As the elders of the Starfall family and their subsidiary families went on to discuss their strategy to aid in the upcoming quest to find the missing children, Jonan was completely ignored, not even his name was mentioned, It was a stark reminder of how the world operates, as long as someone holds value, whether positive or negative, they are remembered, otherwise, they fade into obscurity, and everyone present dismissed his impassioned speech about finding his friends and uncovering the culprit as childish in their minds.
"Jonan, thank god now you are out of this trouble, and try to lay low for a while, after all, your friends are still missing, and no one knows if this incident will continue in the future", stated Elara with an expression of worry.
"Mom, do not worry, I will be in closed doors from now on, for some time at least", said Jonan agreeing with his mother's words, while he felt hurt at the fact that as soon as he was in the clear, he was considered invisible by almost everyone, he knew the main reason behind all this, is his own weakness.
After finalizing their discussions, silence fell over the group, everyone's attention turned towards Draven The Hero, and everyone subtly bowed to him, following his lead, all of them decided to commence the combat among the younger descendants of the Starfall family, this event held large importance for both the young heirs and their guardians, who stood to gain immensely if their descendants emerged victorious in combat.
The air was filled with the beeping of horns, for the battle was on and the first to venture into the fight was Darius, Jonan's older step-brother, his face full of pride, while his rival was Kaelen, a tall boy from the Branch Descendants.
Darius and Kaelen took to the grand stage, amid the leaping shadows of the torches, with air electric with anticipation, as Darius and Kaelen faced one another, and each had that certain air about them of brutality, but a mask of intent on their face, while there was that particular expectation and determination behind each mask.
The referee, an old pro of countless duels, stood at the side of the stage with his hand raised, telling the crowd to hold still, nodding seriously, he waved his hand, and the duel began.
Darius, the older of the two, the direct descendant of the legend, Draven Starfall, was armed with a halberd, its metal shone under the burning torches, the blade curved, deadly looking, he came forward with slow deliberate steps, his movements well-trained and confident, revealing a wealth of strict battle experience.
Standing opposite him was Kaelen, driven by a burning desire to prove himself, his hold on his staff tightening, the wood weathered but strong, a reflection of his determination, Kaelen's defensive position was tense yet composed, his gaze locked onto Darius with unyielding attention.
Both charged at once attacking each other, and their first impact shook the arena, their impact left sparks and air twisted with both refusing to yield, after being pushed back, Darius didn't waste time and charged forward, his halberd swiping through the air with a touch of killing intent, while Kaelen just managed to react, holding up his staff to block the blow, the shock ran through his arms, he was sent flying back, his hands were aching and heavy, but he caught himself with his staff not to fall off the stage, and it was then that he finally got a chance to catch his breath.
The crowd was eager and, watched intently while muttering their own thoughts for the battle that was taking place, and understood the difference between someone from the Main Descendants and branch Descendants, a testament to the intricate hierarchy within the Starfall family.
As the duel intensified, Darius pressed his advantage, his attacks relentless and heavy with pure raw strength, each strike aimed with intent to draw first blood, testing Kaelen's defenses to their limits, sweat glistened on Kaelen's brow as he parried and dodged, his movements becoming strained with each passing moment, yet, he refused to yield, not willing to give up.
"Kaelen, are you sure you want to keep going, we both know that you will lose in the end, what is the use of struggling, it is better to give up and save yourself from the embarrassment that you are showing here in front of everyone, maybe try working hard, and you might catch up with me later on", Darius taunted, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Kaelen clenched his teeth, and in a burst of sudden strength and agility, Kaelen changed tactics, rotating his staff in a quick counter-clockwise circle, he feigned to the left before dashing towards Darius, and his move produced a gust of wind, heightening the force of his attack as he unleashed a mighty strike from above.
Meeting the incoming attack, Darius's face was still calm, a trace of pride and a sparkle of amusement dancing in his eyes, he dodged Kaelen's attack with ease, the movement fluid and controlled, the smile on his lips grew even wider, a silent derision of Kaelen's fruitless attempt.
