2026-01-05 20:52:37"Today is a day of celebration. Today, we gather not to discuss threats to our borders or challenges to our peace. Today, we gather to honour the next generation of heroes. Today, we welcome new blood into the Elite Squad that has served this kingdom faithfully for three centuries."
A murmur of approval rippled through the crowd. Kael felt his cheeks flush with pride and embarrassment.
"But before we begin the formal induction."
King Aldric continued, reaching for a golden goblet that a servant had placed on a small table beside his throne.
"I propose a toast."
He raised the goblet high, and immediately servants rushed through the room with remarkable efficiency, distributing cups of wine to everyone present. Kael received his own cup, the metal cool against his palm.
"A toast."
The king repeated.
"To the young men and women who have trained tirelessly, who have pushed themselves beyond their limits, who have proven themselves worthy of standing among legends."
His eyes found Kael in the crowd, and for just a moment, his expression softened into something that might have been genuine paternal pride.
"To the inductees. May your blades stay sharp, your courage stay strong, and your loyalty remain absolute."
"To the inductees!"
The room chorused, voices blending into a single powerful affirmation.
Kael drank deeply, the wine sweet and strong on his tongue, warming his chest as it went down. Around him, others did the same, and the mood in the room lifted perceptibly, formality giving way to something more celebratory.
King Aldric set down his goblet and smiled.
"And now, let us begin. Will the inductees please approach?"
Kael's legs felt like water as he stepped forward with the other five young warriors being inducted today. They formed a line at the base of the dais, and one by one, the king called them up to receive their formal acceptance.
"Theron Blackwood, for exceptional skill in tactical combat!"
A muscular young man with dark hair climbed the steps, knelt before the king, and received a ceremonial pin marking his acceptance into the Elite Squad.
"Mira Ashenvale, for unparalleled mastery of healing magic!"
A slight girl with silver hair and gentle eyes repeated the process.
Three more names were called. Three more warriors knelt and rose as official Elite Squad members. And then…
"Kael Ashford!"
The king's voice rang out clear and strong.
"Son of... a loyal servant of the crown. Approach!"
Kael's breath caught at the odd phrasing, why hadn't his father mentioned his noble lineage? But he pushed the confusion aside. This was his moment.
He couldn't let strange thoughts ruin it.
The double doors at the throne room's entrance swung open again, this time for him. Kael walked through them, his spine straight, his chin up, his movements careful and measured.
He'd practised this. Master Rendall had drilled him on proper ceremony protocol for weeks.
Left foot, right foot. Don't rush. Don't drag. Look confident but humble. Eyes forward but not challenging.
The walk to the dais seemed to take both seconds and hours. He was hyper-aware of everyone watching him, of hundreds of eyes tracking his every movement. He could hear the whispers, some admiring, some sceptical, some he couldn't interpret.
Finally, he reached the base of the dais.
He climbed the three steps with careful precision and stopped directly in front of his father, no, in front of the king. Here, at this moment, Aldric wasn't his father. He was his sovereign.
Kael dropped to one knee, his right fist pressed over his heart in the traditional salute. He bowed his head, staring at the polished stone floor, and waited.
"Kael Ashford."
King Aldric's voice washed over him, formal and ceremonial.
"You have trained for this moment. You have bled for it. You have proven yourself worthy through skill, determination, and courage. It is my honour, as king and commander of all forces within this realm, to name you the sixth member of the Elite Squad's newest generation."
Applause erupted throughout the throne room, thunderous and genuine. Kael felt his eyes sting with unexpected tears. He blinked them back furiously, refusing to cry at his own induction ceremony.
The king stepped forward and pinned the Elite Squad insignia to Kael's chest, a silver emblem shaped like a phoenix rising from flames, the symbol that marked him as one of the kingdom's finest warriors.
Aldric's hands lingered for just a moment on Kael's shoulders, squeezing once, before he stepped back.
"Rise, Kael Ashford. Rise as a full member of the Elite Squad."
Kael stood and the applause somehow grew even louder. He turned to face the crowd and that's when he saw her, Lyanna, standing near the front, clapping enthusiastically. When their eyes met, she broke from the crowd's formal applause to wave at him, her smile radiant and genuine.
Kael couldn't help it. Despite the formality of the occasion, despite the king standing right behind him, he smiled and waved back. The gesture earned a few chuckles from the crowd and even a small laugh from his father.
Kael bowed to the assembled guild members, acknowledging their congratulations, then descended the dais. A servant guided him to a seat that had been reserved for him, directly next to
Queen Seraphine's throne was a position of honour usually reserved for the monarch's most trusted advisors.
As he sat, his mother leaned toward him slightly. Her voice was quiet, meant only for his ears, and it trembled just a bit.
"Congratulations, my son."
"Thank you, Mother."
Kael's voice was thick with emotion.
"Thank you for everything."
She reached out and squeezed his hand once and quickly, before pulling back. When Kael glanced at her face, he could have sworn he saw tears gathering in her violet eyes, but she blinked them away before he could be sure.
King Aldric returned to his throne, settling into it with satisfaction. He let the applause continue for another moment before raising his hand for silence. The room quieted immediately, all attention returning to him.
