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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The skies over Aerondale were a pale gray, as though the heavens themselves mourned the fall of the kingdom’s sovereign. A soft, cold drizzle blanketed the cobblestone streets of Ardenfell, dampening the black banners that fluttered from every tower, every rooftop, every archway. Bells tolled in slow, rhythmic mourning, echoing through the city like a heartbeat that had grown faint.People lined the streets in silence, dressed in black. Faces were pale, tear-streaked. Women clutched their children close. Old men removed their hats. Some fell to their knees, sobbing openly. The air was thick with grief—but beneath it, a whisper of fear. Their king was dead. And Aerondale had not just lost a monarch, but its pride.Inside the Grand Hall of the Citadel, the atmosphere was colder still.The wives of the late King Ashford stood along the right side of the throne room, dressed in mourning veils, their faces somber. Among them stood Queen Isabella—the First Queen. Her face was unreadable, ca
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Calen gritted his teeth, still kneeling beside the King as his hands glowed faintly with the pulsating energy he had been channeling. Sweat streamed down his brow, and his voice was firm yet laced with desperation."Your Majesty," Calen said, eyes burning with conviction, "we cannot surrender. Not like this. Not to treachery. Not to Vynoria's deception. You must hold on."But before the King could respond, Queen Elara stepped further into the healing chamber, her long cloak trailing behind her like a shadow swallowing the light. Her expression was unreadable—calm, confident, lethal."How noble of you, General Storm," she said, her voice as smooth as silk and as sharp as a blade. "But spare me your speeches about honor. Did you not come to my kingdom as a spy yourself? Using a royal betrothal to gain entry to my court? Don’t speak to me of 'dishonorable means'—you, of all people, have forfeited that right."Calen didn’t turn to face her. His focus remained solely on the King. "Even so.
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Inside the flickering firelit chamber, the air was thick with tension and urgency. Calen knelt beside the unconscious King, his hand pressed firmly to the monarch’s chest. A soft golden light glowed from his palm—his energy flowing steadily, barely keeping the King tethered to life. Beads of sweat rolled down Calen’s temple, his entire body straining to maintain the transfer. The Aerondale healers worked feverishly around him, whispering incantations, their hands trembling as they tried to assist his efforts.Then something shifted.Calen's eyes narrowed as he felt a sudden disturbance—a faint vibration in the floor, a distant clamor. His senses, sharpened by years on the battlefield, screamed a warning. Shouts—muffled, but rising. Movement. Metal clashing softly. A surge of magical energy—hostile, surrounding the palace.Something was wrong.One of the Aerondale healers looked up from the King’s side, her voice trembling. “Do you feel that? Something’s happening…”Calen didn’t answer
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The tall arched doors to the healing chamber creaked open once more. A small figure stepped through—the youngest of the Vynorian healers, a girl with dark braids and steady eyes that belied her age. She moved swiftly, almost unnoticed, weaving through the crowd until she stood beside Queen Elara.Without drawing attention, she leaned in and whispered something into the Queen’s ear. Whatever it was, it made Elara’s lips curl ever so slightly into a ghost of a smile.She gave a graceful nod to the girl, who bowed low and disappeared into the shadows once more.Evan, ever watchful, stepped forward with narrowed eyes.“What is it? What happened? Is the king…” His voice faltered for a moment. “What’s his condition?”Queen Elara didn’t respond.Instead, she slowly raised her hand—elegant fingers poised like the opening movement of a deadly dance.At once, a sharp whistle sliced through the air.From every corner of the great hall, shadows moved. Gleaming armor stepped from alcoves and behin
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The chamber was small and dim, lit only by the flickering glow of a single wall-mounted brazier. Shadows danced along the stone walls, creating an intimate and secretive atmosphere—far from the chaos and suspicion outside.Queen Elara Wynn stepped inside first, her elegant silhouette outlined in amber light. She did not sit, nor did she offer Calen a seat. Instead, she turned slowly to face him, her expression unreadable—serene, composed, yet undeniably sharp.“We are alone now, General Storm,” she said, her voice low and steady. “Speak your truth. What is it you wish to say?”Calen took a breath. His jaw was tight, his eyes searching hers not with hostility—but with relentless intent.“I will not allow anyone to harm the King,” he said bluntly.“Whoever is responsible for this... I will find them.”Elara arched an eyebrow.“And do you think that person is me?” she asked, the faintest trace of a smile curving her lips—one that didn’t reach her eyes.“That is not what I said,” Calen re
Calen's Request
The hall had grown tense with murmurs and watchful eyes, but Calen Storm remained still, his gaze locked on the corridor where the High Priestess and Royal Healer had disappeared with the unconscious King.He turned sharply to Seraphina and spoke with firm authority, his voice laced with the tension of responsibility.“I must observe the healing process.”He kept his posture composed, though his jaw was clenched.“The Royal Healer from Aerondale must not be interrupted — not unless Vynoria’s healers are providing support, not taking over.”Seraphina raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.“Support?” she repeated, almost scoffing.“Vynoria has one of the most advanced healing orders in the known realms. We’ve trained under sacred waters and stars for generations. Our methods are precise and effective.”She took a deliberate step closer, lowering her voice slightly.“And with all due respect, General Storm, you are not a healer. You are a soldier. You should not interfere in matters bey