As King Arion looked at the crowd, a small, barely noticeable smile of amusement graced his lips.
On the other hand, Wang Mei's face showed her displeasure as she came to the realization that her earlier belief that the king was interested in her beauty was nothing but a fantasy.
She now understood that Arion was always ahead of them in his plans and strategies.
Furthermore, previously, the king had skillfully presented the idea of creating the Arena as if it were a decision he made under the apparent pressure of the kingdom's people, masking his true intentions.
These individuals did not wish to relinquish what they considered their freedom to engage in various wrongful acts, such as killing, raping, enslaving others, or any other undesirable behavior.
Due to the prevailing nature of this society, they collectively decided to establish 'The Crucible of Destiny.'
Now, they were beginning to question whether the decision to create 'The Crucible of Destiny' had truly been theirs or if it had been solely the king's plan for today's events.
Low-level families were growing increasingly agitated due to the abrupt shift in power dynamics.
If Arion hadn't offered them the possibility of achieving the Duke Rank, it could have led to a significant power imbalance within the kingdom.
Keiran and Luna observed the people around them with expressions that revealed nothing, mirroring each other's stoic demeanor.
They saw through the facades of those around them, glimpsing the true nature that had been concealed from the world.
In Keiran's mind Luna's voice echoed
'Why are we here? What's going on?'
These thoughts raced through their heads as they tried to make sense of the complex situation unfolding before them.
Keiran turned his attention to Luna, contemplating her words.
He responded, 'I don't know what they are talking about either, and this 'Crucible of Destiny' is a mystery to me as well.
But i feel like, we should remember it for the future. It might be important.'
Their young minds were already processing the complex information being presented to them, a testament to their intelligence and curiosity.
As Keiran and Luna continued their silent conversation through their minds, they shared their thoughts and concerns without uttering a word, a unique and powerful connection that bound them together.
Keiran kept his inner feelings hidden from Luna, not wanting to burden her with his concerns.
Deep within, he wrestled with an unexplained heaviness in his heart, a sensation that left him uneasy but determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead with unwavering strength.
'Are you okay?' Luna's voice prompted him to wonder if she had sensed something.
'Hmm, what do you mean?' Keiran replied.
He feigned ignorance, wanting to see if it was the same thing or not.
'I suddenly felt like you weren't okay. I don't know why, but I don't like that feeling. Please be okay,' Luna expressed her concern.
Her soft and soothing voice calmed him a little but the feeling that he felt was growing with each and every passing second.
Luna's genuine concern touched Keiran's heart, and he couldn't help but feel grateful for her presence.
He responded through their mental connection with reassurance, though he didn't fully understand the source of his unease.
Keiran's keen eyes scanned the hall, and he noticed that many people had dark energy surrounding them, much like their parents.
The intensity of these colors varied, with some displaying different hues like green, yellow, and even RED.
In the very back of the hall, Keiran's gaze fixated on a figure with a particularly intense Dark Red aura, which flared with ominous power.
The intense, Dark Red aura emanating from the figure at the back of the hall was unlike anything Keiran had ever seen.
It completely overshadowed the energies of all the other individuals present, creating a palpable sense of dread and unease that weighed heavily on Keiran's heart. It was as if this aura held a power that transcended the ordinary.
Keiran's gaze shifted to the others standing around the man, and he noticed that they, too, shared a similar aura, albeit to a lesser degree.
These secondary auras, though not as overwhelming as the leader's, still had an unsettling quality, casting a sinister undertone over the entire gathering.
The mystery deepened as Keiran tried to make sense of this strange phenomenon.
He couldn't help but feel that something ominous was lurking in the shadows, something that would soon come to light and potentially change the course of their lives.
Luna's gaze briefly fell upon the figure, sending a chilling sensation through her heart. Disconcerted by this feeling, she quickly averted her eyes.
"Now, onto the next question," Arion continued.
As the focus of the gathering shifted to questions about the newly established ranks and their criteria, Luna's unease regarding the ominous figure at the back of the hall lingered in the back of her mind.
Despite her attempt to divert her attention, a sense of foreboding still clung to her heart, making her apprehensive about what might unfold in the near future.
Following that, family heads from both lower and upper ranks began to inquire about the specifics of the newly introduced noble titles.
An hour had passed with family heads posing questions about the new noble titles. Suddenly, the sound of a baby's cry echoed through the hall.
Arion's attention immediately shifted to Aiden, cradled in Seraphina's arms, who was crying vigorously. It became apparent that the young prince was hungry, as they had been in the hall for an extended period.
"It's been quite some time. You should take the kids back and feed them. We will stay busy for quite some time," Arion suggested.
Seraphina nodded, and both she and Erla started to make their way toward the exit with the twins in tow. Keiran, however, found himself fixated on an unfamiliar figure.
This individual seemed preoccupied, issuing commands to someone who had appeared behind them.
No one else noticed the movements of these people except for two individuals, including Keiran.
Keiran and Luna suddenly felt a strange shift in the environment, which no one else in the room could discern.
They looked at the place where they felt the change and saw Thorne standing there, with Arion walking backward.
Thorne's hand and eyes were glowing but nobody seems to have noticed this.
Keiran narrowed his eyes slightly and soon ignored it.
They walked out of the room, and unbeknownst to everyone, a shadow followed them stealthily.
As they turned the corner in the hallway, Seraphina was walking in front with Aiden in her hands.
Erla followed behind with Keiran in her arms, and the maid Esabella walked at the very end with Luna resting in her arms.
Keiran's heart was beating very hard, and it grew heavy. Luna seemed to notice this change.
She could practically feel his mind being in shambles.
She looked at him and saw him with blank eyes, as if dread had gripped his mind. He was looking behind her with the same expression.
__
Ever since they left the room, Keiran had been feeling an intensifying sense of dread.
As they reached the turning point in the hallway, Keiran's heart was practically screaming at him to run to Luna. He looked at her and saw a man dressed in black clothing, holding something in his hands.
Time seemed to slow down as Keiran rushed towards the maid, specifically aiming for Luna in her arms, as the object in the man's hands was pointing at her.
He noticed every detail with heightened clarity but was unable to fully comprehend the situation.
The object in the man's hands moved closer to Luna, and Keiran's heart raced like a speeding train's engine.
Keiran was experiencing an overwhelming sense of dread deep within him, a gut feeling that something terrible was unfolding.
He couldn't comprehend the details of the situation, nor did he have the capacity to care about it.
All he wanted at that moment was for whatever was happening to cease immediately.
Every fiber of his being seemed to scream at him, urging him to call out, but he was helpless.
His vocal cords strained, and a cry of distress escaped his mouth.
The intensity of his emotions was palpable, even though he lacked the physical ability to act on them.
"NA....."
That's all he could voice out as his throat felt dry.
He saw something that made his eyes go wide as his body seemed to have lost its strength.