Chapter 444 [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [32] Kendel And Allen

Chapter 444 [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [32] Kendel And Allen

Something strange was happening in the Capital of Vanadias.

To the visitors from foreign lands, everything seemed as vibrant and lively as ever. The bustling streets, the glittering markets, and the towering tree-architectures held the same charm that had always drawn outsiders to the city. But for the residents, those born and raised in Vanadias, there was an unsettling undercurrent rippling through the capital. It wasn't something easily seen, but rather felt—a growing tension, creeping beneath the surface.

Knights of the Teraquin army, more numerous than usual, began appearing in the streets, fully armored and armed, their eyes filled with cautiousness. Patrols became more frequent, as if they were preparing for something unseen. Some even took up positions around key parts of the city, as though encircling it, trapping something—or someone—within.

Among the outsiders, those who weren't of elven descent felt the tension the most. Whispers followed them wherever they went, eyes filled with suspicion and disdain trailed their movements. The Teraquin knights had always harbored a quiet disdain for non-elves, but today, the animosity was even more apparent. Foreign merchants and travelers had grown accustomed to the usual undercurrents of elven superiority, but now, the hostility was too blatant to ignore. Still, many dismissed it as another expression of the Teraquin's notorious elitism.

But in the castle, the growing unease had fully manifested into confusion for some who didn't understand either.

"What is happening?" Neia asked.

She stood alongside her brother Glamir, and Allen Teraquin, the youngest of the Teraquin siblings. Before them stood Kendel, the eldest, his face impassive as he stared at the empty throne. Their mother, the Queen of Vanadias, had been seated there only a few hours ago, but now the grand seat was vacant.

"Where's mother?" Allen asked, his brow furrowed, sensing something was deeply amiss with Kendel.

"Safe," Kendel replied after a long pause. "Somewhere where she can't interfere with the plan." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Allen exchanged a confused glance with Glamir and Neia. "What plan?"

Glamir raised a brow, his usual cocky grin faltering slightly. "Kendel, what's going on?"

Kendel finally turned to face them. "I've allied with Utopia. We're taking Sancta Vedelia for ourselves. For the elves, and only the elves."

The shock hit them like a wave.

For a moment, there was only silence. Neia's lips parted in disbelief, while Allen looked as though he hadn't fully grasped what Kendel had said. The first to react was Glamir, whose shocked expression quickly twisted into excitement.

"Really?!" Glamir's grin returned, broader than ever. His eyes gleamed with a strange eagerness. "About time!"

"Yes," Kendel confirmed. "The forces of Utopia will be here soon. The war to cleanse Sancta Vedelia has already begun."

"War?" Neia repeated, her voice trembling slightly. "Your Highness, what are you saying?"

Her cousin's words felt like a betrayal. Unlike Glamir, who seemed thrilled by the news, Neia was deeply troubled. She wasn't naïve—she had always harbored disdain for the other races, for the humans, it wasn't like she harbored affections for the other races either who shared the lands with them. But war? An alliance with Utopia? It didn't make sense.

"Utopia is our enemy," she whispered, more to herself than to Kendel.

As much as she despised the other races, they were neighbors—ancient peoples who had shared these lands with the elves for centuries. Despite their differences, they had fought together through the ages, resisting invaders, preserving the lands they called home. "Not anymore. It's time the elves stop fighting among themselves and start helping one another to save Sancta Vedelia," Kendel declared.

"Save Sancta Vedelia from what, brother?" Allen asked.

Kendel's eyes flickered with surprise. He had expected Allen to share Glamir's enthusiasm, to be just as eager to join the cause. But his younger brother's reaction was different—there was no excitement, no support for Kendel's plan. Instead, Allen's gaze was calm, questioning. Ever since his humiliating defeat at the hands of Amael, Allen had undergone a transformation. He had become quieter, more introspective, his once reckless nature tempered by a newfound sense of responsibility.

Kendel had noticed the change in him. The brother who once indulged in cruelty and power had started visiting the families he had torn apart, offering reparations, sometimes even helping them rebuild their lives. The women whose lives he had ruined? He had offered them the choice to become his official concubines if they wished to accept him to give them worthy of royals; for those who declined, he ensured they were compensated with enough wealth to live in comfort for the rest of their days. It was a profound and, frankly, unexpected shift in Allen's character.

