The Phantom Estate buzzed with the usual energy of family life, but today there was a new excitement in the air. The entire household had gathered around the nursery to welcome the newest member of the family—Galactic. Despite his small size, the baby was already making his presence known. With his mother's striking red eyes and his father's pale, white hair, he was certainly unique.
Lady Elira held Galactic in her arms, marveling at his appearance. His red eyes, though still wide and curious, seemed to already carry a certain intensity that she had come to recognize in herself. His white hair, in contrast, was a trait from his father, Lord Theron, who had always worn his silver-white hair with quiet pride. The child was an interesting blend of both, but it was clear he had a look of someone who would be both mischievous and serious in his own time.
"He's already got your eyes," Roy said, poking his head around the corner with a grin. The oldest of the siblings, Roy had always been the first to point out the most obvious details, and this was no exception.
Elias, his younger brother, leaned in closer to the baby with a thoughtful expression. "Yeah, but it's more than that. He's got a calmness about him. I think he's going to be a quiet one," Elias said, his tone softer than usual.
Serene, the youngest, bounced around the room, full of energy. "But his hair!" she exclaimed. "It's so white! He's got to be a fun one, right? Like, I bet he's going to love playing games with me!"
As the children gathered around Galactic, each took turns making observations, though they couldn't help but laugh at how much attention the baby seemed to draw already. Galactic squirmed in his mother's arms, his tiny hands flailing around as he looked up at his siblings with wide eyes. There was no denying he was special in his own way, but he was still just a baby. And as any baby would do, he spent most of his time sleeping or crying.
Lady Elira smiled softly as Galactic yawned, his red eyes blinking sleepily. "He's already trying to keep up with all of you," she said, teasing her children. "But for now, I think he needs a little rest."
Roy, never one to take things too seriously, crouched down next to Galactic. "Hey, little guy," he said in a playful voice, "you've got to keep up with us. We don't have time for naps when we're busy with all the fun stuff."
Galactic let out a small, soft whimper, his lips quivering as he stretched his arms. "Eh… eh!" he protested, wriggling a little as if to say, "I'm not ready to sleep!" His tiny hands flailed in the air, catching the attention of his older siblings.
Roy chuckled and stood up. "Alright, alright, he's got time to rest, I guess. But not for long."
Elias smiled at his brother's antics. "Give him some time. He's not even a day old yet," he said, though his tone was warm. There was a gentleness in Elias that had always been there, and it was clear he cared deeply for his siblings.
Serene, meanwhile, leaned in to inspect Galactic's face closely. "He's got the same nose as you, Roy," she said, pointing it out with a giggle.
Roy rolled his eyes playfully. "Great, now I'm going to be known as the 'older brother who looks like a baby,'" he said with a laugh. "Well, at least I've got the fun personality to make up for it."
The family shared a quiet laugh, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful. It was easy to forget the chaos of the day—after all, the birth of a new sibling was a huge event—but Galactic had a way of making things feel calm, even with all the noise around him.
Lord Theron, who had been standing quietly beside his wife, looked at his children with pride. His silver-white hair and deep blue eyes were a sharp contrast to his wife's red gaze and pale complexion, but he could see pieces of both in each of his children. He reached out and gently touched Galactic's tiny hand, which wrapped around his finger with a surprising amount of strength. "He's going to be just fine," he said softly, his voice full of warmth.
Lady Elira nodded, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "I know," she said. "I can already tell he's going to be something special in his own way."
"Do you think he'll be like me?" Roy asked, grinning. "I bet he'll be a fun one, right? Just like me."
Elias chuckled, shaking his head. "Maybe he'll surprise us all and be the quiet one."
Serene added with a grin, "Or maybe he'll be someone who loves to play games with me. I bet he'll love tag."
The conversation was light, the family teasing each other as they speculated what Galactic would be like as he grew. But deep down, they all knew that Galactic, in his own time, would find his place in the family just like the rest of them.
"Well," Lord Theron said, taking a step back and admiring his family, "no matter what he's like, he'll be loved. He's already part of us."
