"I will become blind?"
The Reaper gave a solemn nod. "Temporarily, yes. But it is likely that after this, you will lose access to some of your ocular abilities, and there is even a decent chance that you may lose them all forever."
Rael's breath hitched in his chest. "So… it's the only option to win?"
The Reaper's gaze was unyielding. "You can die trying, but you will never defeat that zodiac beast, Astralith. It is unlike any other Arcana spirit. It was born from the very energy of the cosmos, the child of Space itself. Luckily for you, Raphael hadn't unlocked the true extent of its powers either."
Rael clenched his fists, his determination unbroken. The Reaper continued. "I would advise against taking this path. Winning this one battle isn't worth the things you are going to lose. Instead, you can keep this incident in your heart and use it as fuel to grow stronger. Surpass your brother by working harder. Delivering your punishment when the time is ripe."
Rael's gaze hardened. He shook his head firmly. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that. Eon always tried to improve relations with Raphael. She never disliked our eldest brother, not like I did. She tried and tried to gain his acknowledgment and love, even after facing rejection so many times. But he treated her like... like… No." Rael's voice trembled with emotion, but he gritted his teeth. "I'm prepared to lose my sight if that's what it takes to destroy his arrogance. One year of setback is worth this win."
The Reaper stared at him in silence, as though weighing his soul, before planting his death scythe into the ground with a resounding thud. "Alright. Go back and continue your meditation."
Rael nodded, his resolve firm. As he began to leave, the Reaper's voice echoed in his mind, soft yet full of weight. "He speaks as if seeking vengeance, filled with anger and killing intent. Yet, there is no trace of hatred in his heart, only pure, unrelenting rage. Such a person... He is suited for the throne in the dead realm. I only hope that this time, he can truly achieve his destiny."
With those final words, Rael returned to his meditation, feeling the weight of his decision settle within him. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but he knew one thing—he would fight for his sister, for his family, and for the justice he believed was long overdue.
Royal City, Camelot;
As the sun sank below the horizon, casting an amber glow over the arena, the stands were once again filled with excited spectators. The air was buzzing with anticipation as nobles, Exalt Arcana Masters, and even the King himself gathered for the most anticipated match of the year. The arena was filled with light, courtesy of the grand illumination spell, but the tension was obvious, hanging thick in the air.
For the past hour, cultural events—dancing, singing, and performances—had filled the space, designed to entertain the VIPs. But now, the stage was cleared, and the true spectacle was about to begin.
The crowd's murmur quieted as a new figure appeared at the center of the battle platform, drawing the attention of every single spectator in the stands. It was none other than Aurelius Garcia, the Duke of Freyles.
Aurelius stood tall, his posture commanding as he surveyed the arena. With a respectful bow in the direction of the VIP section, he spoke with unwavering confidence. "Aurelius Faelyn Garcia greets His Majesty."
A figure in the VIP section, a regal presence with the unmistakable aura of royalty, nodded in acknowledgment. It was the King.
Aurelius then shifted his gaze, turning to face the rest of the audience. His voice rang out, carrying across the vast arena. "Many of you may be wondering what a Duke of Freyles is doing here, standing as a Proctor of this rookie tournament. No one ordered or requested me to do it. I volunteered, for my two prodigial sons, who are here to fight against each other for the title of rookie champion this year. The only way I cannot cheer for anyone is to take on this role myself."
Aurelius' eyes briefly flicked toward the VIP section again, meeting the King's gaze. He gave another bow, his words laced with respect and humility. "I request His Majesty's forgiveness for this selfish act of mine, for trying to influence the organizing committee and force the replacement of the original Proctor."
The atmosphere in the arena shifted. While Aurelius' words were carefully measured, the crowd—ranging from the common folk to the high-born nobility—understood exactly why he was here. It was all a pretense. They all knew the real reason.
Raphael's ruthless brutality toward his younger sister, Eon, had been witnessed firsthand by many. The incident had shocked the public, stirring whispers of discord within the Garcia family. Those who were once the supporters of Raphel were no longer sure whether he was worth their loyalty.
Had it been Rael, it would have been different. But Eon is a girl, the little fairy princess of the Garcia House. They might dislike her, but that was because she always stood with Rael. Many adore her in secret, and the incident shook their hearts indeed.
As for the public, they were under the assumption that Raphael and Azrael, who were nearly identical in appearance, loathed each other since they were three or four. And Eon was closest to Azrael. Her current state only added fuel to the fire in their relationship even more.
In everyone's eyes, Aurelius' presence as Proctor wasn't just a formality. It was his attempt to prevent any further bloodshed, any possibility of his sons clashing with lethal intent on the battlefield. After all, this was no ordinary tournament. This was a contest between brothers, and Aurelius knew it could go terribly wrong. Little did they know about the oath taken by Aurelius.
Back to the present, the King nodded graciously, his smile calm and regal as he responded, "No problem. You may continue, Duke Aurelius."
Aurelius dipped his head in gratitude and addressed the audience once more. "Thank you, Your Majesty." Then, turning his attention to the gathered crowd, he announced, "Tonight, there were supposed to be two matches: one for the third spot and the other to crown the champion. However, due to Eon Garcia's current condition, Arjuna is hereby declared the third-place winner."
The crowd murmured softly, the announcement spreading through the stands, but Aurelius continued without delay. "Without further ado, let us proceed to the final match of the tournament. Please welcome Raphael Orkney Garcia and Azrael Orkney Garcia!"
The gates on opposite sides of the arena creaked open, revealing the two brothers. Identical in appearance but contrasting in demeanor, they walked forward with the weight of the event evident in their steps. Raphael moved slightly faster, his stride brimming with confidence and intensity, while Rael maintained a steady, measured pace. His calm, composed expression betrayed no nervousness, only resolute confidence.
The tension in the arena rose as the two brothers reached the battlefield, positioning themselves at a respectful distance from one another. Their eyes locked, the storm of emotions between them hidden beneath their identical gazes. The air felt charged, and the audience became silent in anticipation.