"Yes, I'll teleport you to my house. You can wash up, and then we'll go to the wedding"

"Good idea." 

Lucenio and Nolan arrived at Nolan’s home, surprising both Alaric and Mary.

 "Why are you guys here, Lucenio? Don’t you have an exam?"

"I finished. I need to take a quick shower if you don’t mind, and then go to the wedding" Lucenio explained. "Before that, how was it? What did you get?" Mary asked. 

"It was intense. I felt like I was going to die multiple times, but I saw the chief of doctors and apparently, my powers are unknown. And in a week, I need to do another test"

"Interesting," said Alaric in a worried tone, spacing out for a second before putting on a smile. "Go, hurry, wash up. The wedding just started, but I can't go. I have something I can't skip." 

"What? Sir, is something wrong? You're not going?"

"Oh no, nothing. But I'll be a bit late. I need to wait for someone, and then I'll follow you"  

"Dad, the captain told me not to let him go. He's afraid of the reaction, especially since he lost consciousness twice after the exam"

"Son, don't worry. He thought he wouldn't have any powers and to make it easier, I'll let Edmund teleport him so you won'tbreak your promise. You need to rest anyway"  

After Lucenio took a short break to rest and shower, he felt relieved. He was happy to have discovered his powers. After putting on the final touches he went sprinting not caring about his pain. 

"Nolan, let's go".

" I'm a bit tired and honestly I promised the captain I wouldn't teleport you there so Edmund would take you instead" Nolan explained. 

Lucenio expressed his gratitude. "You're too kind Edmund and Nolan thanks for everything brother." 

The two hugged under the watchful eyes of Alaric before he nodded to Edmund to take Lucenio. Meanwhile the wedding had started, and the guests were dancing, eating, and partying. Representatives of the empire, lords, and important personalities attended the wedding. Alexander, Eden, Aria, and Reya arrived

"Oh, welcome Captain. It's really nice you guys joined us" said Evelyn, stunning in a yellow golden dress. 

"Evelyn, you helped make this happen. Thank you," Aria replied. 

"No worries. It's the least that I can do. But as a reward, I'm taking this beautiful man with me," Evelyn said, hugging Eden. 

"Let's goyou gorgeous boy. I need a protector if something happens." Eden's face turned as red as a tomato. "Of...of course. I'll do my best if my parents accept." 

"Stop teasing the boy, Evelyn" Alexander said with a smile. 

"Come on, he's the same as my kids. My son would've been the same age as him. Come on, I'm your cool aunt. Don’t tell Margall I said that" Evelyn teased. 

"Fine, but don’t ruin my son" 

Eden went with Evelyn to meet others and dance a bit while reya, Aria, and Alexander went towards the couple. 

"Congratulations boy" Alexander said hugging Delion in a tight embrace. 

"I'm so proud, as if my son is marrying today." "Isn’t he a son of yours?" Margall asked, coming closer. "He is the one that looks the most like you" Aria added. 

"Yes, he is. Him, Lucenio and Eden have the same place in my heart"

"If I didn’t trust my husband, I would’ve said that he is your actual son, and your sister is covering for you," Aria joked sparking laughter. 

"Yes he was your favorite" Carter chimed in

"Before you two married, we were Carter and Delion, the next generation of rivals. I had my father's personality, and Delion had uncle's 

But we even fought when we were little. Remember?" Delion recounted. 

"Yes, the one standing will take our uncle’s love and care" Carter added.

 "Who won?" asked Reya. 

"Of course, it was me," Delion boasted. 

"Yeah, keep dreaming. I left you on the ground" Carter countered. 

"Actually, I came afterward. I saw my father tie both of them to a tree and started hitting them because they destroyed his vase collection" Margall explained.

 "Yeah Grandpa wasn’t that good with treating kids even adults"

"Evelyn is teasing Eden, but where is Lucenio?"Lily wondered. 

"He is taking the exam. It’s his second try" Aria answered. 

"Then he will pass," said Carter confidently. 

"Why?" 

"I know my uncle. Look at the glow in his eyes. Lucenio awakened his powers. I even saw it in him when I talked to him at dinner"

"Okay even if he did he will still stay a loser" Markus interjected. 

"Stop it!" Bran snapped. "Carter specifically told you to shut up about Lucenio, so shut up or I'll take care of you brother." 

"I want to see you try" Markus challenged. 

"Markus" Delion intervened stepping in. 

With one look Markus understood that if he did anything he would be beaten.he then left the scene. 

