Rina blinked her eyes. For some reason, she felt a sudden disorientation as her head spun.
A sudden pang of panic pierced her heart as her mind sharpened into focus. Like many of the maids within the manor, she was a trained warrior of Meilan's Shadow Guard—a battalion of battle maids trained directly by Meilan to defend the City Lord and her family.
In the early days of Skydorn's establishment, they had been the shadow and dark hand of Kaelira, carrying out assassinations and espionage to protect and further her hold over the city and the surrounding areas.
Nowadays, though, they functioned more as an intelligence network for the family and the protectors of Chayrith. But none of them had ever truly put down their daggers. They were still the cold-hearted, ruthless reapers Meilan had trained them to be.
So when Rina, one of the original members of the Shadow Guard, felt something was odd, her senses immediately flared as she readied herself to protect her young master.
She flashed to Chayrith's cradle, taking a defensive stance as she spread her senses into the surroundings. The other maids, noticing her odd behavior, seemed to sense something was off and raised their guards.
But just as the tension within the room rose to its peak, Meilan's voice came from behind them.
"What are you all doing?"
Seeing the head maid, the other maids relaxed slightly before turning to Rina. Seeing this, Rina went down to one knee and began to explain.
"My lady, I… I don't exactly know what happened. I just felt a strange sensation and moved to protect the young master from harm. Forgive me for the commotion."
Meilan's eyes flicked to Chayrith briefly before turning back to the kneeling Rina. Her sharp gaze softened slightly as she waved her hand, lifting her to her feet.
"Do not apologize for doing your duty. You have done well. Trust your instincts as you always have. Though this time, I fear that you may have overreacted a bit."
Rina's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at her words. Everyone within the manor was on high alert tonight with all the guests coming. This was especially true for those assigned to protect and watch over the young master, like she was.
"Thank you for the kind words, my lady. I will keep your words in mind."
Meilan smiled faintly and responded with a soft, "Mmm," before turning toward a now wide-awake Chayrith. As she stretched out her arms to lift him up, she suddenly froze.
For some reason, as she looked at the young master, she could feel that something about him had changed. He seemed steadier—no, more stable, if that made sense.
If before he felt like a baby with a rather volatile temperament, now, though his appearance had not changed, the look in his eyes had grown deeper. Meilan felt as though she was peering into a bottomless well, its depths completely unknown.
The young master has changed again. Should I immediately inform Big Sister Kaelira and Big Brother Vairon?
"Dabo?"
Chayrith's questioning babble broke her free from her thoughts. Shaking her head, she resolved to let them know when she was done here. She carried him up into her arms and brought him over to the large bed upon which his celebratory robes were splayed out.
She placed him down gently on the bed and squatted elegantly in front of him, getting on an even level with him.
"Are you ready to meet some new people, Young Master Chayrith?"
Chayrith's eyes lit up with that familiar excitement and charm.
"GABA!"
[Skydorn City Main Gates]
Serathiel could not remember the last time she had ever seen her mother so animated.
For the entirety of her two-year lifespan, she had known her mother to be a very reserved and graceful woman. She was seen as the ideal wife and mother by many within their clan.
As the Matriarch of the Faenmir Clan, she always maintained an air of regal dignity, and yet her kindness was well known throughout the Eastern Realm. The number of times Serathiel had seen her mother lose her composure could be counted on a single hand.
But at this moment, seated within their carriage, that same poised and collected mother was… bouncing around like she had soiled herself.
"Umm, Mother… is there a reason for your… eagerness?"
Elowen Faenmir broke out of her trance and, realizing she had been acting a bit unbecoming, coughed lightly and attempted to regain her dignified air—though the shimmer within the depths of her eyes gave her away.
"My dear Sera, do you know where we are going today, and our purpose for this journey?"
The young girl pouted her lips cutely as she began to recall what the adults around her had been saying.
"I believe it is a celebration of birth for the young lord of Skydorn City, yes? Is this the cause for your excitement?"
