Princess Diana
The sun's warm brilliance fell over every corner of the Floating Island, glinting off the shattered buildings and fissured ground where eleven youths now stood, their bearing regal and composed as they surveyed the battlefield.
Behind them stood figures clad in black, silent as shadows. Three young adventurers stepped to the front to face Helbram directly.
Each of the eleven radiated a noble, unassailable presence, and every one of them possessed an elegance and beauty that made them seem carved from divine jade. Their golden uniforms only highlighted the fairness of their skin and the aristocratic lines of their faces.
"Your Highnesses—the Tenth Prince, the Eighth Prince, and Princess Diana." Helbram inclined his head with a warm smile. "Welcome to the Floating Island."
At the mention of their titles, every eye among the Seven Great Factions turned to them.
Sons and daughter of the king himself.
No matter how arrogant or prideful the young Adventurers might be, none could hide their admiration as they looked upon the two handsome princes and the beautiful princess standing before them.
The three royals wore no particular expression as they regarded Helbram.
It was the Tenth Prince who finally spoke, voice languid and disinterested.
"Lord Uncle Helbram," he drawled, "we received your message that the Seven Great Faction Games had concluded. Father ordered the Teleportation Array activated so we could arrive without delay."
Gasps rippled through the crowd of young adventurers.
The Teleportation Array.
It was something they'd only read about in old books or heard spoken of by experienced Adventurers. Never had any of them witnessed it in person.
A priceless artifact, the array was inscribed with symbols so profound that only Formation Masters—rarest among the kingdom's revered professions—could create or maintain them.
Formation Masters were esteemed nearly as highly as Alchemists and Blacksmiths, yet far fewer in number.
Their talents extended beyond barriers and traps—they alone could lay the foundations of Teleportation Arrays.
Through such an array, a limited number of people could traverse vast distances in moments. But activating it came at an astronomical price: natural treasures and power-laden resources, like Fifth Grade Magic Crystals.
These crystals came only from Fifth Grade Vicious Beasts, whose ferocity rivaled that of Profound Rank Adventurers.
Killing even one required a team of the kingdom's finest.
It was said the Sacred Dragon Kingdom possessed only two such arrays: one within the royal palace, and the other here, on the Floating Island.
When the Tenth Prince caught the wonder shining in the other youths' eyes, he smirked in faint amusement, as if their awe were trifling entertainment. His gaze swept arrogantly across the crowd, pausing a beat longer on Gerould and Azur before shifting… and landing on the formidable aura rolling off Finn.
The prince stopped cold.
His expression flickered.
For a moment, it seemed he wanted to speak—but no words emerged.
He, too, had received the report: some upstart youth from an Ordinary Clan had somehow reached the 5th Level Profound Rank.
He'd dismissed it outright as absurd rumor.
Yet here he stood—face to face with the undeniable.
He was an 8th Level Scarlet Gold Rank. He was royalty.
Yet this boy, born from humble stock, was already far stronger.
A sour taste spread in his mouth.
Beside him, the Eighth Prince regarded Finn with measured calm. He drew a slow breath.
"It's true," he murmured. "A young Adventurer of the Fifth Level Profound Rank… Truly remarkable."
Unlike his younger brother, the Eighth Prince was thoughtful—known for his intelligence and equanimity.
After a beat of silence, he continued, voice more formal.
"Lord Uncle Helbram, we have brought eight other promising adventurers of the Sacred Dragon Family. All were handpicked by His Majesty to join the expedition into the Mystic Treasure Realm."
At this, the youths of the Seven Great Factions could not help but gaze in envy.
These scions of the royal line were uniformly formidable. All of them stood between the Sixth and Eighth Level Scarlet Gold Rank.
The two princes, in particular, were said to be unmatched among their peers, their features refined and noble—brown hair and porcelain skin so flawless it would make many a young woman weep in secret jealousy.
The king himself had ten sons and a single daughter.
Each was born of a different consort, so it was no wonder the three before them carried distinct temperaments.
Though the First Prince had perished years ago—felled by assassins—the Second Prince, the Crown Prince, and the fierce Fourth Prince continued to vie for the throne.
The remaining siblings largely kept their distance, wary of being crushed between the factions.
At last, the other young Adventurers who had fallen during the competition were brought from the arena to join their factions. Among them were Leo, Juvia, and Lan.
They were stunned by the news—by the revelation that a 5th Level Profound Rank adventurer had emerged among them.
Royal Guards led them to stand before Helbram, so the introductions could be completed.
"Children of the Sacred Dragon Family," Helbram said kindly, gesturing toward the assembled youths of the factions, "allow me to present the most promising Adventurers from the Seven Great Factions."
The faction youths inclined their heads in a gesture of respect.
Even Azur, despite his resentment, bowed stiffly.
Etiquette demanded it—no matter their pride, these were the king's kin.
Only Brien slipped away, hiding among the throng. His haughty heart could not stomach showing deference.
The Tenth Prince received the gestures with smug satisfaction, lifting his chin as if basking in their tribute.
But all attention shifted again—this time as a young woman in a golden gown stepped forward.
Her smile was soft, almost gentle as she first regarded Noah… then turned to Finn.
Her beauty was delicate and refined, her golden hair cascading in gleaming waves.
This was Diana Vildar.
She was, without question, lovely.
Yet in truth, she could not eclipse Tiffanya or Ashe—whose allure carried a mystique Diana lacked.
Where Tiffanya and Ashe were flowers that could shatter the hearts of men, Diana's grace was tinged with regal formality.
Only in rank and status did she surpass them.
For Diana alone among the royal children had already reached the 1st Level Profound Rank.
At nineteen, she was revered as the most gifted adventurer of her generation—until today.
Because Finn had eclipsed her.
She was older by two years—yet he stood beyond her reach.
Many expected her to meet him with cold rivalry.
Instead, she offered a smile bright enough to dazzle the onlookers.
"Finn Doria, isn't it?" she said lightly. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I am Diana Vildar, the only daughter of His Majesty."
Her voice was smooth, yet something in her tone prickled faintly at the edge of Finn's senses—a coldness beneath the sweetness.
Still, he inclined his head politely.
"It is an honor to meet you, Princess Diana," he replied.
Silence hung between them, charged with curiosity.
Around them, some watched with narrowed eyes, others with unabashed jealousy.
This was a scene any young Adventurer might dream of—a golden princess greeting Finn as an equal.
Ashe, standing apart, scowled faintly.
For reasons she couldn't explain, a sharp discomfort flared in her chest.
Her eyes traced Diana's face, and she thought, 'Hmph. So what if she's a princess? I'm still more beautiful.'
Lore caught the look, and a dull ache flickered behind his ribs.
He'd seen that same expression when Ashe regarded the boys who tried to court her.
But Diana only smiled again—so dazzling that several of the young men nearly choked.
"If you have time," Diana continued brightly, "would you come to the palace? I'd like to know you better."
"I admire your talent so much—and I hope to learn from you. I also wish to hear your stories as an Adventurer. Oh, and—if you didn't know—I practice Alchemy myself. Though my flame is only an Orange Alchemy Flame, so my skill can't compare to yours."
She exhaled, her words spilling out in an eager stream.
"They only ever teach me the most tedious things at the palace. It's dreadfully boring. And I don't really have any friends, so I'd be happy if you'd allow me to call you one. Also—"
Her chatter tumbled on and on.
The watching youths gaped, speechless.
Noah and Helbram exchanged a look, then sighed, shoulders sagging in exasperation.
"Princess Diana," Helbram said weakly, raising a hand to his brow, "for heaven's sake… Could you please comport yourself with the dignity befitting a princess…?"