A ragged' hic-hic- hic' tore through the silence, followed by a sharp gasp.
Eric's chest was heaving,his body trembling with uncontrollable terror.
Everything had faded into insignificance for a moment, as he stared into the mirror,his knuckles white as he gripped the collar of his tunic, scratching at his neck in profound distress.
A strangled whimper pierced through the unsettling quiet of the grand bedroom,Eric's sister had been standing by the door way, poised to enter when she heard the distress.
A sudden rush of movement carried her in.
Only to find him cowering, his body trembling with uncontrollable terror and his gaze fixed on the mirror.
Immediately, she enveloped him in a comforting embrance.
"Don't be afraid,"
She whispered,her voice soft yet firm with promise.
In her mind, she wondered if her baby brother was still plagued by the monsters he had feared since nine.
Slowly, enveloped in his sister's arms, Eric's trembling began to subside.
But as the calm settled, a new realisation dawned on Eric.
This moment had to remain a secret, never to be spoken of .
He looked intently at his older twin sister, his gaze firm and made her vow never to disclose what had transpired in his chamber.
As they both stared into the grand mirror, the weight of the secret settled between them.
Seated in secret,Adelaide's curiosity lingered.
She wanted to understand the terror that gripped her brother,but observing his fragile composure, she wisely changed tactic.
Instead, she softly suggested telling their parents,concerned by the depth of his fear.
Eric, however,reacted strongly,imploring her to retain the secret.
He argued that exposing it would disrupt the day,casting a shadow over the family's mood,he emphasised that some things must remain concealed.
A silent consensus was reached, and together, Eric and Adelaide departed the chamber.
A heavy silence lingered in the air,the two siblings had come to an agreement,and the young master's chamber was left void as they departed.
Meanwhile, downstairs,breakfast had almost come to an end.
The breakfast table was mostly cleared, only remnants of a grand meal remained, as Lord Alaric and Lady Josephine exchanged worried glances.
The opulent surroundings contrasted with their increasing anxiety about their children.
Just as their concern turned to genuine worry,the tension in the room lifted as Adelaide and Eric appeared, descending the grand staircase.
A hushed discussion ensued between the family,their private concerns momentarily taking precedence.
This calm was nothing but a transient moment of serenity, its ephemeral nature was underscored by a household informant.
His arrival ,a wavering sign of the forthcoming of their guests,having made their way to the grand hall of the arena.
A visual wonder in the south of the town ,Bedkart.
The Grand Arena Daki, was a marvel, a splendid site to behold.
Lord Alaric,the progenitor of the Patrov Lineage, decisively commanded the mobilisation of his transportation retinue.
A flurry of sophisticated maneuvers ensued as the opulent vehicles were meticulously prepared,their imminent departure poised to convey the family toward the grand arena.
A tableau of nobility unfolded,Lord Alaric stood with distinguished bearing,his black and golden tunic meticulously tailored.
Beside him, mirroring his elegance his son Eric,clad in the same striking palette.
Lady Josephine, the matriach, exuded grace in her black and golden gown, a subtle silver touch gracing the hemline, a detail shared by her daughter,Adelaide.
Together, they moved towards the grand courts,the air imbued with a profound expectancy.
Poised to be conveyed to the arena.
The convoy advanced, a formidable procession flanked by vigilant security,the House Patrov ensconced within the central opulent vehicle.
Their movement ,a study in controlled power,propelling them toward the Grand Arena Daki.
Yet as they arrived, the atmosphere transformed;a phalanx of the press awaited,cameras poised to chronicle the emergence of the Dragon.
The air outside grew thick with the static of the press, a sea of flashbulbs and murmurs awaiting the Crest of the Dragon.
As the wheels came to a pressurised halt,the world outside the tinted glass became a blur of flashing lights and expectant faces.
The moment of quiet concern had passed;the stage was set.
With a collective breath ,the family prepared to manifest to the masses.
The door began it's slow mechanical ascent, and the House Patrov prepared to arrange themselves into a formation of undeniable power.
As the vehicle's door hissed open,the cacophony of the press surged forward like a physical wave.
The transition from the hushed, leather scented sanctuary of the car to the blinding glare of the arena was instantaneous.
Here, the House Patrov ceased to be a family and became a monument.
Alaric stepped out first,his shoes striking the pavement with a finality that seemed to silence the nearest row of reporters.
He did not look at the cameras;he looked through them,his black and golden tunic catching the light like polished armor.
