THE CHOOSEN ONES

The air in Selantia's room was thick with tension, a palpable weight pressing down on everyone present. The room, adorned with towering obsidian pillars and flickering crimson lanterns, seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy.

At the center of it all stood Selantia Nyxveil, her presence commanding and her aura radiating like a storm of fire and shadow. The crimson-black energy swirling around her was not just an aura—it was a force of nature, a living, breathing entity that seemed to devour the very light around her.

It was the *Crimson Abyss legendary power whispered about in ancient texts and feared by even the most seasoned warriors.

The three men in the room—Zephry Nyxveil, Ezekian, and Edwin Ronald—each bore witness to Selantia's display, their thoughts and emotions spiraling in wildly different directions. 

Zephry Nyxveil, the patriarch of House Nyxveil, stood tall, his sharp features illuminated by the flickering glow of Selantia's aura. His heart pounded in his chest, not with fear but with a voracious hunger that had been simmering for years. His daughter's power was beyond anything he had imagined. The *Crimson Abyss*—a force so rare that it was said to appear only once in a millennium—was now manifesting in his own bloodline.

His mind raced with calculations. *This changes everything,* he thought, his eyes narrowing as he watched Selantia. The way she coughed blood after unleashing her aura was a sign—her body was not yet ready to contain such immense power. But that only made her potential more tantalizing. If I can harness this... if I can control it... House Nyxveil will rise to heights that nobody could ever think of.

Zephry's gaze shifted to Ezekian, the man standing by the door, his expression a mix of awe and dread. A cold smile crept onto Zephry's lips. *Marrying her off to Nordwyn would be a waste. No, Selantia is far too valuable to be traded like a pawn. She is the key to our dynasty's dominance.*

His fists clenched at his sides, the veins in his hands bulging as he suppressed the surge of excitement coursing through him. *The Crimson Abyss... I must learn more. I must ensure that no one—not even Selantia herself—stands against me*

Ezekian, the heir of Nordwyn, felt as though the ground beneath him had shifted. Selantia's aura was not just powerful—it was *alive*, a seething, writhing force that seemed to awaken something primal within him.

His own aura, usually calm and controlled, reacted violently, as if a dormant beast had been roused from its slumber. He could not tear his eyes away from her, the red-black energy swirling around her like a dragon's breath.

His mind raced with implications. *House Nyxveil already has three of the continent's ten strongest swordmasters. Zephry, his brother Joshua, and Mark Darvas—each a force to be reckoned with. And now, Selantia...* His jaw tightened as he considered the situation more carefully

*If she fully masters the Crimson Abyss, there will be no stopping them.*

Ezekian's thoughts turned darker. *Zephry has been a thorn in the Imperial Factions' side for years, slowly expanding his influence and undermining the Emperor's authority. If Selantia joins their ranks...*

His fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. *There are only three options now. Either this marriage proceeds as planned, ensuring her loyalty to the Empire... or one of the Nyxveil swordmasters must be eliminated. Or...*

His gaze met Selantia's, and for a moment, he saw something in her eyes—a flicker of understanding, as if she already knew the thoughts racing through his mind. The third option, the unthinkable one, lingered in the shadows of his thoughts. *Or Selantia herself must be removed.*

But even as the idea formed, Ezekian felt a pang of unease. Selantia was not just any threat but a trickling bomb.

Edwin Ronald, the High Sorcerer of Noctemi Tower, sat silently in his cat shape, his sharp eyes observing the scene with a mixture of pride and sorrow.

He had known the emotions in Zarphy and Ezekian's eyes.

*I knew you were strong, my student,* he thought, his chest tightening. *But I had hoped... I had hoped you would not be this powerful.* Edwin knew all too well the burden of such power. He had lived it, suffered for it, and ultimately wielded it to reshape the world around him.

The memories of his own past—the abuse, the manipulation, the years of isolation—flooded his mind, a bitter reminder of the price of greatness.

His gaze shifted to Zephry and Ezekian, their expressions betraying their thoughts. *Your own father sees you as a tool, a weapon to be used. And the man who is supposed to marry you... sees you as a threat to be neutralized.* Edwin's eyes twitched, a flicker of rage igniting within him. *They do not understand. They cannot understand.*

Edwin's mind drifted back to his rise to power, the blood-soaked path he had walked to become the strongest mage of his age. He had orchestrated the fall of the Mage Council, the death of the Emperor, and the rise of the Noctemi Tower. He had done it all with cold precision, his hands stained with the blood of those who had sought to control him.

And yet, despite his power, he had always felt alone—until he met her, the love of his life, his wife, his angel 10 years ago.

*You are not alone, my student,* he thought, his eyes softening as he looked at her. *I will stand by you, no matter what lies ahead. If the heavens have chosen you to bear this burden, then I will ensure you do not bear it alone.*

But even as he made this silent vow, Edwin could not shake the feeling of foreboding that settled over him. The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger and betrayal. And he knew, deep down, that Selantia's journey would be far more treacherous than his own.

Selantia stood at the center of the room, her breathing ragged, her body trembling from the strain of unleashing her aura. She could feel the weight of their gazes—her father's greed, Ezekian's calculation, Edwin's sorrow. And yet she remained calm, her mind sharp and focused.

She had planned this and calculated all possible outcomes based on the personalities of her targets.

Her eyes met Ezekian's, and for a moment, she allowed herself a small, knowing smile. *You think you can control me? You think you can decide my fate?* The thought almost amused her.

She had rebuilt House Nyxveil from the ashes and had turned it into a phoenix that soared above its enemies. And she would not let anyone—not her father, not Ezekian, not even the Emperor himself—stand in her way of protecting it.

As the crimson energy slowly dissipated, the room fell into an uneasy silence. The three men—Zephry, Ezekian, and Edwin—each carried their own thoughts, their own plans. But one thing was certain: Selantia Nyxveil was no longer just a useless pawn; she was setting for a grander game where things would turn upside down.

And it didn't bother her to the least if she would harm herself on the way. She had always played it bold and sly. And she planned to do so even in the time where she was given a 2nd chance.