"Sigh! He should also learn how to hold back and know when to give up!"
Nolan sighed seeing the gesture Grey had just made to Alex. It was quite clear to him and some of the others how this was going to end.
"You can't deny that he is one of the Altharions, despite his appreance"
The Queen quietly commented in response to the King's earlier statement.
Grey wiped the sweat off his pale skin, as he took slow but steady steps towards Alex.
The other warriors present, quietly shifted and made way for him. This was a warriors way. The three young lords from before had ganged up on the weakest person around and still lost, disgracing themselves.
The rest didn't have intentions of repeating such dishonorable behaviors. The rivalry between Alex and Grey could only be sorted today, by way of battle.
Very few of them felt pity for Grey, knowing what he was about to get himself into. He was challenging one of the geniuses of their generation.
Sure, the young lord of the Altharion house was a master when it came to wielding the spear, even surprising the royal guards with his talent with the weapon.
Unfortunately that wasn't enough against a real opponent, they all knew it and Grey knew it too. But did he care? Not at all.
Nolan's eyes carried complicated emotions as he watched Grey stop a few feet from Alex.
'Why won't you listen and leave things like this to me, kid?'
"Just as stubborn as your father. He will be proud, you know?"
Grey's lips curved upwards in a small smile hearing the words of his uncle. This was what it meant to be a member of the Theo Race. He couldn't back down from a provocation like that of Alex's, how would they think of his family if he did.
The Altharion house was just recovering slowly with the efforts of his uncle. He wasn't just going to let himself cause more harm because it was the easy way out.
He couldn't let the masses see the house of Altharion as a place of cowards.
"I've always known you had guts but this is on another level. I give it to you, you fight like a warrior, but that won't mean anything in a few seconds when you fall beneath my sword!"
Alex said, shaking off the blood on his sword with single flick of his hand.
"You're definitely more noisy than those three. Such words from someone who just stepped into the world!"
Grey said and Alex's face grew dark, a small chuckle escaping from his mouth.
He wasn't falling for Grey's taunts, but he was going make him regret his decisions though.
"Let's not keep them waiting any longer then!"
Alex said, running out to meet Grey.
CLANG!
The first strike sent Grey on his knee as he struggled to block Alex's strike. He could feel the pressure that threatened to snap his bones.
He wasn't going to win this, but he couldn't care less!
Grey's eyes flashed coldly as he made the decision to slide slide his spear to the side, wanting to defect Alex's weapon.
Alex though had seen through this move. He withdrew his sword and flashed another attack the moment the spear was out of the way.
SLICE!
"UGH!"
Grey let out a grunt as he felt the cold edge of Alex's sword embed itself into his shoulder. His face was cold as ever, his eyes wrought with unwavering concentration.
He had expected that, and now, he couldn't let it get in his way.
He tensed his shoulders, making it harder for Alex to rip his weapon off, and took that moment where he was open to attack.
Changing his grip on the spear, he held it like a javelin and stabbed towards Alex's eyes.
"Tss!"
Alex took a deep breath, as he saw the tip of the sword just inched away from his eyes.
His palm dripped with blue blood as he clenched harder onto the blade of the spear.
"Hmmm!"
He throat rumbled as he left the increasing pressure being applied on weapon.
Grey's mind was a blank with just one goal—end his opponent.
There was no way he was going to stand a chance against Alex of he didn't intend to kill!
"ARGHHHHHH!"
Grey and Alex both screamed, one filled with the burning flame of determination, the other with a raging inferno of anger.
Grey's grip on the spear tightened as the skin of his palm tore open, staining the handle.
Alex's eyes had gone blank as his body began to glow with Runic inscriptions from underneath his clothes.
"Xylarion's Crest"
"Oh? Is that..?"
"Yes!"
The King muttered with genuine surprise.
Those words escaped from Alex's mouth and veins snaked up his arms, his grip on the sword tightened as he ripped out the weapon in a single motion and then, it all happened in an instant.
