Inside his room, Lucius sat near his window, staring at the moonlit sky. His hands, still sore from his final sparring session, rested on the hilt of his sword. One week. That was all the time left before the tournament—his first step toward proving himself.
A soft knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.
??"Lucius, are you awake?"
Recognizing the voice, he turned towards the door. Selena?
??"We're coming in."
The door creaked open, and his older sister Selena stepped inside, followed by Erene and Adrian. Selena, the eldest of the siblings, carried herself with an air of authority, yet tonight, her expression was softer—almost motherly. Erene, always the liveliest, grinned as she entered, and Adrian followed behind, his usual smirk replaced by a look of quiet concern.
Lucius raised an eyebrow.
??"What’s this? A late-night visit before the journey?"
Selena crossed her arms.
??"Obviously. We wanted to see if our little brother is holding up fine or if he's already trembling in fear."
Lucius scoffed.
?? "Do I look afraid?"
Erene chuckled, plopping down onto the couch in his room.
??"No, but you do look tense."
Selena sighed and stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder.
??"Lucius, tomorrow, we leave for the Imperial Capital. The tournament is no small event. The eyes of the entire empire will be on you. But I want you to remember—you don’t carry this burden alone."
Erene nodded.
??"You’ve trained harder than anyone. If anyone deserves victory, it’s you."
Lucius looked between them, their confidence in him unwavering. For a moment, the pressure weighing on his shoulders felt lighter.
??"Thanks," he muttered, giving a rare, small smile.
Selena ruffled his hair, making him scowl.
??"Good. Just don’t overthink everything like you always do."
Erene stretched as she stood up.
?? "Alright, we should let him rest. Tomorrow will be a long day."
Selena nodded.
?? "Sleep well, Lucius. We’ll see you in the morning."
With that, the two sisters left, leaving only Adrian behind.
Lucius sighed and leaned back.
??"What? You staying here all night?"
Adrian smirked and sat on the windowsill.
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?? "Nah, just thought I’d talk for a bit. You know… about the tournament, the empire, and everything surrounding it."
Lucius raised an eyebrow.
??"Alright. What about it?"
Adrian exhaled, staring at the moon outside.
??"Lucius, do you even know how much Ardentis’ position matters in the empire?"
Lucius frowned.
??"I know we’re powerful, but…"
??"We're more than just powerful. House Ardentis is one of the empire’s strongest noble houses, controlling one of its five great kingdoms—Vermillion. We hold military might and the best warrior academies, producing the empire’s most skilled swordsmen and magic swordsmen."
Lucius nodded. This much he knew. But Adrian wasn’t done.
??"But… there are others. Kingdoms that see us as either allies, rivals, or threats. You need to understand the bigger picture before stepping into that tournament."
Lucius listened carefully as Adrian began to explain.
The Valtaris Empire was the dominant force of the continent, holding control over five distinct kingdoms, each excelling in a different field of combat and warfare.
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Led by Duke Magnus Ardentis.
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Specializes in Magic Swordsmanship, balancing both swordplay and mana-based combat.
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Their warriors are known for Aura Blades, a technique few outside Vermillion can master.
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Holds the strongest military academies in the empire.
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Status in the Empire: One of the most powerful noble factions.
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Led by Duke Callidor Solmara.
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Specializes entirely in magic, with no reliance on physical combat.
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Their magic system is vastly different from Ardentis, focusing on rune calculations and grand spells instead of raw mana control.
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Home to the Grand Magus Academy, where only the most gifted spellcasters are trained.
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Status in the Empire: Strong political influence mor than vermillion but lacks military force.
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Led by Duke Roderic Durnholm.
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Specializes in spear combat and battlefield tactics.
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Their army is known for their flawless formations and lightning-fast cavalry units.
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The only kingdom to have rivaled Ardentis in military prowess in past wars.
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Status in the Empire: Military powerhouse, second only to Vermillion.
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Led by Duchess Selphine Calidora.
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Specializes in dual-wielding swords, with warriors trained in extreme agility and relentless offensive styles.
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Their combat style is unpredictable and deadly in one-on-one battles.
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Status in the Empire: A rival to Ardentis, though not an outright enemy.
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Led by Duke Alistair Lunareth.
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Specializes in assassination, stealth tactics, and espionage.
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Their warriors use a mix of daggers, short swords, and shadow magic, making them almost impossible to detect in battle.
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Status in the Empire: Neutral, but unpredictable.
Adrian’s tone darkened.
??"Outside the empire, there are kingdoms that despise us. They wait for us to make a mistake, for us to show weakness."
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An independent military power rivaling the empire.
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They wield ancient curses and forbidden magic.
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They were responsible for cursing Commander Darius.
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A religious kingdom that considers the empire heretical.
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Their warriors fight using divine magic and holy spears.
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They are the greatest rivals of Durnholm.
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A kingdom of pure magic, separate from Solmara.
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They claim magic should never be mixed with swords, viewing Ardentis as abominations.
Adrian’s voice grew serious.
??"Lucius, this tournament isn’t just about proving yourself. If you lose… if you fall to the wrong opponent, Father may stop supporting you entirely. Ardentis has many enemies, and if they see you as weak, they will never accept you."
Lucius clenched his fists.
??Lucius:"That means I just have to win," .
Adrian grinned.
??"Exactly."
He stood up, stretching.
??"Alright, I’m off. Rest well, Lucius. Tomorrow, we enter the lion’s den."
Lucius remained silent as Adrian left the room. He turned back toward the window, gazing at the empire’s capital in the distance.
"One week… That’s all I have."
With that, he closed his eyes, preparing for the battles to come.