Waaaaaah! Whaaaaaaaah! Whaaaaaaaaah!
The piercing cry of a new life born shattered the tense stillness within the Starchrest estate.
Outside the bedchamber, a tall, imposing man in his thirties was pacing anxiously. His bright blond hair swayed in the gentle breeze drifting through a nearby window, and his deep blue eyes were clouded with concern as he stared at the door. Standing nearly 6'2, with a powerful frame honed from years of discipline, Duke Alaric Starchrest—head of one of the Kingdom's most prestigious and powerful ducal houses—looked anything but calm.
A soft click signaled the door opening. A middle-aged woman in a maid's robe, distinguished slightly by it's darker trim, stepped out, her hands dusted with the scent of herbs.
"How are they?" Alaric asked the immediately, his stoic expression faltering with visible worry.
The midwife offered a polite smile. "It's a healthy boy, my lord. Lady Seraphyne is resting and well. She is with the child right now."
Relief washed over Alaric like a wave, the tension in his shoulders slowly loosening.
Sensing his intent, the midwife politely stepped aside. Alaric gave her a grateful nod and entered the room. The door shut softly behind him, leaving the midwife and maids outside.
Inside, the warm light from a nearby lamp bathed the room in a soft glow. On the bed, a radiant woman in her thirties—with flowing black hair and luminous green eyes—cradled a tiny, swaddled child in her arms. She gently rocked the infant, who looked back at her with curious, bright green eyes.
Seraphyne looked up as Alaric entered. Her expression softened, her tired yet luminous eyes brimming with affection—for the man she loved, and the miracle they had brought into the world.
Alaric approached, his usual confidence giving way to hesitation.
"Look at our son, dear... he's beautiful. Go on—hold him." Seraphyne's voice was soft, her voice warm and inviting.
Alaric stepped closer, his arms trembling. What if his blood stained hands weren't worthy to hold something this pure? As their eyes met, something stirred in his chest—an unfamiliar tremble, a warmth that brought tears to the edge of his vision.
In that moment, the world outside the room ceased to exist.
He gently infused a thread of mana into the child—checking for any abnormalities. But what he sensed left him stunned. Within that tiny body surged an unfathomable reservoir of mana—vast, impossibly pure.
"His name is Vaeris... Vaeris Starchrest." he whispered in awe, eyes glistening with tears of joy.
He sat beside Seraphyne, drawing her into a gentle embrace as he lovingly cradled their son between them. Gently taking her hands in his, he softly planted a kiss on her fingers, his gaze locked with hers—brimming with quiet gratitude.
They spent a moment of tender stillness, filled with love for each other and their newborn son. After what seemed like forever, they slowly parted. Alaric carefully handed Vaeris back to Seraphyne.
He leaned to kiss her forehead, his touch full of love and affection. Then, his expression turned solemn.
The lights started dimming as the mana in the room stirred with a faint crackle. In one smooth motion, he released a wave of mana, weaving a double-layered sound barrier around them. Between the layers, he removed the air itself—creating a vacuum. It was an effortless display of control over mana and mastery of the elements.
Seraphyne's brows furrowed. She sensed the shift immediately. "Alaric.. what is it?" she asked, concern rising in her voice.
Alaric sighed heavily.
"This little troublemaker couldn't even wait a day before giving me a headache." He muttered, glancing down at their child—half in awe, half exasperated.
"His mana... it's denser. Impossibly pure. And the amount—Seraphyne, it's absurd. I can't even see where it ends. I've never seen anything like this."
Seraphyne's eyes widened. "Doesn't that mean his mana...?"
Alaric chuckled, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Yes... his mana is already beyond that of a Paragon and his body isn't strong enough to handle it yet."
For a moment, husband and wife stared at each other—then back at their son, who gazed at them with wide, innocent eyes. In that gaze, their worries melted.
With a light wave of his hand, Alaric dispelled the sound barrier. Before seraphyne could speak, he swept her into his arms.
"Wha—Alaric!" she yelped, startled but not displeased she clutched Vaeris close.
Alaric smirked, causing a faint blush to rise to her cheeks. "Hold on. We're going to see Father. We need to talk to him about this."
As the words left his mouth, a swirl of wind and water enveloped them. When the Elements settled, the room stood empty—save for the lingering scent of herbs and medicine.