Alistair's expression hardened. Activating his probing skills, he saw a familiar warm energy around Skyler, mirroring what he'd observed around his mother. He knew the youth wasn't lying. What he said next was exactly what Skyler wanted to hear.
"Don't tell anyone. This is the royal family secret: the Queen is a half-dragon. I don't know much about that race—Mother never really spoke of it. But what I do know is that if you've really awakened that race, it would explain why your potential rose from 1-star and why you gained additional affinities."
Skyler nodded, the picture of obedience.
"I won't, I swear."
Still, if his grandmother was a half-dragon, then who was the angel in his family? Did he inherit his angel side from his father?
If so, that was really cool—damn!
Suddenly, a good idea lit up his mind, and Skyler fidgeted nervously with the cutlery.
"Umm... Uncle."
Alistair shot him a sharp look. He was already getting a headache due to him.
"What?"
But his solemn expression softened when he heard what the young man had to say.
"I have to go back to the academy. A lot of people know I only had one—ahem, three—elemental affinities. You will help me, right? So they won't question how I gained more? After all, no one in Eldoria has ever gained more affinities than they awakened with."
Alistair sighed and nodded at him. As Skyler's uncle, it was his responsibility to handle everything in such situations. He was the adult, and Skyler was still young.
Even if Skyler hadn't asked for help, he would have taken it upon himself.
Little did he know, the ash-brown-haired youth was trying to extract every possible benefit from him, leaving him to deal with the things he couldn't handle yet. Now, if anyone asked how he got more affinities, Skyler wouldn't have to explain—he could just dump everything on his dear uncle.
'Hehe.'
Skyler stood up with a brilliant smile.
"Thank you, Uncle! You're the best!"
Alistair felt a shiver run down his spine when Skyler called him the best. He felt as though he was better off without that title. Still, he pushed the uneasy feeling aside.
He still had something important to ask Skyler—perhaps the most important of all.
"Skyler, you spent the most time inside the tomb. The others were thrown out. Do you remember what the Queen told you to find in there before you went in? Did you find it? It's crucial to the future of Eldoria. I won't ask for anything else—whatever else you found in the tomb is yours. But not that."
Skyler blinked. So, this time, the calamity didn't kill anyone who entered the tomb?
Did his cousins survive because of him?
He clicked his tongue inwardly.
Those lucky pricks with loud mouths.
Noticing how Alistair was looking at him with a nervous gaze, he rolled his eyes.
He searched through his storage ring and pulled out a familiar, tiny, round marble.
The moment he did, his uncle disappeared from his spot and appeared in front of him with a speed he couldn't even register.
Alistair's eyes shone with relief and a hint of pride as he grabbed his shoulders.
"You found it! Incredible job!"
Skyler grimaced as the man shook him, jostling his internal organs.
"Wait, wait! Stop shaking me! I just ate!"
Alistair barely contained his excitement. His gaze was fixed on the small marble in his hand. The powerful, overwhelming aura emanating from it was something he had encountered only a few times in his life!
He didn't snatch the marble from him but waited for Skyler to carefully place it in his palm. As soon as he did, Alistair vanished, too eager to share the good news with the Queen and others, and to hurriedly secure the marble in the safest place possible.
Skyler stared at the empty space before him, stunned. Then, he shouted loudly,
"At least tell me where my dear Riruru is before leaving! I've been looking for her!"
He kicked at the carpet in frustration.
"Not even a thank you, huh? Why did I risk my life and put in all that effort to find the Sapphire of Serenity? For nothing? What about the rewards I was promised?"
Now, he was clearly exaggerating. After all, he hadn't actually done anything to find the marble—he had just asked for it and gotten it from the calamity. But no one else knew that—only he and his master. So he could exaggerate as much as he wanted.
His eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Don't blame me if I take things from the royal castle while looking for Riruru. That's the compensation for the marble. Haha."
He stretched his body and strolled out of the dining hall, taking a random direction.
His gaze drifted around, his hands itching to grab whatever caught his eye—like this shiny axe, studded with rubies, displayed inside a glass case set into the wall.
Many servants noticed his tall figure, but none of them dared to stop him—his face was everywhere online. Just who wouldn't recognize the Queen's grandson? Though, they had to admit, he looked different from the photos online—taller, more mature.
Skyler took his time roaming the massive royal castle, sneaking into different rooms and halls. He even spotted one of his dear cousins, Rhys, but naturally, he avoided the man, who was now shorter than him.
He hurriedly slipped away, turning into a quieter part of the royal castle where few servants roamed. He stepped into an open corridor with windows offering a view of a vast flower garden, and many long white curtains gently billowing in the breeze.
"Hmm?"
He glanced around. The space was empty, with little furniture scattered about. That's when Skyler's eyes landed on a handsome, tall man—taller than him—with deep purple eyes, standing by one of the windows.
Even in casual attire—trousers and a shirt—the man radiated a commanding presence that made him impossible to ignore. A kind, inviting aura surrounded him. As if sensing him, the man turned and met his gaze.
Obviously, he didn't recognize him.
"Are you lost—"
He stopped mid-sentence when he finally sensed the power around him and quickly changed his question.
"Who are you?"
Before Skyler could answer, the man chuckled, a smile lighting up his face.
"Wait, no need. I think I know."