With the battle over, the woman turned her gaze to my mother, her eyes cold and detached. "Congratulations," she said plainly. "I'm so happy you had a boy. I always wanted another son."
My mother's face faltered, her eyes filling with a deep sadness. "Please," she cried out, her voice trembling, "I've only just had him. Can't I have more time with my son?"
The white-haired woman's expression didn't change. "A week is more than generous," she replied, her tone devoid of emotion. "You know that if you give birth to a male, he must come with the main family. He is to live among his fellow Aurelians, to fight and prove that the strongest bloodline carries on. Your son must be taken to the capital. This barren mountain range will rot his potential."
Seeing my mother's despair, the woman added, though without any real comfort in her voice, "But fret not, little sister. I will be his mother. If he is strong he will not end up like my boys."
The finality in her words struck my mother like a blow, and I could feel her heart breaking as she held me closer, unwilling to let go. The courtyard fell silent, the air heavy with the weight of what was to come. Thorn, bloodied and defeated, stood to the side, his expression a mix of anger and helplessness as he watched the exchange unfold.
As I lay in my mother's arms, the words of the white-haired woman echoed in my mind, mingling with the lingering pain from the visions I had experienced earlier. Eclipse remained silent, offering no comfort or guidance.
The world around me felt cold and unforgiving, and for the first time, I witnessed my mother use her magic in earnest. In the span of mere seconds, she began chanting an unfamiliar incantation, her voice steady and resolute. Her skin took on a translucent glow, revealing constellations that seemed to be etched into her very being. Her hair rose as if lifted by some unseen force, and in that moment, she was transformed into a celestial goddess. The power emanating from her was palpable, a force that made the air around us hum with energy.
The white-haired woman's composed facade finally cracked as she began to sweat, her calm demeanor replaced by a look of genuine concern. "Please, sister, listen to me," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Father and Mother were the ones who sent me. I can grant you one more day, but no more. Any longer, and they will demand blood."
My mother hesitated, the constellations on her skin pulsing with power as she weighed her options. But after a moment, she let out a deep breath and slowly powered down, the celestial glow fading from her skin. She was caught in a no-win situation, and the resignation in her eyes was heartbreaking.
"Thank you," she said softly, her voice laced with sorrow and gratitude. "Thank you for risking yourself to give me another day with my son."
The white-haired woman, still visibly shaken, nodded in acknowledgment. She approached Thorn, who was lying on the ground, bruised and bloodied from his earlier encounter with the Templar Knight. She knelt beside him and began chanting a celestial spell, her hands glowing with a light blue hue as she healed his wounds. Thorn winced as his injuries mended, but he remained silent, his pride clearly wounded more than his body.
After finishing the spell, the woman stood and turned back to my mother.
"What is his name?" she asked, her voice softer now.
"Kairos Solari," my mother replied, her voice firm despite the sadness that lingered in her eyes.
The woman nodded again, her expression unreadable. "In one day's time, we will return," she said, her tone carrying an undeniable finality.
"Make your preparations, little sister. Either relinquish Kairos to us or face the full force of the House of Aurelius. You know how Father and Mother can be—they will not tolerate weakness in the bloodline of the strong."
With that, the white haired woman and knight turned and climbed back into the chariot. As it began to pull away, the tension in the air slowly dissipated, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Eclipse, who had been eerily silent during the entire encounter, finally spoke up in my mind. "There is nothing that can be done to prevent this, Kairos," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "You're still a tutorial user and, more importantly, a baby. Going to meet your grandparents will be dangerous. They've practiced celestial magic for over a hundred years. They are masters of the craft, and they uphold the brutal tradition of culling the weak from the family."
I absorbed Eclipse's words, the weight of my situation pressing down on me like an iron chain. The cold, unforgiving world I had been thrust into was becoming all too real. My mother, Liora, held me close that night, her arms trembling as she whispered curses against her own family, the bitterness in her voice cutting through the stillness of the room.
"I won't let them take you from me," she murmured, her voice cracking under the strain of her emotions. "You're my son, Kairos... My precious boy."
I could feel her tears as they fell onto my face, each drop a testament to her despair. She clung to me as if holding on could somehow stop time, prolonging the fleeting moments we had left. Eventually, exhaustion claimed her, and she fell asleep with me cradled in her arms, her grip still tight as if she feared I would vanish the moment she let go.
As I lay there, nestled against her, I made a silent vow. Any normal child would forget their mother if they were torn from her arms a week after being born. But I was different. I had the Dark God system, a gift—or curse—that would ensure I remembered everything. I wouldn't allow my memories of this beautiful family to fade.
"I will become strong," I swore to myself, the resolve in my heart hardening like steel. "I will return to them. This, I, Kairos Solari, promise."
The world outside was harsh and unforgiving, but I would not let it break me. My mother's love, my family's warmth—they were worth fighting for. And I would fight, no matter the cost.