Talent determines the path of a cultivator. It is also what determines a person's worth in the harsh world, ranked from S to F ranks. Through years of research, it was discovered talents could be passed down or evolved through marriages, which started contract marriages to cultivate and bring out newer and better talents in the next generation.
However even in such contractual marriages, although low, there was a chance of a child being born with scarlet hair or diminished talent.
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"F-Rank talent? And what is this talent of his, Albert?" the man asked, his voice laced with disappointment.
"It's the first time a talent like this has surfaced, my lord," the butler spoke, clearly under the man's pressure.
"Hmm, it seems like the second child is no longer useful, what should I do with him?" the man spoke, as his fingers continued to tap the table.
"It seems you're having trouble with Johnathan, may I suggest something, Duke?" The voice coming from the far side of the room.
"What do you propose, Father?" the man replied, raising an eyebrow.
...
"As per the Patriarch's decision, the second young lord, Jonathan Thorne, will be dispatched to the demonic battlefront in four months," the butler announced.
"Father?" The boy fell to the ground, tears welled up wetting the floor, "What does he mean by that? Albert, what does father mean by that? Is he abandoning me, his own son, after all he did to me? What will happen to me, is he going to let me die?"
"Forgive me, Young Lord," Albert replied as he kneeled down and welcomed the boy in a warm embrace, "but I do not have any answers to your questions, and it was a decision made by the Patriarch and the Elder Duke."
"Grandfather too..."
UAAAHHH
"Young Lord, please don't cry."
"You're the only one who calls that trash Young Lord." The voice came from a boy who seemed older than Jack, his elder brother Vinchen.
"Young Lord, please do not bully him, he is going through a hard time," Albert pleaded.
"Fine, I'll leave him alone since these are going to be the last four months of his life; live life to your fullest, second young lord," Vinchen retorted, his voice filled with scorn, as he walked away.
"Albert, why am I the one huff being sent away? I won't survive a day, with the blockage...huff I'll never make it past a day."
"It is unfair Young Lord, but please do not lose hope, you are not alone at the battlefield, there will be many other knights, they will protect you," Albert spoke his voice calm and composed.
"Bu...but, Father after all he did to me... am I just garbage meant to be... thrown away?"
"No, Young Lord you must never think of yourself like that." Albert took out a handkerchief and wiped off the boys tears.
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"Ol... Old... Man, hey old man, you dozed off," Finn shook Jack, trying to wake him up.
"Is it done?" Jack asked yawning.
"Yep."
"So, what did you get?"
"Glacial Tenebris, it's C-Rank," Finn said, trying to sound unimpressed.
"C-Rank!" Jack jumped up and picked up Finn before spinning him around.
"Leeeett mee dowwwn, oooldd Maan," Finn squealed, laughing.
"Enjoy the moment kid, you won't feel like this again," Jack spun around Finn faster.
"Thhaaatss eennnoouugh oooooold maaan."
Jack finally let's down Finn who fell to the floor dizzy, trying to catch his breath.
"You're too energetic old man," Finn let out a gasp.
"And you're too lazy for a kid," Jack chuckled.
I still got a talent related to darkness, I guess bloodline still has an influence on how talents manifest.
"Why are you excited old man, it's just a C-Rank talent."
"Just C-Rank doesn't cut it," Jack snorted, "and the frost element is one of the most powerful there is."
"It's a C-Rank talent, it's not as powerful as anything above it."
"It sure is stronger than most of the talents, and I have a martial manual for frost talents, I was thinking of giving it to you."
"A martial manual, seriously?" Finn's eyes gleamed.
"But," Jack replied with a smirk, "seeing how you're not that thrilled with your talent maybe I shouldn't give it away."
"Oh, come on old man, if you don't want to give it why'd you even mention it?" Finn pouted.
"Just kidding," Jack chuckled, "I'll give it to you, I have no use for it."
"Well goodbye, maybe I'll come over tomorrow morning before you leave?"
Jack raised an eyebrow, "Where do you think you're going kid?"
"Home, You want me to trouble you even more?"
"You got anyone waiting for you back home?"
"Nah, my grandpa left for a trip so I'm alone."
"Then you're coming with me. Besides, trouble me? I haven't had this much fun in years."
"Fun?" Finn looked at Jack in confusion, "This was fun?"
"Sure was," Jack replied, "every bit of it."
