Under the heavy silk blanket, Verion—now inhabited by a different soul, Zeiron—suddenly jolted awake.
He struggled to move his body, raising his right hand to his head. "Ouch, my head hurts... is this a side effect from passing through that space?" he muttered.
Suddenly, the door to Verion's room opened, and a female servant, Miss Lina, entered.
Miss Lina was surprised to see Verion awake. "Young Master?! You're awake?"
Verion replied, "Miss Lina, you can see for yourself," with a confused look on his face.
Miss Lina set down her tray; she routinely cleaned Verion's wounds. She approached him, lifted his hand, and checked the bandages on his head.
"How is this possible, Young Master?! How did you heal completely in an instant?!" Miss Lina exclaimed.
Verion replied, "Um... I don't know what happened."
"Wait a moment, Young Master, I'll let your siblings know you've woken up," she said as she ran out of the room.
"Wait, Miss Lina!" Verion called after her.
Verion glanced at the window to his right. The sunset light illuminated his bed. He thought to himself, "Is this my new life?"
Suddenly, a faint voice echoed in his ears: "Elvaria is in a world and life parallel to yours. But if you want to meet her, you must search. Your Zamrud energy will resonate with Elvaria's if the distance between you two is close."
Verion fell silent. The door to his room opened again. His older sister, Ye HunXiao, immediately jumped onto Verion's bed. "VERIONNNN! I missed you so much!"
BRAKK!
Verion shouted, "HEY, DON'T JUST JUMP AND HUG ME SO TIGHTLY!!" feeling pressed under her weight. He pushed his sister away. Ye HunXiao was startled and confused, thinking, "What's wrong with Verion? Why is he pushing me? He's never done this before..."
Verion climbed down from the bed and walked toward the door. He bumped into his older brother, Ling YunXiao. "You're healed, Verion? Let me check your wounds," Ling YunXiao said as he examined the bandages on Verion's head and hands. Confused, he thought, "Why did Verion heal completely all of a sudden?"
Ling YunXiao asked, "Verion, how did you suddenly heal completely like this?"
Verion paused for a moment. "I don't know... I just woke up," he replied.
Ling YunXiao and Ye HunXiao exchanged glances, silent and confused. Ye HunXiao then said, "Verion, let's go see Father and Mother. They'll be happy to see you fully healed!" she said cheerfully.
They walked through the palace corridors. Verion walked ahead of his siblings, faster than both of them. Ling YunXiao whispered to Ye HunXiao, "Do you also sense something strange about Verion? He's not like usual, almost like a different person."
Ye HunXiao replied, "Yes, you feel it too, right? Let him meet Father and Mother first; maybe they know."
They arrived at the King's Throne Room. When they entered, their father, King Van Xiao, sensed a threatening aura. Van Xiao immediately looked serious, waiting to see who entered.
All three children entered. Their mother, Li Yun, was beside Van Xiao, delighted to see Verion awake. "Verion?! You're awake?" She stood from her throne and approached him.
Li Yun lifted Verion's chin and hugged him. "Thank goodness you're healed and awake. Mother is so happy to see you," she said. She then released him and asked Ling YunXiao, "Who is the doctor who healed Verion? We must reward them."
Ling YunXiao hesitated, "Um, Mother... Verion wasn't healed by anyone. He just suddenly healed and woke up." Li Yun looked at Verion with confusion.
Van Xiao said, "Sit down, my children. I have questions for you."
He looked at Ling YunXiao, "Ling YunXiao, have you used demonic powers?"
Ling YunXiao replied, "No, Father. I can prove it," producing a golden-colored spell and liquid essence.
Van Xiao then looked at Ye HunXiao, "Ye HunXiao, have you used any strange powers?"
Ye HunXiao replied, "No, Father, I've never used them," also producing golden essence.
Van Xiao finally looked at Verion, "Verion, have you used forbidden powers?"
Verion paused for a moment. Van Xiao stared at him sharply. Verion smiled faintly inwardly and thought, "I am weak and talentless... how could I have forbidden powers?"
Van Xiao thought, "Then why is there still a threatening aura?" He ordered Ling YunXiao and Ye HunXiao to leave. He realized the threatening aura came from Verion himself and stared very seriously.
Li Yun said, "Verion, show Father what you are hiding."
Verion nervously swallowed and raised his hand, releasing Zamrud energy like a glowing sphere.
Van Xiao examined it closely. "Verion... what is this energy?"
Verion replied, "I will answer honestly, Father. I don't know either."
Ling YunXiao and Ye HunXiao, who had been eavesdropping at the door, were shocked to hear the earlier slap. Ling YunXiao whispered to Ye HunXiao, "What's going on inside? Why did we hear a slap?"
Ye HunXiao replied, "Shh... let's wait. We'll ask Mother later."
Night fell.
Verion, with his new appearance, left his room and headed to the Royal Family Dining Hall. Upon entering, he saw his two siblings and their parents already seated.
Ye HunXiao was surprised by Verion's new look. Ling YunXiao patted a chair beside him, "Verion! Sit here next to me."
Van Xiao remained silent, while Li Yun said, "My, my son has grown handsome."
Verion sat next to Ling YunXiao. Ling YunXiao whispered, "Now this is my little brother, finally like a prince."
Ye HunXiao cheered, "Let's celebrate Verion's recovery!" while raising a glass of beer. Van Xiao, Li Yun, and Verion raised their hands to toast but did not drink.
Ling YunXiao and Ye HunXiao, slightly drunk, leaned on each other. Van Xiao said, "Take it slow, don't get too drunk."
Ling YunXiao and Ye HunXiao giggled, "Yes, Father. We'll drink slowly."
Verion continued eating, while Ling YunXiao and Ye HunXiao were still tipsy. Li Yun looked at Van Xiao, "Honey, since when did our children become this silly?" she said with a small smile.
Van Xiao replied, "I don't know... they've always been like this since they were little," smiling.
Verion accidentally got hit on the head by a drunk Ling YunXiao. "HEY! That hurts!" he shouted.
Ling YunXiao laughed, and Verion said, "Your turn! Let me hit your head!" chasing his brother like a cat chasing a mouse.