In a beautiful grassland park, surrounded by towering trees glowing in shades of red, yellow, and green, each arranged neatly in rows, a grand wedding stage had been set up. The stage, crafted from stone whiter than milk, stood out in the center, with a luxurious red carpet laid across it. Golden pillars surrounded the stage, adorned with vibrant red and gold flowers placed meticulously by the workers.
Liam stood to the side, watching the preparations unfold, while Abelarda observed from within the line of sight.
Liam, with a puzzled look on his face, asked, "Mother-in-law, why are we doing all of this?"
Abelarda replied without missing a beat, "Well, of course! Your daughter is only going to marry once in her lifetime, isn't she?"
"But mother," Liam continued, "we didn't do anything like this when we married off our other sons and daughters."
"That's because they all got married through competitions," Abelarda explained, her tone firm. "There wasn't any need for these kinds of grand preparations. But your youngest daughter is going through the selection process you conducted, so it has to be done this way. If I had known you were going to marry them off in your hall first, I would have canceled it. You should have done things more carefully from the start. I only realized the full extent of your stupidity at the last moment."
Before the stage had been set up, Abelarda had heard about Liam's plan. She had originally assumed the hall was being decorated to invite guests, but when she found out it was for the actual wedding, she became furious. Without hesitation, she pulled Liam aside, demanded an explanation, and upon hearing it, she was livid. She dragged Liam out and immediately ordered the workers to prepare the new platform in a single day.
The stage had been completed in just one day, and while it looked grand, in Abelarda's eyes, it was mediocre at best—far too bland for the standards she had in mind. She had many more plans for the event, but due to time constraints, she found herself in a bind.
Meanwhile, in the training room, Ajax was clashing fiercely with Jared. Their fists collided, sending shockwaves through the air. The sheer force of their impact blasted out a gust of wind, each blow carrying the weight of their power.
In the next second, a fist came flying toward Ajax. Instantly, a blood-colored barrier formed in front of him, conjured by the blood that had pooled on the training ground. As Jared's fist connected with the barrier, a ripple appeared, absorbing some of the impact. But soon, cracks began to form, and within moments, the blood barrier shattered into pieces.
Ajax smiled, unfazed by the destruction, and asked, "How many hours do we have left before we're out of here?"
Jared replied, "Only two hours left before this session ends."
Hearing Jared's words, Ajax felt a pang of disappointment. He had been making steady progress, and he wasn't sure if Jared would ever use this kind of training hall again. If he did, it could be a long time before Ajax got another chance.
"Master Jared, do you think you can train me in this hall again in the future?" Ajax asked, hopeful.
Jared nodded. "Yeah, I have plans for that. But who knows what your future holds?"
Ajax sighed at the half-serious, half-absurd response. He knew he couldn't push Jared on the matter and would have to accept whatever came his way.
Nervously, Ajax asked, "Master, do you happen to have another training hall like this? If you do, could I… borrow it next time?"
Jared burst into laughter at Ajax's nervousness. "Ha! Kid, I don't have another one right now. But if you want something from me, just ask directly in the future. Don't say 'borrow.' You're my student, and you're going to be Willow's husband. So, ask me outright, okay?"
Ajax nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. "Okay, Master," he replied, like a dutiful student.
The two of them continued sparring, exchanging blows while talking, and before they knew it, the two hours had passed in an instant. As the session came to an end, the training area began to sink, transforming back into the old red room where it had all started. But this time, the room seemed even redder than before.
Jared clapped Ajax on the shoulder and said, "Alright, Ajax, I'll take you back to your room. Once you're there, you'll know what you need to do next."
As Jared spoke, he and Ajax stepped out of the training room and were immediately greeted by a beautifully decorated hallway. The pillars, walls, and even the ceilings were adorned with intricate designs, all in a luxurious blend of white and gold. The sheer elegance of the place was a constant reminder of its wealth and grandeur. Maids, impeccably dressed, lined the hall as the two walked by.
Ajax followed Jared, approaching the room he shared with his wife. Since he didn't have his own quarters, he had been staying in her room. As they neared, the number of servants and maids increased, all standing neatly in rows, awaiting his arrival.
Just before Ajax could enter the room, he was stopped by Lobo, his personal servant. Lobo stepped forward, bowing slightly, and said, "Sir Ajax, please come with me."
Without waiting for a response, Lobo immediately took Ajax's hand and led him away, leaving Ajax with little choice but to follow.