He turned, offering a hand to Josephine , whose silver-hemmed gown shimmered like a blade in the sun.
As Eric and Adelaide followed,the family fell into a choreographed formation, a physical manifestation of their Crest.
Alaric(in a low, commanding undertone):
"Chin up, Eric.
Do not grant them the satisfaction of a blink.
We are the Dragon;we do not flich at sparks."
Adelaide (whispered with sharp poise):
"The press are circling like vultures, Father.
Should we provide them a feast or a famine?"
Josephine (with a serene ,chilling smile toward the cameras):
"A famine my dear.
Let them starve for a headline, while we feast on the results of the day.
Remember your silence is more expensive than their words."
Eric(tightening his gloves, his voice steady):
"Let them look.
They seek a crack in the glass,but they shall find only obsidian of the Patrov Lineage."
As the House Patrov crossed the threshold from the armored sanctuary of their vehicle to the open air of the arena, the reaction of the press was not merely a noise,it was a physical phenomenon.
The six families had somewhat similar arrangements of power and diplomacy.
Their modes of civilisation were almost similar.
For the Patrovs, there were specific rules that each of them had to follow.
These rules were to decide where they lived, where they went and their rank in the family heirachy,and whoever dared to break even one of them was to receive a suitable sanction.
The rules were,
1.It is imperative that each scion of the bloodline maintains a befitting residence within the municipal confines of Bedkart.
2.It is an inviolable edict that no member of the bloodline shall perpetrate the drawing of family blood.
3.It is a sacrosanct convenant that the current Head of the Bloodline, his consort and his direct progeny alone shall reside within the hallowed confines of the ancestral domicile.
4.Peripheral members of the bloodline shall establish their residencies within the contiguous districts of the township of Bedkart.
5.For the case, of espousal, all members must first seek the progenitor .
6.In the same faith, the progenitor must first seek his high mother.
7.Only male scions must succeed as progenitor.
8.It is an immutable ordinance that no member of the bloodline shall contemplate the rejection or defiance of the progenitor's decree or decisions.
9.It is a sacrosanct convenant that the fidelity of all members of the bloodline shall remain unwavering toward the Crest of the Dragon.
10.Only the progenitor must wear the family's ring of Kaltara.
11.It is a stringent prerequisite that all members born of the bloodline, excluding those espoused thereto,shall be possessed of tresses of a blond or golden hue of hair.
12.The bloodline shall be provided fealty and unwavering service by the knights of Yore;furthermore,whilst within the sacred premises of the Malla, they shall be attired in vestments of the Olden Days.
13.Should the untimely demise of the current progenitor arise,the designated successor shall forthwith assume the mantle of the title.
14.Should the reigning progenitor perish,and the designated successor be beneath the age of maturity ,the High Mother shall forthwith assume the mantle of authority, governing.
15.The position of High Mother is only attained by the mother of the progenitor.
16.The mother of the designated successor is not given the mantle until the current High Mother is deceased.
17. A royal council of the house must be appointed for each reign.
18.The royal council must consist only members of the bloodline.
19.The council must have only six positions open each reign.
20.Council members must advice and run errands for the High Lord.
21.The Cleansers must punish any child of the bloodline who breaks these precepts.
22.The Cleansers must function without the effect of the High Lord but under the service of the Prodegon.
23.The Cleansers must pledge a life-bounding oath, in service to the peace of the Crest of the Dragon.
24.The Cleansers are to only serve, the member born of the trait,any betrayal or act of profound egoism will result in immediate death.
25. The Cleansers must be chosen on merit not born of the seven bloodlines.
26.All members of the bloodline and their affiliations must acknowledge "The Prodegon,and fear thy power."
The moment the Crest of the Dragon,the gilded emblem of unrivalled power became visible on the retracting door, the crowd experienced a collective systole.
The chaotic shouting of the journalists uderwent a linguistic transformation, shifting from a cacophony of individual questions, into a unified, rythmic roar of recognition.
Reporters who were previously cynical became frantic,the air within the vicinity, grew thicker by the minute, with the Lineage name ,"Patrov " whispered and shouted like a mantra.
Their presence was palpable ,a heavy pressure that seemed to displace the oxygen in the docking bay.
Lord Alaric, Lady Josephine and the scions, Eric and Adelaide, traversed the threshold of the Grand Arena Daki.
A veritable phalanx of the press beleaguered them,a relentless chorus of inquiries, which the family met with imperturbable composure.
