NOVEL WEB Chapter 7: Inequality Of the Two Factions
As the elders of the Starfall family and their subsidiary families went on to discuss their strategy to aid in the upcoming quest to find the missing children, Jonan was completely ignored, not even his name was mentioned, It was a stark reminder of how the world operates, as long as someone holds value, whether positive or negative, they are remembered, otherwise, they fade into obscurity, and everyone present dismissed his impassioned speech about finding his friends and uncovering the culprit as childish in their minds.
"Jonan, thank god now you are out of this trouble, and try to lay low for a while, after all, your friends are still missing, and no one knows if this incident will continue in the future", stated Elara with an expression of worry.
"Mom, do not worry, I will be in closed doors from now on, for some time at least", said Jonan agreeing with his mother's words, while he felt hurt at the fact that as soon as he was in the clear, he was considered invisible by almost everyone, he knew the main reason behind all this, is his own weakness.
After finalizing their discussions, silence fell over the group, everyone's attention turned towards Draven The Hero, and everyone subtly bowed to him, following his lead, all of them decided to commence the combat among the younger descendants of the Starfall family, this event held large importance for both the young heirs and their guardians, who stood to gain immensely if their descendants emerged victorious in combat.
Air was filled with the sound of horns, as the combat began, and the first one to step into the battle was Darius, Jonan's older step-brother, his face carrying a proud expression, whereas his opponent was Kaelen, a slender boy from the Branch Descendants.
Darius and Kaelen stepped onto the grand stage, bathing in the flickering glow of torches, meanwhile, the air tensed heavily with anticipation, as Darius and Kaelen locked their eyes on each other, both of them oozing a tangible aura of ferocity, their expressions were masks of resolve, but beneath the surface, both of them had their own expectations and resolve.
The referee, a veteran of countless duels, stood at the edge of the stage with a raised hand, signaling for silence from the crowd, with a solemn nod, he waved his hand, and the duel began.
Darius, the elder of the two and the direct son of the legendary hero, Draven Starfall, wielded a halberd, the weapon gleamed in the torchlight, its blade sharp and deadly, he advanced with calculated steps, his movements fluid and precise, betraying years of disciplined combat experience.
Opposite him stood Kaelen, fueled by a fierce determination to prove himself, his grip tightened on his staff, the wood was worn but sturdy, a testament to his resilience, Kaelen's stance was defensive yet poised, his eyes fixed on Darius with complete focus.
Both rushed instantly attacking towards one another, and their initial clash echoed throughout the arena, their clash created sparks and the air twisted with both not backing down, after getting pushed back, Darius wasted no time and lunged forward, his halberd slicing through the air with a hint of lethal intent, meanwhile Kaelen barely reacted, raising his staff to deflect the blow, the impact sent vibrations through his arms, he was flung back, his hands felt sore and heavy, yet he used his staff to stop himself from falling off the stage, and it was then, that he finally took a breather.
The crowd was eager and, watched intently while muttering their own thoughts for the battle that was taking place, and understood the difference between someone from the Main Descendants and branch Descendants, a testament to the intricate hierarchy within the Starfall family.
As the duel intensified, Darius pressed his advantage, his attacks relentless and heavy with pure raw strength, each strike aimed with intent to draw first blood, testing Kaelen's defenses to their limits, sweat glistened on Kaelen's brow as he parried and dodged, his movements becoming strained with each passing moment, yet, he refused to yield, not willing to give up.
"Kaelen, are you sure you want to keep going, we both know that you will lose in the end, what is the use of struggling, it is better to give up and save yourself from the embarrassment that you are showing here in front of everyone, maybe try working hard, and you might catch up with me later on", Darius taunted, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Kaelen gritted his teeth, and with a sudden burst of strength and agility, Kaelen shifted his tactics, rotating his staff in a swift, counter-clockwise motion, he feinted to the left before launching himself toward Darius, and his maneuver created a rush of wind, amplifying the intensity of his attack as he aimed a powerful strike from above.
