Raelis stared at the parchment, his mind drifting.
Does this mean I'm twelve again...? Will I have to go through the same humiliation?
Just as he was about to ponder further, he heard a knock on his door.
—Young master! We need to go or you'll be late!
"Lydia..." Raelis called out instinctively, yet his eyes widened the moment he did.
He could speak again, which meant the 'incident' hadn't happened yet.
"I'll be right t-there," he stammered, entered his closet, and got dressed in some casual attire.
Yet a few unanswered questions still lingered inside his mind. Was this real? Or just another cruel hallucination?
Even so, after getting ready, he sprinted to the door and swung it open, revealing Lydia in her usual cutesy maid attire.
"Ah, young master." She bowed. "You should've told me to open the door for you. What good am I if I don't?"
"I'll keep that in mind," Raelis replied as he strode past her.
He had a little grievance with this maid. She was one of the people responsible behind him losing his vocal cords.
She planted some fake evidence in my room... but not this time. His gaze hardened, shooting her a sideye. Even if this isn't real, I'll make sure to at least repay the favor to you before I wake up.
With those thoughts in the back of his mind, he walked toward the throne room, his hands trembling slightly.
Each step reminded him of the nightmare he had gone through. The ridicule when the marble orb didn't react to his bloodline in the slightest.
He was going to face the same fate again, almost as if he was cursed.
But I'm not the same person I used to be.
He'd deal with this as if this was a trivial matter. One of the many he'd be facing moving forward.
After a few minute walk, he finally arrived in front of the throne room. The doors swung open, and one of the palace guards led him to where he had to be.
5 other kids. Raelis noted, glancing around. My 'siblings,' the same ones who'd stop at nothing to ruin my life very soon.
Aside from them, the glint of the golden throne room interior greeted him. Faint rays of sunlight shone through the stained glass dome on the ceiling, illuminating the rather lively atmosphere.
Beside the regal throne, stood a single transparent marble. It was the device which would test their bloodline purity.
"Raelis!" Zeri, one of his siblings present approached.
Her hair was golden unlike his own, and she seemed cheerful as always.
"What purity do you think you'll get? My mom said mine is going to be at least 40%," Zeri added, twirling on her heel in excitement. "God... what if it's lower... I wouldn't be able to even face my mother."
"I'm sure you'll do just fine, Zeri," Raelis said with a warm smile as he patted her head. "Your mother will be proud of you, just as she's always been."
"Hehe..." Zeri giggled under her breath as she looked up at his eyes with expectation. "Wanna come over for a tea party after our test?"
She pointed at the other children. "Everyone's coming, so will you please consider?"
"I'm busy, Zeri." Raelis shot her down. "Maybe some other time, okay?"
"Um." She nodded reluctantly, and skipped back to the others.
For once, it was peaceful. No mocking, no glares, because no matter how low his birth, he was still a Varekan.
A couple minutes passed in silence, with his maid, Lydia, constantly chirping in his ear, causing him to frown in disgust.
Finally, the throne room's doors swung open, revealing a stern, regal-looking muscular man. He had golden hair, and slightly black outlines on the edges, followed by captivating red eyes.
It was none other than the emperor himself, Kaelith Varekan.
His mere presence drowned out the noise as he approached his throne, and sat in it.
He remained silent for a few moments, tapping the throne's armrest and gauging the reaction of all the children present.
Some looked on in awe, others in fear, and a single person with no expression at all, Raelis.
A man who makes his children kill each other does not deserve my respect.
Soon, the emperor spoke.
"Only six of you, huh? I see..." Emperor Kaelith trailed off as he took out a note from his pocket, and read it aloud.
"Auren Varekan. Your future seems bright. Your academic studies are going rather well, and you're well versed in military tactics. Step up."
The moment he finished those words, Auren bowed, and began walking toward the bloodline testing device.
He picked up the ceremonial dagger lying beside the marble. Without batting an eye, he pierced his finger, dripping blood all over the marble.
Yet instead of the blood falling to the ground, it was absorbed into the marble.
In the very next moment, an array of colors flashed through the marble, ranging from gray, to dark red.
After a few seconds, it finally settled on a bright orange color, signifying a bloodline purity of at least 30%.
"I see..." Emperor Kaelith brushed his beard. "Judging by the warm color, and the extremely miniscule amount of red, your bloodline purity is 38% Congratulations. You're now classified as Flame blooded."
"Thank you very much, your Majesty," Auren said with a calm bow, and began walking back to the rest of the children.
Despite his calm persona, Raelis could tell from his trembling crimson eyes that he was holding back his excitement.
"Now." Emperor Kaelith clapped his hands, and began reading the note again.
"Sylis Varekan. You're one of the wildcards of this family. You have dreams of the future, and the distant past. Your intelligence alone is enough to lay the groundworks for the future. Step up."
Raelis sighed, and watched as he too stepped up.
This is going to get interesting real fast...