Jerome found himself tapping his foot unconsciously, the rhythm of the music and the excitement of the crowd taking hold of him, as the room seemed to vibrate with the energy of merrymaking.

The Sovereign was also enjoying the music being played by the orchestra, moving his head from side to side ever so slightly, observing the revelers around with interest.

The door creaked open behind them, and in walked Princess Aeldra—like she opened up a hole in the world and walked through. The sight of her beauty caught Jerome off guard as he turned around to face her.

She donned a stunning white lace gown, with golden embroidery that hugged her shapely figure, her long, black hair cascaded down her back, reaching past her hips, as she glided towards them, each step imprinting on Jerome's mind, making his heart race a mile a breath. Her fragrance inundated Jerome’s senses like a breath of spring air, slowing down his senses. He couldn't help but stare, taking in her curves and the way her hips swayed. All of which he saw in slow motion.

“Ahem!” Yun Vorthe cleared his throat and Jerome felt a wave of dizziness hit him. A moment later he became clear-headed again making him hang his head in shame.

He had been staring at the Princess of Vorthe like a love-sick puppy, making a fool of himself. Truth be told, Jerome had never been in the presence of such a beautiful woman. This was the second time he was meeting her and he still couldn’t overcome her allure.

“Forgiveness…Greetings, Princess Aeldra,” he quickly bowed low with his right hand on his chest.

“You don't have to be so formal with me, Jerome,” She smiled as she replied.

“And you also must not molest my daughter with those scandalous eyes of yours again, else I pluck them out and feed them to you,” Yun Vorthe butted in. He sounded like he was giving his housekeeper an order, with no emotion whatsoever. But Jerome still felt the weight of that threat on his entire being. Fear suffused him immediately and he hid his shivering hands behind his back.

“Pay him no mind. He’s just a bully who doesn’t know his limits,” Aeldra Vorthe scolded her father, breaking the awkward silence that had fallen over the room. She reached out and touched Jerome on the shoulder, calming him with her soothing aura almost at once.

Jerome let out a long shaky breath as he felt himself relax. Did you have to make things so complicated? he complained to himself as he glanced at the Sovereign but found that the atmosphere in the room had grown still.

Jerome could sense an invisible current of mental energy flowing between the Princess and her father. They were communicating without words! Jerome clenched his fists and his breath grew shaky again. Not from fear but from motivation. I’ll do that someday, he thought. Very soon. Very, very soon.

Finally, Aeldra Vorthe handed her father a ring and turned her gaze to Jerome. “Well, I heard you’re a scholar now,” she said with a hint of amusement.

“A scholar?” Jerome asked, puzzled.

“You said you measured time in less than a breath in your previous life,” she teased.

Jerome glanced at the Sovereign. He had thought only the Sovereign knew about his reincarnation.

“Members of the Curia Regis know about your past life, Jerome,” Aeldra Vorthe said with a smile.

Jerome didn’t actually mind. He nodded contemplatively, "Well, I didn’t—measure time in less than a breath—but… What do scholars do?” he asked.

The Princess chuckled. “There are many fields of study in Vorthe—from artisans and bookkeepers to stargazers,” she said. She could sense the burning curiosity in him. If he wasn’t the fated Dark One, perhaps he would have become a great scholar in this world. She was also curious about the ways of the people in his previous world.

“Stargazers?” Jerome’s eyes lit up in surprise. He found it funny though. As advanced as Vorthe was, they were still gazing at stars when they should be exploring them. Jerome smiled. Then again maybe that’s my own bias, he thought. After all, they hadn’t built vehicles to traverse the sky let alone space, or at least that was what he thought.

“Yes, they’re scholars too,” she confirmed, unaware of Jerome’s inner thoughts.

“And what do these scholars do?” Jerome asked, he was still curious about it. Just for confirmation.

“Well, many things, most of which I’m not allowed to discuss. But mainly, it’s research,” she explained. Vorthe’s researchers and artifact refiners had actually designed and built contraptions the world would marvel over but these things were secrets and couldn’t be discussed with a child.

Jerome nodded in understanding. “Society does need people to make discoveries for its own good.”

“Huh!” The princess raised her eyebrows in surprise at him. “Your knowledge might get you in trouble someday, Jerome. Better keep it under wraps,” she teased.

Jerome grinned sheepishly. “I’ll try my best, Princess.” He replied with a slight bow. Jerome couldn’t believe how much he was learning about Vorthe’s social structure just by being in this room. I guess powerful people really do see the big picture, he mused to himself.

“So how does this measurement of time work?” the Princess asked. She was also curious to know how it worked. It could help the kingdom in ways Jerome couldn’t fathom. Or at least she thought so.

