All the spectators sit on the upstairs balcony as a woman stands front and center on the stage. She's wearing an elegant gown adorned with a necklace, each element representing every Kingdom. The room is decorated with majestic tapestries and glimmering chandeliers. The participants are separated by their respective kingdoms, with only two seats at the front, embroidered with the symbol of the red dragon. Each other Kingdom has 12 seats in their sections.
The woman on stage smiles brightly. "We are incredibly excited to see everyone here today at this magnificent event!" She says, looking at the participants and then the spectators. "And thank you to the spectators for donating and allowing us to continue this tradition that benefits all kingdoms alike!" Alatar zones her out as he focuses on that smell. It's familiar to him, but as he thinks about it more, his eyes widen as he realizes, "Nexiloth..." he thinks to himself.
"That concludes the introduction! Now, let us get on with the Royal Exhibitions! We will start with the Bronze Kingdom as they introduce their participants!" The spectators applaud as she steps off the stage. They step onto the stage to showcase their talents. Creating nature-inspired displays showcasing the artistic talents of the Bronze Kingdom. One of the females transformed into a whole, as the other used what Alatar believed to be a Mold Earth spell, creating a small cliff made of wood for the wolf to walk on, letting out a howl.
Mira leans over and whispers into Alatar's ear. "Interesting display. Is it a little exaggerated to you? It's kinda bland just showcasing the symbol of your Kingdom like that." Alatar shrugs as he whispers back to her, "I never knew my Kingdom's symbol. I grew up on the outskirts, which means little to nothing to me."
"My name is Princess Asha, Heir to the Bronze Throne. I am here to show you all the talents and resilience of my Kingdom." With rich mahogany skin, she exudes determination and hope. Her thick, lustrous curls cascade down her back, interwoven with vines and small flowers. She steps to the side, letting the next woman step forward.
With warm caramel-toned skin, her gentle voice breaks through the silence. Her hair flows like gentle waves as she speaks, "Greetings, everyone. I am Lady Nuri, the Guardian of Illumination." She's in a brown tunic with green accents. Vine patterns are woven beautifully throughout.
A sun-kissed bronze woman with a loose windswept braid and small feathers decorated all over her head introduces herself as Zephyr with a rather loud and free-spirited attitude.
The two men step forward, one named Ishan, the Guardian Lord. He stands at least five inches taller than Alatar with intricately braided hair. The light shines on his deep, ebony skin. He states his name as he looks at Alatar; tension rises between them for a moment as he looks at the other man. "I am known as Kai, the Sentinel of Tranquil Depths." He speaks in a calm, wise tone. He has a coffee skin complexion with a simple yet elegant hairstyle, as loose waves fall gracefully around his shoulders. Princess Asha steps forward again and bows as they leave the stage, returning to their seats.
The Iron Kingdom steps forward as they display cutting-edge gadgets, with semi-robotic creations running off the Mana that flows through the air. Prince Xeriah steps forward, raising both arms as if beckoning to be praised. "The Iron Kingdom isn't bounded by the usual means of magic; we use our minds and seek to control it from the root! " Fire shoots forth behind him as an owl-like bear appears and flies around the ballroom with a roaring screech. It swirls around as it gets too close to Mira; Alatar looks at it, then at Xeriah. They make eye contact as the spectators gasp in horror. Alatar, not hesitating, stands up. He slaps the owl-like bear back towards the stage. One of the three women pulls a whip and wraps it around the owl-like bear, cutting it into tiny pieces.
Mira watches on, speechless at the stunt they pulled. Alatar looks at Xeriah. "Enough with your parlor tricks. Introduce yourself and your group, and get your ass off the stage." The crowd murmurs and speaks amongst themselves. "He's speaking to a royal like that?" another older man speaks. "I believe he's a Shadow; he has no right to speak to a Royal like that." Mira begins to stand and speak but is startled by a hearty laugh. She recognizes it to be Cunningham. "Ahh, let them banter! This will make it perfect for the coming event!" The spectators speak among themselves, eventually coming to an agreement.
