The night's festivities had come to an end, and the grand ballroom had emptied as guests departed for their respective chambers.
But within the courtyard of the estate, an air of tension remained, fueled by the events that had transpired earlier.
Carl had been tirelessly practicing his swordsmanship under the moonlit night.
The sound of metal against metal echoed through the night as his blade sliced through the air with precision.
Unbeknownst to him, Sean had been observing from the shadows, his expression a mix of amusement and derision.
Emerging from the darkness, Sean's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "Impressive, little brother. I see you're quite motivated tonight."
Startled, Carl turned to face Sean, his grip on his sword tightening. "Sean, what are you doing here?"
Sean's lips curled into a smug grin, his posture exuding a cocky confidence. "I couldn't help but notice your efforts to impress Noelle earlier. Quite the display, I must admit."
Carl's eyes narrowed, his suspicion growing as he regarded his older brother. "What do you want, Sean?"
Sean's tone was nonchalant, a casual challenge lacing his words. "I think it's time we settle this, don't you? A little brotherly duel, just to see if all that training has paid off."
Carl's gaze hardened, his instincts telling him that this was more than a friendly spar.
Sean's demeanor was calculated, his intentions veiled beneath his words.
"You want to duel me?" Carl's voice was a mix of amusement and wariness.
Sean's grin widened, his eyes glinting with an undercurrent of anticipation. "Why not? A little competition never hurt anyone."
Carl's grip on his sword tightened, his determination flaring.
He had trained for moments like these, to prove himself against the doubts that had haunted him for so long.
"I accept your challenge, Sean," Carl's voice held a fiery resolve, his eyes locking onto his brother's.
Sean's smile didn't waver as he drew his sword, its blade catching the moonlight. "Excellent. Let's see if you can back up all that determination with skill."
The tension in the air was palpable as the two brothers faced each other, their swords at the ready.
The moon's glow illuminated the courtyard, casting an ethereal light on their duel.
Their clash was fierce and calculated, each move a display of their skill and determination.
The sound of steel meeting steel rang through the night, punctuated by the occasional grunts of exertion.
Sean's experience gave him an edge, his strikes precise and calculated.
But Carl's willpower and agility proved to be formidable adversaries.
He parried Sean's attacks with a tenacity that surprised even himself.
As the duel continued, sweat glistened on their brows, their breaths heavy with exertion.
Each movement was a testament to their resolve—to prove their worth and defend their honor.
But beyond the clash of swords, a deeper struggle played out.
Carl fought not just to best his brother but to silence the doubts that had plagued him for years.
Sean, on the other hand, sought to assert his dominance, to remind Carl of his place within the clan's hierarchy.
The duel reached its climax, and both brothers locked in a fierce exchange of blows.
Carl's determination burned brightly, his will unwavering.
But there was a strength gap between the brothers, just as Carl prepared to land the decisive blow Sean moved behind him and hit him on his back.
Carl fell down and just as he was about to stand up.
"Maggot, did you think you are on my level? I was just playing with you." Sean said while maintaining his cold smile.
Carl gritted his teeth.
'Why always me????... Why? Why? Why? Why?'
Just at this moment Sean sliced through Carl's chest and blood started flowing.
Carl looked at his chest and something snapped inside him.
Sean's POV:
'I just cut through my maggot of a brother. It felt so good.'
As Sean's triumphant smirk adorned his face, he basked in his victory over Carl.
He had successfully exploited his younger brother's momentary distraction, delivering a swift strike that left Carl sprawled on the ground.
The bloodied wound on Carl's chest spurted blood, staining the ground beneath him.
But what Sean couldn't anticipate was the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
A pulsating energy enveloped the area, as if the very air was filled with an otherworldly power.
Carl's blood, which had begun pooling around him, seemed to shimmer with an ethereal light.
As Sean took a step closer, a thought of uncertainty coursed through him.
Carl's body started moving, his eyes flashing with an intense light that seemed to pierce through the darkness.
