Canute woke up before the first ray of dawn could light up the starless night sky.
Today was the day; he would once again step out of the sacred walls of Lorain into the harsh cruel world.
He changed up after a refreshing bath and headed towards the dining hall. There, his butler Stephan stood outside the hall waiting for him.
"Good morning, Lord Canute. Did you sleep well?"Stephan bowed deeply and opened the door.
"Yes, indeed I have. Thank you."Canute smiled brightly and entered. He jolted with surprise to see a table of feast in front of him.
" W what's all this early in the morning?"
His eyes twitched and turned to his butler.
To his shock, he saw the headstrong straight-A butler with teary eyes that looked like a baby crying out for milk.
"Ack! What's gotten in you?"
"Master!" Stephan who was now holding onto Canute's leg was wailing like a child. Canute tried to free his leg by shoving him away.
Not long after that, other servants of the mansion burst into the hall crying.
"Master!"One cried out.
"Lord Canute! We will pray for you ."The other said sobbing.
Canute who was clueless and cringed by this baffling situation finally freed himself and interrupted.
" You guys! What's with all this commotion early in the morning? Get a grip will you?"
"B-but y-you w-w-will is leave-ving us." his chef stammered.
"You won't be dying on us? right?" a teary-eyed maid asked.
" You guys want me to die early huh? He gritted annoyingly.
"sigh*I'm only going on an important mission."
Canute explained putting his hand on the head.
"I'll be back before you know."
He beamed soothing out their worries.
The sun had risen up. It was late morning when he left the estate which he was escorted by many servants. Half of his life energy would have been drained if he stayed there any longer.
He first headed to the sacred temple of Lorain. By noon he reached there. The light breeze blew through his waist-length navy blue hair.
In front of him was a majestic and enormous building, almost as great as the
Royal Palace itself.
His turquoise-blue eyes gleamed as he flew over the seemingly endless flight of steps by using air magic circle.
He landed in front of the huge temple gates. The temple guards saluted him and opened the gates allowing the young archmage to enter.
Inside the temple, servants greeted him and one of the elder servants guided him to the innermost hall.
After they reached there the servant bowed then left him in front of the wall-sized doors.
Canute opened the doors and entered the grand hall. Though he has been to the temple numerous times, this was his first time seeing such a grand place in the temple.
It was filled with holy light. A huge conference table lay in the middle of the hall with many chairs neatly set. There was a huge aqua blue crystal floating amidst the table emitting white light which Canute thought was possibly the Holy spiritual energy.
"Ahhh! Who do we have here?" a familiar voice interrupted him.
Canute turned around startled. Behind him, a gorgeous looking woman with white ankle-length straight hair approached him.
A man who was in mid-thirties dressed up in the Cardinal's robes stood there.
"Canute! " The woman exclaimed with glee
"It's been a while. Where have you been?"
This stunning beauty had irises that we're jade green around the pupil to sky blue color with white pupils which glowed in the light.
Canute smiled awkwardly "Saintess Clara, please contain yourself."
"Oh!my apologies. Cardinal Henson, could you please give us a moment?" Clara turned to him.
"Very well. I shall excuse myself then. Have a good day your holiness."
With a dull expression, he bowed and left the hall.
The saintess nodded then sighed heavily.
"Is something bothering you?" Canute asked concerned.
"The only thing that I'm worried about is....."
Clara stared daggers at him. He flinched sweating from head to toe.
"WHEN WILL YOU CALL ME MOTHER?Don't YOU KNOW....."
"There she goes with her nagging."
In his imagination, he grew smaller and smaller with guilt.
"I guess I'll die before I set off."
"Are you listening!!?" Clara finally stopped breathing heavily.
"YES!" he said out loud like an obedient dog.
Clara raised a brow and stared at him.
She straightened up and folded her arms.
"So, what did you come here for?"
"I came here to inform you about something." Canute paused.
"Go on. Why'd you stop?"
Canute took out the old letter he found in his study.
He held out to her.
"What's this?"
"You'll understand once you read it?"
Clara took the letter and read it. Her eyes widened and there was silence in the hall.
"It's written in the Holy language."
She looked up at him. Canute nodded.
"Where did you find this?"
"It was there in master's study."
She rubbed her chin lost in thought.
"He did this on purpose," she mumbled.
"So what do you think?" Canute helped himself on a chair.
"You're leaving?"
"I'm already prepared for this," Canute replied avoiding her gaze.
" SIGH*Okay.I understand. I'll see you off."
"Clara are you fine with the-eek!"
"MOTHER!" She gave him a death stare.
"What the-?she isn't even my biological mother." Canute thought trembling as if his soul no longer stayed in his body.