Kurao who was staring at the hall entrance deep in thought about what his father said, suddenly jolts up in surprise as he feels two arms hugging him from behind.
"Kurao you are so talented! I am so happy that my little brother is so talented, does that mean you will catch me a pet from the Forests of Uldreyin when you are stronger?"
Said a young girl in a high pitched cheery voice, recognizing the voice Kurao turns around and sees Elyse who has blonde hair that went passed her shoulders as she stood in front of Kurao as she looked slightly down at him, as she was a few cm taller then Kurao who was 130cm tall. Elyse had an extremely cute face that would make anyone want to protect her from the terrors of the world but right now she had a smile that was so bright while hugging Kurao.
She was 2 years older then him, but they were very close since he would play with her while his step-mother Valya watches over the both of them. Thinking of how to reply to the awfully cheery girl that seemed to glow because of how cute her smile was, he said.
"I will get you anything you want, but only after I get me a powerful dragon like the ones mother always told stories about, the ones that could melt any 8th Stage Elementalist to ash with their breath."
Kurao exclaimed with confidence making Elyse face smile grow even more before she grabbed his hands and shake them while her hazel eyes sparkled while looking at Kurao.
"Really!! Mother always said she wouldn't get me anything from Uldreyin Forests cause it's too dangerous but if you get a dragon it will be easy to get me one. I want a little pet that is said to look like a human but they have wings. I heard they are so small and beautiful!"
Seeing her smile he started to grow one as well as he tried to calm her jumping down. As he was chatting with Elyse in the hall quite a few people came to greet him and started to flatter him as he was showered with compliments and shook hands with many people that are part of the high noble circle, before they left to go inform people about the massive news about the history making talent of the youngest prince of The Eversky Empire. It would bring more exposure as their standing more then among the human territory's would go, even further with this news.
Some of Kurao's siblings left the hall to go back to their business not caring much about how great his talent was, these were mostly his siblings that leached off the status of being a the highest of royalty. Most of Kurao's siblings started gazing seriously and wary of Kurao, while a few had fire in their eyes as they were motivated to go train, Awoa the light blue haired youth was one of ladder as he left to go further his cultivation, but before he left he stared angrily at Kurao.
"Hmnff" Awoa snorts as he leaves the hall with most of the other spectators as now the hall was mostly emptied.
After mostly everyone left, A soothing but mature voice echoed as she shook her had disapprovingly.
"It's embarrassing that I am directly related to that dimwit, how can he act like this to Kurao when he you are just eight years old, he is a joke."
As she walked towards Kurao. She had bright navy blue hair that went past her shoulders and stood at a 196cm tall. In any other public setting she would get a lot of attention not just because how tall she was, but also because she was very beautiful.
"Congratulations Kurao for having a new level of talent that hasn't been recorded in history before. I don't think you remember meeting me little brother, but I am your big sister Nolaya."
She then towered Kurao as she bent down and looked at Kurao before talking more comfortably with him.
"Damn You have grown since I last saw you, you were just half the size of my arm when I last saw you. You were so cute back then but you look like you will grow up into a handsome man that all women of the high court will gobble up."
She teased, but as she was ruffling his hair expecting him to blush from the comment, the reaction she got was just a stare of caution a bit of discomfort and confusion as well.
That is what caught Nolaya off-guard as Kurao gaze which was weird since he was so young and wasn't used to getting looks of caution from her other siblings when they were younger. But understood since most of the Kaine family wasn't really close and usually kept to their own groups outside of the core of the Kaine family but that was usually in later adolescence.
Elyse was also staring at the woman but with bright eyes instead of caution and quickly went in for a hug, which Nolaya accepted after snapping out of the slight shock of Kurao's reaction.
"Oh sorry Kurao I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, I act like this with most of the family. I have known you since you were just a little baby, Your mother would always keep talking about how you will grow up to be someone father would be proud of since you were born. Which with your talent I bet it wouldn't be hard."
Nolaya saw Kurao who was still looking at her with stern look. Since he didn't know who this woman was and was trying to figure what her purpose was approaching him he kept his gaze on her seemingly dissecting her with his eyes trying to figure who she is, since he doesn't remember ever hearing about Nolaya.
