As the evening settled into a calm hum, the last of the relatives were shown to their rooms by the efficient hands of the estate's servants. In the grand hall, the main family, along with Morgana's sisters and their families, gathered for a warm conversation. The crackling fireplace cast long shadows, the light flickering across the richly adorned room as stories of old times and laughter filled the air.
Seated beside his grandparents, Alaric listened with quiet amusement to the chatter around him. His sharp ears picked up a steady stream of whispers and side comments, but one voice soon cut through the others—a voice laden with pride and an air of superiority.
"Tell me, boy," said one of Morgana's sisters' husbands, a tall and broad man with an imposing presence. "How strong are you? I've heard much, but words often lack weight."
