The grand hall of the Aegis estate echoed with the clashing of steel, the rhythmic dance of blades cutting through the air. Aegis Díkē, the youngest son of the prestigious Aegis family, stood in the center of the hall, his breath ragged, his sword trembling in his hand. Across from him, his older sister, Aegis Lyra, stood poised and unyielding, her blade steady and her expression cold. The duel had been swift, brutal, and utterly one-sided.
With a final, decisive strike, Lyra disarmed Díkē, sending his sword clattering across the marble floor. The sound reverberated through the hall, a harsh reminder of his defeat. Díkē fell to his knees, his chest heaving, his pride shattered.
"Pathetic," Lyra sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "Is this the best the son of the Duke can do? The Aegis name is the sword and shield of the empire, yet you wield it like a child playing with a stick."
The onlookers—nobles, servants, and family members—burst into laughter. Their mocking voices filled the hall, each word a dagger to Díkē's already wounded pride. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, but he said nothing. There was nothing to say. He had lost, and in the eyes of his family, he was nothing more than a disgrace.
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The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a pale glow over the dense forest that bordered the Aegis estate. Díkē ran, his feet pounding against the earth, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He didn't know where he was going, only that he needed to escape—escape the laughter, the mocking, the weight of the Aegis name that he could never live up to.
Finally, he stopped, collapsing against a tree, his body trembling with exhaustion and rage. He slammed his fist against the bark, the pain a welcome distraction from the humiliation burning in his chest. "Why?" he whispered, his voice hoarse. "Why am I so weak?"
But there was no answer, only the rustling of leaves and the distant howl of the wind. Díkē pushed himself to his feet, his eyes narrowing with determination. If he was weak, then he would become strong. If he was a disgrace, then he would prove them wrong.
For hours, he trained, his sword cutting through the air with increasing precision. He practiced until his arms ached and his legs threatened to give out, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. The fire within him burned too brightly, too fiercely.
As the night wore on, Díkē ventured deeper into the forest, his senses heightened, his mind focused. It was then that he stumbled upon the goblin nest. The creatures were small, vile, and numerous, their beady eyes glinting in the darkness. They hissed and snarled, their crude weapons raised as they surrounded him.
But Díkē didn't hesitate. With a roar of fury, he charged, his blade cutting through the goblins with brutal efficiency. He didn't just fight them—he slaughtered them, his rage fueling every strike. The goblins fell one by one, their cries of pain music to his ears. When it was over, Díkē stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving, his sword dripping with blood.
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Exhausted but exhilarated, Díkē continued his exploration of the forest, his mind still racing with the adrenaline of battle. It was then that he saw it—a faint glimmer of light amidst the shadows. Curious, he approached, his eyes widening as he realized what it was.
A ruby, larger than his fist, encased in what appeared to be gold. The object was unlike anything he had ever seen, its surface etched with intricate patterns that seemed to pulse with a faint, otherworldly light. Díkē reached out, his fingers brushing against the cool metal.
The moment he touched it, a blinding flash of light erupted, engulfing him in its brilliance. Díkē cried out, his body convulsing as a surge of energy coursed through him. The ruby seemed to melt into his skin, embedding itself into the palm of his left hand. When the light faded, Díkē stared at his hand in shock, the ruby now a permanent part of him, its glow faint but unmistakable.
"What... what is this?" he whispered, his voice trembling. He could feel the power emanating from the ruby, a strange, foreign energy that seemed to resonate with his very soul.
For the first time in his life, Díkē felt a spark of hope. This was no ordinary object—it was something more, something powerful. And perhaps, just perhaps, it was the key to unlocking the strength he so desperately sought.
As the first rays of dawn broke through the trees, Díkē stood tall, his eyes gleaming with determination. The Aegis name had always been a burden, a weight he could never escape. But now, with this newfound power, he would forge his own path. He would prove to his family, to the empire, and to himself that he was worthy of the name Aegis.
And he would start by mastering the power of the ruby.
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**End of Chapter 1**