Chapter 3: The Test of Strength

The tension in the grand hall was palpable, as if the very air was charged with an electricity that could spark at any moment. Lucian's heart raced in his chest, but his face remained calm. He couldn't afford to show weakness, not now. Not in front of the family, not in front of the nobles who had already written him off.

His father, Duke Reynard, sat stone-faced on his high throne, his cold gaze never leaving Lucian. The nobles around the hall had fallen silent, the weight of Reynard's words hanging over them like a guillotine. A test of strength—if Lucian's summons failed, they would all be able to witness his downfall firsthand.

Lucian turned his eyes to the three fairies standing before him.

Sylphira, the silver-haired one, met his gaze with a knowing look, as though she could feel the pressure weighing down on him. Her violet eyes shimmered, the hint of a smirk playing at her lips.

Lys, the golden-haired fairy, fluttered her wings lightly, her gaze playful yet dangerous. She seemed utterly unfazed by the situation, as if this challenge was nothing more than an amusing game.

Nyx, the dark-haired fairy, crossed her arms over her chest and gave a lazy, seductive smile, her crimson lips curling at the edges. Her eyes flickered with a predatory gleam, as though she was already anticipating the outcome of the test.

They didn't seem worried at all. If anything, they seemed to be waiting for something. For Lucian to make his move.

He swallowed, gathering his courage. This wasn't just about proving his worth to his father or the Ashford family. It was about survival. The stakes were higher than ever.

Duke Reynard's voice broke the silence, his tone sharp and commanding. "You will show us the strength of your summons, Lucian. You will fight in the arena before the family. If they are worthy, we will grant you the honor of being a full member of the Ashford bloodline. If not…"

His father's cold eyes bore into him, and the unspoken threat hung heavy in the air.

Lucian took a deep breath. "Understood, Father," he said, his voice steady. He turned to the fairies. "Are you ready?"

The three fairies exchanged amused glances. Then, without a word, they stepped forward. Their movements were fluid and graceful, each step carrying an aura of confidence and power.

Sylphira's violet eyes glowed with a strange intensity as she raised one delicate hand. The air around her shimmered, ripples of mana swirling in response to her command. A soft hum of energy vibrated through the hall.

Lys twirled in place, her golden wings fluttering and sparkling with an almost ethereal light. She winked at Lucian, her voice teasing. "This will be fun, won't it, Master?"

Nyx smirked, her eyes glowing with a red hue. "I hope they're ready for what's coming."

Lucian's heart thudded in his chest. He had never seen such power. This wasn't the raw, chaotic force of beasts. This was something much more controlled, much more dangerous.

He turned to his father, waiting for the command.

"Begin," Duke Reynard ordered.

The moment the words left his lips, the arena sprang to life.

The floor beneath Lucian's feet shifted, transforming into a grand arena with high walls and a sandy pit in the center. The seats around him were filled with the nobles of the Ashford family, all eyes fixed on the center of the arena.

Lucian raised his hand, and the fairies stepped forward in unison.

Sylphira moved first, her silver hair trailing behind her like a comet's tail. She extended her palm toward the far wall of the arena, and the air crackled with energy. The wall suddenly shattered, broken into thousands of pieces that swirled around her in a vortex. Her power was immense, the raw force of it enough to send tremors through the ground.

"Is that all you can do?" Nyx taunted from behind Lucian, her voice a sultry whisper in his ear. "You summoned us. Prove that you can handle us."

Lucian gritted his teeth, his heart racing. He knew what she was implying—if he couldn't control them, if he couldn't show strength, he would fail.

But Sylphira wasn't done yet. She closed her eyes, summoning the elements around her. The temperature in the arena dropped, the air thick with the weight of her power. In a heartbeat, the ground beneath them froze, ice creeping up from the cracks in the floor, sharp and deadly.

Lys leaped into the air, her wings flapping with speed, creating gusts of wind so powerful that the spectators in the stands had to shield their eyes. She spun through the air with grace, the wind forming around her in a vortex, creating a deadly storm.

"You want to see power?" Lys laughed, her voice carrying through the arena. "Watch closely, Master."

Nyx, not to be outdone, released her power with a flourish. Dark tendrils of energy erupted from her hands, coiling through the air like serpents. Each one crackled with an otherworldly power, their destructive potential clear as they lashed out at the arena walls, reducing them to rubble.

The fairies' combined magic was enough to obliterate the entire arena. The nobles in the stands shrank back, eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear.

Lucian's breath caught in his throat. These weren't just fairies. They were forces of nature, beings of incredible power that defied the very laws of magic. No beast, no monster, no summon he had ever heard of could match their strength.

But Lucian wasn't a spectator. He wasn't powerless.

His blood surged with excitement. He focused on the sigil on his chest, the mark of his bond with the fairies. He felt the power inside him, their energy flowing through him, amplifying his own abilities.

He raised his hand, and the fairies froze, their gazes snapping to him. Their power, though still radiating around them, fell silent as they waited for his command.

Lucian spoke, his voice steady and commanding. "Show them what we are capable of."

At his words, the three fairies surged forward, their powers converging in a devastating display. The arena was enveloped in a blinding light as they attacked with coordinated precision, each strike calculated, each move executed with deadly force.

The nobles watched in stunned silence as the arena crumbled under the sheer force of their attack. Sylphira's ice, Lys's winds, and Nyx's dark magic combined into a devastating storm, a spectacle of power and beauty.

And Lucian—standing at the center of it all—was the master. The summoner. The one who controlled them.

When the dust finally settled, the arena was in ruins. The nobles were silent, staring at Lucian in disbelief.

Duke Reynard was the first to speak, his voice low and grave. "Lucian von Ashford… What have you summoned?"

Lucian stood tall, his heart pounding with adrenaline. "I have summoned my destiny."