KTOK

Iris felt a shiver down her spine. Her head instinctively turned to the open entrance. The low hum of the high-heel scandal meeting the marble floor overwhelmed every sound in the hall.

The sound of the sandal was not loud. To ears, it was as quiet as someone walking by in a silent room. But it was like that for everyone; they all heard it. Followed by an overwhelming presence. Iris failed to grasp in her mind how that happened or how even that was possible.

The hum did what it was supposed to. The hall was completely devoid of noise; everyone’s attention was on the entrance.

KTOK

KTOK

KTOK

The following steps were just normal; they would’ve been inaudible if not for the quietness. Like an approach of the death storm, they all waited with bated breath.

Slowly, Diantha’s silhouette became visible. She was in a white and black dress accented with gold. A blue-gold rose pin tied her hair. She seemed completely different than she was in the morning. To Iris, she looked more cold and distant; her eyes were much dimmer. Iris found that sad. Yet she was as breathtaking as commanding.

The atmosphere inside the hall was awkward and stifling. Felix and Hecate stood from their seats and bowed, followed by the rest of Lancaster's vassals. Everyone else did not stand as Diantha stepped into the hall.

Iris’s lips curled up as she stood, unconsciously so. Her body wanted to stand; she did not resist that want. This was the same as Ilona, yet different. That time she felt fear because she could see, or rather, could not see, the vastness of that mana. She stood at that time as Mage.

Here, it was different. She was feeling reverence, a slight tug at her consciousness. A whisper in her ears, as if the world, the spirit, were suggesting—she should stand and bow. And Diantha did not achieve this by using mana. Iris still did not feel a single ounce of mana in Diantha. It was her presence that affected the very soul. She stood this time because she had a soul.

Iris was in awe. She has only met one other person with such a presence. And this feeling was as awe-inspiring as it was then. She could feel her soul quivering. She wanted to know how someone did this without mana. The feeling—the high—one could get from this kind of power was beyond her imagination.

Soon as Iris stood, others also followed suit. Of course, they had to bow. If Iris could be affected by something, then no other person in this hall would be unaffected.

“You can feel it, right?” Hecate whispered, and Iris nodded. “That’s what makes her… My Lady, she is not just a chump born into riches.”

Iris could not help but agree with the feeling that was making her soul quiver. If Diantha asked her now to serve her after saving Winny, she would agree without a second thought.

Few people were still sitting, most likely Level 5, and they were resisting with all their might. Visible veins on the forehead, their quivering bodies covered in sweat. Iris did not like them doing this. She was about to make them stand, but doing so would sully the hall that stood in untouched reverence. This was Diantha’s doing; she had no right to interfere.

Diantha slowly ascended to the stage, looking down at the captive audience, whose posture was bent in reverence.

"Very good evening to everyone; please have a seat." Diantha spoke; her voice was different. It was powerful and detached from emotion. It held no warmth that Iris had felt this morning.

“A very good evening to you, Lady Lancaster,” everyone greeted in unison as they sat.

“Sorry for my late arrival. I hope I did not keep you all waiting for long. On our mother’s birthday, I bid you all a warm and prosperous year ahead. May mother watch over Gracia and its children.” Diantha looked at Iris, “I would’ve taken my leave as you all seem quite tired, but I do have a small announcement to make. Iris, if you’d come on the stage."

Iris nodded and left her seat. This too was planned; she needed to act like a Vassal of Diantha. Her participation in the tournament has not been officially announced. This would be the first time anyone would know about this except the inspector.

“As everyone is quite aware of Lancaster House's predicament and prohibitions, Leaving only Hecate and Felix as participants on my behalf. I have no doubt they will win. But to lessen their burden, I have decided to call back another child of Lancaster; she has spent most of her life in Hien Desolates training, so only a select few know about her. In this tournament, she will also participate; her name is Iris, Level 6 Caster…” Diantha waited for murmurs to start. “Titled, ‘Lightning Lord.’” She kept her face impassive, but Iris could feel the smirk she had.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The hall was literally looking at her, a myriad of gazes at her, ranging from shock to disgust. Iris wanted to puke; she could not ever get used to negative attention.

A man in the lower part of the hall stood up; he had a recording spirit on his shoulder. He was not part of either the nobles or the rich.

“Pardon my rudeness, Lady Lancaster, but according to the agreement, your participant must be restricted to 20 years or less. Are we supposed to believe there is a human at level 6 who is not even 20?”

“Yes, that’s what I am implying. She is actually only 18—a few months older than Hecate.”

Iris reached the stairs. She already knew Diantha would lie, but she could not understand why the specific mention that she was older than Hecate. Did she look old? Iris knew she was supposed to get on stage but had no idea what to do next. Was she supposed to bow? Say something, or just stand like a dumb? Why was she even called on stage? People could already see her from that spot.

