Yasenia welcomed everyone at a large outdoor table. There were floating lights around and other celebration decorations, with Estrella seated on Tatyana's lap in the main seat. Around Estrella and Tatyana, each mother had her own child on her lap, and so as not to leave Kaleina out of it, Yasenia forced her to sit on her own lap, making the 17-year-old feel shy but happy.
All the leaders caught this action, and even though they already knew it, it reinforced Yasenia's love for her eldest daughter. Now, no one doubted that Yasenia might ignore Kaleina with the new children.
Kaleina didn't know that Yasenia's mind was going through a few political tricks, but she wouldn't mind either way. She was happy being in her Mama Dragon's lap.
Yasenia lifted her cup of aged blossom plum wine she brewed and spoke aloud. "Thank you to everyone who attended Estrella's first-year-old party. I guess you all will eventually get bored because there are a few more children who will soon become one year old. So, this is sincerely from the bottom of my heart. If you can't come to the rest, don't worry. I've received your good graces today."
Coraline snorted playfully. "Who would dare not to come to your children's first birthday party? Sorry, but we don't want our powers to disappear overnight."
Some people honestly laughed, while others laughed awkwardly. The dragoness pouted playfully. "I am serious."
The sudden gesture made the hearts of many feel like an arrow struck in the middle. 'T-That face is really not fair!'
Yasenia then laughed, making it feel as if flowers were blooming around her. "But, I would appreciate it if you came at least to their first birthday. After all, it is quite a special one," Yasenia explained. "Back in my continent, we have a ritual that reveals the attribute affinities and constitution of the children when they become one year old. It is an ancient ritual that has been passed down for countless years. Even before the Heavenly Cataclysm that happened one million years ago."
Many didn't know what the Heavenly Cataclysm was, but they knew what one million years were. Just that absurd length of years was enough to make everyone feel respect for the ritual.
The dragoness commented. "Usually, this kind of ritual is for close family. After all, some constitutions are taboo, while others are really sought after by evil people. Still, I don't mind showing it here. Not because I trust all of you, but because I have 100% certainty that I can eliminate you wherever you flee if you dared to use that information to hurt my daughter."
Everyone around gulped at Yasenia's relaxed words. There was not a shred of killing intent behind them, which made it even more terrifying. After all, it was not said as a threat but as an absolute certainty.
Yasenia smiled. "I know some of you don't want to carry such information, as you feel it is burdensome, so I won't force anyone to come and spectate."
Then, Yasenia sat and heard Tengliu's voice calling her from the side. She was in a floating chair, moving around as she pleased. She came to Yasenia's side and asked. "So? What did you make? Your food is super delicious~."
Yasenia smiled softly and used her tail to push Tengliu closer. "Well, I've made a lot of different dishes. I even bothered making your favorite dish~."
Tengliu looked at Yasenia and raised her eyebrow. "Is this an attempt at apologizing?"
The dragoness laughed. "You wish~. I am feeling generous today~."
Tengliu laughed as well. While her strength was horribly crippled and still healing, she had enough strength to do normal activities without a problem. "Then, I will not hold back~."
Yasenia nodded. "As you should. Enjoy your [Mystic Tide Whale Rolls] with [Elder Sea Essence Sauce]."
Tengliu blinked a few times. "You even cooked the sauce!?"
The dragoness nodded. "Without the sauce, the rolls are not as good~."
Tengliu grinned. "Tsk, tsk. Apology accepted, you stupid and adorable little girl!"
Yasenia rolled her eyes, but she just smiled and didn't refute. The dinner was mostly uneventful. People took chances to ask Yasenia questions about the World's development in her mind.
Yasenia commented. "Well, nothing special. The alliance is more of a way to keep everyone united and reduce clashes between us. Will it work as intended? We'll see. The territories liberated by the wars will be neutral territories until the next World Summit. Once the next World Summit approaches, we will slowly assign everything depending on might."
The dragoness hummed. "I just want to be left alone and do it fairly when competing for things. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less."
Everyone looked at the elegantly and calmly eating dragoness with no words. 'She basically overturned an entire World to be left alone.'
The dragoness noticed Kaleina, Estrella, and her other daughters finished eating and clapped once. "Okay, let's move on."
Kaleina stood up from Yasenia's lap, and the dragoness stood up after her. She kissed her forehead once and grabbed her hand. Then, she looked to the left and extended her hand toward Flame as well.
Flame and Kaleina grabbed Yasenia's hands, and everyone followed behind.
When they arrived, they were surprised at the size of the formation. There was a massive pillar with a roulette that had a symbol for each main element engraved in it. The complex formation left everyone speechless.
Tatyana moved forward and smiled at Estrella, crouching in front of her. "Come, baby."
Estrella walked forward, a bit curious about all this place. Tatyana explained like she once did to Yasenia. "Do you see that place in the middle? The one with the big orb?"
Estrella nodded and looked at Tatyana with her large and pretty heterochromatic eyes. The light blue and golden colors in her slit eyes made Tatyana's heart somewhat tremble. 'It was only around 40 years ago that Yasenia went through this… 40 years, and this little darling has come to life…'
Tatyana couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Sometimes, it was to the point that she thought that this was an illusion from someone, after all, who knew. But Tatyana knew that it wasn't because of one thing.
