Today, I return to my kingdom after four grueling years in the Killing Grounds, a place where only the strong survive and the weak perish. My brother, Ravel Alaric,trained alongside me, though his journey has been different. The excitement of coming home stirs within me, yet a shadow lingers—my brother’s fate. His cultivation perished long ago, and ever since, people have branded him as the “useless second prince.” Yet, despite losing his ability to cultivate dragon scales, he remains a skilled swordsman, unmatched in technique. It’s said that perished cultivation is curable, but the remedy is as elusive as the wind.

  I think of Lord Hai Ri often—her power, her legend. I’ve always admired her, even aspired to be like her. But with my cultivation at just 200 dragon scales, I feel the weight of that dream pressing down on me. To be anything like her seems impossible.

  “Draven, look—we’re back,” Ravel calls out, snapping me from my thoughts.

  I lift my gaze and see thousands of people standing to welcome us home, their cheers echoing through the air. As a prince, I’m accustomed to such receptions, but today feels different. My return to the castle fills me with a mix of pride and unease. I dismount my horse and stride into the grand hall, where my father awaits, seated on his towering throne.

  To his right stands Rihanna, the fiercest Knightess in all fifty kingdoms and, once, my closest friend. Beside her, by the door, is Ya Fei—the army commander. She’s the one responsible for the rumors that have tainted my brother’s name. It was she who whispered to the court, and soon the entire kingdom, that Ravel was useless.

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  As I approach my father, his eyes narrow slightly. “Go to your room and prepare for dinner. An honored guest will be joining us at tonight’s banquet.”

  I bow my head in acknowledgment and make my way toward my chambers, Rihanna silently guiding me. Her presence feels cold, distant—nothing like the warmth I remember from our youth. After several paces, I break the silence.

  “Why won’t you speak to me, Rihanna? Have you forgotten we were friends?”

  She stops abruptly, turning to face me. A glint of steel flashes in her eyes as she tilts my chin upward with the lightest touch. “You’re no longer a child, little prince. You’re to be king one day. It’s time to take responsibility.”

  Her words are sharp but true. Still, a part of me resents the distance she’s placed between us. I glance at her, noting the aura of strength surrounding her. “I heard you’ve broken through to 400 dragon scales,” I say. “In a year or two, you’ll be as powerful as my father.”

  A flicker of a smile touches her lips. “Perhaps.”

  Her strength, both in battle and in spirit, is undeniable. She walks ahead of me, her armor gleaming under the castle lights, and I realize how much we’ve both changed. The carefree days of our youth seem like a lifetime ago.

  After a few moments, I’m alone in my chamber. I dress in a black suit adorned with gold, the fabric whispering as I move. My reflection in the mirror is one of elegance and power—my blonde hair and golden crown glimmer in the candlelight. Yet beneath the polished exterior, I can’t shake the feeling that something is shifting in the kingdom, and perhaps within me as well.

  Descending the grand staircase, I find the banquet hall alive with murmurs and the clinking of glasses. The air is thick with anticipation. I take my seat at the long table, feeling the weight of the evening settle upon my shoulders.

  “Who’s coming tonight?” I ask, curious about the guest who has stirred such excitement.

  Before anyone can answer, the doors swing open, and a man strides into the hall. He’s tall, his presence commanding, with long black hair cascading over his shoulders. His black attire seems to absorb the light, but it’s his face that draws all attention—handsome, otherworldly, with sharp, striking features. His mere presence sends a ripple through the room, silencing the chatter.

  There is something undeniably powerful about him, and as his eyes meet mine, I can’t help but wonder—who is this man, and what does his arrival mean for the kingdom?