Chapter 95: Internal Problem
Orlaith led the 4 young ones to a table. The seats were all the way in the back, out of everyone’s sight. However, even though the place where they were sitting was not very visible, with Flaris there, together with the other two women, it was impossible not to draw attention.
Flaris was very tall and imposing. It was not that absurd for a man to have the same height as her or even be taller, but because she was a woman, she gave off a unique and different feeling.
Part of that came from her Demonic Bloodline. Part of it was because she really could attract a lot of male attention. Anyone who entered the hall would naturally have their attention drawn to her.
Then, when they looked at the table and saw Shione and Orlaith, who were just as beautiful, but in a different way, every man’s gaze stayed fixed there for several seconds.
Lumiere also captivated the eyes of the humanoid girls. As for Priam... only a few gave him a second look.
He was not ugly in any way; he just had very soft features and even looked a little feminine. No matter how much Priam trained physically, he did not develop many muscles. His mother’s genetics were very strong, and he seemed destined to remain forever as a beautiful example of a male Elf.
In that world of Mages, Priam realized that women had a strange preference for only liking tall and strong men.
Not that he cared much... but once, he had asked Flaris about it. She said he looked more cute than truly handsome, and that possibly the average woman would say the same.
"Flaris, Lumiere, Shione, and Priam," Orlaith’s voice drew their attention. "There will certainly be duels later. I want you to pay close attention. It would be best if you managed to learn something from the fights."
They nodded slightly.
"In these exchanges of blows, everyone tries to show off against the strongest people. Because of that, it is unlikely that anyone will challenge you. Just observe in silence."
Orlaith finished in a serious tone, and her gaze was fixed on Priam.
He smiled faintly back, trying to reassure her. He had already realized that Orlaith only wanted to protect him, because it was obvious that Priam was hiding many terrifying things. Even as the clan Leader, she had never even touched on the subject or tried to take anything from him.
She truly was a dignified and respectable clan Leader. As for Priam... he was very weak and needed not to draw too much attention.
’I hope she has a strong heart. Because... I was born to shine!’ Priam murmured internally.
He did not actively seek trouble. But he certainly would not run from it, or act like a weakling for no reason.
Priam sensed the young people in the chairs around the hall. There were only thirty at the moment. Each one of them, without a doubt, was the best of the best from their clans.
What caught his attention was that they were, at minimum, third-level Mage Disciples.
Shione, Lumiere, and Flaris had broken through to the elementary level, just like Priam, only a few days ago. But even if they wanted to rise through the levels as fast as possible, they could only safely rise to the 1st level before the recruitment day.
For a Mage, no matter how talented they were, the time to study and rise was essential. That could not be rushed. In other words, all of those others had already reached the Disciple Rank quite some time ago, showing the great difference compared to the Ylisse clan.
...
The minutes passed slowly. Every few minutes, a group of people arrived in the hall and sat at a table. But, unlike with the Ylisse clan, all the others went to greet them politely.
Orlaith was forced to stand up and greet them as well, but all of them only nodded lightly to her, full of mockery in their eyes.
When the scheduled time for the banquet arrived, 2 of the 13 powers of the alliance were still missing, besides the Aether-Wood Deer race.
At that moment, the protagonist of the event, the newly appointed Grand Elder Ladomi, finally arrived.
This was the same one Priam and the others had seen in the underground hall when they discovered the truth about their clan.
Ladomi’s face displayed a serene and proud expression. He entered the hall with calm steps and turned toward everyone who was already there, giving only a light nod, without any intention of greeting them directly.
Now, his status was too high, and these alliance clans did not enter his eyes.
When he stopped...
"Haha, Grand Elder Ladomi, my Iron Fang Clan and I respectfully congratulate you on your appointment."
Following the sound of a warm and clear laugh, an extremely strong and tall middle-aged man with green skin could be seen entering. Behind him were seven young people, all entering with wide strides.
Priam immediately linked their race to the Orcs from Earth’s fantasy tales.
But on their green skin, thin silver lines could be seen, as if they were made of iron. Maybe Orcs really had existed in the past, but those there had become another race.
