After engaging in heartfelt conversation for over five hours in Darius' old and dilapidated wooden house, the two finally reached an agreement to start a new life together, rebuilding the relationship that had long since faded.
Seated in the backseat alongside his mother, Darius was driven to a renowned high-end fashion boutique. Upon arrival, he was immediately outfitted with dozens of clothing sets, both casual and formal, as well as several undergarment ensembles in a variety of colors.
That day, Darius wore a soft white t-shirt paired with black elastic-waist trousers, completed by a set of high-quality sandals.
"How comfortable," he thought, moving his body to savor the softness of his new attire. "So this is what they call underwear? Truly practical. Now there is no more worry about my 'junior' hanging about aimlessly."
Seeing her son so content, the mother nodded lightly, her sense of satisfaction far greater. For a long time, she had longed for moments like this - to engage in various delightful activities for her sole, precious son. However, numerous obstacles from Darius' father and grandfather had robbed her of these opportunities for such a prolonged period.
Yet now, after a lengthy wait, she had succeeded in becoming the Matriarch of the Frostbane family and had imposed a severe punishment upon her husband - eternal death with no chance of reincarnation or revival.
The woman was now truly happy, determined to savor every moment of togetherness with her beloved son for as long as she could.
After the payment process was complete, the two promptly entered the vehicle and swiftly made their way to the Frostbane family's renowned and mysterious main residence.
Throughout the journey, Darius remained mostly silent, only occasionally glancing towards his mother. Although they had agreed to live together, there was still a lingering sense of unease that could only be dispelled with the passage of time.
His mother, Calista Nymeria Frostbane, was the former eldest daughter of the Frostbane family and currently held the position of Matriarch. She, like Darius, shared very distinctive features with her son. However, Calista possessed a more pronounced feminine charm, her face radiating unparalleled beauty.
Standing at a height of 191 cm, Calista far surpassed the average stature of women, making her a truly striking figure. Her body possessed flawless proportions; a lengthy torso, a solid 38 H Cup bust, a slender waist, firm hips, and a heart-shaped, voluptuous butt. Her overall appearance exuded an extraordinary allure that captivated all who laid eyes upon her.
To temper the excessive attention she attracted, Calista utilized a magical artifact that could conceal her presence from the view of others. However, it seemed she could control the effect of the artifact, ensuring it did not alter her son's perception of her.
In a setting that was initially expected to proceed smoothly, the tranquility was suddenly disrupted by the presence of a suspicious group of individuals who had parked a large truck in the middle of a remote country road, surrounded by dense protected forests.
"Matriarch, it appears we are facing a minor obstacle that is impeding our movement. Do you have any specific instructions you would like to provide?" a soft yet firm voice came from a short-haired, black-haired female secretary who was seated calmly in the front. Her tone was filled with respect and professionalism.
With a graceful yet resolute motion, Calista furrowed her brows, indicating a suppressed sense of displeasure. She issued the command in a calm yet authoritative tone, "Eliminate them. Ensure no trace remains."
The secretary nodded lightly, signifying that the instruction had been well-understood. "It will be done immediately, Matriarch," she responded with unwavering certainty and dedication.
The secretary extended her hand towards the windshield, targeting the large truck and individuals blocking their path, several dozen meters ahead. Suddenly, a vast, swirling black energy vortex emerged from beneath them.
"What is this?" exclaimed a man wearing a black face mask. He accidentally dropped the long-barreled firearm in his hand, drawn in by the emerging power.
"Dreadful, I'm being pulled in by this dark energy!" lamented a woman in concealing attire, struggling to free herself from the force's pull.
Like a black hole with an immense gravitational force, the secretary's dark power successfully consumed all that lay within the swirling energy vortex, sparing not a single target.
The secretary commanded the mystical power arising from below, pulling everything obstructing them into the dark energy maelstrom she had created. The large truck and individuals trapped within the energy circle were unable to escape, sucked into the dark power that behaved like a singularity.
As if nothing had happened, the swirling black energy on the highway vanished without leaving any conspicuous trace.
"Let's continue our journey, Luna." The secretary with short black hair patted the shoulder of the pink-haired female driver next to her. Without hesitation, Luna began driving the car at a constant speed, taking Calista and Darius to their destination.
Darius, seated in the backseat, was still awestruck by the extraordinary event he had just witnessed. Though dozens of meters away, he could clearly see how a mystical force consumed the entire obstacle in their path.
Driven by a deep sense of curiosity, Darius then asked his mother, "Mother, what was that?"
Throughout his life, he had never witnessed a phenomenon that was both so terrifying and captivating in the real world.
"That was a manifestation of various forms of magical power, or more commonly known as supernatural abilities," Calista answered calmly, looking directly into Darius' eyes. "Only certain individuals with the potential to awaken ether energy can master it."
Upon learning this information, Darius was overwhelmed by a profound sense of curiosity. He had never imagined that the supernatural powers he had only encountered in fantasy anime series truly existed on this planet. What was even more astonishing was that his mother seemed remarkably accustomed to witnessing these extraordinary phenomena, leading Darius to suspect that Calista might possess magical abilities herself.
Darius' spirit was ignited with excitement. In his mind, he wondered if he too might have inherited magical powers from his lineage. For a young man with boundless imagination like him, the existence of magical powers was an element that had the potential to alter his destiny, propelling him towards the pinnacles of life—or so he believed, until another startling fact was unveiled shortly after.
During the in-depth discussion about magical powers, Darius learned a shocking truth. While it was highly likely that he possessed magical abilities due to his lineage, since birth, his body had been afflicted by an anomaly: the ether energy within him was too massive, almost boundless.
This condition led to an overload, where the ether energy began to assault his spiritual soul—the very vessel meant to harbor his innate magical talents. There was no remaining space in his spiritual vessel; it had been entirely consumed by the concentrated ether energy.
Darius was deemed the greatest failure in the history of the Frostbane family, as well as a grave threat that could erupt at any moment. His grandfather, the former patriarch of the Frostbane family, ultimately decided to seal the circulation of ether energy within Darius' body and abandon him in an orphanage directly managed by the Frostbane family.
Calista, on the other hand, had exhausted every effort to locate Darius for over a decade. However, the former patriarch's illusion magic was so powerful that Calista was unable to detect Darius' whereabouts, which had been protected by the strongest illusion magic since his infancy.
Eventually, Calista chose an extreme path. She relentlessly engaged in countless battles to hone her abilities, until one day she succeeded in subduing the former Frostbane patriarch with absolute power, reclaiming the highest leadership rights within the Frostbane family.
Recalling everything, Calista felt a touch of sentimentality. Yet, as she gazed into the face of her son, she realized that it had all been worth the result.
An hour and a bit later, they finally arrived at an expansive estate of remarkable beauty. On a moderately towering hill stood a luxurious mansion, its grandeur and scale nothing short of massive.
As they reached the gates, the convoy of escort vehicles made a turn back upon seeing the main gate open. Observing this, Darius inquired about the reason.
Calista explained that no men were allowed to set foot on the mansion grounds. Only female staff were permitted access.
Passing through the main gate, they eventually descended at the lobby. "From now on, this is your home, darling," Calista declared, intertwining her right arm with Darius's, pressing her soft, warm bosom against his arm.