After analyzing the situation and talking to everyone there, Archie returned to the generals and spoke to them for a moment before making his decision.
"We have decided to hold the duel tomorrow." Archie stated matter-of-factly.
"I support your decision." Grant nodded.
"Well... I do not need your support to make this decision. You are welcome to support me, but I don't really need you to. This is a decision that has been made among the generals, not among you." Archie narrowed his eyes in annoyance.
"Yeah yeah." Grant waved his words off with a smile. He knew he had annoyed him, but he was too happy to care.
Grant knew that the longer he let Silas train, the harder it would be to beat him. He was still within the delusion that he could beat Silas despite Silas having shown to be superior to him in every way, but he himself still had a few things up his sleeve.
Silas, on the other hand, was equally happen. He knew that, no matter what Grant threw at him, in the end, it would be him who would most likely win their duel.
Plus, he had done something a while ago that would guarantee his victory, even if Grant somehow found a way to somehow become as strong as a beast with a sapphire core, it didn't matter. He had already lost.
Archie looked at Silas for a moment before also narrowing his eyes. He hadn't actually talked to Silas ever since Greed's death, but from how he looked, Silas seemed to be alright.
He was laughing and making jokes with everyone around him. Archie would have thought that he would have looked more angry, or at the very least agitated, but he looked completely normal.
As if the news about his family hadn't affected him at all.
Looking away from Silas, Archie turned around and left with generals following behind him.
After that, not much happened.
The rest of the day was uneventful, even in the Judgement faction.
They did a small memorial for the man that had died before everyone eventually moved on.
Alex decided to go home for the day, while Silas decided to check up on someone.
"You alright?" Silas asked with a raised brow.
"Yeah, why?"
"You're friend just died. A normal person would be grieving." Silas answered back.
"Yeah. A normal person... I think you know more than anyone else that people who come to this city aren't normal." She chuckled.
"You're not sad."
"I would be, but you'll kill Grant for us, so no need for me to grieve too much." Seraphina shrugged while Silas sighed.
"Your confidence in me is flattering."
"My confidence in you comes from the fact that I am almost certain you're the one who killed Greed. Honestly, what is Grant thinking trying to go up against you when he probably knows that as well."
"Hmm." Silas hummed, quickly losing interest in the conversation.
After a few more small chats with the people of the faction, Silas also decided to head home and sleep for once.
It had been quite a long time since he last slept, and he was pretty exhausted mentally.
Physically, there wasn't much that could tire him. Technically, he hadn't slept ever since Greed had died.
Entering his room, Silas took a glance at the enormous board before dropping to the ground and laying there.
He felt his eyelids become heavy, yet despite trying his best, he couldn't sleep... And he knew why.
His anger had remained the same ever since finding out about his parents and siblings. At first, he let out all his anger on Greed, but after killing her, he realized what she said was right.
Killing her wouldn't bring his family back, and it would most definitely not make him feel better.
But for now, he didn't need to feel better. All he needed to do was control himself, and right now he was doing it so well that even Nymira hadn't seemed to notice his emotional turmoil.
The rest of the night went as he had expected. He couldn't sleep.
Whenever he was alone, his mind would go to some pretty dark places. All he could think about was his family.
How would they react to him being alive? Will they blame him for what happened?
He was to blame, right?
However, by the end of the night, he had come to a conclusion.
'I said I would kill them...' Silas remembered when he first left with Archie after Uladia's attack and met three individuals.
The man from the Skylark family, the man wearing royal robes, and the church guy who gave him the creeps.
He had marked them all as his enemies, and right now, his revenge would be pointed toward them and the factions they were related to.
He couldn't help but think back to the prince that was in the city. They were forced to let him go since Darkless was not strong enough to go to war, especially while missing three generals, two of them being dead.
But Silas understood something too.
'Royals, Skylarks, and the Church of Gilea...
What a nice combination of government for me to overthrow once more.' Silas smirked.
If he wanted to overthrow a powerful noble family, a church that reached the ends of the continent, and all the royals, he wouldn't be able to do it alone nearly as fast as he would like to.
So the objective, for now, had become simple.
Make the Darkless organization so powerful that people would drop to their knees in fear the moment they hear its name.
And then attack all their enemies with a force that they cannot come back from.
***
Crowds of people had gathered from all corners of the city, their murmurs filling the air with anticipation. The atmosphere was electric, crackling with a mixture of curiosity, excitement, and a hint of tension. This wasn't just any ordinary gathering—it was a moment of great significance for the fate of the organization.
"What's happening here?" a man asked, his eyes darting around the bustling crowd.
"Didn't you hear? The Judgement faction is about to choose their next leader, and it seems there are two candidates vying for the position," another man explained, his voice filled with intrigue.
"Two candidates? Who are they?" the first man inquired, his interest piqued.
"The first candidate is Game, chosen by the Generals and the temporary commander. He's proven himself with his skills and strategic prowess," the second man replied, his gaze fixed on the approaching figure of Silas.
"The second candidate is Grant, the rightful heir chosen by the late commander. He's known for his exceptional strength and his connection to powerful mana," a woman chimed in, her eyes flickering with anticipation as she pointed toward the imposing figure clad in pulsating armor.
As Silas and Grant made their way toward the center of the crowd, a hush fell over the spectators, their gazes locked onto the two contenders. Silas exuded a sense of confidence, his piercing eyes scanning the crowd, while Grant stood tall, his imposing figure radiating a palpable aura of power.
The tension was palpable as the two candidates reached the designated spot, the weight of the moment hanging heavy in the air. The crowd watched with bated breath, eagerly awaiting the proceedings that would determine the future of the faction and possibly even the organization.
All eyes were on Silas and Grant, their every move scrutinized, their destinies intertwined with the fate of the organization.
Silas, his expression composed, stepped forward, his voice resonating with authority. "I stand before you today not only as a candidate, but as a leader who has proven himself through unwavering dedication, strategic acumen, and an unyielding commitment to justice. I believe in the values of the Judgement faction and the mission we strive to accomplish."
The crowd listened attentively, captivated by Silas' words and his unwavering conviction. His reputation as a formidable tactician and his ability to command respect were well-known, lending weight to his candidacy.
"This does not matter. I will win." Grant spoke, yet his words didn't affect the people the same way.
It simply annoyed them, and became extremely unlikable in the eyes of many.
As Grant spoke, his words resonated with those who believed in the raw power and might of the organization. His presence exuded an undeniable strength, and there were those in the crowd who were drawn to his unwavering resolve.
The crowd fell into a hushed debate, the murmurs and whispers weaving through the air as individuals weighed the merits of each candidate. Some were drawn to Silas' aura, while others who thought Silas was far too young to take upon the role of a leader thought that Grant, no matter how unlikable he was, was more suited.
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