Alzinth continent, Kingdom of Acacia
On the year, 1699 on the 9th month
On the Northeastern edge of the Acacia border, the cries of a newborn sound out late in the evening, at Viscount Greyfort's manor. The sun is not long from setting with light peeking through the sheer white curtains over the windows. Maids rush about to tend to a young mother, in her early twenties, and her newborn son. The young woman lies there panting from the exertion of having gone through a difficult birth, her silver hair is a mess with a few strands having fell in her sweat covered face. After taking a few deep breaths to recover, she pulls her hair back behind her shoulders, as a maid wipes the sweat from her face and neck. The young mother begins vigilantly tracking every move made around her baby with an almost predatory vigilance. Her bluish-purple eyes give off a faint glow and an almost physical pressure descends, when one of the three maids cleaning her son nearly spills the pot of hot water on her baby, causing two of the maids to hesitate slightly in their movements. As the glow fades and the pressure retracts, the only maid unaffected and still cleaning her newborn son clears her throat. Startled by the sudden noise both of the frozen maids flinch before letting out a breath and quickly continue to care for the young woman and her son. The new mother impatiently watches the maids clean her son, before they pass him to an older woman wearing white robes. The old woman carefully cradles the baby, as she turns a design featuring angel wings with a staff in between them can be seen indicating her as a healer. She begins a short chant before a gold colored spell circle appears above the baby. Light fills the room momentarily, centered around the infant as the spell light flows encompassing the newborn correcting any health issues that may have occurred from the long, difficult labor. As soon as the healer finishes her examination, she passes the baby to the young maid that was cleaning the baby earlier, who has long brunette hair and bright green eyes. The healer moves to the mother and cast a much larger green spell circle between them. After looking the woman over for any other issues, the older woman smiles and nods to the maid holding the baby. The maid smiles happily while holding the baby close, before turning and walking over to the young mother. The maid taking her time waiting for the healer to finish casting the restorative spell on the woman. After the light vanishes from the young woman, the maid steps closer cradling the infant. As the maid carefully passes the baby, she compliments the woman and her child, “Mistress Eleanor, you have an adorable, and healthy son, he even has your gift of those beautiful mystical eyes. I bet his mana capacity will be phenomenal when he comes of age.”
Eleanor takes a deep breath to calm her nerves before beaming a happy but exhausted smile. “Thank you Delilah, have you informed his father that his son has finally arrived?”
“Not yet madam, but I’ll have someone sent to notify him as soon as you’re ready.”, Delilah replies winking at Eleanor, knowing that the father is waiting.
“If you don’t mind, can you wait on sending someone. I’d like a moment to rest and just enjoy my son. I’m sure his father isn’t concerned with him at the moment, since he only seems to care about our son’s future potential for collecting merits under his last name.”, Eleanor scowls just thinking about her husband.
“Of coarse madam, we must make sure to present both of you to him in your best shape so that his judgment can be the most accurate. No matter how long that may take for you.” Delilah keeps a neutral face to keep from frowning at the mention of her boss’ motivations. “I imagine after such an intense labor, it will take at least an hour to have you both ready.”
Eleanor nods to Delilah with a sincere smile, “Thank you, I should be ready by then. Would you mind giving me the room until then?”
“Yes madam, right away.” Delilah escorts the other two maids and the healer out, giving Eleanor time to relax as she stares lovingly down at her baby with a smile.
…
Delilah knocks on the door, before escorting in a well dressed man, in his late thirties. “Mistress Eleanor, I have informed Viscount Greyfort that the baby has been born and you both are presentable now.”
“Thank you Delilah, I appreciate your help with today.” Eleanor does her best to give a poised smile even if a slightly forced one, while turning to face her husband. “I believe you will be pleased to know that, he has mystical eyes and his health is already showing signs of a great vitality, Richard. He has already fed, even going so far as to pull on my mana while feeding.”
