The entire room has become a swirling vortex of intense magic, the air thick with energy that presses down on everyone who dares to remain near it. The force is now beyond what the room's structure can withstand, and cracks begin to form on the chamber walls.
Noticing this,
Selene says,
"The power emanating from the manifestation of Caeltheris and the ancient runes around the child is far too great for any ordinary barrier to contain. It's only a matter of time before the room—and perhaps the entire section of the palace—crumbles under the pressure."
Everyone's faces tense up.
They retreat to the corridor, all sharing the same fear that the room will collapse soon. Their faces are pale with terror as they witness a type of manifestation they've never encountered before. They watch the crumbling walls in anticipation and dread, the only sounds in the tense silence being the cracking stone and bending metal within the room.
"The walls can't hold much longer," they all think.
Lady Ersia, with a resolute and firm expression, turns to Richard. "Alert the entire palace," she commands. "And tell the Caelus Knights to prepare for action. We may need to secure the entire estate if anything unexpected happens."
Richard, his face drawn with concern, wastes no time. He quickly moves down the corridor, shouting orders to the guards and knights nearby.
Soon, all the stationed knights and guards begin to ready themselves for the impending disaster.
Lady Ersia then turns her gaze to Aulos and Selene and says, "You both need to start the Invisible Cloud Formation to make this area invisible."
She continues, "I have a feeling this manifestation will only grow larger as time goes on, and I don't want the general public to see this and panic."
Aulos and Selene nod, fully understanding the situation. They know they need to hide this not just from the general public, but also from other families and powers. They hastily leave the corridor, heading to the palace's formation room.
Lady Ersia gazes at the pristine white cocoon, now inscribed with golden ancient runes and surrounded by swirling threads of high magic energy. She softly mutters, "Child, you're not even born yet, and you're already causing me this much trouble. I wonder what you'll do when you grow up."
Suddenly, the void around the cocoon shatters. The wave released from the shattering void creates a deafening sound, spreading in all directions as the entire room collapses.
Ersia reacts quickly, forming a magic shield just before the shockwave reaches the corridor. The shield protects her, Lady Petronia, and the child she holds in her arms. It glows brightly, absorbing much of the shockwave's force, but the destructive energy is too strong, and the shield soon breaks, sending them all staggering back.
Lady Ersia winces in pain as she absorbs most of the shockwave's impact. Searing pain courses through her body, and a cough of blood escapes her lips. She wipes it away and looks behind her.
Petronia clutches the child, her eyes wide with pain, but she sighs in relief when she sees that the infant is safe and unharmed. The child remains calm and composed under the protective layer of magic.
The two women in royal dress are in far worse condition, struggling from the shockwave's effects.
"This is no longer just magic energy... it's raw Aether," one of them manages to say, her face pale.
Her companion, equally pale, nods weakly. "I've never encountered this level of Aether concentration. If we can't contain it, it could lead to Aether Radiation."
Lady Ersia and the others continue to wince in pain as the raw Aether tears through their bodies, ravaging their internal organs.
Lady Ersia assesses the situation.
Raw Aether is a primordial, inert energy that, when reacting with atmospheric gases and particles, it releases magic particles called Mana. While humans could absorb and use Mana, they couldn't absorb or use Aether. Instead, Aether at high concentrations became lethal, causing Aether Radiation, which could ravage the body and soul alike.
She knows that if the concentration of Aether continues to rise, none of them will survive—except her. And worse, the entire palace, perhaps even the entire Caelus Estate, will be reduced to ruins.
Forcing herself to stand tall despite the pain, Lady Ersia turns to the others. "We must act quickly. If we can't stabilize the Aether, this will become a catastrophe beyond our control."
As if in response to their concerns, the manifestation of Caeltheris pulses with renewed energy. The bird's form begins to glow brighter, casting an intense light around it.
The raw Aether that had been wreaking havoc on the surroundings starts to swirl around the divine creature.
Slowly, the Aether is absorbed into the manifestation. The air grows calmer as Caeltheris processes the Aether, converting it into a more stable form of magic energy.
Then, with a resonating hum, the divine bird sends some of that processed energy back toward Galleria's child. The surrounding air shimmers with vibrant colors as the child begins to absorb the magic energy.
