On the ship, Archmage Lodawg was a member of the Naemarys family and now commanded the mage unit, leading them towards the estate.
He stood at the front of the ship, on the deck, watching the estate in the distance. "About time," he was giggling while rubbing his hands, eager to get on the ground.
The knights patrolling the estate grounds saw it immediately.
One of them ran towards the hall, shouting, "Patriarch! A ship approaches—a giant vessel bearing the Naemarys insignia!"
Caelum's gaze remained fixed on his son, his expression one of quiet disappointment mingled with disgust.
Slowly, he shook his head. The tension in the room was suffocating, every eye on the patriarch as he finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight.
"You've hidden long enough, Segarus," he said, his tone steady but cutting.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as they looked around. They knew the name very well, and they couldn't hide their shock and were very surprised as to why Caelum called out his name.
The name Segarus sent shockwaves through those present, their whispers hushed yet frantic.
"The head of the Naemarys clan?" someone muttered.
"But he's not here—why would the patriarch call for him?"
The situation was already chaotic with Lorryll turning his back on his clan. The guests who were present in the hall right now, most of them were other families and a few influential people. The fame of Kaezhlar was already in the mud; now, they were known to be the strongest, but right now, they were outdone by their own child. The judging glances from them were the proof.
Liliana visibly tensed, her confident demeanour cracking for the first time that evening. Her eyes darted to Caelum, then to Lorryll, who seemed equally bewildered. She gripped the folds of her dress, her knuckles whitening as realization dawned. How had Caelum known?
She and Lorryll had been underestimating Caelum from the beginning. From the beginning, Liliana was frustrated with how Caelum had been reacting; well, he barely said anything. It was like he knew what was going to happen. She wanted to stir him and crush him mentally, but he seemed unfazed.
Suddenly, the air in the hall shifted. A ripple of energy passed through the room, thick and suffocating. It felt as if the very fabric of reality bent under the weight of an immense force.
And then, as if in answer to Caelum's call, a figure materialized beside Liliana.
He appeared without a sound, his arrival smooth and deliberate, like a predator stepping into the light. Dressed in flowing green robes adorned with intricate gold patterns, the man stood tall and imposing, his presence dominating the room. His features were sharp and refined, his posture regal, and his eyes—brilliant emerald orbs—shimmered with an unnatural intensity.
Liliana turned to the figure, her expression shifting from fear to surprise. "Father," she whispered, her voice barely audible, the word trembling on her lips.
The room erupted in murmurs, shock radiating from every corner.
"The head of the Naemarys clan is here?"
"How… How could he have come unnoticed?"
Segarus surveyed the room, his gaze cold and calculating. His mana was a palpable force, an invisible storm swirling around him, pressing down on everyone present.
Even those who were seasoned warriors felt the weight of his presence, a testament to his unparalleled power.
For Jolthar, it was the first time laying eyes on this man, but every instinct within him screamed danger. His muscles tensed involuntarily, his breathing shallow. Segarus wasn't just powerful—he was overwhelming, an entity Jolthar's instincts told him he could not stand against.
He looked at Liliana and thought she had planned it really well along with her father. From the start, this whole marriage was a facade that was to wipe out the clan.
He looked at Caelum and was confused.
Caelum, however, seemed unfazed. He stood tall, his expression unyielding as he addressed the figure before him.
"So, you've finally revealed yourself, Segarus. Was it worth hiding in the shadows, whispering into your daughter's ear, and pushing my son to betray his family? Or are you here to grovel, knowing the Naemarys clan cannot win against me?"
Segarus's lips curled into a faint smile, though it held no warmth. "Grovel? Hardly. I am here to claim what should rightfully belong to my bloodline." His voice was deep and resonant, carrying an unshakeable authority.
Elowen, who had been frozen in shock, found her voice, though it trembled with rage. "You! You've poisoned my son's mind, and now you stand here, shamelessly declaring your intentions? Have you no honour?"
Segarus chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "Honour is a luxury afforded to those who do not aim for greatness, Lady Elowen. I simply taught your son what you refused to—how to seize power, how to take what is his."
"Enough!" Caelum's voice thundered, silencing the hall. His aura flared, a towering presence that rivalled Segarus's. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novᴇlfire.net
The two patriarchs faced each other, the air between them crackling with the sheer weight of their mana.
Prince Milan stood back, watching them silently. He was astonished and greatly confused at the same time. Why would Lorryll join hands with Naemarys? When the marriage was announced, the news shook the entire empire, and people wondered if the two great powerhouses joined, then they would dominate the world itself. But it seems like it was just a plot to kill the other.
Lorryll, who had been standing in stunned silence, finally spoke, his voice desperate. "Father, I did this for us! For the clan! Don't you see? With the Naemarys behind us, we could become unstoppable. The empire itself would bow to us!"
But Caelum didn't so much as glance at him. His focus remained on Segarus, his smirk returning. "You've taught my son nothing but delusion, Segarus. And for that, you will pay."
The hall held its breath, the air electric with anticipation.
Jolthar watched in silence, his fists clenched, his heart pounding. Both of the power giants of this generation were present in the room; it seemed like they were ready to clash any minute.