The Moonlight Swordsman



Felgura Castle...

Inside the grand banquet hall of the castle, an air of elegance and opulence enveloped the space. 

The flickering candles gave the ornate chandeliers a warm glow that lit up the faces of the honored guests.

The hall was adorned with rich tapestries and intricate carvings, a testament to the grandeur of the occasion.

Among the gathered nobles, representatives of the prominent families mingled their vibrant attire reflecting their status and lineage.

They conversed in hushed tones, exchanging pleasantries and discussing matters of politics and social standing. 

However, a notable absence was felt among the distinguished crowd.

That was none other than the Eudora Family.

Stripped of their title and prestige, they were conspicuously absent from the grand affair. 

Their fall from grace was always brought to mind by the fact that their Family Head, who died against Aizel in a battle, was no longer with them.

Clad in a modest ensemble of a plain black shirt, formal trousers, and polished black shoes, Aizel stood amidst the grandeur of the banquet hall.

His clothes were simple compared to what the other nobles wore, but they gave him an air of quiet confidence and were very comfortable to wear compared to noble clothing. 

He held a delicate crystal glass filled with amber liquid, his fingers lightly tracing its rim as he savored the drink's rich aroma.

"You really look beautiful in everything," Aizel commented as he glanced at Daisy.

When Daisy heard the words, she got a light blush on her cheeks, which gave her already glowing skin a little more warmth.

She gently tangled her arm with Aizel's, which brought her closer to him.

"Hellooooo Softieeee... Hey Daisy!" Hazel quickly interrupted the moment.

"Hey, Hazel. It's nice meeting you again," Daisy replied.

"Ssup," Aizel said.

"You guys were having fun, huh...hihi, btw have you seen Sera anywhere?"

"I thought she might be with you," Aizel replied, his brows raised a little.

"Do you think she is even attending the banquet?" Hazel asked.

"I think she might not come this time too."

Aizel's gaze moved around the grand banquet hall, his eyes scanning the sea of noble attendees.

In the middle of all the lively talk and activity, his attention was called to a lone figure sitting at a table. His presence was shrouded in a cloud of sadness. The man's slumped shoulders and blank face hinted at a deep sadness that seemed to have drained him of all his being.

Looks like Leah's Uncle is suffering quite a bit now that he is alone."

[KARMA]

"It seems you are quite confident about the upcoming tournament," 

Aizel's attention was suddenly pulled away when he heard a voice coming from behind him.

It was the princess, whose airy presence filled the grand hall with a bright glow. She approached him with graceful steps, her silver noble gown accentuating her every contour with a tantalizing allure.

The dress she wore stuck to her body, following the soft curves of her shape and drawing attention to how gracefully she moved.

[This fucking bitch is back again. Now all she will do is blah blah blah]

"I am prepared enough," Aizel replied with a bored expression.

"I hope it is true," Zareena said with a sly smile.

Aizle stared at her for a second, then moved his gaze somewhere else.

"Hello Daisy, You are not nervous, right?" Zareena quickly moved toward her.

"Not for now, princess," She replied.

"Yo sparring partner. I've got my sword; want to spar?" Suddenly, Soren joined the group.

"Not today. I am not in the mood,"

"Hmmm.. fine. Then it will be no fun sparring with others,"

"What do you mean no fun? I can spar with you," Edumont interrupted. He arrived with Raven by his side.

"No, you won't even last a minute."

Edumont's brows twitched while Raven and everyone else giggled a little.

"I see everyone is quite confident for the tournament. That's how it should be. 

"You have the strength and power to destroy every other mage and team this time. I hope everyone here will not disappoint me."

As the voice reverberated through the grand hall, capturing the attention of all in attendance, it was the unmistakable presence of the king of Felgura. 

Everyone looked at him, and the room became quiet out of a mix of respect and interest. Even though the king looked like a teenager, he had an air of power and wisdom that made people respect him.

With his long silver hair cascading down his back in a fashion reminiscent of the legendary heroes depicted in ancient Chinese tales, the king stood tall and regal.

As the king made his grand entrance, accompanied by an illustrious entourage consisting of Vespara, the esteemed Sword Emperor, Yotum, and Aquarian. 

A wave of reverence swept through the gathering. 

People in the grand hall automatically bowed deeply and lowered their heads to show respect for their sovereign leader.

In spite of the custom of bowing, however, two figures stayed standing with an air of indifference.

Aizel and Soren, unmoved by the weight of expectations, stood firm in their positions, their eyes fixed unwaveringly on the king.

"This kid!" Yotum meshed his teeth when he saw Aizel.

Throughout his entire life, Soren had never once bowed before anyone.

For Aizel, though, things were different. Since his memories started coming back and his disdain for people started to grow.

"It's good to see you both have a strong will and don't want to bend your ways for someone else.

"I like it," The king clapped and walked towards both of them.

A warm smile spread across his face as he extended his arms, encircling both Aizel and Soren in a tight embrace. 

With a voice filled with mirth and excitement, he called out at the top of his lungs, his words echoing through the grand hall, "Let the banquet begin!"

With a gracious gesture, he guided both Aizel and Soren to accompany him, leading them to a table that held a place of honor. 

He had them both sit right next to him. Soren sat on the left side, and Aizel sat on the right.