Chapter 135: Titles
[ 3 Days Before the Trial Begins! ]
Whispers of anticipation swept through the city of Rendely.
In inns, taverns, and quiet streets, voices rose in hushed tones and urgent murmurs.
"They say the gates will open in three days... and the children of Bloodrose will walk through them," an old soldier muttered to his companion over a mug of ale.
"I don't know how I feel about it," another said. "Some of them are barely sixteen. What kind of king lets his future be gambled in a place like that?"
Another voice chimed in near the window of the bar. "You mean King Aramir? Letting Atlas and Azrael join the trial? That's insanity. They're Ceresey and Rodeny, too valuable to lose!"
The room fell into a brief, uneasy silence. Someone finally replied, "Maybe that's the point. If even the brightest stars risk their lives, then the rest will follow with courage."
A cloaked woman nearby gave a cold chuckle. "Or they'll die with honor. Either way, Rendely will get its entertainment."
The entire city was holding its breath. The Trial was coming, and not everyone would come back.
Bloodrose Academy - Morning Class
Inside the Academy's marble halls, tension simmered beneath the surface. The elite class sat straight-backed as Head Instructor Ramires stood at the front, his sharp eyes passing over them like a hawk watching prey.