Beyond Endurance
As the moon ascended, casting a beautiful glow, the Silverwood City Royal Manor's Apricot Garden was brimming with the aromas of food and bright with lights.
At this moment, the Spring Pavilion's second-floor stage, initially the center of song and dance performances, saw its music and dance suddenly halt.
The dancers gracefully exited, leaving an anticipatory hush over the audience.
They weren't upset; instead, their eyes sparkled with excitement and expectancy.
It was widely known that the stage was about to be transformed into a combat ring for a martial contest involving princes, princesses, heirs, and heiresses from royal households.
For many of these elite guests, witnessing such esteemed individuals in action was a rare treat.
Eyes were glued to the now-empty stage, wondering who among these distinguished youths would first step up to issue a challenge.
Then, amidst eager anticipation, a suave figure leaped from the Pavilion, soaring across several meters to land gracefully on the stage, his poise and elegance amplified by the moonlight.
A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd as an observant official recognized the newcomer. "Ah! That's Alaric Astor, the eldest son of the Lingnan King!" The Lingnan King, while not as powerful as Peerless King Gideon Astor, still wielded considerable authority and was renowned for his own martial prowess.
At just nineteen, Alaric Astor was known to possess twenty-one spiritual roots, standing at the pinnacle of the Seventh Cloud martial realm, on the verge of breaking through to the Huangyun realm.
Speculations abounded about his current level of combat strength.
Some guests were heard admiring Alaric's potential: "With royal bloodline and his father's tutelage, his strength must be extraordinary, far surpassing typical martial artists of his realm."
This admiration for the Astor bloodline, known for producing martial prodigies with exceptional spiritual roots, was a common sentiment.
Gideon Astor, the head of the family, was revered for his forty-eight spiritual roots, his power and abilities a mystery even within the royal family.
However, not all Astors were blessed with martial talent.
This was exemplified by Gideon Astor's third son, Magnus Astor, who bore the unfortunate title of 'born without spiritual roots,' becoming a subject of ridicule among nobles and commoners alike.
As Alaric Astor stood majestically on the stage, he looked like a rising star in Avaloria, his presence symbolizing the bright future of the realm.
In the Spring Pavilion's second floor, the space had filled with many young men and women of noble bearing, all exuding confidence and elegance.
These were no ordinary individuals but relatives and scions of the royal family, including heirs and heiresses from various branches of the Astor lineage.
Gideon Astor, having invited these young nobles to witness and participate in the martial contest, stirred excitement among them with the announcement of a prized Yun artifact as a reward.
The prospect of showcasing their prowess in front of Avaloria's elite and potentially winning a precious artifact was an alluring opportunity for these ambitious youths.
Alaric, as the first to take the stage, was driven by a desire for recognition and fame.
Dressed in a splendid purple and gold dragon-embroidered robe, adorned with a jade crown and belt, his striking figure under the moonlight on the stage was nothing short of captivating.
His challenge, issued with confidence and charisma, elicited cheers and admiration from the crowd, especially from young women who openly expressed their adoration.
Savoring the adulation and excitement he had ignited, Alaric's expression remained composed, yet inwardly, he relished the attention.
As the sole heir of the Lingnan King, Alaric had always been the center of attention, revered and pampered from birth.
His distinguished status, combined with his significant martial prowess, ensured he was always held in high regard wherever he went.
At this moment in the bustling Spring Pavilion, the focus was on Alaric Astor, who had confidently taken the stage.
As he stood there, his presence seemed to challenge every young noble in attendance, signaling his intention to assert his dominance among the younger generation.
However, the reactions from his peers, including Orion Astor, Caspian Astor, Emeric Astor, and Elowen Astor, were varied. None of them showed any immediate desire to rise and accept the challenge.
Magnus Astor, seated among them, was preoccupied with his newfound wealth and the intriguing Black Glow Ring on his finger.
His attention was only momentarily diverted by the screams of adoration for Alaric from the crowd.
Magnus's disdain for such overt displays of bravado was evident in his scoffing remark about Alaric's showmanship.
Elowen Astor, who had been largely silent up to this point, surprisingly engaged Magnus in conversation, her tone laced with the same icy aloofness she always displayed towards him.
Her challenge to Magnus to confront Alaric on the stage was met with his dismissive retort, downplaying Alaric's capabilities and implying that a confrontation would be too one-sided in his favor.
Elowen's cold laughter followed, as she remarked cynically about Alaric's true strength compared to Magnus's, suggesting that Alaric, despite being a "showpiece," was significantly more formidable in combat.
The exchange, marked by Elowen's typical sharpness and Magnus's dismissiveness, highlighted the complex dynamics within the royal family, especially among the younger members.
In the midst of the vibrant atmosphere at the Spring Pavilion, the conversation between Magnus Astor and his cousin Elowen Astor reached a boiling point.
Irritated by Elowen's continuous taunts and insinuations, Magnus couldn't help but retort sharply, his frustration evident.
He sarcastically commented on the incident earlier that day, ridiculing Elowen's reaction and downplaying the event as insignificant.
Elowen, usually unflappable, was visibly taken aback by Magnus's outburst.
Accustomed to being treated with reverence and adulation, she was stunned into silence by the unexpected barrage of harsh words.
As Magnus finished his tirade, Elowen's demeanor changed dramatically.
The usual coldness in her eyes turned into a burning fury, her body tensing with barely contained rage.
The tension between them escalated when Elowen, overwhelmed with anger, vowed to retaliate. Her hand instinctively reached for the sword at her waist, her eyes fixed on Magnus with an intensity that spoke volumes of her intent.
The exchange, laced with deep-seated animosity and resentment, highlighted the complexities and underlying conflicts within their royal family dynamics.