2 months after the child's birth
Caelus Palace
In the large living room
A figure sits on a soft velvet sofa, her posture composed as her fingers drum against the armrest in a soft rhythm. In front of her, a large display screen flickers on, showing the latest news headlines.
[Announcer 1: We will show you live what General Secretary Avernus Alclonas is going to say regarding the emergency meeting held two months ago.]
[Announcer 2: It's starting! General Secretary Avernus Alclonas is approaching the podium. As you all can see, the live conference will begin shortly.]
Selene leans forward, narrowing her eyes at the screen. Her mind drifts back to the day of the meeting. What could have been so urgent that every SSS-ranked individual was summoned? The memory of that day comes flooding back--the birth of Blessed child, death of child, appearance of Caeltheris Manifestation, and the sudden gathering of so many influential figures.
At that moment, the door to the living room creaks open.
"Selene, what are you doing here?" Petronica asks as she enters the room, her voice softer than usual.
"They're about to release information about the emergency meeting," Selene replies, her gaze fixed on the screen. "I want to hear it since Mother didn't tell me anything about it."
Petronica nods, though her brow furrows. She moves toward the sofa, settling next to her sister-in-law. "I want to hear it, too. Everyone's been talking about it something major must happened."
[Announcer 1: General Secretary Avernus Alclonas is starting.]
The screen flickers, revealing Avernus standing at the podium. His commanding presence fills the room, and the tension is palpable even through the broadcast.
[Avernus: Silence, silence.]
[Avernus: I know many of you have questions regarding the recent government meeting. I am here to provide details. First, I will present the key information. Then, you reporters may ask your questions.]
A man in a black suit approaches Avernus, handing him a file before stepping back. As Avernus opens it, the camera zooms in on his face. He remains composed, his usual air of authority undeniable. Everyone is on edge, waiting for the details of the secret meeting to be revealed.
[Avernus: Here are the four points discussed in the meeting.]
[Avernus: The first point, the Government has decided to lift the ban on entering the Gate. Guilds and individuals will be allowed entry starting next month.]
The room erupts with chatter as reporters buzz with excitement.
[Avernus: Silence!]
He waits for the room to settle before continuing.
[Avernus: The second point, we have decided to increase funding for all Academies. In addition, the Government will launch a new program, "New Age Heroes," to identify potential individuals and provide them with scholarships for Academy enrollment.]
Selene glances at Petronica, her fingers still tapping anxiously on the armrest. Petronica catches the movement and gives her a reassuring nod, as if to say, nothing to worry about.
[Avernus: Next, the Government is planning to explore the newly discovered two SS-rank and three A-rank dungeons. Interested Guilds may submit their applications. A detailed notification will be released soon.]
Selene leans back, "It's all just political and dungeon management stuff," she mutters under her breath, loud enough for Petronica to hear.
Avernus clears his throat, drawing their attention back to the screen.
[Avernus: And finally, the main announcement, Cooperation Talks with the High Realm will be resuming soon. This time, not only the High Realm but other beings from different realms will be present.]
Selene tenses. The High Realm. Her mind races back to the events of the Three Princesses' Marriage Event, an issue long buried but never forgotten.
The dam of patience burst as reporters bombarded Avernus with questions, their voices blending into an incomprehensible roar.
[Announcer 1: As you've heard, the Government is planning to reopen talks with the High Realm. What a groundbreaking development!]
[Announcer 2: Indeed, after so many years, the Cooperation Talks are finally restarting. Now we understand why so many SSS-ranked individuals were present at the meeting.]
Selene sighs and switches off the display screen, her hand lingering over the button for a moment longer than necessary. She turns to Petronica, her voice low, almost bitter.
"Now we know why Mother was so furious after the meeting."
Petronica nods grimly. "It's really going to be a problem. If the High Realm opens again, people will start talking about the Three Princesses' Marriage Event all over again."
She trails off, her mind briefly flashing back to the chaos that followed that event. It's a memory she would rather not revisit.
After a moment, Petronica shakes her head, clearing her thoughts. "Where's Erina?" she asks, her tone softer.
"Still in her room," Selene answers, concern evident in her voice. "I'm starting to get worried about her."
