Unexpected Discovery

The party continued in all its extravagant glory. Crystal lights hung from the trees, casting a soft glow that blended seamlessly with the orchestra's alternating grand and mellow melodies. Guests laughed, chatted, and occasionally raised their glasses in a toast while servers moved swiftly, refilling drinks and presenting what seemed like an endless stream of gourmet dishes.

It was already ten at night when two figures stepped onto the mansion's main balcony, immediately drawing the attention of every guest.

At the center of the garden, a stage had been set up, and on it stood a man draped in a black robe adorned with gold embroidery. His shoulder-length black hair shimmered under the soft garden lights, while his sharp blue eyes scanned the crowd with the composed authority of a ruler. This was Sinclair Duskbane, head of the Duskbane family and one of the most influential figures in the empire.

Beside him stood a young woman in a deep red gown embroidered with gold patterns that perfectly matched the color of her eyes. Eleanor Duskbane, the only daughter of the family, radiated an aura of both elegance and confidence. Her long black hair flowed freely, catching the light as she smiled subtly at the guests, her poised demeanor making it clear that she had been raised in the limelight since birth.

From various corners of the gathering, young men—some her age, some older, and even a few younger—watched Eleanor with admiration.

To them, she wasn't just a noble beauty. She was perfection itself. Her face had almost flawless proportions— a delicate jawline that tapered just right, lips naturally curved into a faint, unreadable smile, and striking blue eyes that carried an air of mystery.

Her skin was as smooth as porcelain, glowing under the party lights. Every movement she made had a natural grace to it, as if even the evening breeze hesitated to disturb her. The way her red gown traced her silhouette was almost intoxicating, making her appear not just beautiful but aristocratically mesmerizing.

William, standing beside Eryon, stared at Eleanor, his jaw slightly slack. Without even realizing it, he took another sip of his wine, as if that would help him process what he was seeing.

"Okay, I get why everyone here looks like a secret worshipper," he muttered under his breath.

Eryon glanced at him and had to suppress a chuckle at his friend's awestruck expression.

William let out a long sigh before turning to Eryon with a look of exaggerated hope. "Do you think I have a chance?"

Eryon raised an eyebrow. "You're serious?"

William shrugged. "Hey, maybe I'll be the underdog who wins the heart of the noble heiress. Imagine it—an aristocrat and a commoner. A classic romance!"

Eryon scoffed. "More like you'd end up as a background character in someone else's love story."

William clutched his chest dramatically, pretending to be wounded. "You underestimate my charm, my friend."

Eryon chuckled and took another sip of his wine. "Just being realistic."

Sinclair Duskbane raised a hand, and immediately, the lively chatter began to die down. The guests, who had been engaged in conversations, quickly turned their attention to the stage.

"My esteemed guests, welcome to this special evening," Sinclair's deep, calm voice carried effortlessly across the garden, as if the air itself ensured everyone could hear him clearly.

"Tonight is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration—not just for Eleanor but for our entire family. A moment that marks the transition from youth to greater responsibility."

The guests listened attentively, some nodding in agreement, others smiling.

"I sincerely thank all of you for taking the time to be here. So tonight, enjoy the feast, enjoy the entertainment, and let us celebrate together!"

A wave of applause spread through the crowd, followed by cheers and raised glasses. Some guests shouted in excitement, while others gave respectful nods.

Sinclair glanced at Eleanor with a proud expression before giving her a small nod and stepping down from the stage with her. As they returned to their seats, a well-dressed man stepped up to the stage, preparing to introduce the evening's most anticipated performance.

And then, the entire atmosphere of the party changed.

The sky above the garden was suddenly filled with shimmering golden-blue lights, as if stars were cascading down, forming intricate patterns in the air before bursting into mesmerizing magical displays. The guests gazed upward, some speechless, others whispering in awe.

At the heart of the garden, a massive illusion began to take shape—a three-headed dragon with crystal scales that reflected the light like diamonds. It hovered in mid-air, its vast wings spread wide before it let out a roar that sent ripples through the air. But rather than being terrifying, the sound was almost hypnotic, like an ancient song that couldn't be understood—only felt.

And then, emerging from behind the dragon, dancers in enchanted costumes moved as if they were part of the magic itself. They leaped, spun, and floated in perfect synchronization, creating the illusion that they were dancing on air, suspended among the glowing particles.

Eryon, watching from a secluded corner of the garden, couldn't help but be impressed. He had seen magical performances before, but something about this one felt flawless—so fluid, so refined, as if magic and art had been woven into a masterpiece.

"Wow, this is insane. Not everyone gets to witness high-level magic like this. Man, I feel lucky we used to be close to Eleanor before she transferred schools," William murmured, feeling a sense of pride in his words.

"I guess we're still on her close friends list," Eryon replied.

"Yeah, having a noble friend is definitely an advantage," William laughed, popping a grape into his mouth. "Anyway, what gift did you bring?" he asked, looking at Eryon curiously.

At that moment, Eryon froze. His expression shifted as realization hit him.

"Shit. I forgot," he muttered.

William nearly choked. "Dude, seriously? You didn't bring a gift at all?"

Eryon was silent for a moment before saying, "Gimme a sec," and immediately walked off, his pace quickening.

"Hey, where are you going?" William called after him.

Eryon didn't answer, only gesturing with his fingers as he disappeared into the distance. William, deciding not to chase after him, just let him go.

—--

Eryon made his way to a quieter spot near an open field where the lighting was dimmer than the rest of the venue. Spotting a large tree, he headed straight for it. He ran his fingers over his spatial ring, searching for something.

The ring wasn't just a storage space—it allowed him to sense the items within by touch.

Back in Aden Forest, he hadn't just hunted beasts; he had also taken valuable items from those he had killed.

After a moment, he pulled out a black pouch about the size of his palm, his expression brightening.

"A 60×60 cm spatial pouch. Perfect!" he said.

Now that he had the gift box, he just needed the actual gift. He recalled picking up a few valuable items back then.

A few seconds later, he retrieved a dragon-head token from his ring.

[Name: Earth Dragon Seal]

[Class: B]

[Description: A magical artifact that provides protection against dark magic.]

Eryon hesitated for a moment. Was this really the right gift? But considering Eleanor's status, it was probably just the standard.

Besides, their relationship had been good in the past. They used to hang out often, even after she transferred schools.

"Ah, whatever. I can always find higher-tier items," Eryon muttered, placing the artifact inside the spatial pouch.

It instantly vanished into the small bag, making him appreciate once again how efficient having a spatial ring was.

"Time to head back," he said.

As he turned to leave, his foot suddenly stepped on something with an odd texture, causing him to nearly stumble.

Frowning, he looked down. "What the hell was that?"

He nudged it with his foot, feeling something hard buried in the dirt. Sensing something unusual, he started digging.

It wasn't buried too deep, and when he lifted it, he found a 70 cm rectangular object.

[Name: Giant Smoke Bomb]

[Class: E]

[Description: A bomb that releases thick white smoke, covering an area of 50 hectares upon detonation]

[Status: Active]

Eryon blinked.

"A… giant smoke bomb? What the hell?!"