SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

"Something like that," Ragnar replied with a smirk. "But it seems I may have to do more than watch. It's only your first day here, and already you've made quite the stir. Quarreling with Princess Chuli, threatening to kill her?" Ragnar's tone shifted into mock scolding. "Are you trying to bring the wrath of the entire realm down on your head?"

"Why are you so worried about the Princess Chuli incident?" Kent asked, his voice laced with annoyance. "I only threatened her life. She didn't even lose an arm or a leg."

Ragnar, sitting across from him, exhaled deeply, running a hand through his silver hair. His normally calm demeanor was now overshadowed by a mix of frustration and urgency.

"You don't understand the rules here. To prevent constant bloodshed between Crest families, the Royal Quinn family set strict laws. No one from a Crest family can touch or even threaten the life of another Crest member. If that line is crossed, the head of the offending family must kneel in public for a full day and apologize to every single member of the other family."

Kent's eyes widened slightly, but his expression remained defiant. "That's ridiculous," he muttered under his breath.

"And that's why the Doom family has raised a justice call in the Royal Court tomorrow," Ragnar continued, ignoring Kent's comment.

"If you're found guilty, I will be the one forced to kneel in public and apologize on behalf of the Frost family. In the best-case scenario, I might escape public humiliation but be forced to pay a fortune in resources. Do you understand now why this is no small matter?"

Kent paused for a moment, considering Ragnar's words. He then shook his head and leaned back in his chair. "I'm not even part of your family," Kent said, his voice steady. "There's no mark on my body that ties me to the Frost family. You don't have to get involved in this."

Ragnar's eyes flashed with impatience as he leaned forward. "It's not that simple, Kent. You arrived with Lily, and you're staying in my residence. By all accounts, the Doom family, and everyone else in the 7th realm, already sees you as being connected to us. Denying it now would make things worse."

A heavy silence filled the room as Ragnar sat back down, rubbing his temple in frustration. Kent frowned, his mind racing as he tried to think of a solution.

"There has to be a way, Uncle," Kent said after a moment, his voice low but firm. "I'm new here. I don't know all the rules. More than that, it was the Doom family who targeted me first. Their wizards intentionally provoked me. Princess Chuli taunted me, trying to have me beaten in front of everyone.

Only then did I threaten her life with my divine disc. I didn't cross the line unprovoked."

Ragnar looked thoughtful but remained silent. The weight of the situation pressed down on both of them as the flickering flames in the room danced around them.

Finally, Ragnar stood up and paced toward the window, staring out into the night sky. He crossed his arms over his broad chest before turning back toward Kent. "Can you defeat three Supreme Mages at once?" Ragnar's sudden question cut through the silence, his eyes locked onto Kent's with an intensity that demanded honesty.

Kent blinked in surprise, not sure where Ragnar was going with this. After a moment of hesitation, he answered, "I haven't fought much since becoming a Supreme Magus. But... yes, I'm confident I can take on three."

Ragnar shook his head slowly, a grim expression crossing his face. "The Supreme Mages here in the Seventh Realm are much stronger than the ones you faced on the Blue Planet. The mana here is purer, more intense. It strengthens them far beyond what you're used to."

He paused, giving Kent a moment to absorb the information. "In the Royal Court tomorrow, you can invoke 'Honor Justice.' It's a rare option, but it's your only way out. You would have to fight three of the strongest Supreme Mages from the Doom family. If you win, the charges against you will be dropped.

However," Ragnar's voice turned darker, "if you lose, I will have to kneel and apologize publicly for an entire day, and I'll be forced to give up a year's worth of our nation's resources. Worse still, your forehead will be branded with a dog-head symbol, a permanent mark of shame."
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Kent's heart pounded as he absorbed Ragnar's words. The stakes were far higher than he had anticipated. A deep unease settled in his stomach, but his resolve remained firm. His eyes narrowed, and he clenched his fists, determination flooding his veins.

"Uncle, trust me," Kent said, his voice steady but filled with intensity. "I'll win. If things are this serious, I won't mind revealing all my cards to take down the enemy."

Ragnar stared at him for a long moment, the weight of his nephew's words hanging heavily in the air. The tension between them thickened as Ragnar's thoughts swirled with doubt, concern, and a faint glimmer of hope. He could see the fire burning in Kent's eyes, the same fire that had made him legendary on the Blue Planet.

"Very well," Ragnar said finally, his voice low but resolute. "But know this, Kent. If you fail, the entire Frost family will bear the consequences, and my reputation will be destroyed. The Doom family will stop at nothing to see us ruined."

Kent nodded. "I won't fail."

Ragnar let out a slow breath, shaking his head once more. "I hope, for all our sakes, that you're right." He turned toward the door, pausing for a moment. "Rest tonight. Tomorrow will be a long day. Prepare yourself for what's to come."

Kent shrugged, an amused smile tugging at his lips. "It's not as bad as it sounds."

Ragnar chuckled again. "Well, bad or not, you've drawn some attention. And Scott Lin isn't thrilled about your presence either."

"Scott Lin?" Kent raised an eyebrow.

"That's Lily's supposed suitor. But don't worry about him. He can't lay a finger on you unless he defeats you in combat. And something tells me he'll have a hard time with that."

As Ragnar left the room, Kent sat back down, his mind racing with thoughts of the upcoming battle. The weight of the Seventh Realm's rules and the consequences of his actions loomed over him, but deep down, he knew he had no choice but to face the challenge head-on.

Tomorrow, the Royal Court would witness the full force of the Storm God's Wrath.

-

*Lot of Action on the way...