Their progress was a study in majesty,a deliberate movement toward their preferred seating, seamlessly guided past the first line of security.
Lord Alaric and Lady Josephine an imperturbable countenance amidst the relentless disturbance, while a silent dialogue unfolded.
Adelaide's gaze turned towards her father, fraught with ephemeral weight of a private burden of guilt **_the bedroom incident **_confering an unspoken confession.
Yet, as her conviction wavered,she perceived Eric's reciprocal apprehension, a worried glance that sought to shunt her from disclosure through subtle gestures.
The intricate byplay continued between their poised demeanor, until they moved beyond the press, passing through the final line of security to their preferred hall of the arena, where the first activity was to be held.
A hush fell over the assembled gathering within Sclera,the majestic hall of grand purpose.
The air grew thick with anticipation and underlying tension.
All eyes turned towards the towering grand doors, the significance of the awaited arrival, was deeply felt.
Then, with a deliberate resonant sound that reverberated, through the majestic hall, the massive doors opened wide.
The moment, paused before the Patrov's were within full eye view, only intensifying the charged climate.
The hall, Sclera was more than a place of majestic gathering;it was the pinnacle of legal and formal discourse for the six governing families of the lands.
Within its opulent space,power and tradition converged, lending an even greater weight to the joyful excitement tinged with seriousness.
The arrival of the Patrovs became a symbolic moment,reaffirming the delicate balance and dynamics among the ruling families.
Sclera crackled with a phenomenal energy,the immense doors swinged open with a resounding sound,heralding the majestic arrival of the Patrov family.
An immediate shift permeated the atmosphere, blending the joyful excitement with a palpable seriousness and tension.
Their designated seating, perched atop the highest point of the hall, underscoring their status distinctly among the six families.
The hall whispered of opulence and nobility.
Crystal chandeliers cast a warm, golden light across marble floors and towering columns.
Seven distinct partitions delineated exclusive seating areas,each designed for the most esteemed guests.
The first highest, and most magnificent partition exuded a regal grandeur,adorned with intricate details and plush furnishings. Cascading curtains of rich fabrics hang gracefully, each showcasing the distinct emblems and insignia of seven families.
However, one specific curtain was rolled up,creating a subtle departure from the otherwise perfect symmetry.
Amid the opulent splendor, royal banners draped from the high ceilings,adding a majestic touch.
Each of the families displayed their own distinct banner, emblazoned with their unique crest and colours.
These noble banners complemented the intricate details and plush furnishings of the partitions,further emphasizing the royal and noble nature of the gathering.
While six banners cascaded proudly,the seventh was glaringly rolled up, mirroring the state of its corresponding curtain.
Within the grand chateau where the cream of nobility convegred,a conspicuous dissonance permeated the meticulously arranged spectacle.
While six noble families commanded their prominent places,their banners cascading with customary pomp, the seventh domain languished in pointed insignificance.
Their emblem and crest remained discreetly concealed,meticulously withdrawn from the public eye.
The accompanying seats were conspicuously empty,their partitioning marked by a patina of age and dust, speaking of a forgotten lineage and a lingering void.
The air crackled with a palpable, thrilling tension within the Grand Chateau Sclera.As the first family took their seats, a profound hush descended, punctuated by the faint ,crystalline clink of anticipation.
Delmonfeld Deremon, a man whose noble lineage was believed to be his meteoric ascent to the sixth family,commenced the proceedings.
He expounded upon the functions paramount importance, his voice resonating with authority, a chilling promise of seamless execution.
Welcoming the six noble families, his gaze briefly almost imperceptible darted to the seventh partition, a swift yet palpable flicker of acknowledgement before continuing with the day's arrangements.
He then introduced himself as Delmonfeld Deremon,a self-made man who, defying convention,had ascended to earn himself a place as part of the Sixth Family's Affiliatory status members.
Silence followed Delmonfeld's introduction,not empty, but filled by the breathing of Daki itself.
The first pillar, the primordial blue print from which the arenas of the other five lands were mere pale imitations.
While other nations boasted structures of polished marble and modern engineering, Daki was hewn from the Olden Earth, a deep obsidian-veined stone that seemed to swallow the torchlight.
Its foundations laid before the first records were inked.
An overwhelming presence,an echoing history of the stones that allowed the mind to slip.
In the shadow of antiquity,one could easily overlook the symmetry of the partitions.
Looking at all partitions without a missing piece, a shadow cast by the Daki's jagged, ancient crown.