A cold breeze blew gently through the large hole in the ruined wall, carrying the scent of damp earth from the forest outside the West Pavilion. However, the chill was no match for the tension still hanging heavy in the devastated bedroom.
Duchess Elara was still sitting on the edge of the bed, massaging her forehead. Her breathing slowly began to regulate, though her gaze still betrayed the lingering tremors of shock after discovering her son was the owner of the [Time Loop] Blessing.
Calian, the "Empty Trash", was a master of time. That fact still felt surreal to Elara.
"Mother?" Calian called softly, breaking the silence. He pulled a vanity chair near his feet and sat facing his mother. Wolvin stood faithfully by his side. "Now it's my turn to ask."
Elara raised her face, looking at her son with raised eyebrows. "Ask what? I think I'm the one who should still have a million questions for you."
"About you, Mother!" Calian answered calmly, his purple eyes sharp yet probing. "I have revealed my secret. And I have also revealed that Wolvin and I are married. Now, wouldn't it be fair if you were honest with me too?"
Elara frowned. "What do you mean?"
"That light element spear magic earlier..." Calian pointed to the remnants of magical energy still faintly glowing in the air. "I'm certain that was legendary-tier magic. Even a Grand Mage from the Magic Tower would need at least five seconds to chant the spell. But you..."
Calian leaned forward, staring intently at his mother.
"...you cast it in less than a second. Without a verbal incantation. Without an intermediate magic circle. That is impossible to achieve with talent or hard training alone."
Calian smiled faintly. "Mother, you are hiding something too, aren't you? You are not just an ordinary Grand Mage as the world knows."
Elara fell silent. She looked at her youngest son with new eyes. It turned out that during his life in the main mansion, he hadn't just been lamenting his fate. This child observed. This child analyzed. His sharpness in reading situations truly amazed me. Is he really the son I birthed from my womb?
A long sigh escaped the Duchess's lips. her stiff shoulders slowly relaxed.
"You really are my son." Elara murmured, a hint of pride in her voice. "I am very glad you inherited my intelligence and not your father's stupidity."
Elara raised both her hands. Instantly, seven small elemental orbs appeared before Calian and Wolvin. They were fire, water, wind, earth, light, darkness, and lightning, dancing at her fingertips in perfect harmony, without a single spell uttered.
"You are right, Calian. The world knows me as a Grand Mage of the light element. But that is only a small part of the truth."
Elara looked at the elemental orbs with a nostalgic gaze.
"My Blessing is called [Supreme Archmage]."
Calian's eyes widened slightly, while Wolvin tilted his head, awed by the dancing lights.
"[Supreme Archmage]?" Calian repeated.
"Yes!" Elara answered. "This Blessing gives me absolute affinity with all magic elements in this world. I do not need to chant spells because the mana in this universe considers me its master. I can manipulate mana as naturally as I breathe. My mana efficiency is nearly limitless."
"That is why I could unleash high-level magic without any preparation earlier." Elara continued. "I have hidden it all this time so that the balance of power among the nobility is not disrupted. If the Emperor knew I held this much power, the Larvin family would be considered the number one threat."
Calian nodded in understanding. "No wonder you always looked calm even when Father underestimated you."
Hearing the word "Father", Elara's expression changed drastically. Her relaxing face tensed up again. The image of her husband, Duke Maxwell Larvin, crossed her mind like a black cloud bringing a storm.
"Calian..." Elara's voice turned serious, so serious that Wolvin perked up his ears. "Since we are in a moment of honesty... there is one thing you must know. Something far more dangerous than my magic or your siblings' powers."
"About Father?" Calian guessed.
Elara nodded heavily. "You have [Time Loop]. I have [Supreme Archmage]. Your older siblings have extraordinary talents. But... you must not underestimate your father. Never think you can win easily against him just because you can stop time."
Elara gripped her dress. Genuine fear radiated from her eyes.
"The reason why he became the strongest Duke, the reason why even the Emperor is wary of him... is not just because of politics or wealth. But because he is a true monster."
Elara looked straight at Calian. "Your father possesses a Blessing called [True God of War]."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. The name sounded heavy and oppressive.
"[True God of War]?" Wolvin asked innocently, but his tail tucked between his legs. His instincts reacted to the name of that power.
"It is not just a nickname!" Elara explained warningly. "That Blessing gives your father nonsensical physical and magical dominance. His body has absolute immunity to most attacks. His stamina is almost limitless; he can fight for seven days and seven nights without stopping, without eating, even without sleeping."
Elara swallowed hard, remembering how terrifying her husband was on the battlefield.
"And the most terrifying thing... every time he is injured or pushed back, his power multiplies exponentially. He cannot tire, he cannot surrender. He is the personification of war itself."
Elara looked at Calian anxiously.
"Calian, even though you can stop time... you must be careful. [True God of War] has insane natural resistance. I do not know if he can break through your time freeze or not, but if there is one being in this world who could move within your stopped time, it might be your father."
Calian fell silent. This information was crucial. All this time he thought his father was merely a high-level Swordmaster. It turned out his father was a walking natural disaster.
"Thank you for the warning, Mother." Calian said calmly, though his brain began running thousands of battle simulation scenarios. "I will remember it."
Silence fell for a moment. Elara then shifted her gaze from Calian to the figure beside him.
Wolvin.
The beastfolk wolf still stood faithfully, holding Calian's sleeve. His cute face, slightly flushed cheeks, and innocent round eyes made anyone want to pinch him. He looked like a sweet beastfolk, far from dangerous.
However, Elara was the owner of the [Supreme Archmage] blessing. She could not be deceived by mere appearances.
"And you!" Elara called to Wolvin. Her voice was sharp, straight to the point.
Wolvin flinched. "Y-Yes, Mother-in-law?"
The address 'Mother-in-law' almost made Duchess Elara laugh. However, she tried to remain calm and focused on what she wanted from Wolvin.
Elara narrowed her eyes, staring intently at the beastfolk from the Night Wolf clan.
"Do not pretend in front of me, Young Wolf." Elara said coldly. "Your face is indeed cute. Your behavior is innocent like a lost wolf cub. But..."
Elara leaned forward.
"...your aura is the complete opposite of your face. There is a pitch-black darkness you hide behind that stupid smile. The scent of blood, faint but sharp."
Wolvin fell silent. The awkward smile on his face slowly faded.
"Calian would not marry someone weak just to be a decoration." Elara continued probingly. "I think he needs someone who can protect him when his physical body weakens due to the use of [Time Loop] or guard the secret he has hidden so neatly until now."