"Alicia, are you busy right now?"
The voice that was coming from the communication device was familiar yet something about its tone felt unusually heavy. After the first asking about where she was at the moment, the second call was coming for something unexpected.
"No, Uncle Angus... Why is it?"
"There is something I want to talk about. Where are you right now? I will go there."
The call ended shortly afterward after few minutes of the conversation. Alicia stared at the device in her hand for a moment longer than necessary.
A faint uneasiness settled quietly in her chest.
Angus had always been gentle with her. Among all the elders of the Xavierius family, he was the one who treated her the most like a daughter rather than a tool of the family. He rarely used such a serious tone unless something important or bad had happened.
Trying not to overthink the matter, she told him her current location and remained where she was. What she didn't know was that the magic carriage that was carrying Angus and her father was already nearby.
The meeting happened sooner than she expected.
However, only Angus stepped out while Harry remained inside the carriage.
The family head sat silently in the shadows of the luxurious vehicle. His expression was hidden behind the tinted crystal window. This matter was really complicated.
He had already made his decision but he preferred Angus to speak first with his daughter.
Whether the girl accepted it or not would not change the direction he intended to take.
For the Xavierius family, this was the best opportunity they had seen in several decades. And he as the head of family would not allow it to slip away.
*****
Meanwhile, Alicia was sitting inside one of the luxurious cafés.
The place was elegant and quiet, decorated with polished marble tables and delicate silver lamps. Several noble ladies and wealthy merchants often gathered here after their shopping trips.
When she noticed Angus who was entering through the glass doors, she quickly stood up to greet him. But the moment she saw his face, her steps paused.
Angus looked troubled. The deep wrinkles formed between his brows and his usually warm eyes carried an uncomfortable hesitation.
She felt her heart sink. Something was definitely wrong. Still, she forced a gentle smile.
"Uncle Angus…"
They exchanged a brief greeting before sitting down. For several seconds, Angus remained silent. His fingers tapped lightly on the table as if he was struggling to find the right words.
"I'm sorry to bother your shopping time," he finally said and his voice was low, "But, there is an urgent matter I need to discuss."
"It's alright, Uncle Angus," Alicia replied calmly, "What happened? Does it involve me?"
Angus hesitated, "This… actually…"
He exhaled slowly, "It started a moment ago…"
And then, he began to tell the story. The narrative that his niece would despise yet could never be rejected.
*****
The old knight Tasco, the name that was not unfamiliar to Alicia. He had a long-standing ties with the Xavierius family.
Many years ago, he had served together with Angus in a joint military campaign. Since then, the two men had remained in occasional contacts.
Tasco rarely asked for help which was why Angus took his sudden call very seriously.
According to the old knight, something extraordinary had happened in Luminos City.
One of his recent clients which was a fat man named Sebastian had displayed a very rare phenomenon during the training. He had shown a Gale aura in his swing.
At first, Angus didn't believe it.
The Gale element had disappeared from public knowledge for many generations. Many scholars even believed it had gone extinct but Tasco was adamant.
He said the power he saw was unmistakable.
To convince Angus, he sent a recording video. When Angus watched the footage, his calm shattered instantly.
Most people could not distinguish the difference between Wind element and Gale element. The two appeared similar but to a true wind wizard, the distinction was as clear as night and day.
The wind was movement and the gale was dominance.
The moment he saw the violent spiral of compressed air that was surrounding Sebastian's sword, he understood immediately. That was not the wind. Instead, that was something far more terrifying.
If the Xavierius family could secure such a person, their future would change completely.
After confirming the location, Angus and Harry departed for Luminos City immediately. On the way, the two men discussed countless possibilities.
How to recruit Sebastian, how to persuade him, and how to prevent other noble families from interfering.
The Xavierius family possessed wealth, territory, and influence. But still, they were not the strongest noble house in the kingdom.
If the words about the Gale element spread, many powerful families would descend like the vultures. They had to act fast. And then, Harry proposed something unexpected which was a political marriage.
