Chapter 27: Mystic

[An Hour Later]

It's time for the caravan ritual, the event which takes place a month before everyone is enrolled in the academy, an event to determine the level of a noble, a level determines one's influence in the land.

And the ritual takes place in the royal courtroom!

An hall capable of containing over seventy thousand men in it, it's built like a stadium and The stands created for thousands of spectators, civilians from all around the world visited the Crossword Dukedom.

This place is called the Royal Courtroom because the Duke himself prefer judging in front of thousands so he wouldn't go back on his words, but now.....it's now a center for the caravan ritual to take place.

Elites from all around the Empire came to witness everything.

Elites such as the Western, the Eastern, the Northern and the Southern Supreme Generals of the Empire, the envoys of the Dukes, the Prime Minister and the Emperor's little brother, the Archduke himself!

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They were those who cheered for the nobles of their lands, since Prince Klaus and Princess Violet, the twin royalties who are of age will be participating in the Caravan Ritual, this is what increased the numbers.

The three heirs of their Dukedoms were also participating.

Other Dukedoms are already done with their heir selection, except the Reinharts, there are ten young masters and amongst them, only one will be made the heir of the Crossword Dukedom, it will be a battle for the throne.

Seville Ramon, fifth tier mage who represents the Ruberion Dukedom as it's heir, Teron Hadron, a fourth circled alchemist who represents the Xendra Dukedom and Chris Haris, the heir of the Onaris Dukedom.

They are the three heirs amongst the four Dukedoms!

Each excelled in their various fields of knowledge, the children of the four regional supreme generals will also be participating in the Caravan Ritual, other Noble children, sons of Counts, Viscounts and Barons.

They are all participating in the Caravan Ritual!

Children of high ranked merchants and wealthy families are also participating in the Caravan Ritual, a chance to become influential but one thing is certain, the influence of the direct descendants of the Reinhart Family.

It will be determined by the end of the Caravan Ritual, the Crossword Dukedom is a merit based land!

Only the strong rules over the weak!

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All elites were all sitted in the VIP lounge, a special area heavily guarded by knight corps and armored soldiers, Regional Supreme Generals were sitted comfortably, noblemen gisted amongst them.

Within a few minutes.....the cheers and the noises which echoed from all angles died down.

And he walked into the scene with a smile written on his face, the Head Butler of the Crossword Dukedom, Geran Fruze....a former Swordsmaster and a former western supreme general candidate.

Dressed in a jet black suit, he halted... standing at the center of the battle arena, all attention were fixed on him, and he cleared his throat.

" The Crossword Dukedom greets the Archduke Liam Reganez, we greet the four regional supreme genrals and we offer our greetings to the noblemen who came from every angles of the Empire "

" Citizens of the Vahallan Empire....welcome to the Caravan Ritual "

" Even though all of you are aware of what the Caravan Ritual truly is about, it's my duty as the host of tonight's event to preach about the existence of this event and it's true importance "

" This is a formal tradition of the Empire which has existed since the first century which occured two thousand years ago, an event which determines the levels and ranks of the future warlords and generals "

" Tonight is the night we will know who amongst the younger generations will reign above the others "

Head Butler Geran uttered causing the sounds of excitement filled the air, Head Butler Geran snapped his fingers when a bright illuminating cerulean light expanded, covering the entirety of the Courtroom.

[ Activating Sequence: Novex is now online ]

A systematic voice rang out, it echoed vastly when hundreds of transparents boxes appeared on the air, the courtroom became as silent as a graveyard, Senators of the Reinhart Family were present.

It's compulsory for all high ranked individuals in Crossword to be present!

" Novex is active, its known that we humans are creatures driven by emotions and instincts, passions and desires, so none of us will be the judge of this ritual, Novex will be in charge of this event "

" She is the Adminstrator of Vahalla after all, now....can the players of the Caravan Ritual, enter the Courtroom " Head Butler Geran voiced out, turning towards the entrance of the courtroom, the door opened up.

Participants of the Caravan Ritual are considered players since it's more like a game!

And one after the other, they made their entrance into the courtroom, in front of thousands who came to witness the Caravan Ritual, they flooded the arena in their numbers, many came in groups.

Seville Ramon was being followed by her girlfriends who are also nobles.

Players were seen whispering amongst themselves, they approached the center of the court room, amongst the hundreds of players present, only three were known to be alone, isolated from everyone.

