Uruviel Kingdom has just come out of war with the Nux Kingdom,

and King Alastair Durrant von Uruviel has already started preparing for the next one

as they and their neighbor Kingdom Minerva weren't on good terms.

This also means demoting useless noble houses that didn't do anything during the previous war,

and promoting those that contributed greatly.

Because of this, nobility has started to stir up and normal populace started to become restless.

King Alastair also needed new capable warriors and fast,

so new academies were being opened and the existing ones received numerous donations

to allow more students to enter without needing to worry about tuition payments.

Thanks to their Kingdoms racial law, a few Elven Kingdoms were willing to help if another war broke out,

which has given King Alastair a little bit peace of mind.

At the edge of mountain Volos lies a small village called Veles.

This village was famous for their excellent students, with some of which would be called geniuses.

While those trained in sword and bow were very good, Veles village greatest gems were the "Eaters".

Nearly every "Eater" from this village has gone to the best Academies in the Kingdom and become famous people,

so it's no wonder King Alastair had very high hope for this village.

He sent them enough funds for 10 cycles of free tuition,

and also send them two young promising "Eaters" as teachers.

In this village also resides the current ruler of that territory, marquess Quinn Deurius von Immitrex.

During the war he lived in the Immitrex city where he gathered capable men and women

from surrounding villages and towns to send to the Raka city

where they would be further sent to the frontlines or to one of the Forts.

After the war he come to the Veles village with his wife Abbey

to slowly retire and wait for his two sons to come back home so he could leave his position to one of them...

Veles village, Deurius mansion

[... and you still can't found where is Garrett even now ?] Quinn asked.

[We are terribly sorry, but there must be a reason why he still didn't come home even now,

so you should not worr...]

Before the messenger could finish what he was saying, a maid has come into the Quinn study room.

[Excuse me master Quinn, but your wife is calling]

Quinn looked at the maid, then the messenger and then he said to him to contact him

if they found anything about Garrett.

[Of course sir, then if you excuse me...]

When the messenger exited from his room, Quinn turned to the maid and asked.

[Now then Kornelie, was the delivery successful ?]

[Yes, there were no problems during delivery, but...]

[But what ?]

[I think that it would be better for master Quinn to ask mistress Abbey about that.]

Quinn slowly stood up from his seat and headed to the door.

[Then, lead the way.]

[Yes, master Quinn]

Not too long ago, his oldest son Howard returned home, but Quinn didn't expect his return to be so chaotic.

Somehow Howard fell in love with an Elf, and brought her home with him.

He couldn't even protest as she was already pregnant with Howard's child.

Understandably Quinn wasn't happy about it,

as he very much understand how complicated it is for Humans and Elves to have a child together.

But what enraged Quinn the most was his son's refusal in inheriting his title of marquess,

leaving it to his younger brother Garrett to inherit...

Problem is, Garrett was nowhere to be found...

As he was thinking about his son's return, they have already come close to the room

where he could hear a few voices behind the door.

Slowly entering the spacious room,

he could see his son's soon-to-be wife Lia lying on a big bed with the baby in her hands,

his son Howard next to her, and his wife Abbey sitting near the desk writing something.

Noticing him, Howard's smile soon disappeared from his face, and Lia lowered her head down.

[What's with that face Howard,

shouldn't you be happy that your child was born without any problems as we feared ?]

[Yes father, Lia has given birth without any problems...]

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[It's a boy...]

Said Howard and Lia

[Hoh, a boy ?]

Coming closer to the bed to see his grandson, two words escaped Quinn's mouth.

[Silver... hair ?]

Elves are usually born with a head full of hair, and while it's extremely rare,

there are elves with silver or white hair.

[I don't see any problems here, he isn't the dirt colored dark elf like other halflings, but a real half-elf.

Now that I look at him closely, while he has pointy ears at least they aren't a meter long like his mothers...]

Lia blushed because Quinn has made fun of her ears...

[Eh, let's just hope he doesn't have a meter long tongue like his grandfather]

Abbey retorted.

Usually a child between an elf and someone from another race will be a dark elf,

but in some rare cases, a half-elf will be born.

