95 Chapter 95 – Whispers by the Sea: A Promise and a Confrontation.
The ocean breeze carried the scent of salt and freedom as I sat across from Isabelle at the seaside restaurant. Small, colorful lanterns hung overhead, casting a warm glow across her face. Before us lay a feast of seafood that made my mouth water–dishes I’d never imagined existed, let alone tasted. O
“You’ve really never had lobster before?” Isabelle asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
I shook my head, feeling slightly embarrassed. “The Sterling family never took me to places like this. And before that…” I trailed off, not wanting to dwell on my impoverished past.
“Well then,” she said, picking up a lobster claw and demonstrating how to crack it open, “consider this your initiation.”
I followed her lead, awkwardly wrestling with the red shell until it finally yielded. The tender white meat inside was worth the struggle–buttery, sweet, and unlike anything I’d ever tasted.
“This is incredible,” I admitted between bites.
Isabelle smiled, clearly pleased by my enjoyment. But there was something else in her expression–a thoughtfulness that suggested she had more on her mind than seafood.
“Liam,” she began, setting down her fork, “I need to tell you something about Caspian
Kane.”
My good mood dimmed slightly at the mention of the man who had helped beat me to a pulp. “What about him?”
“He’s an Inner Strength Grandmaster,” she said quietly. “Or very close to becoming
one.”
I paused, a piece of lobster halfway to my mouth. “Inner Strength Grandmaster?”
Isabelle nodded, her expression serious. “There’s a hierarchy to martial strength that few outsiders understand. Body Refinement is just the beginning–the stage you’ve recently completed. Then comes Inner Strength, which has its own levels:
23:07
1/5
95 Chapter 95 – Whispers by the Son: A Promise and a Confrontation
Practitioner, Master, Grandmaster, and then Greatmaster”
I set down my fork, suddenly much more interested in this conversation than the food. “And Caspian is a Grandmaster?”
“He’s at the peak of Master, touching the boundary of Grandmaster, she clarified. “Which is why he was able to…” She gestured vaguely at my face, where faint bruises still remained despite my accelerated healing.
“I see. The implications sank in. “And your father?”
“A confirmed Grandmaster,” she said. “One of the strongest in Veridia City.”
nd this info
I took a sip of water, “What about this year’s challenge? What level would I need to reach to be considered part of the ‘elite‘ your father
mentioned?”
Isabelle hesitated. “At minimum, an Inner Strength Master. But to truly stand among the elite young generation of Veridia City… She bit her lip. “Several of them are approaching Grandmaster level already.”
I felt
my chest tighten. The gap seemed impossibly wide–I’d only just completed Body Refinement, and now I needed to climb multiple levels in a single year.
“The strongest person in Eldoria,” she continued, “is rumored to be an Inner Strength Greatmaster.”
“Greatmaster?” I echoed.
“Yes. Only a step below Martial Saint.”
The weight of this knowledge pressed down on me. I stared out at the darkening ocean, watching as waves crashed against the shore. Each one rose and fell in an endless cycle, powerful yet ultimately governed by forces beyond its control. Was that to be my fate as well?
“They’re so far beyond me,” I finally said. “Especially if I have only a year.”
Isabelle reached across the table, her fingers brushing against mine. “Most people take decades to progress through a single level. What you’re attempting is…”
“Impossible?” I supplied.
23.07
2/6
95 Chapter 95 Whispers by the Sea: A Promise and a Confrontation
“I was going to say ‘unprecedented
he corrected with a small smile.
I turned my hand to grasp hers properly. “I’ll do it anyway.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“In one year, I’ll surpass them all,” I declared, meeting her gaze steadily. “Even if I have to break every rule and tradition to do it.”
Isabelle stared at me for a long moment, and I saw something shift in her expression- disbelief giving way to wonder, and then to something deeper that made my heart
race.
“You know,” she said softly, leaning closer across the table, “if your plan fails…” She hesitated, a blush rising to her cheeks. “We could always just run away together.”
The sincerity in her voice caught me off guard. Here was Isabelle Ashworth–princess: of Veridia City, heiress to unimaginable wealth–offering to throw it all away for me.
“You’d do that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
She nodded, her eyes never leaving mine. “In a heartbeat.”
The moment hung between us, fragile and precious. I leaned forward, drawn by an invisible force, and she did the same. Our faces were inches apart, her breath warm against my lips.
“Miss Ashworth.”
The sharp voice shattered our moment. We both turned to find a group of people. standing nearby–three men in black suits flanking a woman whose face was partially concealed behind an elegant mask. Even with the mask, I could tell she was beautiful, with perfectly coiffed hair and a designer dress that probably cost more than everything I owned.
“Yes?” Isabelle’s voice had instantly transformed from tender to ice cold.
One of the suited men stepped forward. “We need this spot for a photoshoot. You’ll have to move.”
I felt Isabelle’s hand tense in mine. The temperature around us seemed to drop several degrees as her aristocratic bearing asserted itself.
23:07
95 Chapter 95- Whispers by the Sea: A Promise and a Confrontation
“And you are?” she asked, her tone suggesting she was addressing something. unpleasant she’d found on her shoe.
The man straightened, clearly not used to being questioned. “Security for Miss Vivian Le Roux. She’s doing a promotional shoot for Ocean Pearl Cosmetics.”
I’d never heard the name, but Isabelle’s slight stiffening told me she recognized it.
“I see,” Isabelle said, not moving an inch. “And did Miss LeRoux’s team reserve this specific table?”
The security man faltered for a moment. “Well, no, but-
“Then I’m afraid we’ll be finishing our meal,” Isabelle cut him off. “There are plenty of
other tables with the same view.”
The masked woman–presumably Vivian LeRoux–stepped forward. “Do you know who I am?” she asked, her voice dripping with condescension.
“I do,” Isabelle replied calmly. “Do you know who I am?”
Before Vivian could answer, another security man interjected. “Look, we need the shots with this specific lighting and angle. Your meal is clearly almost done. Just move
to another table.”
“No,” Isabelle said simply.
The tension stretched between them like a wire about to snap. I sat quietly, admiring Isabelle’s composure while calculating how quickly I could move if things turned physical. Despite my recent beating, I was confident I could handle these security guards if necessary.
“This is ridiculous,” Vivian huffed. “The shoot is scheduled for now, and the lighting is perfect. Your selfishness is costing us thousands in production time.”
Isabelle raised an eyebrow. “How exactly is it selfish to finish the meal we’ve paid for, at a table we arrived at first?”
The lead security guard stepped closer. “Miss, we can compensate you for your meal, but we need this spot now.”
“How do your pictures and us eating here have any relation?” Isabelle Ashworth looked at the bodyguard, her voice tinged with coldness.
