The Calm Before the Hunt.
The warm golden light of morning sun poured into the rich garden of Orion's estate. Dew still adhered to the petals of precious spirit herbs that bloomed under the watchful care of the estate gardeners. Birds chirped in sync as Orion, clad in a plain dark blue training robe, flowed smoothly through a series of punches and kicks—each move sharp, clean, and precise.
For a change, Orion had skipped the family training hall. On this day, he preferred to be in the garden where the tranquility would provide him the appropriate space to think, concentrate, and set himself up for what lay ahead. Trickle of sweat along his brow, but his breathing was measured. He attacked with elegance and power, the air momentarily warping around his fists with each blow—a testament to his increasing strength.
Following a hot session, Orion wiped his sweat with a towel and went back inside. He took a hasty bath and put on clean robes before he went to the dining hall, where a light scent of jasmine tea filled the air. Breakfast had already been laid out, and both Lady Celia and Lady Sera were already seated.
Elara sat next to Lady Sera, quietly eating a pastry. Orion sat next to his mother, Lady Celia, and smiled gently at all present.
When the meal was done, the atmosphere became less formal, with tea being poured and warm sunlight streaming in.
Lady Sera put down her cup and addressed Orion. "Son, do you intend to join this year's annual Hunting Competition?"
Orion bowed respectfully, "Yes, Mother Sera. I've already made arrangements."
Lady Sera then addressed her daughter. "Elara, dear, what about you?"
Elara raised her head with a soft but firm voice, "Yes, Mother. I'll join as well."
Lady Celia nodded in appreciation. "Good. It will be a wonderful experience for you two. Hunting competitions are risky but they're also the ideal chance to cross-test your cultivation, your strengths and weaknesses."
Both Orion and Elara nodded in earnest.
Just as the warm mood was interrupted, a knock came at the door. A servant entered, bowing low.
"Greetings, Lady Sera, Lady Celia, Young Master Orion, and Young Miss Elara."
"Yes?" Lady Sera inquired.
"The Lord has sent word. He says the annual Hunting Competition will be tomorrow morning. The young master and young miss should prepare themselves accordingly."
Everyone's eyes became serious for a moment.
"Understood," Lady Sera said. "You may leave."
The servant bowed again and left.
Lady Sera faced the children, "See, it's tomorrow. Prepare well. Don't take the opposition lightly."
Lady Celia also presented a small pouch to each of them—high-grade healing pills and a couple of protective talismans. "Carry these along with you. Just in case."
The remainder of the morning was filled with idle conversation, but tension hung in the air. On the surface, all was well. But the real storm was brewing elsewhere…
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Meanwhile, in another wing of the estate, in Lord Theo's study, a different atmosphere prevailed. The air was thick with the scent of old ink, and a fire burned softly in the hearth.
Lord Theo sat at a massive oak desk, poring over a pile of scrolls and ledgers. Beside him stood Walton, his faithful grey-haired butler, holding a second batch of reports. The two men had served together for decades and enjoyed the ease of silence while they discussed family and city affairs.
But the silence was shattered with a knock on the door.
"Father, may I enter?" came a familiar voice from beyond.
Lord Theo stopped, his eyes narrowing a fraction. "Enter," he growled, his deep voice heavy and measured.
The door groaned, and Edric stepped in, wearing a black robe that was finely embroidered with silver. His sharp black hair and eyes that seemed almost identical to Theo's radiated an air of confidence… but there was always something calculating behind his smile.
"Welcome, Father," Edric bowed respectfully.
Theo merely nodded; expression impenetrable. His eyes calmly observed the boy in front of him, anticipating the purpose of his call.
Edric stood tall, his smile widening to a polite grin. "I have a request."
Theo's eyes intensified, "Say it."
"I, my brother Adrin, and some schoolmates want to join tomorrow's Hunting Competition," Edric started.
Walton stepped in at once, "Young Master Edric, the competition rules are simple. Only novice-level cultivators can enter. You and your friends have already crossed over into the Apprentice level."
Edric's grin skipped a beat before returning to normal. "Of course, Butler Walton. That's why I came in to ask Father to grant us permission to wear cultivation-suppressing bracelets. We will briefly suppress our cultivation levels to meet the admission standards."
Theo remained silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on Edric's face like a hunter stalking prey. The tension in the room intensified. But then Edric went on with an air of innocence, "Also… Miss Voss was interested in joining. If you permit me, she would join as well."
That gave Lord Theo a pause.
After some time, he nodded. "Very well. You have my permission. I will issue the suppression bracelets."
Edric bowed low, "Thank you, Father."
"You are dismissed," Theo continued, his voice as cold as ever.
Outside the study, Edric shut the heavy wood door behind him. A soft smile creased at the corners of his lips — not the kind that one would exchange in delight, but the soft satisfaction of one whose scheme had rooted itself.
He moved down the passageway at measured pace, muttering softly to himself, "Heh. Hunting excursions frequently contain… mishaps. Maybe tomorrow, dear brother Orion, you'll get one too."
He spoke lightly, nearly in fun, but the look in his eyes — frigid and unforgiving — was a different matter altogether. And with that, he passed the corner of the way out of sight.
Within the study, Butler Walton stood stock, beside Lord Theo, as once again silence crept in.
The quill scratch resounded for an instant longer before Walton at last shattered the silence.
"My lord… may I inquire—why did you allow it?"
Lord Theo did not reply at once. He remained gazing at the final page he had been reading, though his eyes had obviously wandered off elsewhere.
When he finally glanced up, his eyes were as keen and commanding as ever. "You doubt my judgment, Walton?"
