"You will be going to the Royal Academy this fall. Do not besmirch the Valtheron name," Alaric Valtheron stated, looking down at his fourth son, Caelum.
Caelum gave a small, meek nod. "Yes, sir," he replied, speaking to his father as if he were a stranger. His gaze was fixed on the floor before Alaric's feet, playing the part of the perfectly obedient, timid boy.
Alaric felt a slight prickle of disturbance at Caelum's demeanour. All his other children had enough confidence to meet his eyes, yet here was his fourth son, afraid to even look at his face for a second.
He let out a low growl and harshly gripped Caelum's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Make eye contact when you address someone not equal to your status," he ordered sharply. "You are not to let others look down on you, thinking they can look down on my blood," he added, his eyes stern.
Caelum nodded again. "Yes, sir," he said, this time holding Alaric's gaze.
Alaric nodded in satisfaction and then dismissed him, sending him to the room that had been arranged for him.
'That was difficult,' Caelum thought, the moment he was out of sight. 'I felt like burning his hand when he caught my chin and pulled me up.'
Using his air magic, he subtly listened to the conversations taking place in Alaric's office. His father was currently questioning the guards assigned to Caelum.
The guards, who were indeed supposed to have been assigned to him, trembled visibly before Alaric.
"You never guarded my son?" Alaric bellowed, his voice booming with fury.
'Why would they, when you chose to abandon me?' Caelum mused bitterly. 'They knew there would be no benefit in guarding an abandoned child.'
"H…his highness can use healing magic, your highness," one of the two guards stammered out.
"Healing magic?" Alaric questioned, a flicker of surprise in his voice.
The guards nodded nervously.
"When we go to the temple tomorrow, we'll get him checked again," Alaric said with a sigh. He waved a hand, dismissing the guards, who quickly scurried away, fearing he might change his mind.
Alaric then summoned his butler. "Cut their salaries by half for this entire year," he commanded, his voice cold.
"Yes, your highness," the butler replied, placing a hand over his heart before quickly leaving the office.
Alaric sighed heavily as he sank onto the plush couch.
'Measure my magic?' Caelum thought, still listening from his room. 'I can display whatever magic I choose, but can I really seal my true power to a mediocre level?'
The next day, all three children who were joining the Royal Academy, including Caelum, were taken to the Temple of the Goddess of Light to have their magic type and level measured.
Caelum's half-siblings shot him contemptuous sneers as they waited for their turn.
Amanda Natasha Veltheron was first. She possessed fire magic, the traditional Valtheron family magic. Her measured level was 30.
"Not bad, my dear," Alaric said, giving Amanda a proud pat on the shoulder before sending his son, Nathaniel Victor Veltheron, forward.
Nathaniel also had fire magic, along with a small amount of air magic. His level was measured at 35.
Alaric praised Nathaniel warmly. "You're the strongest child. Your older siblings never reached level 35 at eighteen. Well done, son," he said, a genuine smile on his face.
Nathaniel puffed out his chest, basking in the praise.
Alaric then gave Caelum a pointed look that clearly meant, 'Go and get yourself checked'.
Caelum sighed inwardly and walked to the priest, allowing the man to take his hand and place it on the smooth, glass sphere.
"Healing magic, and a little fire magic, your highness," the priest announced, looking up at Alaric.
Alaric nodded. "What level?" he asked, a hint of impatience in his tone.
The priest looked into the sphere again and gasped, his eyes wide.
"Is it too low?" Alaric demanded, his expression darkening with a fury that made the priest understand Caelum would suffer a severe beating if he didn't clarify the situation immediately.
"No, your highness," the priest rushed to say. "Your fourth son is 10 levels higher than your level when you were his age. He's at level 60."
Alaric gasped audibly and walked over quickly to see the number himself. It was indeed '60', glowing in a vibrant, slightly neon green light. "He didn't show any signs of magic when he was four," he said, looking at the sweating priest.
The priest wiped beads of sweat from his forehead. "Some children show signs of magic as late as six. They are usually very gifted," he explained hastily.
Alaric almost wanted to smash his head against the wall. 'I abandoned a gift,' he silently admonished himself, his heart sinking with regret. He grabbed Caelum by the arm and pulled him towards the waiting carriage.
When the carriages reached the Valtheron Manor, Alaric remained inside, forcing Caelum to stay with him as he sent the others back into the house.
"How is your mother?" Alaric asked, his voice unexpectedly soft.
"Dead, sir," Caelum replied, making sure to act like he was struggling to meet Alaric's eye, yet forcing himself to look at his father.
"When?" Alaric asked, his hand beginning to sweat. He truly had loved the woman, but his other consorts and concubines had resented his preference for her and had pressured him until he sent her away to the remote Sky Manor.
"Twelve years ago, sir," Caelum said, expertly letting tears well up in his eyes. He didn't have to try hard; just remembering the absence of a true mother figure in his life was enough to bring tears.
"I'm sorry for what I've done to you and your mother," Alaric confessed, his voice thick with guilt.
Caelum offered Alaric a small, pained smile. "It is all in the past, sir," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "Mother taught me to leave the past behind and move forward."
Alaric sighed, running a hand over his face. "How did you reach level 60?" he asked.
"I practised on myself, sir," Caelum explained. "I trained myself in swordsmanship while watching the knights outside. Whenever I got hurt, I healed myself."
Alaric felt a sharp pang of hurt pride. No matter what, Caelum was his son, his own blood, and those guards had chosen to ignore him and his silent pleas for help for his mother. "They shall atone for their actions," he promised darkly.
'You mean death?' Caelum thought, but he merely nodded obediently.
"Let's go," Alaric said, finally getting down from the carriage. "I will give you a book detailing the nobles and royalty. You must memorize all the names, faces, and characteristics," he instructed.
"Sir?" Caelum called out, causing Alaric to pause and look back at him. "Which prince, among the three, do we support?" he asked, his tone pragmatic.
"The second and third," Alaric stated. "But stay away from the second prince if you can."
Caelum nodded once and then walked obediently behind Alaric, a subtle smile playing on his lips.