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Richard Greyfort, a tall, slightly muscular man with dirty blonde hair, green eyes, and a slightly pale complexion, steps forward after being addressed. After examining the baby for a moment, he silently cast a spell causing light to wrap around the infant, before his own eyes light up. Richard smiles, before addressing Eleanor. “Even having just been born, his mana capacity exceeds what his eldest brothers was at 2. I believe he has bright path ahead, as the future head of the Greyforts. I will make sure he has all the training and materials needed to surpass us both.”
Eleanor’s eyes slightly widen for a moment, not expecting for Richard to be willing to make her son the head of his family. With her being his second wife and not even having a noble background before hand, she never thought he would consider it. She recovers after a moment before giving a genuine smile, “As long as he is happy and healthy, you will have my full support for whatever training, he may need. I just ask that you don’t apply to much pressure to him.”
Richard narrows his eyes at Eleanor, “His happiness is unimportant for his future, he will receive all the training necessary for becoming the head of the Greyforts. He will train as if his life depends on it, for if he fails me it very well may. However, as long as he is to become the next family head, you will however have my word that his health will be the utmost importance.”
As Richard finishes speaking, he is subjected to an intense amount of bloodlust nearly bringing him to his knees. Despite his best efforts to remain calm and appear unbothered his back is quickly covered in sweat and his breathing is faster. Even with flaring his own aura, he doesn’t stand much chance of remaining unaffected. He slowly hides his trembling hands behind his back while trying to stand straight, breathing slowly to stead himself. Eleanor slowly stands while holding her baby, with her eyes narrowed on Richard. She slowly makes her way over in front of him marching with purpose. Standing just within arms reach, as she begins to speak her voice resonates with the mana in the room causing the very air to vibrate. “While I have willing had your child, stop your schemes and prevent harm to my friends. I will NOT allow any harm to be fall him do to your egotistical plans of climbing the noble ranks. You may train him in any direction you like as long as he is happy with it. Finally if you decide for whatever reason he is not suited to be the next head of your family or receive your support, I will assume all rights of his and raise him as I see fit under my family name.”
Richard takes several deep breathes trying to recover and regain his composure. Eleanor looks towards the door after hearing a thump. What she sees is three pale faced kids all with dirty blonde hair. The oldest being a 7 year old boy sitting against the wall on the opposite side of the hallway having fell into it during the battle of auras. A four year old girl is sitting next to him in a puddle of urine while clutching the youngest of the three to her. The three year old boy is wailing in fright in the little girls arms as they all three begin to cry. Two of the maids from earlier, rush to the kids and begin soothing them as they carry them away. Richard seeing his kids from his other wife having witness the whole argument, clicks his tongue and exits the room heading in the opposite direction the maids did. As soon as he is gone, Eleanor takes a deep breath to calm herself, as Delilah sits shaken on the floor while letting out a slow and shaky breathe. Delilah looks up with a worry smile, “Remind me to never get on your bad side.”
Eleanor gives a small guilty smile before sitting next to Delilah, “Sorry if you got caught in that, but I will not let his foolish goals bring harm to my child. If he hadn’t used the schemes that he did, I would have never agreed to marry him.”
Delilah gives her a reassuring smile, “It’s no trouble El. I was more worried about being a witness of anything should he have tried to talk back at that moment. You know it would be hard to find a job if you let your previous boss get murdered in front of you.” She hides a small snicker with her hand.
Eleanor just shakes her head before smiling to Delilah, “Thank you for not getting involved and being someone I can trust since coming here. I don’t think I could have adjusted as well without you.”
“You know I’ll always have your back.” Delilah gives a cheeky smile before continuing, “Besides you’re the only one who isn’t insufferable here, at least when your bloodlust isn’t showing.”
Eleanor rolls her eyes, “You try being married to him and see if you don’t start showing bloodlust.”
“One such as I could never hope to reach such a station madam,” Delilah gives her a wink before getting serious. “So what did you decide to name him?”
Eleanor pauses to consider her choice before nodding to herself, “I’ll name him, Talos, after his great-grandfather Talon and my dad, Domonos.”
“That’s a great name, do you think master Greyfort will have a problem with it?”
Eleanor narrows her eyes at the door, “I dare him to challenge me on it.”
