Once Mr. Lou was escorted out of the manor by Nox, the three Bellator brothers settled into Exeo's study.
The room, a blend of sophistication and warmth, featured rows of leather-bound books, dark wooden furniture, and the faint scent of parchment and pine.
At the far end was a cozy seating area, where the brothers took their places. Valens, still reeling from the events, sank into the plush sofa. Exeo and Ember sat across from him, watching him closely. The silence between them stretched, underscored by the soft ticking of the antique clock on the wall.
Exeo's voice finally broke the stillness. "How are you feeling?"
Valens hesitated, looking up to see the familiar but serious faces of his older brothers. Exeo's expression was as steady as stone, his arms and legs crossed, while Ember's gaze was softer, concerned.
Feeling the weight of their expectations, Valens dropped his gaze to his hands, his fingers trembling slightly as he stared at his palms. "I…I don't know," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Both Exeo and Ember raised their eyebrows, exchanging a quick, surprised glance. They hadn't anticipated their youngest brother to react with such uncertainty.
Valens let out a faint, slightly nervous laugh. "I mean, I felt happy when I saw that the globe was gold, but I didn't expect it to change colors. Then, it turned black?" His voice grew louder, echoing his shock, and his brothers flinched ever so slightly.
Exeo leaned forward, his face partially shadowed by the dim lighting. "Do you know what the color purple signifies?"
Valens shook his head, confusion etched across his face. Sensing his unease, Ember decided to take the lead. He uncrossed his legs, leaned back comfortably, and extended his hand, his usual casual demeanor intact. "Val, watch."
With a graceful flick of his wrist, Ember conjured a flame—a rich, hypnotic purple fire that swirled and danced in his palm, casting a faint lavender glow across his face.
Valens's eyes widened, his breath caught as he stared, mesmerized by the flame's beauty and intensity.
Ember's calm, reassuring smile did little to diminish the power emanating from the flickering light. "There's no need to be afraid of this power," he said softly.
Valens tore his gaze from the flame to look up at his brother. In Ember's gentle but unwavering eyes, he saw the reassurance he needed. He glanced over to Exeo, who simply nodded, his silent approval carrying a weight all its own. With a gentle "swoosh," Ember closed his hand, extinguishing the flame in an instant.
"So… I have the same ability as you?" Valens whispered, his voice a mixture of awe and disbelief. He looked down at his own hands, bringing them up to eye level, curiosity flickering within him.
He inhaled deeply, focusing all his attention on summoning that same power, imagining the fire Ember had shown him. Slowly, a faint, dark light began to form, swirling gently in his palm before blossoming into a small, glowing orb of purple fire.
As he concentrated, the flame began to grow larger, brighter—until panic set in. Exeo's calm, authoritative voice grounded him. "Breathe, Val. Control your focus. Release it like you would release your mana. The same process, just in reverse."
Following Exeo's instructions, Valens shut his eyes and envisioned the flow of mana, like water pouring from a faucet. Just as he would turn off a tap, he imagined closing off the energy.
Gradually, he felt the purple fire dissipate, a gentle warmth fading from his palm until there was nothing left.
Ember chuckled softly, ruffling his hair as he leaned back. "This is just the Bellator trademark ability," he said, his tone light but proud. Exeo nodded in agreement, casting an appraising look at Valens. "But given the colors we saw… do you think you might have another ability?"
Valens blinked, taken aback. "Another… ability?" he repeated, his voice barely a whisper. He scanned their faces, searching for confirmation, but all he received was a knowing silence.
He glanced back down at his hands, realization dawning upon him. If purple signified the Bellator power, then what did the black mean?
With a hesitant breath, he settled back, closed his eyes, and focused inward, searching for the elusive answer.
This time, he let his awareness drift deeper, reaching for any sensation beyond the familiar warmth of the purple fire. Beneath the surface, he could sense it—a shadowy sphere, cold and foreign, lurking in the depths of his consciousness.
