Once Charlotte and Cynthia had their fill hugging Nico, they moved out of the way and allowed the rest of the people in the room to greet him.
The brown-haired boy smiled constantly as he bantered with Leon, teased the older elf, and warmly addressed Isaac.
Yet, beneath that geniality, lay a sense of curiosity and scrutiny.
Nico was interested in what elemental affinities his friends had awakened.
Based on the slight silvery sheen that coated the half-blood's hair, as well as the fiery sparkle in his eyes, he gleaned that Leon had received the powers he wished to wield.
Joy filled Nico's veins. His already broad smile turned even broader, gaining an infectious note to it.
The boy investigated the two elves next.
…A task considerably more difficult than he first anticipated.
Now that the green-haired duo had ascended, their handsome visages experienced a qualitative transformation. It was as if all impurities had been removed from their juvenile features, both akin to polished porcelain dolls.
Charm and dignity seemed to ooze from every bone in their body.
'Dangerous.'
Nico shook off his daze, barely escaping from being captivated by their allure.
Any girl their age who set her eyes on Isaac and Oliver's delicate features was bound to fall for them at first glance. They stood no chance against that deadly charm.
Of that, he was sure.
A gentle aura surrounded the elves. One that reminded Nico greatly of Mother Nature and its serenity.
Particularly, Oliver… the brown-haired boy noted that he possessed that air much more than his younger brother did.
As he shifted slightly, scrutinising Isaac, Nico realised the charming elf was glowing. Or at least he seemed to be. He guessed that Isaac's pale skin had gained a luminous sheen from ascending.
… Alternatively, that could also be hinting at Isaac's affinity for Light.
Nico's eyes sharpened.
If that was the case, then did his skin also glow?
Was it obvious that he had also awakened the power the Elven race was famous for?
Making sure that the spell was still working - even as he felt his headache become a little worse -, the boy shook off his paranoia. He had done his best to prevent the news of his talent from leaking out.
Only time would tell if his efforts were worth it, or if it was merely just in vain.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Nico's lips a moment later, though.
He was truly happy for the young elf.
With this, Isaac was one step closer to achieving his dreams.
…And in a sense, so was he.
Idly, Nico wondered if he had also received a boost to his looks.
Would he now be considered drop-dead gorgeous and have countless women swooning over him?
'Ha! Keep dreaming me…'
Most ascenders were known to have striking features, so it wouldn't be improbable if his features had also changed. Still, he guessed it was only a marginal transformation.
As he rose through the ranks, the difference would most likely become more prominent.
Nico's mind flashed back to the Saintess's words, conjuring a blissful daydream.
…A vision of him holding the hands of his loved one, even if her features seemed to blur. Yet, as soon as that desire appeared, he promptly placed a lid on it.
'Never going to happen. It's just wishful thinking.'
Nico would not let himself dream.
After all, he had much more important things occupying his mind.
***
When a brief lull took over the room, and Nico seemed to enter a daze appearing deep in thought, the rest of the people present took a moment to scrutinise him.
More accurately, they were trying to discern the nature of the strange air surrounding the boy.
It was a peculiar one.
At one moment it seemed that he had become a forlorn shell of himself. In the next, he would turn into an emotionless robot, incapable of feeling, and after that, the surrounding air seemed to crackle like the distant echo of a furious storm.
These sensations weren't very clear to Leon, Isaac or Oliver. The only thing they could discern was an air of chaos had encircled their friend.
The same couldn't be said for Cynthia and Beverly, however. One glance was all it took for them to decipher the fluctuations in the air.
Typically, when one first ascended, a person would experience a period of instability where the mana within them could not stay still. That very reason was also why it was common for someone to find their core leaking.
Thus, the current phenomenon was born.
The Descender Duo shared a silent glance, not daring to believe what their senses told them.
Especially Cynthia.
It was well known among those with knowledge of mana, that only those who had more than one elemental affinity displayed such a marked effect. There were clear indicators… such as the strength of the feeling and its duration.
Usually, the average person's core would have stopped leaking by now - Isaac, Oliver and Leon's were almost non-existent.
But Nico's core was still going strong, leaking mana in a steady rhythm.
Beverly focused on the sensations she was picking up and inadvertently quirked an eyebrow, surprise flooding her eyes. Cynthia sensed what she had a moment later, her jade-green eyes sparkling like the brightest gems.
Her son was a Heaven's Chosen!
A member of an elite group of people blessed with superhuman talent!
Fates…
Pure joy and elation bloomed in her gaze.
Her limbs twitched, urging her to sweep her boy into another hug. With this, she could worry a little less about her son's future.
It was a subconscious act that all mothers shared, including her.
After all, she only wanted the best for her children. Nothing less.
And while there would certainly be increased spotlight, scrutiny and danger, Cynthia would be there to help him through it.
That was her duty as Nico's mother…
…and she would be damned if she did not carry it out all the way.