Elora looked at him, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face. She remembered he was just a toddler, not a mature adult despite his advanced vocabulary and intellect but Ruele and Elio already suspected Jayden might be on the path to becoming an intellectual prodigy.
'He's just a spoiled brat,' she reassured herself before replying. "Little devil," she started, her voice teasing, "Your family, for generations – well, for thousands of years, actually, the details are a bit fuzzy – has had this distinct dark hair and dark blue eyes color. But..." she trailed off, a playful glint returning to her eyes, "you should see it for yourself."
Jayden frowned. "See what?"
'...'
Elora smirked, leaving him hanging. "You never looked in the mirror until now, did you?" she said with amusement.
"Shut your mouth, okay?" Jayden grumbled, his cheeks flushing with a sudden, unfamiliar heat. The thought of his appearance, overshadowed by his newfound abilities, hadn't even crossed his mind.
Elora led him to a massive mirror, the kind you'd find in a grand ballroom, perfect for capturing a family portrait, and for the first time, Jayden truly saw himself.
A two-year-old with dark purple hair that fell in wild, unruly curls just above his shoulders stared back at him. His eyes were in the same category, a sparking hue of purple.
Where everyone else had dark blue eyes, his sparkled with an otherworldly glow – a deep, mesmerizing purple and his hair glowed with the same color. Everything about him seemed to hold a hidden depth, a wisdom far beyond his young age.
His skin was pale and flawless, his features delicate and almost elfin-like. He was dressed in a tiny, hand-stitched outfit – a white t-shirt and matching pants, both embroidered with intricate silver thread that shimmered like moonlight. Tiny gemstones, sapphires, and amethysts catching the light, were scattered throughout the design.
A wave of confusion washed over him. "Wait... you said everyone in the family has dark blue eyes," he stammered, pointing at his reflection with a chubby finger. "Why are mine this darkish purple and glowing a little and my hair also...What the heck is this?"
Elora watched his reaction with amusement. A hint of pride flickered in her eyes, a stark contrast to the usual exasperation she wore when dealing with Jayden.
"Well, little one," she said, her voice adopting a softer tone, "that's something even your parents haven't quite figured out yet. It seems you're a bit...different."
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Jayden frowned, processing this new information. Special? Different? It wasn't a bad feeling, but it certainly wasn't what he expected.
He glanced back at the mirror, scrutinizing his reflection. Perhaps this unique quality had something to do with the mana he could control. Perhaps it was the key to unlocking his true potential.
Suddenly, a mischievous idea sparked in his mind. "Different, huh?" he repeated, a sly grin creeping onto his face. "Maybe that means I can get away with a little more than the other kids."
Elora's smile vanished in an instant. "Don't even think about it, pipsqueak," she warned, her voice regaining its usual sternness. "Being special comes with its own set of rules, and believe me, you wouldn't like them if I started listing them now."
Jayden pouted, momentarily squashed. But the rebellious glint in his eyes remained. He may have been just a toddler, but he was determined to explore this newfound "specialness" and uncover all its secrets. After all, in a world filled with fantastical creatures and boundless mana, who knew what incredible things awaited him?
As Elora led him back towards the main house, a sense of purpose bloomed within Jayden. He wouldn't just be a mischievous child defying authority; he would be a special child, one with a unique destiny yet to be revealed.
[...]
As Jayden slept peacefully in his crib, far away in a remote corner of the world, a gathering unlike any other was about to take place. Deep below the earth's surface, hidden from prying eyes, a chamber emanated an oppressive aura.
Flickering candles cast dancing shadows on damp stone walls, their feeble light struggling to pierce the thick, stale air. A faint hum resonated through the cavernous space, adding to the sense of unease. Rows of empty chairs stood sentinel along the walls, awaiting their occupants.
The silence stretched taut, broken only by the occasional creak of floorboards and the rustle of fabric. Twelve figures shrouded in dark cloaks materialized from the shadows, their movements deliberate and purposeful. They took their seats around a long, imposing table in the center of the room, their faces obscured by deep hoods, adding an air of mystery to the gathering.
A tense energy crackled in the air, thick with unspoken motives and veiled threats. Each figure fidgeted in their seat, the clinking of unseen objects and muttered curses hinting at the turmoil beneath their cloaks. The very air seemed to hum with anticipation, a storm brewing beneath the surface.
"So, Blaise," a booming voice echoed from a hulking figure shrouded in a crimson cloak. A cruel glint flickered in his eyes, barely visible through the hood's shadow, "any word from Eldoria? I hear the Devlins have you running scared."
Blaise, a wiry man with a scarred face revealed by a partially pulled-back hood, bristled at the taunting remark. "And your situation in Caelumnia is any better, Marco? Last I heard the Knight bastards were breathing down your neck, killing almost every member of our cause and having you run like a dog."
A woman's voice, laced with icy sarcasm, cut through the brewing tension. "Hmph! If I were in your place, Marco, I wouldn't be throwing stones. Perhaps you should focus on your own dwindling numbers instead of stooping to childish insults." Maria, her figure cloaked in shimmering silver, met Marco's unseen gaze with a steely glint of her own.
Marco slammed his fist on the table, the force echoing through the chamber. "Don't mock me, woman! The Drake family's relentless pursuit may not be as overt as your precious Solstarian enemies, but their influence is no less suffocating."