An arm that was so weak for her own strength yet somehow filled her with incredible strength circled her waist. Looking to the side, she saw Yasenia crouched like her, placing Estrella between them. 'Their eyes are really similar.'
That thought flashed in Tatyana's mind and made her smile. She said. "Estrella, you need to walk forward and use a drop of blood to start the ritual. Then, just wait, Mama and Mommy are watching, okay?"
Estrella nodded and looked at her finger with a bit of hesitation. Yasenia smirked. "Mommy did it without a single frown or flinch~. How about you, baby?
Any hesitation disappeared, and she humphed. "Easy! I will do it too!"
Yasenia and Tatyana kissed Estrella's cheek and then returned to the rest. Estrella walked forward with determined steps. Her serious little face looked cute and adorable.
When Estrella reached the front of the imposing roulette of elements, she used her sharp fangs and bit the tip of her thumb. Pain shot to her brain, but remembering Yasenia's words, she clenched her teeth and didn't make a single sound.
Yasenia's lips arched as Tatyana laughed. "Such a brave little darling."
Then, the formation activated.
The drop of blood that appeared on Estrella's thumb floated upward, and a ray of healing energy covered Estrella's finger, closing the wound and cleaning it right away.
The drop of blood rose and was absorbed in the middle of the roulette. Then, the roulette of elements started spinning.
However, Tatyana's, Mirrory's, and Valeria's faces quickly became confused. Tatyana asked aloud to those two. "Why is it spinning the wrong way?"
Valeria's frown unlocked as disbelief appeared on her face. "Wait. Isn't this…"
Mirrory appeared and looked over. Then, her gaze went down to Estrella. She shook her head and sighed. "Well. This will become quite a hurdle, but if she manages to overcome it, she will soar to the sky."
Tatyana snorted. "Why the ambiguous wording? Tell me straight, Mirrory."
Mirrory shook her head. "I can't." Then, she disappeared into Angel again.
Valeria looked at Tatyana and shook her head.
Tatyana looked at Estrella and pondered for a second. 'Do I shut this down?'
Valeria's voice reached her mind. 'Everybody will know even if you stop them from looking. It's better to use this situation to support Estrella instead.'
Tatyana's clever mind weighed several options and nodded. 'That's for the best.'
Yasenia whispered. "What's wrong?"
Tatyana whispered back. "I don't know, but don't let anybody bully our daughter."
Yasenia's pupils thinned, and she growled lowly. "Over my dead body."
The roulette finally stopped, but nothing happened.
Everyone was confused, but the roulette sent light skyward, a sudden pillar that burst into particles and gathered into words.
Element: Attributeless.
Constitution: [Supreme Martial Abyssal Body]. Beyond the Sky and Below the Earth, none shall stop her strike.
The girls and maids were so shaken that they couldn't even exclaim. Disbelief was written all over their faces. In the Sky Continent, an attributeless child was no better than a mortal, a cripple, basically.
Attributeless meant that the inherited attributes from the parents clashed and didn't find a balance, leaving the child without any affinity for any attribute.
In short, a child abandoned by the Heavens as no gift was given to her.
While the Constitution sounded incredibly powerful, if one couldn't cultivate it, it just didn't matter. Like a shattered vessel that couldn't be used to contain water, it was just pretty from the outside but useless.
The people from Distancia had also been learning a few things, and some understood what this meant. One of them blurted, confused. "Attributeless? That means a cripple, no?"
However, as soon as he spoke, he realized his mistake, but it was too late. The gazes of the Death Empress and Empyrean Dragon descended on him with enough pressure that his knees bent, and he slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
Yasenia growled, her voice making everyone present feel chills up their spines. "Even if she were a mortal, I would love her more than this entire World. I've just settled down; don't give me a reason to go to war again. Now, kill yourself for insulting my daughter, or your entire clan shall disappear from Distancia."
The man was so terrified that he almost couldn't react. However, everyone present knew that Yasenia was far from reasonable when her reverse scale was touched, and Yasenia's family was the reverse scale of her reverse scale, so to speak. Touch it, and the consequences could be unimaginable.
Knowing that and fearing for his family, the man closed his eyes. "Forgive this foolishness! I was stupid and blurted out my first thoughts. I'll pay with my life for such a mistake, so please leave my clan in peace."
Then, he took out a sword and decapitated himself.
Yasenia didn't even look and ignored him completely. Unreasonable? She cared not. No one could bully her daughter.
The ritual drained a lot of energy, so Estrella closed her eyes when the light disappeared, and she fainted. Tatyana and Yasenia moved simultaneously, reaching her at the same time, and caught her in their arms.
They looked down, and instead of grief or any other negative emotions, there was only love in their eyes.
Yasenia spoke with a smile. "You'll find your own path, Estrella. I'll make sure of it."
Tatyana followed with another smile. "Don't worry; even if I need to flip over the entire heavens, I will ensure you can reach any heights you want and beyond."
Then, both of them leaned down to kiss Estrella's temples and spoke simultaneously.
"I love you."