Thankfully, Rin's father seemed to have felt his distress across the space and time that separated them.
'Whatever he wants. Anything he desires. His word shall be the truth!' the man laughed again. He seemed incapable of reining in his delight. 'We have our crown prince!'
'Mm-hmm,' the woman seemed to be beyond speech, but Arin could still hear the joy in her voice.
If Arin could control the body he was in, his mouth would've fallen open in shock.
He'd already been shaken by the young princess's description of her own magic. That had been insane enough. But now, with the addition of this information…
From what he'd understood, anything the sister forbade would never come to pass. And anything the brother – and the father, apparently - wished for, would happen.
They could bend reality to their will.
Didn't the royal family's so-called sovereign talents pretty much make them the gods of this world!?
However…
Arin stopped his thoughts from running wild.
Thinking back to the rest of the conversation, there seemed to have also been some talk of why Sera couldn't use her talent at whim.
That meant they were probably bound by some sort of restriction. Maybe… the magic was too powerful to use without it taking a toll on their physical bodies? There might be some kind of backlash, or even a total depletion of magic with a lengthy recharge time.
That made sense to Arin.
Because the world would break if such OP characters weren't nerfed in some way…
'Ah…'
Arin immediately shifted his attention back to the conversation. The couple had gone quiet for a few heartbeats.
In a gentle voice, the man then asked, 'Does that… does that trouble my dearest princess?'
'No!' exclaimed the child's high voice. 'It is but by chance. The prince was born with magic to suit the post. I, for one, am pleased enough without the responsibility that comes with it.'
'And that is why I always say our darling Sera takes after me. She is wise beyond her years!' the lady giggled. She seemed to have picked her daughter up in her arms.
'Indeed. Besides, there is very little that her own magic cannot do for her, as his can do for him in times of peril…' the child's father sighed. He still seemed somewhat concerned. 'Though I hope that such a day never comes to pass.'
'Aw, hush,' the woman said. 'Put aside those worries, my Emperor. Today is a day for celebration. Which, if I am correct, calls for a generous serving of…'
'Cake!' the child cheered.
…
Yeah, looks like he was done here.
Arin blocked out his senses, and gave the Mirror of Record another command.
'Show me why Rin conceals his talent.'
The mirror obeyed.
After a split second of the world fast-forwarding, he found himself sitting on a bench in a luxuriously furnished, yet darkened room, with a man who looked to be middle-aged. Rin was still quite small, and was probably still a toddler in this memory. He had to tilt his head almost all the way back to see the man's face.
The man's neatly-groomed fair hair was greying, and lines of worry marked his cheeks. There was a hint of familiarity in his ruggedly handsome features.
'My son,' the man started, and Arin realized that this was the owner of the voice he'd heard by Rin's crib.
'You are to have a playmate soon. And while I hope you can get along, I would like for you to remember that he will still be an outsider. Do you remember what you must follow?' he asked.
'Uh…' Rin looked down at his hands, toying with the hem of his sleeves. 'Be noble, and virtuous, and polite… but unyielding on my terms?'
The man's chest rumbled with laughter. 'Yes, prince. But my meaning was to know what you shouldn't do, or reveal, to anyone outside of our family.'
Rin nodded. 'Nothing about my talent. Ah, nothing about the sovereign talents at all. For, just as my sister had chosen to show herself to be a – a healer, like the Empress, I must also conceal the true nature of my magic.'
'Ah, father Emperor?' he suddenly added, looking up at the man.
'Hmm?'
'Might I please also be a healer? I'd much rather that than beast-bonding like yourself,' he said, widening his eyes pleadingly. 'That way, I might share my lessons with sister.'
'Oh?' The smile on the man's face grew. 'The prince may do as he pleases, of course, but…'
'But?'
'But it is such a shame that I must return this dear little beast-shifter to her mother. Oh, well. It seems that she shall have to remain with her…'
Saying so, the man opened his hand to reveal a tiny, silvery-white rabbit resting in the middle of his palm. The creature opened its glowing, star-like red-brown eyes, and blinked once. Then, it stretched out its twig-like front paws and opened its mouth into a yawn. It seemed entirely unfazed by the attention on it.
Rin's mouth dropped open at the sight.
His father pretended to not notice. 'Her mother is already my familiar, but perhaps I can have this little one bound to me as well?'
'No! I shall – ah. I would like to accept her!' Rin exclaimed. 'If it pleases father.'
The man's chest rumbled with laughter once again.
'As you wish.'