"Now then"
The king said, his voice taking on a more relaxed, conversational tone…
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CHAPTER 109
The odd smell hit him first. Old, dry paper, heavy with dust that dated back centuries, filled the room. He could feel it with his magic and beneath it was something else. It felt like defeat that bitter scent filled the air. knew, of course, knew that shadow magic always carried a strange aura, even when it was old and unknown. And somehow it felt like its presence was mocking him. Kael stood at the centre of the grand hall of the Duskborne estate. He was numb and pain had hadloped him completely because his blood magic had failed. His violent violet eyes stared blankly into the dark. The terrifying stillness that promised death hung heavily in the room. He remembered the fangs tearing through his muscle and skin on the altar. He remembered the betrayal of the cowardly king who celebrated with gold and spat on his grave. Those memories were the heavy red stamp on his heart. He was pumped up and ready to strike but he had no target to hit. Gamora had escaped and he didn't know how the
CHAPTER 108
The air was heavy with chantings and celebration in his memories. The whole place was bustling with activities and the crowd cheered endlessly. Unknown to them was the danger that was awaiting them. They were too engrossed in false celebrations and had turned their backs on justice. No one was asking about what happened at the void a few days ago simply because they weren't affected by the corruption in the city, which had crept down to every nook and cranny of the place, moving down to every heart and being passed on from generation to generation. Lady Morrigan and Duke Severin were supposed to be part of the nobles in attendance at this event but couldn't as they had declared war through Kael anonymously on the capital. However, the view was ecstatic and foods and drinks were passed round children women men servants animals they were all rejoicing as everything was in plenty just the same corruption and evil were in excess. These were things Master Rendall would never tolerate if he
CHAPTER 107
Kael stood at the centre, and couldn't decipher what was scribbled into the stone floor of the hidden room. He was pumped up and ready to strike the enemy that was hiding from him. The odd smell hit him first as he prepared the blood magic. Old paper dry and heavy with dust that dated back centuries filled his nose. He didn't feel it with his magic and beneath it was s, let's's,,let'ssss,",",",",",",,,,,,ss's's's'se. It felt like dried blood, and a metallic scent filled the air. He knew of course that shadow magic always carried a strange aura even when it was old and unknown. And somehow it felt like its presence was here apart from the ones he knew. But of course, darkness couldn't be owned by men who just wanted it for pleasure it needed men who had the grit to do whatever it takes to protect it. He turned to Elira and signalled her to watch him. From her hands, green orbs shone softly not bright enough to alert anyone outside but enough to see the markings on the wall. He studied
CHAPTER 106
The journey through the western marshes became a gruelling march of pure suffering. Gamora stumbled forward and her left arm hung uselessly at her side. The sharp and cold pain had evolved into a constant and agonising burn. It felt like hot iron running through her veins. The odd smell hit her first every time she took a breath. It was the scent of her own magic burning away under the overwhelming force of Kael. The boy was pumped up and ready to strike and his brain was processing faster than any scholar could have found the perfect weapon. The blood magic was a wildfire that could not be tamed. Gamora was a master of the void but she had never faced an enemy who was willing to destroy himself to win.King Aldric and Queen Seraphine followed closely behind her. They were quiet now. The terrifying stillness that promised death had silenced their complaints. They saw the way Gamora was suffering, and fear burned in them, shaking their souls. They knew that if the mighty merchant of th
CHAPTER 105
The fog was thick and the air was heavy in the Western area. The chilling smell hit her first as Gamora walked through the dead trees. It was the smell of rotting wood and old mud that dated back centuries; she could feel it with her magic, and beneath it was something else. It felt like a warning that filled the air. She knew of course that void magic always carried a strange aura even when it was old and unknown. But somehow it felt like a new presence was here apart from the ones she knew. Gamora kept her face hidden beneath her dark robes. The green orbs shone softly from her hands. They were not bright enough to be alert to any hidden enemy, but they were enough to see the markings on the wet ground. She was leading the cowardly King Aldric and Queen Seraphine to the coast.A sudden pain pulsed in her left wrist. It was not the ache from earlier when Kael breached the abyss. This was a sharp and cold pain that shot up her arm. Gamora stopped walking and her fingers tightened. Th
CHAPTER 104
Chapter 104The war room was hidden deep beneath the Duskborne estate. The air was heavy in the cave, and silence reigned. Days had passed after the raid on the royal archive and the disastrous journey into the void. News had spread that the Lord Regent had vanished but Kael was here hiding in the dark. He stood by the massive wooden table, staring calmly at the large map of the kingdom spread out across it. He was clad in his eerie black robe and his hands were folded in meditation. He was numb and pain had enveloped him completely. The failure in the void was a heavy red stamp on his pride and it was driving him crazy. His brain processed faster than any scholar could but he still had no headway.Elira stood by the corner and tapped her feet endlessly. Her green eyes were scanning the map but she saw nothing useful. She was pumped up and ready to strike but they had no specific target. The western marshes were vast and covered in thick fog. Gamora was using the void magic to hide th
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