Glimpse of the Event
Their routine continued for a month—mundane, predictable, but strangely comfortable. On weekdays, the Black siblings balanced school, magic training, and family dinners before heading to bed to rest for another round. Weekends were for catching up, a mix of rest and dealings with the organization. The investigation into the "gift" had been pushed aside, though the small pieces of evidence they managed to uncover weren't easy for normal people to believe.
One quiet evening, as they sifted through more footage, something unusual caught their attention.
The surveillance cameras outside Hirono Hotel captured two unfamiliar figures moving swiftly through the dimly lit lobby. They weren't guests that night—no records, no reservations, no trace of them before or after the event. Yet they blended seamlessly into the atmosphere, dressed appropriately for the occasion, walking with an eerie sense of purpose.
They moved straight into the grand hall, bypassing security with an unnatural ease, as if they knew exactly where to go. No hesitation, no uncertainty. Moments later, they left behind a black velvet box in the corner of a table—placed with deliberate intent. And just a few minutes after, Alexa had noticed it. The way she had paused, silent yet tense, before approaching her mother now made perfect sense.
Vleid stayed quiet, his piercing blue eyes fixed on the footage, a deep frown creasing his features. There was something unsettling about the way the figures moved, like they belonged to a world that wasn't entirely bound by the same rules. Their presence felt... unnatural. Worse, the faint, almost imperceptible murky aura around them in the footage set off a warning deep in his instincts.
"I hope I'm wrong," Vleid muttered, his voice low, almost to himself.
Alexa remained silent, her brow furrowed in thought. The figures were gone before anyone could have spotted them, their identities concealed, leaving only the box behind as a clue.
"They're connected to Astralis for sure," Vleid finally said, exhaling sharply. "I don't just suspect it—I feel like I know them."
Alexa turned to him sharply. "You do?" His jaw tightened. "Not by name. But something about them... It's familiar."
A heavy pause settled between them, the weight of the unknown pressing down.
"Maybe they know more than we do about this 'gift,'" Alexa muttered, her mind already racing with possibilities. "But if they do, they're not making it easy for us."
And that was what unsettled her the most. Whoever they were, they weren't just leaving hints. They were playing a game.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black siblings progress
The steady hum of mana filled the air as the Black siblings pushed their limits, their training progressing with each passing day. What had once been unstable, flickering energy was now more controlled, their bodies gradually adjusting to the heat coursing through them.
Xander stood in the center of the training hall, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he kept his energy active. A faint, golden shimmer pulsed around him, his breathing slow and steady as he maintained the delicate balance of mana flow within his body.
"That's it, bro," Leo encouraged, arms crossed as he observed. "Keep it activated the whole day until you feel exhausted. You need to reach that breaking point if you want to expand the mana pool you have."
Xander nodded, his jaw set with determination. He could already feel the strain creeping in, but he wasn't about to stop now.
A little ways off, Xanthine was deep in concentration, her eyes locked onto her right hand where she was attempting to focus the flow of mana into her fingers alone. The soft glow wavered slightly, shifting as she struggled to condense it further. Frustrated but determined, she turned to her ever-observant companion.
"Dianne, can you help me with this?" Xanthine asked, her voice calm but laced with focus. "I've managed to direct it to just my right hand, but I want to refine it—keep the flow limited to my fingers. Any advice?"
Perched nearby, the white owl fluffed her feathers before tilting her head in amusement.
"Sis, condensing mana at that level is a bit early for you," Dianne said with a sassy flick of her wings in guardian form, more comfortable for her. "But I have to admit, I'm impressed you even got it down to one hand. That takes control." Xanthine smiled slightly at the compliment but didn't lose focus.
"Keep going as you've been doing," Dianne continued. "Don't rush it. Right now, you're still getting used to channeling it—let your body memorize the process before trying to refine it further."
Xanthine took a deep breath and steadied her flow once more.
The training continued, each sibling pushing forward, refining their abilities one step at a time. Their control was growing, but they knew they still had a long way to go.
The training hall buzzed with mana, the Black siblings immersed in their routines when the doors opened, and Alexa entered alongside Kian, Helena, and Vleid. Their arrival was met with a brief pause in the session, though the energy in the room remained charged with determination.
Helena's gaze landed on Alexa, a soft concern flickering in her eyes as she stepped forward. "Alexa, how's it going with your mana control?" she asked, her voice gentle yet tinged with worry.
Alexa met her mother's gaze and offered a small, reassuring smile. "It's okay, Mom," she said, keeping her tone light. "Still faint, but I can condense it now. Vleid has been helping me continuously." She kept her response brief, not wanting to add to Helena's concern.
