"Didn't do anything dangerous, did you?" Philendra's eyes turned sharp and threatening. She feared her son might have done something reckless in response to the humiliations he'd faced.
Daniel sighed. He hadn't expected to fully conceal the changes to his body—it was practically impossible.
"Mom, honestly, I think I might have a unique bloodline." Of course, he didn't intend to reveal the full truth.
Philendra frowned and grabbed her son's hand, sending her aura into his body to examine it thoroughly in an instant.
"I can't feel anything," she muttered, still holding onto him. She tried a second time but once again, it yielded no results.
"Are you lying to me?"
Daniel shook his head indifferently. He had no intention of explaining further. He mentioned the bloodline as a convenient excuse—something to fall back on in case any future changes or incidents happened.
His mother's inability to detect the bloodline was, of course, due to its sealed state.
"Forget it," Philendra said, turning back and taking her seat. She couldn't force her son to talk, only silently vow to keep a close eye on him.
Daniel smirked and sat across from his mother.
"Anyway, Mom, if you're done with your questions, can I ask mine now?" he said, placing a piece of steak in his mouth.
"What questions?" Philendra smiled and pinched his cheek. While Daniel didn't enjoy it, he had no choice but to endure it for now.
"Alright, my turn for questions. When are we going to main estate?" he said, swallowing the steak.
"Young Master, we'll leave next week. Would you prefer to rest during this week, or will you continue with your training schedule?" Augustus, standing respectfully to the side, answered.
"I'll continue training. I'll give you a list; please prepare everything on it for me."
Even though Daniel was entirely talentless, it didn't mean he avoided training. To maintain his body's strength, he trained diligently every day.
"Understood, Young Master."
Next week was the time to head to the Vorhelm family's main estate. At the age of fourteen, one could begin the awakening process.
Besides Daniel, there were many other descendants of the Vorhelm family also preparing to undergo the awakening process.
Between the ages of fourteen and sixteen, children could awaken. Children of noble families typically underwent the process at fourteen to have more time to familiarize themselves with their talent and begin training.
The Vorhelm family selectes one specific day in a particular year for all eligible descendants to undergo the awakening process at the main estate.
Any prodigies who awakened high-level innate talent would be accepted into the family's main branch and nurtured.
"Are you sure you want to participate?" Philendra asked her son with a serious gaze.
"Mom, you don't need to worry. Nothing will happen to me." Daniel could see the concern in his mother's eyes and was genuinely grateful for it.
The awakening process in this world was somewhat different from those in other fantasy novels. This process could truly lead to death.
If, according to the mother system's conditions, one wasn't at least sufficiently intelligent and powerful, they would undoubtedly die during the process. Another essential requirement was a minimum 15% mana compatibility.
"I know, my dear, and I don't intend to stop you. But remember, it's never too late to change your mind," Philendra said with a sigh.
She knew her stubborn son well and realized she couldn't persuade him to give up.
Of course, she had every reason to worry. Her son's mana compatibility was 0—something recorded only three times in history, known as the Curse of Fate.
Those born with the Curse of Fate were destined never to pass the awakening process or become a Authority Holder
This anomaly was strange even to Daniel. Although the character he reincarnated as was talentless, in the novel it was wrtten that he has 7% mana compatibility. Yet, he had absolutely none—completely zero.
Unfortunately, he hadn't found any reason for this difference yet.
The room filled with a somber silence.
Neither Daniel nor his mother nor Augustus spoke further.
Daniel pondered the system and his future, while Philendra thought about the strange phenomena that had occurred earlier. From what she had observed, low-level awakeners and mortals noticed nothing.
To them, everything seemed normal, as if nothing had happened. However, Authority Holder had noticed it all, though none could find the cause and effect behind it
"Mom, I need to get back to my training. I'll take my leave now. Augustus, make sure to buy everything I've listed as soon as possible." After finishing his breakfast, Daniel left the dining hall and headed to the training room.
"My Lady, do you think he is truly the one mentioned in the prophecy?" Augustus asked once Daniel was gone. The atmosphere in the room shifted entirely.
"If you had asked me before, I'd have said no. But now… I'm not so sure," Philendra replied, her aura and demeanor completely changed.
Moments ago, she was just a mother who loves her son. Now, she resembled an empress surveying the skies with dominance.
"Watch over him carefully. Even if he is the prophesied one, he's still my son…"
"As you wish, My Lady" Augustus said with a respectful nod and exited the dining hall.
"By the way, investigate those phenomena. See if you can uncover anything," Philendra commanded with an authoritative tone. Augustus bowed and left, leaving her alone in the room.
She crossed her legs, the motion briefly revealing her black underwear. Her large, voluptuous breasts pressed together, creating an alluring sight.
Her golden eyes glowed brilliantly, resembling pure gold.
"Ah, everything is becoming more chaotic. First, the Second Great War, then the prophecy, and now phenomena with no cause or effect…"