"Master Zayne, your presence is required in the main ball." Zayne heard a servant issue him a message. It was to be expected that with his absence will no doubt attract attention.
"And we have a special guest. Your father told me to relay you that you should be on your best behavior." The servant spoke before taking his leave.
"Special guest?" He thought as he made his way towards the main ball. He had previously been racking his brains to come up with an excuse for his tier but a surprise guest was something that he hadn't anticipated.
Slowly but surely, he opened the main door and a bizarre picture was presented to him. Usually where his father would usually sit was someone else seated there.
A lady, black hair, dark and mysterious red eyes and an air of otherworldly presence hanging around her. He was momentarily stunned by her beauty before a voice rang through his ears snapping him out of his trance.
"Brother! You have finally decided to grace us after your disappearance yesterday." Sirius spoke with a tone of ridicule.
"Is this your third son?" The lady spoke as her eyes scanned Zayne's figure. He could feel a pair of beady eyes rummaging through his entire existence.
A subconscious fear rose in his heart. "Ah! Yes, this is my third son. Zayne Mercer." Solaris spoke with a hint of amusement in his tone however of one looked more closely, they could sense a hint of uneasiness in it.
"Mhh... Zayne Mercer... You don't plan on eating while standing, do you?" The mysterious lady spoke making Zayne realize that he was still standing. He immediately took a seat and joined the rest of the family.
"I didn't think that your third son was so capable. Able to break through into the fifth tier at such a young age. Truly remarkable." Ashley said as she took a casual bite of her meal.
Solaris looked at his son. 'Fifth tier? Zayne?' At first he thought that he had misheard however the next set of words that came out of Zayne took him by surprise.
"It is most certainly remarkable that milady has such a keen perception." Zayne spoke as he gritted his teeth and released a little bit of his tier.
'A fifth tier expert! But when did he achieve such a feat. Hadn't he just recently broken into the fourth tier and yet he has already broken into the fifth tier?'
It wasn't just Solaris who was baffled when he sensed this. His son was on the first array, still beneath him however this had greater implications and Zayne knew it.
It meant that he finally had an advantage over his brothers. Power! This would greatly shift the dynamics of power and influence that he would have.
It would be perceived thanks to his high tier ranking that he would now have a higher chance of claiming the crown of Rien.
"But do tell brother. How have managed to achieve such a transcendent feat?" Kaissus asked flatly. As the eldest, not only was it ridiculing but also baffling for him to be outpaced in terms of ranking.
He was the eldest, he needed to have the best advantage over his brothers in the king's race however his greatest advantage was thrown out the window and claimed by Zayne.
Not just him, everyone was curious. "If you all insist, then I will elaborate." Zayne then began to explain as his eyes would occasionally land on Ashley. He was startled that she was able to see through him.
He had perfectly coated his tier making it seem that he was still in the fourth tier and yet she had exposed him so casually. It acted how scary she was in terms of perception.
"After my champions came back with the tier four mana core disc, one of them went out for a hunt." They all were aware raid that those two had done at the camp on the outskirts of the kingdom.
"Speaking of that, someone specific has a few questions for you brother." Sirius said as he drank a glass of wine. Zayne knew that he would offend a couple of individuals with it but he pushed for it.
It was one of the nobles who wanted to make an advancement into the next tier but he had yet to voice it against him. With his princely privileges, they were at a disadvantage and couldn't go out of his way to revoke it back.
And by then, he would have already assimilated it. 'I could have him as one of my supporters in the race of the crown ship of the kingdom.' Zayne had initially planned of recruiting him so as to justify his actions and sweep it under the rug.
"But after that, it seems that one of them not long afterwards had already ventured out for another mana disc core however it was a tier five."
As soon as he said this, an apprehensive tension hang around in the air. For one of them to hunt down a tier five beast that would mean that they would have at the very least be a tier five expert.
"But aren't both your champions on the fourth tier?" Vesper asked as her eyes tried to read any expressions off his brother. Known as the conservative and calculating one, it was a natural habit for her.
"That is because they are both on the fifth tier. They initially hid their own identities to avoid attracting unwanted attention however it would seem that as a token of wishful luck, they gifted one to me."
Solaris fell into deep contemplation. 'If I was initially aware of these two individuals ahead of time, then I would have no doubt ranked up. However the situation is still favorable as I can request them to fetch one for me.'
"You certainly are a lucky individual." Ashley said as her ensnaring smile came upon her face. Despite the calm and warm air that hung around her, no one felt at peace.
She had yet to state her business here and her casually seating at the king's throne, didn't it mean that she took wanted to take over this kingdom.
