Chapter 7: Ball and challenge

Following a small crowd of pairs that were passing through big doors, the pair found themselves in the big hall with huge open space, musicians, and many already dancing people. The duo arrived right at the moment when the temp of music changed and new pairs began joining the dance.

Music, outfits, and hall that had many things resembling the famous "Palace hall" in the Trade Union capital tried to make waltz as more memorizing and pleasant as possible.

Throwing quick glances through the hall while they still had some time before joining the dance, Theo quickly found his young sister Lucia that was dancing with a cute boy with Aus insignia on his clothes, but there were no signs of his elder sisters.

Smiling at his sisters' usual behavior, and easily imagining what they are doing, Theo noticed how a pair in front of them joined the dance and began waltzing.

Though Theo knew how to dance, he was never good in it even with his vast experience from his previous life, but fortunately, when they began dancing, Teresa seemed to be as mediocre as him, so the duo entered into their own temp without paying attention to local professionals, and enjoyed their time.

After 20 minutes of dancing, the music finally subsided, and exhausted pairs began returning back. Only passionate dancers stayed to chose the next pair.

After the dance, Theo and Teresa needed some fresh air, so it didn't take long for them to leave the building and move in the direction of the garden.

Approaching the garden, they saw a big group of young boys and girls around 15-16 years old gathered near the arena not far from the garden.

Theo noticed that Teresa got curious about what is happening in there, so Theo moved in that direction, with vague ideas why so many people were gathered in there.

Several moments later, when they moved through the small crowd, a picture of two battling people appeared before them.

One of them was 15-years old Stella Freinos while another was 15-years old Lex Roland.

Both of them were currently dodging, swinging, evading each other's swords, and using battle energy to counter-attack.

Teresa got confused when she saw her elder brother fighting with Stella Freinos, so she asked one of the near girls that looking after the fight.

"Why are they fighting?" asked Teresa.

The girl seemed annoyed when she got distracted from the fight, but quickly changed her expression when she saw who was asking her.

"Lex Roland tried to propose to elder sister Stella, and make her his main wife and overlord of his harem. You might have heard that elder sister Stella at first kicks asses of all her potential suitors before talking with them, so Lex was 1st today who challenged her for battle."

Teresa shook her head when she heard about her brother's deeds.

While Theo continued to watch after his sister's battle, Teresa seemed to get a new friend, and soon that girl was telling her everything that happened here and why so many people gathered just to watch after Stella's battles.

Just at that time Stella used one of the energy techniques and sent Lex into the short flight towards a tree.

Moments later, Lex hit the tree, and the battle was over.

"Next time when you gather your courage and would dare to come to me with similar proposals, at first make sure you can win me in battle, this is the 1st requirement, I am not just another one girl, you have conquered in the past, I am Stella Freinos, the successor of Freinos family. You are too weak right now to even dream about such things." said Stella, and making "Hmm" sound and looking at other boys that gathered here to watch after her fight, "Who is next?"

"This is your chance, Dereck, Lena, Brian, and others, you can challenge and win over the winner of the previous city tournament," said Stella with her glance, moving across the crowd, "If you don't want, then I won't waste my time with you anymore, don't send me your challenges then, at first get 1st place on city tournament and then we could fight," said Stella, and began moving to leave the arena.

Just as she made several steps, 15-years old Brian Balkot, the successor of the Balkot family moved together with his two swords and entered the arena.

He was the same height as her, had black hair, brown eyes, a muscled body, and was dressed into an enchanted leather outfit.

"Stella, don't be so arrogant, you indeed kicked Lex's ass, but it doesn't make you above all others, we are all peers, and fighting against each other to polish our skills is a norm," said Brian, adjusting his stance, and covering his two swords with blue battle energy.

Stella rose her head and looked at her new opponent without any interest.

"You, again?" asked Stella, returning to her initial position, and released a tired sigh, she behaved as if her opponent was an irritating fly, not a challenger, "Let's make it differently today, I am already tired of fighting you every time I come to noble gatherings, come on Dereck, Lena, Lex move to the arena, I will fight 4 opponents at once."

Just a moment was enough for two tall boys in similar leather outfits as Brian's, and a girl with a tall girl, a muscled girl with a big axe to appear on the arena.

Brian was dissatisfied and wanted to say something, but his expression quickly changed when he looked at Stella.

Just as others entered the arena, Stella smiled, turning her head to look at Theo before releasing golden battle energy to form a shield around her and imparted it on her sword.

"How ..." said Brian Balkot, showing his shocked expression.

