Silence hung in the air, as the three stared at each other. Emerald could sense their shock.
"Y-you're kidding," Levi said, stepping forward towards the battlecubes. "Two... two battlemon!"
Emerald placed the cubes back into his pocket, trying to hide his defensiveness. Levi was left jaw-dropping.
"Celestial Champion..." Ruby muttered, almost to herself. "To hold all Apex Champion rings. Just how much have you changed, Em?"
The Apex Champions... Those who duel with no type limitations.
Emerald looked off into the distance. Mind wandering.
She's right... so much had changed.
"I've seen more of the world now... realised what I'm made of. I've found the potential that my Dad couldn't."
Every time he mentioned his dad, a fury rose inside of him that he struggled to contain.
"I know, but the path to becoming Celestial Champion. You have to live and breathe Battlemon." Levi said, eyes trained on Emerald.
Every trainer had dreams, but most knew their limits.
Live and breathe Battlemon.
Emerald shrugged his shoulders. "What do you think I've been doing for the past three years?"
Before the conversation could continue, another figure entered the doorway. Emerald recognised him as a man he wanted nothing to do with.
His father's butler.
"Master Emerald." The distinguished man spoke with a bow. "You're father would like to see you. I could bring you to his chambers, if you would like?"
Master Emerald. Haven't heard that in a while.
Emerald's face turned to a frown. Shook his head and began to rise to his feet.
"It's good to see you, too, Butler." He mocked, before waving his hands away. "I know where his chambers are. You can leave."
The butler did exactly that, bowing his head before heading back down the hallway.
Ruby and Levi glared at Emerald, sensing the animosity building within him.
"Em... you and your father, do you think you can make things right between you?"
Emerald placed his black cap back atop his head, and his pouch around his shoulder.
"Sure," he said with a completely serious face. "After I kick his ass in duel."
Levi and Ruby chuckled with each other. They all knew Emerald was joking.
A former Champion would still have an arsenal of battlemon way too powerful for a rookie to handle, no matter how strong they were. Not to mention the strategic advantage.
However, with Emerald's plans to become a Celestial Champion, who knew what he would become capable of in the future?
———
Emerald made his way through Sunny City. One of the largest in the Lostlight region.
With the duels concluded, hundreds of trainers walked the sandy paths of the streets, crowding vendors and chatting about the event.
As Emerald walked past groups of trainers, he heard whispers of his name.
About his past before he ran away from home, and about his duel with Kite.
Some of their tones carried respect, and others carried disdain. All Emerald cared about was the fact that his name was being spoken of once again.
It would make his claim to challenge stronger trainers more valid.
When he arrived at his family estate. A series of lavish buildings surrounded by a well-tended garden, he was let in with no fuss.
The maids of the house recognised him as their master, offering him their services whenever they could.
Emerald brushed them away. It felt strange to be surrounded by luxury again, after his time spent away.
"So the rumours are true. The failure has returned."
A sudden snarky voice came from down the corridor. Emerald turned his head to find a green-haired boy standing there with his arms crossed, and a smug look on his face.
Instantly, his mood turned sour.
"Brother Lien..."
Lien took a step towards Emerald, sizing him up. Being his older, cocky brother, he had to look down on him. The pair looked similar, only Lien wore a suit whilst Emerald was dressed in his black and green trainer gear.
"It was quite a show you put on out there," Lien said, perhaps sarcastically. "It seems three years of running from your troubles has paid off for you."
Emerald didn't let the words bother him. His now sixteen year old brother had always been like this. The two had never gotten along.
"I've got nothing to say to you."
Emerald tried to walk past him and continue on his way to his father's room, but Lien held out a hand, stopping him.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Lien said, lifting a finger and wagging it back and forth.
"Forgetting what?"
"An apology. For sullying the family name. Do you know how much damage control we had to do, to recover from the shame you caused us by running away?"
Emerald almost laughed, he couldn't help it.
"Sorry, I didn't know you were the family head. I must have really done damage if they're letting a guy like you run things—"
Thud
Emerald's words were cut off, as Lien grabbed him by the jacket aggressively and dragged him closer. His sharp eyes had become angry.
"Watch your mouth, Em. Things aren't the same as they were before. I'm the prodigy now."
Emerald stared into his brother's face. He could sense the fury. The pride... The fear.
That's it... He's afraid. Afraid that I'm back to take his spot.
Emerald let out a chuckle, which made Lien tighten his grip. He looked like he was going to punch him.
So Emerald held up his hands in surrender, and a smile spread across his face.
"Okay, we don't need to fight." He said in a calm tone. "At least, not like this."
The commotion had started to create a small audience in the estate. The maids had stopped their duties for a moment to watch what was going on.
Emerald heard footsteps in the distance, coming from the nearby staircase. He knew who it must be, be that didn't stop him.
"What do you mean?" Lien asked, still angered, refusing to let go of his grip.
Then, their father, Jade, emerged from the staircase, eyebrows raised at the sight of his two sons arguing. By his side were two other known nobles of the city.
"What's this?" He asked in a serious tone, but before anyone could say anything else, Emerald reached into his pouch and pulled free his trainer's badge.
Everyone's eyes went wide, including Lien's.
"Lien. I challenge you to an official battlemon duel. Do you accept?"