"I'll go eat something," Markus muttered. 

"I'm sorry about that, Uncle. We will stall until he can make it" Delion apologized. 

"Thank you Delion, but there's no need. Continue everything as normal. He will come eventually. Also, I can't see Alaric anywhere. Where is that idiot?". 

"He sent his gifts and apologized. He won't attend the wedding ceremony but will try to come late" margall explained. 

Alexander gave Aria a silent look before starting to think. 

"Captain, you know my father passed away. Can you give us the honors and walk with me in the aisle? 

"Oh I'm not good with these things" Alexander hesitated. 

"Don't worry, honey" Aria encouraged. 

"Yes, Uncle, it will mean the world to me" Delion added. 

"Fine, fine. I'll do it. Tell me when you need me," Alexander agreed. 

"Dear Alaric is not here"  

"So?" asked Aria. 

"So, after I walk with Lily, we leave before Lucenio comes. I sent him to his house. I don’t want him to bring him here"

"Relax honey. I believe Lucenio can take care of himself, especially after the exam. And you said it: the exam isn’t important now" Aria reasoned. 

"You're right, but still, we leave after the walk" Alexander decided in a determined tone. 

Aria wanted to argue but accepted her husband's wish. A woman approached Alexander, informing him that it was time. Alexander went with her while Aria stood next to Carmy, and Reya stood next to her. Suddenly, the lights went off, and the show began. Dancing singing and the band playing at its highest filled the room with joy. Delion entered the ball, lifted by Bran, and all the men danced and chanted his name with flowers petals thrown on him.The band stopped playing, and the crowd paused as the big door opened slowly. Delion couldn’t wait to see his beloved. Women and men stood on the sides of the passage, everyone holding a flower and lifting it up. With the door opening the "zagharit" started, and the band played a calm, beautiful song while Alexander held Lily’s hand. Lily, stunning with her long red hair, wore a beautiful white dress, her elegant looks and cute smile bringing tears of joy to everyone's eyes. 

"Captain, are you crying?" Lily asked. 

"I'm holding back, but I don’t know for how much longer," Alexander admitted. 

"Me too, Captain, me too"

They finally arrived at Delion who was speechless, unable to say a word. 

"You need to close it soon," Alexander joked. 

Then, a clinking sound interrupted them. "If I can have your attention, please," Carter requested. "I know it's not the time, but I need to say some words first. I want to welcome the representative of the kingdom, Mister Emile. It's an honor to have you here" Carter addressed the audience. The guests applauded as Carter continued. 

"Now as the head I should say a speech but at least tonight I can’t take this title.I don’t even feel that I deserve it because the true leader is here tonight. Uncle can you please do the honors?"

 Everyone in the room was shocked, especially Alexander. Margalln and Aria who had tears of happiness in her eyes when they saw Alexander hugging Carter. Finally the dark cloud that had hung over them was lifted. Alexander then stepped forward to address the guests. 

 "It's a great honor to be here tonight, but before I begin, I want to say I'm not giving a speech. I can never be the head of this family, especially when Carter is here. He has everything to lead, and I am honored to be led by such a great person. But tonight, we are not the main characters. Tonight is the night we celebrate Delion and Lily. Delion is more than my sister’s son. He was like a son to me my comrade my friend my fighting partner. I remember going to war with this lad when he was so young and he did better than I ever did. He was a joy to see. And Lily I don’t know her very well because of circumstances, but when she visited our house with Delion I got to know her a bit, and I never saw a heart purer than hers. They both did everything to bring this family back together, even though they were busy with their own lives. This is truly one of the best moments of my life." 

“and one last thing Delion I knew you were selected to have a special weapon and you successfully gathered all the needed material so I went and claimed it and put a special touch” 

It was a strong sword handle of strong gold type that have a lion shape on it under the lion’s mouth a red precious stone 

“wow..thank you uncle how did you even managed to get it before time” 

“your uncle knows people ladies and gentlemen I want to introduce the new lion of this empire.”“I want to give you one more thing" 

the guards brought another item it was a shield it was a strong silver shield so majestic suitable to a great warrior Everyone was happy delion took the gifts hugging his uncle. Carter then stepped forward to join Alexander, adding his own touch to the celebration. 

"I’m like this because of your training, Uncle. Please" Carter said, offering Alexander a glass. 

"Don’t worry; it's tea. We don’t drink" Carter clarified prompting laughter from the crowd. 