"Ok boomer."
"Ouch," Jack faked a heart ache clenching his chest. "Old man, now boomer, I can't believe I'm so old."
"Oh, quit the drama, old man." Finn laughed. Woah I didn't notice it when did the old man become my buddy?
"Drama? Young uns really won't understand us elderly."
"Pffft, old man, quit it with the act."
"Nope," Jack grinned, "as long as I can make you laugh I'm not stopping."
"You really are a boomer, but I have to say you're pretty good at what you're doing."
"I know," Jack toned down his voice and whispered to Finn, "My code name was Jack of All-trade."
"Wow," Finn replied flatly, "so lame."
"Hey, why does everyone have the same reaction," Jack's shoulder slumped, disheartened.
He's like a puppy... so cute. Finn thought as he patted Jack's shoulder, "Are you really thirty-two?"
"I was born on the fifteenth of Chengyue in the year Twelve thirty-five," Jack replied puffing his chest.
"Relic!"
Jack gasped dramatically before commenting, "Relic! Nah, more like fine wine, I get better with age."
"More like expired milk."
PFFTTT
Both Jack and Finn burst out laughing, the hearty sound filling the air.
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"Say Wyge, what do you feel when you look at father?" Daniela asked as Wyge poured tea into a cup and placed it in front of her.
"What am I supposed to feel like, Princess?" Wyge returned a reply, confused at her question.
"Don't worry just tell me what you know," Daniela replied with a smile.
After a slight moment of pause Wyge replied, "He's the most confident and imposing man I've ever met, whenever I look at him it feels like I am looking at a higher being."
As I thought, no one could notice the signs of corruptio—
"But there has been something strange going on around him lately," Wyge added.
"Like what?" Daniela asked as she took a sip of tea, 'Ouch, that's hot.'
Wyge noticing Daniela's lack of reaction decides to tell her, "There have been single strands of black hair among his hair, although almost unnoticeable I started paying attention to it after I saw his pupil turn black once."
"It seems you caught wind of the strange occurrences as well, huh?" Daniela gestured as she took a sip of her tea once more.
"Yes, and you do know what these symptoms are of, right, Princess?"
"Ironheart syndrome..." Daniela's thoughts trailed off, as she looked into her cup of tea, rippling.
The Aureate Kiss, a piece of divine energy bestowed upon the First Emperor by the Zhào Huáng, the Golden Dragon as a reward for aiding it. The divinity was passed down the direct descendants of the Marcellonius family. But divinity is a double edged sword. If the bearer of divinity were to fall into despair, corruption takes over.
"Princess, it's not just the Emperor, there have been many other problems going around, and the Jonathan Thorne case is indeed strange..."
"You found something?"
"No, that's the strangest part. I couldn't find anything. It's almost as if such a case never occurred."
"And the Emperor, why do you think he is facing corruption?"
"I'm not too sure, but it could be some emotional turmoil he is going through that he can't seem to get over," Wyge explained.
"Yeah, and he sure won't be open about it. The Emperor can't afford to show a glimmer of weakness, it's sad what life can do to a man," Daniela once again glancing into her teacup.
"And the other trouble I mentioned..."
"What is it?" Daniela looked at Wyge, expecting bad news.
"A few weeks ago all connections with the city of Kanor were cut off. The council decides to send a few knights to check it out and they find the city in ruins," Wyge replied.
"Ruins as in..." Daniela asked but she already knew what happened. I don't remember the exact name of the city but I can guess what happened, the entirety of the citizens was offered as a sacrifice to summon an Eonborn but their first attempt in summoning failed and summoned one they couldn't control.
"Space fissures, dense eonweave pollution and signs of a battle but not a single sign of the citizens."
"Huh? What happened to the citizens?" Of course I know what happened, but I can't act like an 'I know it all', hope my acting isn't too bad.
"That's what they're trying to find out, but the incident is too strange, as such things have never happened before," Wyge rubbed her chin. "There is no recorded information on such an event and The Synthelis have come to the conclusion that it is the result of a manmade disaster."
"The Synthelis did? Even they are involved in this, I guess it's too much of a hook for them to let go."
Synthelis Guild, the largest in the field of technology and medicinal advancements and they are the ones who solved the case but by then it was way too late.
"How did you find this, I'm pretty sure this information isn't being disclosed, seeing as how even I didn't receive a report on?" Daniela questioned, 'Acting gangsta sure isn't my style.