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Xeriah makes the woman step aside as he looks down at Alatar. "And what will you do if I won't?" Alatar looks at him. "I'll put you and your entire team down." Xeriah laughs. "Oh really?! By yourself? I hope you realize you aren't the only Shadow here. It will turn into a twelve versus two." Alatar holds up one finger. "One." Xeriah turns his head to the side in confusion. "One what?" Alatar looks into the dark parts of the ballroom, seeing all the shadowed figures watching him. "Twelve versus One."
Xeriah looks at Alatar, raising one eyebrow in astonishment. "You have to be absolutely insane! Taking on twelve of the strongest of the Iron's Kingdom fighters! I'll finish this introduction, and we'll deal with you later." He clears his throat as Alatar stands, even with Mira slightly pulling on his sleeve.
"Greetings, Everyone! I am Prince Xeriah, the next Heir of the Iron Kingdom! I showcased the ingenuity of my kingdom's specialty. Our intelligence!" The light shows more of his face. It exudes authority and power. He nods as he looks at Alatar, then steps to the side. Letting the women talk. Their pale faces move as they speak in unison, "We are the Three Sisters forged in Iron." The one with ash-blonde hair is styled in a practical braid with metallic threads and speaks next. "I am Freya, the Forger of Innovation." The second one speaks with a more commanding tone than the other two. Her sandy-blonde hair is neatly styled with subtle metallic highlights. Her hairstyle incorporates angular cuts. "I am Sora, The Architect of Progress." She says with a bow. The third woman boasts loudly, "I AM ASTRID, THE VANGUARD OF INGENUITY!" half of her head is shaved. At the same time, the rest of her platinum blonde hair is styled in intricate braids interwoven with miniature metallic adornments. They step away, showing a more petite boy with round glasses. He walks up nervously.
"I-I am Magnus, the Patron of Ad-Advancement!" he has rich auburn hair styled in a sleek but functional yet regal manner. They all step off the stage as they walk past Alatar, with all but Magnus staring him down. "See you soon, little birdy. Don't get your wings clipped too soon in the next event." Xeriah says as he blows Alatar a little kiss. Everyone sits down as the Gold Kingdom takes to the stand.
Not wanting to put on a show, a beautiful woman steps forward, possessing a fair complexion with a hint of olive undertones. Her chestnut brown hair flows down in loose curls decorated with beautiful braided golden ribbons and delicate jewels. "Hello, I am Princess Elara, The next Sovereign of the Gold Kingdom. It's a pleasure to see everyone, and blessed to you all for this event." She bows her head gracefully as she lets the next man step up. He has a robust physique with sun-kissed skin and sandy blond hair in a swept-back fashion. "I am Emrys, the Valor Duke of the Gold Kingdom."
The next one to introduce themselves is a woman named Seraphina, the Beacon of Elegance. She has a creamy complexion with hints of peach undertones. Her chestnut hair is styled in a refined updo adorned with golden filigree and mini pearls. The next is a dignified man named Lucian. He has a complexion reminiscent of warm caramel. His dark chestnut hair is neatly styled.
The last one is a woman standing nearly as tall as Alatar as she stands with broad shoulders. She introduces herself as Aurelia, The Guardian of Prosperity. She possesses a golden complexion with a sunlit glow, complementing her vibrant aura. Her honey-blonde hair flows down her back in loose waves elegantly styled in braided half-updo adorned with golden accents. The Princess steps forward. "I'll be praying for a safe event, and everyone, please stay safe." She says with a smile as they depart from the stage.
Lastly, Mira stands with Alatar as they step up to the stage. She clears her throat and bows elegantly as she slightly lifts up her dress. "I am Mira, Princess of the Diamond Kingdom." She looks at everyone with a calm but confident gaze. "I know my kingdom has never come to these events for the last 200 years, but I want to change that. This is a power play. We've come for one thing and one thing only." She places her hands together as the pressure builds around the entire area. The spectators fall to a knee.
Looking down at the other participants as they struggle to move, some of the Shadows fall unconscious. "We've come to win," Mira says with a smile. At that very moment, they all felt it. This generation of royals, no other their age, stood as their equals...or so they thought. As this pressure builds, they search for its overwhelming source. It all leads to one man, and that man is Alatar.