“Meeting a living breathing Level 6 in a human lifespan is as rare as seeing a dragon, the saying goes. As such, I’ll have mages and, of course, our hardworking journalist go wild. State your curiosities, and she will answer a few of them." Iris looked at Diantha. A little shocked, and even more—why not tell her beforehand? Iris could refuse, and it would only damage Diantha’s image. She had an agreement with Ilona to win the tournament, not to cater to every whim of the glowing-eyed lady. “Say something to everyone; they seem to be waiting for you.”

Diantha stepped away from the mic, letting Iris take over. Iris stepped into Diantha's spot and realized Mic was above her. Or she did not reach the mic. Diantha was as tall as Felix, after all. From this close, she looked daunting.

Iris conjured her string to adjust the microphone. Diantha watched her with a smile. Iris did not understand the reason.

“Ah, I forgot to adjust the mic,” Diantha whispered. She did not sound emotionless and distant, but warm. She made no attempt to fix her mistake. Iris did not believe her for a second.

Iris looked at the crowd; from below, they looked few, but from this spot, they looked in thousands. Iris gulped; she hoped she would not say something embarrassing. She could already feel the heat in her head. “H-hellos, I’m mean hello everyone." She looked at Diantha, who was stifling her laugh. Iris could feel the heat in her face.

Suddenly, the old man with a gray beard (Lord Lambert) was not so ordinary. He was a very capable man to have said his part so smoothly.

Diantha bent down to the mic, “This is the first time she is seeing this many people at once. So who wishes to ask first?" Iris could very much see that this was what Diantha wanted, but why?

“Can you tell us how to reach Level 6?” A young man asked very rudely. He was in a black suit. Iris could not make out the insignia; she assumed he was of Lambert.

“If I do, you, along with every other mage that can hear my voice, will go insane."

“Then, how did you gain that knowledge?”

“Again, I cannot say.”

“Why can you not say?” He asked, impatient.

“That, I will answer. Imagine a fragile glass, that is your mind, and a rock, that is the knowledge you seek; if I answer, the rock will fall on the glass.”

“Wha—”

“Miss Iris, What is your relationship with Lady Lancaster?”

“I’m just a humble servant who is bound to the wishes of my lady.”

“Do you mean you don’t have official standing?”

“No,” Iris wondered what even that was.

“How did you become level six at such a young age?”

“By giving up on my height,” Iris said enviously. The man who asked the question was the tallest in the room. “I’m afraid it is too late for you.” Iris did not hide how envious she was, earning a laugh from more than a few people in the crowd.

And for the next ten minutes, she was bombarded with nonsensical questions. Iris tried to keep her mind rational, and it was proving to be difficult. Until the crowd favorite decided to try his luck again.

“Are we really supposed to believe this runaway slave is Level 6?” The voice was that of Reed. He spoke very proudly.

“You can thank the treaty that you’re alive after completing that sentence.”

“That should be enough for the night; let’s proceed to the main event of the night.” Daintha interrupted, yet she did not attempt to walk off the stage. It was an obvious delay.

“I refuse to believe she’s Level Six, and I challenge her to a duel. If I win, she’ll be my slave.” It was the second magenta-haired boy; he sat on Reed's table. His existence was normal.

“I accept. What do you wager?” A duel was something she always accepted.

“Wager?” He sounded confused. Was he not familiar with the rules of a duel?

“If I lose, I become your slave. Now, you must place something of equal value, value that can justify a Level 6 to be a slave.”

“You—” Before he could finish, Reed chimed in.

“He will wager all his worth,” Reed proclaimed.

“What’s his worth?” Iris genuinely asked. To Iris, he seemed a worthless pawn for Reed to use.

“More than a vermin like you can fathom?” He snickered.

“I’ll assume his worth is nothing, but as the duel is already accepted, I’ll take your life as a price.” Iris was not mocking him. It was the honor of the blessed to give every life equal worth.

“You think!” Reed sprang up from his seat, “YOUR LIFE IS WORTH AS MUCH AS HIS, THIRD HIER OF REED HOUSE.” His voice rang through the hall.

“Mr. Reed, I’ll advise you to maintain the face of your standing in front of all the world.”

“Shut up! Whore,” He showed no remorse in his words. Still unafraid.

"Perhaps your father failed in proper education and etiquette. If Inspector would arrest him for capital treason.” The way she spoke, her eyes shone, and Iris felt that Diantha had emerged victorious in something that she did not know. She was being played like a pawn. She needed to reassess her situation.

“That, I’m afraid, is not possible until charges against my lady are cleared.” Huang’s voice was tense; he was sweating.

“I see,” Diantha said thoughtfully. “Then, we shall visit this matter after the festival.”

“We should leave,” Diantha suggested.

Iris shook her head. “An accepted duel cannot be revoked without a proper cause or death of a party. State your name. We have a battle to end.”

“Is it necessary? Diantha asked,

“I am willing to slaughter everything that would say otherwise." Iris did not sound like a child. When she said she was willing to slaughter everything, everything included Diantha. For that is what it means to have honor.

“Then I shall leave this stage for the performance.” Diantha walked off; she was not one bit worried about the treaty.

“Onto the stage, Challenger.”