Free Web NovelChapter 23: Day of the Test
The main city of the Sungrade is not like the smaller towns and city states. The sheer scale of the city differs from the set standard for what can be called a city.
The city of Oren borders the Dominic Forest directly. Not only is it a strategic hub and frontier for the defence against the creatures that live beyond the forest, the city is vast enough to house more than 3,000,000 people.
There are millions of beasts living in this city, around the six cradles, and within the forest of the demonic forces.
The sungrade family resides in the castle located in the middle of the city, situated around it are the training facilities for the individuals that have proven their worth to the family.
Outside of the training facilities are the residential areas where people of different status live in harmony with people of different races.
Unlike many other places within the empire where the other races aren’t welcomed openly, the sungrades are one of the few that welcome anyone regardless of their race, position, or background.
They have accepted countless refugees over the years, and there are thriving communities of (Beastfolks), (Elves), and (Dwarves) in this city.
The rich diversity in population makes the opportunities present for the younger generations greater than the neighbouring states.
As the rulers of the eastern front of the empire, the Sungrades are a power that can stand against even the whole of a smaller, independent force of this world.
But, they still have a deadly threat of the demonic kind hanging over their head.
They have protected the empire and the continent from the threat of those heinous beasts all their lives, and to do that... They have taken strict measures, ones often regarded as cruel.
"WE WILL BEGUIN THE PROOF OF WORTH SHORTLY!"
Those who want to receive the full support of the family must prove themselves either with their skills or their talents.
Whether you are born directly of the Sungrade bloodline or adopted into the family because of your talents, your worth is decided based on what you can do and what you are capable of.
Those who can prove their talents early receive exemption from this test, but most others have to participate in this bloody competition at least once by the time they are 18.
Those who fail it are discarded to the bottom. The meritocratic nature of the house has sustained its authority and power over the centuries.
But, until now, there have hardly been cases where the children from the main bloodline have to enter this competition to prove themselves.
Be it in taming or academics, the sheer exposure to the high-level training provided to the children of the direct bloodline makes them different from the rest of the children within the house.
From the oldest child of the current patriarch that made a name for herself throughout the world before her disappearance to the youngest one that is called the Spirit Prodigy of the era, the talents of the bloodline remain undeniable within this family.
However, sticking as a sour thumb within this honourable family was the youngest of the young masters of this house, a child born of a concubine whose origin was unknown to all, one that vanished just as soon as she appeared in this house.
They called her a witch because of the strange color of her hair. She did not display any exceptional powers.
Throughout the time she had stayed here, no one had even seen any of her tamed beasts.
She was a ghost that wasn’t liked by those within the family. However, she had done much for the citizens that resided within the borders of the Sungrade.
She was a saviour in their eyes and a true noble, making the position of even a useless son that she left behind, one cursed to never tame a beast, important enough.
Those who despised her and those who didn’t accept the existence of her son had always wanted to get rid of them.
They did not get the chance to move when it was her turn. She was gone before any of them knew it.
But her son was left behind. And those people had done their very best to make his life in this house as miserable as they could.
And now...
"EVERYONE! GATHER BEFORE THE STAGE!"
They had gathered in the big arena located at the edge of the city to see his fall.
-Thurrr. Thurrr. Thurrr.
In the colosseum at the edge of the city, with the important individuals associated with Sungrade present all across the arena, along with a large crowd of soldiers, executives, and people from other parts of the empire present, the yearly ’festival’ of the Sungrade was commencing.
-Swiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish!
Standing atop a giant eagle was the host that everyone present was already familiar with: the Green Falcon.
He was a war hero elf, a retired old man that still looked to be in his late twenties. Handsome and powerful, he had now devoted his life to being a host for important events across the empire.
Every big event was heard with his voice. With his eyes that saw things most cannot and through his special beasts that gave him the view of the entire battlefield, he was an important national asset.
-Thurrr. Thurrr. Thurrr.
With each swing of his partner’s enormous wings, the sky was roaring.
In the arena, children had gathered, prepared to prove what they could offer to this family and nation.
Whether they become a soldier, a gardener, an honourable knight, or a worker slave was going to be decided today.
There was nervousness in their eyes.
Even the best contestants that were trained directly within the family estate’s elite facilities had their questions.
Some of them were going to rise in rankings today.
While on the other hand...
"Chirp!"
"What do you mean it was my mistake?! That thing just exploded!"
"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!"
"We couldn’t have known that! Stop blaming me for something out of our hands!"
"Chirp...!"
"Hey! If it was me who couldn’t foresee the changes in entropy, then you were the one who couldn’t minimize the damages, alright?!"
"..."
"Besides, we can’t do anything about that anymore. The glasses exploded, so we will have to wait until we can solve this issue."
Prism was standing among the children in the arena, arguing over their failed experiment with the white bird sitting on his head.
The two could not create the glasses that had cost them a boatload of money and resources, but there was nothing they could do about that anymore.
The arena was filled.
"Shaaaaaaaa!"
"Whooooooo!"
The elders of the family had arrived on their thrones on the second highest seat.
"..."
"Hrmm..."
Lady Markeet was the only Lady of the house present here as the organisational commander. Still, she was on the same high ground as the elders of the house.
The highest position and the supreme throne that was reserved only for the true sovereign of the east was yet to be filled.
’The patriarch had been away for some time now...’
But, today was an important event.
"EVERYONE! RISE UP TO GREET THE TRUE SUN OF THE EAST! THE CHOSEN GUARDIAN OF THE SALAMANDERS!"
As the patriarch and his ’father’, he must not miss this crucial turning point of both their lives.
