Then a voice rang out from the crowd—loud, reverent, and trembling with fear:

"Presenting—Lord Zedd Vintagard of Aetherhall!"

He stood with the undeniable presence of a ruler, his appearance a stark contrast to the rough military wear of the others. His entire ensemble was dominated by pristine white, the fabric so clean it seemed to reflect the harsh afternoon light.

He wore a long, flowing outer coat that tapered elegantly around his legs, its collar standing high and stiff, fastening with a line of intricate gold clasps that ran up to his throat. The edges of the coat were trimmed not in the deep crimson (wine) of the soldiers, but with striking gold piping that shimmered even in the dust-filled air.

Over his right shoulder, a cascade of gold chains and tassels draped across the chest of the coat, anchored by a detailed, ornate gold epaulet that looked like carved sunlight. This golden filigree stood out fiercely against the white fabric.

Beneath the coat, a flash of deep crimson belted his waist—a wide, flowing sash that contrasted sharply with the white coat and trousers. This sash flowed down, visible as a dramatic inner lining or backing for his coat's long tails, catching the eye with every slightest movement. His trousers and tall, simple boots were also pure white, further enhancing his luminous, imposing figure.

The only other touches of color were the small flares of wine and gold at the cuffs of his long sleeves. He looked less like a warrior and more like a king's champion or, indeed, a royal figure himself—a living symbol of wealth and absolute authority.

The air trembled as Lord Zedd's feet gracefully touched the ground. Ghost was right; he was indeed a show-off. For a heartbeat, silence ruled, as the very wind seemed to hold its breath.

Then his voice rolled through the street deep, calm, and absolute delivering a final order:

"Enough."

Everyone had already frozen in motion even before he uttered those words.

"No more fighting," he said. "The test is over."

From the corner of my eyes, while everyone was still held motionless in an involuntary bow, I could see Rose staggering forward, her red hair blowing in the wind. Even she, the powerful woman who had effortlessly dominated my sister, was trembling.

"But my lord we aren't done! This fight isn't over yet! I need more time, it can't end like this!" she pleaded, her voice choked with desperation and shame.

The sight made me abit confused. I couldn't understand why both Ghost and now Rose seemed to imply Astraya had won this match a match where she was barely playing defense! Rose was clearly the superior fighter, yet her pleading to Lord Zedd made it seem as though she was the one who had lost terribly.

Lord Zedd's head turned slowly toward her. "Are you going against my words, Rose? Just because we are family you think you can oppose?"

The way he spoke soft, utterly without anger was somehow worse than any shout. That absolute, chilling control of his tone that was the kind of presence I truly coveted. It suggested he had been trained in the practices of royalty, a sharp contrast to that idiotic Greyjoy, who was a complete mess. Any word that came out of Greyjoy's mouth felt like someone who truly deserved to be exiled.

But this person... Lord Zedd's presence was everything. It felt like the worst possible moment to be thinking such things, but I realized this level of confidence was what I craved. Could I have achieved this in my past life? This level of confidence? If I had possessed this kind of gravity, I wouldn't have had issues with women no, in fact, with life itself.

All I could see was the color draining from Rose's face. She instantly dropped to one knee, bowing her head until it nearly touched the dusty ground. "Forgive me, my lord," she whispered.

I cautiously turned my head to check on my sister. Astraya was clearly gassed out, her small body trembling with exhaustion. She was definitely not winning this fight if it had continued. But even from a distance, all I saw on her face was stubborn and irritation. Sister, be real. You were never winning this. Just sit down and take the L. The best mentality is to not get used to losing, but to accept a temporary defeat gracefully. Took it from our mother so competitive.

"Ghost, how long are you going to keep me waiting?" he said, now turning in our direction.

Ghost grinned. "I must follow tradition, my lord."

He rose, and everyone followed suit.

As Ghost began to walk forward, he glanced back at me. "Go check on your sister, Astraga. Your father and I need to speak with His Royal Highness."

"But Ghost, she doesn't look too good," I said, stating the obvious as Astraya struggled to stand.

Ghost waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry, the healers they brought are the best."

Father added, "Go stay with your sister. I'm sure she needs motivation right now. I'll be with both of you shortly." He and Ghost then moved toward the imposing figure of Lord Zedd.

I turned and walked toward Astraya, planting myself in front of her. She was always a sore loser, even during games at home. The best way to handle her was to poke her just slightly until she realized it was all fun and games.

I stared at her with a wide grin. "Awwwn, Astraya. You'll get her next time. It's only natural you get lost; we are just kids in the end."

She puffed out her cheeks, pouting. "Go away, brother! I know what you're trying to do, and it won't work on me. And besides, being a kid sucks. I want to be grown up already—everyone looks down on you."

I replied sarcastically to lighten the mood. "Well, durr. You're little, of course they would look down on you."

She grinned, recognizing the familiar banter. "But I'm taller than you, though, brother!"

I immediately replied, "Shush for now," and rested my hands on her shoulder. "You did good, sister, really. Dad was proud. But I'm sure you realize by now that man over there that we all bowed to? Yep, that's your teacher."

"What? No way! I was so sure it was Rose!"

I gave her a knowing look. "You need to sit down for this one. The woman, Rose Vintergard? Yeah, how should I put it… you see that man beside Father?" I pointed to Ghost. "He read your moves perfectly. He has an amazing ability." I told her, excitedly.

She asked, curious, "What is it?"

"Remember that voice that spoke to us at the town square?"

She replied, "Yeah!"

"Yep, sister, that's him. His ability literally turns him to air!"

Her eyes widened. "No way! I must learn that move!"

I touched my chin thoughtfully. "Well, I think it's kinda difficult. I haven't seen any of these cloaked men also perform it, not even Lord Zedd. Maybe he has a unique technique or something," I explained.

She looked even more motivated. "Wow, these men! I will grow up to be strong!"

But then, the realization set in for me. These were Astraya's people, the ones who would train her. Imagine what Ghost could teach her! Meanwhile, I was here, and my bodyguard was nowhere to be found. I clutched my head. I'm definitely going to be the weaker twin. I hadn't even mastered my chains; they still looked like cobwebs. Crap. The thought of Azazel kept flowing in my mind as Astraya's voice cut through my panic.

"...Astraga…?"

"Huh?"

She replied, "You spaced out again, brother. What about Rose? You wanted to say…"

"Oh. Yeah. Rose is the weakest here, sister."

"Whoooot?!" She looked genuinely shocked and couldn't believe it. The previous defeat visibly weighed on her. "And she has been toying with me since she…?" She looked genuinely demotivated, dropping to the floor.

I quickly replied, "Don't be so hard on yourself, sister. You're what they are talking about. Let's just hope that royal decides to teach you."

"Brother, you felt his presence, right?" Astraya and I both looked over at Lord Zedd talking to Father and Ghost.

"Yeah, that was unbelievable. He is definitely the strongest here…" I agreed.

Just as I settled in beside Astraya, a sudden, clear call rang out.

Lord Zedd called out for the healers, and three cloaked figures immediately separated from the crowd. Ghost pointed in our direction, and the trio approached us. As they removed their hoods, I could see two women and a man.

"Hello there, kids," the brown-haired woman said with a friendly smile. She spoke softly to my sister, "Wow, little girl, you're quite resilient. I did expect you to have given up."

The other woman, who had a piercing on her eyebrow, replied, "Well, Lord Zedd did say she was a prodigy."

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