"I heard the knight discussing it on my way here. Besides Princess, since you've quit will you be receiving reports on confidential information such as that anymore?" Wyge replied, her face still maintaining composure.
Ahh, I didn't think of that, how stupid of me. "Ahem, what I meant to say was good job, and if you obtain anymore information please tell me."
"Then I shall take my leave, Princess." Wyge bowed respectfully as she walked out of the room with a tea tray and an empty cup.
I really hope she doesn't find anything strange, but the events... they like scary stories told to me when I was a child, but just that this is no longer a story and these are no longer characters I saw through a screen. This is reality and they are people I must protect since I know the story. It's my responsibility.
"Ironheart, huh... The Emperor lost his mind but back then the main cast was around, but this I shouldn't let it go that far," Daniela spoke as she stretched her arms. People who bottle up emotions tend to develop negative emotions that grow beyond their control, called the ironheart. It wouldn't have been that bad, but unfortunately, father has divinity.
"How do I deal with a depressed dad? Father..." Rose paused thinking of her childhood memories with her own father, "Only if... only if that fucker didn't leave me when I was a child, I could have at least solved this."
My father has taught me so much; from how to abandon responsibilities to coming back with expired milk, Daniela cried in mock tears.
"Should I just talk to him? Maybe that's all it takes. Marcus told me men like people who support them. I'll try that."
....
The princess has been acting quite strange since yesterday. Either she decided to drop her cold attitude or... no I shouldn't doubt her, after all I'm just a servant.
"Jonathan Thorne...," I will uncover the truth, and if he is innocent then I'll take those bastards down, but right now the princess has lost all her power, —sigh— I should make use of the contacts I have.
"Monica, I should call her," Wyge whispered before disappearing into the long hallway.
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"Mrs Shia, to what do I owe this visit," the young woman spoke, her voice tender enough to sooth even a raging beast.
"Nothing much, just need a small favor, can you help me please?" Shia asked, her tone light and cheerful as always.
"Please tell me, if it's within my grasp I shall do everything to help you Mrs Shia, after all I owe my everything to you," the girl responded, her pale skin glowing under the chandelier, her voice as melodic as ever.
"Remember when I told you we had a student who chose manakai this year?" Shia asked as she took a sip of the tea set before her, "Ooh, is this plum blossom tea?"
"Courtesy of The Mount Hua Sect," The girl smiled. "Would you like some more?"
"Yes please, and back to the topic, I found someone who can be a professor. The thing is he has a shady past according to public knowledge but he's a good man, but the problem in Nexarion is—"
The girl interjected with a sad smile, "Image and name over worth, isn't that right, Miss?"
"Regretfully, Yes. I want to take my first step to remove that tradition, but I need allies and bringing him in could be our first step. So would you like to join me?" Shia spoke, placing the cup of tea down and extending her right hand.
"I will decide on accepting after I see the person you want to hire Miss," the girl spoke her smile unwavering yet her hazel eyes sharp.
Shia withdraws her hand, picking up the tea cup, "Well he told me he knew you, and you have been a very good friend for him and to me it sounded like you were his only friend," Shia spoke as she took another sip of the tea.
"Wait, a manakai with a shady pa...st?" she jumped out of her chair, her heart racing, "Miss, is it Jonathan?" her voice cracking, on the brink of tears.
"Yes, the second son of Duke Thorne," Shia replied with a smile.
Tears welled up in the girl's eyes as she tried to speak, the words getting stuck in her throat, "Is... Is he... really coming to Nexarion?"
"He was quite hesitant in asking you for help, he told me it'd be shameless of him to ask for help from someone he hasn't talked to in years."
The girl sat down, her silky hair falling over her face, "Why would he say that? He should have just come to me, that idiot... why would he believe it's shameless?"
"Well are you willing to extend our Jonathan a helping hand?" Shia asked once more extending her arm but this time her left hand.
"Of course I will."
"The results could be quite catastrophic, you and your father might receive some backlash?" Shia asked to test the girls will.
"I don't care and neither will my father, he always cares for Jonathan," the girl spoke, regaining her composure, "When can I meet him?" the girl spoke her voice going back to how it was, as she accepted Shia's hands, as she pulled back a strand of rogue scarlet hair.
"Tomorrow, you can meet him tomorrow, Hailee," Shia grinned.