Angus had objected at first but after careful consideration, he realized Harry's reasoning made sense.
A noble family alliance that was sealed through marriage was the strongest binding method and the person that was chosen for this arrangement was Alicia.
*****
The café fell silent after Angus finished speaking.
At the outside, people continued walking along the busy street. The carriages rolled past and the merchants shouted their prices, but inside Alicia's mind, everything felt strangely distant.
Her expression remained calm, too calm that she looked very mature from the outside even though her fate had been determined.
Angus watched her carefully, unable to determine what she was thinking.
Was she angry?
Was she upset?
Or had she simply accepted it?
Inside Alicia's heart, however, a storm was brewing. She had always known this day might come.
Being born into a noble family meant her life was never entirely her own. Yet, when the moment truly arrived, it still felt suffocating.
She wanted to refuse but she knew she couldn't. Her father was the head of the family and his decision was final. Moreover, this opportunity was too important.
Still, why it must be her?
There were many girls within the Xavierius bloodline yet the responsibility ultimately fell upon her. Perhaps, her excellence was sometimes a burden.
All the achievements that she had accumulated over the years with her talent, her intelligence, and her struggle suddenly felt meaningless.
She once believed she could earn enough merit to control her own future. Now, she realized how naïve that thought had been.
"If you don't want this…" Angus suddenly said softly, "I can oppose the decision."
Alicia blinked while Angus looked at her with genuine concern, "Alicia… You don't have to force yourself. Being born into the Xavierius family does not mean you must sacrifice everything for it."
His words were sincere. For a brief moment, she almost broke but she inhaled slowly and steadied herself.
"I understand, Uncle…" her voice was calm, "My father must think this opportunity is extremely rare."
She lowered her gaze, "If the Gale element truly returns to our bloodline, the family's status will rise again."
Her fingers tightened slightly, "This chance cannot be wasted."
Angus sighed quietly. Alicia continued speaking though her words gradually became less coherent. She imagined the coming days.
First, a meeting then the introduction. Her father would negotiate and she would only need to follow the arrangement. She would simply sit there like an object that was being exchanged.
If the discussion succeeded, the announcement would follow soon after. Her marriage to a man she had never met must be quite shocking.
The future suddenly felt very small yet as she struggled with her thoughts, some unexpected memories surfaced.
Baston, the poor boy who fought relentlessly despite the cruelty of fate.
Panto, the merchant boy who forced himself to study magic despite knowing his future lay elsewhere.
Luke, the noble youth who dared to oppose his own uncle despite having a little chance of victory.
Everyone she had met was fighting their own battle. Compared to them, her situation was not truly that tragic.
Slowly, she straightened her posture. Perhaps, the fate was not as cruel as she imagined.
If Sebastian was a good person, then she could accept this marriage. But if he was not, her lips curved slightly.
Eventually, he would learn what it meant to anger someone named Alicia Xavierius.
*****
Without wasting time, Alicia followed Angus toward the magic carriage. Inside, her father was waiting. Several guards prepared to carry the shopping goods that Alicia had purchased earlier but Harry stopped them.
"You all will remain at the inn," he ordered, "This meeting must remain confidential."
The guards immediately obeyed.
Harry stepped aside, allowing Alicia to enter the carriage. The atmosphere inside was awkward.
Harry knew his daughter should be unhappy yet he said nothing. Alicia also remained silent. Neither of them knew how to start the conversation.
Angus sat across from them, feeling extremely uncomfortable. This was a matter between father and daughter.
He had no right to interfere. All he could do was praying silently to let this meeting end well.
*****
Far away from them, another story was unfolding.
Baston who was still disguised as Sebastian had just finished the training. As he prepared to leave, Tasco stopped him.
"Stay in Luminos City for a few more days," the old knight said earnestly, "The Xavierius family is coming and they would like to meet with you."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Several powerful figures were apparently rushing toward the city and it was all because of him. Of course, he did not refuse.
