Valdis finally understood why the Ebonhart house was feared throughout the kingdom.
Everyone in this family was a monster in their own right.
Isolde, whose aura nearly gave him a heart attack, was currently the weakest in the room, if he was excluded, and her aura made him feel like he was staring death in the eye while she remained the calm one.
The Ebonharts were known for their wild and unpredictable personalities, with his mother and sister being the only ones who had a calm and reserved aura around them.
His head turned toward his sister. She noticed his gaze, turned her beautiful face toward him, and gave a sweet smile. Seeing that smile, he instinctively remembered the horror hidden beneath it, and his body shuddered.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the soft footsteps behind him or sense the presence approaching until a pair of slender arms wrapped around him from behind.
As he felt the warmth pressed against his back, his body stiffened for a moment before a familiar scent reached him.
"…Mother?"
Eleanor rested her chin lightly on his shoulder, holding him gently but firmly, as if worried he might vanish if she loosened her grip. She didn't speak at first.
She didn't need to.
Her arms tightened just a little.
Only then did Valdis realize how tense his body had been.
"With us around, nobody will dare lay a finger on you, so you don't need to be afraid. We will protect you until you're able to do that on your own," she said softly.
It was at that moment that Valdis understood Isolde's aura had scared him to the point where it cast a slight shadow over his heart. His mother noticed his distress and came to comfort him.
At that point, Malrik walked over, and the usual lazy aura that surrounded him was nowhere to be seen. He approached with an excited expression.
Eleanor released Valdis from the hug and stood beside him.
"Lil bro, you're more monstrous than I was at your age. When you're free, come visit me at Black Requiem fortress. I'll give you a tour of the Ashen Divide," Malrik said, patting his head.
Valdis looked at his brother, who usually had a thick aura of laziness but now seemed energized.
The difference was stark. Before he could reply, his mother interjected.
"You want to take your little brother to see the Ashen Threshold, that meat grinder, and give him a tour of the place? Are you out of your mind?"
The Ashen Threshold was a vast stretch of land before a massive earth wall stretching for miles. At its center was a huge slit dividing the wall into two, with the Black Requiem Fortress standing in front and the dark forest behind.
The fortress was built to withstand the monthly beast tide from the forest, earning it the nickname "The Gateway to Death." The mortality rate here was terrifying.
It blocked the beasts from entering Blackspire and killing people.
It was a crucial barrier and also produced the largest amount of beast corpses used for various purposes.
Malrik was sent there due to issues involving the heirs of noble families, including the four ducal houses and the crown prince.
As punishment, they sent him to the Ashen Threshold, hoping the horrors would injure or kill him.
But it didn't go as planned.
"I'll be with him constantly; he won't be in any danger. I promise," Malrik said waving his arms.
Eleanor briefly looked at her firstborn before turning back to Valdis. Her gaze paused on Malrik, who was covered in sweat.
Valdis smiled, not understanding why his brother looked scared of their mother. He knew if Isolde's aura was that formidable, his mom's aura would be worse.
Soon, the voice of the First Ancestor echoed through the hall.
"Malrik, Isolde, take your brother to the Reward Hall to pick up ten Blood Law Crystals. After that, take him to the Crimson Hall, and your father will then take him to the armory to choose a good weapon."
The Second Ancestor objected when he heard the last part.
"There's no need to visit the armory right away. I have a weapon I think will be perfect for Valdis."
Everyone looked in shock at the Second Ancestor of the Ebonhart House.
He wasn't just powerful and knowledgeable; he was one of three divine blacksmiths in Eldoria. His creations were incredibly powerful, but he rarely made them available.
His most famous creation was Ebonhart's Protector Sword—the Crimson Eclipse.
"You're giving him a weapon," the Third Ancestor said, stunned, because she knew how rare it was for him to part with his creations.
When she accepted Isolde as her disciple, she begged him to make a weapon for her, but he refused.
He only made a weaker replica of Elanor's twin swords—the Scarlet Dawn.
Malrik looked at his younger brother again, shook his head, and then led him and his sister out.
After they left, Grand Elder Arkan, silent for a long time, said, "The results of this evaluation can't be made public. If they were, it would put a huge target on his back. No one would want such a monster to fully mature."
"They've been investigating what triggered the lightning tribulation. Though Malrik's actions that day were a bit much, it scared most and made others cautious. But that doesn't mean they've given up," Eleanor said.
On Valdis' awakening day, Malrik exterminated seven noble houses that night, including a marquisal house. He even tracked down and executed spies from ducal houses, placing their heads in front of their mansions.
His actions enraged many noble houses, who wanted him punished severely. But when they saw what he did before the ducal mansions and how the dukes did nothing, they became terrified and dispersed.
"Malrik's already a thorn in the royal family's side, especially after that incident with the crown prince," Mircalla said.
"So what do we do?" the Third Ancestor asked.
"Valdis' talent is immense. If he masters any one of his abilities, he'd be unrivaled in his generation," Arkan replied.
"But where did his divine-grade affinity for the laws of fire come from? Elanor's talent lies with the laws of ice, and the Ebonhart lineage has no connection to fire," Draven asked.
"That's due to his divine physique—the Heaven Refinement Physique. His connection to the laws of fire makes sense, but I think it's the dragon blood that boosted his resonance to a divine level," the Second Ancestor explained.
They nodded in understanding.
"The divine physiques are known to defy natural order and keep improving the host. That's why he has every affinity possible from the Ebonhart bloodline," the First Ancestor said.
"So, besides Malrik, we have another monster with affinities for two supreme laws. The royal family will lose it if they find out," Mircalla said, laughing.
Suddenly, the First Ancestor looked at the Second and asked, "What weapon do you plan on giving him? This is one of those rare moments you've offered to give someone your creation."
"You'll see when the time comes. It's my best work, but no one has been worthy enough to bind and fuse with it," the Second Ancestor replied.
Silence fell, and everyone looked at him in shock because only soul weapons could bind and fuse with their masters. Regular weapons regardless of their rank could only bind to their masters but fusion was impossible.