Age: 8 Years
The weight of steel. The pulse of magic. The tension of combat before the first strike is ever thrown.
For years, Lucien Silver Star had trained in silence, honing both his physical and arcane abilities beneath the cover of night. He had mastered the art of deception, manipulation, and unseen influence.
But control over minds and politics could not protect him in the raw chaos of battle.
And today, he would face his first true test.
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### A Duel That Could Not Be Avoided
The nobles of Maurya were prideful, obsessed with honor, reputation, and the legacy of their bloodlines. Insults were rarely exchanged through words alone—they were settled in duels, where blades decided superiority.
And Valerian, despite his careful maneuvering through noble politics, had unintentionally drawn the ire of an opponent.
A young noble, heir to a minor faction within House Varyn, had taken offense to Valerian's growing presence. The whispers of his intelligence, his influence, his charm—it had unsettled those who once dismissed him as insignificant.
And now, to prove dominance, the noble heir had issued a public challenge.
A formal duel. A battle before the court. A fight Lucien could not refuse.
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### The Reality of Combat
Political games and hidden manipulations meant nothing in a duel. This was not about winning allies or seeding corruption.
This was about survival.
This was about proving strength, not through words, but through skill, precision, and instinct.
The duel would take place in the grand courtyard of House Silver Star , under the watchful eyes of nobles and warriors alike.
For the first time, Lucien would fight publicly, revealing a fraction of what he had truly become.
And he had no intention of losing.
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### The Clash of Steel and Strategy
As he stood opposite his opponent, a blade resting in his grip, Lucien ignored the mocking laughter of nearby nobles, the dismissive smirks from those who still considered him a mere child.
He did not need their approval.
He needed a victory that would change everything.
The first strike came fast—his opponent lunging forward, aiming to end the fight quickly.
Lucien sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid, calculated, controlled beyond expectation.
The next strike came—a downward slash, heavy with force.
Lucien parried, twisted, countered, his blade flashing in return.
Gasps echoed through the courtyard.
Nobles leaned forward.
Because in that moment, they saw something beyond a boy playing at battle.
They saw a warrior in the making.
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### The Final Stroke
It did not take long.
Lucien had trained against opponents far deadlier, refining his reactions to precision, ensuring he never wasted a movement.
And so, with a final feint, a decisive strike, he ended the duel with ruthless efficiency.
His opponent stumbled back, eyes wide in disbelief, the noble court falling into stunned silence.
The match was over.
And Lucien stood victorious.
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### The Aftermath of Battle
This was more than just a duel.
This was a message to noble society.
Lucien Silver Star was not weak.
He was not a forgotten third son.
He was a force to be reckoned with—and now, the world was finally beginning to realize it.
And as the crowd murmured, as whispers of his unexpected skill spread among noble houses, Lucien smiled.
Because this was only the beginning.