“I’m not exactly clear on how it works, but the day—and night—is divided into twenty-four durations we call hours.” Jerome paused to let the knowledge sink in. “An hour is divided into sixty durations we call minutes, and a minute, into sixty durations we call seconds.”

“That’s incredible,” Aeldra said with a distant look on her face. “For a civilization that didn’t wield essence, they must have excelled in artifacts and alchemical resources.”

Well, we called it science and technology, Jerome thought. He observed as the Princess kept quiet, pondering over all he had revealed. Even just standing there, looking lost in thought, he could barely take his eyes off her. Her gentle fragrance had filled the room at this moment, soothing his senses with a gentle touch. He willed himself to look away, lest the Sovereign make do with his threats. Jerome glanced at the Sovereign. Even he was deep in thought.

“Well, I would love to discuss this at length with you someday, Jerome,” the Princess finally said.

“It would be a pleasure to accompany you in such a time-changing discussion, Princess,” Jerome responded with a bow.

The Princess smiled at him saying goodbye before leaving.

Jerome couldn’t help but smile as he watched her go. He was curious about Vorthe’s scholars and their research now, maybe he could also teach them a thing or two. He didn’t pride himself as knowledgeable in science, but he believed the little knowledge he had could go a long way in transforming Vorthe.

“Forgiveness, Sovereign. But were you really going to pluck out my eyes?” he asked the Sovereign after the Princess left the room.

“Without hesitation,” the Sovereign declared.

Jerome swallowed hard. He cursed the Sovereign in his heart as he wiped away the cold sweat that had dampened his brow.

~~~

“Announcing the arrival of the esteemed Highlord and Highlady Felis Abdiel from the Western Region, Lord, and Lady of Orchard City!” proclaimed a Knight in gleaming golden armor, heralding the entrance of Vorthe’s High nobles. “Presenting their children, Owen and Rebecca Abdiel!” he continued, and the Royal Banquet Hall gradually filled with the dignified figures of the elite.

With each name announced, the atmosphere grew more refined, as the hall filled with the rich colors of gold backdrops and delicate orbs, shimmering overhead like stars in the night sky. The tables overflowed with delicacies, and the air was thick with the fragrance of fine wine and delectable dishes.

The lesser Lords, already present, bowed their heads in respect as the Highlords arrived, and soon the High-born and Elite were mingling with one another, discussing their latest challenges and business ventures.

Each one striving to outdo the other in the display of their wealth and status, such occasions were a means to feed their egos and to shine in the glow of their own refinement.

“Announcing the arrival of His Eminence! Archlord Nolan Alvric of the Great House of Alvric! Governor and Protector of the Southern Region! Accompanied by his heir and wives; Young Lord Hedon Alvric, Archladies Mildred, Sora, Raina, and Chrysa Alvric!”

The majestic double doors swung open, revealing the grand entrance of Nolan Alvric, Patriarch of the Alvric Clan.

The hall grew silent as Archlord Nolan Alvric strode in, his countenance betraying his displeasure, flanked by two stunningly beautiful women. His gaze swept over the crowd with a haughty look of disdain as he uttered in contempt, “Peasants!”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Hedon Alvric walked beside his father, his face displaying an air of superiority and a sneer of arrogance. Nolan Alvric’s disdain seemed to be directed toward a particular group, which he regarded as inferior.

Impure.

~~~

Jerome gritted his teeth until his jaw ached. The sight of the brown-haired boy with a mohawk-style haircut instantly soured his mood. Hedon was reveling in his opulent lifestyle, attending this lavish party, and wearing the finest clothes while his siblings were possibly suffering. If he had his way, Hedon would have met his demise the instant he stepped into the Banquet Hall. Jerome clenched his fists, vowing that he wouldn't hesitate to end Hedon's life during their Terra Praeta expedition.

“Announcing the arrival of Her Eminence, Archlady Arwen Itakar of the Great House of Itakar, Governess and Protector of the Northern Region, accompanied by her children, Selene and Ajax Itakar,” proclaimed the herald, his voice echoing throughout the grand hall.

As the doors opened, a regal figure entered, her silver hair cascading down her back in graceful long braids. She was accompanied by two teenagers, a boy, and a girl who looked to be twins, sharing their mother's striking silver locks.

It was apparent that the trio cultivated ice-attribute essence, as their very presence seemed to exude an aura of coolness and control.

The Archlady’s gaze swept over the assembled nobles with a serene yet commanding air, and those who met her eyes felt a chill run down their spines, as if in the presence of an ancient and powerful force.

“House Itakar,” the Sovereign said, breaking the silence in the room. “They are valuable business partners with the Royal Family. Their expertise in mining a special ore up north helps us freeze the visha stirh’aun that is mined all around Vorthe.”