All the audience saw was a series of bright flashes before everywhere became calm again and the young lord of the Altharion house who was now standing, collapsed to the floor, his body mutilated with sword marks.
Alex stood over him, a significant part of his hair cut off in what seemed like a single strike along with a long cut on his cheek.
It seemed like he hadn't come out totally unscathed.
"What is he doing? Isn't it over?"
The audience muttered as they watched Alex raise his sword one more time.
The other participants watched with dark and unsure expressions.
'He wasn't going to....'
It happened faster then they could react. Alex's sword decended, the tip seeking to pierce Grey's chest.
Nolan's shut eyes snapped open and his figure vanished, appearing once again in the stage holding onto Alex's hand, stopping the sword that was inches away from killing his nephew.
Alex's runes glowed furiously and his expression twisted, as his body trembled, trying its best to finish off the opponent. An instinct drilled into every Theo warrior becoming self evident now that he was unconscious.
"Hmph!"
Nolan snorted, sending a shockwave through the whole arena as Alex snapped out of his daze, regaining clarity.
Wielding an ability you have no solid grasp over was foolish of you. You could have won without it"
Nolan said, his eyes exerting a silent pressure on Alex making it hard for him to breathe.
"I appreciate your compliments and pointers Nolan. Now let go of my son!"
Caspian said as he also appeared in the arena, looking towards Nolan with a dangerous smile.
There was a small clash of aura between the two powerhouses as Nolan refused to release grasp of Alex's hand.
The combatants and audience could feel their hearts palpitate under the tension, wondering if they were going to witness something as explosive and exciting as the clash of the lords.
There had been several debates as to which house was stronger in the top 3 high houses.
The Vaelmont house was the undisputed number one and despite the recent weakness in the Altharion house, it still contended with the high house of Durnholm.
This was the very scene everyone was dying to see.
THUD! THUD!!
A dull sound echoed through the arena, breaking through the tension and clash of auras between the two lords, suppressing the whole situation.
"This shouldn't be that complicated. Do what you need to!"
The King's voice echoed across the arena. The feeling of unquestionable sovereignty washing over them.
"Yes, your majesty!"
Caspian said with a deep bow towards the King before looking at Nolan who then let go of Alex's hand.
Nolan on the other hand was silent as he gave a bow towards the King before proceeding to pick Grey up. The spear was still clenched tightly within his hand.
"You break the rules?"
Caspian said lightly, causing the audience and combatants to frown.
"And you all agree that he has lost his battle. Or do you wish to stab a dead man?"
Nolan said, pushing the audience's view against Caspian.
He didn't wait for a response he took a few steps, disappearing from the vision of every one.
"Apologies! You can all continue!"
Caspian said to the confused combatants in the arena before walking past Alex, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't disappoint me again, child!"
He whispered before flashing away from the stage.
Aria looked at this with unclear eyes as she resumed her fights, forcing the others to do the same.
"He invoked it at that moment didn't he?"
The Queen said lightly to her husband.
"Yes. A little bit of blood sacrifice!"
The amusement in the King's voice was thick.
....
"Ughh!"
Grey opened his eyes weakly, the feeling of pain rushing through his nerves, but that was nothing compared to what he felt upon recalling the memories of the battle which came to him like a flood.
"Easy kid!"
Nolan's voice came from beside him as he turned his head to see his uncle turning the pages of an old leather boom.
"I failed!"
Grey said weakly.
"Yes. You did, and you know the consequences of such failure?"
"Sure. Let's get it over with!"
He looked away from Nolan, the ceiling was the only thing he could hold in view.
The air in the room shifted as Nolan stood up in front of Grey and said in a solemn tone.
"Grey Altharion. You have shown yourself unworthy to carry the weight of the Altharion family. Therefore, you shall be stripped of the your highest rights as the heir and young lord!"
Nolan closed his eyes as he said those words, a heavy weight settling on his heart.
'I'm sorry brother!'
"Look at the bright side kid. You can still get these things back, you kn—"
"Leave!"
Grey said, his voice blank and Nolan sighed deeply, giving the one he saw as his own the space he needed.