7th Realm…
Royal Capital City…
Inside the grand throne room of the Royal Palace, Emperor Ryon sat on his opulent golden throne.
Before him stood his trusted ministers, advisors, and high-ranking wizards, each holding bundles of scrolls and reports—a council of eight members, gathered to discuss the upcoming Trident Summit, a momentous event for the realm.
Ryon’s sharp gaze swept over each of them before he spoke. “Chief Minister Mark, Is everything ready for the Trident Summit? I want everything to be flawless.”
The Chief Minister Mark stepped forward, bowing deeply before responding. “Your Majesty, preparations are nearly complete. The three enchanted spears that form the Trident have been gathered from the Grand Vault, each tested and empowered with the strongest spells.
Additionally, the Seal Breaking Talismans are secured and ready for deployment at your word.”
Ryon nodded thoughtfully, his fingers tapping lightly on the golden armrest. “Good. And the trial sites? I trust you have chosen with care.”
The Chief Minister cleared his throat and continued, “Yes, Your Majesty. For the first trial, we have selected the Ancient War Ground of the Gods, which is going to be opened for the first time. We don’t even know what lies inside.
For the second, we have chosen the Desert Forest, a place known for its mirage beasts and deadly shifting sands. And finally, for the third trial, we chose the Ghost Valley of the Abyssal Earth—a location that requires courage, skill, and…let’s just say, a touch of madness.”
The ministers exchanged glances as Emperor Ryon’s laughter echoed through the throne room, full and boisterous. “Hahaha! Excellent, Mark, you really do know how to keep things interesting. Deadly trials, worthy of the Trident itself! You’ve outdone yourself.” Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire
The Chief Minister beamed, stepping back with a satisfied bow.
“And there is more, Your Majesty,” Mark said, taking a step forward again, a sparkle of pride in his eyes. “The First Prince, Maxwell, has successfully mastered the Sun Moon Eclipse Art and will initiate the Trident Summit personally by performing the ritual. He has expressed his commitment to uphold the honor of the Royal Family before the assembled houses.”
A satisfied gleam flickered in Ryon’s eyes. “My son has mastered the Sun Moon Eclipse Art? That is indeed good news, Minister Mark. You have made me very happy today!” He leaned forward, a rare smile gracing his lips as he removed a jeweled chain from his neck. “Catch this—my token of gratitude.” He tossed the ornate chain toward Mark, who caught it with reverent hands, bowing deeply in thanks.
The conversation then shifted as other ministers brought forth news of the Trident Summit’s participants and alliances.
Ryon’s eyes narrowed with interest as he heard the Chief Minister begin to speak. “Your Majesty, it appears that the Stick family has secured alliances with seven of the powerful houses—an astounding force of over two hundred thousand Supreme Mages.”
“Hah! The Stick family’s ambitions know no bounds,” Ryon remarked with an amused smirk. “This summit may well be their one sided glory.”
The Chief Minister paused, looking uneasy. “Actually, Your Majesty, there is a rather strange development there. The Stick family extended an alliance offer to the Frost family of your brother, but…” He hesitated, gauging Ryon’s reaction.
“But?” Ryon’s expression hardened as a deep frown appeared on his face.
“Your Majesty, the Frost family rejected it.”
Ryon’s hand clenched around the arm of his throne, his voice dark with anger and incredulity. “Rejected? Has my brother lost his mind? This was his daughter’s best chance to ascend to the Spirit World! What could possibly make him throw away such a golden opportunity?”
The Minister hesitated but finally spoke up. “Your Majesty, it was the decision of the…masked man, Kent.
The Stick family Princess herself proposed marriage to him, but he rejected her outright. In doing so, he also turned down their offer of alliance. His choice, as we understand, is the reason the Frost family refused the alliance.”
Ryon’s face darkened. “Such foolishness! And my brother let him act freely?” Ryon muttered, shaking his head.
The ministers shifted uncomfortably as Ryon’s gaze intensified, his expression icy. “I should have dealt with that masked man after the Justice Court incident. I’ll not make that mistake again.”
The room fell into a tense silence as Ryon dismissed the ministers with a wave of his hand. One by one, they walked out, until the room was empty, alone for the Emperor.
Ryon lifted a golden glass orb, running his fingers over its smooth surface until it pulsed with a faint blue glow.
Moments later, a figure face appeared within the orb—Jason, the head of the Nine Realms Association.
“Jason, what are you doing? Did you forget about that bastard Kent? I thought you would make plans to kill him soon?” Ryon asked in a serious tone.
Jason’s lips curled in a smile. “Ryon, you needn’t worry. I’ve already taken steps to get rid of Kent in the most…satisfying way possible.”
“Then why has he not yet met his fate?” Ryon’s tone was laced with impatience.
Jason’s chuckle was low and ominous. “Patience, Patience. The best traps are those laid with cunning, not haste. I made arrangements to inform the dragons about his… ‘little pet.’
You see, the dragons are deeply possessive and take great offense at the notion of one of their own serving as a pet to a human. It was merely a matter of whispering to the right ears, and soon the dragons will come for him.”
Ryon’s brows lifted in surprise, then settled into a look of admiration. “Ingenious. You’re stirring the beast without ever lifting a blade yourself.”
Jason inclined his head in acknowledgment. “Exactly. Once the dragons learn of Kent’s audacity, their wrath will be enough to ensure his end.”
Ryon leaned back, satisfaction lighting his face. “I like your style, Jason. Let Kent be ravaged by the very forces he seeks to manipulate.”
“Precisely,” Jason responded smoothly. “This will allow us to remain blameless while Kent’s life crumbles. It will be an example for any who think to challenge my son Simon.”
Ryon allowed himself a long, satisfied sigh. “Excellent.”
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#Excited to see the dragons — 😉