CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX – HANEZZA'S LEGACY
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This vast world highly values magic, which consists of six basic elements: FIRE, WATER, WIND, EARTH, FROST, and LIGHTNING.
Based on his understanding, Royals and Aristocrats had higher chances to manifest an affinity the moment they presented themselves during their coming-of-age ceremony.
A few commoners would be lucky to manifest an affinity, but most of them would only have one affinity. Two affinities are rare for them to have.
Royals and Aristocrats mostly manifested up to two or three affinities. The Mystique Tower would consider them geniuses and recommend them to serve as a mage apprentice to one of the Elders who reign within the Tower. Manifesting four affinities is considered rare cases for them since, from what he recalled from the original owner's memories, one Elder from that tower manifests four affinities.
From what he understands within the limited information that the original Laurence had, the Mystique Tower is the largest and most influential organization of mages and sorcerers. It's located at the center of the five empires of Arkmandalle Continent.
The Mystique Tower doesn't affiliate with any of the five empires and maintains its own set of rules and beliefs.
'Why does he only have a limited knowledge of his own f*cking world?! Do I need to investigate this on my own?! Argh! I swear if I caught a glimpse of that f*cker, I will shred his soul into pieces if I have the power! I'm having a f*cking blood pressure because of him!'
As he settle down his thoughts, he suddenly remembered the original Laurence's mother.
"Your mother's affinity…. You know what term they called it, right?" He snapped as he looked at the Crown Prince and nodded timidly.
SOVEREIGN AFFINITY…
From the words alone, the original Laurence's mother manifested all six elements, and that is the reason why she is hailed as a genius in her generation, because this is the rarest case for a commoner to have all elements within them.
When it reveals, it causes quite a stir within the public. Especially when the Higher Councils of Mystique Tower heard this matter. They immediately wanted to take custody of her.
But the Truman Empire's King Hendrix beat them to it and the original Laurence's mother refuses the Mystique Tower's aggressive offer to her and she chooses to become one of King Hendrix's concubines.
He frowns as he thinks about it.
The former assassin didn't have any information if there were others who had the similar affinity to the original Laurence's mother. That's why she's regarded as a genius in her generation, as they didn't have someone to compare with her.
"I know what you are thinking right now, Jules. You were thinking why your mother choose to become a lowly concubine for the King instead of being part of the Mystique Tower where she would truly belong. Am I right?"
He snapped from his thoughts as he immediately looked up to meet the Crown Prince with wide eyes in shock and the Crown Prince only smiled back at him.
He took a deep breath as he continued; "I asked her before, but no matter how many times I tried, she never answers and could only smile back at me with a solemn look."
«... ["Even in the previous life, I tried so hard to investigate about Lady Hanezza's origin but there's no trace of records about her. As if she didn't exist within the records and the only records about her is being one of the King's concubine."] ….. »
Even he, the former assassin, couldn't find any information about the original Laurence's mother and other than her having a sovereign affinity and a commoner at that point.
Which he finds it suspicious….
He is an assassin in his previous life and not only he mastered the art of killing; he is also perceptive whenever he had missions and would likely to gain additional information other than the information that he got from his personal broker.
'That is because…. You need to investigate things on yourself before you first take an action. That's what I learned from my past mistakes.'
Before his thoughts went further, the Crown Prince cleared his throat to catch his attention once more.
"Jules, promise me that no matter what happens, just be yourself. No need for you to prove yourself. That's also what your mother wished for you."
«... ["I know that from now on, there would be a time that I couldn't protect you and even though I wanted you to stay just the way you are right now but since the seal has broken, now's the time for me to hand over ˂that thing˃. With that, I can be at ease and I can lift off some of my regrets in my previous life…"] …. »
He looked at his brother innocently as the Crown Prince said those words but, in his thoughts, he frowns at the mention of ˂that thing˃ within his inner thoughts…
'What is ˂that thing˃ he's talking about?'
A minute of silence had come by and both brothers didn't speak for a while and after that, the Crown Prince was the one who breaks the silence.
"Okay! So, what I am going to tell right now is that, from now on, you will train your affinities in secret and how to hide them. Don't let anyone within the empire to know that you have now awakened your affinities."
Laurence feels like a bucket of ice had poured within his being because of what the Crown Prince told him.
"W-what….?"
'Did I hear right or am I just tired that I hear something that is quite impossible… Affinities? What is he talking about?'
He waited for the Crown Prince to explain things to him further because in the original Laurence's memories, he never manifested an affinity! Not even once until he reached his adulthood, he is just a wastrel!
"Jules, you're not a magical wastrel from the beginning. You have manifested your affinities the moment you are born. Your mother, the late Lady Hanezza, put a seal on you so that no one would know that you have the same affinity as your mother."
Laurence frowns; "Y-you mean…"
The Crown Prince sigh; "Yes, Jules. Similar to your mother, you also manifested that so-called sovereign affinity and not just that, you got an additional of the other two ancient affinities; VOID and LUMIERE."
Manifesting six elements is quite a shock, but having the additional two ancient affinities is a bit too much to handle! Just what the f*ck?!
'F*cking bastard of a Prince! Just what kind of f*ck up mess is this?!'
Isn't this just asking for me to die once again?!
˂… Void and Lumiere …. ˃
There's no need to think further about the meaning of these two words because it's a common sense what it means for those people who can catch up quickly without explaining things further…
Aside from the six basic elements that most commonly manifested within those people who are blessed, Void and Lumiere affinities are the two ancient affinities that are also known as the Lost Affinities.
The word "Lost" means that only a few handfuls of people who are blessed to manifest in neither one of these two affinities and it would take thousands or millennium years if one person can manifest one of them.
However, manifesting these both affinities is unheard for because having these two opposing affinities in one person's body is just asking for death themselves if they can't handle it properly!
"B-b-but…. brother Gene! I-if I have this kind of affinity, t-t-then…. won't my life be in danger instead?!"