Is this destiny?

Konstantin smiled at Sarah's request. The more he interacts with her, the more he finds that she is clever. By him staying as her advisor, everyone who is currently loyal to Konstantin will serve her as well, and this kind act from Sarah's side will go a long way in her building a reputation as a compassionate Grand Elder.

Konstantin felt a strange emotion inside him. It is known that Elders are waiting to trip one another and to raise while stepping on the others. However, Sarah has two elders supporting her from day one (Milena and Vasily), and instead of gloating for becoming a new Grand Elder (if she wins), she wants the previous one to stay and guide her. Her two advisors (aka JoAnna and Sophia) are fierce and capable, and he can only imagine that the other thirty people Sarah wants to bring are with similar qualities. Things are changing and he can't wait to see what else Sarah will do. But if she thinks that he will let her take his position without a fight, she is mistaken.

Konstantin extended his hand to Sarah. "I agree."

Sarah shook his hand and confirmed that she agrees as well.

"Since both of you agree, we will proceed with these modifications." Vuk announced before shouting: "May the better warrior win! For the glory of Lebedevs!"

The underground room shook again when everyone repeated Vuk's chants and Sarah was confident that Aiden would enjoy this scene… only if he was here. For the millionth time she wondered where he is, and she had no way to get an answer to that question.

Sarah forced herself to focus on here and now because Konstantin stepped to the side and removed his shirt.

Sarah was surprised by his fit physique. His face looks like he is in his sixties, but based on his body, she would not give him more than forty.

Konstantin assumed a fighting stance and gestured to Sarah to attack first.

She smirked. Based on Konstantin's confident gaze, it seems that this will be a better fight than the one she had with Nikolai. Sarah was not disappointed.

Out of respect, Sarah didn't use her left hand. She knows that it will give her an unfair advantage.

After they exchanged the first few blows, she confirmed that she is faster than Konstantin and that his strength should not be underestimated. His movements were smooth and tight and she knew that winning over him could be tricky.

"Old man… stop treating this match as a spar and attack me seriously." Sarah taunted him.

"Hmph. I can say the same to you."

Sarah grinned. "I can't make myself hurt my future advisor."

Konstantin narrowed his eyes and launched a series of attacks, but he liked Sarah's cocky attitude and he liked her agility even more.

Sarah enjoyed their exchange of blows, but after a few minutes, she felt that her energy is running low. Lack of sleep and proper food was taking a toll on her and she needed to finish this quickly. Sarah didn't want to use her left arm, but the situation was getting more serious by the second.

Sarah approached Konstantin and waited for her chance when he will attack with his right hand.

She used her left arm to block his hit and his surprise by hitting her reinforced arm gave her a split second of him being completely defenseless which she used to attack his torso with a few rapid and precise hits that numbed his arms.

Konstantin took three steps back and looked at Sarah with disbelief obvious on his face.

Sarah also stepped back and observed him, waiting to see what he will do next.

"I surrender." Konstantin said after a few long seconds.

"What? You can still fight!" Someone from the audience shouted. Everyone wanted a good show. It started well, but it ended too soon and both Konstantin and Sarah are still standing!

"My arms are nearly paralyzed…" Konstantin grumbled. "A wise man can recognize his loss. If I continue, I will only get a beating… Instead of complaining, I suggest that you welcome our new Grand Elder."

Vasily bolted to his feet and started clapping and whistling. He was like a child who can't contain himself. He observed the situation keenly and he saw the moment when Konstantin hesitated, but Vasily didn't understand why. Well, it does not matter... the important thing is that Sarah won. Grand Elder Sarah... it had a good ring to it. Vasily was so excited that he completely missed Ivan who was scowling next to him.

Vuk came to help Konstantin put his shirt back on and they congratulated Sarah before stepping out from the arena.

"You can come to your new villa at eight o'clock to discuss the details of the next steps." Vuk told Sarah before he walked after Konstantin.

Stella, Edward, Sophia, JoAnna, Owen, and Kitty entered the arena, followed by Vasily and several other Elders.

Sarah went through the motions of accepting congratulations and she could not wait to be done with it so that she can go back to Elder Milena's villa and continue working on fixing Eve.

The fixing is going painfully slow, and it's interrupted by Sarah dozing off randomly, but she does not have the time to sleep. She is nearly there; the GPS tracking and notifications are almost automatic and she needs to get that working before she can allow herself a few hours of sleep. It is more than 5 whole days how she saw Aiden the last time and the lump in her chest is increasing. Where could he be?

Angelo, Matthew, and everyone else she knows have their men looking for any news, but there is not a single wisp. It's like he disappeared from Earth.

…

8:04 PM

At the Grand Elder Sarah's villa (ex Konstantin's villa)…

Sarah came with JoAnna and Sophia to discuss the next steps with Konstantin.

"My mother told me, but I would like to hear it from you… What will happen to resources I secured after winning over Elder Nikolai?" Sarah asked Konstantin.

"That position and resources are yours until someone challenges that position. Considering the waves you created, I assume that it will be a while until someone dares to challenge you into the arena to fight. I will help you manage things if you find it overwhelming."

Sarah liked this. By keeping Nikolai's villa, there will be plenty of space for everyone who wants to come, but it might not be enough.

"You are welcome to stay in this villa with your men. However, I would like you to clear at least half of it, so that my people can come. Let me know by midnight how many rooms and beds are available. My people will arrive tomorrow morning."

"There is a second building in the back, for the staff." Vuk said.

"My people are not staff." Sarah responded. "They are family."

"How many of them will come?" Konstantin asked. He remembers Sarah mentioning up to thirty, but that many can fit into Nikolai's villa. Why does she need more space?

Sarah glanced at JoAnna and JoAnna understood that she should respond. "We have at least fifty people, but we will know the exact number tomorrow morning. No beds will be wasted."

"Grand Elder…"

"Please, call me Sarah, at least in private." Sarah interrupted Konstantin.

"Sarah… do you mind telling me what the secret is behind your left arm? It felt like I hit the concrete."

"If you have a secret weapon, would you go around talking about it?" Sarah responded with a question.

Konstantin pressed his lips into a line. He understood that Sarah will not tell him more than that, but her acknowledging that it's a secret weapon confirmed that he didn't imagine it. Now he understood why Nikolai fell so quickly. Sarah hit him with her left hand!

"I understand. I apologize… I can vouch that half of the bedrooms in this villa will be available and ready for your people by morning. That is enough for forty people. I will move from the main bedroom so that you can use it. Most of the bedrooms have private bathrooms. Let me show you around…"

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