Jerome raised an eyebrow, intrigued by that information. “I see,” he said thoughtfully.

“Indeed,” the Sovereign continued. “It takes two thousand dervanis to freeze half a luvanis of visha stirh’aun. A dervanis—”

“Is a pound and a luvanis is a ton. I’m conversant with the old tongue, Sovereign,” Jerome said with a smile and continued, “I understand that the visha stirh’aun is a dangerous ore and all, but why freeze it to mine it? Won’t that affect it somehow?”

“It does affect the quality. But it makes it easier to mine. That being said, no one has been able to accomplish what Han did two decades ago—not even Han.” the Sovereign stated.

“Do you mean to say that my Suzie is unique in all of Vorthe?” Jerome asked, surprised. He had discovered the name of the artifact refiner who created his gauntlets, some time ago: Han, from Giza.

The Sovereign arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his expression. It wasn't that he doubted the uniqueness of the artifact, but rather its name that caused him to raise an eyebrow.

The Sovereign cleared his throat and replied, “It’s not as unique as you may think. Han refined numerous pieces of the flowing steel, and there are more than a thousand similar artifacts in Vorthe. Nevertheless, the first one he crafted remains the most efficient in terms of flexibility,” the Sovereign sat up in his seat as he spoke. “I have witnessed you in action with it, so I can personally attest to its flexibility and efficiency compared to the others.”

“Announcing the arrival of Her Eminence, the distinguished Archlady Fei Jia, Governess, and Protector of the Eastern Region!” proclaimed the herald in a clear and commanding voice. “Accompanied by her daughter, Young Lady Fei Lin!”

The grand doors of the Royal Banquet Hall swung open, and in stepped the elegant Matriarch of House Fei, accompanied by her daughter, Fei Lin. The atmosphere in the hall turned reverential as the Archlady made her way in. With an air of regal grace and a countenance that commanded respect, Archlady Fei Jia surveyed the room before joining the other distinguished guests.

Jerome’s attention was drawn to the young woman standing beside the Matriarch. He remembered her. He had fought her during Pilgrims’ Keep when she was just fourteen or so and looked like a child. Now, she had blossomed into a striking young woman and looked more powerful than before.

As he watched her, Jerome couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy towards Elites and High-borns who seemed to have an easy life, but he quickly tamped it down. He wouldn’t compare himself to them. They had their Path and he had his. He looked over at Hedon once again and his eyes filled with a promise of vengeance.

“House Fei,” the Sovereign said, pulling Jerome out of his reverie. “They are the second most powerful and influential house in Vorthe after the Royal Family. They have a strong business orientation, but oddly, they avoid dealing with the Royal Family.”

“They don’t want to state the obvious with their actions,” Jerome said with a knowing smile.

The Sovereign looked at him for a moment. “And the obvious being...?” he asked.

Jerome took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “They know Vorthe is more powerful than they are. Albeit a business venture would mean one party has to set the pace. Though both sides would profit, it would become clear as day that one party is following the lead of the other. In that regard, they’d be admitting the truth they are running away from.”

“Do not let Fei Jia hear you say that. She would not take kindly to that truth being spoken,” the Sovereign said.

“Announcing the arrival of His Eminence, Archlord Igor Baelor of the Great House of Baelor, Governor and Protector of the Western Region!” the herald announced the last of the heads of the Great houses and the Highlords took the opportunity to pay their respects to the last Archlord to enter the hall.

“House Fei is the best when it comes to creating memory crystals,” the Sovereign stated, “Do you know about memory crystals, young one?”

“Forgive my lack of knowledge, Sovereign,” Jerome answered. There was a lot of new knowledge flying around today and Jerome was beginning to wonder if he had been living under a stone, which also made him also wonder why the Sovereign was telling him all this.

“House Fei is the largest producer of memory crystals in the kingdom,” the Sovereign continued. “It is used to record the visuals and sound of the environment. Memory crystals are the best library of our time.”

Jerome was flabbergasted by this information, there are video devices in Vorthe? Are you kidding me?! He thought. Why haven’t I ever seen one of those?

“There are many producers of memory crystals,” the Sovereign continued. “Most of them produce low-quality memory crystals, though. The Fei clan's memory crystals, however, are the best in all of the kingdom. Among the four Great houses, House Fei is the most mysterious. No one knows how many Sages they possess, and their inheritance is as mysterious as it is unique.

“Some say it’s an ancient dragon, others say it’s an ancient spirit. What the other great families do know is that the sacred artists of House Fei advance a lot quicker than the artists of other great families,” The Sovereign concluded.

