Chapter — Steel, Light, and the Truth Between Us
Aurelia: Daniel… come with me.
Daniel followed her without asking where.
They slipped away from the noise of the coliseum, past marble corridors and velvet curtains, until the roar of the crowd became a distant echo. Aurelia stopped beneath an open archway where sunlight spilled in, painting the stone floor gold. Beyond it, the capital stretched endlessly—towers, floating platforms, solar crystals humming softly in the air.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Aurelia: You scared me back there.
Daniel: I know.
Aurelia: When that Steelbrand prince jumped in… my heart stopped. I thought— I thought—
Daniel: That I might not get back up?
Aurelia nodded, biting her lip.
Aurelia: You always do things like that. You step forward when everyone else hesitates. You smile like you're fine… even when you're bleeding inside.
Daniel looked at her, really looked at her. The way her hands trembled slightly. The way her eyes searched his face, as if trying to confirm he was real.
Daniel: How long do you think I've known?
Aurelia blinked.
Aurelia: Known… what?
Daniel stepped closer.
Daniel: That you loved me.
Her breath hitched.
Aurelia: D-Daniel…
Daniel: The day I fell for you… I started noticing.
Aurelia: Noticing…?
Daniel: You were behaving just like me.
She frowned in confusion.
Daniel: Hiding what you felt because you thought it was impossible. Convincing yourself it was foolish. Acting strong so no one would see how much it hurt.
Her eyes widened.
Daniel: I've been doing that my whole life.
Silence fell between them, thick and fragile.
Aurelia: Then why didn't you say anything?
Daniel raised his hand, hesitating for a heartbeat, before brushing his thumb gently under her eye.
Daniel: Because if I said it… I wouldn't be able to leave.
Her voice trembled.
Aurelia: And now?
Daniel leaned in.
Daniel: Now I don't want to.
He kissed her.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't desperate. It was soft, warm—full of everything they'd never said out loud. Aurelia froze for half a second… then melted into it, fingers clutching his coat as if afraid he might vanish.
When they parted, her cheeks were red, her eyes shining.
Aurelia: …You're unfair.
Daniel smiled.
Daniel: I learned from the best.
She laughed, then rested her forehead against his chest.
Aurelia: Promise me something.
Daniel: Anything.
Aurelia: No matter what happened in future..You becoming Crown Prince ..you never fighting for the crown ..or they abondoning you ..you just be yourself..coz I love the Daniel you are A Heartlock not Evercrest
Daniel closed his eyes.
Daniel: I promise.
A horn blared in the distance.
Aurelia pulled back reluctantly.
Aurelia: Looks like the next match is starting.
Daniel: Then let's watch it together.
They returned to the stands side by side.
The arena thundered with anticipation.
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen! The next eliminator match of Thalgrun begins!
The gates on opposite ends of the arena opened with a hydraulic hiss.
Princess Ashley Steelbrand walked out first.
She was tall, broad-shouldered, her posture rigid like forged steel. Mechanical braces wrapped around her legs and spine, glowing faintly with alchemical runes. Tubes ran along her arms, pumping shimmering crimson fluid—refined combat elixir—directly into her bloodstream.
Crowd: OOOOOH—!
Announcer: Princess Ashley Steelbrand! Heir of Thalgrun's first empress!
From the other gate emerged Prince Stanley.
He was leaner, faster-looking. His enhancements were different—spring-loaded joints in his legs, rotating gear-plates embedded in his shoulders, eyes glowing faint green from ocular augments.
Stanley cracked his neck.
Stanley: Try not to break too fast, sister.
Ashley smirked.
Ashley: Try not to embarrass yourself.
High above, Emperor Harkon watched with arms crossed, utterly confident.
Harkon: Show them why magic bows to steel.
The horn sounded.
BWAAAAAAM—!
Stanley vanished.
BOOM—!
He reappeared behind Ashley in a blur, enhanced legs detonating the ground beneath him.
Stanley: Too slow!
CLANG—!
Ashley raised her arm just in time. Stanley's alchemy-forged blade slammed into her forearm guard, sparks spraying everywhere.
Ashley skidded back—but didn't fall.
Ashley: Is that it?
Her eyes glowed red.
CHNK—CHNK—!
Her spinal brace locked.
PSSSSHHH—!
Combat elixir surged.
Ashley stomped forward.
