Eldrin sensed Seraphine's presence lingering in his shadow as he sipped his Sunleaf Tea in his office.
"What is it?" he asked, taking another sip, barely acknowledging the heat.
Seraphine stepped forward from the shadows, bowing beside him with her right hand over her heart.
"My lord, the prince has successfully formed his Mana Core."
The shock was immediate. The tea trembled in Eldrin's grip as a wide grin of pride spread across his face.
But just as quickly as it appeared, the smile faded. He let out a deep sigh, one that Seraphine instantly picked up on.
'This will have consequences.'
"I need to inform the Elders' Council."
Seraphine's body tensed at the mention of the council.
"My lord… are you sure about—"
A snap of Eldrin's fingers cut her off. A parchment materialized onto his desk, and with swift strokes, he detailed the report of Lindarion's Mana Core formation. Without hesitation, he handed it to Seraphine.
"Take this to the council. That is an order."
For a moment, she remained silent, her cold gaze betraying her unease. But she bowed without protest, then melted back into the shadows, vanishing from the room.
A melancholic sigh left Eldrin's lips as he leaned back in his chair.
Lindarion had been resting in his room when the sound of approaching footsteps reached his ears. His hearing had sharpened—heightened by his newly formed Mana Core.
A maid entered, looking slightly nervous. As usual, she bowed before speaking.
"Prince Lindarion, the king requests your presence in his office."
She stood still, waiting for his response.
'Father? What does he want now?'
[He might know about the Mana Core. He could have sensed it.]
'That's possible, but would he summon me just for that? It's a normal thing to—right?'
[It shouldn't be a problem.]
His voice came out firmer than intended, a tone he had unconsciously adopted when addressing the palace servants.
The maid flinched slightly before hastily bowing and rushing out of the room.
'Guess I'll find out soon enough.'
Changing into more appropriate attire, Lindarion made his way toward his father's office.
The palace was eerily quiet. His footsteps echoed as he walked, and the usual presence of servants was noticeably absent. Something felt off.
Before long, he arrived at the grand doors of his father's office. The moment he reached them, his mana sensitivity flared to life, sending a chill down his spine.
'The air feels… intense.'
He gathered his thoughts and knocked.
The doors swung open on their own.
'That was unexpected.'
Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.
Eldrin sat in his royal chair, waiting.
His voice carried an undeniable weight, filling the room effortlessly.
Lindarion obeyed without question.
"So, your Mana Core is complete."
His father's gaze locked onto his, emerald eyes gleaming like a forest filled with stars.
"Yes… I'm sorry for—"
"You do realize this will have consequences, don't you?"
The coldness in his father's voice sent a shiver down Lindarion's spine. He had never heard him speak like that before.
'Consequences? What does he mean?'
"What do you mean, Father?"
"The Council has been informed."
There was a strange sadness in Eldrin's tone, though his expression remained unreadable.
'The Elven Council… but why?'
Lindarion had only heard about the Council once before. They handled territorial disputes, political matters, and expansion strategies. Even though his father was the king, the Council wielded significant political power.
His voice was quieter than he intended, uncertainty creeping in.
His father sighed, hesitating for a moment before speaking.
"Because you are special. The first elf since our very first ancestor to form a Mana Core at such a young age. He did it at six years old."
He paused, then looked Lindarion straight in the eye.
"And you did it at five."
The weight of those words settled over Lindarion like a storm cloud.
'I thought this wasn't a big deal…'
[It shouldn't be a big deal. They're just making it one because you're talented.]
'I know… but why does that matter?'
"So, what happens now?"
A knot formed in Lindarion's stomach. He had no desire to be tangled in Council affairs at such an early age.
"Even I don't fully know. The decision will be theirs—and yours."
Eldrin's honesty unsettled him.
"They'll be watching you. To see whether you walk the right path… or the wrong one."
His father's helpless expression spoke volumes. He didn't want this either.
Lindarion exhaled a slow breath, the weight of the situation sinking in.
"When you've gathered your thoughts, you may go, son. But know this—I will do everything to protect you."
The sincerity in his father's voice provided a small comfort. Lindarion didn't want to die again—he had barely lived a few years in this world.
With a slight bow, he left the office.
His mind remained clouded as he made his way back to his room. But when he opened the door, an unexpected sight greeted him.
His mother sat on his bed, humming his favorite song.
"Lindarion, I have news for you."
Please don't let it be worse than the last one.
He sighed before speaking.
"King Leon of the Human Kingdom has invited us to his daughter's ball. I hope you'll come with me."
Melion's bright, excited smile reminded him of a child awaiting a gift.
'…Actually, this might be worse.'
"Do I really need to-"
Before he could finish his sentence Melion cut in with an otherworldly smile in a tone that seemed polite. Seemed.
"You really want your mom to go alone?"
Lindarion forced a small smile that seemed to twitch.
"Of course not, Mother. I'll go with you.."
She clapped her hands in delight before pulling him into a hug.
'She doesn't know about the Council situation at all, does she?'
Melion released him after a few seconds, her smile stretching wide.
"The ball will be held next year, and it will be just the two of us attending. We'll be representing the Sunblade name and the Elven Kingdom as well, so you'll need to behave properly, alright?"
She cupped his cheeks, squishing them like he was still a baby.
'So… Eldrin isn't coming.'
"Of course, Mother. Everything will be just fine."
His voice was confident—after all, he was human at heart.
"But until then, you'll need to learn how to dance!"
She practically flew out of the room before he could react.
His forced smile cracked. His lips trembled. His fists clenched.
'…This is far worse than the Council.'
Lindarion collapsed onto his bed, covering his face with his hands.
'Maybe they'll reschedule it…'
Even in his own mind, his voice sounded pathetic. Because deep down—he knew there was no escaping this.