All the eyes that were looking at him somehow turned sceptical, and the whispers immediately took a bad turn.
Lucy, the knight commander, immediately issued a firm command to her knights. They moved quickly to form a protective circle around the area and used their shields to gently but firmly push the crowd back, forcing them to retreat.
People, pressed by the advancing knights, groaned in pain as they were pushed back from the edge of the crowd.
Shane's eyes almost turned red with anger, but his wife stopped him from any rash action as she put her hand on his shoulder, "Honey, we have other matters to deal with."
Sera grabbed Alex's hand and guided him towards the gate. Ariana approached, watching her brother with sad eyes. Having overheard the rumours as well, she stepped beside Alex, took his other hand, and muttered, "Don't worry, brother, they are baseless rumours."
Slowly, the voices dimmed. They were still talking about it. "Look, he inherits their feature. How could they throw such baseless rumours?" All the others nodded, as if clarity had finally returned. They turned to see who had brought up that topic first, but no one came forward.
Though there was magic to change one's face, they did not believe their lords, who were benevolent and kind, would have a bastard child.
Lucy looked at the people with a deep gaze; they were frightened immediately and scattered, leaving the area slowly empty.
Alex calmed himself down. He had thought people were nice, as all the people he had interacted with were nice and welcoming, though he was always taught that there were all kinds of people; it had not fit with his worldview, but now the worldview he had formed was slowly crumbling, new views were being formed and trying to win against the old. Inside his mind, there was a raging storm that was trying to change Alex's outlook on the world.
He thought inwardly, "Maybe the world is not as kind as I imagined it to be."
Shane bent on his knee and met his son's azure eyes. "Son, do not think too deeply about what others say. You are our son. We will punish them. But we can't punish everyone. The world is big. There will be bad people and even worse ones. Become strong, and do not be shaken by their stares or words. You are heir to one of the empire's strongest families. There will always be gazes on you. That is your shackle; this proves the power and prestige of our family. Learn to make them work for you."
Alex nodded,"Yes, Father, I will not be bound by those shackles, I will rise above all."
Shane smiled at his son's determination. He put his hand on his son's head and shuffled the hair.
They reached near the gate, where a large circle was imbued with intricate patterns and designs that made the people wonder about the mysteries of the world, with guards stationed around it. A guard immediately ran up to them, his attire different from others, differentiating him as a superior in command and leader of the guards.
"Your grace, where would you like to go?" he asked, bowing before Shane Drakethorne.
"Set the destination to Sheron City," Shane ordered, then returned to the carriage. Others followed him back into the carriage.
The guard captain immediately understood they were visiting the academy because the nearest city to Silverin State was Sheron City, which housed a teleportation gate.
The teleportation gate was quickly set up, and it filled with a blue mist rising from the runes engraved in the ground, giving it an ethereal look.
The guard captain informed the knights that the teleportation gate was ready for use.
First, a few knights entered the gate. Then the carriage followed in. Behind it, the remaining knights followed.
Alex gripped the sofa seat inside the carriage to steady himself as the teleportation sequence began. Ariana clung to his side, wrapping her hands tightly around his arm. 'Brother, make sure not to throw up at me,' she whispered.
Shane and Sera laughed, seeing their children's reaction. For starters, they would feel nausea and dizziness as they would teleport; those with experience, too, felt it, but for the most part, they got used to it and handled it.
Ariana mumbled again, "Brother, do not puke."
Alex nodded. Ariana had mentioned beforehand the feeling of teleportation gate, so he had done everything in his power; he had eaten less than normal just so that he wouldn't vomit.
He looked out the window and saw blue mist circling around them; he was filled with awe. But he turned his head back and shut his eyes close and steadied himself.
Alex's head hummed with pain as dizziness took over. He felt himself swinging and losing balance. Nausea overwhelmed him.
He immediately bent his body, and, looking down, he puked all the bile on the carriage floor. Ariana, on the other hand, who had barely controlled herself, threw up immediately after seeing her brother throw up.
Alex had quickly dropped to the floor to avoid throwing up in front of his parents. Ariana was slower and vomited on Shane's pants.
Sera's clothes missed by only an inch. The floor was covered in vomit, splashing over their shoes. A foul smell filled the carriage.
Shane immediately flung open the carriage's door. He reached for his children and guided them out first, ensuring they stepped safely outside. Sera followed them, leaving last as she pinched her nose to avoid the smell.
The standing knights noticed the children's state and immediately brought a water bottle. Alex gracefully drank the water and wiped his face clean, and Ariana followed suit, copying his actions to wash the bile off her face.
Sera reached near her children and cast a subtle magic spell, manipulating her ice magic into a liquid state and cleaning the children's shoes and removing any stains that had filled their clothes.
She cast magic on her husband and herself to wash the shoes and clean off her husband's pants.
After what appeared to be an eternity to the kids, they came back from their nausea and dizziness, but there was still a bit of dizziness in their heads, and a slight pain in their stomachs.
Alex immediately bowed to his parents to apologise, and Ariana followed suit, bowing her head towards Shane at more than 90 degrees, almost touching the street.
Fear clouded their faces. They shut their eyes tightly, standing side by side. They waited in silence for their parents to reprimand and lecture them.
- - -
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