Segarus turned his gaze to the prince, his smirk widening into a condescending smile. "Ah, young Prince Milon," he drawled, "you're still just a child in the grand sche of things.
Continue your journey with empire
You don't yet understand how the emperor works. He wouldn't dare interfere in the affairs of our clans. These matters are beneath him."
Milon's confidence faltered, and his expression shifted as Segarus added, his tone dripping with venom, "In fact, I suspect there are those in the palace who would prefer to see you dead."
The prince stiffened, his face paling. "What do you an by that?" he demanded, his voice laced with a mix of anger and unease.
Segarus chuckled softly, relishing the prince's discomfort. "Let's just say," he began, "that your star has been rising too quickly, both politically and in terms of power. Such brilliance tends to cast long shadows, doesn't it? And shadows breed jealousy and ambition."
Milon clenched his fists, his mind racing with possibilities. And it seems like Seragus was ready to kill him too.
Jolthar stood frozen in his spot, watching everything unfold. He couldn't believe that the empire wouldn't involve itself in the matters of clans, even when the son of the emperor was here. Well, he was not the son of his wife but a concubine. Nevertheless, it was a serious offence to kill an imperial prince. But Seragaus outright said he didn't care.
He studied the mages; they are definitely stronger, and he could see the mana spread out in all directions of the hall. They wouldn't let anyone out from the Kaezhlar family.
Segarus turned away and directed his attention back to Caelum.
"Shall we begin, my old friend?" Segarus asked, his tone almost mocking as he spread his arms theatrically.
Caelum, ever composed, began removing his coat, folding it neatly, and placing it on a nearby chair. He turned to Elowen, his expression softening just slightly. "Take the children and protect them. Get them out of here," he ordered, his voice steady and commanding.
Elowen hesitated for a mont, her gaze lingering on her husband. She saw in him the resolve of a man who knew he might not survive the night. With a trembling nod, she gathered her children and began ushering them toward the hall's exit.
Caelum then turned to his mother, Johamma, who stood silently at the edge of the room, her aged face a mask of stoic determination. "I leave it to you, then," he said, bowing his head slightly in deference.
Johamma nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the room. Despite her advanced age, there was an unshakeable strength in her presence, a reminder of the bloodline that had built the Kaezhlar clan into a formidable power.
Jolthar watched the unfolding scene, a storm of emotions raging within him. He had long dread of seeing the Kaezhlar clan brought low, its mighty walls crumbling under his own hands.
Yet now, as the red-robed invaders wreaked havoc, he felt an unexpected surge of anger. This was his legacy to dismantle, not theirs.
He clenched his fists, his gaze shifting to Caelum, who remained calm and unyielding despite the chaos surrounding him. Even as knights lay dying or incapacitated on the estate grounds and the red-robed mages filled the hall with an oppressive presence, Caelum stood tall.
The invaders stopped Elowen and others from leaving; they had rounded up the main family mbers of the Kaezhlar clan, forcing them to stand together in the hall under the watchful eyes of the red-robed mages.
The air crackled with tension as Segarus and Caelum faced off, two titans preparing for a battle that would determine the fate of the clan.
Segarus's smile returned, this ti tinged with cruelty. "Don't expect to fight you fairly, Caelum," he sneered.
He turned his gaze to his daughter, Liliana, and nodded.
Without hesitation, she stepped back, her expression cold and resolute. The red-robed mages, as if waiting for the signal, began advancing on the gathered Kaezhlar family.
Their attack was swift and ruthless. Bolts of crimson energy shot through the air, shattering the intricate chandeliers above and casting the hall into flickering shadows.
The Kaezhlar family braced themselves, their remaining knights moving to defend them despite their weakened numbers.
Maena and Eran stood at the forefront, weapons drawn, their faces grim with determination. Clifton, battered but unyielding, positioned himself protectively before Elowen and the siblings. The guests who had not yet fled scread and scrambled for the exits, trampling over one another in their desperation to escape.
Jolthar remained rooted to the spot, his instincts screaming at him to act.
Yet he hesitated, caught between his desire to see the Kaezhlar clan fall and his growing rage at these outsiders who dared to claim his vengeance as their own.
The hall was a cacophony of chaos, but amidst it all, Caelum and Segarus stood apart, but the mana and the aura were already clashing, sending violent and oppressive force in all directions.
-
Maena rushed toward Jolthar, her steps hurried but deliberate. She was desperate, and her usually composed face now bore a mixture of worry and determination.
Reaching him, she placed a firm hand on his arm, forcing him to et her gaze.
"I know you don't like this clan," she began, her voice low but urgent, "but will you listen to this one ti?"
Jolthar turned his piercing eyes toward her, his expression unreadable. He remained silent, his gaze unwavering as if trying to discern her true intentions.
Behind them, the hall was in chaos. The clash of power between Caelum and Segarus sent shockwaves through the air. Knights and red-robed mages scrambled, so fighting, others fleeing.
Caelum moved like a tempest, his sword a blur of light and death. He struck at the mages advancing on his family, his blade cutting through spells and bodies alike.
A single swing of his sword unleashed a devastating arc of energy, obliterating the attackers so completely that not even their remains were left.
Segarus, hovering above the ground with an aura of unshakeable confidence, chuckled as he observed the carnage. His eyes glead with malice. It was like he was enjoying how Caelum was facing and trying to save his family.
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