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Chapter 184
Morning came too quickly.Draven woke to sunlight streaming through his window. His body ached. Not from physical injury. From tension. From the false magic circle still settling in his chest.The gala was over. Technically. But the guests wouldn't leave until afternoon. One more meal. One more round of political pleasantries.Then he could escape back to the academy.Draven dressed and made his way downstairs. The manor was quieter than the night before. Servants cleaning up. Decorations being removed. The grand display packed away.But the whispers remained."Did you see him fight?""Destroyed Viktor Crane like it was nothing.""The Princess couldn't stop watching him.""Everything's changed now."Draven found breakfast laid out in the smaller dining room. His brothers were already there.Garrett looked up first. Grinned. "There's the man of the hour. How does it feel to be the most talked-about person at the gala?""Exhausting.""I bet." Garrett gestured to an empty seat. "Sit. Eat
Chapter 183
Viktor's frustration was showing.Every attack Draven countered. Every setup he read. Every trap he avoided.Viktor's expression darkened further.He attacked again. Faster. More aggressive. Imperial close-combat techniques flowing perfectly.But Draven matched him. Step for step. Block for block.The ancient warriors' memories guided every movement. They'd faced Imperial techniques before. Centuries ago, when the Empire was young. When these methods were new and untested.Nothing Viktor threw at him was unfamiliar.Viktor's punch came at Draven's head. Fast. Precise.Draven ducked under it. Countered with a strike to Viktor's ribs.Pulled it at the last second. Just a tap. Could have broken bone.Viktor stumbled back. Breathing hard."You're holding back," he said. Anger. Accusation. "Stop playing with me.""I'm not playing. I'm being careful. There's a difference.""Careful?" Viktor's laugh was bitter. "You think you're better than me? Imperial-trained? Student of Master Korin?""I
Chapter 182
The great hall held its breath.Viktor Crane stood in the exhibition circle. Confident. Ready. Every inch the Imperial elite guard.Draven walked toward him. Each step measured. The crowd parting immediately.Whispers followed."Another challenge? Tonight?""Viktor Crane against the Ashworth?""This should be interesting.""Interesting? It'll be a massacre. Viktor's Imperial-trained.""So was Lucas supposedly the strongest. Look how that ended."Draven reached the edge of the circle. Viktor watched him approach with cold eyes."I'm glad you accepted," Viktor said. Loud enough for nearby nobles to hear. "I was concerned you might refuse. Given the late hour."Translation: I thought you might be a coward."I wouldn't dream of refusing," Draven replied. "It would be disrespectful."Translation: You trapped me with politics and you know it.Viktor smiled. Sharp. "Indeed. We wouldn't want any disrespect between our families."Prime Minister Aldric Crane approached the circle. His presence
Chapter 181
Draven stayed by the fountain for a moment longer.Processing everything.Princess Elysande knew about the pendant. Had sensed its magic. Could have exposed him. But chose not to.That was the problem.If she could sense it, others could too. Mages with enough sensitivity. Scholars who studied ancient artifacts. His secret was vulnerable.The pendant was supposed to be his advantage. His hidden weapon. But if anyone with magical perception could detect it, then it wasn't hidden at all.Draven stood abruptly.He needed to fix this. Now.Not return to the gala. Not yet. He needed time. Space. Privacy.He slipped through a side entrance. Found a servant."I need to return to my room. Briefly. Where is it?"The servant gave directions. Draven moved quickly through the manor's corridors. Reached his room and locked the door.Sat on his bed. Touched the pendant.Accessed his grandfather's memories. Searched frantically through centuries of knowledge. There had to be something. Some way to h
Chapter 180
The gala tried to return to normal.Musicians played. Servants circulated with wine. Nobles clustered in groups, pretending the last hour hadn't happened.But everything had changed.Draven could feel it. The way people looked at him now. Not with dismissal or pity. With wariness. Calculation. Fear.He'd become dangerous.And across the room, Princess Elysande watched him.Not constantly. Not obviously. But every few minutes, her gaze would drift his way. Assessing. Curious.Viktor Crane noticed. Of course he noticed. He stood beside the Princess like a shadow. Close enough to protect. Close enough to claim.And every time she looked at Draven, Viktor's expression darkened.Draven tried to stay near the edges. Tried to be invisible again. Old habits.But it didn't work anymore. Nobles approached him. Carefully. Respectfully."Impressive display, young Ashworth.""Where did you learn to move like that?""The Academy must have remarkable instructors."Polite words hiding desperate curio
Chapter 179
The great hall remained frozen.Lucas Nervia slumped against the wall. Draven standing in the exhibition circle. Smoke still rising from his hand where the controlled fire had erupted.Everyone staring.Draven looked up at the platform. At his father.Waiting for the reaction. The anger. The disappointment. Something.Father's face was stone.No expression. No emotion. Nothing.He simply stood there. Watching. Like he was observing a training exercise rather than his son publicly destroying an ally's heir.That silence was somehow worse than any anger could have been.But everyone else?Everyone else lost their minds.The whispers exploded into full conversations. Nobles grabbing each other's arms. Officers exchanging shocked looks. The carefully maintained decorum of the gala shattered."Did you see that speed?""He moved like—I've never seen anything like that.""The fire. That controlled burst. How is he only sixteen?""Second-year student? Impossible.""Lucas Nervia didn't stand a
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