"He has been using mana since birth?"

  Lana couldn't hide her astonishment. This pletely tradicted everything she knew about mana awakening

  Celeste didn’t answer immediately. The Duchess bent dowly extending her arms to pick up Cassius. The boy giggled ily, ing his small arms aroue’s neck

  "You could say that Cassius’s magic is a form of Healing " Celeste’s voice was calm yet firm

  She took a few steps toward Lana, her gaze drifting into the distance as if recalling something

  "Since birth, this ability has kept Cassius’s body in its best ditioe said, lightly patting the boy’s back

  "At first, it only affected himself. But now, as Cassius’s mind has developed, he use this ability ohings around him"

  Lana listened in silence. Whee handed Cassius into her arms, she instinctively took him. The boy immediately led into her, his small arms ing around her ne plete trust

  Yet, her mind was overflowing with questions

  'A child using mana from birth? There has never been a recorded case like this'

  'If his ability is restoration… then where are its limits?'

  Lana wao ask. She wao know the truth

  But… Celeste was not her friend. She was her master. A servant had nht to question their master

  So, despite the tless uainties swirling inside her, Lana chose to remain silent.

  However, there was one question she couldn't stop herself from asking

  "Duchess, will this ability harm Cassius?"

  Celeste paused for a moment before answering. Her voice remaieady, carrying an undeniable certainty

  "As long as Cassius doesn’t push himself too hard to use his power on others, he will be fine"

  She reached out, gently ping the cheek of the boy led against Lana’s neck, as if to reassure them both

  "So, let him enjoy himself. Just py with Cassius - I have work to finish"

  Celeste offered a faint smile before turning back to He, tinuing their interrupted versation

  Lana uood that their discussion had ended

  She bowed respectfully

  "Then, I shall take Cassius with me"

  With that, she carried Cassius away

  —

  "I hardly believe that we are standing here once again"

  Duke Ignis spoke in his deep, steady voice, his sharp gaze sweeping across the grand hall. In his hand was a fine gss of red wihe liquid shimmering uhe dazzling light of the massive crystal deliers hanging from the ceiling

  As the ruler of the southern region of the tury ti, Ignis was a living legend. A level 6 mage, he had reached the age of 92, yet his appearance remaihat of a man in his fifties. His ly trimmed white beard and wavy hair atuated the dignified aura of a leader, while his pierg amber eyes carried a gaze that seemed to see through one's very soul

  Standing beside him, Duchess Terra - the ruler of the eastern nds - slowly surveyed the se before her. A faint smile pyed on her deep red lips, curving in quiet nostalgia

  "Even after so many years, this pce remains just as I remember it"

  Her presence was both graceful and formidable, like a battle goddess ready to marto war at any moment. Also a level 6 mage, she had reached the age of 84, yet her abundant mana had preserved her youthful skin, leaving no trace of time. Her short, white hair framed her angur face, and her emerald-green eyes were as deep as an endless forest

  "A truly special occasion"

  Another male voice joihe versation. Duke Zephyr of the western region - a man of posed demeanor, with white hair slicked bad a -shaven face that emphasized his sharp features. His cold gray eyes were like the stormy sky before a tempest. Though he had reached the age of 89, no one would dare uimate a level 6 mage like him.

  "How long has it been since we were st here? Nearly 40 years, wasn't it?"

  His words acted like a spark, igniting memories long buried by the passage of time

  "That’s right. The st time we gathered here was for Duchess Eclipse’s birthday celebration"

  A deep, anding voice resohrough the hall, causing all three dukes to turn their heads in unison

  "Your Majesty"

  Without hesitation, they bowed, their every movement dispying utmost respect

  The man standing before them was Aurelius Valeriaury, the supreme ruler of the tury ti - and a level 7 mage

  At the age of 102, he still maintained his imposing presend an aura that dominated all. His golden hair was slicked back, though streaks of white had begun to appear - a mark left by time. His sharp blue eyes, vast like the sky, carried an invisible pressure. Draped over his shoulders was a bck feathered cloak, shimmering with golden threads uhe delier’s light, further enhang his untouchable authority

  Aurelius raised a hand slightly, signaling them not to be overly formal

  "It has been a long time sihe pilrs of this ti have gathered like this. I could not afford to miss su occasion"

  His deep voice carried a power that anded absolute attention

  News of Cassius Eclipse’s third birthday ba had sent shockwaves through the noble society

  A new member of the Eclipse family had appeared - ahat no one had foreseen

  Looking around the grand ba hall, it was evident that the most powerful figures of the tury ti were present. From the renowned dukes and iial marquesses to high-ranking knights and the most gifted mages - all of them had gathered here with one goal in mind: to learn about the new heir of the Eclipse family

  For over thirty years, the Eclipse family had been led solely by Duchess Celeste et Eclipse in the North

  At first, many believed that a-year-old child leading a ducal house would spell its swift downfall. But reality had defied all expectations. Although the Eclipse family's power would not vanish ht, the initial years were undeniably fragile. However, through various forms of support, they endured - long enough for Celeste to prepare herself

  Ae proved herself with absolute power

  At fifteen, she became a level 5 mage - a feat that shook the entire ti. But it wasn’t just her magical strength that astonished people. Her leadership and strategic prowess made her a ruler who anded both fear and admiration. She did not merely preserve the Eclipse family's standing; she elevated it to unpreted heights

  Now, Celeste had reached level 9 - an unthinkable level. Many specuted that she would soohe o touch the legendary level 10 mage, a realm likeo gods walking among mortals

  The Eclipse family had now bee the definition of unshakable

  And today, a new heir had emerged - Cassius Eclipse

  At only three years old, he had already drawention of the entire nobility

  Some even believed that he was Celeste’s biological son

  They wao befriend him, te es with a house likeo a phoenix rising from the ashes - the Eclipse family

  Aurelius chuckled softly, his eyes unreadable

  "I am quite ied in the heir of the Eclipse family. After that disaster, they have lived in solitude for far too long"

  His words cast a heavy silence over the hall

  Everyone present uood exactly what 'that disaster' referred to

  At that moment, the grand doors of the hall slowly swung open

  All eyes turned forward

  Stepping through the vast doorway was Duchess Celeste et Eclipse

  She wore a flowing white gown, its intricate silver patterns shimmering elegantly along the fabric. The soft material g to her slender yet anding frame, each step exuding nobility and authority

  Her ptinum hair, casg down to her waist, was loosely gathered, revealing the elegant curve of her ned atuating the sharp tours of her face. Upon her head rested a vibrant flower , a striking trast to her ruby-red eyes - burning like gars.

  And ie’s arms, Cassius Eclipse g tightly to her, his brilliant golden eyes gleaming with curiosity as he gazed at the gathered crowd