"Severin Halderick, what is your reason for acting in such a way, in the Grand Basilica of all places?" The Emperor asked as he looked towards his War Marshal, tying her mouth with a cloth from his robe.
The Marshal had brought her on the second floor, close enough to see the ceremony, but far enough not to disturb it.
"Your Majesty...excuse my audacity. She has been gone for 15 years, no word of her, and now she comes and almost ruins everything. You understand how she was going to call the boy, correct?" Severin took a knee down as he looked at Alaric Dane, who was now stroking his chin, appearing in thought.
"I can deduce that, Severin. You should also know her prophecies have never been wrong, for good or for bad...at least. It would have been nothing but good news for our Empire, yet it seems to me that you're hiding more than that, my friend. Speak, now." Alaric snapped his fingers, and it seemed like the whole room had become quieter, while no sound could leave from their location.
"The boy, he is extremely talented, yet lacks ambition. It is men like him who gain power. Had she called him Aurelion, she would have disturbed his whole life, possibly changing the whole prophecy. Fate is complicated; even if that prophecy came true, it could be in a tragic way, as you know, Emperor. I could not risk the future of our Empire being spoiled. That prophecy would hold more weight than we can withstand right now." Severin explained as he stood up and looked at the old hag, who was laughing and muttering 'Aurelion has come', one sentence after another, muffled yet audible.
"Severin. The boy. There is more. I want to know what exactly you are keeping hidden." Dane was getting more impatient with each time the seer muttered the same sentence, one time after another, while her blind eyes never left Valtherion.
"His mind. Extremely talented Strategist and Tactician, a genius that overshadows me. He has decided to study and help Louis Mograine with their country, but would refuse to display abilities that would place him at the centre of the Empire. He is not greedy for power; he craves peace. I did not wish for this period of peace for him to be ruined and put him in a desperate situation. If that prophecy is right, it will happen naturally."
The two men had long stopped paying attention to the hag, as now both of their hands rested on the railing, observing the bathing of Valtherion. His head was below the water, as Luther and Ahri were picking water with goblets and pouring it over him again and again, while the priest chanted.
Valtherion stood up after he was given a sign and looked around, all smiles. Luther, Ahri, and his mother, however, Luther's expression was soon replaced by confusion as he reached for Val's hair, bending his head for all to see. His hair seemed to have a patch of silver colour now, just a small part of it, but it was evident, a stark contrast with the rest of his dark hair.
"Do you see what I am seeing, Severin?" Alaric asked as his hands gripped the railing, bending it. A grin was on his face, while the Grand Marshal was also smiling, his eyes teary.
"Severin, this sign from the Goddess could not be more evident. Keep this matter hidden; if a word gets out, your head will roll. You have full power to protect the boy; you have begun something, and you will see it done with me. Update me every single day; I do not care about how casual your days are; he is under my protection. Is everything clear?" The Emperor gazed towards him with a smile as he gave him his orders while genuinely seeming happier than ever.
"I will see to it done. Let us just watch how fate unfolds. I have a feeling, my Emperor, that you will have to lead an Army personally. Please, make sure that you're free and alive in the following 5 years; tensions on the Eastern Border are growing slowly...exactly where they need to be." The Marshal smiled, as if not caring about the fact that his head would roll if something wrong were to occur.
"Seer, what exactly do you see? Tell me, now!" As if teleporting, the Emperor held the seer by her neck and removed the cloth.
"The serpeent! The serpeent will suffocatee thee Immortal Soul...Hee will sniff it out, returniiing what wass lost, rebuildiiing what wass brokenn...The serpeent will crush the Dragon's Neck! He will crushh it!"
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"Bah! The Goddess has spoken; you are turning into a snowman, Val! Haha!" Alexstraza laughed along with Dain and the rest. Usually, it would be taken as a sign from the Goddess; however, nobody was really considering that.
Valtherion did not know when Alaric had returned with the Marshal, but now they were both clapping, congratulating the godson and godparents.
"Godfather! Cut it off! I will be mocked and bullied for this!" Valtherion seemed to mind his new hair, as he urged Luther to cut it, causing more laughs.
"No! Valtherion Mograine! You are not to touch your hair! I forbid you in the name of every Mograine! Keep it, please! It is who you are meant to be!" His father, Louis Mograine, reached him as he put a hand on his neck and looked at him with tears in his eyes, shocking Valtherion to his core. It was just hair, after all.
A tap landed on the father's shoulder; it was Alaric Dane, as he looked toward Louis and nodded with an approving smile.
His father knows...that is why he keeps him so hidden: no engagements, no flashy moves...
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It was night; the Mansion of Princess Ahri was bustling as there was music and people were celebrating. It was a tight circle of celebration, but it was sincere as everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Multiple gifts were given to Luther, Ahri and Valerion. The men looked to be drunk, as they were enjoying themselves fully, including the calmly collected Louis, who was speaking alone with Alaric.
"How did all of this come to be, Louis?" asked the Emperor in a calm manner, cheeks slightly flushed.
"At his birth. The seer had appeared beside Morgana as she was about to lose the baby. She did something, and everything was alright after that...Yet before she left, she told me the full prophecy. The cost was her sanity...From that moment, Morgana and I have kept it a secret and would have, had the seer not bustled in like that. I understood the stakes of such a prophecy; thus, I kept everything a secret. Even killed every single person that was present at that time... The best way for it to come true is to let things flow naturally. Whatever you do, Emperor Alexander, just make sure to be next to my son when the time comes." Louis said as he held the Emperor's hands, while his hands were shaking.
"It is a heavy burden, Louis. I am speechless. Great work, both of you. You have my word; I swear it by my name. I, Alexander, will be there for him when he crushes that Dragon's Immortal Soul. Our Empire will flourish; this is our decade, my friend. Let us make those who have lost their lives proud. Now call forward your boy; I have a gift for him." The Emperor smiled as he accepted; today was a day he would never forget.
Valtherion was called, and he showed up, albeit a little bit drunk. He was messy, covered in cake, and his hair was ruffled; Dain had made sure to give him a good 'make-up '.
"Lad, I, your uncle, do not live among nobility; you have never met me; however, I have a small gift for you. Take this Great Serpent Body; it is a manual consisting of body tempering as well as battle techniques. It will not let you down; you will crush dragons with it!" Alaric threw a book in his hand and smiled. Louis did not say a thing, and only nodded towards Valtherion.
"Thank you, Uncle Alaric! I will make sure I snap a dragon's head with it! Your gift is beyond precious" Valtherion bowed as the alcohol left his system. That was an extremely precious gift; it was something that only someone extremely wealthy and strong could fork out. If he knew that it was one of the most valuable things in the treasury, however, he would totally lose his mind.
"Haha, I will hold you to your word, little Mograine! Go now, enjoy your night!"