And they were Carlian Reinhart, the second young master of the Reinhart Family, Varis Bridge, the son of the Northern Supreme General and Kyle Reinhart, the tenth young master of the Reinhart Family.

Each and everyone were equipped with their weapons!

Varis, a spearman firmly held his spear, both Carlian Reinhart and Kyle Reinhart are both swordsmen, Seville turned her gaze, facing the direction of Kyle Reinhart, even though he noticed her.

He refused to face her, ignoring her thoroughly!

" Hmmm, so that's the second young master of the Reinhart Family huh? Carlian Reinhart, I heard he's also participating in the Caravan Ritual, I don't know how the system of the Reinhart Family works "

" But there are only three young masters of the Reinhart Family participating in this event, the sixth young master, Sidra Reinhart....the lousy one and Carlian Reinhart, the twisted one, I'm the last, an ex defect "

" Aside Seville who is the heir of Ruberion, there are also two heirs and the twin of the Emperor's as well, the prince has reached the sword expert level, it's only natural considering he has the best tutors "

" And he is a nexus being and that includes the princess "

" Even though she tries to hide it but I can confirm it, She's a saintess, a being blessed with divine powers of a deity but to think she was chosen by that man, the leader of the twelve Zodiacs "

" Should I kill her? " Kyle asked himself!

" No, not yet, she is the princess of the Empire, killing her will make me a direct enemy of the Empire and I'm too weak to fight everyone, what a lucky child....she stays alive until I'm strong enough "

" All worshippers of Zudaism will be purged, it's only a matter of time " Kyle said to himself when a smirk escaped his lips, Seville noticed the smirk, Kyle whose eyes met with hers rolled his eyes.

Facing another angle!

" It seems all the players are here, their numbers have been confirmed by the Novex, and before the game starts.....It's time we welcome the owner of this land, the supreme ruler of the Crossword Dukedom "

" Let's welcome the sword of the empire, the great Duke Erald Reinhart.....the sword of the morning " Head Butler Geran declared, all knights and soldiers fell on their knees, with their heads bowed.

The hall became as silent as a graveyard!

And the players fell on their knees, bowing their heads before his throne, not even the prince and the princess were exempted from this, as long as they are not higher than the Duke in terms of rank.

They must bowed their heads before him.

Clang!

The metallic gigantic door leading into the courtroom slowly opened and the fierce sounds of trumpets covered the atmosphere, Kyle's eyes widened in shock when he sensed something, a different power.

" Tsk, what's this power? It's too fierce.....too powerful, is this the power of this child's father? " Kyle coughed out, all the players shook, their bloods boiled the moment he took a step into the courtroom.

" What's the battle pressure? " Kyle gritted his teeths, withstanding the extreme pressure!

Escorted by only the higher ranked knight captains in his force, Duke Erald Reinhart emerged, he shook the air with a single step, the Novex blocked the fierce pressure from knocking out the spectators.

But they all felt the intense pressure.

Cladded in a silver robe, Duke Erald Reinhart walked in, with a cold gaze, he walked passed the players who shivered due to his intense battle pressure, although he only released a fragment of his battle pressure.

" Hmmm....some are still struggling huh? as expected....the prince is strong, let's see, the princess, the heirs of the Dukes, and a few, what about Carlian? " Duke Erald asked himself, his eyes turned.

He took a glance at Carlian who withstood the pressure, he wasn't knocked out!

" As expected Carlian isn't out yet, this is enough for me to know who the strong people are and....." Duke Erald couldn't complete his words when he noticed something, he turned towards a certain direction.

His eyes widened the moment he gazed at the tenth young master, Kyle Reinhart!

" Huh? Isn't that Kyle? to think the Senators were not lying about their reports, if he's still not out yet, then he has potentials, let's see if you're not the useless son I once had " Duke Erald Reinhart declared.

He approached the elite area where his throne was positioned, he climbed the stairway, the moment he sat on his throne.

The battle pressure ceased to exist!

Kyle spat out bloods from his mouth the moment he was freed from the intense pain, he slowly rose up to his feets, cleaning his bloody lips, he wore a grin!

" He-he-he-he, this child's father, Duke Erald.....he's strong, to think I would meet someone who's on the levels of knights in the Saturn Era, is he a demigod? "