39 Chapter 11: Banquet 2 (2/2)

Did he just indirectly threaten me?

I wonder.

It's hard to tell if he's trying to insinuate anything with that or not because he masks his tone with a cheerful voice and a sweet and innocent smile.

”How are you, Kain?” I decided to make small talks instead.

”I'm doing better now. I really missed you!” he answered. ”You should come visit sometime soon. I'm sure the high king and queen will be just as delighted to see you!”

He pouts, ”Oh but big brother has a fiancée now. She often visits too!”

I managed to smile back at him.

Somehow, he seem to act normal if I talk with him like this.

”So do you like her? She's going to be your big sister when they get married”

Kain shook his head, ”She seems too fragile. I don't like breakable stuff. It's no fun”

Wha—

”I mean, she's seems ill with her pale complexion. My big brother doesn't seem to mind though. I seriously think she needs more sunlight!”

Oh.

”Did you know, they even had their engagement party done twice just to accommodate the schedule of all the Seven Kingdom's noble Houses and their Kings! I think they plan to make a third one but just for family members this time. You'll be invited on the third one for sure!”

”Wow, that's grand”

Kain nods, ”That's how engagements are if you're part of the Seven Kingdoms, especially for castellans and royalties. They're obligated to host a party so that their betrothal would be acknowledged! Otherwise it will be viewed as frivolous.”

”I didn't know that.” I murmured as Kain spun me around. ”Hey, Aerra. Isn't House Morlock part of the Seven Kingdoms?”

Huh?

and then he sets me back to waltz again, leading me 'round through the dance floor.

An engagement party to make a betrothal official? I never knew anything about that but surely Papa has. He made it clear that he wants to tie a bond between Greenrun and Osteell so why—?

Does this mean Levi is just a candidate after all? Or is it the other way around?

I watched Kain in silence as he gave out his usual sweet smile.

Whatever he was scheming, he sure seems to be contented at the result.

He made me brood over this.

The music stops.

”This dance has been fun, Aerra” he slightly bows down before me.

I curtsied in response.

”I want to see how Aeron would do! Tonight sure is exciting!” he says as we began to walk back to where Mama stood.

••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••

As we went back to join Mama, Aeron walks out wearing a different garment. The same ones he uses when he's on training.

The people clapped as Papa introduces him.

The middle of the room was cleared and Aeron stood alone in it. Soldiers went marching in, spreading wide into a circle formation with my brother in the middle.

I can see all the guests have their eyes peeled open to watch them.

And then the soldiers made a brief salute before going into stance. They pulled all their swords out from its sheath, gripping at it and pointing it towards Aeron.

I suddenly felt nervous seeing there were at most seven soldiers that surrounds him.

I clasp a hand by my chest,

—I hope he goes easy on them.

A spark emitted at one of Aeron side,

at that display, one of the soldier began to charge at him. With a battle cry filling the room, other soldiers followed after him. And they all went charging towards one opponent, that is my brother.

Aeron stood there motionless as they went closing in on him.

One of the soldiers' sword sways at him,

Aeron snaps, opens one fist from his side

a blue light appears in a form of a sword,

He grabs it and quickly parries against one soldier.

But there were more attacks in coming.

He kicks at that soldier's torso squarely,

Turns to his side and clashes at the other swords

He clasps a fist on mid air, only for another formless sword to appear on his other hand,

Using two swords now, he blocks one attack

Dodges another,

Side steps,

Parries from both sides

Then slides down and swings his leg around in a semicircular motion, sweeping at all the soldiers cornering Aeron, as they all fell butt first to the floor, losing balance.

Aeron stood back up.

But two soldier sneaks up behind him and swings one at him.

He abruptly turns, parried the blow by crossing both swords,

turning it around, till his opponent's sword touches the floor

He stomps a foot on that soldier's swords,

Leaps on to step at the shoulder of the soldier behind him

Kicked

then jumps over head.

High on midair

flips backward,

Opens both his hands

Several blue formless swords suddenly appears around him.

