The grand hall of the Cromwell estate was filled with an uneasy tension. Nobles from across Aetherion gathered, their whispers filling the chamber like the murmurs of a brewing storm. At the heart of it all stood Aeros, his expression unreadable as he faced the accusations levied against him.
Lucas Cromwell looked at Julius and gave him a nod. "Aeros Cromwell, you have been found guilty of treachery and conspiracy. How do you plead?"
Aeros maintained his calm composure, but his fists said otherwise. "Not Guilty, my lord. I request to see this so-called evidence against me."
"Huh, still feigning ignorance, Aeros, do you have no shame? We can all see the strength you got out of nowhere. You were a weakling and nothing until now, and suddenly you have gained such strength in a short time." Darius Cromwell said with a smirk and grin on his face.
"This bastard, only if he not had the name of my initial instructor, I would have punched his teeth out." Aeros thought. " Is that Jealousy I hear, dear brother? I would say I trained a bit harder than you and earned father's acknowledgment, unlike someone."
Hearing this, Darius gritted his teeth and tightened his fists. " Let's see your strength, you weakling. Duel me."
Seated in the high chair, Lord Julius Cromwell observed the proceedings with a cold, calculating gaze. To his right, Lady Selene, the enigmatic matriarch of the noble house, watched with an amused smirk, while Adrian, her son and one of Aeros's few allies, stood by, his fists clenched in barely concealed anger.
Across the hall, the opposition was strong. Lady Vivian Cromwell, draped in her usual elegance. Her delicate fingers traced the rim of her wine glass, her eyes sharp with hidden intent.
"It is clear that Aeros has been deceiving us all." Vivian's voice rang through the hall, her tone soft but piercing. "The recent events surrounding him are too convenient to ignore. My Son is right, I propose a trial by combat. Let the gods decide."
Aeros said nothing, his mind calculating every possibility. The accusations were baseless, a carefully crafted scheme to remove him. And yet, refusing the duel would only solidify doubt in the nobles' eyes.
Julius finally spoke, his voice calm yet laced with authority. "Very well. If trial by combat is the only way to settle this, then so be it."
The nobles murmured, excitement flickering in their expressions. A duel was always a spectacle, but a duel involving Aeros—someone whom many still underestimated—was something else entirely.
The courtyard was packed with spectators. House Cromwell's warriors, nobles, and knights all stood in attendance. The sky was overcast, as if nature itself held its breath for the battle to unfold.
Aeros stepped into the dueling ring, rolling his shoulders. Across from him, Darius Cromwell smirked, his confidence unshaken. His Silver Core aura pulsed faintly around him, a reminder of his superior rank.
"You should've known your place, brother," Darius taunted, drawing his blade. "Now, I'll make sure you never get the chance to rise."
Aeros remained silent and smiled playfully further fuelling his brother's rage, his grip tightening around his weapon. He had already decided on his approach.
"Begin!"
Darius lunged first, his speed impressive, his sword aiming straight for Aeros's shoulder. Aeros parried, but he let himself stagger slightly, making it seem as though the attack had more impact than it did.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Is that all you have?" Darius sneered, pressing forward. His strikes came faster, more aggressive. Aeros defended well but allowed a few cuts to land, his movements appearing just slow enough to feed Darius's arrogance.
Watching from the balcony, Lady Evelyn turned to her son, Leon, her expression unreadable. "Do you see it?" she murmured.
Leon, arms crossed, frowned. "He's playing with him."
Evelyn's lips curled slightly. "Indeed. He's testing Darius's limits. The fool doesn't even realize it."
Meanwhile, on the other side, Adrian growled in frustration. "Why isn't he fighting back properly?"
Selene chuckled, taking a sip of her wine. "Patience, young one. Victory isn't always about overwhelming strength."
[Perception Activated] The notification popped, Aeros grinned. He felt as if the world around him had slowed down; he could see what Darius was gonna do next, and just when Darius grew overconfident with every strike, believing he had the upper hand. His movements became sloppier, arrogance creeping into his form.
That was the moment Aeros had been waiting for.
With a sudden shift, Aeros sidestepped a reckless swing, his body moving with precision. In an instant, he twisted, slamming the pommel of his sword into Darius's gut, sending him stumbling back.
The crowd gasped.
Darius barely had time to recover before Aeros was upon him, his strikes now impossibly fast. Each blow forced Darius backward, his initial confidence now replaced with desperate defense.
Aeros's final strike disarmed Darius, his sword clattering onto the stone floor. Before he could react, Aeros pressed his blade to his opponent's throat.
The duel was over.
Silence fell over the courtyard. The nobles, the warriors, even the opposition—all were stunned.
Julius rose from his seat, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "The trial is decided. Aeros Cromwell is innocent."
Lady Vivian's fingers curled tightly around her glass, but she said nothing. She had lost this battle, but the war was far from over.
[ Battle instinct gained- +2 ] [ Unlocked attributes ]
[ Complete daily tasks to earn Aether energy ]
[Congratulations, Kid, you have reached a significant milestone. Basic Attributes have been unlocked! Strength, agility, and perception will now be quantified. Continue honing your abilities to further refine your stats.]
[ Aetherial Codex System: User Status Update
Name: Aeros Cromwell
Age: 15
Bloodline: ???
Core Rank: Copper Core (?)
Mana Circles: 0 (Locked)
Attributes: (Unlocked!)Strength: 11 (Above Average)
Agility: 14 (Enhanced Reflexes)
Endurance: 13 (Peak Human)
Intelligence: 15 (Keen Insight)
Perception: 16 (Heightened Awareness)
Mana Affinity: ??? (Locked)
Battle Instinct: 12 (+2)
Abilities:??? (Sealed)
Perception – Grants the user heightened awareness in battle, allowing them to instinctively detect an opponent's weaknesses, flawed stances, and moments of vulnerability. The effectiveness increases with focus and experience.
Enhanced Recovery – Accelerates the healing of minor wounds and restores stamina at a faster rate than normal humans.
??? (Sealed)
Special Trait:
The Forsaken Heir's Awakening (Condition Locked) ]
Aeros withdrew his blade, stepping back. Darius clenched his jaw, humiliated but unable to argue against the outcome.
Selene smiled, tilting her head towards Adrian. "I told you. Sometimes, patience wins wars."
Adrian exhaled, shaking his head with a smirk. "That was something else."
From the balcony, Evelyn gave a knowing nod to Leon, who simply chuckled under his breath. "I think he just made his real debut as a Cromwell."
As the tension in the air slowly dissolved, Aeros looked up, his gaze meeting those who had conspired against him. This was only the beginning. He had won the battle, but the war was far from over.
House Duskbane was still out there.
And he would be ready for them.
The grand halls of the estate were still buzzing with whispers when Evelyn found herself alone with Leon in one of the corridors.
"You didn't seem surprised by the outcome," Evelyn noted.
Leon smirked. "Because I knew he wasn't as weak as they thought. But more than that…" He trailed off before shaking his head. "He's got something else. A fire that doesn't come from just training."
Evelyn's gaze turned thoughtful. "Perhaps it's time we stop underestimating him."
Leon chuckled. "Perhaps."
Somewhere in the depths of the estate, hidden figures plotted their next move. The trial had failed, but the conspiracy against Aeros was far from over.
And the true enemy had yet to reveal themselves.