Everyone in the hall looked at this scene in abject stupefaction. They hadn't expected Caelum to be so blunt about Astarion. He wasn't giving him any face at all.
Lyra also looked on with her mouth wide open, though not for long. She quickly closed it, and her lips curved into a charming smile.
She thought this was her big brother's way of avenging her. Naïve girl… little did she know that this was merely the beginning of Astarion's downfall. And he would fall quite far.
Astarion himself was on the verge of exploding. He didn't realize it, but his fists were clenched, his breathing was heavier, and his face was painted in an uncharacteristic red tint.
If looks could kill, Astarion's chilling gaze would have ended Caelum a hundred times over. He hadn't expected Caelum to be so venomous with his words.
'Prideful young men like this are so easy to rile up,' Caelum thought to himself.
But it wasn't Astarion or one of his cronies who spoke next. Instead, it was a young man who had been sitting at Astarion's table until now. His name was Chinov, and he hailed from the powerful Baramdor family, known for their expertise in Beast Taming.
"Young Master Caelum, don't you think your words are a bit too much? For cultivators like us, disputes are common. But we should resolve them with our Dao instead of hurling insults at each other."
His tone was respectful, most likely in consideration of Caelum's high status, but his words carried a clear challenge.
Caelum acted as if he was oblivious to it, however.
"I don't recall hurling insults at anyone though. Unless you would consider the truth to be an insult, that is. Brother Astarion's noisy demeanor in a refined place like this has disturbed the dining experience of many customers, after all."
Chinov didn't know how to respond to that. Caelum wasn't entirely wrong in saying Astarion had been a bit of a nuisance to the other diners. As for Caelum's remark about Astarion's appearance, Chinov wisely decided not to address it.
Caelum wasn't done speaking. He addressed Astarion's companions directly, flashing them a refreshing smile.
"You all don't need to worry. I've only asked the staff to evict Astarion. The rest of you can continue dining in peace, or you can even join me at my table if you want. My extended coma might've prevented us from becoming acquaintances earlier… but better late than never, right?"
Astarion had been trying to deepen his relationships with youngsters from other powerful families in the same generation as him. Having these connections would be useful since they would all go to the Royal Academy at approximately the same time.
Seeing Caelum try to poach these people right in front of him made him even more furious, especially because many of them had conflicted expressions on their faces. Were they seriously considering Caelum's proposal?!
From the group of youngsters, a girl stepped forward. Everything about her, except her fair skin, was black. Fancy black clothes, jet black hair parted to one side, and beautiful black eyes. This girl was Rovena Mareclaw.
"I'll take you up on your offer," she boldly said and made herself comfortable on one of the empty chairs at Caelum's table.
This action earned her a quick glare from Lyra.
"You must be Miss Rovena. It's nice to meet you. I've heard many good things about you," Caelum flattered.
He had never really heard anything about Rovena outside of what was written in the "Prominent Figures Encyclopedia," but that didn't really matter. The important thing was that Rovena clearly liked the flattery and sent a charming smile his way.
Astarion looked like he had just swallowed a bug after seeing this scene. Rovena was one of his more important targets that day, since his interest in her was more… personal.
Caelum realized Astarion was still standing there like an angry statue and said, "What are you waiting for? Please make yourself scarce," as if he was trying to shoo a dog away.
"You're really despicable! See if I make the mistake of dining in any restaurant owned by the Goldheart family ever again." Although he tried to appear calm, Astarion's trembling voice gave away his inner fury.
"By the way," Astarion continued, "What Brother Chinov said earlier is not wrong. Real cultivators settle things with their Dao. Moreover, I heard you really like making stupid bets. I wonder if you have the guts to make one with me?"
'Aaah, here it comes.' Caelum inwardly smiled.
To Caelum, this moment was an inevitability. It was like a canon event. This bet would've happened one way or the other.
If Astarion was not going to be at the Silverleaf restaurant, Caelum wouldn't have come here either.
If Astarion did not take the initiative to find trouble with him, he would've found trouble with Astarion himself.
If Astarion did not challenge him to a bet, he would've challenged Astarion himself.
One way or the other, things would've come to this point, and they finally did.
Caelum looked at Astarion with fake curiosity and asked him, "You're absolutely correct. I have a gambling addiction and love making stupid bets. What do you propose?"
Astarion sneered.
"Ideally, I would want to smash your face with my fist myself, but I don't think even you would be stupid enough to actually fight me right now."
He then placed a hand on the shoulder of one of his cronies.
"This guy is called Yehuda. He only started cultivating approximately two weeks ago. He doesn't really have the cultivation resources that you, as a young master of the Goldheart family, would have received. Do you dare to spar against him in the City Colosseum? Of course, we won't waste Young Master Caelum's time with a pointless spar. There will be money involved."
Astarion snickered, confident that Caelum couldn't refuse. If Caelum backed out now, his reputation would be dragged through the mud.
Astarion thought he had everything planned. Pre-Cultivation school wasn't just about academics; it also taught children how to handle weapons properly.
Caelum, who had been in a coma for years, would lack both the time to cultivate and the necessary combat experience. To Astarion, the bet seemed like an easy win despite appearing relatively fair on the surface.
Lyra frowned. She naturally understood the situation and felt that Caelum was at a massive disadvantage. She opened her mouth to intervene, to stop her brother from doing something reckless. But she was too late.
"That's it?… That is very disappointing. Does the prospect of losing to someone who has only been cultivating for a few days scare you THAT much, Brother Astarion?" Caelum's voice cut through the tension like a knife.
Astarion's mind short-circuited. Caelum's calm and polite use of 'Brother' threw him off, especially when paired with his subtly mocking tone.
'Is he seriously implying he'd fight me??' Astarion thought to himself.
"Big Brother—"
"Caelum—"
Lyra and Rovena both tried to interrupt, but Caelum didn't give them the chance.
He turned to them, his gentle smile gone. His face was still calm but carried a strange sense of authority.
"Don't interrupt," he commanded flatly.
The words carried an unusual weight, making both girls stop in their tracks. They felt an inexplicable compulsion to obey, their protests dying in their throats.
Meanwhile, Astarion finally regained his composure, his mind catching up to Caelum's words.
"You're saying you think you can actually defeat me?" he asked, laughing hysterically.
Caelum's expression shifted back to his usual gentle demeanor.
"Let's not waste more of my lunch time. There is an office in the City Colosseum that oversees bets, isn't there?"
Astarion's frown deepened. Caelum wasn't joking. He was serious.
"You," Caelum said, pointing directly at Astarion. Then, moving his finger in a slow, deliberate circle, he added, "And all your friends as well. Today, I'm in a good mood, so if anyone among you wants to win some easy spirit stones by challenging me, well, you're in luck."
Under the stunned gazes of everyone in the restaurant, Caelum continued.
"There are no strings attached, no tricks involved. But do remember, these won't be fair bets. You will be putting much more on the line than I will. I'm only a newbie cultivator, after all," he said with an innocent smile, as though he was doing them all a generous favor.