The hall went suddenly silent as everyone focused on the young man.
And when they did, they noticed two young men and three young women standing just behind him.
‘I can’t even sense their arrival.’ Was the common thought.
Prince Belus Caron smiled lightly at their response before his eyes caught Charles’ uninterested eyes.
‘You could sense we arrived…? No! Must be a coincidence. Even I couldn’t do it when I was peak level 6.’
Taking a deep breathing, Belus adjusted his mood and addressed the eager crowd.
“Like every year, the federation is conducting a competition in the Secret Realm. This time, the theme is ‘mission’.
You will be sent to the secret realm Theodra. In the six regions of Theodra, there is one flag each.
Those who get the most flags win.” He finished with a smile and stepped back.
A young woman with long platinum hair stepped forward and snapped her fingers.
Pa!
A metallic rectangular token floated in front of every person sitting across the white tables.
“These are the ‘keys’ to enter Theodra Secret Realm. If you can take them, you can participate.” She said slowly, her voice was soft, yet seemed to hold authority over the hall.
Varian reached for the key and felt it.
The space was solidified. It was like a rock made of tough alloys that needed a minimum amount of strength.
The truly young people who came here to experience the banquet, descendants of very powerful awakeners were in level 4s and level 3s.
After a few tries, they gave up trying.
On the other hand, all the level 6s easily grabbed the key.
Varian felt the solid space and clenched his fist.
Ka! Ka! Kacha!
Like a broken mirror, it burst, leaving the key in his hand.
After a few minutes, the young woman nodded and waved her hand. The floating keys disappeared, leaving only around 200 members.
Majority of them were level 6s. Only a few peak level 5s were present.
Of course, they all only took it as an experience. No level 5 thought they had any chance of winning.
Except for a certain someone.
“Don’t worry, level 5s. Theodra Secret Realm has many natural treasures. Even though relying too much on natural treasures can be detrimental after you reach level 7, as long as you don’t overdo it, it’s fine.” She gave them an encouraging smile.
Or at least tried to.
It was truly stiff and looked like someone stretched her lips upward.
Oh boy, she must be the kind of student who never did public speeches.
Varian sighed in pity. Speaking in public was really hard. He wished he’d never have to do that…hopefully.
“Pfft! Haha!” A laughter broke out in the distance.
Even though it was soft, in the silent hall, everyone heard it clearly.
Varian glanced in the direction and saw a familiar face.
Narcis.
He covered his mouth trying to contain his laughter, but he clearly failed. In fact, if he tried hard enough, he could’ve succeeded.
But he didn’t.
A wave of chill washed over the hall.
It was like they were suddenly thrown into snow. Naked.
Varian stiffly turned around and saw Prince Belus’ cold eyes.
The blue-haired prince stared at Narcis as he spat. “Apologize to Princess Ria.”
The temperature in the hall further fell. Even level 5s were feeling trouble.
Thankfully, Belus seemed to have spared the low awakeners as they didn’t show any signs of experiencing cold.
On the other hand, Narcis shivered slightly before he growled. “Why should I apologize? She can’t even smile properly.”
‘This idiot!’ Varian glanced at his ex-opponent and shook his head in disappointment.
“Does it matter? She put aside important matters and came her to guide her juniors. What if she can’t smile properly? Do you know what she’d been through?
Now shut up and apologize!” Prince Belus’ narrowed his eyes and said cooly.
A layer of ice formed on Narcis body as his body trembled fiercely from the cold. But he glared at Belus and refused to open his mouth.
“He’s still a kid…” Princess Iris Xander stepped forward and tried to dissuade Belus.
Belus waved his hand and his voice turned colder. “We both know he’s not. Let him apologize and this matter will end. Otherwise—”
“Otherwise what?”
Belus turend in anger towards the source of the voice.
“Otherwise what will you do? No. What CAN you do?” Charles Xander stood up and appeared next to Narcis, patting off the ice off him before covering him with his ‘prana’.
Disregarding Belus’ increasingly colder face, he said. “If she can’t speak, then she shouldn’t speak. No one asked for her extra speech to level 5s.”
Charles turned to Princess Ria and said in annoyance. “And what are you trying to do exactly? If you can’t even smile properly, why show it to us?”
Princess Ria’s face paled at his words as she clenched her fists.
Charles didn’t even care and turned to Prince Belus. Knitting his brows together, he said in a slow, but sure tone. “And you, don’t you dare touch my brother.
Let’s have a match after I get to level 7. I hope you’ll last this long then.”
After saying so, Charles poured a drop of a precious healing potion on Narcis and walked back to his seat.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
It was like everyone forgot to breathe.
Varian stared at the scene and felt deja vu. Before he knew it, his blood boiled and he clenched his fists.
That day, in front of the dorm, it was because of Narcis that Charles nearly forced him to kneeling.
He also vowed to take Charles’ throne that day.
‘Fucking idiot! You’re the reason your brother is such an asshole!’
Varian’s breath turned uneven as he wanted to just kidnap Charles into ghostship and torture him.
‘No. No. I will kick him down when he thinks he’s at the top.’ Varian patted himself on his cheeks and calmed down.
Prince Belus wasn’t in a better condition. As veins popped up on his forehead, he glared at Charles and clenched his fists.
Princess Iris Xander stepped forward and took a stance. If he tried to make a move, she would stop him without hesitation.
No. Even she wasn’t needed at all.
Charles’ butler, the old man who drank with Richard, Eve Xander already locked onto Prince Belus.
The moment he tried to attack Charles, he’d be the first to not only stop him but also punish him.
Belus Caron was from the Caron Family. A prime family same as the Xander family.
However, given Julius Xander’s promising future, the Xander family was much more influential than Caron Family.
But when Eve Xander showed that he would intervene, no one from the high level of Caron family even dared to stop him.
That was the result of Charles Xander’s potential.
He’s too important.
Perhaps even before Julius reaches the new level, Charles might become a Sovereign.
Feeling the dangerous stare on him, Prince Belus gave up his thoughts and snorted.
He left and with him, the coldness in the hall also disappeared.
A young man with curly brown hair and lean frame stepped forward, saying. “I’m Prince Kane. I’ll give you five minutes for team planning before you enter the secret realm. The time starts now.”