Petronica frowns. "Two months. For two months, she's locked herself away in that room. I just hope she doesn't—" Her voice falters as her mind wanders to darker possibilities. "I hope she doesn't do anything drastic."
Before Selene can respond, a soft knock on the door interrupts their conversation.
8 months after the child birth
A figure sits at the desk, which is cluttered with papers. The figure is reviewing them all.
A little away from the desk, on the sofa, two figures are sitting and talking to each other.
"Selene, listen to me. We need to attack the Forest Tribe now. We can't wait to gather more troops," Aulus says.
"Brother, it's dangerous to attack them. They know the forest better than we do. If we attack them in the forest, our men will be at a disadvantage," Selene replies.
"Petronica, why don't you say something to him?" Selene asks.
Petronica, still busy reviewing the papers, doesn't hear her.
Seeing this, Selene stands up from the sofa and moves to the desk. She takes the papers from Petronica's hands and puts them aside. Petronica looks at her, confused.
"What are you doing?" she asks, still puzzled.
"You'll make yourself sick if you keep working this much," Selene replies.
"Well, Erina still refuses to come out of her room, and Galleria is busy taking care of her child. So someone has to handle all the work related to the province's administration and Caelus' business."
"After all, someone is too busy training and making plans to attack the Forest Tribe," she says, glancing at Aulus, who is focused on the map of the forest.
"I guess I'll have to talk to Erina again," Selene says, her voice tinged with frustration as she exited the room.
Petronica's confusion grew. "Selene, why did you call me in the first place?" she asked, her voice rising slightly.
She ignores her before returning to review the papers.
1 year and 6 months after the child birth
Blue Sky City
City Hall
Richard Caelus sits in the main office, at his desk.
His expression is dark as he continues to review papers and documents.
"I knew it. Fighting on the frontlines in war is easier and more satisfying than signing these documents," he mutters to himself.
"Father, I'm managing Guild work," says Helius.
"Father, I need to be with Erina," says Selene.
"Father, I'm already managing the family business and the children at home," says Petronica.
"Father, I'm at the border dealing with the Forest Tribe," says Aulus.
He remembers all their excuses, and his anger flares up.
"Aulus, just come back, and I'll definitely give you a hard—" his monologue is interrupted by a knock on the door.
Knock
Knock
"Sir, an old man wants to see you," a voice calls from outside the door.
"He says you know him. His name is Geoffrey Trajan," the voice continues.
Upon hearing the name Geoffrey Trajan, Richard clears his throat.
"Yes, I know him. Let him in," Richard responds.
"Yes, sir," the voice replies.
Soon, an old man enters the room, accompanied by a small child, around 3 or 4 years old.
"You're getting older day by day. Ha ha," Richard says, standing up from his desk to embrace the old man.
"Like you're one to talk," Geoffrey replies with a chuckle.
"Anyway, what brings you here?" Richard asks as they move to sit on the sofa.
"I'm here about the ClearSky Dungeon," Geoffrey says, handing Richard a document.
"I've already gotten approval from the government and your empire. You can check it yourself," he adds.
"No need for that; That much I can afford to trust you," Richard replies jokingly, taking out his phone. He quickly dials a number.
The call connects. "Joe, come to my office with the ClearSky seal," Richard orders before hanging up.
"It's done," he says, leaning back into the sofa. "Anything else?" Richard asks.
"Yes," Geoffrey replies, turning towards the small girl. "This is my granddaughter, Cressida Trajan. She insists on coming with me, as she doesn't want to stay at home. I bring her along, but she doesn't like staying at the guild either. So, I'm wondering if she could stay at your house."
Geoffrey glances at the girl before continuing, "Cressida, you can stay with them until I'm free. You'll meet other kids, just like you."
He turns back to Richard. "She can play with your grandchild while I'm in the dungeon. That way, I won't have to worry."
"So, what do you say?" Geoffrey asks.
"Haha, why would I say no to that?" Richard replies.
Turning to Cressida, he adds, "At my house, there's a little doll just like you. Would you like to meet her?"
Cressida, however, pays no attention to their conversation, continuing to play with the colorful sphere in her hands.
2 years after the child birth
Caelus Palace
In a spacious, dimly lit room, Lady Erina sits in a lotus position, her elegant light blue dress pooling around her. Her eyes, filled with anticipation and a hint of sorrow, are fixed on a white cocoon before her. Golden, glowing symbols dance across its surface, pulsing with otherworldly energy.