Sways a hand,

All the formless swords spreads out

Stabs at the ground, surrounding the soldiers that gathered at one spot, like a fence

And as Aeron lands on his feet, lightning emits out directly from where all the swords are, striking every single one of the soldiers inside the walled area and zapping them all like flies.

They all dropped to the floor in an ashen color.

The room was filled with utter silence.

It all happened in a span of a minute.

All seven soldiers— defeated.

Aeron manage to showcase both his physical and magical prowess.

And I've never felt so proud of him in my entire life.

Slowly, the deafening silence blows up into thundering claps from all the people inside the halls, both from the guests and servant alike.

'To the future Duke of Greenrun!'

they cheered. ”Long may He live!”

Aeron turns and looks at me.

My back straightens at his glance.

He flashes a smile at me but his eyes had a different spark in them.

Not just confidence or valor,

he also has that look that seems full of resolve.

As if he's thinking of a goal that he knows well to himself that he will make it happen.

And for that fleeting second,

A vision flashed before my eyes.

—Of a tall young man who stood in a middle of a chasm, surrounded by dead bodies of ghoulish monsters by his feet and in a pile behind him. He wore a shiny white cuirass and a blue torned cape behind him.

He held one black sword on his right hand but one white shield on the other with several swords hovers around him in a warm glowing light.

His white hair stained with tar and soot, so is his face, but his crystalline blue eyes were clear as they were vivid; brimming with resolve though it held a steady and petrifying glare. But as he looked back at me, there was a sense of desperation in them. A sentiment that he seemed to have sealed deep inside him but leaks to show, unknowingly.

And then his lips move, I couldn't hear it but it read as

”I'll kill you, I promise.”

I gasped.

Blinking several times.

I snapped back to reality as the overwhelming noise of clapping and cheer echoing around the room, covered my senses.

No, there's no way that would be my brother...

No way...

Aeron walks towards us, ”How'd I do?” he asks with a sheepish smile.

”Amaaaaziiiing!” Kain roared, jumping up and down as he welcomed Aeron back.

I showed him two thumbs up and beamed at him.

He rubs at his nape but grins widely back at me.

I watch Papa and Mama embrace and commend him as Levi and Eriol soon went to tease him. They all laughed as slowly some of the other guests went to surround them, covering my view of them till they were out of sight.

”Time to change, Aerra.” Mama walks up to me.

”After you change, we san start greeting all the guests one by one.”

I pouted, sounds like an ardous task. ”Do I really have to?”

”Yes, my darling. Your guests need to meet the young Lady of this House too!” she kisses my forehead then brushes my hair with her fingers. I understand her point, I wasn't able to do something like Aeron did because my powers hasn't awaken yet.

”Now go. Should I sent some servants to help you?”

”No need, Mama. I can dress myself”

She nods. ”Very well. Both Lord Levi and Prince Kain seemed to have sent a dress. You might want to change into one of them. I had them sent to the waiting room upstairs. Go fetch them before going into one of the fitting rooms.”

”Okay, I better go!” I replied as I walk off.

Walking across the room.

I still feel eyes watching me.

I wanted to just look down and keep from making any eye contact with anyone but as the Lady of this Halls, I need to walk with confidence and grace.

I held my head up, looking straight.

But I can't help but to notice people from my peripheral vision.

One of them suddenly stood out as I notice something very otherworldly about him, I took a side long glance at him.

He has an eye catching vermillion colored eyes. They shine like ruby against the golden gleam of the lights from the chandeliers.

He was standing way back across the room, near one of the high windows that leads to the gardens, just beside the wall fountains. He held a wine glass on his one hand while his other hand folded across his body. He held a steady stare at me. They were spine chilling and razor sharp almost as if he doesn't plan to blink.

I abruptly looked away.

It's rude to stare, I want to scowl at him. But there's this primal instinct inside me that tells me to avoid looking at him or deliberately keep away from him.

Such an odd experience.

I guess they really do have assorted types of people you can find in a banquet.

••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••