A moment of silence passed, then Glamir's voice broke through the quiet. "Finally, it's happening! I'm mad Kendel didn't say anything to me sooner, but finally!" he crowed, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Glamir had always harbored hatred for the other races, and after being humiliated by Amael the day before, his rage had only grown. Now, with war on the horizon, he could hardly contain his excitement.

Neia, however, said nothing. She stood in silence, her eyes drifting toward Allen. She had noticed the changes in him too. He wasn't the same person he had been just months ago. The old Allen would never have questioned their brother, would never have hesitated to join in on Kendel's plans. But now? Now there was doubt in his eyes, and something deeper—something that looked a lot like guilt.

Allen, still staring at the empty throne where their mother had once sat, seemed lost in thought. His expression was complicated. Neia couldn't make sense of it. She didn't understand what had caused this change in him, but it was there, undeniable.

After a long moment, Allen finally turned and left the room. Neia watched him go, unsure herself of what to think about the situation.

...

...

"Y–Your Highness!"

The echo of hurried footsteps reverberated through the grand corridors of Vanadias Palace as one of the knights approached Kendel, breathless.

Kendel stopped in his tracks, turning slowly to face the knight. "What is it?"

The knight, visibly shaken but holding himself upright, stammered as he delivered his report. "We have successfully captured Harvey Zestella, Your Highness... but James Raven has managed to escape!" A faint smile tugged at the corner of Kendel's lips. "This is good enough," he muttered, more to himself than to the knight.

Truth be told, Kendel hadn't truly expected them to apprehend either of those two strong figures. The fact that they managed to capture Harvey Zestella at all was a surprising victory. Harvey, the temporary head of House Zestella, since Melfina was recovering. But now, with him captured, they had a critical bargaining chip—a means to pressure the influential House Zestella and, more importantly, Celeste, the Prophetess, whose power and vision could sway nations.

"What of Alvara?" Kendel asked.

The knight's face paled slightly, his eyes darting nervously to the floor before meeting Kendel's gaze. "T–that's... complicated, Your Highness. The Princess is still in the Forest of Ashenor. A massive barrier made from the highest-grade mana circles protects the area. It's... impossible to penetrate. We cannot retrieve Princess Alvara unless those who created the barrier cancel it, or she leaves of her own accord. Only those with a Life-Screen device can pass through the barrier. We've summoned our best specialists to dismantle it, but so far, it remains intact. They are still working tirelessly to bring it down."

Kendel's brows furrowed slightly, a wave of annoyance flashing across his otherwise composed features. 'Harvey Zestella... You were more cautious than I expected.' Harvey's foresight was proving to be more troublesome than Kendel had anticipated. The Life-Screen mechanism—allowing only those with the device to move freely in and out of the forest—was something that didn't exist before so it was added recently. Kendel hadn't expected Zestella to have accounted for a potential assault on the students, but it seemed Harvey had predicted the threat of enemies far in advance.

Yet despite all his caution, Harvey had not foreseen this betrayal.

Still, Kendel couldn't help but feel the man's paranoia was eating up valuable time. Time that Kendel couldn't afford to lose. Alvara's capture was important, but more than her, Kendel's real prize was the group of students—children of the Great Noble Houses—who were currently trapped in the forest. They were the future of Sancta Vedelia's elite, the heirs to powerful families. If Kendel could get his hands on them, they would serve as perfect hostages, speeding up his conquest of all the seven other kingdoms.

'Damn Zestella...'

The knight hesitated, shifting nervously before speaking again. "Also, Your Highness... regarding Princess Bryelle. She seems to have taken refuge in the VIP lounge, but it is protected by the same mana circles. Unless she chooses to leave of her own will—"

Kendel cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Forget about Bryelle," he said coolly. "I want all of your attention focused on the Forest of Ashenor. Surround it completely. Tear down that barrier by any means necessary. I want Alvara and every single one of those students in my custody. Understand?"

The knight bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Highness!" Without another word, he turned and rushed off.

Now alone, Kendel walked over to one of the massive windows lining the corridor. His gaze drifted beyond the glass, where the sprawling capital of Vanadias lay beneath him, bathed in the soft glow of twilight. The city seemed peaceful, tranquil even.

But Kendel knew better.

The calm wouldn't last.

His fingers drummed idly against the windowsill as he whispered to himself, "Soon enough, Leena... soon enough."