Lady Ersia, seeing this, feels a wave of relief. Ignoring the pain wrecking her body, she forces herself to circulate the surrounding Aether.
Her body trembles as she directs the dangerous raw Aether toward herself, absorbing it and sealing it within her own body.
The strain is immense, her organs protesting under the pressure of raw Aether.
With Caeltheris's intervention, the concentration of Aether in the area begins to decrease significantly. Though small amounts of Aether still leak from the cracks in the void, it isn't a complete solution.
But for now, an equilibrium has been reached, and the immediate threat is contained.
Time crawls by as they maintain this fragile balance, each moment stretching into an eternity. Then, the sound of footsteps echoes, breaking the tense silence.
Abbina, the Head Knight of the Caelus Army, arrives with six others in tow—a woman, four boys under the age of five, and a girl no older than three.
Their arrival breathes new life into Lady Ersia's eyes, though for others, it causes their faces to tense up.
As soon as they enter the area, the manifestation of Caeltheris pulses once more. The divine bird, still hovering protectively over the cocoon, releases five streams of energy that spear through the air.
The glowing beams find their way to the five children, enveloping them in a radiant aura.
The children's eyes widen in awe as the energy wraps around them like veils of light. Moments ago, their faces were filled with terror, but now, they feel a strange sense of calm amidst the chaotic surrounding.
Standing still, they begin to absorb the pure, glowing streams of magic energy surrounding them. They understand the significance of this moment, as it can increase their future potential. The energy is so potent that it not only deepens their understanding and perception of magic but also nourishes their physical conditions.
Seeing this, Lady Ersia sighs in relief, though the others' faces crack with fear as they believe children lives are in danger.
Lady Petronia turns to Lady Ersia, her voice trembling. "Mother... Mother, the magic energy will harm them."
Lady Ersia glances at the children, then back at Petronia, her tone steady. "Don't worry. This energy is being bestowed upon them by Caeltheris's manifestation. Nothing will happen to them."
Petronia's face relaxes slightly, but concern lingers in her eyes. "But they haven't even formed a magic core inside their bodies. How could they absorb this energy? At most, it might improve their physical condition, but if this continues, the energy could harm their internal organs, possibly crippling them."
Lady Ersia responds calmly, "This energy is different from normal magic. It's not just energy; it's a blessing, Caeltheris's blessing. Instead of overwhelming their bodies, it's nourishing them. It's enhancing their understanding and perception of magic, improving their physical constitution. Their potential in the future will be far greater than we initially imagined."
Despite the pain gnawing at her body, Lady Ersia continues to watch the scene, a sense of relief washing over her.
She thought to herself, "Whatever is happening, it is improving the constitution of the children—the future of the Caelus Family. Now, they will be much stronger because of Caeltheris's blessing."
Petronia gazes at Caeltheris's massive figure and mutters, "With the blessing of Caeltheris, we have overcome a major disaster."
"Indeed, Lady Petronia," says the woman who came with Abbina and the children, "after this incident, our family will be much stronger than before."
She is Reilie, the head maid of Caelus Palace. Standing tall and elegant in her black dress. Her dark, expressive eyes hold a deep, genuine interest for the betterment of the Caelus family. Her vibrant red hair, pulled back in a tight bun, accentuates her sharp features, exuding an air of competence.
Lady Ersia nods in agreement. "Yes, this blessing will definitely enhance the power of the Caelus family."
She turns to Reilie and continues, "The blessing is immense, and it will soon expand beyond this area, becoming harder to contain. Inform everyone to evacuate the palace immediately and gather all children under the age of fifteen who have yet to form a magic core. All members connected to the Caelus family must benefit from this blessing. Ensure that they are told only what they need to know—nothing more."
Reilie steps forward, she nods to Lady Ersia, "I will convey your orders to everyone in the palace, My Lady, and make certain that no unnecessary information is disclosed."
Abbina offers her assistance in helping her in the evacuation and gathering the children, an offer Reilie gladly accepts. Organizing such a massive effort in a short time is a massive task, considering the vast number of people involved.
Their gaze lingers on the children, still bathed in the radiant energy streams, before departing the area.
Lady Ersia's voice cut through the silence. "We must prepare for what lies ahead. The world will soon realize that something has changed here. We need to be ready."