Unlike Night, which darkens the lands of Heindal, Ardoros was still shining at its peak.
And this glimmer inside the Devereaux family increased even more.
The entire architecture of that expanse was stretched to an enormous size, with the land being filled with amber-like circuit structures embedded in the ground.
Each of these lines originated from several towers of the Flagbearers' Spires, mostly reserved for them when they reached the final years of Battle.
It was given to them as a gift from the Devereaux family to form support from branch families by supplying them with free Ether, using these crystals' Energy to power their battleships.
After returning from their respective achieved goals prior to two years of ending, Flagbearers stayed in Ardoros for a given time until all of them came together in one place before the political battle started.
The one with more strength and hold on a branch family indirectly stayed ahead of the others, and after that, branch families participated in battle with their Flagbearer.
Meaning, the last remaining Flagbearers didn't fight alone but with a whole army; battleships and cannons were just mere decorations in front of hundreds of powerhouses.
The Devereaux Family's Flagbearer Battle was not just something that occurred, and individuals fought against each other; the real game started the moment the previous battle ended.
The lost branch families suffer clashes in their standings, prompting them to prepare for the upcoming battle, which will occur in fifteen years, well in advance.
It may seem that the head of the Devereaux family changes every fifteen years, but in truth, the current head has held his position for more than 300 years now.
After all, in the end, the top Flagbearer needs to go against the Head himself.
This is a complicated system based on a hierarchy of power, the best method for a race known for its growth.
Battles outside Ardoros make Flagbearers grow strong from both mind and strength, while inside battles help them get a hold on the political system, and finally, with all these elements combined, they go against the current Family Head.
However, branch families play a vital role in everything, making candidates align with them even before their battle starts.
Inside one of the branch family's expanses, standing hundreds of miles away from the Direct Family's Citadel, lies a huge land accommodating a population of 12,000 people, stretched on one part of the expanse of Ardoros belonging to a branch family, the Devereaux-Crawfords.
The Crawfords were the leading family in the previous Heir Battle, thanks to their candidate, Alisia Devereaux, who was ahead of others, flattening everything in her way and even rumoured of holding the strength to rival the Head of the Family.
They had been supporting Alisia Devereaux for 30 years now, even after her withdrawal, they stayed at her side, but with time, they became ridiculed in the eyes of other branch families.
When news about the arrival of Alisia Devereaux five years ago reached Ardoros, the Crawfords once again started to gain their old strength back, but it was just temporary.
Everyone realized that the era of Alisia Devereaux ended with her, since her son was crippled by a rumor about him killing two 〖LEGENDARY〗ranked powerhouses—an absolute lie.
After all, how could an eleven-year-old child kill two such powerhouses?
"He will not wake up, brother," the woman gritted her teeth, clenching her fist, her eyes turning crimson due to the anger that was slowly becoming visible, remembering the yesterday's events.
"What are you saying, Sister? We have provided three items from our side for healing the Young Master. So, there still have to be some chances," Adrian expressed his confusion.
When Alisia commanded all other branch families under her to provide her with the ingredients for a healing solution, only two families came forward.
The first was the Crawfords, who gave all their achievements to prove their loyalty: Unicorn Tears, Phoenix Feather, and Dragon Scale Powder.
Acquiring these items had cost the life of the previous Head of the Family, proving the value these items held for the Crawfords, but they still followed through with everything.
The second was the Devereaux-Chandler family, which had provided Starlight Essence.
Even though the Crawfords provided raw items, giving whatever was left in them, the Chandlers provided a refined version while keeping more than 75% for themselves.
But it was good, at least now there were chances for the Young Master to heal completely.
"They betrayed us, Brother," the woman stated, biting her lips, feeling overwhelmed while revealing this fact but unable to hide it any longer. "There was Arcane Poison mixed in that Essence."
'!?!'
Thud
"What are you saying!"
All of the six figures stood from their seats, their eyes widened, unable to believe something like this could happen, looking at the woman whose gaze was fixed on the table. Parting her quivering lips, she revealed, "I heard it myself. Yesterday, that bitch Mia mocked me while revealing how they Tampered with starlight to kill a Cripple."