The main hall was already prepared when Leon arrived, though he had yet to enter.

Inside, the family members were seated around a long polished short table, on individual couches of each.

The room shines with a yellow glow from the chandelier above.

On one side sat the Duke, Orion Valentine, beside him Duchess Ezra, and Veronica, who rested her cheek on one hand while stirring her tea.

On the opposite side sat Orion's younger brother, Darius Valentine, and his wife, Liana.

The twins' parents.

They were discussing the emblem-giving ceremony to be held in the morning for the twins.

"Tomorrow," Orion said. "The announcement has already been made. It will happen in the cathedral of Silvermoon, I wish you both have no concern?"

Duke looked at twin's parents.

Darius agreed with a slow nod. "Of course."

Liana, however, seemed unsettled. Her eyes lowered, and her grip on her glass tightened before she realized Ezra was watching her.

"You wished to say something," Ezra said.

Liana straightened, lightly clearing her throat, and said as if she wanted to.

"Yes. I was only wondering… where is Leon?"

"I asked him to show the twins to their rooms," Ezra replied. "Why you ask?"

Liana hesitated.

"There have been rumors. Actually quite a number of them. About him being accepted in Eclipse Institute."

Darius continued for her. "Ah, don't misjudge, we heard Leon was accepted as a research scholar."

He paused then added.

"We assumed that you requested it brother. As his parents."

Orion set his hands on the table. "Yes, I requested the headmaster to grant him an interview. That is all."

Darius blinked.

Liana's brows drew slightly together.

Ezra spoke next.

"Leon passed on his own. We have no hand in meddling in Eclipse's affair. And besides, you know who headmaster Raizen is, right?"

No one spoke for a while.

Darius then asked, carefully.

"Then about his ranking… is it true?"

'Ohh, Look at them.' Ezra smirked inwardly.

She did not dramatize the answer.

"He placed second in the first-year."

Darius leaned back. "Ah, so it's true."

Liana's gaze lowered, neither of them masked their surprise well.

They remembered Leon as the quiet child trailing behind Rowan.

He was always tired, weak, and pathetic..

The one everyone assumed would amount to nothing.

Clank—!

Everyone's attention shifted to the sound.

Veronica set her cup down and spoke, with her flat tone.

"I assume we are drifting from the topic."

She glared at her uncle.

Orion nodded once. "Yes, Darius, I do respect your curiosity, but it is going too far as labeling his achievements as mere fake."

No brother, you get us all wron—"

Orion interrupted him.

"Whether anyone keeps up with him or not is no longer our concern. If you wish to test it out, be our guest." He looked at Veronica, "I suppose he wouldn't reject a duel or two."

Veronica sipped on her tea and nodded. "There's no reason for him to reject."

The air in the hall seemed to tighten a little.

Darius lowered his eyes, and Liana held her glass with both hands.

Ezra crossed one leg over the other,, then tapped her finger on her own cup as if remembering something pleasant.

"My, would you look at the time," Ezra said with a gentle smile that did not match the sharpness in her eyes. "Why not we simply celebrate both sides today. Leon's admission and the twins' return. There is always room to grow. I am sure Ren and Layla will have their chance to prove themselves as well when they try for Eclipse next year…. By ranking first that is."

Darius forced an awkward smile. "O-of course."

Liana nodded, though her expression was stiff.

Orion raised his glass to close the subject, and the servants moved to pour fresh wine, signaling the conversation had ended.

Only Veronica remained expressionless, her gaze drifting toward the door. As if she already knew that Leon was listening the whole time.

She smiled faintly. The people sitting here were not even aware of what Leon was truly capable of, only she had seen him.

Veronica was herself surprised that Leon ranked second and not first. She knew her brother was an absolute monster.

Due to which she had to check who that person was who ranked at the very top.

And he had to admit that Leon's second rank was valid.

'Two light affinities side by side… one got the king's support, and one didn't…'

It always fascinated her how her brother had the Light affinity. One of the rarest affinity that was considered to be myth.

'Children of Lights…' Veronica thought back, 'Goddess Everbright, you have truly done it now….'

She just has to wait, and witness it with her own eyes. The future which was promised to her.

The hall door opened.

Leon stepped inside without announcing himself. His expression was calm, bordering indifferent. His gaze moved briefly across the table, stopping only for a fraction of a second on Darius and Liana. They felt that look clearly. As if he had already known what they were discussing before he entered.

He walked to Veronica's side and took a seat there without hesitation.

Ezra placed her cup down.

"Where is Rowan?"

Leon answered plainly. "He went with Ren. I don't know where they are now."

"Then we will start without him," Ezra said.

She looked at Veronica.

Veronica nodded once. "Yes, mother."

She reached to her side and pulled out a rectangular box made of black wood.

It looked old.

Leon's eyes narrowed.

'What is that?'

Veronica opened the lid slowly.

The air in the hall shifted. Something inside the box pulsed faintly with white light.

And as it opened, the Ice spirit ring on Leon's index finger trembled.

It was not violent, but Leon felt it.

A quiet vibration that traveled up his arm and settled somewhere deep in his chest, to his core.

Veronica spoke without looking at him.

"This is for tomorrow's ceremony," she said. "The emblem of house Valentine, as instructed by mother, I have crafted it by infusing it with preserved Elven White Core."

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[AN: support with PS and GT]

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