Taking advantage of the opening he had made for himself, Darius counterattacked with a speed that was lightning-quick, delivering a punch to Kaelen's face, taken aback by the abrupt change in Darius's speed, Kaelen stumbled backward, the force of Darius's punch transmitting shockwaves of agony through his skull, rendering him almost unconscious, he stumbled, his legs unsteady, before finally losing his balance and falling to the ground.
The onlookers gasped in shock as Kaelen struck the stage with a tremendous thud, some of them felt sympathy, others shared knowing glances, It was to be expected by many, a proof of the extreme difference in their talent and upbringing.
Darius lowered his halberd, a victorious smile playing on his lips. He glanced down at Kaelen, a hint of condescension in his gaze. "You should have known better, Kaelen, You can't compete with someone like me, maybe if you work harder, you'll catch up to me someday", remarked Darius, his voice full of disdain.
Kaelen struggled to rise, his body aching with exhaustion and defeat, he felt bitter, not just from the blood trickling down his lip, but from the harsh reality of his circumstances, born into the Branch Descendant lineage, he had always faced an uphill battle against those with the privileges enjoyed by the Main Descendants.
The Starfall family, renowned for producing heroes and warriors of unparalleled skill, operated under a strict hierarchy, created by Draven himself, Main Descendants like Darius were showered with resources, training, and support from the maternal sides of their lineage, his mother was also someone from a powerful noble family, he was groomed for greatness from birth, his path paved with expectations and entitlement from those who invested in him.
In contrast, Branch Descendants like Kaelen were expected to prove themselves through merit alone and get into stringent contracts with other noble families or even organizations, his access to resources was limited, and his opportunities were contingent on his ability to excel in monthly assessments and competitions, It was a strict yet fair system designed to uphold the family's legacy of strength and prestige, but one that often left those on the periphery struggling to keep pace.
Kaelen balled his fists, straining himself up from the floor against the pain of his bruised body, he felt the gaze of the crowd on him, some sympathetic, some uninterested, and some silently critical, his eyes met Darius's across the stage, determination blazing in his eyes.
As he rose from the ground, battered but unconquered, a spark of defiance flamed in Kaelen's spirit, he didn't see his defeat as being the end of his path, If anything, this duel has only strengthened his resolve to push beyond his limitation, to establish that he belonged to the lineage of Starfalls, while the disappointment was shared by many because of Kaelen's loss, his struggle was on exhibition to his relatives and friends, who admired his resilience.
The umpire advanced, marking the termination of the duel in favor of victory for Darius, the crowd gasped softly in appreciation of the demonstration of prowess and superiority, Darius bowed respectfully, receiving the accolades with a sensibility of ownership that came with his family background, with pride creasing his face.
While Kaelen stepped away from the stage, his footsteps heavy with fatigue, but quiet as it was proper for the loser of a duel to be overlooked, but his thoughts were ablaze with fresh determination, for he knew that only by continuing on his way and not giving up was the only option for him, as he looked back at the stage for the final time, a spark of determination shone brightly in his eye, and he made a silent promise to go against expectations and forge his own destiny within the Great Starfall clan and make his name legendary to all.
In the midst of the whispered comments of viewers and the soft rustle of sophisticated clothes, the stark contrast in power and status between the Main Descendants and Branch Descendants was clear.
While these differences served as a reliable gauge of power, there were individuals who transcended such distinctions, individuals who alone defied the constraints of lineages and factions.
Despite the collective disappointment following Kaelen's defeat, no one ever dared to underestimate the Branch Descendants, among them were those endowed with formidable talents, capable of rivaling even the most esteemed of Main Descendants, yet, what truly shattered the illusions of superiority was the emergence of a prodigious talent, a figure whose brilliance knew no bounds and whose name struck fear into the hearts of the Main Descendants, Freya Starfall.