Another week trickled by, and still, Yue Ling had not returned. Instead, a servant was dispatched from the bustling Yue family castle, now adorned with festive decorations and teeming with distinguished guests.
The occasion was the astonishingly early Codex contracting of Fedral, the youngest of the second branch, just six years old, drawing the attention of three major sects.
The Crystal Palace of the Eastern Sea, the Floating Sect of the Southern Ridge, and the Lion Tower of the Western Prison all sent emissaries, leaving only the Northern Moon's Fairy Sect, which exclusively accepts female disciples, absent.
The Emperor and Empress had sent royal messengers to extend their felicitations, and the court officials and generals were gathered in throngs.
Sophia's heart sank upon hearing the servant's account, her usually pale face losing even more color. Despite her young age, she was no stranger to the cold, hard truths of their world.
"If the East, South, and West sects are all vying for little nine, why didn't they send word to us? Why aren't we part of the celebration?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mixture of disappointment and resignation.
The beautiful woman, with a light tremor of emotion in her voice, replied, "It's just a banquet, dear. Our absence won't matter as long as Eddie makes us proud in the future."
Despite the evident neglect from the main house and the fact that the precious Spirit Enlightenment Pill, bought with all they had, was reappropriated for Fedral, she harbored no resentment.
Her focus was unwavering: Eddie had successfully contracted a Codex, igniting a spark of hope for a brighter future. Accustomed to weathering life's storms with a quiet strength, she chose to look past the immediate slights and focused on the promise of what lay ahead.
Eddie was stunned by the news. He fully grasped the significance of contracting a Codex at such a young age in the land of Dragonrise. It was like acing the SATs and getting accepted into an Ivy League school - a sure sign of a bright future.
The vast majority fail to secure a Codex, and those who do typically manage it only after fifteen, making his cousin Lance's early achievement all the more remarkable. The entire clan's jubilant celebrations, royal accolades, and attention from top sects were well deserved.
However, Eddie wasn't green with envy. He was acutely aware of his own unique assets, including the Twin Stars talent, the secret evolution of the Thorn Flower to a regal Queen Thorn Crown, and especially his life-guardian beast Phantom, which boasted a phenomenal ten-day summoning duration.
Most critically, he wielded the innate sword qi, a sophisticated art usually only pursued by Dragonrise's mightiest. Just mastering its initial level would elevate him to the rarefied ranks of the innates.
In stark contrast to Lance's celebrated early contracting, Eddie had bypassed the usual path entirely, like skipping undergraduate studies to jump directly into a doctoral program.
When a servant presented him with a Five-Element Puppet Rat, supposedly drawn on his behalf, Sophia's frustration was palpable. This Puppet Rat, a lowly first-level special category beast, was nearly useless except for scouting, and it wasted precious pages of the Codex.
With the family's wealth of superior beasts, including third-level Bronze Battle Wolves and fourth-level Silver Battle Tigers, this allocation felt like a deliberate slight. Accusations of manipulation by the senior family branches surfaced as Sophia's anger and disbelief simmered.
Continuing from the previous narrative, this translation is refined to better suit the reading preferences of an American audience. It involves enhancing character names for familiarity, emphasizing the unique dynamics and the high-stakes world of Dragonrise, while also smoothing out cultural references for a more immersive reading experience.
"Sophia, remember to respect your elders," the beautiful woman gently chided, her voice soft yet firm.
She then turned to Eddie with a tender but resolute tone, "Eddie, if this creature doesn't suit you, there's no obligation to bind with it. Harbour no resentment; whatever our elders provide is a blessing. We must accumulate virtue and demonstrate resilience, relying on our own strength and perseverance. That's the Lin's way."
Sophia, her head bowed, felt a surge of injustice. Yet, when Eddie received the ornate box, a surge of intuition filled him. The Five-Element Puppet Rat was a legacy from Yue Gong, a brilliant mind of the Lin lineage known for revitalizing the family's status centuries ago.
As part of the revered Revival Triumvirate, Yue Gong's inventions had turned the tides for the Lins, elevating them back to their esteemed position among the great families. His puppet beasts, especially, were marvels of innovation, revered by warriors, merchants, and the common folk alike for their utility in battle and daily life.
Despite Yue Gong's untimely death, which prevented him from completing his ultimate project, the Puppet Codex, he left behind an enigmatic array of creatures, including the much-debated Five-Element Puppet Rat.
The family chose to believe that these rats were an early passion project of the young artisan, holding a special place in his heart due to their role in his formative years as a creator.
The translation is refined for an American audience, with adjustments made for fluidity and cultural context while maintaining the original narrative's intent. The names are consistent with previous translations, ensuring continuity and enhancing reader engagement.
For six centuries, no one had willingly accepted the Five-Element Puppet Rat, a seemingly useless creature that unduly occupied precious slots in the summoning tome. Fate, however, had chosen this day for Uncle Lin to unluckily draw it, passing it into Eddie's hands.
"As an offering from my elders, I dare not refuse! I accept this Five-Element Puppet Rat with gratitude to Uncle Lin and thank you, Mistress Evelyn, for your wise words."
Eddie maintained the facade of the dutiful child, though inwardly he was thrilled. Only his keen insight had revealed the true worth of these dismissed creatures. This unexpected treasure, effortlessly obtained, had secretly elated him.
"The ancestors bless us; surely, they will see Eddie rise to greatness," the beautiful lady, Fourth Mistress Evelyn, said with a smile, her eyes filled with pride and hope as she repeated her affirmations.
"Sophia, don't worry about it. Let's just see how it goes," Eddie reassured her while holding the ornate box containing the Five-Element Puppet Rat.
Despite Sophia's earnest pleas and the family's clear disregard, he saw potential where others saw waste. "Who knows? Maybe these creatures are exactly what I need."
Sophia's brows furrowed in concern, her voice urgent, "Eddie, you must understand! On the surface, these puppet rats are the same as any other summon, but once you bind with them, they'll occupy five precious slots in your Bronze Codex."
"With already three pages used, including that Thistle Spray you received, you'll be left with only two pages of space. This must be a deliberate ploy by some in the family, afraid of our branch rising to power. Please, think it over!"
Her words echoed a deep-seated fear of being further marginalized within the family, a sentiment Eddie couldn't entirely dismiss. However, with an unyielding spirit and a secret plan, Eddie smiled, masking the storm of thoughts raging within him.