 Alexander raised his glass, and the guests followed suit. 

"To Delion, to Lily.." Alexander began, but Carter interrupted him,"And to unbreakable bonds." They all drank happily. 

Thenalexander whispered to carter "Thank you for everything, Carter but we have to leave. Lucenio must be back by now, and I don't think he's in a state to come." 

"no worries Uncle, but can you just hear my speech before you go? It will take five minutes, max" 

Alexander hesitated, thinking of his son, but eventually agreed. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, I know you're bored of me talking, but let’s add some violin to my speech. How about that?"

Carter suggested as the violin started playing alongside his words. "Today as my uncle said, it's a great day. We finally came together as a normal family with my rival and brother marrying his love. All this was because of one man. A man who helped us achieve everything. Without him, nothing you see today could be real. The cloud of grudges and hatred is behind us and now, we're back to being a big happy family." 

The crowd applauded harder than ever recognizing the significance of this moment. 

"But I have to say one thing to the groom. It's your night, but you can't be the main person tonight. To forget the past, we need to bring everyone here, and Lucenio will be here tonight. Don’t worryUncle," Carter concluded. "What do you mean?" Delion asked shocked. 

"So this is what you meant when you whispered at dinner," Alexander realized. 

Before anyone could react, Carter moved with lightning speed toward his uncle who dodged at the last moment, but not before part of his clothes were cut. 

"Hmm, even now, you didn't drop your guard" Carter noted. 

"A fox wants to kill a lion. I see you planned all this so you could end us?!" Alexander accused. 

"The wedding was an event that only helped, but I'm flattered to think that I planned this. I still need a lot of work" Carter replied calmly. 

The room's temperature began to decrease, and everyone started seeing their breath. 

"Oh brother I can still fool you this easily"

  man entered the room slowly holding a cane in his hand. He was a man in his early forties, with each step sending shivers through everyone around him, demonstrating his great presence. He had a long goatee with a mustache and a mischievous smile. His eyes held all the malevolent intentions. 

"You?!When? How?" Alexander stammered. 

"Is this how you greet your younger brother after so long?"

"It's him! The man from my nightmares! It's the cane!" Eden screamed. 

"Don't worry, honey, I'm here for you," Evelyn reassured him, holding him close. 

"What do you want from us?!" Aria demanded. 

"Revenge?" Alexander questioned 

"Dear brother there is nothing called revenge. Life is a game and this game has been going on for so long. It's time to choose a winner"

the brother with the mischievous smile declared. Snapping his fingers, all the guards in the lounge drew their weapons toward Eden, Alexander, Aria, and Reya. 

"You know I can end all of this with one move," Alexander declared, his fierce mana making him scarier than ever. "Please, brothers, stop it. My heart can no longer bear to watch. Let’s forget all about this. I can’t bear to see another massacre especially not of my two brothers killing each other" MARGALL pleaded tears welling up in her eyes. 

"Do not think about it, sister. Alexander, you can't kill them without killing some of the guests. For example, the empire representative or any of the great families here tonight" 

Alexander's powers continued to increase remarkably filling the room with intense heat. 

"You dared to threaten my family. I don’t care who's here. I'll sacrifice everything for my family. Fight me, brother, or should I call you Frostfang?"

"Did you hear that?! He wants to kill all of you. Alexander was consumed by power he now doesn’t care about anyone except his own ambitions. He is a power that needs to be taken down," Carter announced. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, see now why he took me down claimed that I was dealing with illegal drugs, just so he could kill and take control by wearing the angel mask. But do not fear. Alexander, You know you lost this battle. You have been poisoned three times already. Remember?"

Realization dawned on Alexander's face as he remembered all the times got poisoned. 

"That’s why I couldn’t easily dodge your attack, Carter," Alexander realized coughing weakly. 

"Well, I'll defend my family until the last moment." 

Before anyone could make a move, a guard came flying, breaking through the main door. "Keep your hands off my family" Lucenio declared, entering the room, his heart filled with fatigue, anger, and hatred. In his hand was a sword, colored in red, and behind him lay three guards on the floor gravely injured. Aria's eyes filled with tears at the sight of her eldest son, entering as the last hope. Alexander looked at his son, seeing a glimmer of himself. "Why are you here?" he asked, surprised. 

"I think the smell of blood brought me here," Lucenio responded cryptically, then added, "Uncle?! How?!" Fear flickered in Lucenio's eyes as he looked at the menacing and threatening power in front of him. He said just one word, "...The cane."