The atmosphere in the grand hall was a mix of curiosity, disdain, and surprise as the younger generation of the Silvermoon clan took in the sight of Ethan, the unexpected guest among them. The room buzzed with hushed whispers and exchanged glances, as their reactions ranged from curiosity to outright disdain.
"Hey, who is this commoner guy? What is he doing here?" a young man asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"I don't know. He just appeared out of nowhere," another replied, their tone equally intrigued.
"Wow! He's quite handsome though," a few girls murmured, their eyes wide with fascination.
"Handsome? So what?" a scornful hunter interjected. "He's just a lowly commoner." His words were laced with jealousy and contempt.
As the conversations continued, the young clan members watched with growing interest as Ethan approached Aria. "See, that idiot is directly going to hit on the clan leader's daughter. He's dead for sure," one of them muttered, expecting the worst.
To their astonishment, Aria smiled warmly at Ethan, a stark contrast to their expectations. The sight of her smiling happily while interacting closely with Ethan left the onlookers speechless.
"Drake, your sister is talking to that guy so closely. Do you know what their relationship is?" a tall boy asked, addressing Drake, who was visibly agitated by the scene.
Drake, who was Aria's direct cousin and the only son of Astrid Silvermoon, glared at the tall boy. "How would I know? And don't talk about relationships between them. It will never happen. I won't let it, nor will our uncles or grandparents. A puny commoner like him is just courting death," Drake said disdainfully.
At nearly sixteen, Drake's deep-seated disdain for commoners was a result of societal influence and his own pampering by his parents. His arrogance was palpable, reflecting the high expectations placed on him as the heir apparent of the Silvermoon clan.
"Silence!" an elder with a goatee stepped forward, commanding attention. His voice carried authority as he addressed the gathered youths.
"Children, you are here today because General Leon, the Ice Guardian, will be assessing your talents and potential. This is a rare opportunity to earn something extraordinary. You should feel honored and grateful to General Leon for this chance."
The elder's words were met with a wave of excitement and disbelief among the younger generation. The prospect of receiving a reward from the legendary general himself was thrilling. The air was charged with anticipation as they imagined the possibilities.
"Wow, Drake, we're going to have the chance to receive a personal reward from General Leon. But, sigh! I don't think I have the talent to receive it," one of the boys said, looking at Drake with a mix of hope and doubt.
"At least you have the chance, Drake. You're the most talented among us after all. If you can't get it, nobody can," the tall boy said confidently, trying to bolster Drake's spirits.
"Of course!" Drake's pride swelled at the thought of impressing his idol, General Leon. The idea of receiving a personal gift from such a revered figure excited him, and he focused intently on the upcoming event, eager not to miss a single detail.
Ethan, meanwhile, found himself intrigued by the unfolding scene. He was witnessing a legendary talent-gauging event—a plot device common in fantasy novels. His curiosity about how this would unfold kept him engaged.
The goatee elder turned his attention to the younger generation. "Now, all of you, line up. We will call you one by one, and General Leon will judge your true potential."
Noticing that Ethan had not joined the line, the elder frowned in irritation. "Hey, boy, get in line quickly," he ordered, his patience wearing thin. The elder had been informed that Ethan would also participate in the event, so he had no choice but to insist.
However, Ethan remained unmoved, standing in place with a look of indifference. His refusal to join the line was met with growing annoyance from the elder, who was about to reprimand him further.
Before he could continue, a soft voice interrupted the commotion. "Let him be," General Leon said with a calm smile. "You may proceed with the others."
The general's unexpected intervention left the room in stunned silence. The elders exchanged puzzled glances, their minds racing with questions. "Why is General Leon giving such preferential treatment to that commoner?" they wondered. "Is he perhaps one of the general's illegitimate children?"
Drake's irritation grew. "Why does that commoner get to enjoy special treatment? Why not me?" he thought, feeling a mix of indignation and confusion.
Ethan, surprised by General Leon's unexpected interest, glanced at the general with curiosity. "Uh, spotlight again.
What could this low-key character want from me exactly?" he pondered, baffled by the situation.
As the younger generation resumed their anticipation for the talent assessment, Ethan's presence remained a topic of intrigue and speculation. The general's motives and Ethan's role in the unfolding events were yet to be fully understood.
The goatee elder then began calling the younger generation one by one to stand before General Leon.
"Caelan, step forward!" the elder shouted, his eyes fixed on a boy standing nervously at the front of the line.
Caelan, a slender boy with a mop of dark hair, hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and stepping forward. He glanced around nervously, his eyes darting from the elder to General Leon, who sat in a grand chair with an air of authority.
General Leon's sharp eyes Caelan from head to tow and then shook his head in disappointment.
The elder understanding his meaning, shouted, "Step down!"
The boy left the place in disappointment
Next, the elder called out another name. "Lyria, step forward!"
A girl with fiery red hair and a determined expression stepped up. Unlike Caelan, Lyria exuded confidence.
General Leon shook his head once more, still not finding what he was looking for. The minutes ticked by in a series of disappointing rejections, creating a tense atmosphere in the grand hall. The situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable.
"Is there no one talented enough to seize this precious opportunity?" the elders sighed in disappointment, their hopes dwindling.
"Drake!" the elder called out, his voice echoing through the hall as he summoned one of the few remaining individuals in line.
Drake stepped forward confidently, an arrogant smirk on his face. His assured demeanor rekindled a glimmer of hope within the elders and his father.
General Leon's ocean-blue eyes scanned Drake's body with a hint of intrigue. He seemed somewhat satisfied, revealing a soft smile. "Come here, boy," General Leon instructed, motioning for Drake to step closer.
Seeing this, several elders' faces lit up with blossoming smiles.
Drake gazed at his idol with fascination. He aspired to become a powerful figure like General Leon, though their paths and thought processes were fundamentally different.
"You have the potential to reach the top, but you need to work hard," General Leon said, handing him a strange, circular emblem etched with the kingdom's crest. "Here, take this."
"Thank you, General!" Drake exclaimed, receiving the emblem with gratitude. Although he didn't fully understand its significance, he knew it must be valuable.
The elders' eyes glistened with excitement at the sight of the emblem being bestowed upon one of their own.
"Next!" General Leon called out.
After a while, it was Aria's turn. She also received an emblem alongside high praises. At 19, reaching Level 40 was a rare feat, and she was undoubtedly talented and full of potential.
Aria beamed with happiness as she accepted the gift, feeling honored to receive something personally from one of the three great protectors of their Kingdom. She thanked him genuinely and left the place with a radiant smile.
Finally, it was Ethan's turn. But to everyone's shock, General Leon personally called for him.
"Ethan, step forward," General Leon said, his voice carrying a tone of interest.
The hall fell into a stunned silence. All eyes were on Ethan as he approached General Leon, the atmosphere thick with anticipation and curiosity.