"The trials start tomorrow, right. Maybe you'll introduce us to them." Elexa said as her eyes darted between his brother and Ashley.
"But another matter bothers me brother. How were you able to break into the fifth tier in such a short period of time?" Kaissus posed making all the attention shift towards Zayne once more.
'Keen as always brother.' Zayne gritted his teeth as he heard this. It would make no sense how he was able to break through in such a short period of time. A day to break through from one tier to the next, it has never been heard of.
"Why don't we focus on the meal?" Ashley mused as her eyes landed on Zayne's figure. Despite having the excuse of not having to answer that question, he felt that something was off with her.
It wasn't long before everyone excused themselves from the table. Ashley took her respective leave first shortly followed by Zayne and the rest soon followed.
In one of the prince's rooms, there were faint murmurs. "This is definitely concerning. With Zayne's new tier, it will no doubt bring a shift in the polarities and rankings of matters."
Elexa mused as she sat on the bed. "I'm aware Elexa. It just comes off as bizarre how he was able to accomplish such a heaven defying feat out if the blue." Sirius responded as he chugged down a bottle of wine.
"I've already sent spies to keep track of them. Knowing that they are both on the fifth tier, the outcomes of the trials will be greatly shifted."
He had managed to secure a tier five expert however he was on the first array and yet his brother had two. It was no doubt that he had lower chances of winning.
"These two individuals. For such potent experts to come to and willingly help my brother like this, it wouldn't make sense."
Sure Zayne finding two tier five expert could have been considered a stroke of luck however for them to help him to such a degree, it couldn't help but make one skeptical of their goals.
'A tier five mana disc core. Why didn't they bother to curry favor with the king with such an offer and choose Zayne?' Sirius mused as he drank another bottle of wine.
"Regardless, we have to ready ourselves for tomorrow." Elexa said as she made her way towards the exit, closing the door behind her.
"It would seem that you have a great advantage brother. However let's see how far it will carry you." As he fell onto his bed, he couldn't help but give out a small laugh.
...
"Do you mind coming with us?" Orsen asked Arabella who had just recently woken up. "I have to focus on getting stronger."
"Aw, such an adorable goal you have. I see why he chose you." Hedon chimed in with ridicule in his tone. It was more playful than scornful.
"Very well. However be sure to make it back here in three days, there is someone else I'd like you to meet." Orsen mused as he and Hedon were ready to leave.
"Who is it?" Arabella couldn't help but ask. "Your first helper. After all I did mention that you will be having a little bit of help with your task." Arabella was perplexed as she heard this.
"Another person you have mutilated and tortured to succumb to your whim I suppose." Hedon nearly laughed as he heard this. "You shouldn't view us as monsters. We can after all discuss as civilized beings."
'Civilized beings, they had tortured and mentally scarred her and yet they speak of civil?' The two of them however didn't seem to care about her antics as they made their way towards the outskirts of the city.
A huge tent had been erected, a venue where the test would be conducted. "Speaking of the test, what weapon will you be using?" Hedon couldn't help but ask.
"Shadows. What about you?" Hedon gave a scoff. "Up close and personal." He joked as he coated his hands with mana. "Don't you think that that is such a detrimental way when facing a long range opponent?"
The two looked at each other. "Hahaha!" The two laughed simultaneously as they could finally see it in the distance. As they got closer, they could notice that more eyes landed on them.
"To think that they are tier five experts. They certainly do know how to mask it well." They could hear such faint murmurs spreading all-round the air.
A gentleman, sturdy with a long face and boorish features came up to them. "Please follow me, the king would like to have a conversation with the both of you." The two followed and not long, they came to a huge tent.
It was the biggest in comparison to the others as it towered over the rest. Like a giant among men, its size was to be admired by all.
The two walked in and a variety of faces came into their peripherals. They knew who they all were before their eyes landed on two specific figures.
Hedon's eyes landed on Solaris, the proclaimed king of Rien while Orsen's eyes landed on a feminine figure, Ashley.
"I've finally found you. Andrew." Ashley murmured as a smile flashed across her face. She could feel Andrew's presence beneath the facade of Orsen's. It was without a doubt that it was him.
However what she was slightly wary about was the individual next to him. She couldn't read him the same way she could the rest. 'So this is the individual who I have been constantly feeling. But who cares, I've finally found you, my Andy.'
"My majesties, we greet you." The pair said in unison however remaining perfectly standing. 'Do these brats really think that they can just disrespect the royal family like this?'
Sirius mused as he saw this. However the rest were contemplating on different matters. "What is the occasion for the king to trouble himself and find us, I wonder?" Hedon asked as his eyes landed on Solaris.