Chapter 20: Aurelion’s Preparations
Killer Smile and another surprise.
"A BROTHER OR A SISTER?"
Caelion asked.
"Huh, I—I don’t understand what you mean."
Aurelion got a little flustered.
"Ohh Come on you know it too, it is a pretty simple question. What would you like to have, a brother or a sister? " Caelion teased Aurelion.
"Well, I have never thought of it like that." Aurelion answered.
"So, you have never thought about it?" Caelion tilted his head sideways.
"I would not say that I have never thought about it, it’s just that it really would not matter to me if it will be a girl or a guy." Aurelion took a little pause.
"I would shower them with love either way." He smiled.
"Then, I am sure that you will become a lovely brother." Caelion muttered.
"With your permission then, your Grace." Aurelion gave a little bow.
"I have told you before my lovely nephew. When it is an unofficial meeting between just us two, call me Uncle Caelion only." Caelion smiled again.
"You can leave now, I am sure you must have some thinking to do." Caelion waved his hand.
Aurelion bowed again and turned to leave the hallways.
Caelion watched him leave and gave his amused smile as always.
"Little Nephew, wait." Caelion called him.
Aurelion dragged his left foot and turned back sideways.
"Anything you need Uncle?" Aurelion asked.
"Ohh nothing, I just wanted to give you a little heads up so, you don’t act similarly like you acted in the Chambers this time."
"Heads up?" Aurelion reacted.
"Just wanted to tell you that this was not the only surprise for you, there’s one more in the box." Caelion grinned.
"Well, I should take my leave now and should not hold you too."
Caelion gave his killer smile again and left the hallways first.
HUH WHAT WAS THAT? DUDE AT LEAST, GIVE ME A LITTLE HINT ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST SAID. MAN, THAT GUY IS TRICKY, PLUS WITH THOSE LOOKS, HE MAKES THE SITUATION MORE CONFUSING.
Aurelion pondered.
After all this confusion, Aurelion decided to do what every intelligent man would do in existence. He went back to his room and took a nap.
2 hours later—
Aurelion woke up after his nap. He yawned and streched in pandiculation.
"Lyra, are you there?" He called.
Lyra entered the room and stood in front of the bed.
"Yes, your highness. Should I inform the chef if you are hungry? " Lyra answered his call.
"Has mother eaten yet?" Aurelion asks.
"Not yet, your highness. Her Majesty will be dining in a while." Lyra replies.
"Great, inform the Head Chef, I will be joining her in dinner." Aurelion commands.
Lyra leaves the room.
"I guess, I should gift mom something to congratulate her." Aurelion tells to himself.
NOW, WHAT CAN I GIVE TO MOTHER THAT SHE WOULD GENUINELY APPRECIATE. BUYING HER SOMETHING WOULD NOT MAKE SENSE AND NOR DO I HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO WAIT FOR IT TO ARRIVE.
Aurelion ponders for a long time. He thinks of every possible gift he can give to his mother.
Then, he finally gets an idea.
"Wait, why buy something when I can make one." He says.
"A gift made of magic."
"THAT TOO FOR AN ARCHMAGE." Aurelion exclaims.
Aurelion finally had a clear idea about what to do. He opens the side drawer placed by his bed. Inside it were unrefined cubes of various metals. Some were jade, bronze and even gold too. These cubes were used by Aurelion for his mana modulation training so, he placed the spare ones here for night training.
He picked one out. It was Mythril. He did not select it because it was the most expensive material but he chose it because of its high mana susceptibility.
Aurelion then, folds his feet and sits in the meditation pose.
He closed his eyes.
Mana gathered easily for him, but tonight he restrained it. He did not want power. He wanted precision.
The first enchantment was protection.
Not a barrier. Not something flashy.
He wove it like a promise instead. A quiet layer that would react only when it needed to. Something that would turn force aside rather than confront it head-on. It took longer that way, but it felt right.
The second was stability.
He thought of his mother resting. The way her mana sometimes shifted when she was tired. He shaped the spell to smooth those fluctuations, to soften sharp edges before they could become strain.
"This one is important," he said quietly, focusing harder.
The last enchantment was simple.
Light.
A faint glow that would appear on its own in the dark. Not bright. Just enough to be seen. Just enough to remind someone they were not alone.
He hesitated before setting it in place.
Then he did.
The pendant responded immediately, a soft silver sheen spreading across its surface before fading again.
The crescent took form little by little, edges smooth, curve gentle. Not sharp. Not ornamental. Something simple enough that it would not snag on fabric or distract her.
Aurelion exhaled.
A Crescent Moon radiating pendant made up of Mythril with protection spells, a perfect gift Little moon could give to his mother.
"Lyra." He called.
"Yes, your highness." She answered, while rushing inside.
"Has the table been set yet?" Aurelion asks.
"It is still in the process, your highness but her Majesty has arrived and already sat there."
Lyra answered.
"IT’S GO TIME." Aurelion exclaimed.
[To be Continued]