"Impossible," said Lex Roland when he looked at Stella.

"You ..." said Lena Tenstone.

Only Dereck didn't change his expression and only gripped his sword and shield tightly.

Stella made a delighted smile, looking at her opponents.

"Yes, I am a gold knight, and soon would become a Great knight, this is why I look down on you, just looking at my strength, I can be already considered a member of the elder generation. So let's make it our final training battle till you catch up with me," said Stella, initiating her attack.

Many onlookers were shocked, while Theo smiled to himself, he already knew that his sister was a step away from becoming a Great knight right now.

Teresa was also surprised and opened her mouth, continuing to look after the battle.

Since Stella showed her real strength, fast Brian's double swords, Lena's big axe, Derecks's shield, and sword, and Lex's two-handed sword couldn't do anything, and soon the battle was over while the opponents were sent away from the arena.

When Stella finished dealing with them, she smiled and looked proudly at Theo before looking at certain people among the crowd.

"You, you, and you, you are not bad, since I am done with the annoying bunch, it's time for real warriors to fight," said Stella, inviting several men in armor for the arena.

Theo and Teresa continued to watch after more and more battles, and how new challengers were entering the arena, while the time continued to pass.

Soon, Lucia came looking for Theo and told him that elders have finished their business, and his father was looking for him. So, he left Teresa with Lucia and hurried to the Main Hall.

***

Passing through several corridors, and quickly returning back to the Main Hall, he saw a company of laughing people near one of the tables.

A glance was enough for Theo to recognize his father that was loudly laughing with other noble family heads, and it was clear that most of them were drunk. Only James Balkot with a dissatisfied expression on his face sat silently not far from others with several of his close friends, and only always stoic and silent Darius Hellas seemed to support his idea not to join to drinking.

His father had a deep red face due to the amount of alcohol he drank and was now arguing with his friends that were loudly laughing. His mother seemed to have left them together with other women, so it was a rare chance for them to remember old friends and share stories that they didn't want to lose.

Theo smiled after seeing his happy father. After the war started, the situation got only worse and worse with each passing year, so he almost didn't see his father laugh or smile in the last years before his death.

Soon, Theo approached Darwin with a smile on his lips.

The approaching figure of the boy with Freinos family insignia attracted attention, and his father and his friends have noticed him long ago.

"Son, come here, greet your uncles and my good friends."

Quickly approaching his father, Darwin grabbed him by the shoulders and moved him to stand in front of him.

"Hey! This is my son, drunkards, look at him, you have asked me to show him long ago since the times he entered into secluded training. Now, look and memorize well his face, another great general would appear in Freinos family."

"Yeii, Darwin, a toast for that." Nei Roland with a beet-red face cheered with alcohol.

"Good reason for another round," said Sophie Tenstone with the same red face quickly drinking her glass with just one gulp.

Soon, Theo observed how all noble family heads and other powerful people transformed from their usual selves into the arguing and laughing drunkards from the tavern. Even Darius Hellas and others who didn't want to drink made a toast for that.

Just as his father released him and Theo began leaving, he was grabbed by a strong and wide hand. Turning around, he saw a big figure of Nei Roland, head of the Roland family, and Teresa's father.

"Theo, let this uncle look at you, you have grown up so much since our last meeting, it was when you were still a 5-year-old running boy. You remind me of your father from the past so much. Hope, you won't have problems with training and will catch up with others. By the way, how are you on the love front?." asked Nei, winking at Theo, "If you have anyone in mind, you can come to me and ask for advice, I will teach you several tricks, my son Lex asked me several times, and not he is famous for debauchery,"

Theo could only smile awkwardly, looking at the proud Nei when another drunk man appeared to save him.

"Nei, old bones, stop messing with a kid, Freinos descendants are different from Roland descendants. They aren't like your sons that have hundreds of lovers in the city. Don't push your ideas into the head of the young kid."

"You, envious bastard, can't stop messing with me every time we get drunk, so what if I have 3 wives and my sons have many lovers while you have a strict wive that makes sure you behave. Is it really a big deal for you?"

"Martha isn't strict, she is overly possessive. Why should I be envious if I have the most beautiful girl from our generation as my wife? She is already too much for me, you really believe I have leftover energy for other women?"

Theo observed how they began laughing and arguing. After several minutes they suddenly focused their attention on him, and their expressions made 180 degrees change.

"Now when you already can develop your magic talent, I am already in anticipation of another strong mage from Freinos family," said Kane Aus, patting Theo on his shoulder.