And with that, they all gathered around, silently watching the little one. There was no grand declaration, no big moment of realization. It was simply the warmth of a family enjoying the presence of a new member, and the quiet knowledge that life would be full of new adventures, even if they didn't know exactly what kind yet.
Galactic, for all his uniqueness, was just like any other baby—full of potential, wrapped in the quiet promise of a future not yet realized. And for now, that was enough.
It had been a year since Galactic's birth, and the Phantom Estate had only grown livelier. The house was filled with the familiar sounds of laughter, chatter, and the occasional thud of a wooden sword hitting the ground. Time had passed quickly, but for the Phantom family, every day with Galactic was a new adventure.
The morning sun streamed through the windows of the dining room, casting a golden light over the long wooden table. It was the same table that had been filled with freshly baked bread, roasted meats, and bowls of fruit for years, but today, there was a new sound filling the air—giggles.
Roy, at the age of 10, was standing on the table, striking dramatic poses and pretending to be a grand knight. His blue eyes sparkled with mischief, and his white hair was a wild mess, as always.
"Fear not, my fellow knights!" Roy announced, sweeping his hand dramatically. "For I shall defend this kingdom from the invaders!"
Elias, now 9, leaned back in his chair, shaking his head with a smile. His thoughtful green eyes watched his brother, his hands neatly folded over his plate. He always had a calm demeanor, even when chaos erupted around him.
"I really don't think climbing on the table counts as 'defending the kingdom,' Roy," Elias said with a teasing grin.
"Of course it does!" Roy said, balancing on one foot and nearly toppling over. "I am a knight in the middle of a battle!"
Serene, at 7, couldn't contain her excitement. She jumped up from her chair, hands on her hips, and faced Roy with a fierce look. "I'm a princess! And I'm going to stop you, you naughty knight!"
Before Roy could respond, Serene grabbed a bread roll and threw it at him.
"Princesses don't throw food!" Elias scolded, but even he couldn't keep a straight face.
Galactic, now one year old, sat in his high chair, his round face squished with a huge grin. He was clapping his hands, his tiny white hair sticking up in all directions, a mirror of his father's. His bright red eyes flickered between Roy and Serene, clearly entertained by the antics.
"I think Galactic's laughing at you, Roy," Serene said, pointing at her baby brother.
Roy turned to see Galactic's red eyes locked on him, and the baby's giggles filled the room. "I told you I was a knight," Roy grinned.
"Alright, that's enough chaos for one morning," Lady Elira's voice rang out from the doorway. Her warm smile softened the reprimand as she entered the room, dressed elegantly as always.
Lord Theron followed her in, towering slightly over her with his strong build. He placed a hand on Roy's shoulder as if to steady him.
"Perhaps it's time for Galactic's morning nap?" Lord Theron suggested.
Serene gasped dramatically. "He's so lucky! He gets naps all the time."
Elias chuckled. "At least someone gets to rest."
As Lady Elira picked Galactic up, he reached for Roy's hair, trying to tug on it with tiny hands.
"See? He's already learning to bother you," Lady Elira teased.
Roy grinned as Galactic babbled incoherently, his small hands grasping for anything they could hold.
The family sat together at the table, sharing a moment of calm after the chaos. The day was just beginning, and they knew it would be filled with more laughter, adventures, and moments that would become cherished memories.
As Lord Theron looked around at his children, his heart swelled with pride. He had watched them grow over the years, each of them unique in their own ways, and now, with Galactic's addition to the family, the estate felt complete.
He smiled as he glanced at Lady Elira, who was rocking Galactic gently in her arms, her eyes filled with love. They had built something beautiful here—a home that echoed with warmth, laughter, and the bond of family.
"There's no place I'd rather be," Lord Theron said softly.
Lady Elira met his gaze, her smile just as warm. "Me neither."
And as the sun rose higher in the sky, the Phantom Estate continued to buzz with the sound of life—happy, chaotic, and full of love. For in this home, with each new day, the family knew that no matter how much time passed, they would always have each other.