BOOOOOOM—!
The entire arena shook as she charged, every step cracking stone. Stanley leapt back, firing compressed alchemical bolts mid-air.
FZZZT—FZZZT—!
Ashley raised both arms.
CLANG—CLANG—!
The bolts shattered harmlessly against reinforced plating.
Ashley: My turn.
She slammed her fist into the ground.
KRAAAAM—!
A shockwave erupted, tossing Stanley off balance.
Ashley lunged, grabbing him mid-air—
CRUNCH—!
—and throwing him across the arena like a ragdoll.
Stanley hit the wall hard.
THUD—!
He coughed blood, enhancements whirring wildly as they struggled to stabilize him.
Stanley: Damn it…!
He forced himself up, legs shaking.
Stanley: Overdrive—Phase Two!
WHRRRR—!
His augments glowed brighter. Gears spun faster. He shot forward again, faster than before.
Daniel watched intently.
Daniel: Sensei… these enhancements…
Sensei: They are not temporary. Thalgrun children are modified from adolescence. Their bodies are rebuilt for war.
Daniel clenched his fist.
Daniel: That explains their confidence.
Aurelia: That looks terrifying…
Daniel: It is.
In the arena, Stanley unleashed a flurry of strikes.
CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—!
Ashley blocked most—but one blade slipped through, slicing her side.
Blood splattered.
The crowd gasped.
Stanley grinned.
Stanley: Still think you've won?
Ashley wiped the blood away… and smiled.
Ashley: Thanks.
Stanley blinked.
Ashley: Now I know your limit.
She inhaled deeply.
Her chest brace flared.
Ashley: Full Integration.
BOOOOOOM—!
Her entire body surged with power. The ground cracked outward in a circular blast. Stanley was thrown back, barely managing to stay upright.
Ashley moved.
Not fast.
Inevitable.
Each step felt like the approach of an executioner.
Stanley fired everything—blades, bolts, enhanced kicks—
CRASH—CRUNCH—SHATTER—!
Ashley tore through it all.
She grabbed him by the throat.
Ashley: This is why Father chose me.
She slammed him into the ground.
KRAAAAAASH—!
The arena floor caved in.
Stanley went limp.
Silence.
Then—
Announcer: Prince Stanley is unable to continue! Victory—Princess Ashley Steelbrand!
The coliseum exploded.
Crowd: ASH-LEY! ASH-LEY! ASH-LEY!
Ashley stood tall, steam rising from her armor.
High above, Darwin laughed loudly.
Darwin: Hah! That's my sister!
Martin, standing beside him, cracked his knuckles.
Martin: Guess it's my turn soon.
Daniel exhaled slowly.
Daniel: That was… overwhelming.
Sensei: Against them, restraint will be your greatest weapon.
Daniel: I know.
Cedric, watching from the Valorian section, scowled.
Cedric: Disgusting. Showing off like that…
He glanced sideways—and froze.
Daniel and Aurelia were sitting close.
Too close.
Aurelia was smiling.
Cedric's jaw tightened.
Cedric: …Unbelievable.
Elizabeth leaned over toward Daniel.
Elizabeth: So that's her.
Daniel blinked.
Daniel: Her…?
Elizabeth smirked.
Elizabeth: The girl who makes you forget the whole world exists.
Aurelia turned, startled.
Aurelia: Oh— you must be Princess Elizabeth.
Elizabeth: Guilty.
She smiled warmly.
Elizabeth: I've heard a lot about you. Mostly from Daniel's expressions.
Aurelia blushed.
Aurelia: I— um— it's nice to meet you.
Elizabeth: Likewise. Take good care of him.
Daniel: Hey!
Elizabeth laughed softly.
Elizabeth: Relax. I like you two.
Down below, the announcer's voice rang out again.
Announcer: The final eliminator of Thalgrun will now begin!
The gates opened.
Prince Darwin Steelbrand stepped out… from one side.
From the other—
Prince Martin Steelbrand.
Darwin rolled his shoulders, eyes already burning with anticipation.
Darwin: Try to last longer than Stanley.
Martin smirked.
Martin: No promises.
Daniel felt it.
That pressure.
That excitement.
Daniel: …This is going to be brutal.
Sensei: Prepare yourself. After this… nothing will be the same.
The horn rose.
The crowd held its breath.
And the next battle began.