The royal hall had fallen into a heavy silence.
After the servant left, the massive doors of the hall closed again, and the quiet sound of their impact with the golden frames echoed through the magnificent space.
Daniel continued to observe everything through Fallen Vision, but this time he had decided not to interfere, just watch, just see.
To understand what was happening in his absence in one of the world’s greatest powers.
Ilaris returned to her designated seat.
The silver and green royal robe she wore shone under the light of the mana crystals on the ceiling, and the delicate silver crown on her golden hair made her look more than ever like a member of the main royal family.
Rynor also stood a few steps back, maintaining his formal posture.
Not long passed before the hall doors opened again. Four elven guards entered.
All four wore armor of dark green metal, and the mana pressure emanating from their bodies clearly showed they were not ordinary individuals.
And then the fifth person entered. Daniel’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Lunaryl.
But this was not the same Lunaryl he had seen in the tower.
That outgoing but clumsy and timid girl he had seen on the first floor of the tower, whose life he had saved, was no more.
This young woman now entering the hall had a completely different aura: confidence, authority, and controlled pride.
Her white and gold royal robe dragged on the ground, and each of her steps carried a calmness seen only in those who are fully confident in their status.
Daniel looked at her in silence. Was this this girl’s true face? Or had she changed this much in the time he hadn’t seen her?
Probably the latter. After all, during all this time, just as many things had happened to him, this elf must have had her own experiences as well.
"Princess Ilaris." Lunaryl smiled.
"Princess Lunaryl." Ilaris replied with a gentle smile.
There was no hostility in their words, but no one could be mistaken either. These two were rivals, two claimants to the throne, and two swords still sheathed.
Lunaryl sat unhurriedly on the chair opposite Ilaris.
"I heard the Emperor has granted you permission to participate in the Supreme Elf trial."
"News spreads quickly." Ilaris answered quietly. She was not surprised that the news had spread so fast.
She was surprised that the rumor had spread that the Emperor had given permission, because the Emperor had not yet given her definitive permission.
Had he done this intentionally? What purpose might be behind it?
Lunaryl laughed.
"When succession is at stake, it’s always like that."
A few seconds of silence passed.
Then Lunaryl slowly placed her fingers on the armrest of the chair.
"I think it’s time to accept the truth."
Ilaris said nothing, wanting to see how far this girl would go, and Lunaryl continued.
"The competition is no longer between candidates. The competition is between four factions."
Daniel’s eyes gleamed slightly. Finally, he was hearing the information he was looking for.
Lunaryl began to explain.
"The first faction is controlled by the First Queen. The old nobility, ancient families, and most of the army support them."
"The richest and most powerful faction of the empire." Then she raised her second finger.
"The second faction belongs to the Second Queen. The magic towers, researchers, scientists, and a large portion of the elite support them. They are the most dangerous faction in terms of political influence."
The third finger went up, and a small smile settled on her lips.
"The third faction."
"The populist faction, which I represent. The independent cities, free warriors, and common people stand behind us."
Then her gaze fixed on Ilaris, and the fourth finger went up.
"And finally, the World Tree faction. The elders, the sacred guardians, and the priests of the tree."
"Princess Lunaryl, why are you telling me things I already know? What are you trying to say?"
The room fell silent for a few moments, but Daniel’s mind was busy analyzing.
In terms of numbers, Ilaris had the weakest faction, but in terms of prestige, perhaps the most dangerous, because the World Tree was something even the Emperor could not ignore.
"Don’t you think it’s a mistake to have your faction insist that the Emperor let you participate in the trial alone?"
Ilaris fell silent. So that was it. The Emperor’s goal was to set the other factions and candidates against her. Was he trying to create a conflict?
"It’s a matter of worthiness. If you think your faction can, you can ask the Emperor to obtain an entry slot." And then she said with a smile.
"Of course." Then Lunaryl suddenly changed the subject.
"Anyway, are you ready for the trial?"
Ilaris raised an eyebrow.
"To some extent."
Lunaryl laughed.
"So you’re almost not ready at all. Since you and I are the only female candidates, and more importantly, not from the royal factions, how about I help you?"
"I don’t think there’s any help you could provide, but I’m listening."
"Everyone thinks the third stage is the most dangerous, where you face the World Tree. But actually, most casualties are from the second stage."
"Proving will?" Ilaris asked. She didn’t know about this. In her view, the third stage had always been the most dangerous. What could be scarier than facing the World Tree?
Lunaryl nodded.
"Proving will." And her eyes became serious for a moment.
"You enter a mental world. A world made from your soul. It shows you your greatest wish, your deepest regret, and your life’s biggest desire."
A brief silence formed.
"And then it asks you to let go of it."
For the first time, Ilaris became somewhat thoughtful and frowned. Her greatest desire? She wasn’t sure... There weren’t many things she truly wanted.
Lunaryl smiled bitterly.
"Most people can’t. That’s why they fail."
On the other side of the connection, Daniel became somewhat curious. A trial that directly targets a person’s inner will and desires.
Something like this seemed interesting to him, but he had already gone through things like this before, and they didn’t affect him that much.
But he could see how such a trial could be very difficult for Ilaris.
But Lunaryl hadn’t finished yet. Her gaze slowly turned cold.
"Of course, that wasn’t the main reason I came."
Ilaris also raised her gaze. This girl had said all this nonsense, and that wasn’t the reason she came?
Lunaryl was silent for a few seconds, then said quietly.
"The first faction is making a move." The atmosphere of the room changed.
"And this time, they probably won’t follow the rules of the game."
Ilaris said nothing, but her gaze became serious. The first faction was the most dangerous of the four because the First Queen was behind it, and she could evade most laws and punishments.
Lunaryl continued.
"The trial is near, and some prefer to reduce the number of rivals before it starts."
No one needed further explanation. Her meaning was perfectly clear.
Assassination.
Elimination.
Disappearance.
Sudden accidents.
These were nothing new in the power game, but when it came to the succession of the elven empire, anything could happen.
But would anyone dare? Lay a hand on a succession candidate? Of course not.
Lunaryl looked at Rynor, Ilaris’s main supporter all this time, who had been like a thorn in the side of the other factions.
This Rynor had protected Ilaris many times in various situations.
Daniel watched everything in silence. The Emperor had deliberately kept the four factions in a fragile balance.
None were strong enough to destroy the others, but none were weak enough to be ignored.
And now this balance was slowly collapsing. He gradually realized that the elven succession race was not a simple political competition at all.
It was a silent civil war. A war that had not yet begun, but its smell of blood could already be felt in the air.
But these bastards wanted to kill his Fallen? Not to mention that his Fallen couldn’t even be killed.
Besides, he would like to know what exactly this Rynor had done to become a thorn in the side of the other factions.
He also fully understood Lunaryl’s purpose in coming here. She wanted to make a request of Ilaris by warning her and giving her information about the trial and the hidden plans of her faction about things that might happen.
All her words were scattered. She probably didn’t want the guards to exactly understand what was happening, so she spoke cryptically.
But Daniel understood, and through the mental connection, he explained all of this to Ilaris.
Lunaryl rose from her seat.
"Anyway, it was a good meeting." She moved toward the door.
But just before leaving, she stopped.
"If you obtain the blood, I have a request." And then, without saying anything more, she left the place and exited the room.
The massive doors of the hall closed behind her.
Silence returned, and Ilaris stared at the closed door, but there was a look of understanding in her eyes, as if she knew what Princess Lunaryl might ask of her.
"It seems you know what she wants." Daniel glanced at Ilaris and asked quietly.