"... The prestigious family of mages does not accept failures in any way possible. By that rule, you are hereby stripped of your status as a patriarch candidate and also stripped of your status as a member of this family. " The patriarch announced in a menacing manner. As soon as this was announced, smug looks could be seen on the faces of the other wives and the patriarch candidates.
The people in the hall all had satisfied smiles on their faces as if they had been waiting for this decision all along. Luminus was too stunned by the fact he had Miller's disease that he could not even react to what the patriarch was saying.
The patriarch then looked at Luminus in a pitiful way before muttering the words "... you are also banished from the land of the family since you are no longer a member of the family. Sitara had an expressionless face as she heard the news being announced.
All she could think about was "that was to be expected". She had suspected that there was a possibility that her son had been cursed. But even if Luminus had Miller's disease, stage 3 was a bit too much.
Miller's disease had been around for about the same time as mana has been. But only about one in a thousand people had the disease. And although there was no proper statistic, she knew that Having it at a stage that is above stage 2 is pretty rare.
Luminus regained his composure as the thought of his mother losing face came across his mind. His immediate priority was to preserve his mother's dignity as much as he can in this place where everything seems to have been planned.
He quickly walked over to his mother's side and bent over to talk to his mother about getting out of there. His mother agreed and they were seen walking out of the hall in each other's arms. Sitara was impressed at her son's quick reaction and his composure after hearing the devastating news.
Little did she know that in Luminus's mind, he was losing every bit of sanity. But he still managed to maintain his emotionless and expressionless face. He managed this mainly due to his experience with the ridicule he had been facing throughout his daily life at the vermillion household.
They went to his mother's quarters and after some time, she regained her composure. She talked to her son about how he should not hold a grudge against them and how he should never forget about his dream in times of crisis.
Luminus knew that she was just saying this just to prevent him from being depressed. But he just played a long and asked his mother where he was going to stay since he had been exiled from the family. His mother simply replied, "we will go and live at my parent's house in the southern continent".
"...what do you mean we?". Luminus questioned in a dazed tone. Sitara was a little surprised by the unexpected question. "I have to go with you my love," she said with teary eyes. "No mum, I was banished so I have to take responsibility for my incompetence. And I don't think my younger brother or sister can survive the 3-week-long journey on the cold and wild ocean". Sitara was a little surprised at the unexpected remark yet again.
She hadn't told anyone yet that she was pregnant. And yet her almost nine-year-old son knew about it already? She calmed down and stomped her palm on her face while sighing a sigh of relief. " How long have you known?" she asked with her eyes closed.
"...uhmm about 2 months now". Luminus said while looking away from his mother with a shy face. " I didn't want to pry into your business and was just waiting till you tell me by yourself". He said while still looking away. " I'm sorry, you had the right to know and I didn't tell you please forgive me". Sitara hugged her son while crying.
In the silent room where only the sobbing of a woman could be heard, and the figure of two people hugging could be seen, Luminus broke the sad atmosphere with a sudden question. "...Mum do you know that my birthday is coming up?". He was not the type of person to have a big birthday event in the house since nobody acknowledged him anyway.
Sitara stopped crying and asked, "...what would you like for your 9th birthday son?". "A promise", Luminus said without a hint of hesitation startling Sitara yet again. "A promise? what do you mean by that?". Sitara could not process why he would as for such a thing given the situation he was in.
" I want you to promise me that you will not think that it was your fault that I have the disease". He said while looking deadly serious. Sitara could not hold back her tears and hugged her son again while crying loudly. Hearing his mother cry, Luminus could not hold back tears from dripping down his face.
After a few minutes of crying and sobbing together, Sitara promised not to blame herself for her son's disease. " you should also promise to write back or at least send me a magic communication okay?". " I will mother," he said while wiping his face with the back of his right hand.
His birthday was in 2 days but he did not have any intention of celebrating it. He did not want to spend even a day at the Vermillion mansion but it's not like he could just leave the mansion without preparing either. Night fell and somewhere in the Vermillion mansion, a person could be seen looking at the moon through a glass window with his crimson eyes. It was the patriarch Carlos Vermillion. "what's the news?" He asked in the empty hall-like place where he seemed to be the only one present.
A certain person clad in the purest of black suddenly popped out of nowhere. "He seemed to be less depressed about it than anticipated," the figure said in a respectful tone. "What is he planning on doing?" the patriarch asked coldly. "He wants to go alone to the southern continent to the house of Oswald my lord" The person in black replied.
"...Alone?" The patriarch, who always seemed to anticipate every turn of events didn't expect the kid to make such a decision. "...Yes my lord, He figured out that lady Sitara is carrying a child and advised against her company". "I see," the patriarch said while still having a cold expression on his face. "Continue to keep an eye on him," as soon as he finished his sentence, the man in black disappeared from the spot.
"....Now show me what you are capable of my 6th child," the patriarch said while looking at the moon in the empty hall he was in.
A month has gone by and Luminus was ready to leave the mansion to go to his grandparent's house. He expected to go alone with only a few escorts but he didn't expect only two guards and a normal-looking carriage. "Really?" he questioned while standing right in front of the carriage. His mother giggled behind him and said " these are my most trusted guards so you're in safe hands".