“I’d take it the Royal Family knows what their inheritance is,” Jerome said. His instincts told him nothing could be hidden from the Sovereign’s eyes and senses.

“Please,” the Sovereign smiled. “We are the house of light, remember? Light reveals.”

Jerome chuckled at that. He wished anyone who would try to hide something from the Sovereign good luck.

“House Baelor is the last of the Great Families,” the Sovereign said. “And are very loyal. The Baelors are descended from giants that once roamed the earth millennia ago. They occupy the vast Western Redwood forest and make a fortune from the forest. The forest is the best place to absorb vital life essence. But there is a problem in the forest: the apprentice alchemists and crofters appointed to do the job go missing all the time.”

“Do the job?” Jerome asked, confused.

“The human body is not the only vessel that can hold essence, you know?” the Sovereign explained.

“Oh,” Jerome exclaimed in understanding, or at least he felt he understood. This was the first time he was hearing that there were other vessels that could hold vital essence—the vitality present in all living things—which apparently could be extracted from trees. He had no idea of such a thing.

“House Baelor expends a lot of resources and manpower to protect these people,” the Sovereign stated absently. “But it is as if the forest comes alive and just…takes them.”

~~~

Shortly after, the members of the Curia Regis were announced, but Jerome was unfamiliar with most of them. Only Duten Vorthe, the Royal Alchemist, and Fesir Vorthe, the Royal Artifact Refiner, caught his attention.

“Announcing Her Royal Highness, Her Eminence, Princess Aeldra Vorthe of the House of Vorthe!” proclaimed the herald in a clear and commanding voice.

The hall fell silent as the massive double doors opened once more, revealing one of the most exquisite women in Vorthe. With glossy, silky black hair cascading down her back and a shimmering white gown that glimmered in the soft light, she glided past the crowd, her alluring fragrance lingering in the air.

The onlookers respectfully and admirably parted for her, bowing in reverence.

Aeldra Vorthe, the Princess of Vorthe, glided towards the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of the four great families like a vision of beauty personified. She was like a rare and exquisite flower that had bloomed in the morning sun after a rain shower. Her long, lustrous black hair swayed as it reflected the light from the orbs above.

“Greetings Patriarchs, Matriarchs,” Aeldra curtsied with a graceful bend of her knees as she lifted up her skirts. Her elegance was beyond compare and her regal yet humble bearing commanded attention and admiration.

“Greetings, Princess Aeldra,” they all said simultaneously with a slight bow of their heads as a serving maid came the Princess’ way to present her with wine as many others moved among the crowd of nobles.

“Your beauty never stops astounding me, Princess Aeldra,” said Igor Baelor, transfixed by her splendor. His deep baritone voice reverberated throughout the hall as he paid homage to her unparalleled beauty.

Igor was a giant of a man standing two heads taller than everyone in the hall. His height and ferocious appearance made people stir clear of him. But very few people knew that giants were peace-loving creatures.

But Igor Baelor wasn’t just a peace-loving Patriarch, he was a peace-loving Patriarch that was in love with the most beautiful maiden in all of Vorthe. He had fallen in love with the Princess more than two hundred years ago, long before she became a sage.

“As splendorous as always, Princess,” said Arwen Itakar, Matriarch of House Itakar. She raised her cup to the Princess. House Itakar could be considered to have the closest relationship to the Royals.

Nolan Alvric and Fei Jia also gave compliments.

“Thank you for your kind words, and I commend you all for your efforts in keeping Vorthe safe,” the Princess said.

“It is as much an honor as it is a duty, your highness,” Igor Baelor responded, clearly smitten. The man wore his heart on his sleeves.

“The Royal family is truly grateful for all your support,” Oken Vorthe, the cheery Royal Array master, joined in the conversation with smiling eyes. He was also a member of the Curia Regis.

As the night progressed, the revelers indulged in the sumptuous spread of food and wine while being entertained by the enchanting music. But as the hours ticked by, the atmosphere in the hall shifted as the First Elder, Thorlin Vorthe, ascended an elevated platform in front of the orchestra. The energy emanating from him was nothing short of remarkable, an aura many never get to witness in their lifetimes - that of a Saint Realm expert!

The countenance of every Sage turned solemn, filled with an overwhelming sense of admiration and reverence.

The Heads of the Great Houses had only been in the presence of Saints for fleeting moments after their induction as Patriarchs and their experiences had left them with the impression that Saints were frail and aged individuals who spent their remaining days trying to ascend to the Transcendent Realm, but none had ever achieved that feat.

Yet here stood a Saint who defied all expectations—youthful, vigorous, and undeniably powerful! It was a humbling realization for the Heads of the Great Houses, a message subtly conveyed by Vorthe:

You are not even remotely close to our level!