"He is right, but don't focus only on magic, battle energy is also good. Freinos family is much more famous for their warriors and generals than mages."

"We will pay close attention to your figure, expect gifts from us as a congratulation for your body recovery."

Theo was glad to meet these familiar and close people that helped and supported him many times in his previous life regardless of the situation. Of course, the rumor about the fact that he recovered didn't miss their ears, and they came to congratulate him.

"Thank you, uncles. I will work hard."

"Nice, since we have done here, you may go, enjoy the ball. There are many beautiful girls today," said Nei, whispering and winking at Theo after several short pats on his shoulder.

"You, I have told you to stop messing with the younger generation, stop transmitting your virus to others," said Kane at the back of the leaving general.

Shaking his head, Theo took a glass of juice from a passing servant, and several dishes with him and moved in the direction of the balcony.

Passing through the corridors, Theo realized that it was the middle of the night and people that were leaving or moving into dwelling areas or garden, but there were also some that were lying drunk on the tables and under them.

Arriving at the quiet balcony, it didn't take long for him to find a good place for himself.

While Theo began his meal, hidden elements were already moving.

***

There was an ordinary-looking slum house that looked exactly the same as others in the slum district. It would have seemed totally usual if not for things that were happening inside.

A human shadow with no particular signs that could be barely seen and looked as if it was belonging to natural shadows, was now standing in front of 2 big men. Those men had scars on their faces and the same tattoo of snakes on their hands.

"What'll we get from this deal?" asked one of the tattooed men.

"It depends on your results, if you succeed, becoming a noble on par with local big families is not a problem, but if you fail only death awaits you." said a shadow, creating pressure around itself.

Two men paled due to the shadow's words.

"We would need help. It's impossible for just us to accomplish what you are demanding." said the same tattoed man.

"Don't worry, we will provide resources, information, and contacts. You will have to use your time and prepare before we give a signal, and finish your job. Initial batches of weapons would be delivered to you during this month, of course, if you agree. It will be very useful for you to improve your force's power here in the slums."

"Okay, we agree."

"Good, the representative in charge of this operation will soon arrive." said the shadow and disappeared as if it never existed.

Both men exchanged glances, touched all the shadows in the room to make sure there was no 3rd party. Several minutes later one of the tattoed men sighed and looked at his colleague.

"Brother, are you sure? Right now, my intuition is crying not to be part of the current deal. When 2 giants fight, we small flies can be killed together with collateral damage, it's too risky."

"We have no choice. You know about hostages and what happened when several bands tried to rebel and oppose them."

A tattoed man paled and made a horrified expression on his face, shivering in the process after remembering certain scenes from his past.

Understanding his brother, the 1st tattoed man patted to encourage him.

"The death would await us if we fail, but thousand of new possibilities if we succeed," he said with a resolute flame in his eyes.

***

Back in the Hall of gathering, it was already early morning and many carriages were leaving one by one.

Theo, Stella, Aurelia, and Lucia were now waiting for their parents near to family carriages.

Soon, they could saw Darwin and Mira approaching the carriage.

When they reached the carriage, Darwin looked at his children and couldn't stop himself from asking.

"How was your night?"

Lucia rushed to Darwin and tightly hugged him.

"Daddy, it was a nice evening, I played a lot with my friends and danced a lot till I could barely walk, had fun watching after my elder sister how she kicked asses. After that, I and the girls moved into one of the rooms where we played card games till the morning. It was amazing."

Darwin patted his cute-looking daughter and looked at other children.

"Well, I spent most of the evening, fighting with challengers, and only several hours before morning had some time to enjoy the garden," said Stella.

Her daughter's words made Mira shake her head.

"As usual, a thorny rose. Stella, dear, how will you learn how to communicate with boys from your generation if you always beat them every time you meet?"

"That's not my fault, mother. They are just too weak. How am I supposed to talk with people that can't even endure 10 minutes against me? They are too boring for me right now. They just need to win in a duel and that would be a good start."

Mira could only sigh and look at Aurelia.

"I spent most of the evening talking with mages from Aus and Lepiz families. Nothing special, we were just talking about magic theory and magic spells."

Mira and Darwin approvingly nodded and looked at Theo.

"Well, I think I had a nice time tonight, met Teresa, watched Stella's battles, talked with uncles, and found a nice place for looking after stars."

Understanding that his children had a nice time, and nobody created problems for them, Darwin looked at the commander of his escort, seeing his signal.

"Looks like everything is ready, get into carriages, we are leaving."