For those two rare traits, what will this child need to pay, Quinn thought to himself.

[So what is the real issue here that you've been avoiding to tell me ?]

Abbey breathed in, then out, then looked Quinn into his eyes and said...

[Their child was born with red soul, I personally checked, he has red eyes...]

Red soul, usually only devil's are born with it,

but there are cases where children of other races are born with it.

However they barely survive the next 20 lun, barely 2 cycles...

Is this the price it has to pay for those two rare traits, if so...

[Truly an unfortunate child...] Quinn answered,

[Have you come up with a name ?] then asked.

[We were thinking about it and then Lia come up with a fitting one]

[Then, what is it ?] Abbey asked

[Arian, it means silver in ancient elven language] Lia answered.

[Haha, Arian Deurius, I like it...

Good, good, then Howard, later this sol come to my study, we still need to talk about that thing.]

[Of course father, I'll come before the evening.]

[Well then, If someone needs me, you know where to find me.]

After Quinn went out of the room, his face distorted as if he swallowed an insect...

Turning to face maid Kornelie near the door, he said to her to came meet him later that evening.

[Yes, master Quinn]

Later...

As the midsol was coming to an end, Howard headed to his fathers study for a much needed talk

that he's been postponing since he come home.

After knocking on the door two times and hearing his father shouting to come in,

he slowly opened the door and entered the room.

[Hello father]

Howard greeted his father nervously, as he slowly come closer to the desk where Quinn was sitting.

[Yes Howard, hello. Sit down, I have the feeling we will have a long talk.]

Quinn responded, looking at his son carefully.

[Of course, thank you...]

Howard said as he sat on the chair near the desk. He already know what his father was going to ask him, but he won't change his mind.

[So then, are you really leaving the title of Marquess to Garrett, you know that we still can't find him

and I'm starting to fear for the worst.]

Quinn firmly asked his son, looking him straight in the eyes...

[Yes, I won't change my decision. And he'll come back,

he may not be a strong warrior but he can get away from any sticky situation.

That's why I wan't him to inherit the title.]

Howard answered, still a little bit nervous. He never planned to inherit the title and he know that his brother was a better candidate.

[I hope you right, but are you still planning to leave with Lia to the Druantia Forest,

even with your son in that condition ?]

This question was the reason Howard was so nervous. What he's about to ask Quinn is both selfish and cruel...

[Yes, this is what I wanted to talk about with you.

We will be leaving in 3 cycles but we won't be bringing Arian with us,

so I wanted to ask you to raise him instead of us...]

After what happened during the last battle with Nox Kingdom, he was sure something bad would happen if he stayed here more than necessary...

[Haa, ya cheeky little brat, after so many headaches you given me,

I don't even have any problem with leaving the title to Garrett.

Now you can't even be the father,

yet you still have the nerve to ask me to take care of a child whose two steps from the grave ???]

Quinn was understandably upset. Refusing to inherit his title was one thing, but abandoning his own child was something completely different.

[I... I know this is too much to ask, but we never planned to have a child this soon,

not with so many loose threads left. So please father, this is the last thing I asking of you...]

Howard pleaded his father, knowing all too well how cruel this request was. But he didn't have a choice, not with his condition...

[Hmp... Well, he is my grandson after all, so I, no, me and your mother will do it,

we will raise him like he's our own.]

However, Quinn was only teasing his son, testing his resolve... Seeing that Howard was serious, he accepted to take care of Arian.

[Father...]

While Howard was happy about this, Quinn was worried. He wasn't sure if he will have enough time to raise Arian properly...

[Make no mistake, I'm not doing this for you, but for Arian.]

Well, he already agreed to it, so he will found the solution for that later. First they need to worry about Arians health...

[Yes, thank you father...]

While Howard already has a few ideas, Quinn has also sent his personal maid Kornelie to gather information about children with red soul's...

[Now then, with all that done, why don't you tell me about how you met Lia,

it must be an interesting story, right ?]

Feeling that they finished with that subject, Quinn asked about something else, which made Howard surprised.

[Haha, yes, where to start...]

As Howard started telling his story, Quinn listened carefully. Like this, they talked late into the night...