The grand hall fell into a hushed silence as Zelis turned his head toward the impressive staircase, where all eyes were fixated with bated breath. He caught sight of his father, the Duke, descending with powerful strides, an oppressive aura radiating from him like a storm on the horizon. The flickering candlelight accentuated the authoritative contours of his face, casting long shadows across his sharp features, painting a picture of dominance and command.
Zelis tried to gauge his father's mana level, but the sheer force of the aura enveloping the room made it impossible. It was clear to him now why the Duke was considered the strongest in the entire kingdom. Each step he took atop the staircase echoed through the hall, resonating in the very bones of those present.
As he reached the bottom, he settled into his throne-like chair at the end of the hall, surveying the gathered crowd from on high. The air grew heavy and tense as the gathered nobles fell to their knees, their heads bowed in respect towards the Duke, each one keenly aware that they were in the presence of immense power. Duke Antolis searched the room for his youngest, when their eyes met, a small smile broke upon the Duke's otherwise stern visage—a rare sight that took the room by surprise.
Zelis felt almost weightless, understanding subdued by confusion as he processed this unexpected reaction. His father seemed genuinely pleased to see him. There was a significant reason behind that smile; Zelis had already mastered the ability to absorb mana, a skill he understood to be remarkable for a child of just five years.
"Let us begin," the Duke commanded, his voice rumbling through the hall like distant thunder. All eyes shifted to the old man who Zelis now recognized to be Atticus, the Duke's private magician.
" I call upon Zelis Daminhom, 12th child of the Daminhom family, to present himself before thee!" Atticus proclaimed, his voice imbued with a theatrical flair that captivated the audience.
As he moved forward, the weight of every gaze pressed against Zelis's shoulders, but he held his head high. He bowed deeply before his father, respect and anticipation woven into his every movement, before stepping toward the waiting mage. When their eyes finally connected, Atticus's soft smile radiated warmth, providing a flicker of comfort amidst the brewing tension.
"You have been in this world for five years," he continued, his voice steady, but Zelis felt a tremor of gravity in those words. "During those five years, the god stars have been watching you."
This revelation stirred unrest within him. What did it mean to be observed by celestial beings? The very thought sent a shiver down his spine. Atticus smoothly produced a glistening stone tablet from his pocket space—a trick that never failed to intrigue Zelis. The tablet had artistic carvings so intricate and beautiful, it looked as if it had been sculpted by the celestial hands of the god stars themselves. The stone shimmered under the hall's golden light, its surface radiating an energy Zelis could almost feel through the air.
"This is a stone from the god stars, granting blessings to those all," Atticus explained, his tone imbued with reverence. "There are many god stars; some are powerful indeed, yet do not bless or grant gifts. Others grow stronger through the giving of gifts. To understand their wills has eluded many. You see, while numerous gods may offer blessings, only the god star that offers the highest grade prevails."
Zelis absorbed the information with wide eyes, enthralled by the concept of divine recognition, but his thoughts deeper on the implications of that glance from the Duke.
"Do you understand, little dragon?" the mage finished, smiling kindly. The assembled nobles scoffed at the mage's use of the endearing title, sparking a flame of awareness in Zelis; he was different in ways that transcended simple lineage.
"Place your hands on the stone tablet," Atticus instructed. Zelis did as instructed, anticipation thrumming in his veins, an electric mixture of excitement and apprehension.
After a moment stretched to infinity, bright light erupted from the tablet, flooding the room with a golden hue that felt as if the sun itself had descended into their midst. Zelis withdrew his hands, bewildered. Had that been it? Was that the blessing?
Minutes rolled by as the room held its collective breath, and the mage's expression morphed from intrigue to shock. Eyes darted toward the floating tablet, eagerly awaiting the revelation.
"By the gods… it is—" Atticus stammered, his voice faltering under the weight of his own astonishment. "It is an SSS skill called the Son of the Sun!"
Murmurs erupted from the crowd. Shock and awe coursed through the air like a thunderclap, each grappling with the significance of what was unfolding before them. Whispers of disbelief spread like wildfire—an SSS skill, a title not heard for over a millennium, bore heavy upon Zelis's name.
The Duke's expression shifted, melding pride with an alarming sense of urgency. He released a fraction of his aura, the pressure causing some in the audience to faint or collapse under its oppressive weight. "This matter shall not leave this room," he commanded, his voice sharp and laced with authority. Those present stiffened, fully attuned to the danger at hand.
Zelis stood frozen in place, confusion swirling within him. Was this proud grin of approval or disapproval? As the oppressive aura lifted, he cautiously glanced at the Duke, trying to decipher the depths of his father's thoughts.
Alex, standing with his siblings, murmured to them, "He truly is a dragon." Despite their underlying rivalry, pride illuminated their faces; they would fight each other for supremacy, but not against their own kin.
"What a sad fate indeed…" Maxine Daminhom mused, her eyes clouded with concern for the boy who now bore the weight of expectation.
Back in his thoughts, Zelis felt tangled within a web of uncertainty—he could sense the danger of his SSS skill looming like shadows around him. As he inched back towards his father, heart racing, he braced himself for the consequences that awaited him.
"Congratulations on receiving your gift," the Duke said, his composure returning. "You may return to the annex and pack your belongings. You will be moving to the main house to begin your swordsmanship training. For acquiring a unique skill, I will grant you one wish. What do you desire?"
Staring at the man seated upon the throne, a figure of authority and might, Zelis felt the eyes in the room scrutinizing him, judging every thought that flitted through his mind. This was not a question usually posed to a child, and uncertainty bubbled within him, but he steadied his thoughts. After a moment's hesitation, he looked to Atticus, then back at the Duke. "I also want to learn magic."
Laughter rolled through the hall, the sound almost mocking, reverberating off the marble walls. The nobles sneered at the naivete of the child in front of them, but the Duke's gaze turned steely, silencing the crowd with an unyielding authority. "Very well. I will find you a master," he agreed, his voice firm.
Zelis felt a flash of disbelief mixed with a flicker of hope. In all of his life, no Daminhom had ever ventured into the realm of magic; they were a family of swordsmen. Yet the past life he carried within him fueled his determination; magic was a means to an end, a tool to amplify his powers.
As he returned to the table, attempting to exude an aura of cool confidence, he felt the weight of every gaze upon him. The whispers intensified—a cacophony of curiosity filled the air—how powerful was he? What did "Son of the Sun" truly mean?
The celebration began to disperse, and soon the hall was alive with movement as nobles departed. Zelis exited back through the grand doors with purpose, returning to the carriage to ride toward what had been his sanctuary—the annex.
He gazed out as the sun dipped down into the horizon, the sky ablaze with oranges and purples, reflecting the new dawn that awaited him. Change was on the horizon; his journey had just begun, and this was merely the prologue of a grand tale yet to unfold.
That day, the utterance of "Zelis Daminhom," now linked to the celestial power of the Sun, echoed around the kingdom, making him a name to be revered, envied, and feared by royals, nobles, and commoners alike.
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