Arthur (Nivaan) turned his gaze toward General Veldora. The man stood like a pillar of authority, his posture unyielding, his presence commanding every eye in the hall. Known across the Jelo Kingdom as the second strongest general in its long and storied history, Veldora carried a reputation that alone could silence a room.
Arthur let his eyes linger for a moment before speaking."Truly, The moon looks beautiful tonight, Sir Veldora."
He let the words hang in the air, then added with subtle intrigue,"Though its light seems… dim."
The general furrowed his brow, trying to read the meaning, but found none. In truth, Nivaan had only spoken to sound composed, perhaps even a little mysterious, Nivaan had said it for no other reason than to sound cool.
Before the moment could drift awkwardly, Lyra, Arthur's fiancée, stepped forward. Her movements were fluid, gracefully, as she extended a hand toward him, inviting him to dance. Arthur took it without hesitation, guiding her onto the polished stage.
All eyes in the grand hall immediately followed them. The way they moved together was mesmerizing, steps in perfect harmony, each movement sharp, precise, and graceful. It was like watching a blade being forged mid-air, the elegance matched only by its lethal precision.
Subtle threads of wind magic shimmered around them, lifting Lyra's hair slightly, sending delicate ripples through her dress, enhancing the performance as if nature itself had joined their dance. The nobles leaned forward, some whispering in awe, others murmuring in envy.
Princess Elara, drawn by the dance, moved closer, ignoring the other nobles behind her. Her eyes sparkled with fascination, the soft light of the ballroom reflecting in her gaze.
"What's so impressive about two people dancing?" muttered a noble in jealousy, his tone sour, but even his words carried little weight against the awe in the hall.
As the princess reached them, Arthur and Lyra bowed slightly, greeting her together."Congratulations, Your Highness, on your birthday," they said in unison, their voices clear and steady.
"Young master, how has Earl Keinz's health been?" she asked, her attention momentarily split between them.
"He is recovering well, Your Highness," Arthur replied. Then, his eyes flicked toward her, sharper now. "And… it seems you've already reached the advanced magician stage."
The princess's eyes widened in shock. Not even her father knew of her progress."How did you… find out, young master? Not even my father has noticed."
Placing a finger against her lips, she leaned slightly forward, the gesture playful yet urgent."Don't tell anyone," she whispered, her tone soft but commanding.
"I understand, Princess," Nivaan replied with a faint, knowing smile.
Before the moment could linger further, a voice called out from behind."Elara, what are you doing here? Father is looking for you."
A young man stepped forward, it was Prince Triston. Recognition flickered in Arthur's eyes; he remembered this prince from before. The two nodded in quiet acknowledgment.
"Young master Arthur, how have you been?" Triston greeted warmly, his voice smooth and confident.
Lyra and the princess exchanged startled glances, the curiosity clear in their eyes."Do they… already know each other?" Elara thought, watching the subtle familiarity between them.
"I've been in good health, young master," Arthur replied calmly, his tone measured.
Some nobles, however, were not so forgiving. A few had overheard Arthur address the prince as "young master," and outrage rippled through them like wildfire."How dare you! Speaking to Prince Triston as if you were his equal!"
The hall fell silent. Whispers spread instantly, tense and sharp, weaving through the gathered nobles. The royal knights immediately stepped forward, their eyes sharp, scanning for any breach of etiquette.
Orin, one of the nobles, stepped forward, finger pointing accusingly."He insults the royal family! He must be punished!"
Prince Triston raised his hand, voice firm."Enough. Arthur and I know each other. We share a bond from the past."
Yet Orin's eyes betrayed him. Bloodshot, veins crawling over the surface of his skin, he tried to conceal the signs with magic, but Arthur's gaze pierced through effortlessly. Something was very wrong.
This was no simple quarrel; it was a trap. Yet Nivaan's expression remained calm, unreadable.
The king and General Veldora advanced, their presence heavy and commanding. Before they could intervene further, Orin boldly challenged Arthur to a duel, his voice laced with fury and defiance.
Arthur's lips parted confidently. "I acc-"
But Triston stepped forward again,
"Should I kill him first", Arthur thought
urgency in Triston's voice.
"There's something wrong with Orin. His magic is unstable!"
The hall tensed. Knights moved quickly to restrain Orin, but the moment one laid hands on him, his body convulsed. His eyes and mouth glowed unnaturally, ominous light spilling across his features.
Arthur's mind raced, almost amused. He had read scenes like this countless times. "Here it comes… the typical blast," he thought, already calculating the sequence of events.
With fluid precision, he raised a hand and trapped Orin inside a shimmering bubble. The explosion erupted within, the hall trembling from the force. Panic surged as the knights moved to shield the royal family, their armor clanking in the chaos.
"Nobody moves!" General Veldora shouted, drawing his blade, his aura flooding the hall in a protective wave.
Suddenly, darkness swallowed the room. A tense silence followed, broken only by the subtle scuffing of feet. Then, a figure dropped from the ceiling, landing lightly on the floor. Five more followed, moving with predatory grace.
Red eyes glowed from the shadows. Slender, sharp-featured, and unnervingly beautiful, the figures revealed their fangs as they tilted their heads, a terrifying elegance to their presence.
"Are they-" a noble began, but his words ended abruptly as blood was drained from him in seconds.
"Vampires!" someone shouted, voice trembling with fear.
The hall erupted into chaos. Nobles screamed and scattered, the knights trying desperately to control the panic. The vampires moved with supernatural speed, targeting strategically, each one a master of combat far beyond the knights' ability to defend.
Vampires, the ancient race thought eradicated long ago by the combined might of all kingdoms had returned. Every one of them radiated power above high magician rank, a level no ordinary knight could handle.
"Do not fear these vermin!" General Veldora roared, aura blazing, shielding the royal family. "Protect the royals! Retreat immediately!"
Triston and Princess Elara remained close to Arthur. One vampire launched itself at Elara from above. Veldora swung his sword with lethal precision, but another vampire intercepted, nullifying the strike.
In the next heartbeat, the vampire attacking Elara was thrown to the ground. No wounds from blades just a bleeding nose and a bruised cheek.
Elara clutched Arthur tightly. His fist was clenched, eyes cold and unflinching as they met the leader of the vampires.
"Try harder, you bats," he said, his voice low, dangerous, and perfectly calm amidst the chaos.