Helena exhaled softly, nodding, though she could tell there was still progress to be made. She reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind Alexa's ear in a subtle gesture of comfort before turning her attention to the ongoing training.
Vleid, standing quietly beside Alexa, observed the others. His piercing blue eyes flickered toward Xander and Xanthine, noting their improvements. He crossed his arms, nodding slightly as he watched Xander maintain his energy output and Xanthine refine her control.
Kian, ever the silent observer, finally spoke. "Good. You're all progressing steadily," he said, his sharp eyes scanning each of them. "But don't get complacent. You'll need more than controlled mana to handle what's coming."
His words carried weight, though he didn't elaborate.
The siblings exchanged glances, understanding the unspoken message. The strange "gift" left behind at the birthday event, the figures from the footage—everything was pointing toward something bigger. And if their father believed they needed more strength, it meant the real challenges were yet to come.
Despite the quiet tension, there was no fear—only resolve.
"Then we'll keep pushing forward," Xander said, his voice firm.
Xanthine flexed her fingers, a small smirk playing on her lips. "We wouldn't want to disappoint, after all."
Alexa glanced at Vleid, catching the familiar intensity in his blue eyes. There was no need for words—he believed in her, in all of them.
If they were going to be ready, they had to keep training—no matter what.
As the training session continued, Alexa stood a few steps away from the others, her brows slightly furrowed in concentration. She raised her hand, feeling the faint pulse of mana beneath her skin. At first, it had been difficult—too grounded in logic, too resistant to letting the energy flow naturally—but now, it was different.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and allowed the energy to rise.
A soft glow emerged from her palm, flickering at first, but steady. Unlike the golden light of her siblings, Alexa's mana had a distinct hue—a soft shimmer with hints of deep violet woven within. It wasn't just different; it felt denser, heavier.
Vleid watched silently, his sharp gaze locked onto the glow emanating from Alexa's hand. His expression was unreadable, but his body remained tense. He had seen many from Astralis wield mana, their lights reflecting their elemental affinities—green for wind, brown for earth, blue for water, red for fire, and gold for the control of all the basic elements. But Alexa's glow was different.
The deeper the hue, the more powerful and dense one's magical capability. And hers was unmistakably dark.
"You're stabilizing it faster now," Vleid finally said, his voice even. "But how does it feel?"
Alexa frowned slightly, studying the energy in her hand. "It feels... normal? Not heavy or out of control like before. Just... natural."
Helena and Kian exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.
Dianne let out a soft hoot, ruffling her feathers. "Natural? You say that like it's an everyday thing, Alexa. Most people struggle to even condense mana at that level."
Alexa's brow furrowed. She knew she had improved, but she hadn't realized just how much.
Kian stepped forward; his arms crossed. "Good control. But don't mistake stability for mastery. You've taken a step forward, but you need to understand what you're handling."
Alexa exhaled, lowering her hand. The glow dissipated, leaving only a lingering warmth in her palm. She nodded, absorbing her father's words.
She was making progress. But as she met Vleid's intense blue gaze again, she couldn't shake the feeling that he's a bit happy than usual, she saw a glint on his face, seems like his worry was lessen.
"Alexa, do you realize the color you're emitting is a reflection of ancient times?" Vleid's voice took on a storytelling cadence, his gaze locked onto the glow surrounding her.
"Ten generations ago, the first Queen—the founder of Astralis—possessed this very hue." A heavy silence filled the air. The Black family members exchanged stunned glances, their eyes wide with disbelief—except for Helena, who remained composed.
Helena nodded, her voice steady as she continued, "The first Queen... She was the most powerful of her time—a legendary woman who rose from nothing. Fueled by ambition, she climbed her way to power, determined to correct the injustices of her era. In those days, magical creatures were treated as lesser beings, and she sought to change that—to impose a more humane treatment upon them."
Vleid's expression darkened with reverence. "She became the bridge between all races and humanity itself."
"Does this mean that Nee-san will be someone important?" Xander asked, tilting his head as he looked at their mother. "Because in my research—from fantasy novels, at least—rare powers usually appear when something dangerous is brewing."
"Nee-san, an heiress, a princess, and a wielder of rare magic! Wow! What a combination!" Xanthine added proudly, smirking as she glanced at Alexa.
Helena chuckled softly before addressing them, "Your sister is indeed special, dears. But for now, don't dwell on it too much. You need to focus on honing your abilities first—start with creating elements from nothing, then we move on to something more advance like levitation, and eventually, you'll learn how to levitate yourselves and teleport. Understood?"
