The grand ballroom fell silent as Alex crossed the threshold. Hundreds of candles suspended in ornate fixtures cast the vast chamber in golden light, their flames perfectly still in the momentary hush. Dignitaries and representatives from across the continent stood arranged in precise formation—their positions a living map of political hierarchies etched into the very floor of the Lionhart Estate.
"Presenting Swordmaster Alex Lionhart of House Lionhart — a prodigy who attained the rank of Swordmaster at just fourteen years old," the Master of Ceremonies announced, his voice carrying to every corner without apparent effort, enhanced by acoustic enchantments embedded in the ballroom's architecture.
