Unwavering

The king was absolutely speechless at what he was hearing, wondering if he even heard right, for this was not something that he was expecting and it caught him completely off guard. 

Everyone looked at her as they stared at her with a stunned expression, including her stepmother Vinna and her stepbrothers, Luca and Kei, who were in the throne room at the time, discussing to join the event as well and one thing they were not expecting was her intentions. 

The king got up from his throne and approach her, towering over her with a stern expression, wondering whether he was actually hearing this or not and everyone stared in anticipation, since they knew what the king was like when someone dared to go against him, much less challenge his words. 

He circled around her and she glanced at him with her eyes narrowed and a piercing gaze, matching his eyes, which surprised him even more, for lately she was acting different and not the girl he saw growing up, wondering what was going through that mind of hers, whether she was being serious or not. 

He stopped in front of her and she looked up at him directly in the eyes, something none around him dared to do and he was taken aback by her once more and her stepbrothers eyes darted between the two, the air in the throne, electric with tension and unspoken words. 

"Repeat what you just said to me girl," He said in a firm tone and she held his gaze. 

"You heard me, I am enlisting, I am joining the selection whether you want me to or not," She said, her voice echoing through the throne room and her stepmother shifted uncomfortably in the throne, knowing things were not going to end well. 

The king held her gaze, surprised evident in his eyes, for he was never expecting anything like this and it felt like time stood sill around him until his eyes began glowing blue and his presence darkened and Xania, who was still there watching, gaze darted between the two, wondering what she will do next, because clearly her father was not taking this well. 

"You dare to challenge my words? My authority? What makes you think you are even worth to join something as important as this?" He asked, his voice rumbling through the throne room and the servants flinched as did the knights and members of the court. 

"Yeah, I dare to do it because you are wrong and you have no right to judge me and there is nothing you can do to stop me, I will join and then you will see my worth, I will make sure you bite your words, try and stop me," She said her voice on equal level as his as they faced off each other and her stepbrothers exchanged glances. 

The two faced off each other with their eyes glowing and some of the people around them, stepped back, for they knew better than to incur the king's wrath and they were all flabbergasted at her audacity, no one had dared to do such a thing before and to see her among all others doing it, was a spectacle to watch. 

"You have got a lot of courage now girl... You are either brave or extremely foolish... You think you can challenge me? Do you think you would even survive an event like this? One with nothing but good and some of the best warriors and magical beings out there? What makes you think you can even compete with a magical prowess so low?" He asked as the air around him got heavy, chowing he was not messing around. 

'This guy.... Her father is a lot more dangerous than he looks and more dangerous than most leaders, I can sense it in his aura.... He is another force to be reckoned with.... What is wrong with this family? Are they all maniacs? But... He is only instigating another monster's awakening...' Xania thought as he glanced at Violet, knowing full she is capable of more than she seems to be. 

[Your magical prowess is not low...]

[Gate unlocked...]

[Seal, partially opened.] 

The mark on her chest began shimmering slightly under her clothes and her eyes glowed brighter as her father's body was glowing blue mixed with gold lightning and the air as crackling with his power and everyone stepped back more, not wanting to get caught up in all of it. 

"I asked you something and I expect an answer, so answer me, girl...." He said in a low and almost dark tone and she met his gaze with equal ferocity. 

"Violet, stop it... Nothing good will come out of what you are doing here, you cannot join the selection.... He is right, don't ager him anymore or there will be serious consequences to bear, this has gone too far," The eldest amongst her stepbrothers, Luca said. 

"He is right, this needs to stop right now, before something happens that there will be no coming back from, this has gone on far enough, please cut it out, now..." The younger one Kei said, hoping to diffuse the situation before it gets out of hand and the king does something they might regret. 

Everyone looked on, hoping that the prince's words would be taken seriously but little did they know, the situation was not that simple and Violet had no intention of letting them get what they want, this time she was going to put her foot forward and take what she wanted with or without anyone's permission for she was tired of being the steppingstone. 

"Your Highness, you really need to stop believing everything you see.... And look a bit further... I am not the same little girl who was trashed aside nor will I let anyone look down on me or push me aside, not anymore... I am done with that crap and you will see just how far I am willing to go now, mark my words, " She said in a firm and unwavering tone. 

Her body began glowing bright blue mixed with purple lightning that stretch across the throne room, an equal clash to his and everyone gasped at what they were seeing and the room trembled.