Shaa. The sound of water cascading down my body filled the air, the warm stream washing away the sweat and grime of the day. My muscles protested every movement, especially my shoulders and arms, which bore the brunt of my earlier sword practice.
Every inch of me ached, making the bath take longer than usual. I moved carefully, mindful of my soreness, but even with the hot water easing the tension, I couldn't say I was satisfied.
Stepping out of the bathroom and drying off, I dressed in my nightwear. As I turned to close the closet, my eyes caught my reflection in the full-body mirror beside it.
At just 39 inches tall, my figure still bore the innocence of a child. My skin was pale, almost ghostly white, though with a faint undertone of color. But what stood out the most was my hair—a striking blend of white and black.
Most of it was white at the roots, but as it grew out, the color gradually shifted, darkening until the ends of my hair were a muted black.
How do I even describe this? I wondered, running a hand through the strands. It wasn't a solid gradient; it was subtle yet distinct.
Then there were my eyes.
The left was a deep, dark violet—a shade I inherited from my mother. The right was an abyssal black, passed down from my father.
Combined, it gave me the appearance of some over-the-top character straight out of a chuunibyou's wildest dreams.
I sighed at the thought. What's with this look?
As I adjusted my messy, slightly damp hair into a slicked-back style, there was a knock at the door.
"Ren, are you inside?" came my mother's voice from the other side. "May I come in?"
Pushing my hair back one last time, I walked over and opened the door.
There she was, her warm smile greeting me as her eyes briefly scanned me. "Did I interrupt you?" she asked gently.
I shook my head, stepping aside to let her in. We both entered the room, her presence immediately making the space feel warmer.
"I heard you tried swordsmanship today," she said, her voice laced with curiosity.
"How was it?"
"It was fun," I replied in a small, childish tone, playing the role of the little boy she saw me as. "But I didn't really learn anything yet. I was just swinging it around."
Then, like any child eager for attention, I complained, "But my body feels so sore..."
Her soft chuckle filled the room as she reached out to pat my head. "That's normal," she reassured me.
"You'll get used to it in time. Just don't push yourself too hard, alright? You're still a little boy."
"Um," I mumbled in agreement, nodding slightly before shifting the conversation. "But... you didn't come here just to talk about that, did you?"
Her smile deepened, her maternal warmth radiating as she spoke. "Your brothers are arriving tomorrow."
I blinked, tilting my head slightly in curiosity. "My brothers? Why are they coming here?"
She didn't leave me in suspense for long. "They're coming for the event on the first day of the new year," she explained, her tone holding a hint of excitement. "You'll understand more when the time comes."
The event on the first day of the new year... My thoughts turned inward. It must be the Enlightenment Ceremony.
I'd been told about it by Laquila before I was reborn into this world. She had mentioned granting me her blessing during the ceremony, though she hadn't elaborated on what the blessing would be. When I'd asked her about her title, she'd called herself the Constellation of the Hidden Veil.
I couldn't help but wonder what kind of blessing that would entail.
The ceremony itself was something I'd looked forward to from the moment I arrived in this world. It only happened once in a person's life, at the age of five.
From what I'd heard, it was the moment when younglings were granted something akin to a status panel—a unique insight into their potential and destiny.
The mere thought of it filled me with a mix of anticipation and curiosity.
As for my brothers, I didn't know much about them or how our relationships might turn out. That thought lingered as I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling after my mother had left.
Altogether, I had four older brothers, but the age gaps between us were vast. This was due to the low birth rates among different races—my father being a ghoul and his other wives belonging to various races.
The oldest brother, from what I'd heard, was in his eighties. He served as the vice president of the Azure Magic Tower, a prestigious position. The second son was more of a wanderer and a self-proclaimed battle maniac, at least according to Sister Risu. The third brother was a researcher and a merchant, someone who dabbled in both intellect and trade.
Then there was Feryn, the youngest of the four and the only one I had frequent interactions with. At 17 years old, he was still a student currently on his semester break. Unlike the others, I knew his age, and we'd shared more moments together.
The rest of them? I rarely saw them. The last time I'd seen my older brothers was when I was barely two years old, so my memories of them were blurry at best.
"Well then," I muttered to myself, "since it's like this, let's get to know them more tomorrow."
With that thought, I closed my eyes, willing myself to drift into sleep.
———
The morning sun pierced through my bedroom windows, its bright glow illuminating the room and casting a soft shine on my hair. Standing before the mirror, I straightened my formal attire and brushed my hair neatly into place.
I wasn't sure if wearing formal clothes for the occasion was necessary, but it seemed fitting for welcoming my brothers. A crisp, deep-blue tunic adorned with silver embroidery hugged my frame, paired with black trousers and polished leather shoes. After a final adjustment to my collar, I gave a small nod of approval and headed for the door.
Stepping into the hallway, I spotted my mother, Rosalind, walking toward me. She greeted me with her usual gentle smile and praised my appearance. "You look very handsome, my boy," she said, her tone warm as always.
"Thank you, Mother," I replied, a bit sheepishly.
She then gestured for me to follow her as we made our way to the grand entrance where the rest of the family had gathered.
My mother's attire was noticeably different from her usual gowns. Today, she wore a stunning black and white dress with elegant silver accents. The bodice was tailored with a delicate lace pattern, snug enough to emphasize her womanly figure without being too tight. The skirt flowed gracefully, stopping just above the floor, and small silver details along the hem shimmered faintly in the light. Her vibrant red rose hair cascaded freely down her back, its natural shine giving her a striking elegance. Her nine tails swayed lightly behind her, each moving with a grace that seemed almost mesmerizing.
As we arrived at the entrance, I noticed others already gathered. My first and third mothers were present, along with Feryn and my father.
Aurielia, my father's first wife, looked as regal as ever. She wore a deep emerald dress that hugged her figure elegantly, the material shimmering faintly under the morning sun. Her light blonde hair was styled into a flawless, intricate bun adorned with emerald hairpins. Her sharp brown eyes surveyed the room with a calm and composed demeanor that perfectly matched her poised appearance.
Seraphina, my father's third wife, stood with her usual serene and magical presence. She wore a flowing crimson gown that seemed to ripple like liquid fire, perfectly complementing her warm brown skin. Her auburn hair, unlike Aurielia's styled bun, cascaded freely down her back in soft waves. Her piercing green eyes seemed to hold a quiet wisdom, and the faint magical energy around her gave her an almost ethereal aura.
Then there was Feryn. He wore a finely tailored black vest over a crisp white shirt, paired with dark slacks and boots. His silver cufflinks gleamed faintly, and his neatly combed dark brown hair gave him a mature look beyond his 17 years.
Finally, my father stood at the center, his towering figure commanding attention. Dressed in a charcoal-gray formal coat with subtle silver accents, he exuded a majestic aura that was hard to ignore. Despite being over 300 years old, he looked no older than a man in his thirties. His fully white hair and piercing black eyes gave him an air of undeniable authority and elegance.
As I approached, their eyes turned toward me. My father gave me a small nod, his expression unreadable, while Aurielia and Seraphina offered gentle smiles.
"Ah, there's our little prince," Feryn said with a grin, ruffling my hair slightly as I reached the group.
"Feryn," I grumbled, swatting at his hand playfully, earning a chuckle from everyone.