The question was serious, but Walton did not bat an eye—not even a tiny one. He had stood alongside Theo for decades of war and politics and scheming. A servant, really, though far more than that. An old friend, a trusted confidant.
"I do not doubt your rightness, my Lord," Walton responded, "but."
For an instant, Theo did not reply. Then, taking a soft breath, he leaned back in his chair — the leather softly creaking under his weight — and said,
"You and I both know Edric well."
He struck the end of the quill against the parchment, his voice level but contemplative.
"He's cautious. Calculated. He doesn't act without purpose."
Walton nodded slowly. "That is certain. Even as a boy, he never did much without a reason."
Theo's eyes wandered over toward the high window, where morning sunlight stained gold stripes across the floor.
"I might not know what he's going to do," Theo went on, voice low, "but I do know he is. Still… I had no basis to refuse him on request. And if I'd tried, he'd have found some other way in."
Walton's mouth tightened a fraction, but he did not protest. He recognized the validity of it. Refusing Edric outright would have probably only led him to be more irresponsible — and less overt in whatever he scheming.
"The tournament… it's just for beginners," Walton stated, "but Edric requested suppression bracelets. That alone indicates he's persistent."
Theo's hands tightened a fraction against the armrest.
"It also indicates he's sure of himself. Perhaps too sure," he grumbled. Then after a moment, "And he's not alone. Arin does what he does — always has."
Walton nodded in agreement silently. Arin, while less outspoken, had his brother's temperament — compliant on the surface, but always observing, learning, waiting.
However, Walton hesitated before continuing, "Young Master Orion and Young Miss Elara is also coming. And… Miss Voss." Walton added reluctantly. "If something unknown happens to her… then city will face dire repercussions by hand of Voss Imperial Academy."
That made Theo's eyes widen in surprise. There was a heavy silence between them.
She wasn't just an ordinary contestant. Her family, her abilities, her status—all of them begged for attention.
"I know," he replied after a moment. "Which is why I will oversee tomorrow's tournament myself."
Walton's eyes grew wide — by a hair's breadth. "You will, my lord?"
Theo nodded once.
"Yes," said Theo firmly. "If my son plans to play a joke around. then I'll be the one keeping an eye on the board."
Walton nodded, comprehending the full import of what had been said. "Very well, my Lord. I will make the preparations."
With nothing further to discuss, again, the two went back to their documents—but the atmosphere had changed. A tense quiet hung beneath the surface.
The competition tomorrow would not be an easy test of ability.
It would be a battlefield where guile and muscle would meet.
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On the opposite side of the estate, as the whole of valeric City hummed with excitement for the great hunting tournament to come tomorrow, the guesthouse of House Vale remained strangely silent. The training grounds rang out with roars, clashing swords, and bursts of mana from aspiring young warriors—but here, amidst the silence of the guesthouse, something more sinister seethed.
Within one of the higher rooms, Edric was alone on his balcony, the moonlight brushing his hard planes as he gazed into the star-strewn sky. His eyes, dark and un-readable, gleamed with a quiet glint—cold and calculating.
There was a gentle knock at his door.
He didn't glance around.
"Enter."
The door creaked open, and a young man entered. Broad-shouldered, impeccably postured, and clad in a student's well-tailored uniform, he moved with discipline, but his eyes revealed eagerness. He bowed with practiced ease.
"Lord Edric," he said respectfully. "You called me."
Edric rotated slowly, the moonlight shining in his white eyes. "Ah, Sam. My top lackey," he murmured with a soft laugh. "My most devoted little shadow at the academy. Come."
Sam stepped forward, standing just beyond the balcony door, a small nervousness closing his jaw. He didn't look at Edric.
Edric moved closer, voice light. "Tell me, Sam… do you still think of Rina?"
Sam went rigid. His tone was husky. "Yes, my lord. Each day."
Rina—Lysandra's personal guard. She had not come on this journey, but Sam's heart never lingered behind. A lovely woman, strong in obligation, kind in hidden moments. Sam had once revealed to her his love—and she flatly rejected him.
Edric's eyes sparkled as he moved in closer. "You want to court her? To make her. your own?"
Sam's breathing halted. "Yes."
Edric smiled broader, predator eyes. "Then I can assist you. My word on it. I will go to Lysandra. I will insure Rina views you not as a normal student, but as a suitor worth her attentions. She will be yours."
Sam blinked, breathing faster. "You would do that for me?"
"I would," said Edric calmly. "But. all things cost."
He reached into his robe and produced a folded piece of paper. "Go to this address. A tavern in the lower district. There, you'll find a man named John. Show him this note, and the coin I've hidden inside it. He's an assassin."
Sam paused. His mouth fell open. "An… assassin?"
Edric's voice did not shake. "I want you to employ him to disable Orion during the tournament. Shatter his meridians. Ensure he never walks as a cultivator again."
Sam's hands trembled as he accepted the note. A chill ran down his spine. "But… Lord Edric, if something happens—"
"Nothing will happen," Edric cut in, eyes glinting. "Unless you lose your nerve."
Silence.
Sam gulped hard, his eyes fixed on the letter in his hand. His thoughts were a maelstrom—Rina's smile. Edric's tone. the suffocating guilt threatening to overwhelm him. But then Edric said it again, a little softer, as if a whisper across the skin.
"Do you want Rina or not?"
Sam panicked. "I-I do. I'll do it.
"Good boy." Edric faced the stars again as Sam took flight into the darkness, cloak billowing like the wings of an alarmed bird.
With his brother alone once more, Edric let out a breath, a grin playing on his lips.
"Let's see how peaceful you are, dear brother," he whispered. "Let's see how rosy your future is. once it's broken."