CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56

The sun hung high above the western wing of the Velebrandt mansion, casting soft golden beams through the expansive windows of the chamber. The light shimmered against the marble floors, bathing the air in warmth and silence. Within the room, young Lucien lay sound asleep on the velvet couch, his chest gently rising and falling with each breath, the remnants of exhaustion still weighing his limbs like lead.

Miss Lunar stood beside him, her hands slowly withdrawing from his bare upper back. The motion was delicate, almost reverent. Her long, curly green hair shifted lightly with the motion, and her small, pale face held a thoughtful expression as she observed the boy’s form.

"You’ve awakened as an aura user," she finally said in a whisper, more to herself than to the sleeping child.

But Lucien offered no reply.

His eyes remained closed, his face relaxed in slumber. The only sound from him was the rhythmic inhale and exhale of someone deeply at rest.

Miss Lunar paused, then tilted her head, a faint puff of breath escaping her lips. "He probably stayed up all night," she mused aloud. "How typical. Nervous for today, weren’t you?" she added, projecting an imaginary scolding tone toward the unconscious boy. A small smile tugged at her lips, betraying her amusement.

With a soft sigh, she raised her hand and gently dispelled the gray silencing barrier that still cloaked the chamber. The magic dispersed like fading mist, revealing once again the subtle ambient sounds from beyond the chamber walls.

She turned her attention upward, her fingers dancing in precise gestures, forming faint glowing circles in the air. The ancient tongue of druids flowed soundlessly from her lips. Elemental spirits responded—creatures unseen by most eyes, flitting through the room in shimmering wisps of wind and light. One such spirit hovered before her, a curl of air in the shape of a feathered serpent.

"Please inform the Grand Duke and Archduchess that the identification is complete," she instructed calmly.

The spirit twirled once, glowed brighter in understanding, then darted out of the room.

Lunar stood still for a long moment, her green eyes once again drifting to Lucien’s sleeping form. She could still feel the echoes of his power—faint threads of rich, condensed energy like coiled silk, just beneath the surface of his skin. She had seen many types of aura before, but his was particularly refined, almost unnaturally so for someone his age.

"A pure aura type," she murmured thoughtfully. "No traces of holy resonance or mana interference. Just... raw and vast."

She narrowed her eyes, the reflection of her own magic glinting in her irises. Though she couldn’t measure the exact size of his reserves—no identification method could gauge aura precisely—what she felt was enough to make even a veteran warrior raise a brow.

Still, she shook her head.

"Not my place," she whispered to herself. "They’ll discover it during his training soon enough."

Lunar stretched her petite frame with a soft groan, the long journey from the southern edge of Aerithrall catching up to her. Despite her youthful appearance, she had seen far more years than her skin suggested.

She let her thoughts wander for a moment—about the boy, about his unusual presence, about his importance to the human realm.

"The humans are weak in strength," she thought quietly, her expression unreadable. "But their numbers, their ambition, their adaptability... They surpass every race in the ways that matter most. And if this boy is raised right, if he’s nurtured, trained, guided—he’ll become a pillar."

Her eyes softened slightly. "A very powerful one. One the Empire will rely on."

Lucien shifted slightly in his sleep, his silver hair gleaming like starlight in the sunlight pouring across the couch. His features—delicate yet noble—were peaceful, and Lunar found her gaze lingering on his face longer than she intended.

"Ridiculous," she muttered under her breath, cheeks pinkening slightly. "Even the elves don’t look like that. What in the world are the women in this house made of, to be immune to such... appeal?"

Before she could further entertain those bewildering thoughts, the chamber door creaked open. She turned.

There stood Grand Duke Aldric, tall and statuesque, his silver hair catching the light like a blade’s edge. His icy gray eyes swept over the room, taking in the image of his son sleeping bare-chested on the couch, and the petite druid standing calmly beside him. Behind him, Archduchess Seraphina followed, her golden locks cascading like rivers of sun, her gaze composed yet laced with concern.

They walked in, their noble presence filling the chamber. They said nothing of Lucien’s state—clearly they sensed his slumber was natural, not inflicted.

Aldric’s voice, low and direct, broke the silence.

"Was the identification successful?"

Lunar turned to face them properly, clasping her hands in front of her robes. "Yes," she said softly. "Your son has awakened as an aura user."

The room was quiet, its silence only broken by the soft hum of ambient mana residue still clinging to the air from Lunar’s earlier spellwork. Grand Duke Aldric Velebrandt and Archduchess Seraphina stood at the center of the room, their gazes shifting from the petite elven druid to their sleeping son.