Seeing that Kurao was still on guard she was a little concerned on why his attitude was like this for being so young, but decided to talk a little more to try and relieve the awkward tension.
"You may not know but I was also under tutorage of your mother, Ella taught me Water Origin before I left for Univeristy, so she is kind of my mentor. Your mother is also one of the strongest Ice Elementalists in the whole of Etheria, and I gained a lot under her tutelage. But look at you, you also awakened Ice Magic and now have broken what people thought potential talent could be, you will sure grow up to be unrivaled genius in the Ice Element just like your mother I am sure of it."
Nolaya said while hugging the little girl in her arms. Kurao after hearing her eased up a bit, but was surprised to hear that she trained under his mother since he never heard his mother mention her. but what she asked next made made a little bit of shutter, as his mood soured instantly.
"Where is your mother I didn't see her here for your awakening. I also haven't been able to see her since I left for Eversky Elemental Univeristy a few years ago and would love to catch up."
Nolaya asked as she didn't notice the grim expression that took over Kurao's face since she was occupied dealing with Elyse who was happily clinging to Nolaya. He was in thought of what to tell Nolaya since she seemed close to Elyse and apparently his mother.
She seemed to not know his mother's status, so he just replied in a low voice that seemed to be on the verge of losing all the regained composure he had earlier.
"She is currently sick right now and not really accepting visitors"
"What is Ella okay what is she sick with??"
She asked in a hurried tone devoid of how playful and friendly she acted earlier. She stopped playing with Elyse and asked with a voice of concern. Kurao didn't respond as he was slightly despondent with the question, Nolaya seeing this just asked.
"Where is she I want see her."
She stared at Kurao trying to wait patiently for his response. Kurao on the other hand was starting to get a slight idea of how close she was with his mother as he got into thought.
'She seems really concerned about my mother, but I don't want anyone to visit her especially after what happened. But maybe she can help her since she seems close to her, and no one in the palace wants to help either.'
Kurao stared at Nolaya trying to figure out how he wanted to explain the situation, but before he could attempt to explain another voice called out that was loud as it reverberated though out the hall.
"Nolaya what are doing here I thought you would never come back! You got to tell me how you have been."
The voice contained haughtiness as she walked up and gave a hug to Nolaya while shooing away Elyse. Elyse getting shooed away looked at her with annoyance and started walking back towards Kurao to latch back onto him while staring daggers at the new arrival. Nolaya on the other hand saw her beloved half sister and best friend approaching her for a brief hug.
"Aila sorry I would love to catch up but I am gonna go with our Little Brother here to visit Miss Ella."
Nolaya replied hastily trying to go check on her mentor. Kurao seeing how much Nolaya wanted to see his mother he started feeling bad as he felt his guts turning every time anyone mentioned his mother. Aila on the other hand who just arrived glanced at Kurao for a second seemingly irked by his presence quickly rebuttal.
"Nolaya are you sure. You want to visit her, last month she had to be put in the room on the 3rd floor of the Palace away from the rest of the Royal Family cause of how aggressive she is. So if you want to go lose hearing or suffer an injury, go with little Kurao, but you should come with me we have so much to talk about!"
Hearing the rude words coming out of Aila towards Kurao's mother, Elyse who was peeking over at Aila quickly snorts and replies.
"If she wanted to go deaf she would just spend the day with you. I know how much you like the sound of your own voice and how annoying you can be."
Elyse then looks at Nolaya and tries to cutely look at her with puppy dog eyes to convince her to not leave with Aila.
"Why don't you come and hang out with me Big Sis Nolaya? It would be a lot more fun!"
Aila seeing this gets even angrier, snorts
"Hmnf, Twerp you snitch to Mother Valya every time I talk to you about anything, There is no point in ever talking with you. Come with me Sister Nolaya."
Kurao seeing this decides to start walking away from his siblings squabble.
'I really don't know if I want anyone to talk with her, Sorry Big Sister Nolaya but I don't think she is ready to see visitors now that I am thinking about it.'
With Kurao's thoughts he escapes from the grand hall and starts making his way towards his room on the 3rd floor of the palace as his starts getting more heavier with every step he takes.