Her gaze landed briefly on a familiar face in the crowd—Cecelia. Though Cecelia's family had not entered the competition, her sharp eyes followed Elysia with a silent, piercing intensity, like a blade scanning for weakness.
Then, further down the platform, she saw Edwin, a young heir from the Edwin family.
Their eyes met, and a small, confident smile passed between them—an unspoken acknowledgment that they might share a common purpose, or at least a mutual respect.
The crowd hushed as the ceremony began. The head of the Council of Clans stepped forward, his voice echoing in the courtyard.
"Today marks the beginning of the Festival of Trials! May the strongest, wisest, and most skillful rise to honor their families and themselves!"
"The strongest will be chosen to participate in the nation level hero"
Elysia felt the weight of her father's gaze, grounding her even as excitement and anticipation tingled through her.
