Silvy stepped forward, her eyes calm yet commanding as she addressed her trusted general.
"Aerion, please escort our guests to the training grounds," she said, her voice carrying the quiet strength of her royal heritage.
Aerion placed a fist over his heart. "You need only ask, my lady." He turned to the others, his golden gaze sweeping over them. "Follow me."
With that, he led them through the grand halls of the elven castle, his steps purposeful, his posture unwavering.
The Sacred Training Grounds
The echoes of their footsteps faded as they followed Aerion, the esteemed general of Eldoria. The air was rich with ancient magic and regal grace but beneath it lay a growing tension, a shared weight none could ignore.
At the heart of the castle, they arrived before a towering statue of a revered elven warrior. Time had worn its surface, but the warrior's presence still demanded reverence. Without hesitation, Aerion reached for the statue's leg and twisted it backward.
A deep, resonant click echoed through the chamber.
The ground trembled. Stone grated against stone. Before their eyes, the floor shifted and slid away, revealing a spiral staircase that plunged into the earth.
Lyra & Draven
Lyra's violet eyes sparkled. "That's… amazing!"
Draven crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Yeah, I'll give the elves this one. Pretty damn impressive."
As they stepped into the passage, a soft, ethereal blue glow emanated from the walls, casting ghostly shadows and bathing them in arcane light.
The Hidden Arena
At the bottom, the tunnel opened into a massive underground chamber the Sacred Training Grounds of Eldoria. Towering stone pillars lined the space, etched with runes that pulsed with living mana. The air thrummed with magic, raw, untamed, intoxicating.
A grand elven sigil was carved into the stone floor, and above them, orbs of light floated like stars, casting an eerie, radiant glow over the arena.
Aerion's Explanation
Aerion turned to face them, his golden eyes sharp. "You should consider yourselves fortunate. This place is sacred reserved for Eldoria's royal bloodline. The mana density here is unmatched. Simply standing here will temper your cores, strengthen your power."
Lyra's Curiosity
Lyra tilted her head. "Magic core?"
Kaen's crimson gaze narrowed. "You're supposed to be the Arcane Tempest, destined to rival Lyris, the Demon Empress of the Arcane Storm. And you don't even know this?"
Lyra puffed her cheeks. "Hey! I just don't like studying, okay?"
Raven's Insight
Raven chuckled. "A magic core is the foundation of all magical life," he said, calm and composed. "It's the vessel that stores your mana. The stronger your core, the more you can wield."
Aerion raised a brow. "Impressive knowledge. I expected no less from the Demon King's former butler."
Raven bowed slightly. "You honor me, Sir Aerion."
The Origins of the Devil Progenies
Aerion's gaze turned solemn. "But tell me… how does Lyra's magic rival Lyris? The Demon Empress wasn't just powerful she was a calamity."
Raven's smirk faded. "It doesn't, yet."
The chamber stilled as Raven continued, his voice low and reverent.
"When Kaiden ruled the world, after laying waste to humanity's greatest armies, he found only silence. Power, conquest… none of it filled the void. So he created the Five Devil Progenies, not just weapons, but his legacy.
Each was forged from the remains of demon kings who once terrorized the world. They bear not only their strength… but their very essence."
His voice deepened, like a chant echoing from history itself:
Kaen – Born of Azrakan, the Infernal Tyrant, whose black flames devoured souls.
Serine – Descended from Selythra, the Crimson Reaper, mistress of blood and carnage.
Draven – The heir of Vorrak, the Beastlord, commander of monsters.
Malrik – Forged from Nyxthul, the Abyssal Caller, summoner of eldritch horrors.
Lyra – The inheritor of Lyris, the Arcane Storm, greatest elemental sorceress of demonkind.
Aerion let out a slow breath. "That sounds… dangerous. Those kings weren't just enemies. They were calamities."
Raven's Reassurance
Raven offered a soft smile. "They were forged by war. But these children… were raised by Kaiden. Not in conquest, but in care. You've seen it—hen't you?"
Aerion was silent, then nodded. "Yes. Their loyalty… their purity… they remind me of myself. And Queen Silvy has placed her trust in them. That is enough."
Raven bowed again. "Then we are in agreement."
The Chamber Awakens
Just then, the training ground responded as if awakened by their resolve. The runes on the pillars flared to life. The floating orbs spun faster. The very air pulsed.
Something ancient had stirred.
To Be Continued…