As Charles drank the black liquid, a tingling sensation arose in his right eye, intensifying into a sharp, searing pain. Minutes passed before he dared to open his eyes again, and when he did, his sapphire-blue iris was now laced with a mysterious golden glow, exuding an aura of both nobility and mystique. After blinking once more, his eye returned to normal.
With the eye's power now coursing through him, Charles understood its capabilities. Known as the "Eye of True Vision," it was said to hold the gaze of the Three-Eyed Evil Dragon, allowing its possessor to see through illusions and glimpse the true nature of any extraordinary power. While his eye didn’t match the full strength of the dragon’s, it could still reveal the essence of any supernatural force within five levels of his own.
A smirk crossed his face. This eye was a unique gift—one he could leverage in the upcoming initiation. Still, he couldn’t shake a lingering doubt: would this gift truly help him survive the enlightenment ceremony? Mammon had demanded 100,000 gold coins for this "boon." Was the ancient god toying with him?
Shaking off the uncertainty, Charles stood and prepared for the family dinner, where every member of the West family—except his exiled brother—would be present. He needed to be ready.
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The West family held their grand banquet every six months, hosted by the Duke himself. Nobles far and wide attended, not just to dine but to witness displays of martial skill by the Duke's enlightened children. Each child had to demonstrate their prowess, defending the family’s honor through combat.
This particular dinner had two stars: Leia, recently returned from Violet College, and Charles' elder brother, Lin West, the famed "Red Eagle of the West." Only 23, Lin had already earned a reputation on the battlefield, advancing to the fifth rank as a Storm Guard—a formidable position.
Charles understood only fragments of extraordinary power, limited to his family's noble circles. In this world, there were six blue-blooded and eight red-blooded noble families, each possessing a distinct sequence of power. The West family’s sequence spanned nine levels, from the Wind Warrior to the mythical Storm God, with each level defined by the accumulation of magical energy.
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For Charles, this knowledge was crucial. In noble families, the purity of "blue blood" dictated how much magical energy a person could absorb and store, often sealing the family’s fate. His family’s standing, its very survival, hinged on their ability to amass and wield this magic.
"Tsk, the tyranny of power and capital," Charles murmured to himself as he entered the banquet hall early, dressed in a long black coat. His calm, sapphire eyes held the glint of the sea, and his tailored trousers outlined his lean frame. He took his seat in the eighth chair on the Duke's right—marking his position as the Duke's youngest son.
The seats on the Duke's left were reserved for his younger brothers, including Jack West, with whom Charles had struck a deal the night before. Charles was the only one present so far, and he watched quietly, idly twisting his gold pocket watch as the servants arranged the banquet hall. Although they were busily occupied, they didn’t seem to notice his presence at all.
The banquet was scheduled to start at five o’clock, but it was only three. Charles, who kept a low profile in the Duke's mansion, often went unnoticed by the staff. The arrangement of the hall also ensured privacy; the seats at the inner end, where he and the Duke would sit, were concealed by special materials that blocked sight from the outside.
Time trickled on. Out of boredom, Charles found himself playfully tugging at the ornate paper napkin design in his cup. Suddenly, a soft, ethereal voice broke the silence.
“Charles? Here already, are we?”
A graceful hand pushed the door open, and Charles stood up instantly. He walked over to greet the woman, taking her delicate hand with utmost respect.
The woman, Lady Alice, was draped in a court robe, her narrow, captivating eyes and perfectly shaped lips accentuating her flawless beauty. A pair of slender high heels showcased her elegance, and her poised, statuesque figure radiated authority and allure. As the Duke’s second wife and Charles’s stepmother, she commanded respect.
Charles performed a formal hand-kiss and bowed slightly. “Greetings, Lady Alice. Charles West extends his most sincere respect.”