It was as if a dormant force within him had been awoken.
In that moment, Carl's mind was in a mess because of confusion and pain.
The wound on his chest throbbed, yet within the pain, there was an undercurrent of something else—an indescribable power that surged through his veins.
As Sean approached, the ground beneath Carl trembled, as if responding to the growing energy within him. And then, it happened.
In the blink of an eye, Carl's body vanished from where he lay, leaving behind nothing but a faint afterimage.
Before Sean could react, he felt a force slam into his side, sending him hurtling through the air and crashing into a nearby tree.
Stunned and disoriented, Sean struggled to his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Carl stood before him, his presence transformed.
His eyes blazed with an otherworldly light, and his wounds seemed to be healing at an alarming rate.
"What... What are you?" Sean's voice trembled, a mixture of fear and astonishment lacing his words.
Carl's voice, now resonating with an unfamiliar authority, echoed through the clearing. "I am nothing to you, vermin."
As if guided by an unseen force, Carl's body moved with grace.
His movements were no longer limited by the constraints of his usual strength.
He danced around Sean, his strikes precise and unyielding.
The air crackled with energy as their blades clashed.
Sean, struggling to match Carl's newfound power, found himself on the defensive.
The once-arrogant demeanor he had carried had been replaced by a desperate realization of his inadequacy.
With a swift maneuver, Carl disarmed Sean, his blade clattering to the ground. Sean stumbled backward, his chest heaving as he gazed at Carl with a mixture of awe and fear.
Carl approached Sean, his eyes holding an intensity that sent shivers down Sean's spine. "You underestimated me, Sean. Just as you always have."
Sean's breath hitched as he managed to mutter, "What... What are you going to do?"
Carl's voice was chillingly calm, his expression unreadable. "I could end this right now, claim my rightful place a. But I won't stoop to your level."
With a flick of his wrist, Carl's power waned, his body returning to its previous state.
The intense light in his eyes dimmed, and his wounds began to ache once more.
Breathing heavily, Carl's eyes locked onto Sean's, a mixture of triumph and exhaustion in his gaze. "I won."
3rd person POV:
After the intense confrontation with Sean, Carl retreated to his chamber, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
The surge of power he had experienced, and the mysterious consciousness lapse was eating at his thoughts.
He sank onto his bed, his chest heaving, his hand unconsciously touching the wound that was already healing.
'What was that? What happened to me?' Carl's mind was a storm of questions.
The surge of energy he had felt, the fleeting sensation of his consciousness slipping, it all felt like a distant dream.
He had never encountered anything like this before.
His chamber, usually a place for relaxing, now felt suffocating.
He rose from the bed and paced the room, his mind racing to make sense of the inexplicable events.
The moon's soft light filtered through the window, casting ethereal patterns on the floor.
His thoughts spiraled, recalling the intense clash with Sean.
How he had been on the brink of defeat, and then suddenly, he wasn't.
It was as if a dormant power had awakened within him, pushing him to new heights.
As Carl pondered, a knock echoed through the chamber.
Startled, he turned toward the door, his heart still racing from the adrenaline of the battle. T
he door opened, and Noelle entered, her presence a soothing balm to his frazzled mind.
"Carl," she began softly, her eyes searching his, "are you alright?"
Carl's lips curved into a tired smile. "Noelle, I... I'm not sure. Something strange happened during the duel with Sean."
Noelle's expression was a mixture of concern and curiosity.
She approached him, her touch gentle as she placed a hand on his arm. "Tell me, what happened?"
Carl recounted the events, from the surge of power to the lapse in his consciousness.
Noelle listened intently, her brows furrowed in thought.
When he finished, a thoughtful silence settled between them.
"Carl do you trust me?"Noelle asked seriously.
"Yes"
Noelle plunged her hand into Carl's chest.
Carl's eyes opened wide as blood started coming out of his mouth.
"Why?"Carl asked weakly.