In his mind's eye, Valens found himself standing within a vast, echoing darkness. Tiny wisps of black energy floated around him, like dust motes in dim light, and in the center, hovering ominously, was a black sphere. The faint, almost predatory aura it exuded sent a chill down his spine, yet he couldn't resist the urge to draw closer.
'So, this is the reason why it went black…' he thought, his gaze locked onto the mysterious sphere.
Gathering his courage, Valens attempted to direct the purple fire toward it, hoping to glean some insight. But as the fire inched closer, the black sphere shuddered, sending tremors through his entire consciousness.
Before he knew it, the sphere began to pull the purple fire inward, absorbing it with a fierce, insatiable hunger. Realizing the danger, Valens scrambled to pull the purple fire away, but the sphere's grip tightened, forcing him to sever the connection.
His eyes flew open as pain crashed through him, blood dripping from his lips and leaking from the corners of his eyes.
Ember and Exeo were beside him in an instant. Ember quickly took out a handkerchief, gently dabbing away the blood on Valens's face. "Easy, Val. Breathe," he murmured, concern lacing his words as he brushed a stray hair from his younger brother's face.
Still gasping, Valens clutched his chest, feeling a residual tightness as though he'd come face-to-face with something monstrous. His vision blurred, and despite his best efforts to stay conscious, the world around him began to fade, slipping into the darkness.
Minutes later, a knock at the door signaled the arrival of Dr. Lewis, the Bellator family's trusted physician. Entering the room, he took one look at the pale, unconscious boy on the sofa and immediately began his examination.
Dr. Lewis was well-versed in the Bellator abilities and had tended to the family through countless injuries and mishaps. His skilled hands moved quickly, his face calm but alert as he checked Valens's pulse and breathing.
"Is he… alright?" Exeo's voice held a rare note of worry, his gaze fixed on Valens's slack form.
After a series of checks, Dr. Lewis straightened, his gaze turning to the two brothers. "He'll need plenty of rest," he said, his tone reassuring. "The cause of the bleeding was likely a backlash—his body is still young and wasn't ready for such a strain."
Ember looked down at Valens, an unreadable expression on his face. "Do you think it's possible… that he has another ability?" he asked quietly, sharing a look with Exeo.
Dr. Lewis's eyes widened slightly, his expression shifting from clinical detachment to disbelief. "Two abilities?" he echoed, barely managing to hide his astonishment.
The rarity of such a case was not lost on him. Centuries had passed since a Clareo had wielded two abilities, and that legend was half-shrouded in myth.
And now, he was being asked to consider the possibility within the Bellator line. The thought left him both excited and daunted.
Ember's voice cut through his thoughts. "We aren't certain. It's only a theory right now," he admitted, though his tone was firm.
Dr. Lewis sighed, casting another wary glance at Valens. "I'll keep this confidential, of course," he murmured, shifting uncomfortably as if burdened by the weight of this revelation. "But I must stress—he's too young to handle both abilities right now. Give him time, let him rest, and don't push him too hard, or the consequences could be severe."
The two brothers nodded solemnly, watching as Nox guided the doctor out of the study. The door clicked shut, leaving them in a hushed, contemplative silence.
Ember leaned back, exhaling slowly. "Do you think… that second ability came from him?" He didn't have to name the Bellator ancestor they both knew of, but the implication hung heavy in the air.
Exeo rubbed his temple, lost in thought. "It's possible," he murmured. "With those results, I'd say… it's very possible."
Ember looked back at Valens, his face a mixture of pride and worry. "Then it's settled," he said quietly. "Once he's ready, he'll join us in the team we've planned."
Exeo's gaze softened as he watched his youngest brother, his expression uncharacteristically gentle. He nodded, then rose and carefully lifted Valens, cradling him with surprising tenderness. The boy didn't stir, his face pale but peaceful as Exeo carried him down the quiet hallways to his room.
Who could have known that after this day, the three Bellator brothers would be bound by a fate that would change their lives—and perhaps, the world—forever?