Chapter 75 – Direct Confrontation with Théor

Night was falling over the imperial palace, draping the towering walls in shadow and cloaking the sculpted gardens in the soft veil of an emerging darkness. In the silent corridors, a tense undercurrent ran like an invisible poison. Kaelian felt it with every beat of his heart, every breath he held in.

He knew the moment he had dreaded—and prepared for over many months—was finally approaching: a face-to-face encounter with Théor, his half-brother, his sworn enemy, and the legitimate claimant to the throne. Théor embodied the cold cruelty of a corrupt nobility and posed the most direct threat to Kaelian's survival.

A Poisoned Invitation

The invitation had arrived in the form of a sealed message bearing Théor's coat of arms: a request for a private meeting at dawn, in the ancestral portrait gallery where the old kings stared down with stern eyes at the intrigues of the living.

Kaelian was no fool. He knew Théor was not extending a hand in peace. It was a challenge, a trap, a provocation. But the opportunity for a direct duel—magical, intellectual, and political—was too valuable to ignore.

He spent the night reviewing every detail of his strategy, refining his spells, anticipating his adversary's moves. Every ally, every loyal servant, every potential traitor could tip the scales of this encounter. The game was deadly.

The Icy Dawn

At dawn, the gallery was already bathed in a pale, ghostly light. The portraits of former kings seemed to watch over the scene, silent witnesses to today's struggles. Kaelian entered, his dark cloak trailing behind him, eyes fixed on the far end of the room.

Théor stood there, rigid as a statue, his black eyes sharp with disdain. In his hand, he held a scepter etched with ancient runes—a symbol not only of his rank but also of his formidable magical power.

"You dare come here, bastard," Théor hissed in a cold voice. "This palace has no place for filth like you."

Kaelian gave a faint smile, masking the storm within. "I'm here because I am the only one who can challenge you. And you know it."

The Duel Begins

Without further warning, Théor made a swift motion. Bolts of black magic ignited around him, casting a sinister glow across the gallery. Kaelian responded with a barrier of shimmering silver light—a spell learned in the forbidden corners of the Academy.

The clash of the two magics thundered through the hall. Kaelian did not merely want to survive—he wanted to assert his intelligence and mastery. He dodged a volley of lightning while casting a complex enchantment designed to weaken Théor's focus.

But Théor was no ordinary opponent. He countered with ancient blood magic, destabilizing Kaelian with sheer force, forcing him to tap deep into his magical reserves. Their duel became a deadly dance where every move could seal a fate.

Mind Games and Dirty Tricks

As the magical battle raged, the true fight was in Kaelian's mind. He knew Théor thrived on fear and hatred—but also on the dread he inspired in Kaelian's allies.

"You're nothing but a puppet," Théor spat, "a mistake of the king. You have no legitimacy here."

Kaeilan answered calmly, narrowly evading an energy blade aimed at his heart: "It's not blood that makes a king. It's will, strategy… and power."

Théor sneered, "And yet, it's my blood that runs through these veins, not yours. You're just a bastard, a pariah."

Kaeilan seized that weakness. Nobility often hid behind titles to mask their fears. He whispered a spell that momentarily clouded Théor's vision, creating an opening. With a precise gesture, he activated a secret magical trap: invisible chains of energy shot forth, suddenly binding Théor in place.

The Truth Revealed

Trapped, Théor roared with rage, but Kaelian refused to let him regain control. He stepped forward, imposing, eyes blazing.

"You are weak, Théor. Weak because you understand nothing of true power."

Théor made one last desperate spell—a glowing ball of fire—but Kaelian, with cold calm, dispelled it with a wave of his hand. Then, in a strong voice, he declared:

"I'm not here to claim a throne that isn't mine. I'm here to change the rules of the game. So that no more illegitimate children like me are condemned to social and political death."

The Uncertain Outcome

Before Kaelian could claim victory, a sudden noise echoed through the gallery: the heavy oak door swung open abruptly. Queen Virella entered, face impassive, eyes sharp as a lynx.

"Enough," she ordered, her voice firm enough to shake the air.

The energy chains vanished instantly. Théor fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Kaelian stood tall, staring defiantly.

The Queen measured Kaelian with a calculating gaze, then said:

"You have won this battle, bastard. But the war is just beginning."

Revelations and New Alliances

Later, in a secluded chamber of the palace, Kaelian reflected on the duel that had shifted the balance. Théor, humiliated but alive, was now an even more dangerous threat. And the Queen's intervention showed she had her own game to play.

An idea took root in Kaelian's mind: to survive, he could no longer fight Théor alone. He would have to manipulate the Queen, pit her enemies against her, and weave unexpected alliances. He had to become the master of betrayals—a genius in the heart of darkness.

**

As Kaelian was about to leave the room, he sensed a presence behind him. He spun around, ready to strike—but it was Lyssa, his loyal ally.

"Kaeilan, you have to see this," she said, handing him a sealed parchment bearing the mark of a secret circle they had never heard of.

The message was clear: a new conspiracy was unfolding, larger and more dangerous than anything before, involving forces beyond even the royal court itself.

A shiver ran down Kaelian's spine. The game had just escalated to a whole new level.

**

End of Chapter 75

_______________________