The crowd had barely caught its breath when Alen's fist crashed against the prince's cousin's throat, sending him collapsing to the marble floor of the academy courtyard.
He could have ended it there.
Alen, still breathing heavily, turned his back and whispered coldly, "I'm giving you one chance. Leave. Now."
But arrogance was thicker than blood in the veins of royalty.
The prince's cousin coughed, spat blood, and growled with laughter. "You think this is over? I'll make your woman mine. She'll be nothing more than a royal slave—no, a prostitute sold to the highest bidder. Maybe I'll invite you to watch."
That was the last thing he ever said with a full set of teeth.
Something inside Alen snapped.
The world turned red. Mana surged like a tidal wave through his veins, his eyes gleaming like embers. The Crimson Lion's heir, masked no longer.
Alen slammed him again—once, twice, ten times—until the tiles were soaked in royal blood and the man beneath him was a twitching corpse. His knuckles dripped crimson, his shirt torn and soaked.
As the silence settled, only Alen's breathing could be heard. He stood, wiped his hands slowly with a silk cloth, and whispered:
"Those who touch what I love... don't deserve mercy."
---
Moments later
Trumpets blared across the academy as dozens of elite royal guards charged in. Cloaked in blue and gold, the king's crest gleaming on their chestplates, they surrounded Alen, spears drawn.
"You've assaulted the blood of the throne," one said coldly. "By the King's decree, you're under arrest."
"Do you know who I am?" Alen said softly.
"Yes," another guard sneered. "We don't care. You laid your hand on royal blood. That alone warrants death."
---
Inside the Trial Hall
The air was tense. The nobility watched from their elevated seats, sipping tea and hiding their excitement for scandal. The court mage began the trial.
"For the murder of a royal, speak your justification, boy."
Alen stepped forward, back straight, eyes calm.
"Crimson Lion doctrine: Kindness returned tenfold. Vengeance a thousand."
The judge looked baffled. Then a roar thundered through the court.
The grand iron doors flung open, shaking the chamber as the banner of the Crimson Lion burst through—an enormous red standard bearing the roaring lion sigil.
Leading the charge, fully armored in gold-rimmed crimson plate, was Doren Hellhart, his eyes blazing with fury.
Behind him walked The Crimson Patriarch himself—Alen's grandfather, flanked by elite members of the Crimson Lion inner circle.
The room fell into stunned silence.
"Who dares put my heir on trial?" the Patriarch boomed. "Who dares accuse the blood of the Crimson Lion?"
Even the judge stammered. "W-We did not know…"
"You do now," Doren growled. "Your lives depend on what you say next."
The court backed down almost instantly.
---
In the crowd
Lyra watched it unfold with tears still drying on her cheek. She now understood the weight Alen carried—the bloodline, the power, the wrath he kept hidden all this time.
Her brother, Ryen Drevaris, stood beside her, hand on his sword hilt, calm but ready to level the academy if anything had gone differently.
He whispered to her, "He was willing to die for you. He's earned more than just your love."
---
As Alen walked out
The entire court was silent. Even the nobles bowed their heads.
Outside, under the blue sky, Lyra ran to him and hugged him tight.
"You idiot," she whispered. "You didn't need to go that far."
"I needed to," Alen replied, voice soft but resolute. "No one threatens you."
---
New Characters Introduced:
Crimson Patriarch (Alen's Grandfather): Head of the Crimson Lion Clan. Stern, commanding, and protective of his bloodline.
Ryen Drevaris: Lyra's older brother. Strongest youth in the Northern Dragon Clan. Quiet, observant, but fiercely protective.
Prince's Cousin (Deceased): Arrogant, cruel noble who underestimated the wrath of a lion.
Royal Tribunal Judge: Cowardly official who bends to power.
Crimson Lion Guard Elite: Warriors who follow the Patriarch and Doren into battle.
---