Elowen's eyes crinkled in satisfaction at her daughter's intellect, that familiar sense of pride filling her as she looked at her. With a nod, she continued.
"Indeed, my little teardrop. The mysterious son of the Eastern Twin Winds, Vaelira Aenwyn and Vairon Aetherion, is finally being introduced to the cultivation world."
Serathiel's eyes shimmered as her ears perked up at the names of the rulers of Skydorn City.
"You speak of Kaelira the Berserker and Vairon the Lone Tyrant, correct!? Have you met them before, Mother?"
Seated next to Elowen, completely forgotten by the two fangirls, was Faelor Faenmir, the "respected" leader and patriarch of the Faenmir Clan. Seeing the excited expression of his daughter and the tell-tale fanatical look in his sweet, loving wife's eyes, he knew where the conversation was heading.
He let out a low groan and rubbed his proud antlers as a source of fleeting comfort, a habit he had developed whenever his wife began to descend into her worshipful fervor for the famous couple of Skydorn.
"My dear, before you begin, can you—"
"OF COURSE I HAVE, MY DARLING!"
"…Too late."
Faelor sank back into his seat as he was forced to listen to his wife indoctrinate their daughter.
"My daughter, Lady Kaelira and Lord Vairon are the most mysterious and respected members of the past generation. One was the previous prime inheritor of the Snow Heart Palace in the Northern Realm, while the other was the Scion of the Aetherion Clan of our Eastern Realm. They were geniuses who could fight several realms above their own with ease!"
As Elowen spoke, she became more and more agitated, to the point that she was even breathing heavily. Poor little Sera hung onto every word, gripping the edge of her cushioned seat within the carriage, completely enthralled by her mother's enthusiasm.
"Lord Vairon is a mystery unto himself that no one has truly figured out. He is like a dragon whose head cannot be seen, only his tail briefly glimpsed. There are rumors and speculation that he has an Apex Incarnate! Not only that, but some believe that he has already crossed the mortal barrier."
Elowen's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper toward the end, cupping her mouth and winking at her daughter to heighten the feeling of secrecy. Sera's eyes widened and filled with stars as she gasped.
"Truly, Mother!? Is Lord Vairon that powerful?"
As the words left her mouth, the little girl's face paled as she looked toward her father with fear.
"I-Is he even s-stronger than Father? A-Are we in danger!?"
Seeing the growing fear in his daughter's eyes, Faelor shot his wife an accusatory glare before reassuring her.
"Nonsense, my little teardrop. Don't you know how strong your father is? I could swat that Vairon bastard to dust with a single wave of my hand. Don't underestimate the power of our Stellar Deer Clan! We are the proud descendants of the Celestial Deer Clan, remember?"
Sera looked at her father with childlike skepticism.
"Is that true, Father? You aren't lying to me again like with the fairy that takes my teeth and leaves me a pouch of gold, right?"
Faelor's face flushed at his daughter's words. He cursed under his breath, unsure whether to thank the heavens for such a smart daughter or lament the fact that he would never be able to fool her.
Seeing her husband in such a bind, Elowen covered her mouth with her hand as she gigled in amusement. Shooting him a playful glance, she turned back to her daughter and lovingly pinched her cheeks.
"Sera dear, leave your father some face. He only means what's best for you."
Clearly unconvinced, the young deerling crossed her arms with an adorable pout and turned her head to the side.
"Treating me like some clueless child is not doing what's best for me. It is an insult to my intellect—don't defend him, Mother!"
The motherly beauty could only smile dotingly as she agreed with her daughter.
"Yes, yes, dear, you are correct. Your father is bad."
Faelor looked at his wife with betrayal plain on his face. Elowen winked at him mischievously before Sera's next words reignited the fangirl in her heart.
"Mother! If Lord Vairon is so powerful, then what about Lady Kaelira?"
Elowen's breathing once again turned heated as she leaned forward, a crazed, worshipful light burning in her eyes.
"Lady Kaelira…"
Knowing what was coming, Faelor wisely shut off his senses and closed his eyes.
"…IS MY ABSOLUTE IDOL!!"