Lucian, who was sitting on his hospital bed, busy with the system's updates running through his mind, turned his head toward the door as he heard a soft knock.
It hadn't even been two hours since the officers left after questioning him. Who could it be now? A doctor, or was it the World Magic Authority (WMA) again?
"Come in," Lucian called out, not giving it much thought.
The door swung open, and three impressive figures entered one by one. The mere presence of any one of them was enough to shake the world, but all three together? Lucian felt his heart skip a beat.
"Woah…" Lucian almost jumped out of his bed.
"Hey, system," Lucian asked in a hurried voice, not believing his own eyes. "Is there any chance I'm under some kind of illusion or... am I losing my mind?"
[No, host. You are not under any illusion, nor are you losing your mind,] the system responded in its usual monotone.
[So... what I'm seeing is real?]
[Indeed, it is real. I can understand why you're overwhelmed, but I advise you to behave yourself, host. Your reaction is unbecoming, especially considering what you're carrying.]
"Yeah, yeah, I know your background, but these dudes... they're on another level," Lucian muttered, his gaze shifting from the poster of the hospital advertisement on the wall back to the figures in his room. He blinked several times, unsure if what he was seeing was reality.
He couldn't be mistaken. That was Arthur Nightshade, the strongest man in the world. Lucian's eyes widened in disbelief, but he quickly restrained himself. No need to embarrass himself more than he already was.
"Lucian Valentino," a stern voice broke the silence, pulling him back to reality. It was the serious-looking man standing next to Arthur. There was no need for him to introduce himself anyone with half a brain knew who he was. Endeavor Jett, the head and founder of the World Magic Authority himself.
As if that wasn't enough, Lucian glanced at the cold woman standing next to Arthur, nearly losing his balance when he recognized her. Aria Winterfrost the heir to one of the most powerful families in the world. Her presence alone was enough to freeze the air in the room.
Lucian gulped. "Hey, system... Did something happen? Did your identity get exposed or something?"
[Impossible. There is not a single being in this world, or any other, that can detect or reveal my presence. You've asked this before. Please, host, raise your standards.]
All of this happened in a mere second.
"Yes, sir," Lucian finally replied, trying to steady his voice as he addressed Endeavor. He kept looking at the three figures, one by one, as if he was in a dream.
"There's no need for formalities," Endeavor said with a professional smile, though a trace of tension was evident in his manner.
"My apologies. Let me introduce myself properly. I am Endeavor Jett... though I'm sure you've heard the name."
He extended his hand for a handshake. It was a habit, really. After all, the boy in front of him wasn't just anyone; Lucian Valentino might not know it yet, but he was royalty. A subconscious part of Endeavor was trying to make a good first impression, a reflex born from years of diplomatic dealings.
"Oh... uh, how could I not?" Lucian replied quickly, standing up from his bed and catching Endeavor's hand for a handshake.
Arthur and Aria watched this exchange with slight embarrassment. They didn't often see Endeavor so flustered or formal with a kid. But they kept their opinions to themselves as they stepped forward to introduce themselves.
"Arthur," the man said simply, offering a warm smile and shaking Lucian's hand.
"Aria Winterfrost," the woman said coldly, nodding but not offering her hand.
Lucian wasn't offended by her cold demeanor. He was too stunned by the fact that these three titans of power had come to his room, knocked politely, and introduced themselves. If he told anyone about this later, no one would believe him.
It felt surreal, like a dream, or some kind of elaborate prank.
"So... um," Lucian stammered, unsure of what to say.
Endeavor took the lead once again, his tone serious. "We need to have an important discussion with you. It's about your background... and it's quite urgent. I know this is sudden, and you're still recovering in the hospital, but the matter concerns you directly."
"My... background?" Lucian was confused. he thought it might be something else like The system or The torture incident
While Lucian was trying to piece things together, the three figures standing before him were also taking his measure. Not just physically, but mentally. They were examining the son of Queen Valentino.
"Arthur, this kid..." Aria's voice echoed in Arthur's mind telepathically.
"I know... There's something different about him. I can't put my finger on it, but... he is her son, after all," Arthur replied, his eyes not leaving Lucian's face.
"That's true, but... look at the scars on his body," Aria's mental voice took on a sharp edge. "Do you see them?"
Arthur's gaze flickered, and he hummed in acknowledgment.
From their positions of power, it only took them a glance to recognize the nature of the scars. These weren't fresh. They were old, and many of them permanent. Lucian had been accumulating these wounds for years.
Endeavor wasn't as surprised, having seen Lucian's video through Klark's memory. He had already guessed from the boy's behavior how rough his childhood must have been. But for Aria and Arthur, this was new. They knew Lucian had lived on the streets, but not to what extent.
Aria didn't let her face show her thoughts, but internally, she felt... conflicted.
"Arthur, I can't imagine what kind of mental state this kid must be in," Aria's voice was softer now. "Some of those scars... they're over a decade old. That means he got them when he was only four or five years old. And these are just the ones we can see. There's probably more."
Her eyes flickered with a rare emotion.
"Our daughter is the same age as him, you know... And look at his eyes. They're not the eyes of a fifteen-year-old."
Arthur's face remained unreadable, but inside, he shared her sentiment. How could a child survive such hardship, accumulate these scars, and yet still stand tall before them?
I can't even imagine what he must have gone through. No wonder he survived the Crucio curse and walked away like it was nothing. And now I understand why Endeavor is so certain that Queen Valentino would destroy all of humanity if she knew the full extent of his suffering. This isn't just about one incident of torture anymore," Aria finished her mental conversation with Arthur.
Arthur remained silent, absorbing her words as they both continued to