, chastising herself silently. No, Astra. You can't think like this. He's far above your station—untouchable. But no matter how much she told herself to ignore it, the image of Calen’s unwavering expression lingered in her mind.Meanwhile, at the military camp, Calen returned to the camp, his coat draped over his arm. His steps were steady, and his face betrayed no emotion, but his presence carried an undeniable authority. Whispers had already spread among the soldiers about the spectacle in the Frost courtyard.“Did you hear what happened?”“Calen Storm stood up to Lady Lila herself!”“They say he defied her in front of the entire household!”Calen ignor
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Astra froze, her heart pounding as she stood in the shadow of Lila’s fury. She had barely been in the Frost household for a day, and now she found herself at the center of a storm she didn’t understand."N-Nona, I swear, I only met him earlier today!" Astra stammered, clutching her hands tightly in front of her.Lila stepped closer, her eyes sharp and accusing. "Don’t lie to me, Astra. A servant doesn’t just meet Calen Storm and end up with his coat. What were you doing with him? What’s your connection?"Astra shook her head vehemently, her voice trembling. "I’m telling the truth, My Lady! I went to the wrong bathhouse by mistake, and he was there. I was... I didn’t have proper clothes, and he lent me his coat. That’s all!"Lila’s expression hardened, disbelief etched on her face. "You expect me to believe that? A mistake in the bathhouse, and he just gave you his coat? Do you think I’m a fool?"Tears pricked Astra’s eyes. She dropped to her knees, bowing her head low in desperation.
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Calen finished dressing and walked out of the military bathhouse, his steps steady and purposeful as his thoughts remained elsewhere—on the storm, his newfound power, and what it meant for his future.Meanwhile, the servant woman from earlier quickly exited the military bathhouse as well, clutching Calen’s oversized coat around her shoulders. She headed toward the correct servants’ bathhouse, her face still flushed with embarrassment. As she approached, she encountered a young soldier who appeared to be on cleaning duty near the servants’ quarters."Excuse me," she said, stopping him. "That man back there in the bathhouse... who is he?"The soldier raised an eyebrow, surprised by her ignorance. "You mean you don’t know? That’s Calen Storm. The son of Aldric Storm."Her eyes widened. "Calen Storm? I’ve heard that name before.""Everyone has," the soldier replied with a mix of admiration and gossiping glee. "He’s been the talk of the barracks—and the entire court—lately. Did you know he