Facing the oncoming attack, Darius's expression remained composed, with a mix of pride and a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes, he sidestepped Kaelen's assault effortlessly, his movements graceful and controlled, the smirk on his face widened, a silent mockery of Kaelen's failed attempt.
Seizing the opportunity he created for himself, Darius retaliated with a lightning-fast punch aimed at Kaelen's face, caught off guard by the sudden shift in Darius's speed, Kaelen staggered back, the impact of Darius's blow sending shockwaves of pain through his skull, making him nearly unconscious, he stumbled, his footing uncertain, before finally losing balance and crashing to the ground.
The crowd gasped in collective surprise as Kaelen hit the stage with a resounding thud, some felt sympathy, while others exchanged knowing glances, It was a predictable outcome to many, a testament to the stark contrast in their abilities and upbringing.
Darius lowered his halberd, a victorious smile playing on his lips. He glanced down at Kaelen, a hint of condescension in his gaze. "You should have known better, Kaelen, You can't compete with someone like me, maybe if you work harder, you'll catch up to me someday", remarked Darius, his voice full of disdain.
Kaelen struggled to rise, his body aching with exhaustion and defeat, he felt bitter, not just from the blood trickling down his lip, but from the harsh reality of his circumstances, born into the Branch Descendant lineage, he had always faced an uphill battle against those with the privileges enjoyed by the Main Descendants.
The Starfall family, renowned for producing heroes and warriors of unparalleled skill, operated under a strict hierarchy, created by Draven himself, Main Descendants like Darius were showered with resources, training, and support from the maternal sides of their lineage, his mother was also someone from a powerful noble family, he was groomed for greatness from birth, his path paved with expectations and entitlement from those who invested in him.
In contrast, Branch Descendants like Kaelen were expected to prove themselves through merit alone and get into stringent contracts with other noble families or even organizations, his access to resources was limited, and his opportunities were contingent on his ability to excel in monthly assessments and competitions, It was a strict yet fair system designed to uphold the family's legacy of strength and prestige, but one that often left those on the periphery struggling to keep pace.
Kaelen clenched his fists, pushing himself upright despite the aching of his battered body, he could feel the eyes of the audience upon him, some pitying, some indifferent, and others quietly judging, his gaze locked with Darius's across the stage, tenacity burning in his eyes.
As he stood up, bruised but unbroken, a flicker of defiance ignited within Kaelen's heart, he refused to accept defeat as the end of his journey, If anything, this duel had only fueled his determination to rise above his limitations, to prove that he was worthy of the Starfall name, while disappointment was evident for many by Kaelen's loss, his hard work was in display to his family and friends, who appreciated his fortitude.
The referee stepped forward, signaling the end of the duel in favor of Darius's victory, the crowd erupted into polite applause, acknowledging the display of skill and superiority, Darius bowed gracefully, accepting the honors with a sense of entitlement that came with his lineage, with pride etched on his face.
Meanwhile, Kaelen retreated from the stage, his steps heavy with exhaustion, yet silent as it was normal for the loser of a duel to be forgotten, but his mind was racing with newfound resolve, as he knew that only by moving forward in his path and not stopping was the only way for him, as he glanced back at the stage one last time, a glimmer of determination burned brightly in his eye, and he made a silent vow to defy expectations and carve his own destiny within the Great Starfall family and make his name renown to all.
Amidst the hushed conversations of spectators and the gentle rustling of elegant attire, the stark disparities in strength and prestige between the Main Descendants and Branch Descendants were evident.
While these differences served as a reliable gauge of power, there were individuals who transcended such distinctions, individuals who alone defied the constraints of lineages and factions.
Despite the collective disappointment following Kaelen's defeat, no one ever dared to underestimate the Branch Descendants, among them were those endowed with formidable talents, capable of rivaling even the most esteemed of Main Descendants, yet, what truly shattered the illusions of superiority was the emergence of a prodigious talent, a figure whose brilliance knew no bounds and whose name struck fear into the hearts of the Main Descendants, Freya Starfall.