Sadness washes over her as she remembers the events from two years ago—the initial joy of giving birth, followed by the exhaustion that claimed her consciousness. When she awoke, her world crumbled as she learned that her child was dead due to the Caeltheris manifestation—a magical phenomenon awakened by her child.
Despite her cousin Suna and others insisting her child was dead due to the intense magical energy, Erina needed to see for herself. That's why she left the room and made her way to the other end of the palace.
Upon reaching the palace grounds, she had witnessed her brother fighting her husband and other ongoing chaos, but in her mind, only one thing mattered: her child. She had not been able to see him due to the dense blanket of magic energy covering that region.
As her mind began to go blank, the dense magical energy shifted, allowing people to become visible again. Yet no one paid attention to those figures, as everyone's focus remained on the massive figure of Caeltheris. Everyone except Erina, whose eyes were solely focused on finding her child. She honed in on the small, insignificant-looking cocoon.
She took a step forward, her movements slow and small. She didn't want to approach the cocoon, but at the same time, she couldn't stay away.
As she approached, the surrounding area cleared for her, revealing the small cocoon amidst a crowd of so many children.
"Please be alive," she thought, her steps slow but determined.
Ignoring those who tried to stop her, she soon reached the cocoon and held it in her arms as if it were her child.
She tried using her magic sense to detect any sign of life, but she found nothing. The cocoon gave no indication of life, resembling nothing more than an ordinary, lifeless object.
For Erina, it felt as though her world had begun to distort, with everything around her becoming insignificant as her most precious thing was taken from her the moment it had appeared.
"Why me?" she muttered, her voice breaking.
"Why does it always happen to me?"
"First the Three Princess Marriage incident, and now this."
"Why?"
"Why?"
Her cries echoed as she clutched the cocoon to her chest.
After crying for a moment, she noticed a change in her surroundings. A massive bird-like figure appeared before her, its sky-blue eyes fixed upon her.
"Why are you here?" she asked weakly before her vision went white.
In a hazy, dreamlike state, she found herself in a different realm. There, she met a tall, handsome man with light blue eyes and long black hair, sitting on a rock and gazing at the horizon. He turned to her and said softly, "Sorry to trouble you, Mother, but please wait for two years."
When she regained consciousness, the Caeltheris was gone, leaving only the cocoon, which was now emitting a weak life force.
She didn't remember anything clearly from that realm. Her memories were hazy and jumbled, with only fragments of meeting the tall, handsome man with light blue eyes and long black hair lingering in her mind.
From that day until now, she has cared for the cocoon as if it were her child.
Now two years later,
Suddenly fine cracks begin to appear on the cocoon's surface.
Lady Erina casts aside her memories, focusing entirely on her child. Magic bursts forth in brilliant flashes, illuminating the room in a kaleidoscope of colors. Her breath catches, her heart pounding as she watches.
Tears stream down her cheeks as the runic cocoon crumbles. A small hand emerges, fingers flexing, followed by another. Lady Erina gasps, her tears flowing freely. A child grunt echoes through the room as the cocoon splits open entirely.
Unlike a typical newborn, the child appears to be about two years old. His face is beautiful and cute, with messy black hair and light blue eyes. Though he looks like a normal toddler, he seems slightly weaker. His ears are adorned with stunning angel-wing earrings, crafted with exquisite detail. The earrings' design is sleek and flowing, showing elegance and grace. High-quality white and sky-blue crystals are embedded in delicate gold plating, offering a timeless and luxurious appeal.
The remnants of the cocoon dissolve into shimmering magical particles, swirling in the air before being drawn into the child's crystal earrings with a soft glow.
Lady Erina, her face a mixture of joy, relief, and lingering sadness, gently lifts the child into her arms. She hugs him close, her tears falling onto his skin as she tenderly caresses his back. Her voice, thick with emotion, whispers words of love and welcome to the child she's waited so long to hold.
"My precious child," she murmurs, her voice trembling. "You've returned to me. Thank God, you're alive. I've waited so long, endured so much... but you're here now. You're safe."
As she cradles her child, the room seems to pulse with a gentle, warm light, complete opposite of earlier atmosphere.