Tasco had already refunded his training payment. Such goodwill deserved repayment and thus, he agreed to remain for one week.
*****
Meanwhile, the tension between Luke and Viktor continued to rise.
Viktor no longer confronted Luke directly. Instead, he sent his subordinates to provoke him repeatedly with the small incidents, minor insults, and petty harassment.
But still, it was never enough to violate Luminos City's strict laws. Viktor was careful because even a nobleman could not act recklessly inside the city.
The harassment intensified each day yet neither side truly attacked. Both of them were waiting for the decisive moment.
From Baston's observation, Viktor was clearly trying to lure Luke somewhere. Surely, it must be toward Paradise Resort. That was where everything would end.
He already knew the truth but he kept it hidden.
Luke needed to believe he had discovered the location himself. Only then would Viktor lower his guard. And only then, he could strike decisively.
*****
One evening, Luke suddenly spoke, "Tomorrow, we will go to Paradise Resort."
Baston pretended to be shocked, "Do you want to meet with your uncle directly?"
Luke nodded, "Yes, I'm sure he will be there waiting for me…"
The dinner that night felt unusually quiet. Luke was deep in thought while Baston reviewed his own preparations.
Paradise Resort was not an ordinary place. It was filled with the nobles and influential guests. One wrong move could attract unwanted attention. Thus, he prepared carefully.
He would deploy few puppets along the route between the inn and the resort. If a chase occurred later, he needed multiple escape options.
The puppets could operate far from him but the distance always reduced his precision. To ensure the success, he arranged them strategically.
The night passed slowly and the morning arrived. Luke and Baston left the inn after a simple breakfast.
Inside the carriage, neither of them spoke. Each man carried his own secrets.
Luke planned to confront his uncle while Baston planned to kill him. Paradise Resort was merely the stage and the real execution would happen elsewhere.
After several minutes, the carriage arrived at the destination.
The magnificent building stood before them like a palace of pleasure. But beneath its luxurious exterior, the dark secrets waited quietly. And today, those secrets would finally surface.
For a brief moment, neither Luke nor Baston stepped out of the carriage.
The driver had already opened the door yet both young men remained seated as if they were silently measuring the place before them.
Paradise Resort was far more extravagant than most establishments in Luminos City.
The tall white pillars framed the entrance hall while the enchanted lanterns floated above the garden pathways. The gentle music drifted through the air, carried by invisible magic formations that created a relaxing atmosphere for the guests.
Several servants who were dressed in spotless uniforms moved efficiently between the arriving carriages, welcoming the nobles with their perfect etiquette.
Everything looked peaceful but Baston's eyes narrowed slightly. Behind the elegant façade, he could sense something unnatural.
Several people stood near the entrance. They were not ordinary security personnel hired by the resort. Their posture was too disciplined and their gazes were too sharp. Even though they pretended to behave like the casual attendants, he could immediately recognize the vigilance of the trained fighters.
"In the end, he really prepared the stage carefully…" Baston thought.
If Luke stepped inside recklessly, there was a high chance that Viktor's people would already surround them.
Luke seemed to notice something as well. His expression became colder as he observed the surroundings through the carriage window.
"He already expects me to come…" he said quietly.
Baston raised an eyebrow, "You're certain he was inside this place?"
Luke gave a faint nod, "My uncle always likes places like this. The spot where the luxury, noise, and people who only think about the pleasure."
There was a trace of contempt in his voice, "But beneath all that, it is the perfect place to hide dirty business."
The carriage door remained open. At the outside, a servant was still waiting politely for them to step down.
Luke finally exhaled slowly, "Let's go..."
Baston followed him out of the carriage.
The moment their feet touched the polished stone ground of Paradise Resort, several pairs of eyes quietly shifted toward them.
Some belonged to curious guests while the others belonged to the hunters who had been waiting for their prey to arrive.
Unfortunately, he was not the prey in this big picture.