"Aura," Aldric murmured thoughtfully.

The two exchanged a look of understanding. Though powerful in their own right, neither of them had the specific ability to discern aura with precision.

"Thank you for your help, Miss Lunar," Seraphina said, her voice warm and respectful.

The druid bowed her head slightly, a serene smile on her lips. "It is my duty. I do not see it as a favor but as a necessity in these uncertain times."

Aldric nodded in agreement. "Even so, your contribution is invaluable. We can finally begin preparing Lucien’s training now that we understand his foundation."

Lunar gave a soft nod, brushing a strand of curly green hair from her cheek. "Then I am relieved. I must ask your leave now. There are other newly awakened children I must still assist."

"Of course," Aldric said, motioning to the door.

Immediately, one of the stationed knights stepped forward, saluting with disciplined grace. "I shall escort Lady Lunar out."

"Also," Aldric continued, turning to the other knights stationed nearby, "prepare the carriage. Send an additional escort detail to see Miss Lunar safely beyond the estate borders."

The guards moved swiftly, acknowledging his command with military precision.

Lunar turned toward the exit, her bare feet barely making a sound against the polished floor. As she approached the knight who would guide her out, she paused and turned one last time to look at the sleeping boy on the couch.

"I hope the Velebrandt family will endure," she said softly, the wind catching the edge of her pristine white robes.

Seraphina smiled faintly. "And may your path be protected, Lady Lunar."

"Likewise," Aldric added with a respectful nod.

With that, the druid and her armored escort disappeared down the corridor, her presence fading like a summer breeze. As the echo of her steps vanished, the two turned to face their son.

Lucien remained sprawled across the plush couch, his face finally at ease, the earlier signs of strain gone. His mismatched eyes were closed, his breathing deep and steady. Seraphina tilted her head slightly, a mother’s intuition whispering that something still lingered beneath his peaceful expression.

"He looks more exhausted than usual today," she murmured.

Aldric nodded, folding his arms behind his back. "You’re right. It’s rare for him to be sleeping at this time of the day."

"Leave him to me," Seraphina said gently. "You go begin drafting his training schedule. We’ll need to find someone suited upon the velebrandt knights to guide an aura user."

"Thank you," Aldric said sincerely, placing a hand on his wife’s shoulder. "I’ll meet with the martial division commanders. Perhaps someone from the Solcrux branch can help."

With a final look at Lucien, Aldric turned and exited the room.

Once alone with her son, Seraphina moved toward him with practiced grace. Despite her lithe frame, she was a powerful S-rank mage before the system shutdown—lifting Lucien was nothing to her. Her arms slid under him effortlessly, lifting him in a gentle cradle. His head lolled slightly against her shoulder, hair brushing her golden sleeve.

As she turned toward the exit, she noticed movement at the corner of her vision. A cluster of maids stood frozen by the corridor, their faces tinted pink.

Seraphina raised an eyebrow.

It wasn’t her they were staring at.

Her gaze dropped.

Lucien’s bare chest was completely exposed.

An elegant sigh escaped her lips. "So much for being a composed S-rank," she muttered under her breath. "I didn’t even think to dress him."

The maids, red as roses, quickly averted their eyes and hurried away, barely suppressing squeaks.

Choosing not to scold them—after all, the fault was hers—Seraphina straightened her back and continued walking. The corridor was lined with paintings of Velebrandt ancestors and sunlight pouring through stained-glass windows, casting multi-colored patterns across the floor.

She carried Lucien carefully, like a precious heirloom, her steps silent but sure. Her thoughts drifted again to how tired he seemed, how even after so much rest, he still looked as though something deeper stirred within him.

"What dreams are you having, my son?" she whispered as she reached the ornate doors of his room.

They opened soundlessly at her touch.

The bedroom inside was nothing short of imperial. Rich curtains of deep indigo framed the tall windows. The bed was carved from starwood, sheets silk-woven and enchanted for comfort. Soft rugs sprawled across the marble floor, and enchanted lanterns flickered with warm golden light.

She lowered Lucien gently onto the bed, careful not to disturb his rest. With a wave of her hand, his discarded upper clothes reappeared in folded precision atop a nearby ottoman.

Leaning over, she brushed a lock of silver hair from his forehead.

"Sleep now, Lucien. The real trainning will begin soon."

With that, she quietly left the room, the door clicking shut behind her as the curtains swayed softly in the wind.