'Last one…'
Snap!
"There!"
Elysia sighed with relief. After indulging in one too many desserts, she had been afraid that her clothes wouldn't fit on her.
She twirled in her new dress, the layers of royal blue unfolding like a blooming flower. Satisfied with her reflection in the mirror, she excitedly waltzed around her room.
Oblivious to her surroundings, the birthday girl continued to move, her skirt gently fluttering around from the breeze.
After a while, a soft voice called out.
"Miss Elysia, it's time to go downstairs."
Quickly throwing herself onto the bed, Elysia glared at her maid.
"Maria!"
Then, slowly peeking her eyes out, added. "How long have you been watching?"
"I just got here, my lady," Maria responded with a soft smile.
She pouted, cheeks still dyed pink from embarrassment. After regaining her composure, the girl slowly stepped off her bed.
"What's our schedule like?"
Maria pulled out a sheet of pink parchment from her pocket and read, "We have the birthday celebration in 10 minutes. Following that will be a discussion with the sponsors. And lastly-"
She paused, staring at Elysia's glowing eyes.
"You'll attend the bestowal ceremony."
The girl fiddled with her fingers, thinking about the day.
'So, fun, boring, and then fun again…'
She suddenly grabbed her maid's arm, nudging her downstairs.
"Come on! Let's not be late."
Maria held a finger in the air, stopping her. The birthday girl groaned and spun around, knowing what was about to happen.
"But Maria, I already know what to do!"
"One last time, my lady. Let us go over the proper etiquette when talking with our future sponsors."
The two of them bickered playfully, without a hint of worry. After all, they were in one of the most secure locations on Earth.
Unbeknownst to them, something was watching closely, waiting for the perfect chance to strike.
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In the sprawling halls of the Antemoi mansion, a bustling party unfolds. Guided by the ambient music of the musicians, the guests danced and mingled with each other. Laughter and noise filled the building, sending waves of sound throughout the mountains.
The Antemoi mansion was one of the main attractions of the Antemoi family. Built on a majestic mountain, it served both as a testimony to the power of mankind and a place of celebration for nobles. With a white marble base, it looked like a beacon of light in the night sky. Countless chandeliers covered the ceilings, giving off a warm glow.
Amidst the commotion, a beautiful black-haired girl stepped onto the carpet. Eyes slowly turned as guests made way for her. She moved with elegance and poise, making her way to the center of the hall.
By this point, all eyes were on her.
Elysia hesitated. There were far too many unfamiliar people here.. she looked over to her caretaker and friend, unsure of what to do.
Her maid, Maria, held up her hand, giving a subtle thumbs up. She mouthed, "You're doing great!".
Trying hard not to break out into a laugh, she regained confidence and closed her eyes. Manifesting an object, she imbued it with a verdant-hued energy. It quickly lit up, turning into a voice-enhancing relic.
"Welcome, everyone." Her soft voice spread through the great halls.
"Since my father isn't here, I will temporarily be taking care of all social events at the Antemoi Mansion. I hope you are all enjoying the party. All talks regarding sponsors will now be resumed at the conference hall, I look forward to meeting with all of you."
She stopped, secretly sighing in relief.
The guests cheered, their voices echoing over and over in her ears. She heard her name being muttered… along with some unfavorable phrases.
"So that's the princess…"
"So young-"
"The great Ardalan is absent?"
"She seems quite composed, though."
Elysia hid her frustration. As expected, most of the guests only came for her father, as she was still seen as an inexperienced little girl.
The party eventually resumed, with her greeting guests here and there. Trying hard to not sound bored, she monotonously responded to all of them.
'When will this end…'
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As the sun set on the mansion, the air gradually shifted. One by one, representatives from families left the building. Attendants came to remove the dining tables and food, turning the casual party into a more formal setting.
At the center of the hall lay a flawless crystal orb.
'The Orb of Bestowel…'
Said to have been given by the Constellation himself to the founder of the clan, it was the prized possession of the Antemoi family.
Once she said her hand on the orb, she would be given a blessing based on her aptitude for wind manipulation. The brighter it glowed, the more talent she had.
Swirls of energy materialized within the orb, mesmerizing Elysia.
Unknowingly, her hands clasped the edges of her dress. She was nervous.
Taking a deep breath, she exhaled. The remaining guests stood to the side, awaiting the results of her trial. Steeling her resolve, Elysia stepped forward.
Placing her hand on the crystal, she felt strangely calm. The orb was cold and smooth to the touch. As soon as her hand came in contact, the surging energies inside became silent… then slowly drifted toward her.
Having witnessed multiple bestowals from her siblings, Elysia knew something was wrong. She quickly withdrew her hand. However, it was too late.
A small crack ran through the orb, the area where she had placed her hand.
Her eyes flickered nervously towards the crowd, hoping no one would see-
The sound of breaking glass shatters the stillness, grabbing everyone's attention. A figure descends from the ceiling. Shards of glass hover in the air, still slowly spinning from the momentum.
Elysia's eyes shimmered with an otherworldly glow. She had awoken.
Awakenings almost only happened during the First Challenge, to awaken in the real world could only occur under very specific circumstances.
Screams echoed from all around her, guests scrambling to escape the intruder. Blood splattered as the attendants were instantly decapitated.
The man raised a hand, causing several severed limbs to float up into the air. Then, he snapped. The limbs chased and impaled several more guests as he chuckled.
In a second, numerous bodies sprawled out across the floor, all slain with ease. He twirled around a twisted blade.
Dark green hair danced in the wind.
"Brother…"
The girl froze in fear, staring into pupils that resembled miniature voids.
Briar approached her with a cruel smile.
Exiled many years ago for treason against the Antemoi clan, he was marked as missing. Until today. His pupils narrowed as he lasered in on Elysia.
"You have no idea how long I've waited for this, dear sister.."
Suddenly, a wave of golden energy rushed over, knocking her brother away Smashing into a table, the plates were sent flying through the air.
Briar smirked as the silverware froze in the air, transforming into sharp bullets as they barraged towards Elysia.
"My lady, run!"
'Maria?'
Her maid stood in front of her, hands cloaked in fire. Golden flames clashed with the projectiles as they were burnt to a crisp.
"Quick! Get the token under your bed. I'll buy you some time."
"What are you saying, I can't jus-
Elysia stared in horror as a dagger pierced Maria's chest. Blood spurted from her friend's mouth as Briar chuckled.
"Worthless mutt, you should've run while you still had the chance."
With a flick of his wrist, he slammed her onto the floor, impaling her with a broken piece of glass.
He turned to Elysia, ready to deliver the finishing blow.
A hand grabbed Briar's head, holding him back. The bloodied woman held the villain back with both hands. Her eyes blazed with intense willpower. Enveloping the two of them with golden energy, she looked at the princess for the last time. Tears dripped from her eyes as her head flew through the air, sliced cleanly in half.
"What a psycho.."
He scoffed, kicking away the headless corpse. Her frail hands clung to him stubbornly, only being pried off after he had severed a few fingers.
His eyes suddenly widened, and he turned towards his sister, or at least where she should've been. Not a single trace of Elysia remained.
'Teleportation magic!'
'The maid must've cast a teleportation spell the moment she grabbed my head.'
Gritting his teeth, he cast a trace spell. An ominous energy washed over the surroundings.
Slowly, a trail of red appeared, leading upstairs. Elysia was still nearby.
Leaping up and smashing the ceiling apart, he saw his sister disappear before his very eyes. Blood dripping from her hands, she stared at her brother.
With a tear-stained face, the birthday girl dived into the Otherworld.