"This is the current Leader of the Iron Fang Clan," Orlaith whispered to the 4 young ones at the table.
"This is the second greatest power in our alliance. The one coming right behind him is his youngest son, Barak. Despite being young, he is surprisingly talented. According to the rumors, he managed to pass the preliminary evaluation of one of the great divine sects of his universe. Maybe he really will manage to pass and become an outer disciple of that sect."
Priam felt the aura of that tall green-skinned young man. He was at the fourth level and displayed a powerful and natural physical aura.
He had also already learned that, in practically every sect, disciples were divided into outer, inner, and core disciples. So, even with Barak being from the second greatest power of this alliance, simply reaching the lowest level of disciple in a large sect was already considered terrifying and almost impossible.
"Grand Elder Ladomi, I hope you have been well since our last meeting. Today, I brought my son especially to appear before you... This is a modest gift, as a sign of respect."
Ladomi accepted the gift from the Leader of the Iron Fang Clan. "You are very kind. Your esteemed son is extraordinarily talented, and his behavior is exceptional. I am confident he will manage to enter a great divine sect in a few days. In the future, he will certainly surpass his father. Please, take a seat..."
Before he finished the sentence, new people arrived.
"The Sun of the Underworld Clan congratulates Grand Elder Ladomi on his appointment."
With a loud and powerful voice, an average-height old demon entered the hall, dressed entirely in red.
He had a pair of membranous wings, and his eyes looked like two crimson suns. As soon as he entered the hall, everyone could clearly feel a wave of heat hit their faces.
That was the leader of the number one clan in the alliance, a demon clan. Ladomi received them, and once again gained a gift.
The other powers around them only sighed. Although they wanted to, they did not dare bring gifts, because whatever they brought would only be a reason for embarrassment.
After the Sun of the Underworld Clan, a group belonging to the Aether-Wood Deer race finally arrived. They were the last to arrive.
The one leading the way was a young man who looked human and did not seem to be more than fifteen years old. That obviously was not his true form, since he was a Primordial Chaos Beast.
Behind him came a middle-aged man and six other young people.
"Grand Elder, this young one congratulates you."
Upon entering the hall, the young man calmly addressed Ladomi, showing the proper etiquette of a young person in a lower position with serenity and refinement. He showed neither servility nor arrogance.
"That is Hahho..." Orlaith took a deep breath and whispered to the four at the table. "He is the nephew of the race’s Great Leader. He is also only fifteen years old and is publicly recognized as the number one of the new generation of the Aether-Wood Deer race."
The four young ones fixed their senses on him. Hahho was at the fifth level, and his aura gave them an instinctive sense of danger.
Fifteen years old... and he already had that level of power.
He looked very young, but there was a remarkable maturity in his behavior. Those who saw him were taken by peculiar feelings... astonishment, admiration, envy, or perhaps even a shameful feeling of inferiority.
"Heh-heh, you really came. Is your esteemed father not coming today?" Ladomi asked, laughing carefreely.
He and no one else had expected the race leader to come personally. But Hahho’s father, the race leader’s brother, was someone of extremely high status, being informally as important as the Grand Elder.
"Although my father very much wished to come personally to congratulate you on your appointment, he is indisposed and could not attend today. Because of that, this young one is acting in his place. Please, do not take offense." Hahho smiled as he answered with gentle words.
Even though Hahho was extremely courteous on the surface, the exchange of looks between the two and their fake smiles made it clear that there was something hidden.
Anyone who was not foolish or blind would realize that this was obviously a form of blatant contempt.
The Grand Elder had barely been appointed, and clearly everyone felt there was an internal problem within the race.
Most likely, that powerful figure within the race had wanted someone else in this position, but the Great Leader had chosen Ladomi as Grand Elder.
"Hahahaha," Ladomi let out a light laugh, full of meaning. Then he waved for everyone of his race to sit down.
All the guests had already arrived.
The greatest powers were at the tables near the center, and the main table was obviously Ladomi’s.
At that instant, the banquet began to be served to everyone.
As for the young people from all the powers, when they saw the food arrive, all of them felt a chill in their stomachs.
That was because the moment for them to show off was getting closer and closer.