"Young master, it's time to wake up."
The maid's voice broke the quiet morning as she walked straight over to the massive windows, pulling the heavy curtains wide open to let the sharp morning sunlight pour in. Mori groaned, tossing under the heavy covers to shield his eyes from the sudden brightness.
"The lord and her grace are already in the main hall," she added, not waiting for him to complain.
Mori fussed and grumbled as he forced himself out of bed. More maids filed into his chamber immediately, rushing around him with fresh water and clothes, quickly getting him ready for the day before he could even fully wake up.
Over in the main hall, the atmosphere was completely serious.
Sayer the Fourth was standing near the center of the room, looking distant as he talked with Annot. "The boy is arriving today," he said, his voice heavy. He was talking about his illegitimate son and kids. "It's a real tragedy... their mother passing away during the birth of another one of your children, can you not keep it in your drawls" she sighed. "Don't say that again. And anyways there's no choice but to bring them to the estate."
A maid walked in, carrying baby Jin. Annot's expression softened instantly. She took the baby into her arms and started gently rocking him, trying to push the heavy thoughts away.
The doors creaked open and Mori walked in, fully dressed and ready for the day. He stepped forward, keeping his composure. "Good morning, mother. Father."
"Good morning, Mori," his dad nodded. "As I was saying, Ancel is arriving today—"
Right as the words left his mouth, the grand doors opened completely. Estate guards escorted three figures into the hall. Ancel walked at the front
—looked to be the same age as Mori— followed by maids carrying the newborn twins.
Mori didn't bother waiting around. He just shrugged, turning right back around on his heel. He looked at ancel with a side-eye, a flickering look of anxiety crossed ancel's face as Mori walked straight out of the hall.
A small group of maids, butlers, and guards immediately fell into step beside Mori as he left the main building. Among them were a maid and a head butler he was way more familiar with. The butler was also his personal guard, a highly trained mage and a lethal fighter.
The butler stepped closer to Mori's side as they walked the paved paths. "How do you feel, young master?"
Mori stared ahead, keeping his hands tucked away. "Not too sure," he said quietly. "A brother my age...an half brother"
(Why did father have to bring them here now? What does this mean or change?)
"Don't dwell into it, young lord," the familiar maid said softly as they turned a corner. "I'm sure it'll change nothing."
Mori just nodded as they finally approached the massive, towering structure of the library. The guards at the entrance pulled the heavy doors open for him, the cool air inside instantly washing over him.
He walked right past the history and geography shelves, heading straight into the back rows—the magic spells and conjuring section.
Back in the main hall. Mori's father, Sayer the Fourth looked down at Ancel. "How was the trip here? Was the journey difficult?"
Ancel kept his head low, shifting uncomfortably. "It was... fine, s-sir-" "you can call me father" sayer assured. "It was fine,…..father"
Before they could talk any further, a maid ushered toward Sayer, carefully handing him the newborn twins. Sayer looked at them for a long moment, the weight of his actions settling heavily on his chest. He looked back at Ancel. "Do you know what your mother might have wanted to name them?"
"Bellion... and Bellin," Ancel said shyly, his voice barely audible.
Sayer nodded slowly. He handed the twins back to the waiting maids and turned to the attendants. "Take Ancel and his siblings to the building where they'll be residing. Get them refreshed, fed, and then give them a full tour of the estate grounds." The maids bowed, guiding the quiet siblings out of the hall.
Just as the doors closed, a messenger guard entered quickly. "My lord, her grace—the Seer has arrived."
The Seer walked into the hall, her presence shifted the mood in the room. Sayer and Annot offered their formal greetings, asking about her journey to the Aeteron Territory.
"The roads were long, but manageable," the Seer responded smoothly. She shifted the topic, her eyes gleaming with political insight. "The nobles in the northwest are trying to expand and even the royal family are in talks of political betrothal, but the Aeteron family should expect even more fortune and influence in the coming days." Sayer nodded approvingly hearing this.
Annot listened intently before turning to a guard. "Call for Mori. Have him brought here."
Down in the deepest rows of the library, Mori was completely engrossed in his research. He was flipping through thick books on spells, magics, conjuring, and various magic types.
(Spells... conjuring... I should be able to get this down easily. It's just a matter of practice.)
He closed a heavy leather book and looked up at his butler guard. "Since mother said I have the dragon's potential, I think I should have the fire affinity. It only makes sense for a dragon, right?"
The butler smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Different types of dragons have different affinities, young master. It's not always just fire. Some texts speak of dragons who commanded the storms, ice, and even space itself, you should ask more from her grace, young master"
Before Mori could reply, a messenger guard walked into the section. "Young master, her grace requests your presence in the main hall immediately."
Mori sighed, shutting the book completely. He got up, making his way back across the estate, to the main hall to meet his mother.
The moment Mori walked through the grand doors of the main hall, the Seer's eyes locked onto him. A strange smile crawled onto her face. "Ah... the boy savior."
Mori paused, looking completely confused by the title.
Annot laughed softly, waving her hand to ease his tension. "Don't worry about that, Mori. It's just something she has always called you, even while I was still heavy with you. Heaven knows why."
The Seer stepped forward, she kept her movements deliberate. She reached out and cupped Mori's hands. The instant her hand made contact, she took a sharp, deep breath.
Suddenly, her eyes flickered entirely white.
"Your boy is a favored one," the Seer whispered, her voice sounding distant, almost echoing. "Multitudes of blessings by the gods... so many pacts... and... and..."
Without warning, the Seer gasped violently. The white faded from her eyes as she snapped back to normal, stumbling slightly as she caught her breath, sweat breaking out on her forehead.
Sayer the Fourth leaned forward, his grip tightening on his chair. "And what? Speak."
"It's... it's nothing, my lord," the Seer said quickly, her voice trembling as she avoided making eye contact. "Just a sudden exhaustion from the vision."
Mori didn't care enough to press about the cryptic talk. He just wanted to get back to his reading. He looked over at his mother, giving her a silent look to see if he could leave. Annot noticed his impatience and gave him a gentle nod.
Mori turned around without a word, walking right back out of the hall. His guards, maids, and personal head butler immediately fell into formation around him, escorting the young master back toward his quiet sanctuary.