Chapter Nine: The Storm Below
Edward – POV
The estate was unusually loud this morning. Servants rushed to prepare carriages and formalwear, and Angelina seemed more strict than ever as she helped me dress.
"Tonight, you represent the Saber family, young master," she said, adjusting the gold-trimmed collar of my ceremonial jacket. "Don't embarrass your parents."
Right. The Royal Summer Ball.
A gathering of nobles, officials, military commanders — and their chosen heirs. I wasn't looking forward to it. It would be a parade of fake smiles and hidden contempt. But I didn't have a choice.
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The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace was a shining monument of power, its towering halls lined with marble, crystal chandeliers floating above guests dressed in shimmering silks and embroidered uniforms.
My father, Duke Maximilian Saber, looked like a general even in formalwear — a commanding presence in any room. My mother, Lady Emily, stood beside him, poised and unreadable as always.
"You'll be introduced formally tonight," my father said. "Keep your head up. Speak only when spoken to."
I nodded.
This wasn't my battlefield — but I could play the part.
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Meeting the Princess
The ballroom quieted as she arrived.
Princess Selene Aurora Lioren, the second princess of the kingdom and… my fiancée. The engagement was arranged when we were children — a political alliance between the crown and our house.
She was beautiful, dressed in silver and blue, her silver hair braided with sapphires, but her expression was perfectly composed. She approached with a polite, shallow smile.
"Edward," she said, giving me a graceful nod. "It's been some time."
"Princess Selene," I replied, bowing.
We stood in silence for a moment — not awkward, just… formal. Distant.
"It seems we'll be seeing more of each other," she said, then excused herself to join other nobles.
No warmth. No curiosity. Just protocol.
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The Hidden Door
Later that evening, I slipped away from the noise and music. The palace had always felt heavy to me — all that power and tradition pressed into its stone.
As I wandered the quieter halls, something tugged at my attention — a low hum in the air, faint and pulsing.
"You feel it," Astaroth whispered in my mind. "It's calling."
Behind a half-drawn tapestry and down a forgotten corridor, I found it — a sealed chamber with lightning-shaped carvings etched into the door.
I pressed my hand to the center rune. The door pulsed with energy and opened.
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The Trial of Lightning
Inside, a storm brewed in silence.
Crackling arcs of lightning danced around a floating silver ring embedded with a jagged yellow gem.
"This is one of the Seven Elementals," Astaroth said. "Storm Fang, the Lightning Artifact. But it won't let you take it easily."
The room darkened as a figure formed — a knight made of pure lightning, armor humming with power.
"Trial One: Endure."
He moved like thunder. My blade clashed with his, and pain shot up my arm from every impact. I held on.
"Trial Two: Command."
The lightning knight vanished, and the room erupted in a storm. Bolts danced around me, testing my fear, my control. I steadied my breath and focused my aura. Slowly, the chaos calmed.
"Trial Three: Resolve."
Suddenly, it was just… silence. No enemy. Just my thoughts.
Doubt crept in. Fear. The voice that said, You'll never live up to your parents.
But I stood firm.
I'm still here. And I'm not done.
The lightning surged again—this time gentle—wrapping around my hand.
The ring floated down and slid onto my finger, fitting perfectly. Its presence was different from the others—sharp, fast, alive.
You have gained Storm Fang – Lightning Artifact.
I could feel it. Not as a weapon—but as a force.
A blade waiting to strike the moment I called.
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Return to the Ball
By the time I returned, the final dance had ended. My mother noticed me but said nothing—just gave me a curious glance.
The princess was gone. Most nobles had retired to private discussions.
"Three artifacts now," Astaroth said calmly. "Fire, Water, and Lightning. Not bad, little hero."
"Tell me about the others," I whispered as we walked through the halls.
"Seven elemental artifacts: Fire, Water, Lightning, Earth, Wind, Light, and Shadow. Each tests different parts of you."
"But that's not all. There are others—non-elementals. Rarer, older. Time. Void. Creation. Judgment. Each one bends reality in its own way. Some are buried. Others are sealed. Some… are watching."
I clenched my fist, the ring sparking faintly in the dark.
"And how many are out there?" I asked.
"No one knows," he replied. "But the real question is: How many are meant for you?"
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