Then, her gaze softened as she turned to Alexa, a hint of concern in her eyes. "Dear, don't overthink it, okay? Vleid will be there for you."
After a moment, Helena and Kian left, giving the children space to continue their training.
As the air grew quieter, Alexa tugged on Vleid's sleeve. "Vleid, I know I've been asking a lot these days, but... can you come with me for a sec?"
Without hesitation, Vleid followed her out of the sanctuary and into the garage. Alexa walked straight to her sleek black Lamborghini, sliding into the driver's seat. She needed a change of scenery, a moment away from everything. Without question, Vleid followed her lead.
Just as she was about to start the engine, Vleid sighed. "Lexie." He glanced at her before holding out his hand. "Give me the keys. I'll take you somewhere.". Vleid calling her in her nickname really shows how close they've become this past few weeks.
Alexa hesitated but ultimately handed them over.
Vleid drove in comfortable silence, letting the soft notes of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker fill the space between them. Eventually, he pulled into an open-air theater—an old but well-maintained space, illuminated by soft golden lights. The vast greenery surrounding it and the open sky above gave the place a strangely calming aura. Only a handful of visitors were scattered around, their parked cars facing the large screen, which played a vintage romantic movie.
Alexa rolled down her window, inhaling the crisp night air before shifting in her seat, crossing her legs in a relaxed manner. "Vleid," she hesitated for a moment, as if weighing her words. "Can you tell me what Astralis is like? What makes it different from here... you know, without the magic part?"
Vleid took a deep breath as he relaxed in the drivers' chair, arms crossed as he considered her question. "Hmm... well, for one, we've got clean air." He chuckled, his lips quirking up in amusement.
Alexa let out a small laugh. "That's a good start."
"Also, no petty crimes. I mean, there still are, but we have a more solid justice system—thanks to your ancestors." His gaze drifted to the screen, though his mind seemed elsewhere, lost in thought.
Alexa followed his line of sight but remained focused on the conversation. "I figured it'd be similar to the underground world when it comes to politics—so many prying eyes, opposition, and hungry hyenas." She sighed, rubbing her temples.
Vleid finally looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Lexie, you can't remove opposition. That's why we have discussions—to find middle ground." He paused before adding with a small smirk, "But I guess you're not entirely wrong. At the very least, you've got royal grandparents. They can watch your back... a little."
Well, I'd be grateful," Alexa murmured, resting her chin on her hand. "But if I end up going through another heir training... I really don't know what to do. Still, it might help me with the clan."
She fell into silence, staring at the vintage movie playing on the screen. The soft glow from the theater lights reflected in her eyes, her thoughts a mix of uncertainty and reluctant acceptance.
After a long pause, Vleid suddenly asked, "Hey, wanna have some ice cream? I'll bring you some." Alexa blinked, momentarily pulled from her thoughts. Then, she smiled—small, but genuine."Yeah, sure."
Without another word, Vleid got out of the car, leaving Alexa watching his retreating figure.
She leaned back against her seat, exhaling softly. "What's with this guy? He just knows how to handle me."
As the eldest, she had always carried herself with an air of independence, never one to openly lean on others. Even Brent expected her to be strong. But Vleid—he was different. He didn't hesitate to indulge her in his own quiet, matter-of-fact way.
And maybe... maybe she didn't mind it as much as she pretended to.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Vleid walked away, his hands slipped into his pockets, his mind heavy with thoughts.
"I wish these calm moments would never end..." he mused, glancing back at Alexa through the car window. She had rolled it down, letting the night air brush against her face, eyes lost in thought.
This mundane world—so different from the one he was raised in—was starting to get to him. The simplicity of it, the fleeting peace, the way everything here felt slower, almost... softer. And yet, he knew it wasn't his place. He had a duty to fulfill.
"This is making me lose focus. I need to get her settled so we can go back in time."
That was what he told himself. That was the goal. But deep down, he knew the truth.
At some point, without realizing it, he had developed a soft spot for her.
And for someone like him—someone who had been cast aside by his own blood, sent away under the guise of a peace treaty—having a soft spot was dangerous.
The King and Queen of Astralis had taken him in, treating him as if he were their own, but he had always kept his distance. It was safer that way. He had learned long ago that attachments were liabilities.
And yet, here he was, buying ice cream for a girl who, despite everything, had somehow wormed her way into his heart.
Vleid sighed, shaking his head as he approached the small ice cream stand.
"I'm losing my damn mind."