Silence of the Grand Hall

Chapter 31 : Silence of the Grand Hall

Lukas drew a blade and stepped onto the ground, its tip settling toward Rudravaan.

“We are next.”

Rudravaan answered only with a quiet, “Yeah,” as he walked forward, the wooden sword resting lazily upon his shoulder.

Lukas narrowed his eyes and shifted into stance.
“Are you not going to take this seriously?”

Rudravaan’s lips curved faintly.
“Ah… I know why you asked for this spar.”

Lukas stiffened.

“You made an excuse,” Rudravaan continued calmly, “to see whether I still possess my strength… did you not?”

A drop of sweat traced down Lukas’s temple before he gave a crooked smile.
“Looks like you’re still as sharp as ever. But do not mistake me—” his grip tightened on the sword, “—I merely wished to see whether the fire in you yet burns.”

Not far away, Zade and Henry sat watching.

Henry leaned closer.
“What are they murmuring about?”

Zade shook his head.
“I know not. But more importantly…” his eyes stayed fixed on the field, “…I am curious about this match. As far as I know, our emperor himself once aided in training our sect leader.”

Henry’s expression did not change.
“Well… I already know how this ends.”

Zade turned sharply toward him.
“…I have wanted to ask— is Rudravaan truly that strong? I know he stands among the greatest, like our emperor… but what makes him different?”

Henry watched Rudravaan in silence for a moment.

“I do not know for certain,” he said at last. “But I have a feeling… he never fights with his full strength.”

His gaze hardened slightly.

“Even when Lukas said he faced all the emperors alone…”

Zade’s breath caught.

“T… There is no way…”

Slowly, almost unwillingly, his eyes returned to Rudravaan.

Rudravaan exhaled lightly.
“If you truly wish it… then come.”

Lukas moved in the next heartbeat—vanishing and reappearing in a blink as he charged. His sword flashed forward, swift and precise, certain it would strike true.

But—

clack!

Rudravaan’s wooden blade shifted with effortless ease, tilting Lukas’s strike aside with flawless precision. The angle changed so subtly it was almost unnatural.

From the sidelines, Zade and Henry could scarcely follow the exchange.

Rudravaan’s voice came calm and unmoved.
“Is this enough?”

Lukas’s eyes sharpened.
“…No.”

The air rippled.

Rudravaan vanished.

Lukas’s pupils shrank in shock as he hurriedly took a defensive stance—

—but it was already too late.

A wooden blade rested lightly against his neck.

“I do not think so,” Rudravaan said quietly.

Lukas immediately raised both hands with a nervous laugh.
“Alright, alright—calm down.”

Henry folded his arms with a small huff.
“see I told you”

Lukas sheathed his sword with an easy grin.
“It grows late,” he said. “Why not dine at my palace? I shall prepare a proper feast. What say you?”

Rudravaan turned slightly away.
“I must decline. There are matters that require my attention.”

“Ah, do not be so cold,” Lukas replied, waving a hand. Then he raised his voice and called out,
“Boy! I am hosting a feast. Will you join us?”

Henry and Zade hurried over at once.

Henry’s eyes lit with excitement.
“Yes!”

Lukas slowly turned his gaze back to Rudravaan, a knowing smile on his lips.
“And now… what will you say?”

Rudravaan sighed, already defeated by circumstance.
“…Fine.”

Lukas leaned closer, lowering his voice to a whisper meant only for him.

“I have invited a few nobles as well,” he murmured. “I shall leave them… to you.”

Night had fallen, and the palace blazed with golden light.

Nobles from across the realm filled the grand hall, their silks whispering as they moved, their voices blending into a low, elegant murmur. Servants passed between them with trays of wine and delicacies.

Amid the crowd, Henry and Zade wandered curiously.

Henry leaned closer.
“Where are Lukas and Rudravaan?”

Zade glanced around the hall.
“I do not know.”

Before either could say more, a palace guard struck the floor with his spear and shouted,

“His Majesty, the Emperor!”

At once, the hall turned toward the entrance.

Lukas stepped inside with calm authority, his presence commanding the room. He raised a hand lightly.

“Thank you all for coming this evening,” he said smoothly.
“Tonight’s gathering is held in honor of… a friend of mine who has recently emerged victorious from war.”

At once, the nobles began whispering among themselves.

“The emperor’s friend?”
“A general, perhaps?”
“Which commander earned such favor?”

Lukas did not answer.

Instead, he slowly turned toward the entrance behind him.

A single figure stepped into the light.

Rudravaan.

The change in the room was instant.

The newer nobles only frowned in confusion…

—but those who knew him—

—went pale.

Wine glasses trembled.

Breaths caught.

And in the span of a heartbeat, the grand hall fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.